Thousand of child carers of the mentally ill

The Mental Health Foundation has published a report My Care that states there are an estimated 50,000 to 200,00 child and adolescent carers of severely mentally ill adults. Many suffer from bullying as a result of the stigma surrounding their parents' conditions. Anxiety and frustration are leading to the carers themselves becoming mentally ill and also disruption of their education. Professionals who have contributed to this report are calling for more support for this vulnerable group.

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The Stigma Lingers on

A study in the American Journal of Psychiatry journal maintains that despite decades of strategies aimed at reducing the stigma attached to various mental illnesses, success has been minimal. The opinions of a sample of the American public were gathered and compared with opinions from ten years ago.

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Child development impacts on later mental health

A review in the journal Current Opinion in Psychiatry explored how child development impacts on the mental health of people in later life. The findings also recommended more research into preventative interventions.

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Anti-psychotic drugs reduction pledge

A new coallition of forty organisations, The Dementia Action Alliance, has announced that one of its goals is to reduce the use of anti-psychotic drugs for dementia patients. A government review estimated these drugs are wrongly prescribed to approximately 145,000 sufferers, and have resulted in 1,800 needless deaths.

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Keep taking the tablets?

German scientists have released research that states the drug reboxetine (Edronax) which has been routinely prescribed for depression over the last thirteen years is no more effective than a placebo. The BMJ study furthermore states that it is possibly harmful and that the manufacturer has been guilty of suppressing trials results. It is implied that NICE will have to review their guidance on the prescribing of the drug.

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Not Minding the Gap

A study in the British Journal of Psychiatry maintains that young people are falling into a black hole when they become adults and leave child and adult mental health services (CAMHS). Researchers from the University of Warwick followed 154 service users who made the transition for a year and concluded that provision was in the main poor.

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Whole family therapy for anorexic teens

A study in the Archives of General Psychiatry journal states that whole family therapy rather than therapy centred on the anorexic teenager alone, may be more effective in the long term. The model of treatment shifts away from past treatments which insinuated parents were to blame for their children's eating disorders. Better results were established at the six month and twelve month intervals.

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Antipsychotic drugs linked to blood clots

Research published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) has linked the prescribing of antipsychotic drugs to increased dangers of blood clots. The Nottingham University study maintains that the evidence is the most persuasive yet. Patients prescribed these drugs in the last two years have a third higher risk of developing clots. Other scientists agree that antipsychotics are powerful drugs that should be treated with caution.

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The worldwide cost of dementia

The economic burden of the predicted worldwide dementia "epidemic" has now been calculated in a report published by the Alzheimers Disease International (ADI). ADI is calling upon the World Health Organization (WHO) to take action now to make dementia its number one health priority. The report states that the economic costs of dementia will exceed 1% of the world's gross domestic product this year: $604bn or £388bn.

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Anthrax contamination of heroin

A fourth incident in the Leicestershire area of heroin being contaminated by heroin has come to light after another young man died after taking the drug. The Health Protection Agency is making a full investigation and a further post mortem of the victim is set to take place. Meanwhile heroin users are being urged not to take the drug.

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