Wednesday, August 04, 2004

Atypical Antipsychotics Increasingly Used in Children
Reuters Health story at Medscape - "Atypical antipsychotic drugs are increasingly being prescribed for children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and affective disorders, investigators report. However, there is little evidence that the benefits of treatment outweigh the risk. Dr. William O. Cooper and associates at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, reviewed medical records of children enrolled between 1996 and 2001 in Tennessee's expanded Medicaid program to identify new users of atypical antipsychotics, such as risperidone and olanzapine. During this period, 6803 children became new users, approximately doubling from 23 per 10,000 in 1996 to 45 per 10,000 in 2001." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Proposed beds for mental health may move patients out of ER (South Carolina)
WISTV story - "State Mental Health Director George Gintoli testified before the Mental Health Commission on Tuesday about his plan to have 70 new beds up and running statewide by early October, '$2 million of mental health funds is going to create new beds.' Twenty-two beds would be created in the Upstate at a mental health hospital in Anderson. Thirty-two beds will be established in community mental health facilities state wide and 20 beds still have to be identified."  
  

State cuts worry mental health providers (New Hampshire)
Union Leader story - "The state’s decision to cut funding for two peer support centers and a family support group has mental health advocates worried. The state canceled two contracts with peer support centers in Merrimack County that provide a place for the mentally ill to meet and talk. The state also has announced it will not renew a $500,000 contract for family support services with the New Hampshire chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill..."