Mental Health

Depression

Condition Overview Latest News

Internet Consulted More Often Than Doctors - [10/12/08]

Summary: New market research shows that over the past year more adults went to the internet to get health information than consulted a doctor. This trend may likely be the product of an increasing consumer comfort in using the web to find reliable medical information. In addition, rising costs of healthcare coverage and visits to the doctor may be adding to the preference for first looking for information online.

Comment: The impacts of this trend, as well as others, will be discussed in an online seminar entitled "Is TV Dead? How the New New Media Changes Pharmaceutical DTC Advertising". The event is scheduled for October 14th at 11am EST and October 16th at 3pm EST.

Read article - Medical News Today. October 12, 2008.
Read article - Register for the Seminar

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.

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.

Association Between Stress and Depression - [09/02/08]

Summary: A new, extensive, article on the Science Daily website details the brains function and its control over the body, while also explaining the effects of depression and stress upon the body and their link to one another. Topics covered include depressions role as a growing health burden and neurogenesis in the adult brain.

Comment: Articles such as this, which give an overview of conditions and their relationship to each other, in addition to expounding upon how the conditions come to be and manifest themselves within the body, are valuable in educating patients and caregivers about various conditions. Those wishing to better understand depression, stress, and their interaction, would greatly benefit from this article.

Read article - Science Daily. September 2, 2008.

New Online Pharmacy Verification Program May Be Misleading - [05/29/08]

Summary: In a list published by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy five low-cost online pharmacies have been labeled "Not Recommended". However, PharmacyChecker.com, the internet's largest independent verification service of online pharmacies, advises consumers that these pharmacies are ethical and meet all verification requirements. It has been suggested that the NABP, which works with the FDA and is sponsored by Pfizer, a drug company, is attempting to scare consumers away from these low-cost pharmacies.

Comment: The NABP's list of verified pharmacy sites only includes 15 members, which consist largely of US based pharmacy chains and benefits managers. It does not even include lower-cost US sites such as Costco.com, while Canadian and other foreign pharmacies are barred entirely from inclusion. Meanwhile PharmacyChecker.com is dedicated to certifying online, low-cost pharmacy options for consumers.

Read article - HealthNewsDigest.com. May 29, 2008.

New Law Protects Patients from Genetic Discrimination - [05/22/08]

Summary: A new law has been passed to protect patients in the US from genetic discrimination by keeping their genetic information secure. This legislation prohibits insurers from denying or canceling coverage based on a patient's genetic information, allowing for patient privacy even as scientific advancements make individualized health care possible for patients.

Comment: Genetic testing has the potential to greatly advance diagnosis and treatment of disease. However, it is important that genetic information be protected to prevent any discrimination based on a patient's genetics. The American Medical Association has expressed their support of the passage of this new law.

Read article - American Medical Association. May 22, 2008.

Many Uninsured Are Eligible for Aid But Not Enrolled - [04/25/08]

Summary: There are 47 million uninsured people in the United States. About 12 million of them qualify for public coverage, but are not enrolled, including 64 percent of uninsured children. Many of these people are not aware of programs or don't know how to enroll. For low-income uninsured adults even qualifying for aid can be the greatest hindrance. Only seven states provide public assistance to low-income childless adults, and about half the states deny access to traditional Medicaid benefits for working parents in families above 63 percent of the FPL (about $13,000 for a family of four).

Comment: Many uninsured people living in the United States could only benefit from the expansion of public programs such as Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Nancy Chockley, president and CEO of the National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation commented on the report saying, "What this report shows us is that reaching universal coverage is a very complicated proposition, but that we can get a quarter of the way there by getting more people who are eligible for public programs enrolled, and we can make a lot of headway, too, by looking for subsidies for low-income childless adults and parents."

Read article - Healthfinder.gov. April 25, 2008.

Guidelines Submitted by the AMA on Patient Safety Organizations - [04/11/08]

Summary: The American Medical Association has provided the government with the physicians' viewpoint on how to proceed with the creation of patient safety organizations. The comments submitted by the AMA highlight the organization's strong support for a federal system by which health care professionals could voluntarily report patient safety information. In efforts to ensure the success of their proposed system and rules, the AMA will educate physicians on the reporting system, encourage their active participation and provide input on the system's creation.

Comment: The American Medical Association was a strong advocate for the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act passed in 2005. They have praised the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality for "capturing the legislation’s intent in the proposed rule." The commentary submitted by the AMA can also be viewed online.

Read article - American Medical Assocation. April 11, 2008.
Read article - Comments Submitted by the AMA.

Depression Information for Seniors at NIHSeniorHealth - [02/29/08]

Summary: Depression among older adults often goes undiagnosed and untreated. Now, easy-to-understand information about how to recognize the symptoms of depression and get help is available on NIHSeniorHealth, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Web site designed especially for seniors.

Comment: Readers can log onto the site below for answers to questions such as: What should I do if I think I'm depressed? What other conditions can co-exist with depression? How do I choose among medications, supplements, and psychotherapy to treat my depression? The Web site also offers information about other health issues that are of particular concern to older adults.

Read article - NIHSeniorHealth.