Tuesday, January 14, 2003

Multiple Chemical Sensitivities
Article in the January Psychiatric Times - "The patient who presents with vague psychiatric somatic complaints may, in fact, be suffering from chemical sensitivities. Such sensitivities are tied to lower incidences of certain psychiatric disorders while correlating with the higher prevalence of others. Neurogenic inflammation, limbic kindling and psychiatric co-factors are discussed."  
  

Studies Weigh Antidepressants Against Herbs and Placebos
Article in the January Psychiatric Times - "Two new studies have raised questions about the placebo effect in clinical trials. Issues of methodology must be examined and the changing trends of placebo responses need to be evaluated."  
  

Antipsychotic Prescribing Practices for Children and Adolescents
Article in The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update at Medscape on the "great disparities among physicians in the prescribed use of antipsychotics to treat aggression in children and adolescents in hospitals and other restricted settings." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

More Kids Receiving Psychiatric Drugs
Washington Post story on a newly published study which found that "by 1996, more than 6 percent of children were taking drugs such as Prozac, Ritalin and Risperdal, and the researchers said the trajectory continued to rise through 2000."  
  

Based on Experience, Advocates from Michigan, Florida Warn New York Not to Restrict Access to Prescription Drugs
PharmaLive story - "A variety of advocacy organizations representing consumers of prescription drugs today called on the State to pass on the implementation of cost saving measures that result in the restriction of access to prescription drugs."