Clinical Psychiatry News RSS feed: Current Issue. To order this journal, and for more information, go to http://www.imng.com/ Clinical Psychiatry News is an independent newspaper that provides the practicing psychiatrist with timely and relevant news and commentary about clinical developments in the field and about the impact of health care policy on the specialty and the physician's practice.http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/?rss=yesElsevier Inc.en © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Clinical Psychiatry News0270-6644382February 2010 © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. healthpermissions@elsevier.comhttp://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS027066441070062X/abstract?rss=yesLOS ANGELES — Cannabis use in adolescence is associated with the subsequent development of depression—not the reverse, a large longitudinal study shows. Dr. Hon Ho and his associates from the department of psychiatry at the University of Colorado, Denver, presented the study at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry. He and his colleagues examined data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a probability sample of people surveyed several times over 14 years on social, economic, psychological, and medical topics.Teen Cannabis Use Predicts DepressionBETSY BATES10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70062-XClinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3News11http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700631/abstract?rss=yesISTANBUL, TURKEY — The symptomatic response to risperidone after 2 weeks of treatment proved predictive of the later response—or lack of it—at 12 weeks in a randomized trial involving patients with schizophrenia.Antipsychotics' Onset of Action May Show Up After 2 WeeksBRUCE JANCIN10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70063-1Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3News11http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700643/abstract?rss=yes Findings: FDA warnings and consensus recommendations have not increased testing for glucose levels and lipid profiles in Medicaid patients starting second-generation antipsychotics.Metabolic Testing With Antipsychotics Still LagsSHERRY BOSCHERT10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70064-3Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3News22http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700655/abstract?rss=yesVital Signs: PhRMA Topped Health Sector Lobbying in Third Quarter10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70065-5Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3News22http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700667/abstract?rss=yes Major Findings: New-onset PTSD symptoms were reported by 8.7% of those deployed with combat, 2.1% deployed without combat, and 3.0% not deployed.Combat Tied to New-Onset PTSD, ComorbiditiesDAMIAN McNAMARA10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70066-7Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3News33http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700679/abstract?rss=yes Major Finding: Thirty-seven percent of wives whose husbands were deployed received a mental health diagnosis, compared with 30% of wives whose husbands were not deployed.Psychiatric Diagnoses Higher in Wives of Deployed SoldiersMARY ANN MOON10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70067-9Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3News33http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700680/abstract?rss=yes Major Finding: The use of morphine to control pain and anxiety during early resuscitation and trauma care is significantly associated with a reduced risk of developing PTSD later.Early Use of Morphine for Trauma May Offset PTSDMARY ANN MOON10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70068-0Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3News44http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700692/abstract?rss=yes Major Findings: Suicidality and PTSD numbing symptoms were independently associated (adjusted odds ratio 3.8).PTSD May Flag Suicidality Risk Among Recent VeteransDAMIAN McNAMARA10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70069-2Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3News44http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700709/abstract?rss=yesLOS ANGELES — A nationwide study has begun to shed light on the complex relationship between personality disorders, and substance use onset and dependence. The odds of alcohol dependence, drug abuse/dependence, and nicotine dependence were elevated for people with any personality disorder in the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), a longitudinal study of more than 43,000 Americans, said Deborah S. Hasin, Ph.D., professor of clinical public health at Columbia University, New York.Personality Disorders Raise Substance Abuse RiskBETSY BATES10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70070-9Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3News66http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700710/abstract?rss=yesRecently, several articles have been published in Clinical Psychiatry News and in other publications about expectations for significant changes in the DSM-V. Some of these discussions have focused on dissociative disorders. During my clinical experience as a psychiatrist, I have had the opportunity to work with several patients with dissociative disorders, including dissociative identity disorder.LettersGedalyahu Lior10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70071-0Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Opinion88http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700722/abstract?rss=yes DR. FINK is a psychiatrist and consultant in Bala Cynwyd, Pa., and professor of psychiatry at Temple University in Philadelphia. Many people worry about getting the diseases of their parents or other family members, especially if those diseases are serious or deadly. It's natural to think about these things but not to worry or panic about them. Yet, that's what many people do.Fink! Still at Large: Patients with families who have histories of disease face unique psychological challenges. How can psychiatrists help patients deal with family legacies of disease?PAUL J. FINK10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70072-2Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Opinion99http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700734/abstract?rss=yes DR. ATKINSON is a professor of psychiatry at Oregon Health & Science University, Portland. Share your thoughts with Dr. Atkinson by writing him at cpnews@elsevier.com. Links between art and mental illness never cease to tease one's imagination, and psychiatrists hardly stand alone in their fascination with this theme. Sometime before the mid-century, the French surrealist painter and sculptor Jean Dubuffet began to visit mental institutions to witness the world of art made by self-taught patients.Visions From Outside the BoxROLAND ATKINSON10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70073-4Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Reel Life1010http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700746/abstract?rss=yes DR. COHEN is State University of New York distinguished service professor and director of the division of geriatric psychiatry at the university. A confluence of demographic and clinical trends makes this a good time to reconsider the outcome of older adults with early-onset schizophrenia.Schizophrenia in Older Adults: There Is HopeCARL I. COHEN10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70074-6Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Expert Commentary1616http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700758/abstract?rss=yes DR. GADIT is a professor of psychiatry at Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John's. By definition, nostalgia is a wistful desire to return in thought or fact to a former time in one's life—to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends. It is a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time.Can Nostalgia Lead to Clinical Depression?AMIN A. MUHAMMAD GADIT10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70075-8Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Expert Commentary1616http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS027066441070076X/abstract?rss=yes DR. RAPPAPORT is assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Boston. She also is author of the memoir In Her Wake: A Child Psychiatrist Explores the Mystery of Her Mother's Suicide (New York: Basic Books, 2009).Providing Comfort After SuicideNANCY RAPPAPORT10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70076-XClinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Expert Commentary1818http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700771/abstract?rss=yes DR. YAZICI is an assistant professor of medicine at New York University and is the director of the Seligman Center for Advanced Therapeutics at the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York City. He disclosed a financial relationship with Centocor Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Celgene Corp., Genentech Inc., Pfizer Inc., Roche, and UCB Inc.Informed Consent: One Size Does Not Fit AllYUSUF YAZICI10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70077-1Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Expert Commentary1818http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700783/abstract?rss=yes Major Findings: Patients on tamoxifen averaged a drop of 5.84 points per week on the Young Mania Rating Scale and a mean 0.73-point drop per week in Clinical Global Impressions–Mania scores, compared with the control group drop of 1.5 and 0.1 points, respectively.Tamoxifen Shows Promise for Acute ManiaBRUCE JANCIN10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70078-3Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Adult Psychiatry2020http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700795/abstract?rss=yesIdentifying the predominant polarity and affective temperament of inpatients with bipolar disorder could help to determine their diagnostic subtype and clinical course more precisely, the results of a prospective, cross-sectional study of Italian patients suggest.Temperament, Polarity Point to Bipolar TypeJEFF EVANS10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70079-5Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Adult Psychiatry2121http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700801/abstract?rss=yesThe efficacy of antidepressant treatment over placebo for major depressive disorder “varies considerably,” depending on symptom severity. Only patients whose depression is classified as “very severe” appear to have a greater benefit from antidepressants than from placebo pills, according to a meta-analysis by Jay C. Fournier of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and colleagues (JAMA 2010;303:47–53).Antidepressants Beat Placebo Only for Very Severe DiseaseROBERT FINN10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70080-1Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Adult Psychiatry2121http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700813/abstract?rss=yes Major Findings: In one study, African Americans with depression were 60% less likely to receive pharmacotherapy and 40% less likely to receive psychotherapy than were non-Latino whites; in the other, the variable “neither parent finished high school” conferred a 21-fold increase in relative risk for depression in African Americans.Gaps Found in Depression Causes, TreatmentROBERT FINN10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70081-3Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Adult Psychiatry2222http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700825/abstract?rss=yesResearchers have identified a “potential association” between bipolar disorder and a gene that regulates circadian rhythms. The study of children and adolescents with bipolar disorder and their families involved genotyping 153 children and teens (mean age 17.5 years, mean age of onset of bipolar disorder I, almost 8 years) and their parents; a group of 152 people with bipolar disorder (mean age 20 years, mean age of onset, 9 years); and 140 controls with no bipolar disorder (mean age 43 years), reported Casey L. McGrath of the Center for Human and Genetic Research at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and her colleagues. Ms. McGrath is now a doctoral student at Indiana University, Bloomington.Alterations in Circadian Clock Genes Linked to Bipolar DisorderElizabeth Mechcatie10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70082-5Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Adult Psychiatry2222http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700837/abstract?rss=yesCOLORADO SPRINGS — Most children with Tourette syndrome don't need tic suppression medication, according to Dr. Samuel H. Zinner. “I tend to be a person who veers away from medications. I'm 1 of 15 physicians on the medical advisory board of the Tourette Syndrome Association, and very few of us think medication is the way to go.Watch for OCD in Children With TouretteBRUCE JANCIN10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70083-7Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Child/Adolescent Psychiatry2323http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700849/abstract?rss=yes Major Findings: Patients' mean heart rate increased significantly from 82 beats per minute at baseline to around 86 beats per minute at week 6 and at 6 months of using the OROS methylphenidate.Stimulant May Affect Adolescents' CV SystemsROBERT FINN10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70084-9Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Child/Adolescent Psychiatry2424http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700850/abstract?rss=yes Major finding: ADHD symptoms improved and substance use declined with CBT, regardless of whether adolescents received OROS-MPH or placebo.CBT Alone Effective in ADHD/Substance Abuse TrialBETSY BATES10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70085-0Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Child/Adolescent Psychiatry2424http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700862/abstract?rss=yes Major Finding: Children with autism spectrum disorders need careful GI evaluations, but there's no good evidence that they have unique gastrointestinal problems or benefit from restricted diets.Panel Finds Poor Evidence for Autism DietsROBERT FINN10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70086-2Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Child/Adolescent Psychiatry2525http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700874/abstract?rss=yesVIENNA — If current trends in child and adolescent obesity continue, by 2040, one-third of the 81 million expected Alzheimer's cases worldwide may be a direct result of obesity-driven diabetes, according to researchers at the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease who labeled the outlook as “dire.”Obesity, Diabetes Trends Portend AD Wave: Most effective method of treating cognitive impairment might be preventing insulin resistance.MICHELE G. SULLIVAN10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70087-4Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Geriatric Psychiatry2626http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700886/abstract?rss=yesGinkgo biloba shows no notable effect in reducing the incidence of dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease or dementia overall in older adults when compared with placebo, results of a recent study of more than 3,000 older adults show.Ginkgo's Ability to Boost Cognition Comes Up Short—AgainMARKETTE SMITH10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70088-6Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Geriatric Psychiatry2626http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700898/abstract?rss=yesATLANTA — Increased vigilance for alcohol and substance misuse might be warranted for people with posttraumatic stress disorder, according to a study of 379 recent U.S. veterans.Look for Alcohol Misuse in Vets With PTSDDAMIAN McNAMARA10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70089-8Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Addiction Psychiatry2727http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700904/abstract?rss=yesBETHESDA, MD. — Chemical dependence as a result of drug abuse occurs at the cellular level because of neurochemical dysregulation, and an evidence-based understanding of these chemical dynamics and of the circumstances that drive a person to abuse drugs could yield a more comprehensive and effective approach to treatment.Target ‘Cellular-Level’ Activity in DependenceRENÉE MATTHEWS10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70090-4Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Addiction Psychiatry2828http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700916/abstract?rss=yesLOS ANGELES — Persistent cravings, as opposed to a difficult struggle with withdrawal, are likely responsible for the grip of methamphetamine on addicted individuals who want to quit, according to results of an inpatient study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Addiction Psychiatrists.Cravings Complicate Withdrawal From MethamphetamineBETSY BATES10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70091-6Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Addiction Psychiatry2828http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700928/abstract?rss=yesSAN FRANCISCO — A study of female undergraduates found significant correlations among three problems: psychological aggression by an intimate partner, alcohol-related problems, and proneness to suicide.Suicidality Linked to Alcohol, Partner AbuseSHERRY BOSCHERT10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70092-8Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Addiction Psychiatry3030http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS027066441070093X/abstract?rss=yesMental illness and gainful employment should not be mutually exclusive. In fact, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 demands that they not be. The legislation and its subsequent amendments sought to eliminate unfair treatment of and discrimination against qualified workers with disabilities, improve their access to mainstream resources, and require the assessment of disabled applicants' qualifications with consideration of accommodations and support services. But statistics suggest that the rehabilitation needs of individuals with severe mental illness are not covered under this mandate.IPS Model Integrates Intervention, TreatmentCARL C. BELL10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70093-XClinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Prevention in Action3131http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700941/abstract?rss=yes Major Findings: Seizures declined by a mean of 29% during active stimulation with the device over the first 12 weeks, compared with a 14% reduction during sham activation.Implant Short-Circuits Some Epileptic SeizuresDIANA MAHONEY10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70094-1Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Neurology3232http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700953/abstract?rss=yesBALTIMORE — An algorithm that analyzes recordings from a scalp, rather than an intracranial, EEG has been demonstrated to predict seizures with odds significantly greater than chance.Algorithm to Predict Seizures Via Scalp EEG Under StudyJeff Evans10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70095-3Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Neurology3232http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700965/abstract?rss=yesMIAMI BEACH — Changes in brain volume and networks could someday predict which patients with Parkinson's disease are at highest risk to develop dementia, according to recent studies.Changes in Brain May Herald Dementia in PD: A decrease in the volume of the hippocampus could predict which patients will progress to dementia.DAMIAN McNAMARA10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70096-5Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Neurology3333http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700977/abstract?rss=yesMutations in the gene encoding the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase confer the single strongest risk for developing Parkinson's disease of any gene that has been discovered, according to a multicenter analysis of patients from around the world.Major Genetic Risk Factor Is Discovered for Parkinson'sJEFF EVANS10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70097-7Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Neurology3333http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700989/abstract?rss=yes Major Finding: When opioids were used long-term for noncancer pain, 6%-23% of patients stopped taking them due to inefficacy or side effects and 0.3% developed signs of addiction.Data Weak on Noncancer Opioid UseSHERRY BOSCHERT10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70098-9Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Pain Medicine3939http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410700990/abstract?rss=yesPHILADELPHIA — About 20% of soldiers who return from deployment in Iraq or Afghanistan develop chronic daily headache after blast exposure or concussion, according to data from a preliminary study.Daily Headache Occurs in 20% After BlastsMICHELE G. SULLIVAN10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70099-0Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Pain Medicine3939http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410701004/abstract?rss=yesSAN FRANCISCO — Substance abuse is such a common cause of anxiety or depression in HIV-infected patients that Dr. Robert B. Daroff Jr. advises getting a toxicology screen in every patient with HIV and a mood disorder.Monitor HIV Patients for Anxiety, DepressionSHERRY BOSCHERT10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70100-4Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Psychosomatic Medicine4040http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410701016/abstract?rss=yesSAN FRANCISCO — The “medical” use of marijuana, which is common among patients diagnosed with illnesses such as HIV or cancer, might lead to depression or anxiety disorders. However, data suggesting that marijuana use is a risk factor for throat and neck cancers are weak, two experts say.Marijuana Self-Medication Might Prompt Mood Disorders, StressSHERRY BOSCHERT10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70101-6Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Psychosomatic Medicine4040http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410701028/abstract?rss=yesMONTREAL — In women with documented cardiovascular risk factors, those with comorbid depression have a greater risk of clinical events, compared with their nondepressed counterparts, according to findings from the Women's Ischemic Syndrome Evaluation (WISE), trial sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Comorbid Depression Lifts Heart Risks for WomenKate Johnson10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70102-8Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Psychosomatic Medicine4040http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS027066441070103X/abstract?rss=yesThe U.S. government has released its plan to deal with the health consequences associated with major national emergencies such as disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and terrorist attacks.U.S. Releases Health Plan for EmergenciesMARY ELLEN SCHNEIDER10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70103-XClinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Practice Trends4141http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410701041/abstract?rss=yesHealth care spending in the United States grew less than 5% in 2008, the slowest growth rate since the federal government officially began measuring it in 1960, according to a report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.CMS Report: Rate of Health Care Spending Growth Slowed in 2008Mary Ellen Schneider10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70104-1Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Practice Trends4141http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410701053/abstract?rss=yesA survey conducted for the American Psychiatric Association has found that workers are more concerned that seeking mental health treatment will affect their employment status than they are that seeking care for a physical ailment will do so. Harris Interactive conducted the national online survey last August with 2,000 adults, 1,100 of whom were employed full- or part-time. Among the respondents, 76% thought their employment status would be affected if they sought treatment for drug addiction, 73% for alcoholism, and 62% for depression. In comparison, 55% said seeking diabetes treatments and 54% said getting heart disease care might affect job status. The APA pointed out that it works to eliminate barriers to mental health care through its Partnership for Workplace Mental Health.Policy & Practice: Want more health reform news? Subscribe to our podcast – search ‘Policy & Practice’ in the iTunes storeAlicia Ault10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70105-3Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Practice Trends4141http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410701065/abstract?rss=yesA public-private institution launched by the Department of Health and Human Services would be the best way to raise standards and quality for continuing health education, according to a report issued by the Institute of Medicine.IOM Calls for Continuing Education InstituteJOYCE FRIEDEN10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70106-5Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Practice Trends4343http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410701077/abstract?rss=yesDr. Richard Gottlieb has experienced the worst of times and the best of times in collaborative practice. Also known as the “split care model” or, less formally, “doing the meds,” the approach encompasses a range of formal or informal arrangements in which a psychiatrist takes responsibility for the medication management of a patient while another health care professional conducts psychotherapy.Going Beyond ‘Doing the Meds’Betsy Bates10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70107-7Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-3Practical Psychopharmacology4444http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/PIIS0270664410701089/abstract?rss=yesNIHSeniorHealth has released a booklet, “Medicare Basics: A Guide for Families and Friends of People with Medicare,” which offers advice on Medicare to caregivers of seniors. It provides an introduction to Medicare, gives caregivers the basics, and helps them find answers to their questions. To obtain a copy, visit http://nihseniorhealth.gov/medicare/toc.html.FYI10.1016/S0270-6644(10)70108-9Clinical Psychiatry News 38, 2 (2010)2010-02-01Clinical Psychiatry News2010-02-01382S0270-6644(10)X7002-34545