AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION OCTOBER 1997
TIPSHEET ONE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 24, 1997
Release no. 97-40
APAFastFAX #6147
Melissa Saunders Katz
(202) 682-6142 /[email protected]
www. psych.org
The American Journal of Psychiatry is proud to be one of more than 90 journals in 33 countries participating in the 1997 Global Theme Issue on Aging sponsored by the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Journal articles abstracted in this tipsheet are available in their entirety by calling APAFastFAX at 1-888-267-5400 and selecting the appropriate document number (numbers listed below).
In the October issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry:
(Note: All Items Embargoed until October 1, 1997)
NEW INSIGHTS INTO LATE LIFE DEPRESSION
Healthy, normally functioning older adults are at no greater risk for depression than younger adults, according to a study in the October issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry. According to this Texas study, what seem to be age-related symptoms of depression are attributable to physical health problems and related disability. Forty percent of older patients already hospitalized for medical ailments also have some form of depression. Another study in the October issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry found that more needs to be done to identify depression in these patients and properly treat them. Almost 60 percent of the patients in this study with depression did not receive antidepressant therapy and many of those who were actually treated with medication received inadequate doses of older compounds which have potentially dangerous side effects. This Duke University Medical Center study also found that psychiatrists were only consulted in 13 percent of cases.
["Does Growing Old Increase the Risk for Depression?" Robert E. Roberts, Ph.D., et al., p. 1384.] APAFastfax #6916. Please direct all media inquiries to Dr. Roberts at (713) 500-9291. ["Use of Antidepressants by Nonpsychiatrists in the Treatment of Medically Ill Hospitalized Depressed Elderly Patients," Harold Koenig, M.D., et al., p. 1369.] APAFastfax #6915 Please direct all media inquiries to Dr. Koenig at (919) 681-6633.
SCREENING FOR DEPRESSION LEADS TO TREATMENT
Voluntary screening is an effective way to identify and treat people with depression, according to a study in October's American Journal of Psychiatry. Of screened patients who returned for the recommended follow-up, more than 72 percent were diagnosed with depression and more than 77 percent continued treatment after the initial diagnosis.
["Effectiveness of Community-Based Screening for Depression," Shelly F. Greenfield, M.D., M.P.H., et al., p. 1391.] APAFastfax #6917
Please direct all media inquiries to Joelle Reizes, Assistant Director, National Depression Screening Project (617) 239-0071.
*Note: see calendar listing for National Depression Screening Day information - 80,000 to 90,000 people expected to participate this year at 2,800 sites on October 9.
Why wait for the annual meeting in May? Attend the 49th Institute on Psychiatric Services -- October 24-28 in Washington, DC -- see TIP11097.APA
LIFE EXPECTANCY SHORTENED BY MENTAL DISORDERS
Geriatric patients with mental disorders have higher death rates than older people without mental disorders, according to a study in the October issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry. Mental disorders in this Pennsylvania study were divided into categories: dementia disorders such as Alzheimer's, psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, and mood disorders such as depression. Patients with psychotic or mood disorders -- which are more responsive to treatment -- lived twice as long as those with dementia disorders. ["Mortality of Elderly Patients with Psychiatric Disorders," George S. Zubenko, M.D., et al., p. 1360.] APAFastfax# 6918. Please direct all media inquiries directly to Dr. Zubenko at 412-624-5186.
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