Monday, February 07, 2005

Behavioral Pharmacy Benefit Management: Case Studies  Center for Health Care Strategies Inc. paper, brought to our attention at the Open Minds web site - " Pharmaceutical costs have increased significantly in both the general and the behavioral health care systems in recent years. This paper reviews several of the most promising methods for managing behavioral pharmacy practices and costs while seeking to continue to maintain open access to these drugs. It describes the current situation, defines the practice, outlines a number of specific case studies, offers information about related initiatives, and concludes with some comments about likely trends in the field."  
  

NAMI Joins APA Launching Resources for Families On Treating Depression in Children and Adolescents  Announcement at the NAMI web site - "On February 1, 2005 NAMI participated in a press conference to launch ParentsMedGuide.org, a new resource center developed by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) for parents and caregivers of children and adolescents with depression. Darcy Gruttadaro, the Director of NAMI’s Child & Adolescent Action Center, participated on a panel that also included family members and representatives from family advocacy groups, psychiatrists, and a primary care physician." See also the web site ParentsMedGuide.org and the "The Use of Medication in Treating Childhood and Adolescent Depression: Information for Patients and Families," available in both HTML and Adobe Acrobat formats.  
  

Practice parameter: Diagnosis of Dementia "Practice Guidelines" (in Adobe Acrobat format) from the American Academy of Neurology, at Medscape - "To update the 1994 practice parameter for the diagnosis of dementia in the elderly. Background: The AAN previously published a practice parameter on dementia in 1994. New research and clinical developments warrant an update of some aspects of diagnosis. Methods: Studies published in English from 1985 through 1999 were identified that addressed four questions: 1) Are the current criteria for the diagnosis of dementia reliable? 2) Are the current diagnostic criteria able to establish a diagnosis for the prevalent dementias in the elderly? 3) Do laboratory tests improve the accuracy of the clinical diagnosis of dementing illness? 4) What comorbidities should be evaluated in elderly patients undergoing an initial assessment for dementia?" [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

2003 Survey Found Over 1 Million People Recently Used Stimulants Non-Medically  SAMHSA press release - "The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today released data showing that an estimated 1.2 million persons ages 12 or older used methamphetamine or prescription stimulants non-medically in the past month in 2003. The data show that 378,000 Americans met the diagnostic criteria for dependence on or abuse of stimulants in the past year. Dependence on or abuse of stimulants was most prevalent among young people 12-25. SAMHSA extracted the data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2003. The data show that the stimulants most often abused are methamphetamine; prescription diet pills; Ritalin or methylphenidate; and Dexedrine..."  
  

Troops still ashamed of emotional problems Brief UPI story reprinted at PsycPORT - "U.S. military health officials want to reduce the stigma soldiers facd when seeking mental healthcare, Stars and Stripes reported Saturday. 'Stigma is a real problem. It's a societal issue, but it is much more pronounced in the military,' said Col. Thomas Burke, one of the Pentagon's top psychiatrists and the director of mental health policy for the Defense Department. 'There is a perception among the troops that seeking mental health care means you're weak or a coward and, frankly, we in the military kind of foster that attitude.' Soldiers and Marines who need counseling the most are least likely to seek it, a Defense Department study recently found..."  
  

Bush Budget Calls for Cuts in Health Services New York Times story - "President Bush's budget for 2006 cuts spending for a wide range of public health programs, including several to protect the nation against bioterrorist attacks and to respond to medical emergencies, budget documents show. Faced with constraints on spending caused by record budget deficits and the demands of the war in Iraq, administration officials said on Friday that they had increased the budget for some health programs but cut many others, including some that address urgent health care needs..." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].