AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION
JANUARY 1998
TIPSHEET TWO
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 19, 1997
Melissa Saunders Katz Release no. 97-63
(202) 682-6142 /[email protected]
www.psych.org
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 January issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry:
(Note: All Items Embargoed until January 1, 1998)
ECT: SAFE, EFFECTIVE, AFFORDABLE -- WHY AREN?T WE USING IT?
Prompt use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for patients with depression
is associated with shorter and less costly hospital stays, according to a
study in the January issue of The American Journal of Psychiatry. This
Columbia University study also found that this cost-effective treatment is
rarely available or used by economically disadvantaged patients.
[?Use of ECT for the Inpatient Treatment of Recurrent Major Depression,?
Mark Olfson, M.D., M.P.H., et. al. p. 22] APAFastFAX#6934
HIGH RATE OF HOMELESSNESS AMONG NEWLY DIAGNOSED PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA
Fifteen percent of patients hospitalized for the first time with
schizophrenia were homeless within 2 years of their first hospital stay,
according to a study in the January issue of The American Journal of
Psychiatry. This study conducted in Suffolk County, New York, found that
in more than two-thirds of cases, the initial homeless episode occurred
before the first hospitalization.
[?Homelessness Among Individuals With Psychotic Disorders Hospitalized for
the First Time: Findings from the Suffolk County Mental Health Project,?
Ezra S. Susser, M.D., et. al,. p. 109] APAFastFAX#6935 Please direct all
media inquirires to Daniel B. Herman, DSW 212-740-5904 fax 212-923-0517;
e-mail: [email protected]
In the January issue of Psychiatric Services:
(Note: All Items Embargoed until January 1, 1998)
CONFIDENTIALITY OF PATIENTS RECORDS THREATENED
Federal recommendations for protection of confidential health information
under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 would
allow the release of private medical data to a large number of authorized
users without patients? explicit consent, according to Paul S. Appelbaum,
M.D. In the January issue of Psychiatric Services Law & Psychiatry column,
Dr. Appelbaum points out that the linking regional databases containing
patient information to a national computer system puts patient privacy at
enormous risk.
[?A ?Health Information Infrastructure? and the Threat to Confidentiality
of Health Records,? p. 27.] APAFastFAX#6937 Please direct all media
inquiries to Dr. Appelbaum 508-856-3006; fax, 508-856-2725.
PSYCHIATRIST, HEAL THEM QUICK
Treating patients with severe mental illnesses in a managed care setting
has become more demanding as psychiatrists face the challenges of
providing care within the confining requirements of cost-containment (e.g.,
shorter hospital stays), according to an article in the January issue of
Psychiatric Services.
[?Psychiatrists? Duties in Discharging Sicker and Potentially Violent
Inpatients in the Managed Care Era,? Robert I. Simon, M.D., p. 62]
APAFastFAX#6938
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CHILDREN WHEN MENTAL ILLNESS STRIKES?
In a study of 39 children currently or previously living with parent
suffering from schizophrenia, three-fourths reported experiencing problems
as a result of their parent?s behavior, according to a survey by Carol L.
M. Caton, Ph.D. in the January issue of Psychiatric Services. Eleven of the
children, ranging in age from 13 to 48 years, experienced the symptoms of
mental illness; major depression and substance use disorders were the most
common.
[?Childhood Experiences and Current Adjustment of Offspring of Indigent
Patients With Schizophrenia,? Carol L. M. Caton, Ph.D. et. al., p. 86.]
APAFastFAX# 6939 Please direct all media inquiries to Carol L. M. Caton,
Ph.D., 212-305-3503; fax, 212-305-8394.
The text of this tipsheet (APAFastFAX #6150) and other materials for media
are available in electronic formats:
Newswise -- http://www.ari.net/newswise -- visit SciNews-MedNews on
Compuserve's Journalism Forum (go jforum), SciNews-MedNews library
(section 17) search for files with the extension ?.APA? (e.g. ?TIPS0198.APA?)
APA?s website -- http://www.psych.org -- check out our ?News Stand?
Get your news via APAFastFAX! Call 1-888-267-5400 and select the document
number to have an item faxed to you. Other APA materials for media are
also available through APAFastFAX -- just 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:
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. APA objectives include the advancement and improvement of care
for persons with mental illnesses through nationwide public information,
education, and awareness programs and materials.
# # #
RSS