Everyone knows smoking is bad for them, but nicotine use among people who have bipolar disorder also raises the risk of suicide attempts, substance abuse, anxiety, and a worsening course of the disorder, new research has found.
Michael J. Ostacher, MD, and colleagues evaluated 399 outpatients who have BP disorder and found about 39% of them [...]
Archive for July, 2007
31 Jul
SMOKING Increases Anxiety, Suicide Attempts
28 Jul
Many Parents Want Distance Between Own Kids and Those With Mental Illness
Date: March 21, 2007
Science Daily — New research suggests that Americans are more likely to socially reject children with mental illness than they are those with physical illnesses such as asthma.
“Many respondents did not want their children to become friends with other kids identified as having mental illnesses or have them come over to spend [...]
25 Jul
IS THERE A PSYCHIATRIST IN THE HOUSE????
I have been living within the mental health system since early 1994, and diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder in 1995. Psychiatrists are key to dealing with mental illness, for without their monitoring of medications and in-patient/out-patient counseling, the illness can lead to an unmanageable life.
Living with mental illness at the best of times is difficult, however, untreated [...]
21 Jul
Many U.S. Immigrants Can’t Read Prescription Labels
New York City study finds most instructions aren’t translated
By Robert Preidt
FRIDAY, April 27, 2007 (HealthDay News) — Few New York City pharmacies translate prescription drug labels from English into other languages, posing a serious risk to patients who don’t speak English, researchers say.
“Imagine, as an English speaker, picking up a prescription with a label in Chinese [...]
19 Jul
Psych Meds: Dancing With My Pink & Whites
I’ve discovered the correct med combo for my BP II. That in itself is in comparison to winning the lottery. I at long last won the med lottery with my pink (Lithium) and white (Lamictal) combo. It only took eight years, but I really am “Dancing with my Pink and Whites”.
Actually, I have the main [...]
18 Jul
Students With Symptoms of Mental Illness Often Don’t Seek Help
Source: University of Michigan
Date: June 24, 2007
Science Daily — Studies show that the incidence of mental illness on college campuses is rising, and a new survey of 2,785 college students indicates that more than half of students with significant symptoms of anxiety or depression do not seek help.
This is despite the fact that resources are [...]
18 Jul
Fewer Kids on SSRI Antidepressants
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Within 2 years after the October 2003 FDA public health advisory about the risk of suicide in children taking a type of antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), significant reductions in rates of diagnosis and antidepressant treatment of childhood depression occurred, researchers report.
“Antidepressant use was [...]
15 Jul
Psychoquackery?
I wrote an article recently “The Psychotherapy Mess”, entailing my ‘mess’ with the whole psychotherapy process. Thinking it was just perhaps me negatively affected by this form of therapy, I discovered this amazing article written in Newsweek.
I am back in therapy, just for the short term, to help me deal with work issues. For me, [...]
13 Jul
Medicaid Recipients Have Trouble Finding Mental Health Care
Substance abuse programs, too, are concentrated in community, not hospital, settings
HealthDay, By Krisha McCoy
MONDAY, July 2 (HealthDay News) — Medicaid beneficiaries with substance abuse and mental disorders are less likely to use community services, even though most of the medical help for these disorders is community-based, a new study finds.
The study, which is published in [...]
10 Jul
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – Triggers
An extremely painful or stressful event can trigger symptoms
– Diana Kohnle
(HealthDay News) — Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological condition in which a person may re-live an extremely painful or traumatic experience. People of any age may have flashbacks, painful memories, or nightmares about the event that frightened them.
These episodes may occur months or [...]
9 Jul
High Health Costs Hit U.S. Women Harder
High Health Costs Hit U.S. Women Harder
They require more care but have lower incomes, research shows
By Robert Preidt, Thursday, April 19, 2007
THURSDAY, April 19 (HealthDay News) — American women are more likely than men to go without needed health care, because they can’t afford it, a new report finds.
The report was released Thursday by the [...]
9 Jul
Gabapentin May Treat Fibromyalgia Pain
CINCINNATI, June 11 (UPI) — U.S. scientists say the anticonvulsant medication Gabapentin might be effective in treating pain and other symptoms arising from fibromyalgia.
The results stem from a randomized, double-blind study of 150 women and men with the condition, sponsored by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
Dr. Lesley Arnold, director of [...]
8 Jul
Lucky Charm
THANKFUL AND UNLUCKY LUCKY
Most of us living with mental illness; it’s not uncommon to feel bitter and regret. Why did this happen to me? Why did the illness pick me? I, too, am the cynic at times.
I was inspired by a beautiful post on this site Jamila Lighthouse, and this made me think – [...]
1 Jul
What does “CLINICAL DEPRESSION” mean?
What does the term “clinical depression” mean?
Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Daniel Hall-Flavin, M.D., answers:
Depressive disorders range in seriousness from mild, temporary episodes of sadness to severe, persistent depression. Doctors use the term “clinical depression” to describe the more severe, persistent form of depression. Signs and symptoms may include:
· Loss of interest in daily activities
· Persistent [...]
What you thought...