April 28, 20087:39 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Certain painkillers are associated with chronic migraine

According to a recent population-based study conducted by Marcelo E. Bigal, M.D., Ph.D., of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and colleagues some painkillers are linked to chronic migraine. According to the study overuse of barbiturate and opiate painkillers doubled the risk that episodic migraine would evolve into chronic migraine with a frequency of 15 days, a month, or more. However, triptans and over-the-counter drugs did not increase the likelihood of migraine. According to Dr. Bigal, the good news is that “…detoxification improves outcomes.” The following is an excerpt of an article from Medpage Today that reviews the study:

Three prior clinical studies had also suggested that opiates and triptans used for nonmigraine purposes, such as for bowel control or cluster headache, made migraine more likely to transform into the chronic form, he said.

And analgesic overuse — which occurs in more than 80% of patients with transformed migraine seen at headache clinics — has also been associated with likelihood that migraine would become chronic.

However, the specific classes of medicine and doses associated with this risk were unknown, Dr. Bigal said.

To get some insight into the issue, he and his colleagues surveyed a nationally representative sample of 120,000 households and found a total of 8,219 individuals who had a migraine in 2005 and completed a follow-up survey one year later.

They then modeled the probability that episodic migraine would transform into chronic migraine from one year to the next based on which and how frequently pain medications were used.

Among the 6,805 respondents who reported migraine on follow-up, 209 (2.5%) had transformed migraine.

Click here to read the entire article from Medpage Today

Click here to learn about treatment options for prescription addiction

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April 25, 20087:57 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Herschel Walker’s struggle

Dissociative identity disorder (DID), which was known previously as multiple personality disorder, is not the Hollywood depicted oddity that so many have come to believe in. DID, rather than being a disorder in which an individual has multiple “people” trapped inside, is simply descriptive of instances were the various normal facets of a person’s personality do not come together cohesively. Rather, with DID, particular parts of one’s personality not only surface but “take over,” determining one’s behavior for various time increments. Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker recalls that DID sometimes led to violent, risky and destructive behaviors in his life. Walker shared that he played Russian roulette more than once. On another occasion the late delivery of a car made him so angry that he thought about killing someone. Walker’s newly released book “Breaking Free” discusses his struggle with the disorder and helps to dispel many of the myths about individuals with it. The following is an excerpt of a thought provoking article from CNN.com that discusses Walker’s perseverance in the face of DID:

Many people think they know the legendary Herschel Walker: 1982 Heisman Trophy winner, pro football star, Olympian and last week in San Francisco, an Olympic torchbearer.
But not only did the public not know the real Herschel Walker, the athlete himself said he didn’t either. In his just-released book “Breaking Free,” Walker reveals he has a form of mental illness called dissociative identity disorder, or DID, formerly known as multiple personality disorder.

“I didn’t really learn about this until about 10 years ago,” Walker tells CNN. “My life was out of control. I was not happy, I was very sad, I was angry and I didn’t understand why.”

Walker said his life went off the tracks shortly after his football career ended and when his now ex-wife was expecting their son, Christian.

The book, he said, is about coming to terms with his diagnosis. He hopes to educate the public and break down stereotypes about this disorder.

When people hear of multiple personality disorder, they may think of Hollywood’s portrayal — someone with different “people” trapped inside one body, but that is not accurate.

Everyone has various facets that make up his or her personality — assertive, angry, comforting. But, experts explain, in DID, these various parts — known as alters — don’t come together as one cohesive single personality. Instead, one or the other part of the identity takes over and determines one’s behavior.

Click here to read the rest of this article from CNN.com

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April 24, 20083:06 pm
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Strong link between depression history and Alzheimer’s

According to a recent study published in the April 8 issue of Neurology a strong link between depression history and Alzheimer’s exists. Specifically, individuals that had depressive episodes before the age of 60 had four times the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. According to Monique Breteler, MD, Ph.D., of Erasmus University, the research did not indicate whether or not there were structural changes in the brain to account for this connection. The following is an excerpt of an article from Medpage Today that reviews the study’s findings:

Individuals with a history of depression requiring medical advice were more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease as those without past depression, a study found.
Furthermore, those with depressive episodes before age 60 had nearly four times the risk for Alzheimer’s, Monique Breteler, M.D., Ph.D., of Erasmus University here, and colleagues reported in the April 8 issue of Neurology.

It is not clear whether the depression-Alzheimer’s link is mediated by structural brain changes, the researchers wrote. However, in this study there was no difference in the size of the hippocampal or amygdalar structures in people with a depression history and those without depression.

The study included 486 individuals, ages 60 to 90, without dementia at baseline (1995 to 1996), who reported their history of depressive episodes. Individuals came from the prospective Rotterdam Scan Study, which investigated chronic diseases among elderly participants.

Click here to read the rest of this article from Medpage Today

Click here for information on the treatment of depression

Pastoral Action Point:

Studies have shown that those who isolate themselves or are simply isolated are at greater risk for depression than those that do not. Church is a great place for people to come and find life giving interaction and involvement with others. Considering studies like this one, which link depression with actual physical ills, connecting with community may provide more than just emotional support.

Proverbs 17:22 says, “a merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”

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April 22, 200811:26 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Findings surrounding internet searches on the topic of suicide

Lucy Biddle, Ph.D., of the University of Bristol and colleagues, recently reported some interesting findings surrounding internet searches on the topic of suicide, which findings were reported in the April 12th issue of BMJ. According to the report, if an individual is contemplating suicide, it is easier to find a way to commit the act than to get help to prevent it when using popular internet search engines. According to Dr. Biddle, the three most retrieved sites from the group’s search provided detailed descriptions of ways to commit suicide. The fourth most frequent site was Wikipedia, which actually provided information on various ways to commit suicide as well. “This research shows it is very easy to obtain detailed technical information about methods of suicide, not just from the suicide sites that have caused recent concerns but also from information sites such as Wikipedia,” they said. The following is an excerpt of an article from Medpage Today that reviews the team’s findings:

Dr. Biddle and colleagues conducted a search using the four most popular search engines on the Internet — Google, Yahoo, MSN, and Ask.

They entered 12 simple terms into each search engine and analyzed the top 10 results of each, yielding 480 total results and 240 different sites.

Search terms included “suicide methods,” “how to commit suicide,” “how to kill yourself,” and others.

Each site was then categorized according to the type of content: for example, pro-suicide, academic, or news.

Nineteen percent of the sites were dedicated to suicide, either providing encouragement or information on methods.

Sites focusing on suicide prevention or providing support comprised 13% and another 12% explicitly forbade or discouraged the act.

The most frequently retrieved site was Alt Suicide Holiday, which showed up in half of the 48 searches and provided information on how to commit suicide.

Click here to read the rest of this article

Click here for information on suicidality

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April 18, 20088:09 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Factors increasing the risk for postpartum depression

According to a recent survey reported in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, women who have experienced physical abuse during or before pregnancy, financial or traumatic stress during pregnancy, partner associated stress during pregnancy, or tobacco use during the last three months of pregnancy, are at significantly higher risk of having postpartum depression. The survey collected data from 17 states; among these New Mexico had the highest instance of self-reported postpartum at 20%, and Maine the lowest at 12%. Along with the afore mentioned risk factors, women receiving Medicaid, younger women, and less educated women were more likely to report symptoms of postpartum depression. The following is an excerpt of the survey’s findings from MMWR:

This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated that, during 2004–2005, the prevalence of self-reported PDS in 17 U.S. states* ranged from 11.7% (Maine) to 20.4% (New Mexico). Younger women, those with lower educational attainment, and women who received Medicaid benefits for their delivery were more likely to report PDS. State and local health departments should evaluate the effectiveness of targeting mental health services to these mothers and incorporating messages about PPD into existing programs (e.g., domestic violence services) for women at higher risk.

Click here to read the rest of this article from MMWR

Click here to learn about treatment options for clinical depression

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April 17, 20087:46 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Physical Activity Reduces the Risk for Psychological Distress

According to a recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, as little as 20 minutes of physical activity a week is associated with lower risk for psychological distress. The cross-sectional study, which surveyed nearly 20,000 Scottish adults, examined self-reports of psychological distress as well as levels of physical activity. Physical activity was to include heavy domestic activity, sports, and walking. According to the study, decrease in risk was likely to occur more as levels of physical activity increased. The following is an excerpt of an abstract from the British Journal of Sports Medicine that summarizes the study:

Objectives: Regular physical activity is thought to be associated with better mental health, although there is lack of consensus regarding the optimal amount and type of activity to achieve these benefits. We examined the association between mental health and physical activity behaviors among a representative sample of men and women from the Scottish Health Surveys. Methods: Self reported physical activity was measured and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was administered in order to obtain information on current mental health. Participants were 19 842 men and women. We calculated risk estimates per category of physical activity sessions per week using logistic regression models.

Click here to read the rest of the abstract from the British Journal of Sports Medicine

Pastoral Action Point: We live in a largely sedentary society. Due to technological advances and our advantaged position in global markets, some U.S. citizens see very little physical activity, if any, during their daily routine. Additionally, trends in recreational activities among school age children and adolescents are changing dramatically. Gaming systems, television, and the Internet, to name a few, have all but replaced outdoor activities for some. With all of these societal changes in mind and with so much at stake, both physically and mentally, it is important to teach the value of physical activity within the walls of the church.

Scripture Verse:
1 Corinthians 6:19 - “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

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April 16, 20087:38 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Relationships, Faith, and Loss

Losing a loved one is never an easy process, especially when that someone is younger than you, a child or a younger sibling perhaps. It is during these times of loss that relationships are so important. As Bob Haynes, writer for the Daily Record, conveyed the thought, sometimes people want to be loved less in abstract thought and more so by someone “with skin on.” The following is an excerpt of a story surrounding a man’s loss of his younger brother and how both relationship and faith in Christ made the difference:

I will admit that seeing my younger brother lying in his small bed at the nursing home, thin and frail, brought back for a moment that ugly pit of depression that had consumed me just a few years ago.

I say for a moment because his smile allayed my fears. You see, my brother had made his peace and was waiting for the time when his life here on Earth would end, but his time in eternity would just as certainly begin.

He reminded me of Psalm 40 that says,” I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.”

Click here to read the rest of this article from the Daily Record of Northwest Arkansas News

April 24th: “Dealing with the Loss of a Child”
A Pastoral Seminar Presented by Brookhaven Hospital

Dealing with the loss of a child is the most difficult event that a parent could ever endure. In line with this thinking, there are a variety of questions specific to faith that arise when the death of a child occurs. Individuals who serve in church leadership are more often than not confronted with these difficult questions by parents and other family members during the grieving process. Pastors, Chaplains, and other church professionals are invited to join us as Mel Whittington, Ph.D., gives faith leaders insight and tools to address this complex and difficult issue.

Click here for registration information

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April 15, 20087:39 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

A connection between depression and type 2 diabetes

Depression is a serious illness. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), as limited function increases in the elderly, the risk of depression increases. Additionally, those who live in home health care and assisted living communities can experience a 13.5 percent rise in depression. As if all of this was not enough, a recent study has found a connection between depression and type 2 diabetes. The study, called the Cardiovascular Health Study, found that a single self-report of depression is linked with significant increase in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Additionally, the researchers believe that those with an increased number of depressive symptoms were as much as 50% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. The following is an excerpt of an article from Advance for Directors in Rehabilitation that reviews the study:

The study, known as the Cardiovascular Health Study, appeared in the Archives of Internal Medicine and revealed that “a single self-report of high depressive symptoms is associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus.”2 Researchers believe that people with an increased number of depression symptoms were about 50 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. The study took 10 years to complete and studied 4,681 men and women in Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina and California. Participants were all 65 and older who had no history of diabetes in 1989, when the study actually began.

During the decade, men and women were annually screened for symptoms of depression. A questionnaire, referred to as the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale, was used to measure the symptoms and inquired about calorie intake, moods, sleep, concentration and irritability. Other factors recorded include alcohol intake, smoking habits and body mass index.2 Results showed that not only was a single incident of depression associated to diabetes, but that chronic depression or depression that increased over time was linked to an increased risk of diabetes.

Click here to read the rest of this article from Advance for Directors in Rehabilitation

Pastoral Action Point: Church is a great place to foster community. Within the context of the church community seniors can find friendship and belonging. Connection with other human beings is one activity that helps to reduce the risk of depression.

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April 14, 20087:27 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

“21 at 21″

According to a recent study published in The Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 34 percent of men and 24 percent of women, in a sample representative of college students, reported drinking 21 or more drinks on their 21st birthday. The study is the largest of its kind measuring the “21 at 21″ ritual among college students. According to the study, more than half of the men in the sample and one third of the women had alcohol levels of .26 or higher. At this level an individual can easily incur serious injury through impairment during activities, choking on vomit, or through risky behaviors. In fact, this ritual, which is meant to be celebratory, has claimed the lives of many. According to professor Kenneth Sher of the University of Missouri-Columbia, “I think a lot of people view this as a feel-good rite of passage and don’t calibrate what a big risk it is.” The following is an excerpt of an article from the New York Times that discusses the dangers of binge drinking:

The ritual of drinking 21 or more alcoholic beverages to celebrate the 21st birthday appears to be far more common than expected, according to new research.

It’s estimated that more than four out of every five American 21-year-olds drink alcohol to celebrate the birthday milestone, which is the the legal drinking age in the United States. But a new study from University of Missouri researchers of 2,518 students shows that many young adults aren’t just drinking to celebrate — they are drinking to extremes.

Among those students who drank alcohol to celebrate their 21st birthdays, 34 percent of the men and 24 percent of the women reported consuming 21 or more drinks, according to the research to be published in The Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. The report is believed to be the largest study of the “21 at 21″ drinking ritual, which often involves shots of alcohol. The students in the study were followed for four years and asked a variety of questions about their drinking behavior over the course of their college years. Although the findings likely can’t be applied to the general population, the data likely reflect the drinking culture at large, public universities, researchers said.

Click here to read the rest of this article from the New York Times

Click here for information on the treatment of addiction

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April 11, 20086:36 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Reconnecting with family after deployment

After returning from the war, many soldiers find it difficult to reconnect with family. In the case of Maj. Levi Dunton, a former Apache pilot and commander of 150 troops, there was difficulty sharing with his wife, finding joy in being a parent, and small things made him angry. This emotional distance in marriages among soldiers is something that the Army has acknowledged and is attempting to address through their “Strong Bonds Program,” which encourages couples to address issues of communication and connection through retreats, individual counseling, and other forums. Sue Johnson, director of Ottawa Couple and Family Institute and contributor to the “Strong Bonds Program,” wrote of Israeli research that shows prisoners of war that recover quickest are in happy and secure marriages in her book “Hold Me Tight” (Little, Brown). Through the efforts of the “Strong Bonds Program,” hopefully U.S. soldiers returning from deployment to Iraq will find similar emotional healing and return to normalcy. The following is an excerpt of an article from the New York Times that discusses the difficulties of connecting with family after war:

In a measured voice, Maj. Levi Dunton explained to the small circle of Army officers and their spouses what had gone wrong in his marriage since he returned home from Iraq in 2005. He had trouble being involved with his family, he said. He didn’t find joy in being a parent to his two boys, 3 and 5 months. Little things made him angry.

Major Dunton said he was not sure whether his year in Iraq, where he was an Apache pilot and commander of 150 soldiers, was responsible for his numb state. Others, he wanted to make clear, had it a lot worse. To the other soldiers, this was a familiar litany of guilt, emotional distance and marital discombobulation; they were silent or simply nodded their heads.

Like Major Dunton, they seemed uneasy with all this talk, all this sharing, all this connecting to the wife in front of strangers.

Even as he spoke, Major Dunton, who fidgeted and played with his wedding ring, rarely made eye contact with Heather, his wife of 10 years and a former helicopter pilot herself.

Ms. Dunton, however, seemed relieved, liberated even, to be given a chance to reach out to her husband. She put her hand around his knee and said she was convinced that the war had wormed its way into their marriage.

“He used to tell jokes and funny stories and now he doesn’t do that anymore,” she said later. “I could tell he was different right away, but I thought it would pass.”

Click here to read the rest of this article from the New York Times

Click here for information on couples and family counseling

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