NIMH: Tomorrow’s Antidepressants: Skip the Serotonin Boost? Scientists Reverse
Depression-Like Behaviors In Mice Without Raising Serotonin Levels

New research adds to evidence of potentially better molecular targets in the brain to treat
depression and other mental disorders, according to NIMH-funded scientists. The researchers
suggest that imbalances in the activity of an enzyme called GSK3ß may be closer to the root
cause of mental illnesses than are low serotonin levels. Serotonin, a brain chemical, is the
ultimate target of several current medications that work by indirectly increasing it to relieve
symptoms. In preliminary findings, the scientists suggest that GSK3ß might be a more
fundamental – and thus, perhaps, better and faster – target for new medications. Results of the
study were published in the January issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences.

Science Update:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/tomorrows-antidepressants-skip-the-
serotonin- boost.shtml

PubMed Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18212115?ordinalpos=2&itool=
EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

NIMH: Team Care for Depressed Older Adults Cuts Overall Medical Costs

A team approach to depression treatment for older adults, already shown to be effective, is
also less expensive than usual care, according to an NIMH-funded study published February
2008 in the American Journal of Managed Care. Previous studies reported that the
collaborative care program in the Improving Mood: Promoting Access to Collaborative
Treatment (IMPACT) trial was substantially more effective than usual care for older adults
with depression. In this new study, researchers found that the collaborative care group’s costs
were less than the usual care group. Costs were lower in the collaborative care group mostly
because participants sought fewer medical care services.

Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/team-care-for-depressed-
older-adults-cuts-overall-medical-costs.shtml

PubMed Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18269305?ordinalpos=1&itool=
EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

NIMH: Gene Variants Protect Against Adult Depression Triggered by Childhood Stress

Certain variations in a gene that helps regulate response to stress tend to protect adults who
were abused in childhood from developing depression, according to new research funded by
the NIMH. Adults who had been abused but didn't have the variations in the gene had twice
the symptoms of moderate to severe depression, compared to those with the protective
variations. Results of the study were published in the February 4 issue of the Archives of
General Psychiatry.

Press Release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/gene-variants-protect-against-
adult-depression-triggered-by-childhood-stress.shtml

PubMed Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18250257?ordinalpos=1&itool=
EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

NIH News: Gene Variant Predicts Medication Response in Patients with Alcohol Dependence

Patients with a certain gene variant drank less and experienced better overall clinical outcomes
than patients without the variant while taking the medication naltrexone, according to an
analysis of participants in the National Institutes of Health's 2001-2004 COMBINE
(Combined Pharmacotherapies and Behavioral Interventions for Alcohol Dependence)
Study. About 87 percent of patients with the variant who received naltrexone experienced
good outcomes, compared with about 49 percent of those who received a placebo. About
55 percent of patients without the variant experienced a good outcome regardless of
whether they received naltrexone or placebo. Good outcome was defined as abstinence
or moderate drinking without related problems, according to an article in the Feb. 4 issue
of the Archives of General Psychiatry

Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/feb2008/niaaa-07.htm

PubMed Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18250251?ordinalpos=5&itool=
EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

FDA Issues Public Health Advisory on Chantix

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Public Health Advisory to alert
health care providers, patients, and caregivers to new safety warnings concerning Chantix
(varenicline), a prescription medication used to help patients stop smoking. As the agency's
review of the adverse event reports proceeds, it appears increasingly likely that there may
be an association between Chantix and serious neuropsychiatric symptoms.

FDA News: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01788.html

FY 2008 Funding Strategy for Research Grants

NIMH has posted its Grants Funding Policy for research grants awarded during the
period October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/research-funding/grants/fy-funding-strategy-for-research-
grants.shtml

Meeting Summary: Translational Approaches to Studying Repetitive Behavior and
Resistance to Change in Autism

In September 2007, NIMH held a multidisciplinary workshop to identify major trends,
gaps, and opportunities in clinical and basic research on repetitive behavior and
resistance to change in autism.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/research-funding/scientific-meetings/2007/translational-
approaches-to-studying-repetitive-behavior-and-resistance-to-change-in-autism
/summary.shtml

FY 2009 President's Budget Request - Congressional Justification

http://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/ui/2008/NIMH.pdf

New ‘NIH Research Matters’ of Interest

Subconscious Signals Can Trigger Brain’s Drug-Craving Centers

Quick flashes of cocaine-related photos—so brief viewers don’t even realize
what they’re seeing—can instantly trigger “reward circuitry” in the brains of
drug-addicted patients, activating the same brain regions that respond to
sexual images. Researchers say their findings may provide new clues for
treating addictions and possibly other conditions, like eating disorders,
that are marked by uncontrolled desires and behaviors.

http://www.nih.gov/news/research_matters/february2008/02042008
cocaine.htm

New on the NIDA Website

Scientific Research on the Scope, Pharmacology, and Health Consequences of
Cocaine Abuse and Addiction, Before the Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs,
Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate

This testimony by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Director reviews
what research has taught us about the scope, pharmacology, and health
consequences of cocaine abuse and addiction.

http://www.nida.nih.gov/Testimony/2-12-08Testimony.html

Latest Issue of ‘Addiction Science & Clinical Practice’ Available

The latest issue of NIDA’s peer-reviewed journal for drug abuse researchers and
treatment providers is available. Articles include a review of recent research on
marijuana dependence, withdrawal, and treatment; a discussion of several formal
assessment instruments used to diagnose psychiatric disorders and their utility in
diagnosing abuse and addiction; and an exploration of the discrepancy between
acute-care models of addiction treatment and the compelling evidence that
addiction is a chronic condition.

http://www.drugabuse.gov/ascp/vol4no1.html

Surgeon General's Workshop on Women’s Mental Health: Workshop Report

This document summarizes the views and issues addressed by invited speakers and
discussants at the Surgeon General's Women’s Mental Health Workshop that brought
together experts from the consumer, academic, advocacy, health insurance, health care
delivery, program management, and public policy communities to explore sex and gender
differences in mental health and to address critical mental health issues affecting girls and
women. The goal of this workshop was for participants to develop practical and actionable
recommendations for materials and toolkits that could be produced by the Surgeon General
to advance knowledge, understanding, and behaviors regarding women’s mental health issues
– and ultimately to improve the mental health of our Nation’s girls and women.

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/womensmentalhealth/

SAMHSA: New Resources on Early Child Mental Health

As part of its Promotion of Mental Health and Prevention of Mental and Behavioral Disorders
series, SAMHSA offers these resources for teaching the early childhood community about the
promotion of mental health.

Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation

This monograph provides a blueprint for child care providers to use when hiring a
mental health consultant.

http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/svp05-0151/

A Training Guide for the Early Childhood Services Community

These training materials inform and guide programmatic planning for mental health
consultation within the context of early childhood services.

http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/svp05-0151B/

SAMHSA: New Reports from the Office of Applied Studies

Primary Methamphetamine / Amphetamine Admissions to Substance Abuse
Treatment: 2005

From 1995 to 2005, the percentage of substance abuse treatment admissions
for primary abuse of methamphetamine /amphetamine more than doubled from
4 percent to 9 percent. In 2005, about 1.8 million substance abuse treatment
admissions were reported to SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS).

http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k8/methamphetamineTX/meth.cfm

Use of Specific Hallucinogens: 2006

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) asks persons aged 12 or
older questions related to their use of any type of hallucinogen in the past year. The
survey also asks about use of individual hallucinogens; questions specifically about
LSD, PCP, and Ecstasy have been included for several years. Beginning with the
2006 survey, NSDUH also has included specific questions about past year use of
ketamine, the tryptamine drugs dimethyltryptamine (DMT), alpha-methyltryptamine
(AMT), and 5-methoxy-diisopropyltryptamine (5-MeO-DIPT or "Foxy"), and
Salvia divinorum. This report examines the prevalence and patterns of the use of
each of these hallucinogens among persons aged 12 or older. Estimates are based
on data from the 2006 NSDUH.

http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k8/hallucinogens/hallucinogens.cfm

GAO: VA Health Care—Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Screening and Evaluation Implemented
for OEF/OIF Veterans, but Challenges Remain

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has emerged as a leading injury among service members serving
in the Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) combat
theaters. Because mild TBI can have lasting effects if not identified and treated, concerns have
been raised about how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) identifies and treats OEF/
OIF veterans with a mild TBI. In this report GAO describes VA’s (1) efforts to screen OEF/
OIF veterans for mild TBI, (2) steps taken so that those OEF/OIF veterans at risk for mild
TBI are evaluated and treated, and (3) challenges in screening and evaluating OEF/OIF
veterans for mild TBI. GAO reviewed VA’s policies, interviewed VA officials and TBI
experts, and reviewed nine VA medical facilities’ efforts to implement TBI screening and
evaluation processes.

http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/summary.php?rptno=GAO-08-276&accno=A80611

CDC Chronic Disease Indicators Web Site Now Available

The Chronic Disease Indicators (CDI) Web site is now available from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC). CDI is a crosscutting set of 90 indicators that were developed
by consensus and that allow states and territories to uniformly define, collect, and report
chronic disease data that are important to public health practice and are available at the
state level. The indicators are provided in the following seven categories: Physical Activity
and Nutrition, Tobacco and Alcohol Use, Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes,
Overarching Conditions, and Other Diseases and Risk Factors. Users can generate a profile of
indicator data for any state, compare data across states and to national data, and download
results to a spreadsheet. The indicator, ‘Recent mentally unhealthy days among adults aged >=
18’, is available under the ‘Overarching Conditions’ category.

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/cdi

MMWR: Adverse Health Conditions and Health Risk Behaviors Associated with Intimate
Partner Violence — United States, 2005

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health problem resulting in more than
1200 deaths and 2 million injuries per year among women, and nearly 600,000 injuries per
year among men. New research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
shows intimate partner violence (IPV), also referred to as domestic violence, is linked with
a number of health risk behaviors such as smoking, binge drinking and sexual risk taking and
also chronic health conditions like asthma, arthritis and stroke. The study underscores the
importance of IPV as a public health issue.

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5705a1.htm

ACF: Promoting Healthy Families in Your Community: 2008 Resource Packet

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Children’s Bureau has prepared this
information packet to support child maltreatment prevention efforts by describing strategies
and activities that promote protective factors. It is written for service providers, to encourage
and support them as they engage and partner with parents to protect, nurture, and promote
the healthy development of children.

http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/res_packet_2008/

SAMHSA: 2008 Science and Service Awards Will Honor Implementation of Evidence-
Based Mental Health and Substance Abuse Interventions

SAMHSA has issued a call for applications for its 2008 Science and Service Awards, a
national program that recognizes community-based organizations and coalitions that have
shown exemplary implementation of evidence-based mental health and substance abuse
interventions. Application deadline is March 31, 2008.

http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0801181059.aspx

New Patient Safety Proposed Regulation Aims to Improve Health Care Quality and Patient
Safety: Public Comment Period

A proposed regulation to improve the quality and safety of health care for all Americans by
fostering the establishment of Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs) was announced by the
HHS. PSOs are private entities recognized by the HHS Secretary to collect and analyze
patient safety events reported by health care providers. They are new and separate from all
currently existing entities that are addressing health care quality. HHS’ Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality (AHRQ) will administer the rules for listing qualified PSOs. The HHS
Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will be responsible for enforcing the confidentiality provisions of
the act.

Members of the public are invited to comment on the proposed regulation and their feedback
will be used to shape the final regulation. In addition, AHRQ and OCR are planning to host an
audio conference on February 29, 2008 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EST, to provide
additional details and answer questions about the proposed regulation.

Deadline for public comment is April 14, 2008.

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2008pres/02/20080212a.html

Developing Healthy People 2020: Participate in Regional Meetings

Healthy People provides science-based, 10-year national objectives for promoting health and
preventing disease. Since 1979, Healthy People has set and monitored national health
objectives to meet a broad range of health needs, encourage collaborations across sectors,
guide individuals toward making informed health decisions, and measure the impact of our
prevention activity.

To obtain public perspectives on the framework that will be used to organize Healthy People
2020 objectives, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is convening
five regional meetings. A sixth meeting is planned in the Washington, DC area to gain input
from national organizations and other interested groups and individuals. Registration has
opened for scheduled Healthy People 2020 Regional Meetings locations.

http://www.healthypeople.gov/hp2020/regional/default.asp

Webcast: Comprehensive Assessment of Complex Trauma

February 21, 2008 2-3:30pm ET

Sponsored by SAMHSA’s National Child Traumatic Stress Network, this free webcast will
provide information on the comprehensive assessment of complex trauma.

http://www.nctsn.org/nccts/nav.do?pid=ctr_train_tele_compsched

Conference Call: The National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day—

How to Get Out the Message

February 21, 2008 1-2:30 pm ET

This conference call produced by SAMHSA’s National Technical Assistance Center for
Children's Mental Health will explore how the National Children's Mental Health Awareness
Day initiative is a strategy for partnership development and how partnership development is a
fundamental component for systems transformation. The presenters will also discuss technical
assistance available to states and communities to utilize this strategy.

http://gucchd.georgetown.edu/programs/ta_center/tacalls2008.html

Health Observance: National Eating Disorders Awareness Week

February 24-March 1, 2008

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week highlights the fact that body size and shape are
strongly influenced by biological factors – such as genetics, while also calling attention to some
of the new discoveries surrounding the role of genetics in the development of eating disorders.

http://www.healthfinder.gov/library/nho/nho.asp?year=2008#34

Health Observance: Brain Awareness Week

March 10–16, 2008

Brain Awareness Week is an international effort organized by the Dana Alliance for Brain
Initiatives to advance public awareness about the progress and benefits of brain research. The
Dana Alliance is joined in the campaign by partners in the United States and around the world,
including medical and research organizations; patient advocacy groups; the National Institutes
of Health, and other government agencies; service groups; hospitals and universities; K-12
schools; and professional organizations.

http://www.healthfinder.gov/library/nho/nho.asp?year=2008#132

Workshop: Responding to School Violence

March 11-12, 2008, Portland, Oregon

The DOJ’s Office for Victims of Crime is offering to this training, to explore strategies to
create a culture of nonviolence within schools, strategies to intervene and prevent potential
school attacks, immediate, short- and long-term strategies to respond to a violent episode,
and strategies to address reactions to violent episodes.

http://www.sei2003.com/ovcttac2008/SchoolViolence.htm

National GAINS Center Conference: Creating More Effective Services

March 18-20, 2008, Washington, DC

The SAMHSA Center for Mental Health Services’ (CMHS) National GAINS Center
Conference represents a unique opportunity for practitioners and researchers working at the
interfaces of the criminal justice and mental health systems to network, learn, and share
knowledge on creating effective services for justice-involved individuals with mental illness.
The purpose of this conference is to develop and expand the research base for effective
criminal justice/mental health programs and policies. Registration, which is free, is open until
March 1, 2008.

http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov/2008conference/

NCDEU: New Research Approaches for Mental Health Interventions

May 27-30, 2008, Phoenix, Arizona

The New Clinical Drug Evaluation Unit (NCDEU) Meeting, co-sponsored by the National
Institute of Mental Health and the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology, is a
scientific conference that brings together academic researchers from multiple disciplines
involved in clinical trials, practicing psychologists, research pharmacists, nurses, and social
workers, as well as investigators with the pharmaceutical industry, and representatives from
NIMH/NIH and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/research-funding/scientific-meetings/recurring-meetings/ncdeu/
index.shtml

Blending Addiction Science and Treatment—The Impact of Evidence-Based Practices on
Individuals, Families and Communities

June 2-3, 2008, Cincinnati, Ohio

This NIDA conference provides an important opportunity for clinicians and providers to
interact with the developers of empirically supported treatments in awareness raising
workshops focused on treatment implementation. The goal of the Blending Addiction Science
and Practice Conference is to improve addiction treatment practices so more people recover
from addictive disorders.

http://www.NIDABlendingConference.info

The National Center for Trauma-Informed Care Learning Exchange

July 11-12, 2008, Washington, DC

The SAMHSA CMHS funded National Center for Trauma-Informed Care will be hosting a
two-day learning exchange and networking transformation forum to highlight useful and
practical strategies for moving forward together with the implementation of trauma-informed
care in organizations, programs, and services.

http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/nctic/

The 13th Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health

September 25-27, 2008, Phoenix, Arizona

Sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Center for School Mental
Health and the IDEA Partnership, this year’s conference theme is “School Mental Health for
All Students: Building a Shared Agenda for Youth, Families, Schools, and Communities.”

http://csmh.umaryland.edu/conf_meet/AnnualConference/index.html

NIMH: Health Behavior Change in People with Mental Disorders

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) encourages studies on health behavior change
related to function, disability, morbidity, and mortality in people with mental disorders. An
important goal of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to identify potent,
modifiable risk and protective health behavior factors amenable to intervention, and to translate
the results of such studies into initial tests of theory-driven prevention and early intervention
strategies aimed at improving function and decreasing disability, morbidity, and mortality
among people with mental disorders. Risk and protective factors include biological,
psychosocial, behavioral, and environmental contributors to health behaviors among people
with mental disorders. This is a reissue of PA-07-211 which was previously released
December 20, 2006

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-08-089.html (R01)

PAs and RFAs to share with scientific advisors. Information about NIH funding at http://grants.
nih.gov/grants/oer.htm

Selected NIH Program Announcements (PAs)

[Full listing of NIH PAs at http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/index.html ]

NIMH: Developing Centers for Intervention and/or Services Research (DCISR)

This is a reissue and modification of PAR-05-144 , which was released on July 22,
2005

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-08-087.html (P20)

NIMH: Advanced Centers for Intervention and/or Services Research (ACISR)

This is a reissue and modification of PAR-05-161 , which was released on September
1, 2005

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-08-088.html (P30)

NIMH Career Opportunities in Research (COR) Honors Undergraduate Research
Training Grant

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-08-093.html (T34)

NIH: The Effect of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination/Bias on Health Care Delivery

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-08-083.html (R01)

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-08-084.html (R21)

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-08-085.html (R03)

NIDA Comprehensive Research Center of Excellence Grant Program

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-08-086.html (P60)

Selected NIH Request for Applications (RFAs)

[Full listing of NIH RFAs at http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/index.html ]

None.

HRSA: Rural Health Research Grant Program Cooperative Agreement

https://grants.hrsa.gov/webExternal/SFO.asp?ID=219F8C72-B7EF-48D5-927C-
2BE6F95398C6

HRSA: Targeted Rural Health Research Grant Program

https://grants.hrsa.gov/webExternal/SFO.asp?ID=575E7D5B-F3E6-4529-8811-
0A944D0F2C74

IHS: Native American Research Centers for Health, 5th Round

http://www.ihs.gov/medicalprograms/research/narch-V.cfm

SAMHSA: Drug Free Communities Support Mentoring Program

http://www.samhsa.gov/Grants/2008/sp_08_003.aspx

SAMHSA: Grants to Expand Substance Abuse Treatment Capacity for Drug Courts

http://samhsa.gov/grants/2008/ti_08_007.aspx

SAMHSA: Grants to Expand Substance Abuse Treatment Capacity in Targeted Areas of Need

http://www.samhsa.gov/Grants/2008/ti_08_005.aspx

USDA: Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grant Program

http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/dlt/dlt.htm

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