Copyright 2009 Medical News Today Latest Mental Health News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/mental_health/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171566.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171566.php Patients coping with the chaos and misery of Borderline Personality Disorder now have reason for strong confidence in making major life changes through a new treatment, Schema Therapy. For the first time, three major outcome studies have shown that many patients with Borderline Personality Disorder can achieve full recovery across the complete range of symptoms. Psychology / Psychiatry Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171573.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171573.php The European Medicines Agency has been formally notified by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Europe Ltd of its decision to withdraw its application for an extension of indication for the centrally authorised medicine Abilify (aripiprazole) tablets, orodispersible tablets and oral solution. Abilify was expected to be used in the treatment of major depressive episodes, as adjunctive therapy, in patients who have had an inadequate response to previous treatment with antidepressants. Psychology / Psychiatry Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171473.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171473.php "Mental Health America is pleased to endorse the nomination of Chai Feldblum to serve as a commissioner on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Mental Health Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171201.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171201.php On the day that the consultation period for the Government's Green Paper on adult social care closes, mental health charity Mind has expressed its concerns that the Paper does not address the needs of adults with mental health problems, instead skewing the debate towards older people. Mental Health Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171053.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171053.php The results of the 2009 Pfizer Health Index announced at the Royal College of Physicians Ireland reveal that the recently unemployed are four times more likely to claim to have depression than the general population. There is also evidence that the recession is leading to anxiety over money, is bad for self-esteem and is leading to relationship tension. The greatest impact of the recession is apparent among those between the ages of 25 and 50, who are parents and who live in urban areas. Depression Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171058.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171058.php An international study of more than 17,000 people with schizophrenia has found striking similarities in symptoms, medication, employment and sexual problems, despite the fact that it covered a diverse range of patients and healthcare systems in 37 different countries. Schizophrenia Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170999.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170999.php NPR profiles retired General Eric Shinseki, the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and his efforts to measure the scope of veterans' mental health issues. In his first nine months in this position, he "has spent hours just listening to veterans talk. Shinseki tells NPR's Steve Inskeep that he feels a strong obligation to 'give back' to the men and women he once served with. Veterans / Ex-Servicemen Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171033.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171033.php Chronic pain patients with a history of depression are three times more likely to receive long-term prescriptions for opioid medications like Vicodin compared to pain patients who do not suffer from depression, according to new research. The study, published in the November-December issue of the journal General Hospital Psychiatry, analyzed the medical records of tens of thousands of patients enrolled in the Kaiser Permanente and Group Health plans between 1997 and 2005. Depression Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170934.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170934.php A large new study confirms that people with severe mental disorders - such as schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders - are 25 percent to 40 percent more prone to die from heart disease than people without mental illness are. Moreover, smoking and physical inactivity - behaviors that individuals potentially can change - significantly contribute to this increased risk of death, found researchers led by Amy Kilbourne, Ph.D. Heart Disease Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170937.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170937.php Commenting on the announcement of a Government action plan to tackle the over prescribing of antipsychotic drugs to people with dementia, Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary said: "It is welcome news that the Government has made a commitment to deal with the overuse of anti-psychotic drugs. We look forward to working with the new National Clinical Director for Dementia on these ambitious proposals which offer hope for patients with dementia and their families. Alzheimer's / Dementia Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170919.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170919.php Queen's University researcher Steven Lehrer has won a prestigious international award in recognition of his contributions to health economics. A professor in Queen's School of Policy Studies and Department of Economics, Dr. Lehrer shares the RAND Corporation's Victor R. Fuchs Research Award with Jason Fletcher of Yale University. Mental Health Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170910.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170910.php Most adolescents who belong to an ethnic minority group wrestle not only with their self-esteem (like most teens), but also with identity issues unique to their ethnic group, such as dealing with social stigma. A new study tells us that young people's ethnic pride may affect their mental health. Psychology / Psychiatry Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170774.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170774.php Results from a large, retrospective analysis of inmates with a serious mental illness (SMI) underscores the financial burden of mental illness on the criminal justice and health and human services (HHS) systems, and may provide useful information to policy makers. Mental Health Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170714.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170714.php Congressional Quarterly: "Senate Democratic leaders reached a tentative agreement with Tom Coburn, R-Okla., on Tuesday night that averted the necessity of filing cloture on a veterans' health care omnibus measure and could lead to passage of the bill early next week. ... On Monday, Coburn said he objected to the bill because its five-year, $3.7 billion cost was not offset" (Oliveri, 11/10). Veterans / Ex-Servicemen Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170737.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170737.php A joint report from the Ambulance Serive Network and the Mental Health Network sets out how thousands of patients could get better treatment through joint working between ambulance services and mental health trusts Too many patients who are suffering from mental illness end up in Acciden Mental Health Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170739.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170739.php Commenting on the plans to enshrine waiting times in law, Mental Health Network director Steve Shrubb said: "Some patients will undoubtedly support and benefit from this measure yet we can not lose sight of the fact that over 12 per cent of the NHS budget is spent on mental health which this policy does not concern. Mental Health Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170735.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170735.php A major new report from the Mental Health Network, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the London School of Economics makes the case for mental health as health spending faces a spending squeeze A major new report sets out the case for mental health services as the economy faces its longest recession since records began and mental health problems look set to rise. Mental Health Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170610.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170610.php In a new study, psychologists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) are able to see in detail for the first time how various regions of the human brain respond when people experience an unexpected or traumatic event. The study could lead to the creation of biological measures that could identify people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or identify PTSD sufferers who would benefit from specific treatments. Psychology / Psychiatry Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170627.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170627.php Since the Vietnam Era, the American psychiatric community has recognized the returning war veterans' affliction of what is now commonly known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). While there has been much research and advancements in the treatment of PTSD, the focus has always been on the veterans themselves. What has never been addressed or understood, until now, is how the stress from distant battlefields has affected the families of veterans. Veterans / Ex-Servicemen Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170574.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170574.php The Associated Press/The Houston Chronicle reports that Texas lawmakers will add $5 million to expand mental health services - specifically veteran-to-veteran peer support groups - in the state. "Gov. Rick Perry on Monday announced the plan that calls for directing money from the state Health and Human Services Commission budget toward mental health treatment programs for veterans and their families" (11/9). Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170568.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170568.php Americans do not believe they know much about depression , but are highly aware of the risks of not receiving care, according to a survey released today by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). See full survey results at http://www.nami.org/depression. Depression Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170514.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170514.php Mental Health America announced it is partnering with Prescription Audio, a Philadelphia-area based firm (Voorhees, N.J.), to make the company's scientifically based sound therapy available without charge as a download to veterans, active duty servicemen and women, their family members and health care providers. "We applaud Prescription Audio for making this therapy available for free and are proud to partner with them," said David Shern, Ph.D. Mental Health Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170389.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170389.php The events at Fort Hood highlight the military's struggle to provide mental health care for soldiers, veterans and the therapists who treat them. The Veterans / Ex-Servicemen Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170398.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170398.php A new WHO report, released Monday, said women tend to "receive poorer quality care throughout their lives, particularly as teenagers and elderly people" even though they live six to eight years longer than men, Reuters reports. Women's Health / Gynecology Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170353.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170353.php Results of a recent survey reveal that, despite an increase in stress, fewer Americans use therapy as a way to manage it. The results of the annual "Stress in America" survey by the American Psychological Association, released last week, found that while 85 percent of Americans say their stress level has remained the same or increased in the past year, just 4 percent of people use therapy as a way to combat that stress. This reflects a decrease in therapy usage related to stress. Psychology / Psychiatry