Mental health news and mental health widget

Homeless people in Western countries have substantially higher rates of mental health problems than the general population, according to results from a systematic review and meta-analysis published in PLoS medicine this week.

Alisa Lincoln, Ph.D., M.P.H., associate professor of health sciences and sociology at Northeastern, recently completed one of the first studies of its kind on the role of literacy and mental health. While much attention has been focused on the role of literacy and health, little is known about the relationship between literacy and mental health.

Psychiatric disorders appear to be common among 18- to 24-year-olds, with overall rates similar among those attending or not attending college, according to a report in the December issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Almost half of college-aged individuals meet criteria for substance abuse, personality disorders or another mental health condition during a one-year period, but only one-fourth of those seek treatment.

Palm Pilots already perform a variety of functions, and in the future, they may be used as a therapeutic tool that benefits people with personality disorders. In a new study, a University of Missouri researcher used Palm Pilots as electronic diaries to record and analyze mood variability in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and found that the devices helped bridge an important communication gap between therapists and patients.

Health experts say that ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is the most common behavioral disorder that starts during childhood. However, it does not only affect children - people of all ages can suffer from ADHD. Psychiatrists say ADHD is a neurobehavioral developmental disorder. An individual with ADHD finds it much more difficult to focus on something without being distracted.

When the Mental health Parity and Addiction Equity Act takes effect in January 2010, some small-business owners could face "a Hobson's Choice -- either significantly upgrade their mental health and substance abuse coverage, or drop it altogether," the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports (Twedt, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 12/2). In October, President Bush signed into law a $700 billion bailout of Wall Street firms that included mental health parity legislation (HR 1424). read more

AP - Almost one in five young American adults has a personality disorder that interferes with everyday life, and even more abuse alcohol or drugs, researchers reported Monday in the most extensive study of its kind.