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HealthyPlace.com Newsletter

This Week - June 8, 2003

1. Court rules against forced medication
2. Schizophrenia study to hunt for genetic causes PLUS more schizophrenia news
3. Lots of 'mums' love this aussie author with ADHD
4. Substance use among teens
5. What to do about binge eating
6. Lilly award program seeking those who are successfully battling mental illness
7. Migraine sufferer finds relief at last
8. Should I get maintainence ECT?
9. Thought for today

Court Rules Against Forced Medication

A mother mourned Friday as her genius, psychotic son won his top-court fight against forced drugging.

A physics savant who says he'd rather stay locked up than be drugged for mental illness cannot be forcibly medicated, says Canada's highest court. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled 6-3 that a medical board was unreasonable and wrongly applied legal tests when it found Scott Starson incapable of deciding whether to accept treatment.

Read his story here.

• Schizophrenia Study to Hunt For Genetic Causes
• Psychiatrists Expect to Increase Usage of Abilify
• Childhood CNS Infections “Not Linked to Adult Schizophrenia

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Lots of 'mums' Love This Aussie Author with ADHD

Ben Polis was sitting around watching the Australian version of 60 Minutes one evening when an attention deficit "expert" on the show pushed him over the edge.

"It made me really, really mad. This guy didn't have a clue what he was talking about," says Polis, who was diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, in 1989. "I went to the library for a book by a young person about being impulsive, but I couldn't find one. I thought, 'I guess I ought to write one.' "

In two months, Polis wrote Only a Mother Could Love Him.

One special-education teacher exclaims:

"I've read so many books and articles written by professionals, but this book makes it all come together."

Among the most revolutionary point for parents, she says: Polis' description of why kids with ADHD often have after-school tantrums, with often explosive and destructive results.

Want to know why that happens? Continue reading here.

view video - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: What Every Parent Should Know

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Substance Use Among Teens

Researchers know high levels of drug and alcohol use in teens can lead to psychiatric problems. Now, a new study shows lower levels of use are cause for concern as well.

Investigators believe this result, outlined in the current issue of Pediatrics, points to a greater need to identify substance use among teenagers during primary care physician visits.

The study was conducted among about 500 teens aged 14 to 18 years who were receiving routine care in an adolescent clinic.

At least one type of psychiatric problem was noted in 80 percent of all the teenagers, with symptoms of anxiety being the most common in both boys and girls. When compared with the nonproblematic group, however, results showed teens with either substance use problems or disorders were more likely to suffer several psychiatric problems. Girls with substance use problems or disorders were more likely to report symptoms of mania, attention deficit disorder, and conduct disorder. Girls with disorders had an increased risk of depression, eating disorders, and hallucinations or delusions.

To read more about the study, go here.

Binge Eating

3-5% of U.S. men and women are binge eaters. And many don't know what to do about.

Janet Carr, Director of Nutrition Services at Remuda Ranch Programs for Anorexia and Bulimia says "immediately after a binge, feelings of shame, self-hatred, anxiety, and depression are common."

Continuing in the behavior for months or years intensifies those feelings of depression, anger, sadness, and loneliness.

In this column, Carr explains what patients with binge eating disorder need to consider in dealing with this condition.

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Take the first step toward living a life that is not controlled by fear and food. Call us now at 1-800-445-1900. We'll be happy to answer your questions. or visit our site.

Are You Successfully Battling A Mental Illness?

Lilly award program seeking candidates

Eli Lilly and Company announces a new name and new direction for its prestigious Reintegration Awards program. In addition to recognizing outstanding achievements made by a mental health treatment team, the newly designed Helping Move Lives Forward Reintegration Awards will now honor individuals who are succeeding in their personal battles with mental illness.

"The Helping Move Lives Forward Reintegration Awards has expanded its scope to honor individuals who have made extraordinary progress toward the ultimate goal of reintegration by taking an active part in the management of their mental health with proper medication and the full support of their treatment team," said Gino Santini, President of U.S. Operations, Eli Lilly and Company.

Anyone can nominate individuals, caregivers, treatment groups, treatment programs and consumer advocates for one of 10 Lilly Helping Move Lives Forward Reintegration Awards.

Winners in each of the 10 categories will receive grants to their respective institutions to further the success of their programs. First place winners will receive $5,000 and second place winners will receive $2,500. For those recognized in the three honorary categories, a contribution of $5,000 will be made to the mental health facility or advocacy program of his/her choice.

Go here to obtain an application form and to learn more about the awards.

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Migraine Sufferer Finds Relief at Last

'There is help out there -- I'm living proof'

Sometimes, Nancy Chappel would lie on a pillow on the bathroom floor for hours, crippled by pain that felt like an "ice pick" in her eye.

She'd stay near the toilet in case the nausea that accompanied her migraine headaches made her throw up.

Her mother, who'd come to care for her, would stand by helplessly, crying.

"My life was consumed by migraines," says Chappel, who lives in suburban Philadelphia. "I don't know how I endured it. Years ago, you'd just grit your teeth and bear it. There was nothing you could do."

The headaches began 30 years ago, soon after the birth of the youngest of her three daughters.

Chappel, now 60, prayed that God would give her the strength to cope with the headaches. And she searched futilely for effective medications.

First, she went to general practice doctors and neurologists in Pittsburgh, then in the Philadelphia area when her family moved there in 1991. She downed painkillers regularly. She tried the antidepressant Elavil, which put her to sleep. She even tried a so-called preventive drug that never worked.

Chappel finally found some relief in 1993 from injections of the first triptan, Imitrex, which mimics the action of the neurotransmitter serotonin and causes blood vessels to constrict. She'd inject the drug into her leg, and the migraine would disappear within 20 minutes.

The rebound headaches returned, however, and she found she had to inject the drug more and more -- up to four times weekly -- to try to block the pain.

"It was getting to the point where I didn't even want to tell my husband and kids anymore that I was going upstairs taking shots," she recalls. "It was just like I was on a roller-coaster of just trying to get rid of these headaches, and I just kept rebounding and rebounding."

But she continued praying for strength and relief and clung to her hope for a lasting cure. "I fought it, I wouldn't give into it," she says. "I had a family to raise and I thought, 'I can't give into this.'"

When a friend mentioned a well-known headache clinic in Chicago about six years ago, Chappel soon boarded a plane. She doesn't remember much from the weeklong trip, but recalls returning home with "a bunch of medications."

She remained on six different drugs for about a year. One of them, Nardil, a drug used for depression, finally provided the relief she had sought for so long. Last year, her doctor added Topamax, an anti-convulsive drug that has proved successful in preventing migraines.

Today, Chappel needs a shot of Imitrex only every three months or so.

Her persistence paid off, she says, and her prayers have been answered.

Now, she hopes her success inspires other migraine sufferers. "I try to talk to them and tell them there are meds, there is help out there," she says. "I'm living proof. Don't sit home and think you're a migraine sufferer and have to suffer because you really don't."

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Bulletin Board:
Should I Get Maintainence ECT?

eltav:

"I have had two courses of ECT. I find them helpful, with some short-term memory effects. I am considering going on maintainence ECT, but am interested in hearing from others about how it works for them.

I have schizo-affective disorder - depressive type.

I am not too concerned about memory loss. I had a history of siezures, so, to me, it's no big deal to lose a few hours of time-- better than struggling with psychotic depression.

Can you help eltav? Respond here .

Go here to learn more about ECT. Also visit the Shocked! ECT website on HealthyPlace.com.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Here's something to think about...

Never consider yourself less than anyone, though never consider anyone less than yourself.

From all of us here at HealthyPlace.com, we hope you have a good week.

Previous Newsletters

• June 2, 2003
• May 26, 2003
• May 20, 2003
• May 12, 2003
• April 28, 2003
• April 14, 2003
• March 31, 2003
• March 24, 2003
• March 12, 2000

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