Wednesday, March 21, 2007 12:32 PM
posted by C. Raus Future Effects of War on Children With the assistance of the media, we hear about the result of war pretty much everyday. However, it is probably impossible to know how much the war and violence impacts the Iraqi children or how many are actually affected.
"Conflict disrupts normal life, forces millions of families to flee their homes, separates children from their families and reduces schools to rubble," the report said. "Every day, these children wake up to a life characterized by hardship and work, and a bleak outlook for their future." Last year, the World Health Organization and Iraqi psychiatrists performed a series of studies on the mental health of children in the cities of Baghdad, Mosul and Dohuk. They found that nearly half of the 600 primary-school-age children surveyed had experienced a major traumatic event since the war began. One in every ten suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. They also found that thirty percent of the 1,090 older children surveyed in Mosul showed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. Nearly all children (92 percent) have not received any type of treatment. Read Original Article
link to this post  10:46 AM
posted by Michael Mason Alcoholic Brain Gets Better After Abstinence In another case where common sense is now bolstered by the science,
researchers have determined that the brains of those who suffer
alcoholism have positive, measurable increases in brain capacity.The study showed that within a few day's worth of abstinence, an
increase in brain mass was already demonstrated. Structural,
metabolic, and functional gains were all present in the findings. For
those who suffer from alcoholism, the research now demonstrates solid
evidence that the brain can recuperate from addiction. To learn more about the findings, search for Journal Watch Neurology,
March 20, 2007.
link to this post Friday, March 16, 2007 11:58 AM
posted by Aric Thorpe Veterans of Middle East Conflict bring back Mental Health Disorders A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine revealed some intriguing information about the mental health of war veterans. The study found that approximately one quarter of all veterans of the Afghan and Iraq conflicts that were treated at VA hospitals had developed mental health problems. Additionally, almost half of the vets with mental health disorders were diagnosed to have two or more total MH disorders. Among the mental health disorders found in the vets studied, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) was the most common. 52% of patients in the study diagnosed with a mental health disorder were found to have PTSD. Researchers found that vets most susceptible to PTSD were between the ages of 18 to 24. The following is an excerpt of an article from Med Page Today that reviews the study:
A quarter of all veterans treated at VA hospitals after returning home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan brought mental health problems back with them, reported investigators here.
When psychosocial and behavioral problems were thrown into the mix, nearly a third of all veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq who sought care at VA facility had a diagnosis of a mental-health-related disorder, reported Karen H. Seal, M.D., M.P.H., from the University of California San Francisco, and the San Francisco VA, and colleagues. Click here to read the rest of the Med Page Today article.
link to this post Tuesday, March 06, 2007 11:22 AM
posted by Michael Mason Burden for Anxiety Disorders Screening Falls on Primary Care Physicians A post from our director, Dr. Rolf Gainer:Individuals with anxiety disorders are high consumers of medical care
and often their point of contact and treatment is their primary care
physician. Anxiety disorders are the most frequent disorders
experienced by Americans and often accompanied by depression. Primary
Care physicians routinely see individuals reporting rapid heart rate,
unexplained chest pain, nervousness and other physical symptoms in
addition to reports of restricted social activity and functional
problems related to the physical health complaints. In a study by Kurt Kroenke and others (Annals of Internal Medicine,
2007, 146: 317-325) 19.5% of patients seen by Primary Care Physicians
manifested anxiety disorders (Generalized Anxiety Disorder; Panic
Disorder; Social Anxiety Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
accompanied by high levels of co-morbid depression, somatic symptoms
and functional impairments. 40% of the individuals reported that they
were not receiving mental health treatment. While depression screening tools are readily available and used by
Primary Care Physicians, the availability and use of anxiety screening
tools lags behind the patient care need and may serve to hamper
physicians in the assessment of individuals with anxiety problems.
Kroenke suggests the use of two screening questionnaires, the GAD-2
and the longer GAD-7. Through screening and identification,
individuals with anxiety disorders can be directed towards proper
treatment, including medication and cognitive behavioral therapy. It is important that individuals presenting with a set physical
symptoms associated with anxiety be given appropriate screenings by
their primary care physicians and allied health professionals to
consider the potential for these physical symptoms to be signs of
anxiety disorders or other psychiatric problems. Helping individuals
with anxiety disorders to find and access appropriate treatment can
make a significant difference for the individual and prevent them from
becoming immobilized by their physical and psychological symptoms.
link to this post |
Rolf B. Gainer, Ph.D., Diplomate ABDA, is the Chief Executive Office at Brookhaven Hospital and the Vice President of Rehabilitation Institutes of America. Dr. Gainer has been involved in the design and operation of treatment programs since 1977.
Stephen Harnish, MD is the Medical Director of Brookhaven Hospital. Dr. Harnish is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and is well known in Oklahoma for his informative radio and television appearances.
Aric Thorpe, MHR, is Brookhaven Hospital's Pastoral Liaison Representative. He conducts the quarterly Minister's Lifeline series and provides mental health information to pastors and clergy.
Sarah McGee serves as the Community Education Provider for Brookhaven Hospital. She provides information on mental health and drug and alcohol treatment to healthcare professionals in Oklahoma and surrounding states. |
