September 30, 20087:24 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Police officers at risk…

Policing is a taxing occupation. Researchers of University at Buffalo, through a decade of studying police officers, have found that those in the occupation are at risk for increased levels of destructive stress hormones, insomnia, high blood pressure, post-traumatic stress disorder, heart problems, and suicide. However, now the research team at UB is taking their study of the police population to a new level, focusing on how police work affects physical and mental health. The study, funded with $1.75 million from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), received additional funding ($750,000) from the National Institute of Justice to measure police fatigue and the impact of shift work. John M. Violanti, Ph.D., research associate professor in UB’s Department of Social and Preventive Medicine in the School of Public Health and Health Professions, commenting, said, “Policing is a psychologically stressful work environment filled with danger, high demands, ambiguity in work encounters, human misery and exposure to death… we anticipate that data from this research will lead to police-department-centered interventions to reduce the risk of disease in this stressful occupation.” The following is an excerpt of an article from Medical News Today that reviews the study:

John M. Violanti, Ph.D., research associate professor in UB’s Department of Social and Preventive Medicine in the School of Public Health and Health Professions, is principal researcher of the study, called the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress (BCOPS) study.

More than 400 police officers have participated in the study to date, with the researchers aiming for 500. The clinical examination involves questionnaires on lifestyle and psychological factors such as depression and PTSD, in addition to measures of bone density and body composition, ultrasounds of brachial and carotid arteries, salivary cortisol samples and blood samples. The officers also wear a small electronic device to measure the quantity and quality of sleep throughout a typical police shift cycle.

Results from Violanti’s pilot studies have shown, among other findings, that officers over age 40 had a higher 10-year risk of a coronary event compared to average national standards; 72 percent of female officers and 43 percent of male officers, had higher-than-recommended cholesterol levels; and police officers as a group had higher-than-average pulse rates and diastolic blood pressure.

Click here to read the rest of this article from Medical News Today

Link to this post

September 29, 20087:37 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Higher prevalence of obesity among individuals with serious mental illness

According to new findings published in the September 22 issue of Mental Health Weekly, obesity, which is a major problem at large within the United States, has a higher prevalence among individuals with serious mental illness. Robert W. Glover, Ph.D., and executive director of NASMHPD, commenting, said, “This report can be viewed as a rallying call for more prevention and intervention strategies for people with SMI struggling with obesity issues.”

The report mentioned that some medications can cause weight gain among people with SMI. Joseph Parks, M.D., and chair of the NASMHPD Medical Directors Council, commented about medications which contribute to obesity in the SMI population saying, “Medical interventions are needed to address issues with medications that can cause obesity and that includes behavior and counseling treatments, medications for weight loss, and surgery…” The following is an excerpt of an article from Medical News Today that reviews the findings:

In its new report, NASMHPD has issued a series of recommendations at the national, state and local levels. Recommendations include the implementation of national obesity surveillance/monitoring system for persons with SMI and the promotion of opportunities for healthcare providers, including peer specialists, to teach health lifestyles to families, individuals and older adults.

Mental Health Weekly provides information on business trends, state funding and policy issues, litigation, and more. The publication is a trustworthy source for community-based mental health program directors, hospital administrators and others in the mental healthcare profession.

Click here to read the rest of this article from Medical News Today

Link to this post

September 26, 20087:32 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Eerie figures reflect comparatively high use of psychotropic drugs among American children and teens

The United States has higher rates of prescription psychotropic drug use among children and teens according to a new study published online in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health. According to the study, the prevalence of psychotropic drug use was 6.66% among American youths; in Dutch and German youths these numbers were at 2.9% and 2%. Use of more than one psychotropic medication at one time occurred in 19.2% of the American cohort, but only in 8.5% and 5.9% of Dutch and German children and teens. Researchers conducting the study commenting stated, “Differences in policies regarding direct-to-consumer drug advertising, government regulatory restrictions, reimbursement policies, as well as diagnostic classification systems and cultural beliefs regarding the role of medication for emotional and behavioral treatment are likely to account for these differences.” The follow is an excerpt of an article from Medpage Today that discusses the findings in more detail:

Over the past decade, prescriptions for psychotropic drugs have been rising across western Europe and in the U.S., according to the researchers.

To assess between-country variation, Dr. Zito and colleagues examined administrative claims data for the year 2000 on insured children and teens in the Netherlands (110,944), Germany (356,520), and the U.S. (127,157).

Use of psychotropic medications in the U.S. was 2.27 times higher than in the Netherlands (95% CI 2.22 to 2.32) and 3.33 times higher than in Germany (95% CI 3.27 to 3.40).

Usage in Dutch youths was 1.47 times greater than among German youths (95% CI 1.44 to 1.51).

In all three countries, the prevalence of psychotropic medication use was highest in boys among those ages 10 to 14 and in girls among those 15 to 19.

Stimulant use was found in 4.3% of the U.S. cohort, compared with 1.2% and 0.7% in the Netherlands and Germany, respectively. Among children up to age four, the prevalence of stimulant use in the U.S. (0.5%) was 10 to 25 times higher than in the other two countries.

In the U.S., stimulant prescriptions were split evenly between amphetamines and methylphenidate (Ritalin), but methylphenidate comprised more than 95% of the prescriptions in the European populations.

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

Link to this post

September 25, 20087:22 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Stories of recovery

Recovery occurs everyday and stories of recovery provide encouragement to those who may be in the midst of struggle. The following is an excerpt of a story from Medical News Today about a man whose life was transformed after the death of his fiancé, serious illness, and depression:

30 year old Marcus Dean has been named Fitness First New You Achiever of the Year 2008 in the prestigious awards for his amazing story and desire to help others.

In 2003 Marcus’ fiancé died leaving him to care for their three year old daughter. His grief led to a downward spiral involving drink, over eating, depression and the onset of two serious stomach problems.

He lost his job, his confidence, his self esteem and felt unable to look after his daughter.

But a visit to Fitness First set Marcus on the road to recovery and a new life as a successful boxer.

“I knew where Fitness First was because it was next to a takeaway I used to visit,” said Marcus who was an unfit 18 stone when he began his transformation in 2006. “I joined the Get Results programme, teamed up with personal trainer Dean Whamby and haven’t looked back.”

He said Fitness First had given him a new lease of life and within weeks of beginning his training Marcus had taken up boxing - winning his first fight and becoming the 2007 East Lancashire Champion.

Click here to read the rest of this story from Medical News Today

Link to this post

September 23, 200811:08 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Pregnant women with bulimia have higher levels of anxiety and depression

A new study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) shows that pregnant women with bulimia have higher levels of anxiety and depression than those without the eating disorder. According to the study, which collected data on 41,000 pregnant women, those with bulimia showed not only higher levels of anxiety and depression but also had lower levels of self-esteem and were generally more dissatisfied with life and their partner. Of the 41,000 women surveyed, 96, .2%, met the criteria for bulimia nervosa during the first trimester; 67 reported having bulimia six months before they became pregnant. Another 26 women developed bulimia after pregnancy. The following is an excerpt of an article from Medical News Today that discusses the findings more:

Women with bulimia reported lower self-esteem and less satisfaction with life and their relationship with their partner. In addition, they reported a higher prevalence of symptoms associated with anxiety and depression.

* Women with bulimia reported a higher prevalence of life-long physical abuse, sexual abuse and major depression compared with others, says Cecilie Knoph Berg at the Division of Mental Health at the NIPH.

* Women who had bulimia six months before pregnancy but who were symptom-free in the first trimester, experienced higher self-esteem and satisfaction with life compared to other women with persistent symptoms.

Bulimia was measured six months before pregnancy and in the first trimester of pregnancy by completing the questionnaire in the first trimester.

Knoph Berg is the first author of “Psychosocial factors associated with broadly-defined bulimia nervosa during early pregnancy: Findings from the Norwegian mother and child cohort study” which is published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry.

Click here to read the rest of this article from Medical News Today

Click here for more information on bulimia nervosa

Link to this post

September 22, 20087:13 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Promising hunger hormone suppression surgery

Findings from a study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medical Institution in Baltimore, Maryland, and the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, show promise for hunger suppression that is less invasive than bariatric surgery but that could be just as effective. The researchers, using pigs, found a way to lower appetite by reducing the body’s production of the hunger hormone ghrelin. In order to do this, the researchers essentially vaporized the main blood vessel that carries blood to the fundus, the top section of the stomach and the main production center of ghrelin. The fundus, where 90% of ghrelin is created, needs a good blood supply to create the hunger hormone. Dr Aravind Arepally, clinical director of the Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design and associate professor of radiology and surgery at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine and lead author of the study, commenting, stated, “With gastric artery chemical embolization, called GACE, there’s no major surgery… In our study in pigs, this procedure produced an effect similar to bariatric surgery by suppressing ghrelin levels and subsequently lowering appetite.” The following is an excerpt of an article from Medical News Today that discusses the study more:

Arepally and colleagues wrote that the last ten years have seen several unsuccessful attempts to suppress grehlin safely and easily.

Bariatric surgery is where part of the stomach or bowel is either removed, reconstructed or bypassed. It suppresses appetite and results in significant weight loss. However, there are significant risks because it is an invasive and complex procedure.

Arepally explained that:

“Obesity is the biggest biomedical problem in the country, and a minimally invasive alternative would make an enormous difference in choices and outcomes for obese people.”

For the study, Arepally and colleagues worked with 10 healthy and growing pigs for 4 weeks. Pigs were chosen because they their bodies have similar anatomy and physiology to humans. Baseline readings for ghrelin and other measures were obtained by fasting the pigs overnight, weighing them and taking blood samples.

The pigs were then put into two groups, one for the treatment and the other was the control group. Both groups underwent a procedure that used X rays to guide the surgery where researchers inserted a thin tube in the large blood vessel near the groin and then into the left gastric arteries supplying blood to the stomach.

Click here to read the rest of this article from Medical News Today

Click here for information on compulsive overeating

Link to this post

September 17, 20087:45 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Awarding winning short film powerfully explores the issue of mental illness

A new awarding winning short film, SICK, by EgoProject Films, powerfully explores the issue of mental illness. SICK is a 15 minute movie that highlights addiction, depression and anxiety by creative “out-of-the-box” means. The film gained support from Film London and the National Lottery through Screen South as well as through the UK Film Council. It won the Gold Award at the 41st Houston International Film Festival and best short film at AsterFest 2008 in Macedonia. Mike Rymer, writer and director of the film, commenting, said, “One in four people are affected by mental illness but it remains taboo. It is amazing that something so prevalent should be so unspoken and this film seeks to start breaking down some of those barriers.” The following is an excerpt of an article from Medical News Today that discusses the film more:

Winning highly prized support from Film London and National Lottery funding through Screen South and the UK Film Council, ‘SICK’ has already drawn strong praise from Samaritans. Following an International premiere in March it has been selected for 25 film festivals across 10 countries and 5 US States, winning the Gold Award at 41st Houston International Film Festival, an Honourable Mention at California’s Accolade Film Awards, and Best Short Film at AsterFest 2008 in Macedonia. It has been nominated 4 times for Best International Short Film including at Rome Independent Film Festival. ‘SICK’ is the debut film from new writer/director Mike Rymer, a graduate of the International Film School Wales at University of Wales Newport where he wrote the script.

Mike Cobb (Samaritans) said:

“‘SICK’ is a powerful depiction of how the lives of people everywhere are affected in the long and short term by mental health issues. It is a compelling and moving work that will resonate with its audiences. The film represents a journey which Samaritans volunteers know only too well.”

Click here to read the rest of this article from Medical News Today

Link to this post

September 16, 20087:34 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

New drug seeking approval from the FDA effective in relieving chronic pain

A new drug seeking approval from the FDA, ALO-01 (Embeda), has been proven effective in relieving chronic pain. According to findings from research revealed at the annual clinical meeting of the American Academy of Pain Management, 72.5% of patients responded to the morphine drug with a built in anti-abuse factor, compared to 57.8% of those taking placebo. The researchers defined response as more than 30% improvement in pain intensity score from baseline. The research team reported that the drug was accepted for a priority review from the FDA on Sept. 2. According to Joseph Stauffer, D.O., of Alpharma Pharmaceuticals, if the drug is approved it would be “… the first opioid medicine to provide a pharmacologic abuse-deterrent feature while effectively treating patients with chronic pain.” The following is an excerpt of an article from Medpage Today that reviews findings about the new drug:

To avoid that possibility, Dr. Stauffer said, ALO-01 capsules contain polymer-coated extended-release pellets of morphine sulfate and each has a core of naltrexone (Depade, ReVia), an opioid antagonist.

The idea is that the naltrexone will kick in and reduce the euphoric effects of morphine if the capsule is crushed or chewed. Otherwise, the naltrexone is intended to pass through the body without “clinically meaningful release or accumulation,” according to a company statement.

In the current study, the researchers enrolled 344 adult patients with moderate to severe pain from osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. After up to 14 days of screening and washout, they were titrated to effective pain management levels with ALO-01 in an open-label fashion.

Volunteers were then randomized in a double-blind fashion to either ALO-01 capsules or placebo for 12 weeks.

The main endpoint was mean change in weekly average pain diary score from randomization to the 12-week visit. Responder rate was a secondary efficacy endpoint.

The researchers analyzed the usual adverse events, but also evaluated the possibility of opioid withdrawal using the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale — a clinician assessment of objective signs of withdrawal — and the Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale, a self-administered instrument.

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

Link to this post

September 15, 200811:45 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

5% of Americans suffer with depression

According to information from a new study, approximately 5% of Americans 12 years and older suffer with depression. Additionally, among those suffering from depression, 80% relayed that the illness interferes with their daily functioning. According to the CDC, 22% percent of women and 35% of men reported that their depression made it difficult for them to work, to perform household chores, or to have healthy social interactions.

The researchers conducting the study thought that results would reflect a number higher than 5%. “We were really expecting something in the range of 6.5 or even seven percent,” Laura A. Pratt, PhD, author of the study, said. Although the nationwide percentage of those with depression is lower than expected, depression creates huge costs for the U.S. In the year 2000 an estimated cost of $83 billion dollars resulted from the illness, and almost two thirds of that figure was from “…resulting lowered productivity and workplace absenteeism.” Most regrettably only 39% of those with sever depression were reported to receive treatment. The following is an excerpt of an article from Medpage Today that reviews the study’s findings:

Dr. Pratt said the survey might not have counted those who were simply prescribed antidepressants by their doctor rather than seeking counseling. She also said rates of treatment are higher than in the past, but might not necessarily meet minimally acceptable requirements.

“Both the rate and quality of treatment need to be improved,” she said.

The researchers said people don’t get treated likely because they don’t realize they have a treatable illness, or that they don’t believe treatment works. Also, they’re afraid of the stigma that surrounds mental illness.

Researchers also said there’s a lack of insurance coverage for mental healthcare.

When the data were analyzed by age, sex, and ethnicity, researchers found that rates of depression were higher in those ages 40 to 59 years old, in women, and in non-Hispanic blacks.

Those in middle-age were more depressed than the elderly and those in the 12 to 17 and 18 to 39 age groups (7.3% versus 4.3%, 4.7%, and 4%, respectively).

Women were more likely than men to be depressed (6.7% versus 4%), and non-Hispanic blacks suffered were more likely to have the illness than Mexican-Americans and non-Hispanic whites (8% versus 6.3% and 4.8%, respectively).

Analysis also showed that the poor are more likely to be depressed than those living above the poverty level.

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

Click here for more information on depression

Link to this post

September 11, 20087:18 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

First-time Mothers Could Benefit From Postpartum Preparation

Often women are provided with an array of information about the process of giving birth and how to prepare for motherhood; however, issues like postpartum depression generally are less emphasized. Findings from a study recently published in the Journal of Prenatal Education reveal that mothers desire more information on how a newborn will impact their lives. Among the 151 pregnant Australian women enrolled in the study 35% did not feel prepared for the physical aftermath of birth and another 20% did not feel ready for the emotional experience after giving birth. Almost half of the study’s participants commented on postnatal fatigue or depression. Lead author of the study, Margaret Barnes, RN, MA, PhD, commenting stated, “This study demonstrates that new mothers are eager for high-quality, accurate information of what to expect of life with a newborn.” The following is an excerpt of an article from Medical News Today that reviews the study’s findings:

“As a leader in educating women about the mental and physical transitions they will undergo during pregnancy and postpartum, Lamaze International believes a series of childbirth education classes can be vital in preparing new moms,” comments Lamaze International President Allison J. Walsh, IBCLC, LCCE, FACCE. “Classes can empower women to have positive birth experiences and be informed about early parenthood challenges such as breastfeeding, handling fatigue and infant care.”

In addition to childbirth education classes, Lamaze International offers resources for women and their families including The Official Lamaze Guide and, with the support of presenting partner Huggies, Lamaze: Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond magazine, a weekly pregnancy newsletter, Lamaze…Building Confidence Week by Week, and more.

Click here to read the rest of this article from Medical News Today

Link to this post