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Halting A Pandemic: NIH Mounts Search For A Vaccine
Bracing for an outbreak of 2009 H1N1 (swine-origin) flu that a Saint Louis University infectious diseases expert estimates could sicken one in five people this fall, scientists at eight Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are launching a series of clinical trials this summer to test vaccines to protect against the illness.
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Study Looks At HIV, Risk Behaviors Among Male Clients Of Sex Workers In Tijuana, Mexico
"A large percentage" of U.S. and Mexican men who regularly engage in sexual activity with sex workers in Tijuana, Mexico, do not use condoms and have a history of substance and alcohol use, according to a study published in the online journal AIDS, the Los Angeles Times" blog "L.A. Now" reports. The study, by researchers from Mexico and the University of California-San Diego, surveyed 400 men - both Mexico and U.S. residents - and found that half of the men had unprotected sex with a female sex worker within the last four months. Researchers noted that although Tijuana authorities require that sex workers be registered and tested regularly for HIV, "only about half of [sex workers] have registered or been tested," according to the blog. Thomas Patterson of the UC-San Diego"s department of psychiatry and the Veterans Affairs health center, said the findings indicate a need for an educational campaign targeting men who frequent sex workers (Perry, 7/11).
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New Research Shows: Neurofeedback Is An 'Evidence-Based' Treatment For ADHD
Neurofeedback - also called EEG Biofeedback - is a method used to train brain activity in order to normalize Brain function and treat psychiatric disorders. This treatment method has gained interest over the last 10 years, however the question whether this treatment should be regarded as an Evidence-Based treatment was unanswered until now. Tomorrow a study will be published in the scientific journal "EEG and Clinical Neuroscience" demonstrating that Neurofeedback can indeed be regarded as an evidence-based treatment for Attention Deficit- / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
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Health Professionals Experience Difficulty Treating Patients With Dual Mental Health Diagnoses

The Washington Post tells the story of Danny Watt, who drowned in April 2008 after a lifelong struggle with mental health. Watt had a dual diagnosis: a serious mental illness along with abuse of drugs or alcohol. "Danny Watt was a walking symbol of a phenomenon called co-occurring disorders, or dual diagnosis, which is estimated to affect 7 million adults in the United States. ò€¦ About half of all adults who are seriously mentally ill are also thought to be addicted. The mental health community calls this "self-medication." The federal government estimates that 90 percent of people with co-occurring disorders do not get the treatment they need." According to officials interviewed by the Post, ""He is responsible for his care, and he has decisions and choices to make," said William H. Williams Jr., the agency"s director of alcohol and drug services. "When you look at the number of challenges that faced this particular case, I think we did an exceptional job in trying to resolve this young man"s issues."" "But E. Fuller Torrey, a psychiatrist with the Treatment Advocacy Center in Arlington and a prominent critic of the widespread deinstitutionalization of psychiatric patients, says forced treatment is essential when people are too mentally ill to realize they need help. "Saying that Danny had responsibility for his care is "fine for someone with substance abuse, but if you"re dealing with psychosis, then there"s no way you"re going to treat someone like that in an unlocked facility," Torrey said. "What you"re looking at is the system is not set up to treat the difficult patients"" (Jackman, 7/28). In an accompanying piece, The Washington Post reports that sometimes 50 percent or more of mental health therapists" and substance abuse counselors" patients suffer from both mental illness and addiction to drugs or alcohol. And treatment facilities sometimes don"t offer good enough observation to keep them from relapsing, they report: "At Cornerstones, Fairfax"s 16-bed residential treatment facility for men and women, a college-dorm-like setting provides structure (meetings, meals, "medication calls") and group activities but not heavy discipline. The doors are unlocked, and clients have the option of walking out. Stays can last as long as six months. Stores that sell alcohol are nearby. The residents are adults and must make their own choices. "People relapse," said Melissa Anderson, the center"s director. "But they come back the next day"" (Jackman, 7/28). This information was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at kaiserhealthnews.org. © Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.


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