| Science
and News Update |
Research Strives to Understand
How Antidepressants May Be Associated with Suicidal Thoughts and Actions.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National
Institutes of Health, is funding five new research projects that will
shed light on antidepressant medications, notably selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and their association with suicidal thoughts
and actions (suicidality).
Read Press Release at http://www.
nimh. nih.gov/press/suicidessri.cfm |
U.S. Youth Suicide
Rates Lower in Counties with High SSRI Use
For children ages five to 14, suicide rates from 1996 to 1998 were
lower in areas of the country with higher rates of antidepressant
prescriptions, according to an NIMH-funded study published in the
November 2006 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
See science update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/press/ssri_suicide.cfm
|
Mouse Model May Reveal Anxiety
Gene, Marker for Antidepressant Failure - Provides Valuable
Tool for Exploring Basis of Human Anxiety and Response to SSRIs.
Studies of a new mouse model suggest that a specific gene variation
plays a role in the development of anxiety disorders and in resistance
to common medications for anxiety and depression. With further research,
the findings could eventually help explain part of the genetic underpinnings
of anxiety disorders, which affect 40 million American adults, and
lead to biological markers that predict whether or not selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors will be effective for a given patient. Results
were reported in the October 6 issue of Science.
See science update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/press/bdnf_sn_anxiety.cfm |
NIDA: Incentive-Based
Therapy Improves Outlook for Methamphetamine Abusers
New research suggests that offering methamphetamine abusers an incentive-based
behavioral therapy program called contingency management (CM - also
known as Motivational Incentives), along with psychosocial therapy
is more effective than psychosocial therapy alone. The study is published
in the November 2006 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
See press release: http://www.drugabuse.gov/newsroom/06/NR11-6.html
|
CDC: MMWR Report - State
Medicaid Coverage for Tobacco-Dependence
Treatments, United States, 2005
This report summarizes the results of a survey of all states and DC
regarding the amount and type of insurance coverage for tobacco-dependence
treatment offered by Medicaid since 1998. Dramatic increases in coverage
must occur to achieve the 2010 national health objective of increasing
insurance coverage of evidence-based treatments for tobacco dependence
among all 51 Medicaid programs. In 2004, of approximately 41 million
Americans who received health insurance coverage through the Medicaid
programs, an estimated 29% were current smokers.
See full report: http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/mmwrnews/n061109.htm#1 |
CDC: New Report Finds Pain
Affects Millions of Americans
One in four U.S. adults say they suffered a day-long bout of pain
in the past month, and one in 10 say the pain lasted a year or more,
according to the government's annual comprehensive report of Americans'
health, Health United States, 2006, released by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics.
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r061115.htm |
HHS Awards $3 Million for
Adolescent Family Life Care Demonstration Grants
The Office of Population Affairs of the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS) today announced awards totaling $3,213,917.
Nine Adolescent Family Life (AFL) Care Demonstration Grants were awarded
to school districts, a faith-based organization and seven community-based
organizations. AFL care demonstration programs establish and evaluate
innovative approaches to the delivery of care to pregnant and parenting
teens in an effort to ameliorate the effects of too-early childbearing.
The programs provide an array of services to help prevent repeat pregnancies
and enhance the well being of teen mothers and fathers, their infants
and their families.
See press release: http://www.dhhs.gov/news/press/2006pres/20061106.html |
| Resources:
Publications, Toolkits, Other Resources |
NIAAA: Initiative on Underage
Drinking
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism is launching
an initiative to intensify research, evaluation, and outreach efforts
regarding underage drinking. Alcohol is the drug of choice among children
and adolescents. Annually, about 5,000 youth under age 21 die from
motor vehicle crashes, other unintentional injuries, and homicides
and suicides that involve underage drinking.
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/AboutNIAAA/NIAAASponsoredPrograms/underage.htm |
NIAAA: Helping Patients Who
Drink Too Much - A Clinician’s Guide
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has updated
its 2003 guide for primary care and mental health clinicians. The
new version provides important updates and refinements including:
simpler screening method, new assessment strategy, guidance for when
patients refuse a referral, medication information, and frequently
asked questions. The Clinician’s Guide is available in both
English and Spanish.
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Practitioner/CliniciansGuide2005/clinicians_guide.htm |
SAMHSA: Mental Health - It’s
Part of Aging
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
has created an online brochure that offers information for older adults
about how to seek treatment for mental illnesses, including tips about
communicating effectively with doctors and links to helpful organizations.
http://www.stopstigma.samhsa.gov/action/partaging.htm |
SAMHSA: The Arts - Reaching
Hearts and Minds to Counter Discrimination Associated with Mental
Illnesses
The purpose of this booklet is to provide inspiration and guidance
in using the visual and performing arts to counter discrimination
and stigma. The booklet begins with synopses of some of the many programs
that offer consumers of mental health services opportunities to perform
or to display their artwork to the public. It also offers some insight
into ways that these and other arts programs combat discrimination
and stigma—building confidence among participants and educating
the public about mental illnesses and the talents of people with mental
illnesses. The booklet includes hints about starting arts programs
that will address discrimination and stigma.
http://www.stopstigma.samhsa.gov/action/heartsandminds.htm |
SAMHSA: Mental Health - It's
Part of College Life
The purpose of this booklet is to give college students ideas for
generating mental health awareness on campus. The booklet provides
ideas for activities and organizations that may be able to help.
http://www.stopstigma.samhsa.gov/action/collegelife.htm |
SAMHSA Webcast: Addiction
and the Justice System - Deciphering the Maze
This program explores addiction treatment services and interventions
at each segment of the justice system. The sectors covered by this
show include: community policing, points of arrests, initial interventions
for first-time offense, drug courts, responses to relapse, prison
services, and services regarding reentry into society.
For more information: http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/multimedia/mediaDetails.aspx?ID=481 |
SAMHSA: New Reports from
the Office of Applied Studies
NSDUH Report: How Young Adults Obtain Prescription Pain Relievers
for Nonmedical Use.
This report is based on SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health,
formerly called the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, the primary
source of information on the prevalence, patterns, and consequences
of drug and alcohol use and abuse in the general U.S. civilian non
institutionalized population, age 12 and older. The survey also provides
estimates for drug use by state. According to the report, approximately
4 million young adults aged 18 to 25 (12.4%) used prescription pain
relievers (analgesics) such as OxyContin® nonmedically within
the past year in 2005; in addition, 1.7% of the young adults met the
criteria for dependence or abuse of prescription pain relievers in
the past year. In the past year, 53% of these young adults obtained
the pain relievers that they last used nonmedically from a friend
or relative for free.
http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k6/getPain/getPain.cfm |
New DAWN Report: Emergency
Department Visits Involving Dextromethorphan
This report is based on the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), the
primary source of national data on drug related emergency department
visits. An ingredient in over-the-counter cough medicine, Dextromethorphan
(DXM), was a contributing factor in an estimated 12,584 visits to
hospital emergency departments during 2004. Of those visits, 5,581
were attributed to nonmedical use, almost half of which (48 percent)
involved patients ages 12 to 20.
http://oas.samhsa.gov/DAWN/dextromethorphan.cfm |
NSDUH Report: Underage Alcohol
Use among Full-Time College Students
This Report is based on SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health,
formerly called the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, the primary
source of information on the prevalence, patterns, and consequences
of drug and alcohol use and abuse in the general U.S. civilian non
institutionalized population, age 12 and older. The survey also provides
estimates for drug use by state. According to the report, binge and
heavy alcohol use remained steady from 2002 to 2005 in full time college
students aged 18-20. Binge drinking was defined as 5 or more drinks
on the same occasion at least one day in the past month. According
to combined data from the 2002 to 2005 surveys, 57.8% of full time
college students underage for legal drinking used alcohol in the past
month, 40.1% engaged in binge drinking, and 16.6% engaged in heavy
drinking. http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k6/college/collegeUnderage.cfm |
CDC Child Development Campaign
Expands to Target More Than 400,000 Child Care Facilities Nationwide
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration
with a coalition of national partners, is launching a new phase of
the "Learn the Signs. Act Early." public awareness campaign.
This childhood development campaign is designed to help increase awareness
about the importance of tracking a child's social and emotional development,
including the potential early warning signs of autism and other developmental
disabilities. The new phase targets more than 407,000 child care facilities
in the United States and will provide free materials to help child
care providers and preschool teachers educate parents about child
development and autism.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/actearly/
Read press release: http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r061108.htm |
CDC: Health, United States
- 2006
This annual report on trends in health statistics has two main sections:
a chartbook containing text and figures that illustrates major trends
in the health of Americans; and a trend tables section that contains
147 detailed data tables. The two main components are supplemented
by an executive summary, a highlights section, an extensive appendix
and reference section, and an index.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus.htm |
| Calls
for Public Input |
NIAAA Call for Comments and
Input on Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research Strategic
Planning Document
The Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research (DEPR) of the
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is seeking
input on its strategic planning document, which reviews the epidemiology
and prevention research literature and offers recommendations for
research priorities. The document was reviewed by NIAAA's Extramural
Advisory Board (EAB) on August 16-17, 2006. On the basis of its review,
the EAB will present a series of recommendations to the NIAAA National
Advisory Council in February of 2007. Please send any comments or
suggestions to Ralph Hingson, Sc.D., M.P.H., at rhingson@mail.nih.gov
by December 8, 2006.
View strategic plan: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/ResearchInformation/ExtramuralResearch/AdvisoryCouncil
/DEPRStrategicPlan.htm |
| Calendar
of Events |
National Project Homeless
Connect Week 2006
December 4-8, 2006
Project Homeless Connect is a one-day event sponsored by mayors and
other community leaders and designed to provide housing, services,
and hospitality in a convenient one-stop model for people experiencing
homelessness. More than 35 cities have replicated this model. The
Interagency Council on Homelessness will convene several national
conference calls to support cities planning 2006 National Project
Homeless Connect participation. Calls are being convened every 2 weeks
to share best practices and common questions. For more information
on conference calls, send an email to: usichevents@usich.gov
http://www.usich.gov/slocal/NationalProjectHomelessConnectPromo.html |
Teleconference: Trauma and
Adolescence
December 7, 2006, 2:00pm-3:30pm EST
The CMHS-sponsored National Child Traumatic Stress Network is hosting
a free teleconference on trauma and adolescence. More details on the
teleconference will be available soon on the web.
http://www.nctsnet.org/nccts/nav.do?pid=ctr_top_train_tele_sched |
47th Annual NCDEU Meeting
June 11-14, 2007, Boca Raton, Florida
The NCDEU Meeting is a scientific conference that brings together
academic researchers from multiple disciplines involved in clinical
trials, investigators with the pharmaceutical industry, and representatives
from NIMH/NIH and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to address
psychopharmacology, clinical trials methodology, and the broader areas
of interventions and services research. Proposals for Workshops and/or
Panels as well as poster abstracts and New Investigator Award applications
must be submitted online.
Workshop and Panel Presentations: Extended to December 1, 2006
New Investigator Applications: January 16, 2007
Poster Presentations: January 16, 2007
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/ncdeu/index.cfm |
NIMH Annual International
Research Conference on the Role of Families in Preventing and Adapting
to HIV/AIDS
July 25-27, 2007, San Francisco, California
This conference is designed to present research findings on family
processes and HIV disease. Objectives include: family processes associated
with the epidemiology of AIDS and high-risk behaviors of family members;
family configuration and functioning as predictors of adaptation at
different stages of HIV/AIDS; stress and coping strategies mobilized
by families infected and affected by HIV and AIDS; family issues of
multiple losses, death, bereavement, child custody and permanency
planning; models for mental health services for families with a life-threatening
disease; and strategies for analyzing family data.
Papers and workshops: March 17, 2007
Posters: June 29, 2007
Registration: June 29, 2007
Note: You may register at the conference. However, you must register
by June 29, 2007 in order to be listed in the Program Book.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/scientificmeetings/hivaids2007.cfm |
| |
| Funding
Information |
| Genome-wide Association Studies
in the Genes and Environment Initiative - Availability of
Additional Information (NOT-HG-07-001) http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HG-07-001.html |
| Research
Funding Opportunities (PAs and RFAs) |
NIH Program Announcements
(PAs)
Full listing of NIH PAs at http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/index.html |
Bridges to the Doctorate
for Underrepresented Students (R25)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-07-040.html |
Bridges to the Baccalaureate
Program for Underrepresented Students (R25)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-07-039.html |
NIH Request for Applications
(RFAs)
Full listing of NIH RFAs at http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/index.html |
Mechanisms of Behavior Change
in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders (R21)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AA-07-005.html |
Extinction and Pharmacotherapies
for Drug Addiction (R03)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DA-07-011.html |
Exploratory/Developmental
Centers for Translational Research on the Clinical Neurobiology of
Drug Addiction (P20)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DA-07-008.html |
Maximizing Protective Factors
for Youth Violence (U49)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CE-07-003.html |
Family and Dyadic Focused
Interventions to Prevent Intimate Partner Violence (U49)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CE-07-002.html |
Understanding Risk and Protective
Factors for Sexual Violence Perpetration and the Overlap with Bullying
Behavior (U49)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CE-07-005.html |
