How mental health coverage still has a long way to go to
The Mental Health and Addictions Parity Act of 2008 went into effect Jan. 1, but it has some loopholes that mean insufficient coverage still for many Americans.
CDC: Autism rate is increasing
Reports the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Autism affects about 1 in every 110 American children, a 57 percent increase over the last estimate in 2002, according to a report released yesterday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The disturbing trend reflects greater awareness and diagnosis of “autism spectrum disorders,” but may also mean more children are [...]
Did you know…
…that young people who take antipsychotic drugs are likely to see rapid weight gain?
Did you know…
…that more college students than ever before are getting psychiatric help?
Did you know…
…that mothers who smoke during pregnancy put their children at greater risk of developing psychotic symptoms as teenagers?
Did you know…
…that 2 out of 3 inmates at juvenile prisons have at LEAST one mental illness?
Did you know…
…that if you get weird urges– like to throw food at a fancy restaurant event, or to laugh hysterically during a funeral– that you’re definitely not alone?
Univ. of Pittsburgh psychiatrist using brain imaging to better understand bipolar disorder
Using a brain imaging technique that shows the connections between different parts of the brain, Dr. Phillips’ group has shown that wiring problems in the left half of the brain may cause patients’ manic phases, while a different kind of wiring problem on the right half may create the episodes of depression, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Advocacy group for disabled people sues DPW for their handling of mentally retarded adults
The group has filed a federal class action lawsuit against the Dept. of Public Welfare challenging its practice of holding mentally retarded adults at state psychiatric hospitals.