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The Mental Health & Social Care Current Awareness Bulletin is produced at
Essex Public Health Resource Unit Library

on behalf of the
East of England Health Libraries Group: EoEHLG

Click on headings to navigate to your chosen subject

The bulletin is
also available R
C Reesseeaarrcchh
online at the Coonntteenntt
sites below
Addictions
Department of Health
Anxiety
EoEHLG
WEBSITE National News
Dementia
International News
Depression
EPHRU
WEBSITE Dual Diagnosis

Eating Disorders

TIN Learning Disabilities

WEBSITE FFuurrtthheerr C
Coonntteenntt
O/C Disorders
New Publications Post Traumatic Stress
EPHRU
Mental Conferences
Health Blog Psychology
Useful Websites Schizophrenia
MENTAL HEALTH
BLOG Journal TOCs Social Work
Minding Matters

For further information on the bulletin contact:

mary.edmans@midessexpct.nhs.uk

EoEHLG/MHCA/No.260/26.7.10 1
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News from all corners of
the world

Department of Health

The NHS and people lacking mental capacity

2009/10 National Survey of Investment in Adult Mental Health Services

back to CONTENTS LINKS

National News

New Lancs dementia service launched

LANCASHIRE's new advice service for people with dementia has been hailed as a 'flagship' at
its launch at the start of Dementia Awareness Week

New Look NHS Must Deliver On Mental Health

The Government has outlined proposals to overhaul the structure of the NHS including
transferring the responsibility for commissioning to GPs

Burstow: PCTs scrapped to aid health and social care links

Primary care trusts were no longer "fit for purpose" and had to go as the price to deliver
integrated health and social care

Valuing People Now under threat

Staff delivering the key government programme to improve the lives of people with learning
disabilities have been told their jobs could be axed

Adult social care workforce set to double in 15 years

The adult social care workforce in England could almost double over the next 15 years from
1.75m to 3.1m, a new projection has shown

'Negative views' of learning disabilities revealed

Almost one in four (23%) people believe those with learning disabilities live in care homes while
8% think they live in secure hospitals, a survey found today

Mental Health Alliance Issues First Review Of Deprivation Of Liberty Safeguards,

Important safeguards designed to protect vulnerable people from being deprived of their liberty
inappropriately are not being properly implemented

EoEHLG/MHCA/No.260/26.7.10 2
 'Decriminalise personal drug use', suggests chairman of the Bar Council
Personal drug use should be legalised, the leader of the country’s barristers has suggested

Government launches adult care funding commission

Former social services directors Jo Williams and Lord Norman Warner will be charged with
shaping the future system of adult care funding

Scots 'drink a quarter more alcohol' than other Brits

Scottish adults buy a quarter more alcohol than the rest of Britain, according to an NHS study

Psychologists Call For Department Of Health And Social Care

The British Psychological Society has welcomed the publication of the white paper Equity and
Excellence: Liberating the NHS, but warned against the possible fragmentation of services

Government Outlines Details Of How It Plans To Address Social Care Problems

More details about how the government plans to address the problem of providing care and
support for an ageing population were unveiled

NICE Consults On Draft Recommendations For Generalised Anxiety Disorder

NICE is currently updating existing guidance published in December 2004 on the management
of anxiety

Thousands set to lose out on social services support

Support for thousands of vulnerable people may be slashed as budgetary pressures force
councils to raise eligibility thresholds to the highest level

Report shows fall in child smoking, drinking and drug use

There has been a fall in the proportion of schoolchildren who smoke, drink or take illegal drugs,
new figures show

Public heath service should focus on mental health and offending, says Centre for
Mental Health
The Government's proposed Public Health Service should have improving mental health and
reducing crime among its major national priorities, the newly-named Centre for Mental Health
said today

back to CONTENTS LINKS

International News

Mental health a growing concern after Gulf spill

Fears are growing of an increase in stress-related illness and mental health problems from the
BP Plc spill. Anecdotal evidence abounds but mental health officials say they lack data about
the scale and scope of suffering

Match service aims to speed Alzheimer's research

A new online service designed to match Alzheimer's patients with clinical trials may help

EoEHLG/MHCA/No.260/26.7.10 3
 address a big bottleneck in developing new drugs -- a lack of people to test them on, U.S.
researchers said on Monday

Health Experts To Discuss Ways To Improve Wellbeing Of People With Intellectual

Disabilities
Following comprehensive health care reform passed earlier this year Special Olympics has
organized a health symposium to explore the current state of health for people with intellectual
disabilities and ways to improve their access to care

PTSD Treatment Claims Process Eased, Some Remain Skeptical

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced a new rule Monday that aims to make it easier
for troops who return from battle to get the PTSD support they need

Drug Addiction Treatments To Benefit From $2.3 Million NIH Award

A pair of US scientists have been awarded a $2.3 million grant by the National Institutes of
Health to conduct research relevant to developing new treatments for drug addiction

Mental Health Needs Of Immigrant Children And Families Critical In Immigration Reform,
Psychologist Says
The immigration experience can have a profound impact on the social and emotional
development of children, especially those separated from their families or facing an uncertain
future

back to CONTENTS LINKS

R
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The experience of a smoke-free policy in a medium secure hospital

A Trust-wide smoke-free policy was introduced in March 2007. This service evaluation
retrospectively reviewed the outcome by focusing on recorded changes in behaviour, incidents
and prescribing

Addictions
Substance abuse, alcoholism,

Rat Study Sheds Light on Cocaine Addiction

Researchers discover tiny molecules that may be key to human addiction as well

Surprising New Study Shows Cigarette Cravings Result From Habit, Not Addiction
Nicotine patches and gum are common - and often ineffective - ways of fighting cigarette
cravings, as most smokers have discovered

Mother’s Alcoholism Especially Tough on Daughter's Mental Health

Study finds that outcomes are worse for daughters of affected women, vs. other parent-child
pairings

DocGuide TopAbstracts in Addictions

EoEHLG/MHCA/No.260/26.7.10 4
 Syringe Type Affects HIV Transmission Among Drug Users
Syringe type affects HIV transmission among intravenous drug users, according to a study

Anxiety Disorders

Comparative efficacy of antidepressants in preventing relapse in anxiety disorders — A

meta-analysis
The study assessed the efficacy of continuation treatment with antidepressants in a meta-
analysis of relapse prevention studies in the five principal anxiety disorders

Social anxiety disorder in adults who stutter

The nature and prevalence of social anxiety disorder in people who stutter is uncertain

DocGuide TopAbstract in Anxiety

Dementia
Alzheimer’s

Exercise, Vitamin D Seem to Cut Alzheimer's Risk: Researchers

Both appear to reduce cognitive decline, two long-term studies contend

Higher vitamin E intake tied to lower dementia risk

Older adults who get plenty of vitamin E in their diets may have a somewhat lower risk of
developing dementia than those who consume less of the nutrient, a study published Monday
suggests

Association Found Between Alzheimer's and Anemia

Cause for link uncertain, more study needed, researchers say

Alzheimer's May Increase Seizure Risk

Rate found to be highest in youngest patients and decreased with age, study found

Larger Head Size May Protect Against Alzheimer's Symptoms

New research shows that people with Alzheimer's disease who have large heads have better
memory and thinking skills than those with the disease who have smaller heads, even when
they have the same amount of brain cell death due to the disease

Researchers Find Dementia In Diabetics Differs From Dementia In Nondiabetics

Researchers say that dementia in some diabetics appears to be caused often by vascular
disease in the brain, and the dementia that develops in people without diabetes is more likely
associated with deposition of the plaque seen in people with Alzheimer's disease

Early Diagnosis For People With Dementia Can Reduce Costs

An early diagnosis of dementia followed by information and support reduces outpatient costs by
almost 30 percent

DocGuide TopAbstracts in Alzheimer’s

EoEHLG/MHCA/No.260/26.7.10 5
 Gene Linked to Aging Also Linked to Alzheimer's
MIT biologists report that they have discovered the first link between the amyloid plaques that
form in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and a gene previously implicated in the aging process,
SIRT1

Depression
Bipolar disorders

Cannabis use linked to improved cognition in bipolar disorder

Cannabis use is associated with improved neurocognitive function in patients with bipolar
disorder, report researchers who found the opposite was true for schizophrenia patients

Method of Failed Suicide May Predict Successful Attempt

Those who first try hanging, suffocation tend to eventually kill themselves, research shows

DocGuide TopAbstracts in Depression

Large Studies Link Asthma And Air Pollution To Suicide Risk

Suicide rates increase not only as a result of mental illness, but also when there are difficulties
with breathing

Depression makes world 'fade to grey'

The world literally fades to grey when we feel blue, scientists have discovered

Gender affects marriage benefits in bipolar disorder patients

The benefits of marriage appear to be greater for women with bipolar disorder than for men with
the disorder

Ecologically valid cognitive tests effective in euthymic bipolar patients

Ecologically valid tests of cognitive function appear to be sensitive for detecting cognitive
impairment in euthymic bipolar disorder patients, research shows

High risk criteria validated for bipolar disorder

Researchers have developed criteria to identify young people at high risk for developing bipolar
disorder, based on detecting a combination of sub-threshold mania, depressive symptoms,
cyclothymic features, and genetic risk

Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Major Depressive Disorder: A Meta-

Analysis of Patient Characteristics, Placebo-Response Rates, and Treatment Outcomes
Relative to Standard Antidepressants
The study compares patient characteristics, placebo-response rates, and outcome differences
in active treatment compared to placebo in randomized controlled trials of complementary and
alternative medicine and standard antidepressants for major depressive disorder

Altered hippocampal lipid profile in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder

The postmortem brains of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder show an altered
phospholipid profile, namely a decrease in omega-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

Alcohol use may not worsen bipolar disorder outcomes

Neither moderate nor excessive alcohol consumption has a negative effect on illness course or
outcome in patients with bipolar disorder

DocGuide TopAbstracts in Depression

Gender affects immediate memory in bipolar I disorder

EoEHLG/MHCA/No.260/26.7.10 6
 Gender differences in bipolar I disorder are associated with memory function and may
contribute to poor functional outcome particularly in men

Dual Diagnosis

Changes in the Association of Drug Use with Depressive Disorders in Recent Decades:
The Case of Cocaine
The results suggest a historical period effect in the association of cocaine use and depression.
Limitations and implications are discussed

The 10-year course of remission, abstinence, and recovery in dual diagnosis

This study examined the frequency, stability, predictors, and long-term outcomes of 6-month
remissions of alcohol use disorders among 116 adults with co-occurring severe mental illnesses
followed up prospectively for 10 years

Comorbid alcohol use disorders increase bipolar suicide risk

Patients with bipolar disorder are more than twice as likely to experience suicidal behavior if
they also have alcohol use disorders, survey findings show

Eating Disorders

Peer-facilitated cognitive dissonance versus healthy weight eating disorders prevention:

A randomized comparison
Research supports the efficacy of both cognitive dissonance and healthy weight eating
disorders prevention, and indicates that CD can be delivered by peer-facilitators, which
facilitates dissemination

Emotional Intelligence and Emotional Eating Patterns: A New Insight into the
Antecedents of Eating Disorders?
The study examines the association between emotional intelligence and emotional eating

Learning Disabilities

Scientists Identify Critical Genes For Down Syndrome

Research findings reported in the July 18 advanced online publication of Nature Neuroscience
have narrowed down the critical genetic elements responsible for some aspects of Down
syndrome

Memory Is Disrupted In Those With Disease Linked To Learning Disabilities

Published in the online Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the findings suggest
a potential drug target for correcting NF1-related learning disabilities

EoEHLG/MHCA/No.260/26.7.10 7
 Voice technology “ could detect autism”
Young children with autism can be identified by listening to the noises they make, say US
scientists

Dietary Issues In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Children with autism spectrum disorders can demonstrate feeding problems, food refusal, and
limited food preferences from infancy, but energy intake and growth are not affected

Widely Used Chemicals Linked To ADHD In Children

A new study suggests a link between polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFCs), industrial compounds
industrial compounds which are widely used in many consumer products, and ADHD in children

A meta-analysis of intervention effects on challenging behaviour among persons with

intellectual disabilities
The authors suggest their meta-analysis shows that there is evidence for the effectiveness of
pharmacological, psychotherapeutic and contextual interventions, used alone or in combination

Cluster Randomized-Controlled Trial of Interventions to Improve Health for Adults with

Intellectual Disability Who Live in Private Dwellings
The authors point out that those receiving the CHAP health review experienced an increase in
clinical activities, while use of the Ask health diary produced only modest effects.

Obsessive Compulsive
Disorders

Self-Hypnosis Benefits Children And Teens With Tourette Syndrome

A new study of children and adolescents with Tourette Syndrome finds that self-hypnosis taught
with the aid of videotape training reduced their symptoms and improved their quality of life

OCD increases illness burden in bipolar disorder

Patients with bipolar disorder and comorbid obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are more
likely to have a history of suicide attempts, rapid cycling, and alcohol dependence compared
with their peers without anxiety comorbidities

Quality of Life Outcomes in Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Relationship

to Treatment Response and Symptom Relapse
Data were analyzed from 2 prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of escitalopram
in obsessive-compulsive disorder to characterize the baseline levels of functional disability and
impairment in health-related quality of life

Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder

Monitoring Stress During A Real-Tme War To Refine PTSD Therapy

A new study reports that people confronted with acute stress - daily rocket attacks - tend to
dissociate from threats instead of becoming more vigilant

Treatment-Resistant PTSD Relieved By MDMA (Ecstasy)-Assisted Psychotherapy

EoEHLG/MHCA/No.260/26.7.10 8
 MDMA (±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also known as Ecstasy), may one day offer
hope for individuals with PTSD, even people for whom other treatments have failed

Comorbidity of posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression: A 20-year

longitudinal study of war veterans
This study aims to: (a) follow-up the prevalence of comorbidity of PTSD, anxiety and
depression; (b) determine the chronological relations between these disorder; and (c) examine
whether PTSD comorbid with anxiety and depression is implicated in more impaired functioning
than PTSD by itself

Women In Their 50s More Prone To PTSD Than Men

Post-traumatic stress disorder rates peak in women later than they do in men

Combined pharmacotherapy and psychological therapies for post traumatic stress

disorder (PTSD)
Cochrane Intervention review

Psychology

Can A Minimal Psychological Intervention Help Chronically Ill Elderly Patients?

This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-led minimal
psychological intervention (MPI) in chronically ill elderly persons with minor depression or mild-
to-moderate major depression, and type II diabetes or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Virtual Universe Study Proves 80-Year-Old Theory On How Humans Interact

A new study analysing interactions between players in a virtual universe game has for the first
time provided large-scale evidence to prove an 80 year old psychological theory called
Structural Balance Theory

Genetic Link to Children’s Emotional Problems Precipitated by Bullying

Bullying victimization is common among children of school age, although its consequences are
often anything but benign

Schizophrenia

Sexual Abuse Survivors Have Increased Lifetime Diagnoses Of Psychiatric Disorders

New research finds that a history of sexual abuse, regardless of the victim's gender or age
when the abuse occurred, correlates strongly with a lifetime diagnosis of multiple psychiatric
disorders

Cognitive therapy preserves gray matter in early schizophrenia

Cognitive enhancement therapy protects against gray matter loss in schizophrenia and may
even support gray matter growth in medial temporal areas of the brain

EoEHLG/MHCA/No.260/26.7.10 9
 OC symptoms central clinical features of schizophrenia
Obsessive-compulsive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia appear to be central to the
clinical features of the condition and not a separate clinical condition

Abnormal oscillatory activity in schizophrenia clarified

Researchers suggest that abnormal brain electrical activity in schizophrenia patients during
information processing may not only be phase-locked to stimulus onset, but also be induced by
the stimulus in a variable time relationship

Family history impacts onset and presentation of schizophrenia

Schizophrenia patients with a family history of psychosis tend to have an earlier age of onset
and more severe negative symptoms than their peers with no such history

DocGuide TopAbstract in Schizophrenia

Psychosis susceptibility gene linked to patients with spared cognition

A variant of the Zinc Finger Protein 804A gene is implicated in schizophrenia susceptibility, but
its association may be specific to individuals with relatively spared cognitive ability

Management of CV risk factors possible in schizophrenia patients

Patients with schizophrenia are at increased risk for cardiovascular risk factors, and they access
the primary healthcare system as frequently as someone without the mental health disorder

Schizophrenia Patients Suffer More Hospital Injuries

People with schizophrenia are more likely than others to sustain medical injuries during non-
psychiatric hospital stays, a large national study finds

Social Work

Child neglect: Definition and identification of youth's experiences in official reports of

maltreatment
The purpose of this study was to describe the nature of neglect in child welfare clients, to
describe these experiences

Defining best practice in care and protection of children in crisis-affected settings: a

delphi study
Thirty specialists in humanitarian work supporting the care and protection of children in crisis
settings completed a 3-phase Delphi consultation

Malicious Use of Pharmaceuticals: An Under-Recognized Form of Child Abuse

A study soon to be published in the Journal of Pediatrics investigates the malicious use of
pharmaceuticals and attempts to shed light on this under-recognized problem

back to CONTENTS LINKS

EoEHLG/MHCA/No.260/26.7.10 10
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Books, Conferences,
Websites & Journal Tocs

NEW PUBLICATIONS
Books and reports hot of the press
Click the title to connect to the website entry

Literature review: Understanding the needs of people with mental health conditions
and/or learning disabilities and the implications for the Pension, Disability and Carers
Service
Research Report

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards:an initial review of implementation

Mental Health Alliance report

2009/10 National Survey of Investment in Adult Mental Health Services

Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2009
NHS Information centre report

Young People With Anti-social Behaviours: Practical Resources for Professionals

Female Sexual Offenders: Theory, Assessment, and Treatment

Sexual Violence

Cognitive Deficit in Mental and Neurological Disorders

Depression in Adults With a Chronic Physical Health Problem: The NICE Guideline on
Treatment and Management

Early Detection and Treatment of Substance Abuse Within Integrated Primary Care

Cognitive-behavioural Indicators of Substance Abuse

back to CONTENTS LINKS

CONFERENCES
Follow the link to a list, new conferences in green

CONFERENCES

EoEHLG/MHCA/No.260/26.7.10 11
 WEBSITES
Follow the link below to a list of useful websites

USEFUL WEBSITES

JOURNAL TOC PAGES

New links in orange Follow the link below to a list of Journal TOC pages

JOURNAL TOCs

back to CONTENTS LINKS

DISCLAIMER
And list of websites used Follow the link to Disclaimer
DISCLAIMER

EoEHLG/MHCA/No.260/26.7.10 12