EMBARGOED: November 1, 1998
Melissa Saunders Katz
(202) 682-6142 /[email protected]
www. psych.org
October 26, 1998
Release no. 98-52
Journal articles highlighted in this tipsheet are available in their entirety by calling APAfastFAX at 888-357-7924 and selecting the appropriate document number (listed below).
In the November issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry: (Note: All Items Embargoed until November 1, 1998)
PATIENTS CAN BE INFORMED PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH
When information is adequately relayed to people with schizophrenia participating in clinical research, critical facts can be retained by the patients if proper procedures are established. According to a study conducted at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, patients given a questionnaire relating to each research protocol when initially tested retained 80 percent of the information. The patients were reissued the test until they got 100 percent of the questions correct. Fifty-three percent of the patients required a second trial of the questionnaire; 37 percent required three or more trials. ["Informed Consent: Assessment of Comprehension," by Donna A. Wirshing, M.D., et. al., p. 1508] APAfastFAX# 6995. Please direct media inquiries to William C. Wirshing, M.D. at 310-268-3730.
Some Highlights From the November Issue of Psychiatric Services
OVERPRESCRIBING MYTH: DEPRESSION STILL UNDERTREATED
A recent survey of existing data conducted by researchers at the Northeast Program Evaluation Center and Yale University, shows that of 312 individuals with major depression surveyed, 89 percent go untreated with medication, 3.5 percent take alternative medication, 6.4 percent take antidepressant medication, and 1 percent take both. Undertreatment of depression in the U.S. is still a major problem. ["Use of Alternative Medicine in Major Depression," by Benjamin G. Druss, M.D., M.P.H., et. al., p. 1397] APAfastFAX#6996. Please direct media inquiries via e-mail to [email protected]
HIGHER RATE OF MENTAL DISORDERS IN ALASKAN ESKIMOS
A study of 343 Eskimos at a community mental health center in Nome, Alaska, found a high prevalence of alcohol and other substance use disorders and suicide attempts, but a low rate of bipolar disorder (less than 3 percent compared with 8 percent in the general U.S. population). The rate of substance use disorders was 56 percent among the children and adolescents studied and 74 percent among the adults. Sixty-six percent of the children and 67 percent of the adults reported a previous suicide attempt, compared with 4 to 25 percent elsewhere in the U.S. ["Mental Disorders of Eskimos Seen at a Community Mental Health Center in Western Alaska," by Robert J. Gregory, M.D., et. al., p. 1485.] APAfastFAX# 6997. Please direct all media inquirers to Dr. Gregory at 315-464-3169.
The text of this tipsheet (APAfastFAX #6160) and other materials for media are available in electronic formats: www.newswise.com; Compuserve's Journalism Forum (go jforum); APA's website --www.psych.org; APAfastFAX at 888-357-7924 (select the document number). Other APA materials for media are also available through APAfastFAX -- call for the menu. For more information on these topics or other areas of interest, contact Erin Murphy, APA Media Assistant, (202) 682-6324, e-mail: [email protected]
The American Psychiatric Association is a national medical specialty society, founded in 1844, whose 42,000 physician members specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional illnesses and substance use disorders.
# # #
RSS