Mental Health News

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Its official, 14 millions workers abuse drugs and have some type of alcohol addiction.  A recent study has found that of this group 11 million are abusing or dependent on alcohol alone!  Well, I guess we found proof that work is mind numbing.  The areas most affected by the abusive problems are Construction and Food Service. 

This federal addiction quote further found that 8% of those tallied represented the full-time workforce although there some industries with far greater substance abuse.  In fact, the director of the division of population surveys at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration stated that they considered these millions with alcohol addiction and other abuses to be an underestimate.  This is because the survey asked workers to reveal their own drug use habits to researchers, and many may have chosen to hide drug.

Since drug use is linked to lower income and lower education levels in the populace the Administration stated they didn’t come to any conclusions as to why there were higher rates of substance abuse in Food Service and Construction jobs.  Mining and Drilling workers also reported a higher rate of substance abuse too.

In addition those who admitted to alcohol addiction and substance abuse were also found to have more missed days from work during periods of abuse.  About four of every 10 employees work for someone who requires drug or alcohol testing during the hiring process.  These workplaces do tend to have fewer drug users on the payroll, but researchers state that this may not have much to do with whether certain people in certain careers are less likely to do drugs.  It may simply be that those addicted were weeded out during testing or never got past hiring in the first place.  Remember kids, don’t do drugs and stay in school.

The mental health disorder, OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) plagues millions of people every day of their lives over seemingly simple things that we usually don’t think twice about.  OCD is basically an inability to stop unwanted, recurrent thoughts from cycling through one’s brain.  Many are aware of some of the possible symptoms like obsessive cleaning or compulsive ritual locking and unlocking of all the doors and windows that can develop in those with OCD.  These compulsions usually develop as a coping mechanism for those with OCD to try and help such recurrent thoughts to stop.  An OCD sufferer may have a persistent sense of uncertainty that the doors are unlocked or the oven is turned on, or for some the fear that comes from thinking obsessively about bacteria and not being certain they are entirely ‘clean’. 

Scientists managed to recreate certain symptoms of this mental health disorder in mice bred to lack a certain gene called, SAPAP3.  Some are calling this the OCD gene, but in reality it could be called a ‘certainty’ gene or a ‘chill pill’ gene that helps to keep people and animals from falling into compulsive thoughts and behaviors.  The mice lacking this gene behaved like normal mice when still young, but when they reached the ages of 4 to 6 months their OCD like behaviors kicked in and they started cleaning themselves obsessively, sometimes to the point of hurting themselves. 

Why create a race of mice that must perpetually deal with anxiety and depression as a result of their OCD?  Well, as bad as I feel for these little guys, this observation can have indications for people with OCD.  Even better, a simple shot of DNA containing the SAPAP3 gene directly into the brains of the OCD mice, helped to ease their obsessive compulsive grooming, just as if they had been born with the gene.  Researchers state that mice are not humans.  You can’t sit the mouse down on the couch and ask him or her about their little mental health disorder to see if the recurrent thoughts are there that lead to the OCD behaviors.  However, this gene, or the lack of it does seem to lead to a few of the typical OCD symptoms so it could be a factor in development of the mental health condition.

Most people who know a little bit about Autism, usually assume that an autistic person or someone with Asperger’s Syndrome changes very little over the course of their lifetime.  It’s true that people with Aspergers’ and Autism dislike change and will even resist it, but that doesn’t mean they don’t change at all.  Good mental health care and a supportive family and educational environment can help those with the condition develop the skills they need to adapt to minor and major changes during their lives.  Even the symptoms of the condition will change as a person moves from childhood to youth and into adulthood.

Typically preschoolers with Asperger’s Syndrome will have trouble picking up on social cues and they’ll lack the social skills with which other people seem to be born.  They’ll definitely dislike changes in routine and seem to lack empathy for others.  Part of the problem is an inability to recognize the subtle differences in speech, tone, pitch and accent that can alter the meanings of a word or phrase.  Good mental health care may actually involve going over the slight variances in sound and tone with the same phrase repeatedly, so the person can learn to look for a change in sound which can indicate a change in meaning. The child with Asperger’s Syndrome may also have a very formal style and tone of speech.  He or she could seem very shy, tending to avoid making eye contact and even having unusual facial expressions.

In addition, children with Asperger’s Syndrome tend only to be occupied with one or a few interests like jigsaw puzzles and their conversations can be very one sided as they simply tend to verbalize their inner thoughts. 

Later on, as the child with Asperger’s becomes a teenager the symptoms can change slightly.  Teens with Asperger’s can learn the social skills they lacked with the proper help and mental health care.  However, they will continue to struggle with communication skills and have difficulty ‘reading’ other people.  The teen wants to have lots of friends, but can be shy or intimidated by the task of approaching others.  They also can be more naïve and almost too trusting making, them victims of bullying. Teens can become withdrawn and develop symptoms of depression.  On the other hand the teen with Asperger’s can have a kind of outsider’s appeal, because they usually care little for following the norm and staying current with fads.  In a place where creative thinking is valued this can work to their benefit. 

Symptoms in adulthood tend to be the same but over time the teen will have learned to recognize as least most major social cues. They’ll continue to have a focus in a particular area and can make it their career.  Plenty of people with Asperger’s syndrome marry and have children.

In mental health news, Researchers looking through 30 years worth of doctor’s files on patients before and after they were diagnosed with dementia have noted that women seemed to be about 12 pounds lighter on average when finally diagnosed with dementia, than women of the same age who did not develop the condition.  This tendency towards losing weight even shows up years before dementia is developed enough to diagnose, as many as 20 years before the diagnosis.  Gradual weight loss could be one of the many early warning signs of dementia.

It is possible that this weight loss is caused by the apathy and loss of smell that can develop in the earliest stages of dementia.  Naturally if you can’t smell your food, you lose a lot of the taste of it and are less inclined to eat.  The apathy can cause people to feel disinclined to even make a meal, especially when living alone.  As far as mental health news goes this could be an important warning sign for doctors to take note of.

Men didn’t seem to have the same correlation in weight loss when diagnosed with dementia.  The researchers theorized that this is because older men are more likely to have a spouse, family member or mental health worker that will cook meals for them and remind them to eat.  Giving this indicator a sad social connotation that elderly women aren’t as likely to receive the same attention from their loved ones.

This piece of mental health news does contradict previous studies that indicated obesity was a risk factor for dementia because diabetes, hypertension and heart disease are also risk factors for dementia and can be caused by obesity.

If I may put in my two cents, maybe its possible that obesity is a risk factor but weight loss is a warning sign that dementia has already started to develop.  When an obese person begins to lose weight because of dementia it may not be as noticeable as in someone of normal weight or who is only slightly overweight?

Some doctors seem to think so and one Austrailain psychiatrist spoke out about the possible over diagnosis of major depression on August 17th, 2007. Doctor Gordon Parker of the University of New South Wales is that doctor. He thinks that many people today just end up getting a clinical depression diagnosis for something as simple as a bout with the blues.

We all know its normal for people to become depressed from time to time, but how much depression is normal and how much is too much? I’ve listed the signs of depression here previously but to recap they basically involve,

Chronic sad or anxious mood
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
Lack of interest in favorite activities
Fatigue or tiredness
Trouble concentrating
Insomnia or oversleeping
Changes weight or in appetite
Thoughts of death or suicide
Agitation or irritability
chronic pain

Most people can safely claim at least a few if not more of those symptoms for a case of the blues as well as for major depression. Where can the line be drawn and when do people need treatment for depression? Clinical depression was once only diagnosed in about 5 to 10 percent of the population, while today’s wide range of criteria could cover as much as 90 percent. Now, it’s very likely that previously the 5 to 10 percent of the population which was diagnosed was way less than the actual numbers of people with major depression. However, it is hard to believe that as many as 90 percent of people could be dealing with major depression. That would be natural selection gone very wrong. Where do you stand on the issue?

Most likely the difference between a bout of the blues and major depression has to do with length of time. A bout with the blues is just that, a bout. Clinical depression is very hard to ‘get over’ and many of those with diagnosable major depression have been dealing with the same feelings of sadness, anxiety and anger for weeks, months or years consistently.

Here’s yet another obesity pill that can be harmful to your mental health and physical health.  Look out for signs of depression and suicidal thoughts when you are using the Sanofi-Aventis SA obesity drug called, Zimulti.  It is an obesity drug that has proven results in clinical trials, but also has a tendency to give users excessive thoughts of suicide.  We all know that the more thoughts of suicide you have, the more likely you are of acting on those thoughts.

Zimulti, which is currently marketed in 18 countries (but not the States) under the name of Acomplia, had been undergoing clinical trials to decide if it was safe to sell in the United States.  However, approval doesn’t seem likely with recent results.  Researchers studying the drug, also known generically as rimonabant, found that the 20 milligram dosage significantly increased the incidence of suicidal thoughts and major depression, when compared to a placebo.  In addition, the incidence of ‘adverse’ psychiatric mental health events, neurologically ‘adverse’ events and seizures were consistently higher.  This is one obesity drug that will seriously mess you up.  My only suggestions so far is don’t take it.  Even if you are in another country where it’s legal and even if it becomes legal in the States, don’t take it.  If you notice signs of depression, stop taking it.  It is just not worth it.

Luckily so far the increased incidences from taking this drug seem to have been manageable, but you are much more likely to end up on depression treatment in addition to your weight loss program with Zimulti.

If you are on any medication, be certain your doctor has made you fully aware of the side effects.  Those who aren’t fully aware, look it up online.  It really pays to know what you are putting into your body.  The following are a few signs of depression so you can be more aware of a potential problem with your mental health or a side effect in medication:

Chronic sad or anxious mood
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
Lack of interest in favorite activities
Fatigue or tiredness
Trouble concentrating
Insomnia or oversleeping
Changes weight or in appetite
Thoughts of death or suicide
Agitation or irritability
chronic pain

An interesting research study by scientists at the University of Chicago seems to indicate that Americans have a mental health problem as far as seeing things from other cultures points of view goes.  In comparison the Chinese apparently can step into another person’s shoes at the drop of a penny.

This inference was based on an interesting test taken by 20 American volunteers and 20 Chinese volunteers.  Other cultures may have been tested as well.  In the test a ‘director’ was placed in front of a table with two concrete blocks on it and a cardboard divider separating them.  The divider was placed so it effectively hid on concrete block from the view of the director.  The volunteer was placed so he or she could see both concrete blocks on either side of the divider.  The director would then direct the volunteer to move the concrete block.

It was found that most of the Americans didn’t know to which concrete block the director was referring to and often didn’t understand which direction the director wanted the block moved.  The Chinese volunteers were all able to move the block the director wanted to be moved and the direction he or she wanted it moved.  The Americans’ mental health problem involved not being able to infer that the director could only see one concrete block when telling them to move it.  In addition to understanding how the director’s placement affected his or her ‘left’ and ‘right’ compared to that of the Americans.

This is an interesting study and may have much larger implications in the role of the U.S. in other countries around the world.  Or the researchers may have picked a group of 20 American duds with test anxiety.  Perhaps for a better understanding of this possible mental health problem we should gather a much larger selection of individuals for a ‘point of view’ study.

Scientists have recently finished taking a look at the mental health issues that develop amongst those working and living in the Antarctic for up to a year at times. They have found that a bizarre kind of ‘Polar Madness’ often grips those who come to the arctic and live for an extended period of time.  This polar madness can lead to anything from symptoms of depression to extreme anger and in the worst case scenarios, mutiny, lunacy and cannibalism.  The worst of these polar madness cases happened during some of the earliest expeditions to deep frozen lands at either pole of the world.

Now a days we have the facilities set up to help keep the polar madness from developing into such extremes.  The researchers in the north and south poles have warm shelter, food, mental diversions and company to keep with each other.  Not to mention medical facilities with ample supplies for some of the mental health issues that may pop up from living in such extreme conditions.  If worst came to worst they could also request that an individual or the entire group be evacuated from the facility.

Researchers state that it is important to know how living in such an extreme environment can affect the mental health of people for safer living conditions and for possible use as research to help those astronauts whom eventually make the long trip to Mars. 

Some of the symptoms those living in the poles have experienced include;

• Sleep Problems
• Depression and anxiety
• Anger
• Intellectual inertia
• Irritability
• Conflict with co-workers
• Memory impairment
• Reduced alertness
• Headaches
• Boredom
• Fatigue
• Lack of personal hygiene
• Over-eating

If you are currently living or working in the Antarctic and experiencing any of these conditions you need to report to the nearest medical facility.  Just kidding folks, although these findings are very important for the mental health and well-being of those we send to work in such extreme environments.

They are working to improve mental health treatment in Australia.  Last year’s Council of Australian Governments (COAG) decided to provide Medicare benefits for those Australians seeking out cheaper mental health clinics for a range of treatments.  However things don’t seem to be off to a stellar start.  The new plan has only been in operation since last November and analysis of the first six months of operation indicate that the $100 million a year budget set for the program just isn’t enough money!

Most of the funds are being used in referrals by general doctors to psychologists for those seeking to improve mental health problems that they suffer with.  In addition it seems that the ‘aid’ provided by this program just isn’t reaching everyone evenly.  More populated areas of Australia get the most benefit from the new mental health Medicare program while areas with fewer doctors miss out.  A Mental Health Council (MHC) spokesman stated that they needed more research to determine just how well the benefits were reaching those in rural areas and young men in particular.

Mental health care in Australia can be almost more expensive than in America in some places and the populace just isn’t able to access affordable treatment.  In addition large areas of the country are almost devoid of proper health centers, doctors and therapists. The Mental Health Care Medicare benefit program is a great start and shows that Australia is aware of their growing problem, but so much more is needed to improve mental health care in the county and aid people in finding the affordable treatment they need.

Hey, it looks like there may be a better way out there to take down major depression!  The newest treatment for clinical depression may be a rave drug known as ketamine.  In addition it appears to help people for a range of issues from addiction to Post Truamatic Stress Disorder and some kinds of chronic pain.  It’s starting to be thought of as the nest big thing for those suffering from symptoms of depression and these other conditions. 

How Come?
This drug has commonly been used for anesthesia, until one psychiatrist, John Krystal set up a mini study on seven of his patients by giving them Ketamine for their clinical depression symptoms.  The results were great.  Most of his patients disliked the high feeling that the drug gave them, but once it wore off the depression that they lived with was gone. Other researchers have been able to duplicate the results in their own trials and it seems to work. 

Ketamine has even been called a ‘reset button’ for the brain in a dysfunctional rut.  It acts in only a few hours to relieve a patient’s clinical depression symptoms and seems to work for most of those who take the drug to relieve their symptoms.  Keep an eye out on the market because I have a feeling that drug companies are going to try and take advantage of this one.

Side Note:
As many as 850,000 people kill themselves around the world as a result of their clinical depression each year.  There are thought to be around 13 percent of Americans who suffer from major depression each year and it can take someone suffering from long term clinical depression months to find the one drug or combination of drugs that will work to set their brains in balance again.