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Below is a list of recent news articles and links to their original resources. Please not that the the links will take you away from the NARBHA website.
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03/11/2010
Williams resident Martha Nickles worries for herself and her two boys.
Son Thomas, 14, has Asperger's syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Without his medication, he acts out violently in school.
Son Michael, 13, also has Asperger's and ADHD. He also had a mild case of cerebral palsy as a child. Without his medications, he has seizures.
Nickles, who lives at the poverty line and qualifies for Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System insurance, needs medications for a thyroid condition and high blood pressure.
Son Thomas, 14, has Asperger's syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Without his medication, he acts out violently in school.
Son Michael, 13, also has Asperger's and ADHD. He also had a mild case of cerebral palsy as a child. Without his medications, he has seizures.
Nickles, who lives at the poverty line and qualifies for Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System insurance, needs medications for a thyroid condition and high blood pressure.
03/11/2010
Drug use skyrocketed among inmates booked into Maricopa County jails over the past year, especially among White men arrested for property-related crimes, according to a new report by Arizona State University.
03/11/2010
Anyone who's suffered from a mental illness will tell you that they spend a lot of time and emotional energy saying "no" to all the wrong impulses. No, life isn't as hopelessly gloomy as you think. No, there isn't more anguish than joy in the world. No, your life isn't without value or purpose. This past Saturday, in the middle of the afternoon, on the first beautifully sunny day the eastern half of the U.S. has seen in ages, Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse said "yes" to the worst possible impulse and took his own life. He shot himself in the heart, with a gun he owned, in an alley behind a friend's house in Knoxville, Tenn. He was 47.
03/11/2010
Much to the confusion of those who have not experienced combat -- parents and spouses, siblings and friends -- many young people say that 'going to war' was one of the best things that ever happened to them. Several of my friends from the Vietnam era attribute maturing and gaining purpose in their lives to serving in the military. Others find a new family and sense of belonging during the trials of combat.
03/11/2010
More than 10 percent of medical evacuations from Iraq and Afghanistan over the past eight years have been for mental health reasons.
From October 2001 to September 2009, 5,480 troops were flown back to the U.S. or to Germany due to “mental disorders,” according to the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center.
From October 2001 to September 2009, 5,480 troops were flown back to the U.S. or to Germany due to “mental disorders,” according to the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center.
03/11/2010
Depressive symptoms are significantly associated with low subjective wellbeing in newly admitted patients with schizophrenia, study findings suggest.
These findings are in line with those from previous studies in which an association between depressive symptoms and subjective wellbeing was demonstrated in clinically stable outpatients with schizophrenia.
These findings are in line with those from previous studies in which an association between depressive symptoms and subjective wellbeing was demonstrated in clinically stable outpatients with schizophrenia.
03/11/2010
A new questionnaire and outcomes measurement scale developed by the department of psychiatry at Rhode Island Hospital has proven to be a reliable and valid measure of anxiety. The scale can easily be incorporated into routine clinical practice when treating psychiatric disorders. The study appears online ahead of print in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
03/11/2010
Bad behaviour in childhood is associated with long-term, chronic widespread pain in adult life, according to the findings of a study following nearly 20,000 people from birth in 1958 to the present day.
03/11/2010
A bill giving adoption priority to married couples has passed the Arizona House and awaits a hearing in the Senate. But, at least one state lawmaker rejects the idea that a mom and dad are always the ideal situation for an adopted child, saying the law would be discriminatory and could lead to more children being placed on the adoption waiting list.
03/11/2010
No one who has tried alcohol can fail to wonder about its effects on our thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
We tend to think of alcohol as primarily a disinhibitor, but this can't really explain its varying effects. Sometimes it seems to make us loud and boisterous, sometimes quiet and contemplative, sometimes sad and depressed, along with all the shades and combinations of these, and other emotions.
We tend to think of alcohol as primarily a disinhibitor, but this can't really explain its varying effects. Sometimes it seems to make us loud and boisterous, sometimes quiet and contemplative, sometimes sad and depressed, along with all the shades and combinations of these, and other emotions.
03/11/2010
For five days, Alexis Moore carefully planned how she would take her own life. She's not a violent person, so she knew handguns were out. She settled on vodka instead, to be followed by a bottle of Xanax.
She did it methodically. First, she says she drank the vodka for two hours. Then she lined up the 20 pills on the kitchen counter, taking a few at a time, going to her bedroom to cry and then coming back for more Xanax.
She did it methodically. First, she says she drank the vodka for two hours. Then she lined up the 20 pills on the kitchen counter, taking a few at a time, going to her bedroom to cry and then coming back for more Xanax.
03/10/2010
Beginning with the upcoming fifth edition, new versions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) will be identified with Arabic rather than Roman numerals, marking a change in how future updates will be created, according to the American Psychiatric Association.
03/10/2010
Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI) was honored last night by the American Psychological Association for his advocacy work and legislative accomplishments on mental health issues. The APA presented Kennedy with the 2010 Outstanding Leadership Award, given annually to a member of Congress who has prominently championed the goals of professional psychology.
03/10/2010
Arizona gets a two-year break from its court-mandated effort to improve services for the seriously mentally ill.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Karen O'Connor on Tuesday agreed to the temporary stay at the request of attorneys on both sides of the 30-year-old Arnold vs. Sarn lawsuit over the adequacy of services. The attorneys argued that it was the only way to protect the 1979 law that requires the state to provide comprehensive care such as treatment, housing and work programs to individuals labeled as "seriously mentally ill" during the state's budget crisis.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Karen O'Connor on Tuesday agreed to the temporary stay at the request of attorneys on both sides of the 30-year-old Arnold vs. Sarn lawsuit over the adequacy of services. The attorneys argued that it was the only way to protect the 1979 law that requires the state to provide comprehensive care such as treatment, housing and work programs to individuals labeled as "seriously mentally ill" during the state's budget crisis.
03/10/2010
Many clients come to me bubbling with excitement that their loved one is practicing a clean and sober lifestyle. They can't believe the change in attitude and disposition from what was once an angry, belligerent person to a caring, attentive and responsible family member. Ahh..."my loved one is back and I want to show them how proud I am of their efforts and commitment. I'm going to buy them this or give them that".
03/10/2010
Marilyn Matthews has no job, no health insurance, and until now, no chance of qualifying for Medicaid.
She's unquestionably poor — her last regular paycheck was more than three years ago — and would meet the income criteria for Medicaid. The rub is that Matthews, 51, is a healthy adult with no children.
She's unquestionably poor — her last regular paycheck was more than three years ago — and would meet the income criteria for Medicaid. The rub is that Matthews, 51, is a healthy adult with no children.
03/10/2010
President Obama is addicted to nicotine. Rush Limbaugh got hooked on OxyContin. Glenn Beck is a recovering alcoholic, as is Elton John, Eric Clapton, Anthony Hopkins, Robin Williams, Judy Collins, Mel Gibson, and many more. Tiger Woods is a sex addict - it's likely that Warren Beatty and Wilt Chamberlain were, too. William Bennett's gambling habit was all over the news. Oprah acknowledges she's a carbohydrate addict. Julia Cameron was hooked on alcohol and drugs, as were McKenzie Phillips and Carrie Fisher. The list of famous addicts grows ever-longer and we begin to wonder: Do the pressures of fame and fortune drive people to addictive substances and activities ... or is everyone an addict?
03/10/2010
Those with more severe depressive symptoms report more relationship distress, U.S. researchers found.
Twin sisters Leanne Knobloch of the University of Illinois and Lynne Knobloch-Fedders of The Family Institute at Northwestern University said more than three decades of research has shown that people with depression are less satisfied in their romantic relationships.
Twin sisters Leanne Knobloch of the University of Illinois and Lynne Knobloch-Fedders of The Family Institute at Northwestern University said more than three decades of research has shown that people with depression are less satisfied in their romantic relationships.
03/10/2010
Suicide has geographical differences, with people in the rural mountains of the West more likely than those in the more urbanized East to take their own lives, a new University of Florida study shows.
The nationwide study spanning three decades found that location is also a factor in suicide whether people lived in, had left or were just visiting some of the mountain states.
The nationwide study spanning three decades found that location is also a factor in suicide whether people lived in, had left or were just visiting some of the mountain states.
03/09/2010
Researchers suggest that adults with bipolar spectrum disorder (BSD) often present with co-morbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
03/09/2010
Four years ago when I was diagnosed with depression and then bipolar disorder, the clouds parted and my life finally made sense. I did a timeline of my life with my therapist and bingo, there it was — my alcoholism, depression and mania had been singing in perfect harmony as I plowed through the chaos that I had called my life.
03/09/2010
Cyberbullying is on the rise: Children and teens are being bullied through the Internet in chat rooms, on social networking websites, via email and even through mobile phones.
New research has found that approximately one out of every two lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youths are regular victims of this new form of bullying. It is thought that such cyberbullying causes psychological and emotional distress to victims — producing thoughts of suicide in some who are repeatedly victimized.
New research has found that approximately one out of every two lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youths are regular victims of this new form of bullying. It is thought that such cyberbullying causes psychological and emotional distress to victims — producing thoughts of suicide in some who are repeatedly victimized.
03/09/2010
The United States suffers high rates of herpes, particularly among women and African-Americans, health officials said.
More than 750 public health leaders convened in Atlanta Monday for the three-day National Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention Conference featuring more than 300 studies.
More than 750 public health leaders convened in Atlanta Monday for the three-day National Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention Conference featuring more than 300 studies.
03/09/2010
Here's a simple question: how do I get all the way to being an adult without knowing that I have ADHD? I've been asking myself that since being diagnosed three years at the tender age of 39. Some of the answer has to do with a popular misconception: people with ADHD don't do well in school. I believed that, so I never considered that undiagnosed ADHD might be the source of my professional problems.
03/09/2010
Every 17 minutes, someone dies by suicide in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide is the 11th-leading cause of death for Americans, and while it often comes as a surprise to friends and loved ones, it is largely considered to be preventable if warning signs are heeded. "The tragedy of completed suicide is that most could have been prevented if family members knew what to look for," says Lisa Boesky, a psychologist and author of When to Worry: How to Tell if Your Teen Needs Help--And What to Do About It. "Research shows that most people who die by suicide have a mood disorder like depression or bipolar disorder, or [have] a substance abuse problem, or both," either diagnosed or undiagnosed, she says.
03/09/2010
Adults who have both diabetes and major depression are more than twice as likely to develop dementia, compared to adults with diabetes only, according to a study published in the recent Journal of General Internal Medicine.
03/09/2010
For the most part, people understand first aid: what to do if someone is choking, not breathing or having a similar health emergency.
However, few people know what to do if they encounter a person experiencing a mental-health emergency.
That has some people in the field of mental-health care concerned.
However, few people know what to do if they encounter a person experiencing a mental-health emergency.
That has some people in the field of mental-health care concerned.
03/09/2010
Nina Souders, M.D., a pediatrician at North Country HealthCare, has witnessed a rapid increase in overweight and obesity in children. According to Dr. Souders, "Until a few years ago I had never seen a case of high cholesterol in a child. Now I see these problems on a routine basis. Whereas I used to be able to focus my guidance during well child visits on tooth care, car seats and developmental milestones, I now spend the majority of my counseling time discouraging behaviors related to the development of obesity."
03/09/2010
It begins, as always, with a feeling of unease that I try desperately to hide from my kids. It's a vicious circle, depression. The more you feel it, the more you want to hide it, and the more you hide it, the worse it gets.
03/09/2010
How many have to die to discover drugs can't heal the pain?
What is so sad about depression is that people are looking for a cure -- where it can never be found. It's like looking for health in fast, fried, nutrition-less food.
What is so sad about depression is that people are looking for a cure -- where it can never be found. It's like looking for health in fast, fried, nutrition-less food.
03/08/2010
Writer Jonah Lehrer caused quite a stir with his recent article in the New York Times Magazine, with the unfortunate title, “Depression’s Upside.” I have a detailed rejoinder to this misleading article posted on the Psychcentral website. The fault is not entirely Mr. Lehrer’s however; his sources included a psychiatrist and a psychologist, who have recently presented a strained and dubious argument claiming that major depression has certain “adaptive” advantages. Lehrer apparently spent little or no time talking to mood disorder specialists who see thousands of severely depressed patients each year.
03/08/2010
West Yavapai Guidance Clinic has provided high-quality treatment for thousands upon thousands of people for 44 years and knows all about what offering hope through effective treatment and recovery is all about.
As CEO of the largest nationally accredited agency for mental health, addiction, and crisis services in Yavapai County, I know well the tough choices lawmakers are making in Phoenix as a result of the state's budget crisis. I've been told that we just don't have the resources.
As CEO of the largest nationally accredited agency for mental health, addiction, and crisis services in Yavapai County, I know well the tough choices lawmakers are making in Phoenix as a result of the state's budget crisis. I've been told that we just don't have the resources.
03/08/2010
Simple motor actions, like moving marbles upward or downward between two cardboard boxes, may not seem meaningful. But a study published April 2010 in Cognition shows that motor actions can partly determine people's emotional memories.
03/08/2010
Adults who have both diabetes and major depression are more than twice as likely to develop dementia, compared to adults with diabetes only, according to a study published in the recent Journal of General Internal Medicine.
03/08/2010
Brown University researchers have identified a way to improve thought processes that goes well beyond the "power of positive thinking." The technique, they argue, may help to navigate around biased ways of thinking and ultimately lead to better planning and decision-making.
03/08/2010
When Scott Cookston came to the first Flagstaff Project Connect in January 2008, he needed a job.
He, his wife and son showed up at the one-day event designed to help the needy and the homeless because they had nowhere else to go. His wife's four-month hospital stay had put the family in a financial hole. They had been evicted from their home and were living in a motel.
He, his wife and son showed up at the one-day event designed to help the needy and the homeless because they had nowhere else to go. His wife's four-month hospital stay had put the family in a financial hole. They had been evicted from their home and were living in a motel.
03/08/2010
A good diet and regular exercise may help the mind function better, a new study suggests.
"It looks like exercise and diet improve the range of cognitive function," said Patrick Smith, an intern in clinical neuropsychology and a member of a Duke University team reporting the finding online in the March 8 issue of Hypertension. "It helps executive function, learning and psychomotor speed."
"It looks like exercise and diet improve the range of cognitive function," said Patrick Smith, an intern in clinical neuropsychology and a member of a Duke University team reporting the finding online in the March 8 issue of Hypertension. "It helps executive function, learning and psychomotor speed."
03/08/2010
“I can tell you one thing,” he announced, as I recall. “Back in my day, you didn’t have young kids going around talking to shrinks, yakking about their fee-ee-ee-lings, getting all doped up on medications.
03/07/2010
The Flagstaff-based Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority recently won a national award for excellence in health information technology.
The award, which includes a $10,000 grant was awarded for the development and expansion of the NARBHAnet telemedicine program, according to information from the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare.
The award, which includes a $10,000 grant was awarded for the development and expansion of the NARBHAnet telemedicine program, according to information from the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare.
03/06/2010
Resilience as a property of a substance refers to its ability to recoil or spring back into shape after bending, stretching, or being compressed. People can also be more or less resilient, and in this context resilience refers to a person's ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. Most people think about a person's resilience as a capacity that, akin to intelligence or musical talent, does not vary substantially across contexts. This view is odd given that the resilience of substances can vary a great deal across contexts. For instance, water in a warm environment (i.e., when it is in a liquid state) is much more resilient than water in a frozen environment (i.e., when it is in the solid state of ice).
03/05/2010
Foreclosed people are the people who lived in the now Foreclosed homes. There will be 23,600,000 Foreclosed people by the end of this year.
Approximately 1.9 million homes were foreclosed last year and an additional 3 million will be this year, totaling 4,9 million. If we estimate that each of these houses were homes housing four people, then we will have put 19.6 million Americans out on the street.
Approximately 1.9 million homes were foreclosed last year and an additional 3 million will be this year, totaling 4,9 million. If we estimate that each of these houses were homes housing four people, then we will have put 19.6 million Americans out on the street.
03/05/2010
Where do I begin to describe the power of community? In the eight years since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have waged, a community-based movement to ensure that this generation of warriors and their families receive the support they so deserve has resonated, changing the way we care for those who have served. Some of these groups have started from the ground up: a group of therapists wants to donate pro bono services; a mother, mourning the loss of her son Jacob sends care packages in his memory. In other cases, existing organizations, touched by the fallout of war, have developed programs specifically for Iraq and Afghanistan-era families. This movement has touched the lives of over two million deployed troops and their families, and in the face of a national economic crisis and an eight year war, has remained unwaveringly dedicated to providing and advocating for our military, veterans, families, and survivors.
03/05/2010
I have two very fine resources for you this week. One is for talking to your kids about drugs and alcohol, another helps learn about coping skills and the human brain. These are pretty interesting, so I hope you enjoy them.
03/05/2010
http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/2010/03/bipolar-disorder-qa-how-should-i-deal-with-high-doctor-turnover/
03/05/2010
Small talk is part of everyday life, but it’s the substantial, meaningful conversations that may make you happy. That’s one possibility suggested in a new study examining how conversation connects to happiness.
03/04/2010
There may be an association between alcoholism and a cluster of genes on chromosome 11, according to researchers who analyzed the genomes of nearly 1,900 white and black Americans.
Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to alcoholism. So far, researchers have identified several genes associated with the disorder.
Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to alcoholism. So far, researchers have identified several genes associated with the disorder.
03/04/2010
There's been a sharp drop in the percentage of America's children being bullied or beaten up by their peers, according to a new national survey by experts who believe anti-bullying programs are having an impact.
The study, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, found that the percentage of children who reported being physically bullied over the past year had declined from nearly 22 percent in 2003 to under 15 percent in 2008.
The study, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, found that the percentage of children who reported being physically bullied over the past year had declined from nearly 22 percent in 2003 to under 15 percent in 2008.
03/04/2010
Americans, always fascinated by celebrity suicides, have a number of recent excuses for sympathetic voyeurism. Andrew Koenig, 41-year-old son of actor Walter Koenig, hanged himself in a Vancouver park after leaving a despondent note. Days later, Michael Blosil, the 18-year-old son of singer Marie Osmond, jumped from his eighth-floor apartment after writing that his depression had left him feeling friendless.
03/04/2010
In a study published online today in the journal Addiction, researchers in the United States have discovered that accidental overdose deaths involving cocaine rise when the average weekly ambient temperature passes 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit). Using mortality data from New York City's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for 1990 through 2006, and temperature data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, researchers found that accidental overdose deaths that were wholly or partly attributable to cocaine use rose significantly as the weekly ambient temperature passed 24 degrees Celsius. The number of cocaine-related overdose deaths continued to rise as temperatures continued to climb.
03/04/2010
Entertainment Tonight recently reported that TV and music star Marie Osmond’s 18-year-old son, Michael Blosil, committed suicide last Friday in Los Angeles. In his suicide note, he described a life-long battle with depression, the reason for his suicide.
03/04/2010
There's a common assumption about men who commit sexual assault on a college campus: That they made a one-time, bad decision. But psychologist David Lisak says this assumption is wrong —-and dangerously so.
Lisak started with a simple observation. Most of what we know about men who commit rape comes from studying the ones who are in prison. But most rapes are never reported or prosecuted. So Lisak, at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, set out to find and interview men he calls "undetected rapists." Those are men who've committed sexual assault, but have never been charged or convicted.
Lisak started with a simple observation. Most of what we know about men who commit rape comes from studying the ones who are in prison. But most rapes are never reported or prosecuted. So Lisak, at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, set out to find and interview men he calls "undetected rapists." Those are men who've committed sexual assault, but have never been charged or convicted.
03/04/2010
Inside this issue: Turtle Bay Café Grand Opening, Quarterly Health Initiative Update, Free Provider Webinar “The Diagnostic Manual: Intellectual Disabilities” Part III, First Tribal Health Forum a Success, Events & Happenings
03/03/2010
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center hope they have begun paving a new pathway in the fight against drug dependence. Their hypothesis—that increasing the normally occurring process of making nerve cells might prevent addiction—is based on a rodent study demonstrating that blocking new growth of specific brain nerve cells increases vulnerability for cocaine addiction and relapse.
03/03/2010
ProCon.org announces its latest Web site http://dare.procon.org, which explores the core question: "Is the D.A.R.E. program good for America's kids (K-12)?" It uses sourced pro and con research from dozens of experts to give readers an unbiased perspective on the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program.
03/03/2010
A new study suggests a new approach to pharmaceutical management of depression may be just on the horizon.
The emerging opinion has scientists interested in a group of brain chemicals that are involved in virtually all of our brain activity. The study shows that compared to healthy individuals, people who have major depressive disorder have altered functions of the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid).
The emerging opinion has scientists interested in a group of brain chemicals that are involved in virtually all of our brain activity. The study shows that compared to healthy individuals, people who have major depressive disorder have altered functions of the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid).
03/03/2010
A new study discovers institutional discrimination can influence the psychiatric health of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals.
Researchers from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health found an increase in psychiatric disorders among the LGB population living in states that instituted bans on same-sex marriage.
Researchers from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health found an increase in psychiatric disorders among the LGB population living in states that instituted bans on same-sex marriage.
Learning Keeps Brain Healthy: Mental Activity Could Stave Off Age-Related Cognitive and Memory Decli
03/03/2010
UC Irvine neurobiologists are providing the first visual evidence that learning promotes brain health -- and, therefore, that mental stimulation could limit the debilitating effects of aging on memory and the mind.
03/02/2010
Alcohol and marijuana use among teens is on the rise, ending a decade-long decline, a study being released Tuesday found.
"I'm a little worried that we may be seeing the leading edge of a trend here," said Sean Clarkin, director of strategy at The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, which was releasing the study.
"Historically, you do see the increase in recreational drugs before you see increases in some of the harder drugs."
"I'm a little worried that we may be seeing the leading edge of a trend here," said Sean Clarkin, director of strategy at The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, which was releasing the study.
"Historically, you do see the increase in recreational drugs before you see increases in some of the harder drugs."
03/02/2010
Schizophrenia patients who have a poor response to routine cognitive behavior therapy for psychosis (CBTp) may benefit from therapy targeting insight and self-monitoring skills, suggest researchers.
Despite the favorable effects of antipsychotics on positive symptoms of schizophrenia, many patients experience other distressing symptoms. Updated guidelines recommend that CBTp should be given in addition to pharmacotherapy to all individuals with psychosis who request it.
Despite the favorable effects of antipsychotics on positive symptoms of schizophrenia, many patients experience other distressing symptoms. Updated guidelines recommend that CBTp should be given in addition to pharmacotherapy to all individuals with psychosis who request it.
03/02/2010
February was a month plagued by celebrity suicide. Former "Growing Pains" actor 41-year-old Andrew Koenig, 40-year-old fashion designer Alexander McQueen and Michael Blosil the teenage son of singer Marie Osmond all took their lives within weeks of each other.
03/02/2010
The first day Kristine Wise returned from eight months military service in Iraq, she knew something was wrong. Driving from San Diego to Bakersfield to see her brother, the road signs triggered flashbacks.
03/02/2010
Botvin LifeSkills Training (LST) has been selected as a "Top Tier" program by The Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy. The Top Tier initiative, which is being followed closely by Congress, focuses on identifying and validating social programs meeting the highest standard of evidence of effectiveness. LST is a substance abuse and violence prevention program that has been extensively tested and proven to produce "sizeable and sustained effects" on teen tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use. Research shows that the LST program can reduce substance use by as much as 80 percent and produce effects that last for up to 10 years.
03/02/2010
The fourth in a series of forums on behavioral health services in the Verde Valley-Sedona area will focus on NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and the services they provide in the Verde Valley and Sedona.
The series of forums, titled Communities in Recovery, is presented by six agencies, the Verde Valley Guidance Clinic, Mingus Center, Recovery Innovations Arizona, The National Alliance on Mental Illness-Sedona chapter, the Arizona Department of Economic Security's Rehabilitation Services Administration, and NAZCARE.
The series of forums, titled Communities in Recovery, is presented by six agencies, the Verde Valley Guidance Clinic, Mingus Center, Recovery Innovations Arizona, The National Alliance on Mental Illness-Sedona chapter, the Arizona Department of Economic Security's Rehabilitation Services Administration, and NAZCARE.
03/02/2010
Teenage marijuana smokers are at higher risk for developing psychoses -- such as schizophrenia, hallucinations and delusions -- compared with those who don't smoke marijuana, a new study says.
03/01/2010
When adolescence hit Frances Jensen's sons, she often found herself wondering, like all parents of teenagers, "What were you thinking?"
"It's a resounding mantra of parents and teachers," says Jensen, who's a pediatric neurologist at Children's Hospital in Boston.
"It's a resounding mantra of parents and teachers," says Jensen, who's a pediatric neurologist at Children's Hospital in Boston.
03/01/2010
Of the 2.3 million inmates crowding our nation's prisons and jails, 1.5 million meet the DSM IV medical criteria for substance abuse or addiction, and another 458,000, while not meeting the strict DSM IV criteria, had histories of substance abuse; were under the influence of alcohol or other drugs at the time of their crime; committed their offense to get money to buy drugs; were incarcerated for an alcohol or drug law violation; or shared some combination of these characteristics, according to Behind Bars II: Substance Abuse and America's Prison Population. Combined these two groups constitute 85 percent of the U.S. prison population.
03/01/2010
I’ve been blogging about personality disorders because I don’t believe we understand just how devastating they are.
Personality disorders cause unspeakable pain to sufferers and those who love them. They break up families, ruin lives, cause suicides, devastate finances, and put loved ones through years and decades of confusion and agony.
Personality disorders cause unspeakable pain to sufferers and those who love them. They break up families, ruin lives, cause suicides, devastate finances, and put loved ones through years and decades of confusion and agony.
03/01/2010
As chairman of the task force that created the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), which came out in 1994, I learned from painful experience how small changes in the definition of mental disorders can create huge, unintended consequences.
Our panel tried hard to be conservative and careful but inadvertently contributed to three false "epidemics" -- attention deficit disorder, autism and childhood bipolar disorder. Clearly, our net was cast too wide and captured many "patients" who might have been far better off never entering the mental health system.
Our panel tried hard to be conservative and careful but inadvertently contributed to three false "epidemics" -- attention deficit disorder, autism and childhood bipolar disorder. Clearly, our net was cast too wide and captured many "patients" who might have been far better off never entering the mental health system.
03/01/2010
Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Wimmer charmed potential Army recruits with a movie star's smile, but somehow it never quite reached his eyes, even when he was cradling his newborn twin daughters.
Whenever he closed his eyes, he dreamed of his own dead body swinging from a rope, his feet dangling just above a chair.
Whenever he closed his eyes, he dreamed of his own dead body swinging from a rope, his feet dangling just above a chair.
02/28/2010
At Virginia Tech, where tailgating and raucous apartment complex parties are time-honored rituals, university officials are turning increasingly to Mom and Dad to curb problem underage drinking.
This semester, the school in Blacksburg, Va., began notifying parents when their under-21 students are found guilty of even minor alcohol violations such as getting caught with a beer in a dorm room.
This semester, the school in Blacksburg, Va., began notifying parents when their under-21 students are found guilty of even minor alcohol violations such as getting caught with a beer in a dorm room.
02/28/2010
The anxiety that often accompanies a chronic illness can chip away at quality of life and make patients less likely to follow their treatment plan. But regular exercise can significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety, a new University of Georgia study shows.
02/26/2010
Soldiers drink alcohol.
They have for thousands of years -- to celebrate, to forget, to fortify themselves for the next day's battle. In the Iliad, Homer recounted feasts and games flowing with wine and spirits. Indeed, for most young people, whether in or out of uniform, alcohol is a drug of choice. So it should be no surprise that some men and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan for the past eight years come home and use alcohol, marijuana, and any other drug that they can get their hands on. What is surprising is what we do about it.
They have for thousands of years -- to celebrate, to forget, to fortify themselves for the next day's battle. In the Iliad, Homer recounted feasts and games flowing with wine and spirits. Indeed, for most young people, whether in or out of uniform, alcohol is a drug of choice. So it should be no surprise that some men and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan for the past eight years come home and use alcohol, marijuana, and any other drug that they can get their hands on. What is surprising is what we do about it.
02/26/2010
I was terribly confused about the meaning of 'compassion' when I came to Al-Anon. I thought it meant making excuses for the alcoholic or covering bad checks. Al-Anon helped me to find another word for this behavior: 'enabling.' I learned that when I cleaned up the consequences of alcoholic behavior, I enabled the alcoholic to continue drinking comfortably and acting out without having to pay the price. A more compassionate way to respond to those I love might be to allow them to face the consequences of their actions, even when it will cause them pain.
02/26/2010
Experts are studying why some individuals do not experience post-traumatic stress disorder after witnessing or experiencing a traumatizing event, such as abuse, war, or natural disaster.
02/26/2010
Emerging research suggests technology may improve the symptoms of depression in older adults.
In a pilot study, researchers from the University of California-San Diego discovered a common form of depression in seniors could be reduced through the regular use of “exergames” — entertaining video games that combine game play with exercise.
In a pilot study, researchers from the University of California-San Diego discovered a common form of depression in seniors could be reduced through the regular use of “exergames” — entertaining video games that combine game play with exercise.
02/26/2010
Eating disorders now account for the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.
Sharon R. Peterson, founding director of the EDN (Eating Disorder Network of Maryland), said that while anorexia and bulimia are the best known of a spectrum of eating disorders, binge eating disorder is the most commonly diagnosed. Most often, deaths related to anorexia are a result of suicide and complications of malnutrition associated with the disorder.
Those facts and more will be the focus of the 4th Annual Eating Disorder Awareness Event: From Shame to Recovery: Personal and Clinical Perspectives on Eating Disorders Across the Weight Continuum to be held 1:30 to 4 p.m., Sunday, March 7, in room 208 on the second floor of the University Union-Potomac Lounge, at Towson University. The event if free and open to the public.
Sharon R. Peterson, founding director of the EDN (Eating Disorder Network of Maryland), said that while anorexia and bulimia are the best known of a spectrum of eating disorders, binge eating disorder is the most commonly diagnosed. Most often, deaths related to anorexia are a result of suicide and complications of malnutrition associated with the disorder.
Those facts and more will be the focus of the 4th Annual Eating Disorder Awareness Event: From Shame to Recovery: Personal and Clinical Perspectives on Eating Disorders Across the Weight Continuum to be held 1:30 to 4 p.m., Sunday, March 7, in room 208 on the second floor of the University Union-Potomac Lounge, at Towson University. The event if free and open to the public.
02/25/2010
The patient was already on the operating room table when the other transplant surgeons and I arrived to begin the surgery that would remove his liver, kidneys, pancreas, lungs and heart. He was tall, with legs that extended to the very end of the table, a chest barely wider than his 16-year-old hips, and a chin covered with pimples and peach fuzz.
02/25/2010
Indiana University scientists have discovered guilt- or shame-based anti-drinking advertising campaigns actually can cause an unintended effect: They can cause people to drink more rather than less.
02/25/2010
A genetic link between schizophrenia and autism is enabling researchers to study the effectiveness of drugs used to treat both illnesses.
02/25/2010
Current Medicare beneficiaries are restricted to 190 days of inpatient psychiatric hospital care throughout their lifetimes, directly limiting the care they are eligible to receive. This arbitrary cap on benefits discriminates against the mentally ill as there is no such lifetime limit for any other Medicare specialty inpatient hospital service. The Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act will eliminate this limit and equalize Medicare mental health coverage with private health insurance coverage.
02/25/2010
A study in the March edition of the American Journal of Psychiatry senior-authored by Jerome C. Wakefield, a professor at the Silver School of Social Work at New York University with Mark Schmitz of Temple University and Judith Baer of Rutgers University, empirically challenges the effectiveness of psychiatrists' official diagnostic manual in preventing mistaken, false-positive diagnoses of depression.
02/25/2010
Does this sound like anyone you know? Darryl is 35, has a steady job, a stable home and good marriage, enjoys a few beers in front of the TV most nights -- doesn't have what most people would call a drink problem.
02/25/2010
The Victorians had many names for depression, and Charles Darwin used them all. There were his “fits” brought on by “excitements,” “flurries” leading to an “uncomfortable palpitation of the heart” and “air fatigues” that triggered his “head symptoms.” In one particularly pitiful letter, written to a specialist in “psychological medicine,” he confessed to “extreme spasmodic daily and nightly flatulence” and “hysterical crying” whenever Emma, his devoted wife, left him alone.
02/24/2010
A new study related to the long-term effects of obesity finds that higher body mass index (BMI) scores during mid-life appears to be associated with cognitive changes.
The study is one of 10 articles that document how adverse affects of being overweight are not limited to physical function but also extend to neurological function.
The study is one of 10 articles that document how adverse affects of being overweight are not limited to physical function but also extend to neurological function.
02/24/2010
Abuse of prescription drugs is growing rapidly around the world, with more people abusing legal narcotics than heroin, cocaine and ecstasy combined, the United Nations global drugs watchdog said on Wednesday.
02/24/2010
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration ( SAMHSA ) Officials, the Ad Council and the Stay Strong Foundation will unveil a national public service campaign designed to raise awareness of mental health problems among young adults in the African American community. The event is part of Black History Month and it is being held to coincide with the first annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities ( HBCU ) National Mental Health Awareness Day. The launch will be telecast to colleges and universities nationwide.
02/24/2010
Research suggests that religious belief can help protect against symptoms of depression, but a study at Rush University Medical Center goes one step further.
02/24/2010
University students whose parents have recently divorced are unscathed by the experience, an English study finds.
University of Warwick researchers assessed the productivity and happiness of 270 students, and found little difference between students of recently divorced parents and other students. In fact, some male students actually had higher productivity following their parents' divorce.
University of Warwick researchers assessed the productivity and happiness of 270 students, and found little difference between students of recently divorced parents and other students. In fact, some male students actually had higher productivity following their parents' divorce.
02/24/2010
Q: How do the earliest moments between infant and caregiver impact future relationships?
A: Healthy development and attachment security flourish when resonant, competent, attuned, loving, and consistent parental behaviors mark the initial months of a baby's life. Babies bask in a comforting balance between connection and exploration as a direct result of environmental safety and trustworthy role modeling. Sensing that the world is a safe place reinforces self-confidence, trust in others, and a feeling that love and growth are generative....
A: Healthy development and attachment security flourish when resonant, competent, attuned, loving, and consistent parental behaviors mark the initial months of a baby's life. Babies bask in a comforting balance between connection and exploration as a direct result of environmental safety and trustworthy role modeling. Sensing that the world is a safe place reinforces self-confidence, trust in others, and a feeling that love and growth are generative....
02/23/2010
Millions of American kids are seriously overweight. The reason isn't just what they're eating -- it's what's eating them. Childhood obesity is a symptom of deeper problems with American families.
02/23/2010
How American ideas of mental illness and treatment may be spreading more mental health problems around the world.
This story is adapted from a broadcast audio segment; use audio player to listen to story in its entirety. (audio)
This story is adapted from a broadcast audio segment; use audio player to listen to story in its entirety. (audio)
02/23/2010
More than 230,000 women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, but many report that when they return from war, they face another battle at home: getting the care and respect they need at VA hospitals.
02/23/2010
Trafficked, raped and alone, one former foster youth stands for thousands.
The story of 19-year-old Suahmirs Rivera is one of extended powerlessness turned diamond-hard inner strength. A strength he is now using to defend 1,400 former foster youth who like himself fear being cast into the street because of one of Governor Schwarzenegger's proposed budget cuts.
The story of 19-year-old Suahmirs Rivera is one of extended powerlessness turned diamond-hard inner strength. A strength he is now using to defend 1,400 former foster youth who like himself fear being cast into the street because of one of Governor Schwarzenegger's proposed budget cuts.
02/23/2010
Australian researchers believe they have discovered new information on how antidepressants stimulate the brain to improve a person’s mood.
02/23/2010
The boundary between religious belief and the practice of psychiatry is becoming increasingly porous," say the editors in the Preface to Religion and Psychiatry: Beyond Boundaries. "No longer can psychiatrists in a multi-faith, multi-cultural globalized world hide behind the dismissal of religious belief as pathological, or behind a biomedical scientism, as they are more frequently confronted by distressed patients for whom religious belief may determine their choice of symptoms and their compliance with treatment."
02/23/2010
Since the release of How to Eat Like a Hot Chick two years ago, we've received tons of emails from readers asking for our advice about how to begin a healthier relationship with food. These questions have come from women who have tried every fad diet and failed, women who recognize that they are a little "weird" about food, women with full blown eating disorders, and all sorts of women in between. Since this is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, we decided to take the opportunity to share our thoughts on this painful and controversial subject that has made an impact on too many of our lives.
02/22/2010
In her 88 years, Florence Siegel has learned how to relax: A glass of red wine. A crisp copy of The New York Times, if she can wrest it from her husband. Some classical music, preferably Bach. And every night like clockwork, she lifts a pipe to her lips and smokes marijuana.
02/22/2010
After Army Sgt. Edison Bayas' car finally came to a rest on its roof, his jumbled, drunken thoughts immediately turned to the men he left in Iraq, as if he was still on the battlefield.
But he wasn't in Iraq. He was in an El Paso intersection with a blood alcohol content more than three times the legal limit, his 19-year-old victim nearly decapitated in her car a few feet away.
But he wasn't in Iraq. He was in an El Paso intersection with a blood alcohol content more than three times the legal limit, his 19-year-old victim nearly decapitated in her car a few feet away.
02/20/2010
If only Olympic competitors' fears really could be quelled by reading "Overcoming Anxiety for Dummies."
In a playful jab to the sports psychologists who mentally massage athletes at these Olympic Games, popular American comedian Stephen Colbert pointedly perused the book in his honorary advisory role of to the U.S. speedskating team.
In a playful jab to the sports psychologists who mentally massage athletes at these Olympic Games, popular American comedian Stephen Colbert pointedly perused the book in his honorary advisory role of to the U.S. speedskating team.
02/20/2010
Watch the news or read the newspaper, and it's easy to conclude that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) -- akaa Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) -- is nothing more than a conspiracy to stop children from being the rambunctious and normal little people that they naturally are. In this dystopian narrative, anyone who doesn't "color within the lines" is immediately medicated so that they can hover like quiet, meek sheep during their school day. And while this almost certainly does happen to some kids, it's the exception not the rule. In reality, there's very little dispute that medication helps kids master tasks -- like performing better in school -- that are critical for success and happiness in later life.
02/20/2010
Homeless families now have a roof over their heads in Flagstaff beginning this evening.
Called the Interfaith Flagstaff Lodging Assistance Group, several churches and service agencies have banded together to offer church buildings to serve as overnight shelters this winter.
"Our main goal is families and we'll have at least two volunteers each night with them to see to their needs," said Father Pat Mowrer of the San Francisco de Asis Parish.
Called the Interfaith Flagstaff Lodging Assistance Group, several churches and service agencies have banded together to offer church buildings to serve as overnight shelters this winter.
"Our main goal is families and we'll have at least two volunteers each night with them to see to their needs," said Father Pat Mowrer of the San Francisco de Asis Parish.
02/19/2010
It takes more than a vacation to make people happy. Indeed, vacationers tend to be happier than non-vacationers in the lead up to their break, but once they are back, there is very little difference between the two groups' levels of happiness.
02/19/2010
In an effort to raise awareness during Children of Alcoholics Week, NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Commissioner Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo today recognized the unique struggles of children of alcohol-dependent parents and urged them to share their stories of perseverance and victory as a message of hope for the families of the 2.5 million New Yorkers still struggling with drug, alcohol, or gambling addiction.
02/19/2010
A new approach by a University of Missouri researcher helps victims of family violence by encouraging survivors to tell their story of how they overcame adversity.
02/19/2010
A new study discovers more than half of low-income urban mothers meet the criteria for a diagnosis of depression at some point between two weeks and 14 months after giving birth.
University of Rochester Medical Center researchers determined the prevalence of depression via a diagnostic interview performed when the low-income urban mothers were attending well-child care visits.
University of Rochester Medical Center researchers determined the prevalence of depression via a diagnostic interview performed when the low-income urban mothers were attending well-child care visits.
02/19/2010
The first sign may be that your bright child is having trouble reading, or organizing school assignments, or concentrating on homework. Your child may be frustrated with school, and you may find yourself frustrated with what looks like a lack of effort. And a teacher may also notice that something is amiss.
02/19/2010
As Arizona's under-funded child-care assistance program passes its one-year anniversary this week, it faces yet another challenge - the possibility it could loose federal matching dollars. In response to state budget cuts, the Department of Economic Security's child-care assistance program has had to refuse its 10,000th request for assistance from an Arizona family. Those rejected families have been placed on a growing waiting list and, with each rejection, the likelihood increases that federal matching funds will be taken away from the program, according to its managers. The program provides an average subsidy of $350 a month for about 35,000 children whose parents work. That number is 14,000 fewer than when the program began due to cuts in state funding.
02/19/2010
Have you been watching "Hoarders" on A&E? If you're unfamiliar, each episode documents the lives of two of the estimated three million Americans who are so compulsive about accumulating crap of all kinds that they've lost the ability to function normally.
02/17/2010
Retired psychologist Violet Franks recalls being about 6 years old when she realized her mother was mentally ill. To the little girl, she seemed to have two personalities.
02/17/2010
Coconino County is ranked fifth in “health outcomes” out of 15 Arizona counties and third healthiest in “health factors,” according to a new report released today by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The “County Health Rankings” is the first report to rank the overall health of the counties in all 50 states — more than 3,000 total — by using a standard formula to measure how healthy people are and how long they live. Researchers used five measures to assess the level of overall health or “health outcomes” for Arizona by county: the rate of people dying before age 75, the percent of people who report being in fair or poor health, the numbers of days people report being in poor physical or poor mental health, and the rate of low-birthweight infants
02/17/2010
A University of Pennsylvania-led study in which training was provided to a high-stress U.S. military group preparing for deployment to Iraq has demonstrated a positive link between mindfulness training, or MT, and improvements in mood and working memory. Mindfulness is the ability to be aware and attentive of the present moment without emotional reactivity or volatility.
02/17/2010
Connection is created, navigated, broken, and repaired almost daily from the moment we are born. At the heart of being alive lies the vitality of being connected to others -- feeling that what we do matters. What's more is that we rely on being deeply understood by those around us in order to thrive. But how do we learn about healthy connection? What does it look like to build strong ties with others? Where do we learn about relating with people and the world more broadly? If connecting is so central to happiness, why does it seem so challenging to create deep bonds that last?
02/16/2010
Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia significantly improved sleep for patients with chronic neck or back pain and also reduced the extent to which pain interfered with their daily functioning, according to a study by University of Rochester Medical Center researchers.
02/16/2010
Young, male and rural most likely to face obstacles, research shows. Young, male and rural most likely to face obstacles, research shows
02/16/2010
Forgotten Children -- Right Next Door?
One in four children in the United States are exposed to alcoholism or drug addiction in the family. This means that in your apartment building, your neighbor hood or among your children's friends, one in four might be hiding their embarrassment, confusion, hurt or shame about what's going on at home.
One in four children in the United States are exposed to alcoholism or drug addiction in the family. This means that in your apartment building, your neighbor hood or among your children's friends, one in four might be hiding their embarrassment, confusion, hurt or shame about what's going on at home.
02/16/2010
Behavioral healthcare organizations who are leading the way with innovative approaches to management and process improvement have an opportunity to be recognized as leading innovators with the first ever iAward.
Sponsored by Washington, DC-based State Associations of Addiction Services (SAAS) and NIATx, based at the University of Wisconsin, the 2010 Innovation in Behavioral Healthcare Services Awards highlights innovations in process improvement practices that position an organization to meet the challenges of future service delivery.
Sponsored by Washington, DC-based State Associations of Addiction Services (SAAS) and NIATx, based at the University of Wisconsin, the 2010 Innovation in Behavioral Healthcare Services Awards highlights innovations in process improvement practices that position an organization to meet the challenges of future service delivery.
02/16/2010
Alexander McQueen, award-winning British fashion designer and favorite of celebrities like Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and Bjork, was found dead of a completed suicide in his London home last Thursday, just a few days before London Fashion Week.
02/15/2010
“The one thing you can never ask yourself is ‘why’, because with suicide there is never an answer.” Though my 83 year-old grandmother’s advice rings true, the question haunts me nonetheless: why did my cousin Kevin, a 26-year old Marine Lance Corporal, take his own life after returning from his second tour in Iraq?
02/13/2010
The attempt to catalog all the ways that Americans can go crazy dates at least to 1840, when the Census included a question on "idiocy/insanity." From those two simple categories, we now have more than 300 separate disorders; they are listed in a 943-page book called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM for short. The book is important because doctors, insurers and researchers all over the world use it as a reference, a dictionary of everything humanity considers to be mentally unbalanced.
02/12/2010
A new study discovers cognitive-behavioral therapy can significantly improve sleep for patients with chronic neck or back pain.
Benefits of CBT also extend to relieving pain so that individuals can perform more normal activities on a daily basis.
Benefits of CBT also extend to relieving pain so that individuals can perform more normal activities on a daily basis.
02/12/2010
Thanks to the stresses of modern life, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) threatens to overload health care and social support systems worldwide.
Sadly, experts acknowledge that treatment interventions are insufficient. Current treatment philosophy involves long-term intervention that often cannot be delivered because of logistics or costs.
Sadly, experts acknowledge that treatment interventions are insufficient. Current treatment philosophy involves long-term intervention that often cannot be delivered because of logistics or costs.
02/12/2010
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Kristie Rutzel was in high school when she began adhering precisely to the government food pyramids. As the Virginia native learned more about healthy eating, she stopped ingesting anything processed, then restricted herself to whole foods and eventually to 100% organic. By college, the 5-ft. 4-in. communications major was on a strict raw-foods diet, eating little else besides uncooked broccoli and cauliflower and tipping the scales at just 68 lb. Rutzel, now 27, has a name for her eating disorder: orthorexia, a controversial diagnosis characterized by an obsession with avoiding foods perceived to be unhealthy.
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Kristie Rutzel was in high school when she began adhering precisely to the government food pyramids. As the Virginia native learned more about healthy eating, she stopped ingesting anything processed, then restricted herself to whole foods and eventually to 100% organic. By college, the 5-ft. 4-in. communications major was on a strict raw-foods diet, eating little else besides uncooked broccoli and cauliflower and tipping the scales at just 68 lb. Rutzel, now 27, has a name for her eating disorder: orthorexia, a controversial diagnosis characterized by an obsession with avoiding foods perceived to be unhealthy.
02/12/2010
Trends In Health Care Spending For Immigrants In The United States –
This paper examines the spending for health care of adult naturalized citizens and immigrant noncitizens (including some undocumented immigrants) compared to U.S. natives, as documented in data from the 1999–2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys (MEPS): "inflation and age-adjusted health care expenditures among noncitizen immigrants were consistently … lower than those of naturalized citizens and U.S. natives during 1999–2006." However, "noncitizen immigrants were more likely than U.S. natives to have a health care visit classified as uncompensated care," the authors note (Stimpson, Wilson and Eschbach, 2/11).
This paper examines the spending for health care of adult naturalized citizens and immigrant noncitizens (including some undocumented immigrants) compared to U.S. natives, as documented in data from the 1999–2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys (MEPS): "inflation and age-adjusted health care expenditures among noncitizen immigrants were consistently … lower than those of naturalized citizens and U.S. natives during 1999–2006." However, "noncitizen immigrants were more likely than U.S. natives to have a health care visit classified as uncompensated care," the authors note (Stimpson, Wilson and Eschbach, 2/11).
02/12/2010
Postpartum depression is a mental illness that affects women after pregnancy.
The National Women's Health Information Center offers this list of risk factors for postpartum depression:
The National Women's Health Information Center offers this list of risk factors for postpartum depression:
02/11/2010
A new study suggests that despite an expanded treatment focus by the Department of Veterans Affairs, fewer than 30 percent of veterans receive adequate care for PTSD.
Treatment limitations pertain to therapy that does not extend or continue for the recommended treatment duration.
Treatment limitations pertain to therapy that does not extend or continue for the recommended treatment duration.
02/11/2010
A new study confirms that people with generalized anxiety disorder have brain abnormalities that suppress the unconscious control of emotions.
02/11/2010
Statistics on the unemployed have been dominating the news for months.
And while the current portrait of the jobless might seem dire, consider this: According to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, less than 20 percent of the disabled population in the country has work.
And while the current portrait of the jobless might seem dire, consider this: According to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, less than 20 percent of the disabled population in the country has work.
02/11/2010
Several local Vietnam War and Korean War veterans who experienced trouble getting their disability claims for post-traumatic stress disorder and other health issues approved said they feel let down by the Veterans Benefits Administration.
02/11/2010
For Mary Calhoun Brown, the term "Asperger's" is crucial to conveying to schools that although her 15-year-old son has had social difficulties, he has a near-genius IQ and great speaking ability.
02/11/2010
People with Asperger's syndrome would be included in the same diagnostic group as people with autism and pervasive developmental disorders, according to new guidelines under consideration by the American Psychiatric Association.
02/04/2010
Preventing patients from leaving psychiatric wards without staff agreement could avoid up to 50 suicide deaths every year, say University of Manchester researchers.
12/28/2009
A study of the adverse effects of 4 second-generation antipsychotics in children and adolescents documented substantial weight gain during 11 weeks of treatment with each agent, with the increased abdominal fat that has been associated with development of metabolic syndrome in adults. Metabolic abnormalities emerged with 3 of the 4 agents, differing in type and severity with the agent and, in some cases, with the dose.
12/03/2009
The Arizona Department of Health Services has teamed with Google to create a flu shot finder link on a new Web site.
Visitors to www.StopTheSpreadAZ.org also can learn how to prevent flu spread and determine what they need to do if they have flu-like symptoms.
Visitors to www.StopTheSpreadAZ.org also can learn how to prevent flu spread and determine what they need to do if they have flu-like symptoms.
12/01/2009
Feelings of unhappiness, decreased energy, insomnia and irritability are all symptoms of depression. And antidepressants can help relieve depression.
11/27/2009
America is a country that worships personal tales of redemption. If public figures are caught out drunk or on drugs, cheating on their wives, then they quickly head off to Betty Ford or Hazelden, apologize to their families and constituents, and promise not to stray or drink again. And we forgive them.
11/03/2009
You have seen movies in which characters have acted violently. Many times, these characters also have a mental illness. Violence is one common stereotype of psychological disorders, along with rebellion and child-like behavior. In The Dark Knightand Me, Myself, and Irene, a character has multiple personality disorder, which is said to cause demonic or mean behavior. Harvey Dent develops a second, evil personality called Two-Face, while Charley Baileygates is known to lash out at random due to his other, less friendly, personality. In each character, mental illness is shown to bring out violence, instead of many other possible behaviors. As such, these movies add to the stigma that surrounds mental disorders.
11/02/2009
It is one of the most intriguing labels in psychiatry. Children with Asperger’s syndrome, a mild form of autism, are socially awkward and often physically clumsy, but many are verbal prodigies, speaking in complex sentences at early ages, reading newspapers fluently by age 5 or 6 and acquiring expertise in some preferred topic — stegosaurs, clipper ships, Interstate highways — that will astonish adults and bore their playmates to tears.
10/20/2009
The U.S. Health & Human Services Department's National Institutes of Health has discretionary grant opportunities to support research for the development of treatment for drug and other substance abuse and dependence among populations with pain. This funding opportunity uses the R03 award mechanism.
10/15/2009
With licensing fees set to rise dramatically Jan. 1, leaders of after-school programs, health-care facilities and other groups are working to oppose the increases before they take effect.
09/10/2009
Individuals with a mental illness rarely receive a basic health promotion message – stop smoking. The reason, according to an expert, is a concern that the mental disorders will exacerbate as the tobacco addiction is addressed.
09/09/2009
On May 26, Schala Vera was taken to Chandler Regional Medical Center. Apparently, her mother feared the young child had been molested while living with relatives in another state. A social worker at the hospital had called Child Protective Services, reporting that the girl seemed uncomfortable around the mother's boyfriend.
09/03/2009
Every Wednesday, Rowena Gutierrez sets up a large plywood sign and opens her garage door, inviting people to browse through her possessions -- lamps, a dining table, small angel statues, clothes. If they find something, both people benefit. The buyer takes home the trinket, and Gutierrez puts that money toward the estimated $11,000 she owes in medical bills.
09/03/2009
Can traumatic brain injury cause a person to develop a mental health problem or trigger an underlying problem not yet discovered, which then causes the person to create a fantasy world while in a coma, which, when they awake they are adamant is real?
06/04/2009
Centuries ago, people who needed help asked their pastor or a neighbor for help. Now this age-old practice has evolved into a full-fledged profession, and Grand Canyon University (GCU) has seen interest in its degreed counseling programs growing by the day.