Preventable physical illness in people with mental illness
University of Western Australia School of Population Health - "This unique study has examined the health experience of 240,000 Western Australians who have used mental health services during 1980-98 (representing about 8% of the population at any one time). Using de-identified data, their hospital admission rates, cancer incidence rates and death rates have been examined. People with mental illness are among the most marginalized people in our community. The consequences of mental illness often extend beyond the direct symptoms of the illness to affect people’s social and economic well being and all aspects of their lives. The aim of this study was to examine the physical health of people with mental illness. The purpose was to provide data that can be used to improve health services and design health promotion activities that can be specifically targeted at people with mental illness." There are three documents that can be downloaded and may be slow depending on the speed of your connection. We suggest that you read the two summaries first. If you have any comments, you can contact one of the authors at D'Arcy Holman [darcy@dph.uwa.edu.au]
Monday, October 18, 2004
Summary at the NAMI web site of pending legislation - "As is being widely reported in the press, Congress has adjourned until after the upcoming November elections. Both the House and Senate will return in late November for a post-election 'lame duck' session that will be necessary to resolve a range of unfinished spending bills for the current fiscal year (FY 2005). These include appropriations bills funding a range of mental illness research and services programs including the FY 2005 budgets for NIMH, SAMHSA, VA and HUD."
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Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report item on coverage of health care issues and their role in the current presidential election campaign, with clickable links to many stories. See also, in the same source, Editorials, Opinion Pieces Address Presidential Candidates' Health Care Proposals.
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Btrief Reuters Health story at Medscape - "A computer chip that is implanted under the skin won U.S. approval on Wednesday for use in helping doctors quickly access a patient's medical history. The VeriChip, sold by Applied Digital Solutions Inc., is placed in the upper arm in a painless procedure that takes minutes, the company said. ... The FDA ruled in 2002 that it would not regulate financial, security or other uses of the chips. Privacy advocates have voiced worry about the speedy transfer of sensitive medical information via computer. Applied Digital said the data would be kept secure." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
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Medscape Medical News story - "Many depressed patients who fail to respond to repeated treatment with antidepressants may actually have bipolar disorder, according to new research. These patients are better treated with mood stabilizing drugs, possibly in combination with atypical neuroleptics. Clinicians who treat patients with depression are all too familiar with those who do not seem to respond to antidepressants or who respond for a while and then relapse. According to Verinder Sharma, MB, FRCP(C), many of these patients probably have bipolar disorder. Dr. Sharma is a psychiatrist at the Mood Disorders Program of St. Joseph's Health Care and a professor of psychiatry at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada. He presented his research into misdiagnosed bipolar disorder here at the 54th annual meeting of the Canadian Psychiatric Association." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
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October 15 FDA press release - "The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today issued a Public Health Advisory announcing a multi-pronged strategy to warn the public about the increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior ('suicidality') in children and adolescents being treated with antidepressant medications. The agency is directing manufacturers to add a 'black box' warning to the health professional labeling of all antidepressant medications to describe this risk and emphasize the need for close monitoring of patients started on these medications. FDA has also determined that a Patient Medication Guide (MedGuide), which will be given to patients receiving the drugs to advise them of the risk and precautions that can be taken, is appropriate, and is in the process of developing one. "
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Washington Post story reprinted at Yahoo - " The federal government ordered yesterday that all antidepressant drugs carry a prominent "black box" warning to alert doctors that the medications increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior among children and adolescents. Clinical trials showed that children taking antidepressants have a 4 percent risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior, compared with a 2 percent risk among children getting placebos, said regulators at the Food and Drug Administration..." See also the AP story FDA Orders Strong Antidepressant Warnings and the New York Times story, F.D.A. Toughens Warning on Antidepressant Drugs. [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].
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Guest column in the MetroWest Daily News (Boston) by Dennis J. McCrory, a psychiatrist who specializes in rehabilitation and recovery, and Richard A. Hogarty, emeritus professor of political science at UMass/Boston, both of whom serve on the Massachusetts Mental Health Planning Council. Their column starts with a reference to very visible individual stories of recovery, that "invite usto "take a fresh look at improving the quality of life for people who have mental illness."
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Copyright 2003 © Bill Davis.
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