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Tuesday, 17 November 2009 |
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People with severe mental disorders more at risk of dying from heart disease
Washington, Nov 14 (ANI): People suffering from severe mental disorders, like schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders, are 25 percent to 40 percent likely to die from heart disease than those without such illness, according to a new study.
The research, led by Dr. Amy Kilbourne, also found that smoking and physical inactivity - behaviours that individuals potentially can change - significantly contribute to this increased risk of death.
They looked at results from the 1999 Large Health Survey of Veteran Enrollees in conjunction with the VA's National Psychosis Registry and the National Death Index of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The study, which includes responses from more than 147,000 veterans, is the largest of its kind to ever take place. Most of the respondents were men and about two-thirds were 50 or older.
Patients with mental disorders who also had a diagnosis of diabetes - a known risk factor for heart disease and a side effect of some antipsychotic medications - were at high risk for heart disease-related mortality, as were patients with a diagnosis of dementia.
Smoking and lack of exercise, both common behaviours in people with mental disorders, contributed to the heart disease-related deaths considerably.
"These are devastating illnesses that lead to a lot of functional impairment, so many of these individuals have difficulty staying motivated to exercise to begin with, or finding places where they feel comfortable exercising," said Kilbourne.
Considering factors such as diabetes and lifestyle, researchers found that patients with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders were still more likely to die from heart disease.
"This suggests that we are either missing some factor, or there is something inherent about having these disorders that puts patients at greater risk for heart disease-related mortality," said Kilbourne.
Dr. Eric Goplerud, said that results of this study and others suggest that people with serious mental illnesses are far less likely to receive medical screening and general preventive care.
He said that lack of coordinated care has serious consequences.
The study has been published in the latest issue of the journal General Hospital Psychiatry. (ANI)
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Monday, 16 November 2009 |
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A personal journey of embracing the bipolar opportunity
SARASOTA, Fla., Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Many Americans suffer from bipolar disorder and their treatment often includes myriad medications. But what if there is another way to cope with the illness that comes from within? In his revolutionary new guidebook, "Living Out of Darkness: A personal journey of embracing the bipolar opportunity" (published by AuthorHouse), George Denslow -- who was diagnosed bipolar at age 17 -- presents a comprehensive, in-depth look at how to manage bipolar symptoms using a technique he calls "unmedicated spiritual engagement."
Denslow is quick to point out that he is not a psychologist, psychiatrist or psychotherapist, and "Living Out of Darkness" "is not a clinical dissertation on how to treat bipolar," he writes. "It is a true, practical, written on the ground, map of what [I] have discovered living in the terrain [myself]."
Divided into four parts, "Part 1: What is Bipolar" begins with a brief explanation of the traditional definition of bipolar disorder and then introduces Denslow's own alternative definition: that the manic phase is visionary and the depressive cycle is an empathy phase. "Part 2: A Holistic Approach" gives an overview of holistic and preventative body, mind and spirit techniques practiced by the author himself with positive results.
"Part 3: A Guided Tour (Up, Down, and Back to Normal)" presents a road map of the inner and outer terrain of bipolar swings and how they may be consciously navigated. Bipolar readers will benefit from Denslow's experiential knowledge of the different types and speeds of "ups" and "downs" they may encounter, as well as suggestions for how they might facilitate their return to balance. Loved ones and therapists will be grateful for the insight into how their bipolar family member, friend, or client feels life.
Finally, "Part 4: The Symbiotic Opportunity" shares the gifts of being bipolar and describes the opportunity it presents for all who are lucky enough to be bipolar or to know someone who is. "Being bipolar," Denslow explains, "is an opportunity to practice every day the way we can serve others in the same capacity we have to serve ourselves. We lead people to a better life, through being an example of continual discovery and overcoming our inner swings. We provide nurturing comfort and guidance because we know firsthand the need for it. .... Compassion is the gem of living with our mental opportunities. The better we are at taking care of ourselves through highs and lows, the deeper we can feel connected with people that experience any size of bump or vision in the road."
Full of real-life insight and common-sense guidance, "Living Out of Darkness" is a must read for anyone with bipolar symptoms, friends and family of those diagnosed, and therapists and professionals treating the illness. For more information, please visit http://www.livingoutofdarkness.com.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 16 November 2009 )
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Tuesday, 10 November 2009 |
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The Bazelon Center Congratulates U.S. House on Passing the Affordable Health Care for America Act
Washington, DC - November 9, 2009, - The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law congratulates the 220 members of the U.S. House of Representatives who cast a historic vote approving the Affordable Health Care for America Act, H.R. 3962 on Saturday, November 7, 2009. "The vote puts Congress closer to extending affordable, quality health care, including mental health services at parity, to millions of Americans," said Laurel Stine, director of Federal Relations for the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law.
"We thank the House leadership, committee chairs and legislators who worked tirelessly to ensure meaningful reforms to our health care delivery system," Stine added. "They could have left in place - and thankfully did not - a system where health care costs continue to climb and millions of Americans lack appropriate, early and continuing care.
"We commend the House for sharing our vision of improved integration of mental health with other health care through expanded access, greater emphasis on prevention and early intervention, better management of chronic illness and improved quality of care.
"The Affordable Health Care for America Act includes a host of reforms that are critical to guaranteeing access to health and mental health services for Americans. These include requiring that mental health and substance abuse benefits be provided and at parity with other health care, prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions like mental illnesses, charging different premiums based on health status and other risk factors, and barring annual and lifetime dollar limits on receiving care," said Stine.
"In particular," she added, "by extending Medicaid to individuals with a family income of up to 150% of the federal poverty level, including single childless adults, many of whom have severe mental disabilities, the House confirms the value of the Medicaid program to give low-income, vulnerable Americans the comprehensive services and supports they need to get better and to live happy, healthy and productive lives.
"We look forward to working with Congress to pass a comprehensive health care bill toward the end of the year. Now is the time to make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans and to secure a healthy future for our country," said Stine.
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Monday, 09 November 2009 |
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Washington, Nov 6 (ANI): Patients suffering from major depression now have a safe, effective, non-drug treatment, thanks to the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Clinic opened by Rush University Medical Center.
TMS therapy is the first FDA-approved, non-invasive antidepressant device-based treatment clinically proven for treatment of depression.
Psychiatrists led by Dr. Philip Janicak at Rush were among the first to test the technique.
The TMS therapy system delivers highly focused magnetic field pulses to a specific portion of the brain, the left prefrontal cortex, in order to stimulate the areas of the brain linked to depression.
The repeated short bursts of magnetic energy introduced through the scalp excite neurons in the brain.
Janicak said that drug treatment options could be ineffective or intolerable due to side effects.
Current antidepressant therapies are not beneficial for at least a third of depressed individuals, leaving many with a lack of adequate treatment options.
"Patients receive treatment in an outpatient setting and are able to return to normal activities right away," he said.
TMS therapy does not require anaesthesia or sedation and patients remain awake and alert.
It is a 40-minute outpatient procedure that is prescribed by a psychiatrist and administered daily for four-to-six weeks.
"TMS therapy is a safe and effective alternative for patients who suffer from major depressive disorder and are not getting satisfactory improvement from antidepressant medications," said Janicak. (ANI)
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