Filed under: ECT
Voice Analysis Software Could Detect Depression Over the Phone | Popular Science.
Psychiatrists have long observed that clinically depressed people speak in a certain slow, halting monotone pattern. Now voice-analysis software could pick up on those cues over the phone and alert nurses to possible depression in existing patients.
Filed under: ECT | Tags: ect books, ect information, ect lessons, electroconvulsive therapy, electroshock, max fink
Knowledge is power, so we’ve been told. I don’t know if it’s power I was looking for through reading, but I’ve found that in going through ECT, it was helpful to have read quite a bit of information on it before, during and after the treatment. One of the things many of us do to get ready for ECT is to go to the web to look for any info you can find about ECT. We do find information, and some of what we find are so pro- or anti-ECT that we become unsure what to make of these sites. Sure,web sites and blogs are certainly helpful (and I hope my journal can provide some of that), but it’s really nice to have a concise guide that you can have in your hand. I’ve read other books, but for this post I thought I’d mention two works by Dr. Max Fink. Dr. Fink is the founding editor of The Journal of ECT who has more than 50 years of clinical and research experience in ECT.
One to the left in the picture is an earlier work, Electroshock: Healing Mental Illness. If you want, book.google.com has a rather extensive Electroshock book preview.
The newest Fink book on market (and the one I would recommend) is the one to the right in the picture-Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Guide for Professionals & Their Patients. Here’s an extended excerpt. The chapters directly address questions like “What is electroconvulsive therapy?” and “How does ECT work?”
Both of these books are not long (about 100 pages) but more detailed than much of the information I gathered on the web. These books are definitely more clinical in nature, but they are easy to understand and I think these details help you be more calm when you go through treatment. Knowing these details are what made the procedure feel not so frightening to me. Also, it’s not just the ECT patient that will want some information. There are family and friends around that will want to know about what you are going through, and having a book like these will allow you to give the most accurate information about ECT.
These books serve as a great resource for those who want to know, not just more but accurate info, about ECT.
Collect all previous “lessons”!
Filed under: in the news | Tags: depression and food, junk food, process food makes people depressed, whole food diet
In a new study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, research suggests that eating process food can increase risk for depression, More specifically, people with diets high in sweetened desserts, fried food, processed meat, refined grains and high-fat dairy products are more likely to become depressed over time. Also, it was found that a ‘whole food’ diet of vegetable, fruits and fish actually lowered the risk of depression.
So, it’s always interesting how a study has to ‘officially’ tell us what we probably knew already. We’ve known that junk food doesn’t help our physical self, so how could it have ever helped us mentally?
Here are some articles I found about foods that help with your mood:
About.com-Mood and Food: 5 Foods for a Better Mood
Today show-Improve your mood with these foods
WebMD-Foods to help you feel better
Filed under: in the news, mental health | Tags: depression video, illuminating depression, KQED
Thanks to Dr. Shock and his blog, I’ve been led to a great clip from a public TV channel KQED in California.
Called “Illuminating Depression,” the video is about depression, symptoms of it, and treatment options. There’s a very informative graphic on how antidepressants work. The video clip is part of a series called QUEST. The web site where this clip is located offers links to other videos and extended coverage on this topic. Also, they list some helpful resources on mental health.
It’s autumn. The leaves have begun to change color, and some have already fallen to the pavement. You can see the leaves just flying away, carried by the breeze. I usually love just watching these colors, but this year, the change in season has been coupled with some dreary days. I can’t remember the last time there was blue sky. Anyway, the auburn hues will in the coming weeks all turn to the color of the earth and find themselves on the ground, as if they were returning back to the soil that brought them up. They teach me that there is no permanence in life. That’s the only thing that doesn’t change.
I found out that my freshman roommate’s mother had passed away. It wasn’t sudden, but from cancer that she, just this spring, found out had already ravaged her whole body. My roommate Katherine had kept a blog chronicling this journey until her mother’s death. I could not stop crying as I read those words, so beautifully written. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that my own mother was diagnosed with cancer two years ago (she’s currently doing fine). Sure, it did hit close to home, but my tears were more than about that. In reading Katherine’s blog I saw a sense of strength despite what must be a difficult time. I found that inner strength so beautiful, but I was so sad that it was in this time that I recognized that part about Katherine. I think a part of me wished I could be more like her.
I look outside and see the trees. I think about Katherine. Though I cannot imagine the pain, it’s clear to me that Katherine will be fine.
Then I notice that those trees were now against a brilliant blue background.
Filed under: bipolar disorder, in the news, mental health | Tags: congress mental health bill, debbie stabenow, ENHANCED act, mental health bill, mental health legislation
This is great! See below. Thank you, Senators!
Stabenow, Voinovich, Brown, Kerry Announce Bi-Partisan Legislation to Help Treat Americans Suffering from Depression and Bipolar Disorders
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), George Voinovich (R-OH), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and John Kerry (D-MA) announced the bi-partisan “ENHANCED Act” to establish national centers of excellence for the treatment of depression and bipolar disorders. These centers will create a national network to help diagnose people in need and improve access to evidence-based, quality care. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) is also a co-sponsor.
“Depression and bipolar disorders affect one of every five people in the United States. Unfortunately, nearly half of all diagnoses are missed,” said Senator Stabenow. “This legislation will provide direct federal support to better treat people with depression and bipolar disorders. It will save lives and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans.”
“I am happy to co-sponsor the Enhanced Act with my colleague, Senator Stabenow,” Senator George V. Voinovich said. “This legislation will bring attention and better coordination of research and treatment for depression and bipolar disorders - to improve the quality of life for our constituents.”
“Barriers to treatment pose an additional challenge for Americans suffering from depression,” said Senator Brown. “By building off the important work by Ohio’s University of Cincinnati, Lindner Center of HOPE, and other premier research institutions, this legislation would establish the first nationwide network of health centers specializing in treatment for depression. For individuals struggling with depressive and bipolar disorders, these treatment centers can offer more options and new hope.”
“When government fails to support research and treatment, it stigmatizes depression and takes us backwards to a time when those suffering with depression were told to stay silent,” said Senator Kerry. “I’m grateful for the work doctors and researchers are doing every day to provide early, effective treatment for depressive disorders and I’m honored to partner with Senator Stabenow to get them the support they deserve.”
More Americans suffer from depression, bipolar illness and other mood disorders than from coronary heart disease and cancer combined. With medication, psychotherapy, or combined treatment, most people with these disorders can be effectively treated and resume productive lives. Yet one-third of those suffering from depression—nearly five million Americans—do not receive treatment because they cannot afford it, don’t know where to go, or are afraid of societal judgment. Depression also has a significant economic impact, estimated to cost the United States over $83 billion annually due to reduced productivity, absenteeism, and mortality.
This legislation is based on efforts catalyzed by the University of Michigan Depression Center with 15 other leading academic medical centers across the nation. Joining together, these universities created a network of depression centers positioned to take academic research and translate it into practice, standardize diagnoses, treat early and more effectively, and prevent recurrences of depression and bipolar disorders.
The ENHANCED Act of 2009:
• Creates a national network with a pathway for developing and expanding up to 30 depression centers of excellence to increase access to the most appropriate and evidence-based depression care.
• Develops evidence-based treatment standards, clinical guidelines, and protocols to improve accurate and timely diagnosis of depression and bipolar disorders.
• Expands multidisciplinary, translational, and patient-oriented research by fostering the collaboration of academic and community-based service centers.
• Establishes a sustainable national resource for public and professional education and training, to advance knowledge and eradicate the stigma associated with depression and mood disorders.
Filed under: bipolar disorder, in the news | Tags: bipolar disorder in college, mania in college, mental illness in college
This article is concise, informative and to the point. I personally thought this was one of the better articles I’ve read on bipolar disorder and mental health on campus.
Health.com: Back to Sc hool with Bipolar? How College Can Unleash Mania
The rituals of college—making new friends, studying until dawn, excessive partying—can stress out any young adult. But students with bipolar disorder, or those at risk for the condition, are even more vulnerable in a college environment. Academic pressures, social concerns, and sleep disruptions can lead to bouts of depression as well as mania, the euphoric, revved-up state characteristic of bipolar disorder. Without the right treatment and support, bipolar college students face higher dropout rates, drug and alcohol abuse, and even suicide.
The article cited Russell Federman, PhD, the director of Counseling and Psychological Services at the University of Virginia student health center. He has a forthcoming book, Facing Bipolar: The Young Adult’s Guide to Dealing With Bipolar Disorder. He writes about the “four S’s of bipolar stability”: structure, stress management, sleep management, and self-monitoring. This framework entails setting—and sticking to—a regular schedule of studying and sleep, and learning to recognize the signs that you are beginning to drift into mania or hypomania. I needed to be reminded of that structure, so I thought these “S”s were rather helpful.
Filed under: in the news, mental health | Tags: antipsychotic drugs, med weight gain children, psych medicine and weight gain, weight gain in kids
In case we didn’t already know, a new study shows that antipsychotic drugs widely used in children caused youths to gain as much as 19 pounds on average after just 11 weeks on the medications, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. (Wall Street Journal)
Thanks for pointing out what adults have been experiencing for a while now, American Medical Association. When I was first prescribed Depakote (which was not part of the study), I gained 30 pounds within 2 months or so. Though the article makes it sound as though weight gain is an issue only when children take this medicine, but weight gain should be a concern among adults as well. We already have one illness to deal with. We don’t need to add a weight problem on top of it.
Filed under: Other, bipolar disorder | Tags: abusing stimulants, Concerta
An unfinished paper stares at me in the face, but I can’t seem to get it done. All I need to do is read what I’ve already written and revise it. That’s all. But I very well know my limit of attention span, and I’ve reached my limit. I don’t really have any left to give. I can’t focus. Of course, I love that while I can’t accomplish what I need to be doing, I have enough concentration to write a journal post…
I take Concerta in the morning so that I don’t choose to go hide in bed during the day. Concerta is a psychostimulant indicated in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but it was not prescribed to me for an issue with concentration (off-label uses do include depression). But I do know that people do take these to help them with those problems. I have a handful of Concerta left in my medicine stock. Should I take one now to get me through for an extra few hours tonight? I know I shouldn’t do something like this; this is technically abuse.
Here’s the added dilemma. In the past, I’ve stayed up late at night to study, but I know it’s critical that I keep my sleep cycle consistent (lack of sleep quite often leads to cycling or hypomania). By taking Concerta I would be allowing myself to stay up later and thus screw up my sleep schedule. I’ve known that I have bipolar disorder for a few years now and that it’s really not a good idea for me to get to bed at 2am. I’ve also known about this exam for two weeks. By this point, I should know to space out my studying to accommodate my illness.
So, here I am at my dining table with my study materials sprawled out, facing the reality that I’ve placed myself in. This is such a dumb move on my part. Time ticks away as I still ponder, should I take that Concerta? Now I’m just wasting time thinking about this while I keep losing little time I have left to work on this paper.
Filed under: in the news | Tags: nytimes combating stigma psychological injuries, war psychiatric scars
Filed under: in the news, mental health | Tags: college mental health, mental illness in college, NPR mental health story, seeking help in college, university students depression
Last week, Morning Edition on NPR had a story about mental health on college campuses. A friend called to tell me that NPR had another story in this series: A Push for Colleges to Prioritize Mental Health. This story certainly adds to the first coverage.
I should be working on some take-home exams, so I’ll refrain from commenting on this piece for now.
Filed under: in the news, mental health | Tags: college mental health, mental illness in college, NPR colleges see rise in mental health issues, seeking help in college, university students depression
On Morning Edition/NPR this past week, they had a story: Colleges See Rise in Mental Health Issues.
“They may not tell their roommates or even close friends, but on college campuses all across the United States, more students than ever before are seeking psychiatric help, according to recent national surveys of campus therapists.”
This story is close to my heart, so I was so glad to see that this issue was getting some coverage. I think the rise in numbers of student seeking help may actually reflect well on the college mental-health system. It could very well mean that more students feel comfortable enough to see a professional. After all, as a full-time college student, one is eligible to receive some free (at least from what I know) mental health care. It was the spring semester of my junior year when I first sought the help of the student health center’s staff psychiatrist. It still wasn’t easy to seek help, but I am so glad this system was available to me. Had there not been such service available in this way, I would have never found a way to receive anyone’s help.
The increase in the use of college mental-health facilities should not be of such great concern (of course, it should always be of some concern). First, the average age of onset for many psychiatric conditions matches the age group of most college students. Second, being in college is probably the first time anyone has such open access to mental health services where they themselves can determine whether to seek help (not many kids would easily be able to ask their parents to take them to a psychiatrist). If anything, these findings should encourage the schools to further assess their plan in handling the larger caseloads as well as treating the students more effectively.
Filed under: in the news, mental health | Tags: depression and masculinity, male mental health, men and depression, newsweek
NEWSWEEK has done an amazing job in covering the topic of men and depression. Most of these articles/videos/etc. were published two years ago, but they are well worth checking out.
Men & Depression: Facing Darkness
“Six million American men will be diagnosed with depression this year. But millions more suffer silently, unaware that their problem has a name or unwilling to seek treatment…Although depression is emotionally crippling and has numerous medical implications—some of them deadly—many men fail to recognize the symptoms. Instead of talking about their feelings, men may mask them with alcohol, drug abuse, gambling, anger or by becoming workaholics. And even when they do realize they have a problem, men often view asking for help as an admission of weakness, a betrayal of their male identities.”
Mind Of A Man: Stop Pretending Nothing’s Wrong
It’s Hard For Men To Admit Or Even Recognize Their Own Depression. How To Get Help
Video: Men & Depression: The Silent Scourge
Understanding Male Post-Partum Depression
An expert on why fathers can also become depressed after the birth of a child, and what couples can do about it.
Video: Depressed Men
They also have a link that lists some depression resources.
Filed under: in the news, mental health | Tags: bring change 2 mind, bringchange2mind.org, Glenn Close, mental health nonprofit, mental illness advocacy
“The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that by the year 2020 mental illness will be the second leading cause of death and disability. Every society will have to confront the issue. The question is, will we face it with open honesty or silence?”
Above is a quote from Glenn Close’s column in the Huffington Post: Mental Illness: The Stigma of Silence.
Glenn Close is one of the founding members of BringChange2Mind.org, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to: provide people with misconceptions about mental illness quick and easy access to information that combats stigma, and provide people with mental illness, and those who know them, quick and easy access to information and support. Co-creators include, the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation (CABF), Fountain House, and Garen and Shari Staglin of IMHRO (International Mental Health Research Organization). The campaign has the support of major mental health organizations, including Active Minds, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), International Mental Health Research Organization (IMHRO), the Jed Foundation, Mental Health America (MHA), National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), NARSAD, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Their web site, bringchange2mind.org, isn’t just a web page with random facts about mental illness; there are video clips where people share their stories about their lives. You can also share your story by uploading your own video. The one neat aspect of the website is that they tell the reader how to get involved. Some suggest writing to an organization, but it’s as simple as watching our language.
