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of MT's NIMH SCIENCE OUTREACH PARTNERSHIP
MMHA and NIMH Bridging Science and Service
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Science and Service News Update
September 15, 2009
NIMH: Economic Analysis Estimates Cost of Providing Comprehensive Mental Health Care Following Disasters—Study Clarifies Public Health Value of Large-Scale Mental Health Recovery Efforts
Making evidence-based mental health services accessible to everyone in a disaster-stricken area would have substantial public health benefits, according to a statistical model developed by NIMH-funded researchers. Rough estimates of cost show such comprehensive care would be within the range of other accepted medical practices. However, given the considerable costs and resources required, further studies are needed to determine whether such efforts are advisable and, if so, to what degree. The study was published in the August 2009 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/economic-analysis-estimates-cost-of-providing-comprehensive-mental-health-care-following-disasters.shtml
New NIH Tool Makes Funding Data, Research Results and Products Searchable
Comprehensive funding information for NIH grants and contracts is now available on the NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tool (RePORT) thanks to a new, user-friendly system called the RePORT Expenditures and Results, or RePORTER. RePORTER combines NIH project databases and funding records, PubMed abstracts, full-text articles from PubMed Central, and information from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office with a robust search engine, allowing users to locate descriptions and funding details on NIH-funded projects along with research results that cite the NIH support.
Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/sep2009/od-04.htm
NIDA: Innovative Community-Based Prevention System Dramatically Reduces Risky Behavior in 10-14 Year Olds; Communities That Care System Lowers Rates of Substance Abuse and Delinquent Behavior in Seven States
A randomized trial of Communities That Care (CTC), an evidence-based substance-use community-focused prevention system, showed significant reductions in the initiation of alcohol use, tobacco use, binge drinking, and delinquent behavior among middle schoolers as they progressed from the fifth through the eighth grades. The four-year trial, called the Community Youth Development Study, began in 2003 and has been supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The positive results, published in the September 7 Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, demonstrate that community-based coalitions using customized evidence-based approaches can prevent the early initiation of substance abuse and delinquent behavior among youth.
Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/sep2009/nida-07.htm
NIA: Scientists Identify Two Gene Variants Associated with Alzheimer’s Risk—Largest-Ever Genome Study of Alzheimer’s Suggests CLU, PICALM Gene Variants May Play a Role in Disease
In the largest genome-wide association study reported to date involving Alzheimer’s disease, scientists have identified two new possible genetic risk factors for late-onset Alzheimer’s, the most common form of the disease. The study, which pooled DNA samples from a number of European and U.S. groups, not only associated variations in the sequence of the CLU and PICALM genes with increased risk, but also found another 13 gene variants that merit further investigation, according to findings presented in the September 6, 2009, online issue of Nature Genetics. Involving more than 16,000 DNA samples, one feature of this research was its use of publicly shared DNA samples and databases, including several supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA).
Press Release: http://www.nia.nih.gov/NewsAndEvents/PressReleases/20090908GWAS.htm
SAMHSA New National Survey Reveals Significant Decline in the Misuse of Prescription Drugs—Sharp Decline Also Continues for Methamphetamine Use
The misuse of prescription drugs decreased significantly between 2007 and 2008 among those aged 12 and older, including among adolescents, according to 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). However, the national survey showed that the overall level of current illicit drug use has remained level at about 8 percent. The annual NSDUH report which was issued by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at the start of the 20th annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month also indicated that progress has been made in curbing other types of the illicit drug use. For example, past month methamphetamine use among those aged 12 and older dropped sharply from approximately 529,000 people in 2007 to 314,000 in 2008. Similarly, the level of current cocaine use among the population aged 12 and older has decreased from 1.0 percent in 2006 to 0.7 percent in 2008.
Press Release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/090910NSDUH)5111.aspx
Full report: http://oas.samhsa.gov/nsduh/2k8nsduh/2k8Results.cfm
Science and Service News Updates
August 15, 2009
HHS Announces Senate Confirmation of Dr. Francis Collins as Director of the National Institutes of Health
The Department of Health and Human Services announced that the United States Senate unanimously confirmed Dr. Francis Collins as the next Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). “Dr. Collins is one of our generation's great scientific leaders. A physician and geneticist, Dr. Collins served as Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, where he led the Human Genome Project to completion,” said Secretary Sebelius. “Dr. Collins will be an outstanding leader. Today is an exciting day for NIH and for science in this country.”
Press Release: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/08/20090807d.html
NIMH: Web-based Programs Encourage Safer Sex Behaviors among Men at Risk for HIV/AIDS
A single-session, online, multimedia intervention effectively reduced risky sexual behaviors among young men who have sex with men, a group at high risk for HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. Such low-cost programs may help reverse the steady rise in HIV diagnoses among this population. The study was published online ahead of print on June 5, 2009, in the journal, AIDS and Behavior.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/web-based-programs-encourage-safer-sex-behaviors-among-men-at-risk-for-hiv-aids.shtml
NIMH: Economic Analysis Estimates Cost of Providing Comprehensive Mental Health Care Following Disasters: Study Clarifies Public Health Value of Large-Scale Mental Health Recovery Efforts
Making evidence-based mental health services accessible to everyone in a disaster-stricken area would have substantial public health benefits, according to a statistical model developed by NIMH-funded researchers. Rough estimates of cost show such comprehensive care would be within the range of other accepted medical practices. However, given the considerable costs and resources required, further studies are needed to determine whether such broader efforts are advisable and, if so, to what degree. The study was published in the August 2009 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/economic-analysis-estimates-cost-of-providing-comprehensive-mental-health-care-following-disasters.shtml
NIMH: Combination Treatment for Psychotic Depression Holds Promise
A combination of an atypical antipsychotic medication and an antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) may be more effective in treating psychotic depression than an atypical antipsychotic alone, according to results from an NIMH-funded clinical study. Researchers reported the results of the Study of Pharmacotherapy of Psychotic Depression (STOP-PD) in the March 2009 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/combination-treatment-for-psychotic-depression-holds-promise.shtml
NINR: A Brief Behavioral Intervention Can Reduce Depression in Stroke Survivors
A nurse-led behavioral intervention can reduce the incidence of depression in stroke survivors, according to the results of a study published in the recent issue of the journal Stroke. The intervention, called Living Well with Stroke (LWWS), provided individualized counseling sessions aimed at increasing pleasant social interactions and physical activity as a way to elevate mood, and was designed to be used alone or in conjunction with antidepressant medications. This study was funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR).
Press release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/aug2009/ninr-06.htm
SAMHSA Announces Additional Funding to Bolster Increasingly Strained National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Centers: Effects of The Economy are Placing Increased Demands on Crisis Services Centers at The Same Time They Face Cutbacks from Other Funding Sources
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is moving to provide urgent funding to suicide prevention centers around the nation that are dealing with the enormous hardship wrought by the economic downturn. Many of these centers must cope with a sharp rise in the number of callers in crisis (often because of financial problems). At the same time these centers are threatened with significant cutbacks in funding from state and local governments and other sources of support. SAMHSA funds the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) through a cooperative agreement for Networking, Certifying and Training Suicide Prevention Hotlines that was awarded to Link2Health Solutions, Inc. SAMHSA is providing more than $1 million in additional funding through a fiscal year (FY) 2009 supplement to this cooperative agreement.
Press Release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0908030709.aspx
FDA Issues Final Rules to Help Patients Gain Access to Investigational Drugs
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published two rules that seek to clarify the methods available to seriously ill patients interested in gaining access to investigational drugs and biologics when they are not eligible to participate in a clinical trial and don’t have other satisfactory treatment options. To support the effort to help these patients, the agency also is launching a new Web site where patients and their health care professionals can learn about options for investigational drugs. In general, these options include being treated with a drug that has been approved by FDA, being given an investigational drug as part of a clinical trial, or obtaining access to an investigational drug outside of a clinical trial.
Press Release: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm176526.htm
Science and Service News Updates
August 1, 2009
Major NIMH Research Project to Test Approaches to Altering the Course of Schizophrenia: Recovery Act Funds Will Support First Phase of Project
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is launching a large-scale research project to explore whether using early and aggressive treatment, individually targeted and integrating a variety of different therapeutic approaches, will reduce the symptoms and prevent the gradual deterioration of functioning that is characteristic of chronic schizophrenia. The Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode (RAISE) project is being funded by NIMH with additional support from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). RAISE is a model example of how money from the Recovery Act can accelerate science related to public health problems and potentially benefit those citizens most in need.
Press Release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/major-nimh-research-project-to-test-approaches-to-altering-the-course-of-schizophrenia.shtml
NIMH: Evidence-Based Prevention is Goal of Largest Ever Study of Suicide in the Military
The NIMH has announced that an interdisciplinary team of four research institutions will carry out the largest study of suicide and mental health among military personnel ever undertaken, with $50 million in funding from the U.S. Army. Study investigators aim to move quickly to identify risk and protective factors for suicide among soldiers and provide a science base for effective and practical interventions to reduce suicide rates and address associated mental health problems. The study is a direct response to the Army's request to NIMH to enlist the most promising scientific approaches for addressing the rising suicide rate among soldiers. A memorandum of agreement between NIMH and the Army, signed in October 2008, authorized NIMH to undertake the investigation with Army funding. Suicide rates among Army personnel have risen substantially since the beginning of the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan despite major surveillance and intervention efforts introduced by the Army to prevent suicides over this period.
Press Release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/evidence-based-prevention-is-goal-of-largest-ever-study-of-suicide-in-the-military.shtml
NIH Launches The Human Connectome Project to Unravel The Brain’s Connections
The National Institutes of Health Blueprint for Neuroscience Research is launching a $30 million project that will use cutting-edge brain imaging technologies to map the circuitry of the healthy adult human brain. By systematically collecting brain imaging data from hundreds of subjects, the Human Connectome Project (HCP) will yield insight into how brain connections underlie brain function, and will open up new lines of inquiry for human neuroscience. Investigators have been invited to submit detailed proposals to carry out the HCP, which will be funded at up to $6 million per year for five years. The HCP is the first of three Blueprint Grand Challenges, projects that address major
questions and issues in neuroscience research.
Press Release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/nih-launches-the-human-connectome-project-to-unravel-the-brains-connections.shtml
NIMH: Brain Emotion Circuit Sparks as Teen Girls Size Up Peers
What is going on in teenagers' brains as their drive for peer approval begins to eclipse their family affiliations? Brain scans of teens sizing each other up reveal an emotion circuit activating more in girls as they grow older, but not in boys. The study by NIMH researchers shows how emotion circuitry diverges in the male and female brain during a developmental stage in which girls are at increased risk for developing mood and anxiety disorders. Researchers reported on one of the first studies to reveal the workings of the teen brain in a simulated real-world social interaction, in the July, 2009 issue of the Journal Child Development.
Press Release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/brain-emotion-circuit-sparks-as-teen-girls-size-up-peers.shtml
NIH Issues Research Plan on Fragile X Syndrome and Associated Disorders
The NIH has developed a research plan to advance the understanding of fragile X syndrome and its associated conditions, fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome and fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency. Fragile X syndrome causes intellectual and developmental disabilities and results from a mutation in a gene on the X chromosome. The plan puts forward goals to guide future research, setting research priorities for each of the conditions. A major priority of the plan is to investigate the biological processes underlying all three disorders and how to better diagnose and treat them. Other priorities are studying how widespread the gene variations are in the population and how the three conditions affect families.
Press Release: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs_details.cfm?from=&pubs_id=5729
NIH and VA Announce $7 Million Partnership for Substance Abuse Research among Military Personnel, Veterans and their Families: Research Will Focus on War Efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan
Two federal departments have joined forces to create a first-time collaborative funding project to support research on substance abuse and associated problems among U.S. military personnel, veterans and their families. The National Institute on Drug Abuse, in partnership with two other NIH Institutes — the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and the National Cancer Institute — are jointly collaborating with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), on a seven million dollar funding opportunity announcement for research in this area. The funding opportunity announcement will focus on the causes, screening and identification, prevention and treatment of substance use and abuse — including alcohol, tobacco and other drugs — and associated problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder.
Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jul2009/nida-30.htm
Science and Service News Update
July 15, 2009
NIMH: Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Share Genetic Roots: Chromosomal Hotspot of Immunity/Gene Expression Regulation Implicated
A trio of genome-wide studies – collectively the largest to date – has pinpointed a vast array of genetic variation that cumulatively may account for at least one third of the genetic risk for schizophrenia. One of the studies traced schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, in part, to the same chromosomal neighborhoods. "These new results recommend a fresh look at our diagnostic categories," said Thomas R. Insel, M.D., director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health. "If some of the same genetic risks underlie schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, perhaps these disorders originate from some common vulnerability in brain development." Three schizophrenia genetics research consortia, each funded in part by NIMH, report separately on their genome-wide association studies online July 1, 2009, in the journal Nature. However, the SGENE, International Schizophrenia, and Molecular Genetics of Schizophrenia consortia shared their results - making possible meta-analyses of a combined sample totaling 8,014 cases and 19,090 controls. Press Release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/schizophrenia-and-bipolar-disorder-share-genetic-roots.shtml
National Institutes of Health Issues Guidelines on Human Stem Cell Research
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is hereby publishing final "National Institutes of Health Guidelines for Human Stem Cell Research" (Guidelines). On March 9, 2009, President Barack H. Obama issued Executive Order 13505: Removing Barriers to Responsible Scientific Research Involving Human Stem Cells. The Executive Order states that the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Director of NIH, may support and conduct responsible, scientifically worthy human stem cell research, including human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research, to the extent permitted by law. These Guidelines implement Executive Order 13505, as it pertains to extramural NIH-funded stem cell research, establish policy and procedures under which the NIH will fund such research, and help ensure that NIH-funded research in this area is ethically responsible, scientifically worthy, and conducted in accordance with applicable law. Internal NIH policies and procedures, consistent with Executive Order 13505 and these Guidelines, will govern the conduct of intramural NIH stem cell research.
Statement: http://stemcells.nih.gov/policy/2009guidelines.htm
NINDS: Novel Drug Discovery Tool Could Identify Promising New Therapies for Parkinson’s Disease
Researchers funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) have turned simple baker’s yeast into a virtual army of medicinal chemists capable of rapidly searching for drugs to treat Parkinson’s disease. In a study published online in Nature Chemical Biology, the researchers showed that they can rescue yeast cells from toxic levels of a protein implicated in Parkinson’s disease by stimulating the cells to make very small proteins called cyclic peptides. Two of the cyclic peptides had a protective effect on the yeast cells and on neurons in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease.
Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jul2009/ninds-13.htm
IOM Report Recommends 100 Initial Priorities for Research to Determine Which Health Care Approaches Work Best\
A new report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends 100 health topics that should get priority attention and funding from a new national research effort to identify which health care services work best. It also spells out actions and resources needed to ensure that this comparative effectiveness research initiative will be a sustained effort with a continuous process for updating priorities as needed and that the results are put into clinical practice.
Press Release: http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=12468
Report: http://www.iom.edu/?id=71032
FDA: Boxed Warning on Serious Mental Health Events to be Required for Chantix and Zyban
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it is requiring manufacturers to put a Boxed Warning on the prescribing information for the smoking cessation drugs Chantix (varenicline) and Zyban (bupropion). The warning will highlight the risk of serious mental health events including changes in behavior, depressed mood, hostility, and suicidal thoughts when taking these drugs.
Press Release: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm170100.htm
U.S. Department of Education Awards more than $32.8 Million to Promote Safe Schools, Healthy Students
More than $32.8 million in grants have been awarded to 18 states and the District of Columbia as part of a joint effort by the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Justice to support schools in creating safer and healthier learning environments. Under the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative, school districts, in partnership with local public mental-health agencies, law-enforcement and juvenile justice entities, must implement a comprehensive, community-wide plan that focuses on the following elements: 1) Safe school environments and violence prevention activities; 2) Alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention activities; 3) Student behavioral, social and emotional supports; 4) Mental-health services; and 5) Early childhood social and emotional learning programs.
Press Release: http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/07/07102009.html
Science and Service News Updates
July 1, 2009
NIMH: Brief, Clinic-Based, Peer-led Intervention Helps Reduce Subsequent STDs in African American Men
A brief, one-time intervention delivered by a trained peer health advisor was an effective and low-cost method for reducing new infections among young, heterosexual, African American men diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (STD), according to an NIMH-funded study. Such programs may help reduce STD-related health disparities, which currently affect a disproportionate number of African American men in the United States. The study was published in the April 2009 supplemental issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/brief-clinic-based-peer-led-intervention-helps-reduce-subsequent-stds-in-african-american-men.shtml
NIMH: Much Touted “Depression Risk Gene” May Not Add to Risk After All—New Look at Data Confirms Strong Association between Depression and Stressful Life Events
Stressful life events are strongly associated with a person's risk for major depression, but a certain gene variation long thought to increase risk in conjunction with stressful life events actually may have no effect, according to researchers funded by the NIMH. The study, published in the June 17, 2009, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, challenges a widely accepted approach to studying risk factors for depression.
Press Release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/much-touted-depression-risk-gene-may-not-add-to-risk-after-all.shtml
FDA Issues Safety Communication about an Ongoing Review of Stimulant Medications Used in Children with ADHD
There may be an association between the use of stimulant medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, known as ADHD, and sudden cardiac death in healthy children, according to a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that, because of the study’s limitations, parents should not stop a child’s stimulant medication based on the study. The FDA recommends that parents should discuss concerns about the use of these medications with the prescribing health care professional.
FDA News Release: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm166616.htm
NIMH Science Update: Questions Raised About Stimulants and Sudden Death Rarity Makes Definitive Assessment Elusive:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/questions-raised-about-stimulants-and-sudden-death.shtml
NIDA Info facts Stimulant ADHD Medications - Methylphenidate and Amphetamines:
http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/ADHD.html
NIDA Study Shows School-Based Prevention Program Reduces Problem Behaviors in Fifth-Graders by Half—Researchers See Drop in Rates of Substance Abuse, Violence, and Early Sexual Activity
A study suggests that school-based prevention programs begun in elementary school can significantly reduce problem behaviors in students. Fifth graders who previously participated in a comprehensive interactive school prevention program for one to four years were about half as likely to engage in substance abuse, violent behavior, or sexual activity as those who did not take part in the program. The study, supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) will appear in the August 2009 print issue of the American Journal of Public Health. The online version of the article was published online ahead of print on June 18, 2009.
Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jun2009/nida-18.htm
NIAAA: As College Drinking Problems Rise, New Studies Identify Effective Prevention Strategies
Alcohol-related deaths among U.S. college students rose from 1,440 deaths in 1998 to 1,825 in 2005, along with increases in heavy drinking and drunk driving, according to an article in the July supplement of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. The special issue describes the results of a broad array of research-based programs to reduce and prevent alcohol-related problems at campuses across the country. These studies resulted from the Rapid Response to College Drinking Problems Initiative, a grant program supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jun2009/niaaa-15.htm
SAMHSA Announces FY 2010 Guidance for Submissions to National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provided guidance for those interested in submitting programs and practices to its National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP). The notice is published in the June 23, 2009 Federal Register.
NREPP is a voluntary rating and classification system designed to provide the public with reliable information on the scientific basis and practicality of interventions that prevent and/or treat mental and substance use disorders. Under NREPP, minimum review criteria require that interventions must: be evaluated using an experimental or quasi-experimental study design; demonstrate one or more positive change outcomes in mental health and/or substance use among individuals, communities or populations; have results that are published in a peer-reviewed publication or documented in a comprehensive evaluation report; and provide documentation, such as manuals, guides, or training materials, to facilitate broader public dissemination of the intervention.
Press Release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0906220500.asp
SAMHSA: New National Study Shows that More than 1 in 5 Young Adults Need Treatment for Alcohol or Illicit Drug Use—Study Also Shows That Less Than 1 in 10 Young Adults Needing this Treatment Receive It
Nearly 7 million Americans aged 18 to 25 were classified as needing treatment in the past year for alcohol or illicit drug use according to a new national study. The SAMHSA study also shows that that 93 percent of these young adults did not receive the help they needed at a specialty treatment facility. These levels have remained relatively stable since 2002. The study also showed that the vast majority of young adults needing, but not receiving, specialized treatment for these substance use problems did not perceive their need for help. Even among the 4 percent of young adults who thought they needed specialized help in the past year, but who had not received it – less than one third made any attempt to get treatment.
Press Release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0906261345.aspx
Patient-Centered Research Report Sent to Congress Outlining Research Priorities for $400 Million for HHS in Recovery Act—Council Reports Back After Vigorous Public Outreach; Advises New Research Dollars To Focus On Populations Who Have Been Under-Represented And Better, More Coordinated Dissemination Of Information To Patients And Providers
Recommendations for how the HHS Office of the Secretary will spend $400 million in funds for patient-centered research, also known as comparative effectiveness research, were released by Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER). The report, mandated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is designed to help the HHS Secretary and lawmakers improve the quality of care for patients, and provide patients and doctors the best information possible to make decisions about health care. The Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research report also catalogues current federal activities on CER, which had not been previously inventoried.
http://www.hhs.gov/recovery/programs/cer
Science and Service News Updates
June 15, 2009
NIMH: Citalopram No Better Than Placebo Treatment for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Citalopram, a medication commonly prescribed to children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), was no more effective than a placebo at reducing repetitive behaviors, according to researchers funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and other NIH institutes. The study was published in the June 2009 issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.
Press Release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/citalopram-no-better-than-placebo-treatment-for-children-with-autism-spectrum-disorders.shtml
NIH Radio Story: http://www.nih.gov/news/radio/jun2009/index.htm
NIMH: Re-shaping Negative Thoughts Shields At-Risk Teens from Depression—Cognitive Prevention Program Trumps Usual Care in “Real World” Trial
At-risk teens exposed to a program that teaches them to counteract their unrealistic and overly negative thoughts experienced significantly less depression than their peers who received usual care, NIMH-funded researchers have found. However, the cognitive behavioral prevention program failed to similarly help adolescents prone to the mood disorder if their parents were currently depressed. NIMH grantees report on the findings of their multi-site clinical trial in the June 3, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Science Update; http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/re-shaping-negative-thoughts-shields-at-risk-teens-from-depression.shtml
SAMHSA: New National Report Shows Substantial Disparities in the Levels of Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Problems Experienced Among the States—Some States Have Levels Twice as High as Other States in Certain Categories of Problems, but All States Face Daunting Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Challenges
A new report providing state-by-state analyses of substance abuse and mental illness patterns reveals that there are wide variations in the levels of problems like illicit drug use found among the states, but that every state suffers from these problems. For example,  Tennessee had the nation’s highest rate of people aged 18 and older experiencing a major depressive episode in the past year (9.8 percent) while Hawaii had the lowest (5.0 percent). 
Press Release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0906042748.aspx
The full report: http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k7state/TOC.cfm
CDC:  Three in Every One Thousand U.S. Children Diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome
The first-ever national estimate among a nationally representative sample of U.S. children revealed that 3 out of every 1000 children between the age of 6 and 17 in the United States have been diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome (TS), according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The study found that a TS diagnosis is three times more common in boys than in girls, and approximately twice as common in children between 12-17 years as those aged 6-12 years. Among children with TS, 27% were reported as having moderate or severe TS and 79% of children had also been diagnosed with at least one additional mental health or neurodevelopmental condition.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5821a1.htm?s_cid=mm5821a1_e
Science and Service News Updates
June 1, 2009
NIMH: Recovery Funds Will Support Evaluation of Suicide Prevention Training
NIMH is using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to provide grant support for the completion of a project under way to evaluate the effectiveness of a new training program for telephone crisis counselors at suicide hotline centers. The rollout of the new training program, which began in winter of 2008, offers an unrepeatable opportunity to assess the benefits of the training. The information could shape telephone-based suicide prevention services across the country. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL), the nation's leading source of immediate help for those dealing with suicide-related issues, is carrying out the training program across its network of crisis centers. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) funds NSPL.
Press Release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/recovery-funds-will-support-evaluation-of-suicide-prevention-training.shtm
NIMH: HIV Prevention Program Gets a Boost from NIMH Recovery Act Funds
Developing interventions to reduce the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among heterosexual men, couples and ethnically diverse populations continues to be complex and challenging. To help address this issue, NIMH awarded a two-year grant to David Pérez-Jiménez, Ph.D., at the University of Puerto Rico, to support the adaptation and assessment of an HIV and other sexually transmitted infection intervention designed for young, heterosexual Latino couples. This grant will use funds allocated to NIMH through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to promote economic recovery and spur advances in science and health.
Press Release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/hiv-prevention-program-gets-a-boost-from-nimh-recovery-act-funds.shtml
NIMH: Potential Risk Factors for Suicide Identified Among Teens in Treatment for Depression
Use of medication did not trigger suicidal thinking among adolescents with depression, but those with persistent and severe depression were more at risk for suicidal events while undergoing treatment, according to a new analysis of data from the NIMH-funded Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS). The analysis, which was published in the May 2009 issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, was conducted to better understand what may predict the development of suicidal events during treatment.
Press Release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/potential-risk-factors-for-suicide-identified-among-teens-in-treatment-for-depression.shtml
NIAAA: Prevention Program Helps Teens Override a Gene Linked to Risky Behavior
A family-based prevention program designed to help adolescents avoid substance use and other risky behavior proved especially effective for a group of young teens with a genetic risk factor contributing toward such behavior, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Georgia. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) supported the study, which appears in the May/June issue of Child Development.
Press Release: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/NewsEvents/NewsReleases/teen_gene_linked.htm
NIDA Study Suggests Low-Key Anti-Smoking Ads Are More Likely to Be Remembered than Attention-Grabbing Messages—High Sensation Images Compete with Public Health Message
For the first time, preliminary research using brain-imaging technology has shown that low-key and attention-grabbing anti-smoking public service announcements stimulate different patterns of activity in smokers' brains and that smokers are more likely to remember seeing the low-key PSAs. The study, published May 15, 2009 in the journal NeuroImage, was supported by the NIDA and the National Cancer Institute.
Press Release: http://www.nida.nih.gov/newsroom/09/NR5-15.html
SAMHSA: National Report Finds Low Levels of Substance Use among Pregnant Women, but Higher Levels in New Mothers—Many Women’s Use of Alcohol, Cigarettes and Illicit Drugs Resumes after Childbirth
A new national report provides both encouraging and discouraging news about the use of substances by pregnant women and new mothers. Based on a nationwide survey, this SAMHSA report suggests that most women are heeding warnings about the dangers that substance use during pregnancy can pose to fetuses and are abstaining — especially in the latter stages of their pregnancies. However, this report, as well as a new study published by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, show that the number of women who drink alcohol while pregnant is disturbingly high, despite past Surgeon Generals’ warnings about the dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant. According to a 15 year-study by the CDC, the number of women who drink alcohol while pregnant is not decreasing – with approximately 1 in 8 women drinking any amount of alcohol while pregnant.
Press Release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0905202210.aspx
SAMHSA Report: http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k9/135/PregWoSubUse.cfm
CDC Report: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5819a4.htm
Science and Service News Updates
May 15, 2009
NIMH: Flow of Potassium Into Cells Implicated in Schizophrenia—Blocking Errant Protein Could Stem Runaway Brain Activity in Psychosis
A study on schizophrenia has implicated machinery that maintains the flow of potassium in cells and revealed a potential molecular target for new treatments. Expression of a previously unknown form of a key such potassium channel was found to be 2.5 fold higher than normal in the brain memory hub of people with the chronic mental illness and linked to a hotspot of genetic variation. An extensive series of experiments suggests that selectively inhibiting this suspect form could help correct disorganized brain activity in schizophrenia — without risk of cardiac side effects associated with some existing antipsychotic medications. Scientists at the National Institutes of Health and European colleagues report on threads of converging evidence in the May 2009 issue of the journal Nature Medicine.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/flow-of-potassium-into-cells-implicated-in-schizophrenia.shtm
NIMH: Thinning Tissue in Right Half of Brain Signals Increased Risk of Inherited Depression
In cases of familial depression, changes in tissue thickness in key brain structures in the right half of the brain may increase a person's risk for developing depression, according to NIMH-funded researchers. Similar changes in the left half of the brain were linked to the severity of a person's existing depression or anxiety symptoms. Based on their findings, the researchers proposed a possible mechanism for how these brain changes affect depression risk in the April 14, 2009, issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/thinning-tissue-in-right-half-of-brain-signals-increased-risk-of-inherited-depression.shtml
NIDA Study Reveals Widespread Effects of Cocaine on Genome Structure and Function
Repeated use of addictive drugs such as cocaine causes long-lasting changes in parts of the brain involved in motivation and reward, among others, yet the precise mechanisms by which these changes are maintained are poorly understood. A new study by scientists supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), published May 14, 2009 in the journal Neuron, sheds light on this process by providing fundamental new insights into the effects of cocaine on the structure and function of the genome, the complete set of DNA instructions needed to make an organism. Scientists see vast clinical potential of these newly identified gene targets.
Press release: http://www.nida.nih.gov/newsroom/09/NR5-13.html
SAMHSA: Community-Based Mental Health Programs Improve Youth Performance and Save Millions in School Costs—New Data Reveal Lower Dropout Rates and Improved Social and Emotional Well-Being for Youth in System of Care Programs
Systems of care — coordinated networks of community-based mental health services and supports for children and youth with serious mental health challenges —are able to dramatically improve the academic, behavioral and emotional performance of participating youth according to a new report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The report, Working Together to Help Youth Thrive in Schools and Communities, measured performance outcomes of system of care programs and found that these improvements occurred among many young people within 12 months of their enrollment in these programs. For example, on average, 15 percent of youth (ages 14-18) nationally fail to reach the next grade level, but among youth who receive comprehensive services through system of care programs, only 8 percent had to repeat a grade. School systems, which had children participating in a systems of care program, saved $4.5 million that is attributed to more students being promoted to the next grade level. The savings is the amount that would have otherwise been spent in having the programs’ students repeat a grade.
Full report: http://www.samhsa.gov/children
Press Release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0905064401.aspx
Science and Service News Update
May 1, 2009
NIMH: ADHD Medication Treatment Associated with Higher Academic Performance in Elementary School
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who take medication to treat the condition tend to do better in math and reading compared to their peers who also have ADHD but do not take medication, according to data from a national survey. The NIMH-funded study was published in the May 2009 issue of Pediatrics.
Science update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/adhd-medication-treatment-associated-with-higher-academic-performance-in-elementary-school.shtm
NIMH: Use of Antipsychotics in Alzheimer’s Patients May Lead to Detrimental Metabolic Changes
Atypical antipsychotic medications are associated with weight gain and other metabolic changes among patients with Alzheimer's disease, according to a recent analysis of data from the NIMH-funded Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness—Alzheimer's Disease (CATIE-AD) study. The study was published online April 15, 2009, in the American Journal of Psychiatry. Science update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/use-of-antipsychotics-in-alzheimers-patients-may-lead-to-detrimental-metabolic-changes.shtml
NIH: Risk of Autism Tied to Genes that Influence Brain Cell Connections
In three studies, including the most comprehensive study of autism genetics to date, investigators funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have identified common and rare genetic factors that affect the risk of autism spectrum disorders. The results point to the importance of genes that are involved in forming and maintaining the connections between brain cells.
Press release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/apr2009/ninds-28.htm
NIDA Launches Drug Use Screening Tools for Physicians: NIDAMED Helps Doctors Provide the Best in Medical Care
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) unveiled its first comprehensive Physicians' Outreach Initiative, NIDAMED, which gives medical professionals tools and resources to screen their patients for tobacco, alcohol, illicit, and nonmedical prescription drug use. The NIDAMED resources include an online screening tool, a companion quick reference guide, and a comprehensive resource guide for clinicians. The initiative stresses the importance of the patient-doctor relationship in identifying unhealthy behaviors before they evolve into life threatening conditions. Press release: http://www.drugabuse.gov/newsroom/09/NR4-20.html
NIDAMed website: http://www.drugabuse.gov/nidamed/
AHRQ and Ad Council Encourage Consumers to Ask Questions and Get More Involved in Their Health Care
A new series of national public service advertisements designed to encourage consumers to get involved in their health care by knowing and asking appropriate questions when visiting their doctor or other clinicians was launched by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) with The Advertising Council. http://www.ahrq.gov/questionsaretheanswer
Federal Government Seeks Public Comment on Issues Related to the Implementation of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act signed into law in October 2008 consolidated longstanding efforts at the national and state level to establish parity between the financial health coverage for mental health/substance abuse conditions, and physical health disorders. The three federal government agencies principally responsible for implementing this law – the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service – are issuing a request in the Federal Register seeking information and advice from the public addressing critical issues surrounding the best ways to implement the law and fulfill its objectives.
Among the issues that the departments are seeking information on are issues related to the most efficient and cost-effective ways of implementing this law. In addition, this request for information seeks information that would be helpful in the development of regulations needed to implement this law.
Comments must be submitted on or before May 28, 2009. More information: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-9629.pdf
NIMH Genetic Study of Schizophrenia: Shortage of Family Trios Hinders Scientific Discovery
For the past 11 years, NIMH has been conducting a large genetic study designed to understand the neurobiology of schizophrenia by identifying susceptibility genes. A shortage of FAMILY TRIOs is hindering the rate of discovery. A “FAMILY TRIO”, as defined by this study, is ideally composed of the member diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and his or her parents. If one or both parents are unwilling or unable to participate, then one or more biological siblings can participate and complete the “TRIO”.
NIMH has made it easy for family trios to participate. Participation can be limited to a confidential interview and a blood draw. Families do not need to travel to NIMH to participate: Confidential interviews can be done by telephone and blood can be drawn in the family members' home community. All participating family members receive study compensation.
For details, please contact the NIMH Schizophrenia Research Program at 1-888-674-6464 (TTY: 866-411-1010) or Schizophrenia@mail.nih.gov.
Science and Service News Update
April 15, 2009
NIMH: Black Teens, Especially Girls, at High Risk for Suicide Attempts
Black American teens, especially females, may be at high risk for attempting suicide even if they have never been diagnosed with a mental disorder, according to researchers funded in part by NIMH. Their findings, based on responses from adolescent participants in the National Survey of American Life, provide the first national estimates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (ideation) and suicide attempts in 13- to 17-year-old black youth in the United States. The study was published in the March 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/black-teens-especially-girls-at-high-risk-for-suicide-attempts.shtml
NIMH: Child Abuse Survivors Have Higher Risk for STDs in Adulthood Than Non-abused Adults
A history of child abuse or neglect can increase the risk for STDs in adulthood, according to a study partly funded by NIMH. The researchers reported their findings in the April 2009 supplemental issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/child-abuse-survivors-have-higher-risk-for-stds-in-adulthood-than-non-abused-adults.shtml
NIMH: Gene On/Off Instructions Inherited Via Shadowy Mechanism—Studies in Twins, Mice Turn Up Clues
The first large-scale study of its kind in twins has turned up evidence that we inherit instructions for the turning on and off of genes via mechanisms beyond the traditional sequence differences in the genetic code. Moreover, the results suggest that early random errors in replicating these instructions may trump environmental influences in shaping us.NIMH supported-researchers report on their findings in identical and fraternal twins in the February, 2009 issue of Nature Genetics.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/gene-on-off-instructions-inherited-via-shadowy-mechanism.shtml
Science and Service News Update
April 1, 2009
NIMH: Childhood Maltreatment Undermines Physical Health in Adulthood
It's well known that early life experiences can affect a child's cognitive, emotional, and behavioral development. A recent study funded by NIMH takes this link one step further showing that negative childhood experiences, such as abuse or neglect, can affect a person's physical health as well. Published in the February 24, 2009, issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study suggests a history of child abuse or neglect can lower a person's overall immunity and ability to manage stress, and that this effect may be long-lasting.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/childhood-maltreatment-undermines-physical-health-in-adulthood.shtml
NIMH: Autism Skews Developing Brain with Synchronous Motion and Sound—Lip-Sync Could Explain Staring at People’s Mouths
Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) tend to stare at people’s mouths rather than their eyes. Now, an NIH-funded study in 2-year-olds with the social deficit disorder suggests why they might find mouths so attractive: lip-sync — the exact match of lip motion and speech sound. Such audiovisual synchrony preoccupied toddlers who have autism, while their unaffected peers focused on socially meaningful movements of the human body, such as gestures and facial expressions. Researchers report the findings of their study online March 29, 2009 in the journal Nature. Press Release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/autism-skews-developing-brain-with-synchronous-motion-and-sound.shtml
NIMH: Short-term Intensive Treatment Not Likely to Improve Long-term Outcomes for Children with ADHD
Initial positive results gleaned from intensive treatment of childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are unlikely to be sustained over the long term, according to a recent analysis of data from the NIMH-funded Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD. The study was published March 2009 online ahead of print in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/short-term-intensive-treatment-not-likely-to-improve-long-term-outcomes-for-children-with-adhd.shtml
Rising to the Challenge: NIH Will Use $60 Million in Recovery Act Funds to Support Strategic Autism Research
The NIH will commit roughly $60 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to support autism research and meet objectives set forth earlier this year by a federal advisory committee. The Request for Applications is the largest funding opportunity for research on autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to date and, combined with other ARRA initiatives, represents a surge in NIH's commitment to finding the causes and treatments for autism.
Press Release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/rising-to-the-challenge-nih-will-use-60-million-in-recovery-act-funds-to-support-strategic-autism-research.shtml
NIMH: Youths Exposed to HIV Before Birth Have Higher Chance of Developing Psychiatric Disorders
Youths who were exposed to HIV before birth, especially those who were born HIV positive, have a high chance of developing psychiatric disorders, according to an NIMH-funded study published February 27, 2009 online ahead of print, in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/youths-exposed-to-hiv-before-birth-have-higher-chance-of-developing-psychiatric-disorders.shtml
NIMH: Key Molecule in Inflammation-Related Depression Confirmed
Scientists have confirmed the role of an immune-activated enzyme in causing inflammation-related depression-like symptoms in mice. The work clarifies how the immune system can trigger depression and, more broadly, demonstrates the potential of this animal model for exploring the relationship between chronic inflammation—a common feature of diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes—and depression.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/key-molecule-in-inflammation-related-depression-confirmed.shtml
NIMH: Premature Birth Risk Higher for Pregnant Women Taking SSRIs or Suffering from Untreated Depression
Untreated major depression, as well as the use of antidepressant medications, may increase the risk for premature (preterm) birth, but the risk of other problems in fetuses such as breathing, gastrointestinal, or motor problems, may not be increased, according to a study of pregnant women published March 15, 2009 online ahead of print in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/premature-birth-risk-higher-for-pregnant-women-taking-ssris-or-suffering-from-untreated-depression.shtml
NIMH: New Silvio O. Conte Centers Address Brain Development, Disorders
With a mandate to use innovative, multidisciplinary research approaches to address important mental health questions, four newly funded centers have begun investigations of schizophrenia, brain development, and adolescent mood disorders. The four are the latest among NIMH's Silvio O. Conte centers, all of which have as their goal bringing together diverse expertise and cutting edge technology to gain new knowledge and improve the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/new-silvio-o-conte-centers-address-brain-development-disorders.shtml
NIMH: Brain Awareness Week Teaches Kids How Their Brains Work
The 10th annual Brain Awareness Week (BAW), a science and health education fair hld in various locations across the United States, teaches fifth through eighth grade students about the brain. In Washington, D.C., it took place March 16-20, 2009, at the National Museum of Health and Medicine at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Several institutes from the National Institutes of Health provided interactive exhibits and lectures focusing on brain health and neuroscience on March 18th and 19th. Participating institutes include: NIMH, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institute on Aging (NIA), and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
Press Release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/brain-awareness-week-teaches-kids-how-their-brains-work.shtml
NIH: Advisory Panel Releases First Federal Strategic Plan for Autism Research
The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), a federal government advisory panel, has released its first blueprint for autism research. The IACC Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorder Research will advise federal agencies and Congress on needs and opportunities for research investigating autism, a complex developmental disorder that affects 1 in 150 children.
Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/mar2009/nimh-05.htm
NIDA: Combination of Genes and Prenatal Exposure to Smoking Increases Teens’ Risk of Disruptive Behavior—Study Shows Different Gene Variants Influence this Risk for Girls and Boys
A study funded by NIDA shows that prenatal exposure to smoking combined with a specific genetic variant places children at greatest risk for behavioral problems. Many studies have established that there is an increased risk of aggressive behavior in children exposed to cigarette smoke before birth, a significant problem given that many women still smoke during pregnancies.
Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/mar2009/nida-04.htm
NIDA: Study Helps Unravel Mysteries of Brain's Endocannabinoid System—Research Could Lead to Better Treatment for Pain and Marijuana Addiction
New research funded by NIDA has identified a new mechanism for the processing of endocannabinoids, natural brain compounds similar to THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. The results of this study were published March 16 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Press Release: http://www.drugabuse.gov/newsroom/09/NR3-16.html
SAMHSA: New National Online Resource Provides Practical Advice and Hope for People Dealing with Emotional Health Issues Related to Financial Stress—Provides Essential Information on How
Economic Conditions Can Affect Physical and Mental Health and Where People Can Turn for Help
A first-of-its-kind, online guide now provides crucial information and resource referrals for people dealing with emotional or other health problems associated with economic hard times. The Getting Through Tough Economic Times guide provides practical advice on identifying health concerns, developing coping skills and finding help. Developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in collaboration with other government agencies and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, the guide outlines the risks that unemployment and other forms of economic distress (foreclosure, severe financial losses, etc.) can pose to health.
http://www.samhsa.gov/economy/
Science and Service News Updates
March 3, 2009
NIMH: Brain Scanning Gives Clues to How Genes Shape Behavior, Disease Risk
In an experiment in which people viewed changing images of slot machines, inherited differences in brain chemistry predicted the magnitude of responses in the brain to the prospect and receipt of reward. The work suggests how the subtle effect of variations in individual genes can shape behavior and contribute to risk of some mental health disorders.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/brain-scanning-gives-clues-to-how-genes-shape-behavior-disease-risk.shtml
NIMH: Expert Panel Addresses High Rates of Smoking in People with Psychiatric Disorders — Recommendations Urge Exploration of Causal Links, Treatment Research
Numerous biological, psychological, and social factors are likely to play a role in the high rates of smoking in people with psychiatric disorders, according to the report of an expert panel convened by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The report reviews current literature and identifies research needed to clarify these factors and their interactions, and to improve treatment aimed at reducing the rates of illness and mortality from smoking in this population.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/expert-panel-addresses-high-rates-of-smoking-in-people-with-psychiatric-disorders.shtml
NIMH: Research Shows How Chronic Stress May be Linked to Physical and Mental Ailments
While scientists have long known that the levels of certain hormones rise in response to chronic stress, an NIMH study is the first to describe a potential fundamental mechanism for this process. Published in the February 2, 2009 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the findings reveal how individual cells adapt to cope with sudden or extreme stress, and how repeated exposure to stress may be related to many physical and mental illnesses.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/research-shows-how-chronic-stress-may-be-linked-to-physical-and-mental-ailments.shtml
NIMH: Getting Closer to Personalized Treatment for Teens with Treatment-resistant Depression
Some teens with treatment-resistant depression are more likely than others to get well during a second treatment attempt of combination therapy, but various factors can hamper their recovery, according to an NIMH-funded study published online ahead of print February 4, 2009, in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/getting-closer-to-personalized-treatment-for-teens-with-treatment-resistant-depression.shtml
NIMH: Possible HIV Prevention Therapy Shows Promise, But At a Significant Cost
A therapy that shows promise in preventing HIV infection could significantly reduce the risk of HIV infection among high-risk groups, but the cost may be substantial unless drug costs can be reduced, according to a study published online ahead of print February 4, 2009, in Clinical Infectious Diseases. The study, which analyzed the risk reduction and probable costs associated with the treatment using a computer model simulation, was co-funded by NIMH, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA).
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/possible-hiv-prevention-therapy-shows-promise-but-at-a-significant-cost.shtml
NIMH: Health Care Costs Much Higher for Older Adults with Depression Plus Other Medical Conditions
Medicare participants who have diabetes or congestive heart failure as well as depression have significantly higher health care costs than their counterparts who do not have co-existing depression, according to a recent NIMH-funded analysis published online ahead of print January 16, 2009, in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/health-care-costs-much-higher-for-older-adults-with-depression-plus-other-medical-conditions.shtml
NIMH: Suicidal Thinking May Be Predicted Among Certain Teens with Depression
Certain circumstances may predict suicidal thinking or behavior among teens with treatment-resistant major depression who are undergoing second-step treatment, according to an analysis of data from an NIMH-funded study. The study was published online ahead of print February 17, 2009, in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/suicidal-thinking-may-be-predicted-among-certain-teens-with-depression.shtml
NIDA: Study Shows That Methylphenidate (Ritalin) Causes Neuronal Changes in Brain Reward Areas
NIDA-funded investigators have shown that the medication methylphenidate (Ritalin), which is commonly prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), can cause physical changes in neurons in reward regions of mouse brains - in some cases, these effects overlapped with those of cocaine. Both methylphenidate and cocaine are in the class of drugs known as psychostimulants. While methylphenidate is widely prescribed, this study highlights the need for more research into its long-term effects on the brain. These research findings were published February 3 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
News Release: http://www.drugabuse.gov/newsroom/09/NR2-02.html
SAMHSA: Prescription Pain Reliever Misuse Increases Among Young Adults from 2002 to 2007
Adults aged 18 to 25 currently using pain relievers for non-medical reasons increased from 4.1 percent in 2002 to 4.6 percent in 2007, according to a report based on a series of nationwide surveys. However, this report showed encouraging findings among youths aged 12 to 17 in that non-medical use of pain relievers in the past month had declined from 3.2 percent in 2002 to 2.7 percent in 2007.
The report released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) says 1.5 million of these young adults used prescription pain relievers nonmedically in the past month in 2007.
News Release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0902055108.aspx
SAMHSA: New Reports Highlight Important Substance Abuse, Mental Health, Treatment and Grant Information for Each State and the District of Columbia
SAMHSA has developed 51 new short reports providing key information about the level of substance abuse and mental health problems prevalent in the population (age 12 and older) of each state and the District of Columbia. The reports also provide data on treatment facilities and admission data for each state and the District of Columbia, as well as the funding each state and the District of Columbia received from SAMHSA.
Press Release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0902053752.aspx
Full reports: http://www.samhsa.gov/StatesInBrief/
FDA Approves Humanitarian Device Exemption for Deep Brain Stimulator for Severe Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a humanitarian device exemption for the first implantable device that delivers intermittent electrical therapy deep within the brain to suppress the symptoms associated with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2009/NEW01959.html
Science and Service News Updates
February 2, 2009
NIMH: Adolescents with Depression Not Harmed in Studies Using Placebo
Teens with depression who initially are randomly assigned to placebo treatment (inactive pill) during a trial are no more likely to experience harm or have a diminished response to subsequent active treatments than teens who are initially randomized to active treatment, according to an analysis of data from the NIMH-funded Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS). The study was published online ahead of print January 15, 2009, in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/adolescents-with-depression-not-harmed-in-studies-using-placebo.shtml
AHRQ: Use of Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs Increases Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death in Adults
Patients ages 30 to 74 who took atypical antipsychotics such as risperidone, quetiapine, olanzapine and clozapine had a significantly higher risk of sudden death from cardiac arrhythmias and other cardiac causes than patients who did not take these medications, according to a new study funded by the Department of Health & Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The risk of death increased with higher doses of the drugs taken. The study is published in the January 15 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Press Release: http://www.ahrq.gov/news/press/pr2009/antipsychpr.htm
CDC: Study Finds Broad Access to Parenting Support Lowers Risk of Child Maltreatment
When parents have access to proven parenting information and support designed to address problems all families face—from tantrums to encouraging good behavior—key measures of child maltreatment fall, according to a study released in the January 26 online edition of the journal Prevention Science. The study, which was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), found lower rates of confirmed abuse cases, child out–of–home placements, and hospitalizations and emergency room visits for child injuries in counties where parenting support was implemented. Press Release: http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2009/r090126.htm
DOL: Findings of Most Extensive Employer Survey Ever on People with Disabilities
The U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Office of Disability Employment Policy released findings of the most extensive survey in history of employers' actions and attitudes toward employing people with disabilities. This survey found that a majority of large businesses are hiring people with disabilities and discovering that costs for accommodations differ very little from those for the general employee population. Additionally, the survey showed that once an employer hires one person with a disability, it is much more likely that employer will hire other people with disabilities.
Press Release: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/archive/odep20090011.htm Full Report: http://www.dol.gov/odep
Science and Service News Update
January 15, 2009
NIMH: Impaired Brain Activity Underlies Impulsive Behaviors in Women with Bulimia
Women with bulimia nervosa, when compared with healthy women, showed different patterns of brain activity while doing a task that required self-regulation. This abnormality may underlie binge eating and other impulsive behaviors that occur with the eating disorder, according to an article published in the January 2009 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/impaired-brain-activity-underlies-impulsive-behaviors-in-women-with-bulimia.shtml
NIMH: Study Probes Environment-Triggered Genetic Changes in Schizophrenia—Life’s Hard Knocks Can Leave Marks That Turn Genes On and Off
The first study of its kind to pinpoint environment-triggered genetic changes in schizophrenia has been launched with $9.8 million in funding from NIMH. The five-site study seeks telltale marks in the genome that hold clues to how nurture interacts with nature to produce the illness. These "epigenetic" changes that occur with aging and other environmental influences regulate the turning on and off of the genes we inherit, with pivotal consequences for health. Thus, if one identical twin develops schizophrenia, the other twin is similarly affected in only about half of cases, despite the fact that they share the same genes and the illness is estimated to be 80 to 90 percent heritable. Evidence suggests that epigenetic differences may account for the discrepancy.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/study-probes-environment-triggered-genetic-changes-in-schizophrenia.shtml
NIMH: Consortium Moves Quickly to Study Resilience Following Hurricane Ike
The National Center for Disaster Mental Health Research (NCDMHR), a consortium of research programs funded by NIMH to conduct post-disaster mental health research mobilized this year following hurricane Ike to study the factors that influence resilience after disasters. When hurricane Ike struck Texas in early September 2008, the NCDMHR set in motion its protocol for a study of mental health in the aftermath of the storm. Epidemiologic studies will look at the psychological wellness of participants over time, and the factors that help determine how they fare; these include socioeconomic status, level of trauma, post-disaster stresses and resources, and biologic factors, including genetic differences and stress hormone levels. Research on services will provide information on post-disaster mental health care needs, and will include trials of a brief Internet-based intervention and cognitive behavioral therapy for people experiencing post-disaster distress.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/consortium-moves-quickly-to-study-resilience-following-hurricane-ike.shtml
NIMH Staff Honored for Work on Behalf of Returning Veterans
Several NIMH staff members will be awarded the 2008 Hubert H. Humphrey Award for Service to America for their work in addressing the mental health needs of returning veterans. The “NIMH Team on Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Returning Combat Veterans in the Community” is being recognized for “extraordinary creativity and program efficiency in launching new research initiatives focused on the mental health needs of military service members, veterans and their families.”
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/nimh-staff-honored-for-work-on-behalf-of-returning-veterans.shtml
NIMH Grants Focus on Innovative Autism ResearchNIMH is committed to reducing the burden of autism and related disorders through research that can lead to methods of prevention, recovery, and cure. To accomplish this goal, the Institute recently funded nine research projects that focus on ASD
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/nimh-grants-focus-on-innovative-autism-research.shtml
NIDA Releases a New Research Report on Comorbidity of Addiction and other Mental Illnesses
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) released a research report, Comorbidity: Addiction and Other Mental Illnesses, summarizing the state of the science regarding the complex relationship between substance abuse and other mental disorders.Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jan2009/nida-06.htm
Report: http://www.drugabuse.gov/researchreports/comorbidity/index.html
Drug Abusing Offenders Not Getting Treatment They Need in Criminal Justice System—
Treating Inmates Has Proven Public Health, Safety and Economic Benefits
The vast majority of prisoners who could benefit from drug abuse treatment do not receive it, despite two decades of research that demonstrate its effectiveness, according to researchers at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health. In a report published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association, NIDA scientists note that about half of all prisoners (including some sentenced to non-drug-related offenses) are dependent on drugs, yet less than 20 percent of inmates suffering from drug abuse or dependence receive formal treatment.
Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jan2009/nida-13.htm
SAMHSA: Nationwide Report Reveals That More Than 1 in Every 10 Adults Experienced Serious Psychological Distress in the Past Year—Report shows that less than half of those with serious psychological distress received mental health services
An estimated 24.3 million people aged 18 years or older experienced serious psychological distress in the past year – and only 44.6 percent of them received any kind of mental health services, according to a report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Serious psychological distress is an overall indicator of past-year mental health problems such as anxiety and/or mood disorders. The reportalso highlights significant differences in the levels of serious psychological distress suffered among various demographic groups, as well as considerable differences in the level of mental health services they received. Press Release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0901060319.aspx
Report: http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k8/spdtx/spdtx.cfm
National Children’s Study Begins Recruiting Volunteers
The National Institutes of Health announced that the National Children’s Study will begin recruiting volunteers to take part in its comprehensive study of how genes and the environment interact to affect children’s health. The study will track the health and development of more than 100,000 children from before birth through to their 21st birthday.Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jan2009/nichd-13.htm
CDC: Childhood Trauma Linked to Risk for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
A study conducted by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Emory University School of Medicine has identified childhood trauma as a significant risk factor for the development of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The results of the study, published in Archives of General Psychiatry, confirm that childhood trauma (sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment) is associated with a six-fold increased risk for CFS. The study also found that low levels of cortisol, a hallmark biological feature of CFS, are associated with childhood trauma. Cortisol is frequently referred to as the "stress hormone" and diminished levels result in abnormal responses to stress. Press Release: http://www.cdc.gov/news/2009/01/cfs_childhood/
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Last Updated: October 13, 2009
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