Mental Health
Depression
Medicare Eliminates Coverage for 10 "Reasonably Preventable" Errors - [10/02/08]
Summary: New regulations, which will take effect next Wednesday, have Medicare halting payment for 10 errors which they have deemed "conditions that could reasonably have been prevented." Expected to affect hundreds of thousands, the new rules will mostly likely not result in a major reduction in expenses.
Comment: This new decision comes on the heels of announcements by four state Medicaid organizations last year in which they eliminated 28 "never events", preventable errors, from coverage. The trend seems to be growing and could have negative ramifications for millions of Americans. Among others, healthcare professionals have begun expressing concern about the decision.
Read article - Medical News Today. October 2, 2008.
Depression Risk Increased with Smoking - [10/01/08]
Summary: There is a greater risk of developing a major depressive disorder in women that smoke. A test recently conducted with 87 women, concluded with 13 of them developing a depressive disorder. The researchers found a 93 percent increase of risk for developing a depressive condition when you smoke.
Comment: Those who smoke are at higher risk for a depressive disorder than non-smokers. However, heavy smokers (those who smoke more than twenty cigarettes a day) more than double their risk for a depressive disorder. Smoking can affect many aspects of a patient's life, causing it to be important to receive medical help.
Read article - Medical News TODAY October 1, 2008
Teenagers with Anxiety Disorders and Depression - [09/30/08]
Summary: About 25 percent of the population of America has experienced depression or an anxiety disorder over their lifetime. Michell Craske, a psychology professor at UCLA, has conducted studies on the early predicting of who may get these conditions and why. She and her colleagues have found that the tendency to feel negative emotions in a given situation is a strong predictor of both depression and anxiety disorders.
Comment: Children with anxious parents are 3.5 times more likely to develop depression or an anxiety disorder later in their youth. Anxiety disorders, including panic disorder and post-traumatic stress syndrome, are conditions that tend to continue to affect a patients health if untreated.
Read article - Medical News TODAY September 16, 2008
Efforts to Reduce Ethnic and Racial Disparities - [09/29/08]
Summary: This article outlines current efforts are being made to reduce racial and ethnic health care disparities. These include the Respira program, which focuses on providing asthma education and outreach to Hispanic communities. Another program is a lecture that seeks to improve knowledge of blood pressure management and diabetes. Other efforts involve grants to increase levels of minority students in medical programs, and campaigns to increase medical literacy in minority communities.
Comment: Racial and ethnic disparities exist in most areas of medical care including depression. These disparities can often be dangerous to the health of minority people. These programs are aiming to close the gaps in health care, which can result in better care for people with depression.
Read article - Medical News TODAY September 29, 2008
Physical and Mental Health of Police Officers - [09/29/08]
Summary: The pressures of law enforcement have been linked to high blood pressure, insomnia, increased levels of destructive stress hormones, heart problems, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicide. The high risk of physical and mental illnesses faced by police officers brings the light the importance of providing adequate help and information to these men and women.
Comment: "Policing is a psychologically stressful work environment filled with danger, high demands, ambiguity in work encounters, human misery and exposure to death," said Violanti, a 23-year veteran of the New York State Police. "We anticipate that data from this research will lead to police-department-centered interventions to reduce the risk of disease in this stressful occupation."
Read article - Medical News Today. September 29, 2008.
Treating Depression in Cancer Patients - [09/28/08]
Summary: The first trial of a new approach for treating depression in cancer patients has produced encouraging results. The program was administered by nurses specially trained in depression management and equipped with a 76-page manual entitled, Depression Care of People with Cancer, and written by the creators of the program. This method focuses on depression screening, antidepressant medication, and teaching patients problem-solving.
Comment: "The business of medicine isn't just about making people live longer, it's about making them feel better," said lead researcher Michael Sharpe MD, Professor of Psychological Medicine. "This approach is about improving quality-of-life for cancer patients, and doing it in a realistic way that's integrated with their cancer care."
Read article - American Cancer Society. August 22, 2008.
Mental Health Services for Those in the Military Will Be Increased - [09/27/08]
Summary: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps and Department of Defense (DoD) have created a partnership to help provide better mental health services to members of the military. This partnership aims to better aid returning service members, their families, and military retirees in their battles with many mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries, insomnia, anxiety, flashbacks and depression.
Comment: The increased efforts will include greater recruitment of mental health service providers to help raise the government's capacity to provide for mental health needs. Admiral Joxel Garcia, HHS assistant secretary of health and head of PHS stated, "The healing of our injured soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines is of top priority and the U.S. Public Health Service is honored to be a part of this program."
Read article - Health News Digest. September 27, 2008.
Computer Based Depression Treatment May Become a Reality - [09/26/08]
Summary: Currently, the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI), is working on the development of a program which astronauts can use to diagnose and treat depressions and other psychological problems which may develop over the course of a space mission. While the technology is at this time exclusively for NASA, it is possible than a program for use by the general public may eventually develop from these efforts.
Comment: The program features a multimedia approach and provides feedback based on the answers to a short questionnaire. In addition the program assists in planning enjoyable activities, implementing a plan to solve problems, and educates the user about depression.
Read article - Science Daily. September 26, 2008.
New Electrical Simulation Therepy Used to Treat Many Conditions - [09/23/08]
Summary: Researchers have discovered a way to improve electrical nerve stimulation by outfitting the electrodes with basic black coating that is formed from carbon nanotubes. This coating improves the signals that are transmitted by the electrodes. The black coating also improves conductivity, reducing the tissue damage and using less electricity.
Comment: Depression rates are growing and the correct treatment for it is important. Because depression medications are more effective when the body makes new nerve cells, this improved treatment may help remedy depression better and more efficiently.
Read article - Medical News TODAY September 23, 2008
Family Therapy Improves Depression in Bipolar Teenagers - [09/05/08]
Summary: Family therapy and medication in combination have been shown to decrease depression levels in teens with bipolar disorder. The therapy studied was 21 50-minute sessions with the patient, and family members. The therapy focused on communication and problem solving. There were no differences in the recovery rates, but those also having therapy spent less time depressed and recovered more quickly from depression.
Comment: Many more teens are being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and having bipolar disorder during the patient's youth can cause many health problems. These include frequent switches of polarity, psychosis, and higher levels of depression. While medication can treat the symptoms of bipolar disorder family therapy can help the side effect of depression, which greatly improves the quality of life for those teens with bipolar disorder.
Read article - Medical News TODAY September 5, 2008