Alternative Mental Health News - Issue 56

[Guest guest]

" EZine " <ezine

 

Alternative Mental Health News - Issue 56

Sun, 20 Mar 2005 22:27:37 -0500 (EST)

 

 

 

 

In This Issue

 

Editor's Comment

 

Announcements

 

Safe Harbor's 2005 Medical Conference, June 4-5

 

Oriental Medicine Specialist Speaks: Safe Harbor L.A. Support Group,

April 13

 

Announcing Safe Harbor Oklahoma

 

Julia Ross Amino Acid Therapy Training, April 30-May 1

 

" Action Alert " correction

 

Safe Harbor, Well Mind Association Seek Collaboration

 

Safe Harbor Main Office is Moving!

 

Books by Harold Foster available as free downloads

 

Help Update Safe Harbor!

 

Book Review

 

8 Weeks to Vibrant Health by Hyla Cass

 

Articles

 

Natural Options for " Childhood Bipolar Disorder "

 

Surprising Health Benefits for Pet Owners

 

Ritalin Study Reveals Chromosome Damage

 

Depression linked to birth control pill

 

Headaches, depression may be result of aerosol use

 

Antidepressant suicide risks confirmed by hundreds of clinical trials

 

St. John's Wort compares favorably to Paroxetine for Major Depression

 

Complementary/alternative medicine helps Tourette sufferers

 

Health Canada suspends sale of Adderall

The Editors

 

Dan Stradford, Editor

 

Alan Graham, Assistant Editor

 

SafeHarborProj

 

AlternativeMentalHealth.com

 

Feedback: We'd like to hear your comments and views. Please forward

them to the e-mail address above. Contact information is below.

 

 

 

 

The ALTERNATIVE MENTAL HEALTH News

 

A monthly newsletter brought to you by AlternativeMentalHealth.com

and Safe Harbor, a nonprofit corporation.

 

Issue 56, March 2005

 

t is Non-Pharma time again! Safe Harbor's fourth annual medical

conference, Non-Pharma IV, kicks off on June 4-5 this year and we are

very excited about the broad scope of presenters we have gathered

together for your enlightenment.

 

As only Safe Harbor can do it, we ensure attendees come away with an

understanding of how to unravel the often complex factors that can

manifest as mental disorders. We also strive to bring you the latest

research in safe, non-invasive treatments.

 

Below are samplings of comments from last year's attendees.

 

" This weekend was fabulous!! "

 

" As a physician, I want to thank you for bringing us Safe Harbor -

this was a part of my 'divine appointment' toward being better

informed on how to help people towards true health. "

 

" I can't think of a way to improve this conference. This was awesome.

Many thanks! "

 

" The talks by attorney Karen Barth Menzies and the dentist Raymond

Silkman, DDS, were extraordinary! "

 

" Best conference ever. Thanks, Safe Harbor. "

 

" Fabulous information. The Recovery Panel was fantastic. Very

informative and moving experiences and lectures. "

 

" Excellent seminar. "

 

" Moved fast -- well organized. "

 

" Great!! Look forward to next year. "

 

" Very well organized, excellent presentations. Thank you. "

 

" Thank you for a very interesting conference offering hope for the

future. "

 

" I'm now armed with enough information to get the help my son

needs....Thank you. "

 

" Great! Very well organized. "

Safe Harbor's 2005 Medical Conference, June 4-5

 

Announcing...

NON-PHARMA IV

 

Safe Harbor's Fourth Annual Medical Conference:

 

" Non-Pharmaceutical Approaches to Mental Disorders "

 

Open to the general public as well.

 

Join Safe Harbor and the nation's leading voices on safe, non-drug

treatments for the mentally unwell.

 

* When: Saturday, June 4, 2004, 8:30 AM to 6 PM; Sunday, June 5,

2004, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM

* Where: Glendale Hilton Hotel, Glendale, CA (just outside Los

Angeles). The Hilton is next to downtown Glendale with an array of

nearby shopping, restaurants, theaters, etc.

* Fees: Before May 19: $140 for both days (lunch not included)

After May 19: $170 (lunch not included)

* Day Rates Available

* 15 hours of Continuing Medical Education (CME) for physicians

($160 extra)

* 15 Continuing Educational Units (CEU) for California nurses,

LSCWs, and MFTs ($60 extra)

 

Register by phone - (323) 257-7338, email - SafeHarborProj

 

or online at: https://nt7.corpsite.com/secure_alternative/donation.htm

 

Seating is limited!

 

With nearly a dozen speakers, presentations will include:

 

Vitamin D and Mental Health: John Jacob Cannell, MD, Executive, Vitamin D Council, Psychiatrist, Atascadero State Hospital,

with little-known research on the pervasiveness of vitamin D deficiency.

 

The Crazy Makers: How Food Additives and Processed Foods Contribute

to the Rise in Mental Disorders: Carol Simontacchi, MS, CCN,

Nationally-renowned Author, Columnist, and Radio Host, speaking on the

hazards of modern-day fast foods.

 

Neurotoxicity of Fluoride in our Water: David Kennedy, DDS, past

president of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology

and world lecturer on the safety of dental materials, examines the

research on how fluoride and water fluoridation affect mental health.

 

The Role of Infection and Xenobiotics (Toxins) in Behavior Disorders:

Aristo Vojdani, PhD, immunology expert, author of over 90 scientific

papers, holder of 10 patents and CEO of Immunoscience Lab.

 

The Integrative Medicine Approach to Depression and Anxiety – With

Case Histories: Joseph Sciabbarrasi, MD, details his protocols in

treating depression and anxiety from a holistic perspective.

 

Is It Mental or Is It Dental? – Part 2 - How Mercury Fillings, Root

Canals, Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ) Syndrome, and Other Dental

Issues Affect Mental Health: Raymond Silkman, DDS, practicing

holistic dentistry, orthodontics, and treatment of TMJ and related

disorders since 1992, returns to our conference by popular demand to

further discuss the relationship of dental problems and mental health.

 

The Importance of Methylation in Psychiatric Disorders: Nancy Mullan,

MD, nutritional psychiatrist, Safe Harbor medical advisor, reviews one

of the most critical nutritional biochemical cycles which, when

faulty, can contribute to autism, schizophrenia, depression, and

bipolar disorder.

 

Natural Treatments for Postpartum Depression: Nancy Lins, ND,

Hawaiian specialist in postpartum health, on the common physical

contributors to and nondrug solutions for the post-birth blues.

 

Can Visual Correction Improve Symptoms of ADHD, Anxiety, Depression,

Learning Disorders, and other Mental Symptomology? Herbert Solomon,

OD, presents his research spanning forty years on the remarkable

connection between vision and mental health and how visual correction

can improve it.

 

Safe Harbor's 2005 Recovery Panel: 6 people tell there personal

stories of recovery without drugs.

 

And MUCH, MUCH more...

 

(ACAM-approved. Provider approved by the California Board of

Registered Nursing, Provider Number 13857 for 15 contact hours –

Course meets the qualifications for 15 hours of continuing education

credit for MFT and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of

Behavioral Sciences – CA BBS Prov. No.: PC2516- No refunds after May 27.)

Oriental Medicine Specialist Speaks: Safe Harbor L.A. Support Group,

April 13

 

On Wednesday, April 13, Safe Harbor will hold it's monthly Los Angeles

support group featuring an hour of group discussion followed by a

presentation on the Oriental Medicine approach to mental health by

licensed acupuncturist Jeremiah Krieger.

 

The meeting place will be at Glendale Adventist Medical Center.

 

Please RSVP to the Safe Harbor office at 323 257-7338.

 

When: 7PM-9PM, Wednesday, April 13, 2005

 

Where: Glendale Adventist Medical Center

 

Committee Room C

 

1509 Wilson Terrace

 

Glendale, California

 

(Note: Parking lot is a maximum of $6 – there is free street parking

outside the lot.)

Announcing Safe Harbor Oklahoma

 

We are pleased to announce the formation of Safe Harbor's newest

chapter in Oklahoma. Anyone wishing to work with the new chapter may

contact them as follows:

 

Sandra Lykins, President

 

8177 S. Harvard # 826

 

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74137

 

Email: Okalternativementalhealth

 

phone: 918-271-2327

Julia Ross Amino Acid Therapy Training, April 30-May 1

 

Join us for a Professional Training with Julia Ross, MA, co-sponsored

by Safe Harbor:

 

" Amino Acid Therapy: Eliminating Negative Emotions and False Appetites

That Block Healing "

 

Proven Alternatives to Antidepressants

 

Core Training: Saturday, April 30

 

Advanced Seminar: Sunday, May 1

 

Marin County, California

 

For details go to: http://www.moodcure.com/marintraining.html

Correction

 

Readers have brought to our attention some inaccuracies in our " Action

Alert " in Issue 55 regarding the Codex Alimentarius (see definitions

below) initiative to reclassify nutritional supplements as drugs,

severely limiting their distribution.

 

One reader objected to our statement that the U.S. would be required

to adhere to Codex standards, pointing to language in the Codex

documents stating that participation is voluntary. Another reader, Dr.

Rima E. Laibow (rlalex), responds as follows:

 

" Currently, Codex Alimentarius is a voluntary set of standards.

Nations (like Australia, Canada and the EU) which have 'harmonized' or

adopted the Codex Alimentarius regulations (in total, by the way, even

though the standards have not yet been fully promulgated) can be hit

with trade sanctions by the WTO if they do not comply with these

'voluntary' standards.

 

" The picture changes totally, however, once the Codex Alimentarius

standards are ratified, as they are expected to be during the Rome

Codex Alimentarius Committee meeting (July 4 - 9, 2005). Once that

ratification takes place, Codex Alimentarius becomes a mandatory,

binding regulation for all members of the WTO (including, of course,

the United States). The WTO Treaty states that the regulations of the

WTO (of which Codex is a part) supersede and take precedence over the

laws and regulations of nation states.

 

" The Codex Alimentarius documents clearly state that lack of

compliance with the standards after ratification will be be met with

sweeping trade sanctions by the WTO against the offending country.

Thus, after ratification in July, Codex Alimentarius will no longer be

a voluntary standard.

 

" The US has the right to vote itself out of the WTO every 5 years and

2005 is one of those years according to the office of the Counsel to

the World Trade Organization in Washington, DC.

 

" There is a complex series of 'Steps' which Codex Alimentarius has

gone through with final approval known as the Eighth Step. That

process was, in fact, completed in 2004 but ratification is the last

and final step which will, as I have said, take place in July at the

Rome meeting. There is a great deal of misinformation about Codex

Alimentarius (some of it useful to the propagators of Codex and some

of it simple error since there are so many regulations, documents and

interlocking pieces to this puzzle). "

 

Dr. Laibow informs us that the legislative numbers we referenced were

terminated upon the end of the 108th Congress. In your letters to

Congress, refer to those bills and voice your opposition to any

similar legislation which will be introduced in the future, any

limitation on health freedom in the US and any attempt to " harmonize "

the US with the regulations promulgated by Codex Alimentarius.

 

The issues are complex. www.healthfreedomusa.org/letters.htm provides

sample letters which can be customized and faxed to members of your

Congressional delegation and to the members of the Committee which

will act on these issues.

 

" Additionally, " says Dr. Laibow, " you ask your readers to support the

law suit brought by the British Alliance for Natural Health. I am a

signator on the brief which was entered in the European Court of

Justice in support of that case but that particular horse is out of

the barn: final arguments were entered in the ECJ on January 25, 2005,

an opinion will be released in April and the final ruling in July.

Therefore, support of this case is moot.

 

" Finally, and most significantly, your Action Alert does not alert

your readers to the profound damage which Codex Alimentarius will

wreak on the planet and on all of us who live on it.

 

" As Medical Director of the Natural Solutions Foundation I am working

hard to bring about a state of American awareness such that our health

freedoms are not further impaired and we are not 'harmonized' with

Codex Alimentarius. In addition to a million-plus fax (not letter or

email) campaign to Congress to make it clear that the public will not

tolerate restriction of our health freedoms, we have commissioned a

major documentary on Codex Alimentarius and the battle against health

freedom which will be released in mid-April, we are sponsoring the

First International Congress on Health Freedom on Tuscany, Italy

(because Tuscany has officially declared itself an area welcoming all

types of medicine) and are engaged in numerous other health-freedom

activities. "

 

Rima E. Laibow, MD, Medical Director, Natural Solutions Foundation

 

healthfreedom

 

www.healthfreedomUSA.org

 

*The World Trade Organization website tells us that Codex Alimentarius

is the " FAO/WHO commission that deals with international standards on

food safety. " FAO is the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization; WHO

is the World Health Organization. A codex, literally, is an early book

made of papyrus, from Latin caudex, tree bark. " Alimentarius "

evidently refers to food, because the alimentary canal is the

digestive tract.

Safe Harbor, Well Mind Association Seek Collaboration

 

The Well Mind Association of Seattle has, for decades, been at the

forefront of educating the public about non-drug approaches for mental

health, very similar in mission to Safe Harbor. Recently they have

had to close their doors as the managers have moved on in years and

younger leadership has not stepped in to take the organization's reins.

 

In Safe Harbor's recent discussions with Elaine Stannard of the Well

Mind Association, she suggested the Well Mind Association of Seattle

become a Safe Harbor Chapter and that, hopefully, this might attract

volunteers interested in carrying on the great work of this venerable

organization.

 

If you are interested in helping this extremely valuable group in

Seattle prosper and help others, please contact Safe Harbor at

Safeharborproj or (323) 257-7338.

Safe Harbor Main Office is Moving!

 

Safe Harbor's Los Angeles headquarters is expanding into larger

offices in the nearby township of Altadena, California.

 

The new address will be 787 W. Woodbury Rd., #2, Altadena, CA 91001.

The new phone number is not known at this time but will be announced

soon. The current number will also work for a number of months.

Books by Harold Foster Available as Free Downloads

 

The book What Really Causes Schizophrenia is available to be read

online at http://www.hdfoster.com/.

 

It gives a good look at the primary physical factors underlying the

syndrome so often called " schizophrenia. "

 

Also available for free download on the site: What Really Causes

Alzheimer's Disease.

Help Update Safe Harbor!

 

If you have a new postal mailing or e-mail address, please send it to

 

wendy, so that we can keep our databases

current. We will be sending out the information on this year's medical

conference (NP4) soon, so don't miss out. Send us your updates. Thanks.

Book Review: 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health by Hyla Cass

 

Nutritional psychiatrist Hyla Cass has hit a home run with her latest

book, 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health - A Woman's Take-Charge Program to

Correct Imbalances, Reclaim Energy, and Restore Well-Being.

 

Other books on the shelves offer 6-week or 12-week

" eat-right-and-exercise " programs for health, but we all know that

such programs can fail if the person is inundated with despair, food

cravings, fatigue, anxiety and a host of other modern plagues. Dr.

Cass, working with Woman's World columnist Kathleen Barnes, has put

together a thorough text that covers the underlying reasons why

today's women (and men) feel lousy and lose their verve, along with

self-tests, lab tests, and natural approaches for putting the zing

back into life.

 

Backing up the 8-week plan are chapters on sex hormones, thyroid and

adrenal issues, food allergies, digestive problems, and a host of

other roadblocks on the path to wellness. It would be pretty hard not

to succeed with this knowledge under one's belt.

 

Lives will change because of this book and Dr. Cass can rightly be

proud of 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health. It will be part of Safe Harbor's

recommended reading for some time to come. Be sure to visit her

website, www.drcass.com.

From the World of Integrative Psychiatry: Natural Options for

" Childhood Bipolar Disorder "

 

The subject of childhood bipolar disorder came up on Safe Harbor's

Integrative Psychiatry listserv for professionals. Here are the

comments of Patric Darby, M.D., child psychiatrist from Washington

state (Ishrinkkids ):

 

" Although I believe childhood bipolar disorder can exist is rare

cases, I see a lot more of it diagnosed than ever before. I know of

one 2-year-old who was diagnosed by another child psychiatrist and

medicated for it. There are two books out, The Bipolar Child and The

Explosive Child, that people quote, but often mistake the intention of

the book. It is often quoted to me that bipolar children crave carbs.

Actually, from what I see, kids who eat lots of refined sugar products

or carbs appear to have symptoms of bipolar. I had one 14-year-old boy

who was so sensitive to sugar that he went ballistic on half of a

banana. Several kids, who have had food sensitivity panels, have shown

high sensitivity to refined sugars, and the 14-year-old was one of them.

 

" So many parents bring in their teenagers who claim their kids are

bipolar, because of everything they hear in the media. Most teenagers

have a `disinhibition of emotions.' Their brains aren't fully

developed and they still have problems with their impulsivity coupled

with their hormones causing extreme moodiness.

 

" Their eating habits are very poor. Most eat nothing all day long, so

they cannot maintain their blood sugar, and when they do eat, it's

junk food full of sugar. So they complain of everything from

irritability or moody or angry, not being able to focus, being hyper,

being tired and even falling asleep in class.

 

" And to top it all off, their sleep patterns are poor, so they are

tired when they begin their day. And then not to eat breakfast or

lunch aggravates their mood / situation even more so. Or to eat

Twinkies or Ho-Ho's like some parents give their kids for breakfast,

again makes these kids go off.

 

" So before a kid is considered for medication, I would first modify

their diet, and attempt to alter some of their lifestyle by getting

them involved in school or after school activities so they can burn up

their excess energy and improve their social skills, and if at all

possible, try to adjust their sleep schedule, which is near impossible. "

Surprising Health Benefits for Pet Owners

 

© 2005 Patricia Wagner

 

Did you know that there are key health benefits that can result from

owning a pet? Having one can enhance your physical, mental and social

wellbeing.

 

1. How can a pet help your physical health?

 

Owning a dog, for instance, will encourage you to get more exercise.

With your faithful friend at your side, you're much more likely to go

for a walk. Walking is one of the best health activities you can do.

While walking you're also more likely to socially interact with your

neighbors because your special pal often acts as an ice-breaker.

 

Research led by Dr. Karen Allen at the State University of New York at

Buffalo shows that pets can help lower blood pressure. Stockbrokers

with high blood pressure were studied to see what happened when they

adopted a pet dog or cat. Researchers concluded that having a pet

nearby helps control increases in blood pressure due to stress.

 

In his studies Alan Beck, ScD (Professor of Animal Ecology, Purdue

University) found that the simple act of petting your dog slows your

heart rate and causes your blood pressure to drop.

 

An added health advantage from pet ownership is that patients may live

longer after heart attacks. Some doctors recommend that a heart attack

survivor adopt a dog because research has shown that a faithful canine

companion can help prolong an owner's life.

 

2. How Can A Pet Improve Your Mental Health?

 

Sharing your life with a cat may help your mental health. A study

conducted at Australia's University of New England found that people

who own feline friends may experience fewer psychiatric disturbances

than those without cats.

 

Pets can help their owners overcome depression through their

companionship and unconditional love. They seem to possess the natural

ability to help you relax and enjoy life more.

 

Pets can also help when you experience times of loneliness. English

poet, Alexander Pope, has stated that histories are more full of

examples of the fidelity of dogs than of friends. According to a

Chinese proverb, dogs have so many friends because they wag their

tails, not their tongues.

 

When you take care of a pet you have to develop a routine of getting

out, buying food and providing exercise. This can help fight off

depression and loneliness. The simple responsibility of pet care can

help you get your mind off yourself and your problems.

 

3. How can a pet enhance your wellbeing in the area of relationships?

 

AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) President, Link Wellborn,

believes that pets are more than just a member of the family - they're

central to a healthy lifestyle.

 

Pets help lessen tension between family members and add a lot of fun

and unconditional love to the homes where they live. When pets do cute

and funny things - which they often do - family members react by

laughing and being more relaxed.

 

If you don't have a pet yet, consider making one part of your family,

but make sure you have the time and resources necessary to provide a

stable loving home for your new friend.

 

If you choose a dog as your new pal, remember this wise old saying. " A

dog is man's best friend. " That's true in more ways than one. You'll

get unconditional love, companionship, loyalty and relaxation in

return for your investment of time and material resources.

 

What a bargain!

 

Patricia Wagner offers informative tips and a free newsletter to help

you live a more more energetic lifestyle. Check out

http://www.a-to-z-wellness.com. She is also an artist and you can view

her original paintings at http://www.artbywagner.com.

Ritalin Study Reveals Chromosome Damage

 

In a preliminary study, Texas researchers have found that 100% of a

dozen children treated with " normal therapeutic doses " of

methylphenidate (sold as Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate CD, et al)

registered a threefold increase in chromosome abnormalities three

months later -- abnormalities associated with increased risks of

cancer and other health problems.

 

Chromosomes are the bodies within cells that carry genetic information.

 

Researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in

Houston and the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB)

reported their detection of the chromosome abnormalities in the

journal Cancer Letters. Their peer-reviewed paper is available on the

journal's website.

 

The researchers believe their study is the first of its kind. They

found surprisingly few human or animal studies -- though the drug has

been used on humans for over 50 years -- exploring serious side

effects such as mutations or cancer. Lab mice given high dosages

developed liver tumors, according to a 1996 report discussing several

two-year-long animal studies, but rats did not.

 

In the study, blood was drawn from the children before they began

taking methylphenidate to get a baseline level of chromosomal

abnormalities. Three months after the children had begun taking the

drug, the researchers examined a new blood sample.

 

Most of the abnormalities found in the studied blood cells consisted

of chromosome breaks. " A higher frequency of aberrations is reported

to be associated with an increased risk of cancer down the line, " said

lead author Randa A. El-Zein, M.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor of

epidemiology at M.D. Anderson who performed the blood studies using

several techniques.

 

" It was pretty surprising that all of the children taking

methylphenidate showed an increase in chromosome abnormalities in a

relatively short period of time, " El-Zein said.

 

UTMB Professor of Environmental Toxicology Marvin Legator, the study's

principal investigator and senior author, cautioned, " This study

doesn't mean that these kids are going to get cancer, but it does mean

they are exposed to an additional risk factor, assuming that this

study holds up. " Of the 53 known human carcinogens, Legator said 48

could be detected using the chromosome analysis methods employed in

this study.

 

El-Zein stressed that much larger studies at several medical centers

are needed to confirm the results of this study and to answer other

questions not addressed by it. One of these issues is the question of

what happens when patients stop taking methylphenidate. " Do the levels

of chromosome abnormalities go back to normal? " El-Zein said. " We

don't know. "

 

The Cancer Letters article by Randa A. El-Zein, Sherif Z.

Abdel-Rahman, Matthew J. Hay, Mirtha S. Lopez, Melissa L. Bondy, Debra

L. Morris and Marvin S. Legator can be found on the Web by clicking

the " Articles in Press " button at

 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03043835.

 

Depression Linked to Birth Control Pill

 

Women taking the oral contraceptive pill are almost twice as likely to

be depressed than those not on the Pill, according to the results of a

new study undertaken at The Alfred.

 

The Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre has completed a pilot study,

which looked at the association between mood and the use of the

Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill.

 

APRC director and principal investigator Jayashri Kulkarni said the

study looked at whether women who use " the pill " are more likely to

experience lower mood (depression or depressive symptoms), than non-users.

 

The study involved 62 women and compared depression symptom scores

between users and non-users of combined oral contraceptives. Those

using the Pill had an average depression rating scale score of 17.6,

compared to 9.8 in the non-user group.

 

" Past studies have indicated a significant relationship between the

use of the Pill and experiencing depression, " said Kulkarni. " There

have also been studies that have found a link between depression and

hormonal changes such as during pregnancy, menopause or with the use

of hormonal contraceptives. However, these studies' findings have been

inconsistent so we will investigate this link further with a larger

study. "

 

Study participants were over 18, not pregnant or lactating, had no

clinical history of depression and were not on antidepressant

medication in the previous 12 months.

 

The Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre stated its intention to run a

more extensive study comparing different contraceptive pills,

exploring the effects of longer use, mitigating and precipitating factors.

Headaches, Depression May Be Result of Aerosol Use

 

Frequent use of aerosols and air fresheners in the home could make

mothers and babies ill, according to research from the University of

Bristol's Children of the 90s study, published in late 2004.

 

The research showed that mothers who used aerosols and air fresheners

in their homes every day were more likely to be ill than those mothers

who used them once a week or less. Aerosols included polish, deodorant

and hairspray, while air fresheners included sticks, sprays and

aerosols. The children of the mothers who used aerosols daily were

also more likely to have some illnesses. More than 40 percent of

families use air fresheners regularly.

 

Researchers randomly selected 170 homes of the mothers taking part in

the Children of the 90s study. They studied the household levels of

volatile organic compounds (VOCs) over the course of a year, and

looked at which household products appeared most likely to increase

the levels of VOCs. They then asked 10,000 mothers to complete

questionnaires about their use of these household products.

 

The researchers also asked the mothers to report any symptoms they and

their children suffered at various points during pregnancy and childhood.

 

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemical gases that have no

color or taste, although many have a characteristic smell. VOCs are

released from a variety of household products, including air

fresheners, paint, cleaners and solvents. Car exhaust is loaded with them.

 

Of the mothers who used air fresheners, 16 percent suffered from

depression compared with 12.7 percent of those mothers who hardly ever

used air fresheners. Mothers who used air fresheners daily suffered

almost 10 percent more headaches than those who used them less than

once a week.

 

Pregnant women and babies up to the age of six months may be

particularly at risk of the effects of aerosols in the homes, because

they spend such a large proportion of their time in the home. Other

people who spend a lot of time in the home, such as elderly people,

may also be at risk of illnesses that may result from overexposure to

volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

 

Although there has been a lot of research that links increased

volatile organic compound (VOC) levels in the home with headaches and

feeling unwell, the mechanism is not very well understood and more

research is required.

 

There are so many sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that it

isn't possible to make your home completely free of VOCs. A leading

British provider of healthcare insurance, BUPA, suggests these methods

to minimize VOC levels in the home:

 

* limit the use of air fresheners and aerosols when using aerosols

* do not use in a confined space when using aerosols

* follow the manufacturers' guidelines

* throw away unused or old aerosols, because gases can leak even

from closed containers

* make sure there is plenty of ventilation if you are using paints

or solvents

* If you want to make your home smell fresh, try squeezing a lemon

into a dish as this is just as effective as an air freshener.

 

(More at http://www.bupa.co.uk/)

 

The Children of the 90s study (also known as the Avon Longitudinal

Study of Parents and Children study -- see

http://www.alspac.bristol.ac.uk) is an ongoing research project based

at the University of Bristol. The project began in 1991 to 1992 with

the enrollment of 14,000 pregnant women. The women and their children

have been followed since then.

Antidepressant Suicide Risks Confirmed by Hundreds of Clinical Trials

 

An analysis released Feb. 16 of hundreds of clinical trials involving

tens of thousands of patients reveals that adults taking

antidepressants such as Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft are more than twice

as likely to attempt suicide as patients given placebo.

 

Epidemiologist Dean Fergusson, his colleagues at the Ottawa Health

Research Institute, and scientists from McGill University examined 702

controlled clinical trials involving 87,650 patients treated for a

variety of conditions, including sexual dysfunction, bulimia, panic

disorder and depression. It is the largest study of its kind to date.

 

FDA officials have said they are conducting an " independent " analysis.

 

Adults with severe depression should continue to be considered for

drug treatment, but those with milder symptoms should probably not be

medicated, said John Geddes, a professor of epidemiological psychiatry

at Oxford University, whose comments were published in the British

Medical Journal alongside the new study.

 

" For a lot of time, these drugs were seen as a panacea for low mood in

general, " he told the Washington Post. " We do need to ensure they are

only prescribed for patients with clearly diagnosed depressive disorders. "

 

New analyses of clinical trials in children last year prompted FDA to

require a prominent black box warning on labels that the medications

could increase the risk of suicide in children.

 

British authorities last year recommended that depressed patients who

were able function at home and work should not be medicated right

away, but should be counseled to try exercise, self-help, talk therapy

-- or watchful waiting.

 

David Healy, a psychiatrist at the University of Wales who helped

conduct the new study, feels that such a meta-analysis is long

overdue. " For whatever reason, an awful lot of people didn't want to

think there was a risk. " Healy expects U.S. managed-care companies to

balk at the " watchful waiting " approach.

 

Due to the relative infrequency of suicide in a population, it takes a

large sample to yield meaningful percentages. Fergusson's

meta-analysis pooled data from a large number of studies in the same

manner as the recent FDA analysis involving children's trials.

 

According to The Post, the American Psychiatric Association considers

untreated depressed patients a greater suicide risk than those treated

with SSRIs, though no statistical evidence was offered in support of

this claim. An APA spokesman expressed concern that depressed patients

who were getting better through medication might be more likely to

tell doctors about a suicide attempt, thereby skewing the results.

This reasoning runs counter to the more commonly voiced concern that

suicide attempts and suicidal thoughts all too often go unreported.

 

While Fergusson agreed that better trials are needed, he expressed

confidence in his analysis, relying as it does on placebo-controlled

trials -- considered the most definitive. He added that increased

suicide risk with SSRIs was found in patients being treated for a

variety of disorders, not just depression.

 

Suicide " is uncommon but serious, " Fergusson said in an interview.

" The biggest concern is these drugs are widely prescribed. There are

millions of people on the drugs, so even a risk of one in a 1,000 when

you amplify it to the millions, it becomes a public health issue. "

St. John's Wort Compares Favorably to Paroxetine for Major Depression

 

Extract of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) is at least as

effective as paroxetine (Paxil) for the treatment of moderate to

severe major depression, while being better tolerated, Germany

investigators reported in the British Medical Journal online edition

of February 10.

 

Dr. Meinhard Kieser, at Dr Willmar Schwabe Pharmaceuticals in

Karlsruhe, and his associates enrolled outpatients in 21 clinics. All

scored 22 points or higher on the 17-item Hamilton depression scale. A

total of 125 were randomly assigned to hypericum extract and 126 to

paroxetine. Doses were doubled after 2 weeks if the depression score

had not improved by at least 20%.

 

After 42 days, Hamilton depression scores declined by 57% (14.4

points) in the hypericum group, as compared to 45% (11.4 points) in

the paroxetine group. Study authors characterized the difference as

" clinically relevant. "

 

Responder rates were 70% and 60%, respectively, and remission rates

were 50% and 35%. The authors observed differences favoring hypericum

in the Montgomery-Asperg depression rating scale, Beck depression

inventory and clinical global impressions as well.

 

76% of the paroxetine group and 55% of the hypericum group reported

adverse events at some time during the trial.

 

" Our results support the use of hypericum extract WS 5570 as an

alternative to standard antidepressants in moderate to severe

depression, especially as it is well tolerated, " Dr. Kieser's group

concluded.

 

In Germany, where St John's wort is a prescription drug, it outsells

Prozac by four to one. However, it may reduce the effectiveness of

other prescription medications used at the same time.

Complementary/Alternative Medicine Helps Tourette Sufferers

 

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder associated with

motor and vocal tics. Some people with TS have reported using

alternative or complementary medicine (CAM), including nutritional

supplements to control their tics. In a recent national survey,

approximately 40% of people reported having used CAM in the prior year.

 

A group of researchers set out to explore the use of supplements and

other CAM among TS patients. They developed a survey instrument based

on anecdotal accounts of CAM use and distributed it to the mailing

list of the New York Chapter of the Tourette Syndrome Association and

the subscription list of Latitudes, a newsletter exploring CAM

treatments for neurological conditions. Responses were entered in a

database and analyzed.

 

Of 115 respondents, 87.8% reported using 1 or more of 29 nutritional

supplements to control symptoms. Many also reported using other CAM.

Most supplement users reported an improvement in tics.

 

(Mantel, Meyers, Rogers, Jacobson; BJM Consulting, New York, New York.)

Health Canada Suspends Sale of Adderall

 

FDA issued a Public Health Advisory to notify healthcare professionals

that Health Canada, the Canadian drug regulatory agency, has suspended

the sale of Adderall XR in the Canadian market. Adderall XR is a

controlled release amphetamine used to treat " ADHD. " The Canadian

action was based on U.S. post-marketing reports of sudden deaths in

pediatric patients. FDA is continuing to evaluate these and other

post-marketing reports of serious adverse events in children,

adolescents, and adults being treated with Adderall and related

products. Adderall XR is approved in the United States for the

treatment of adults and pediatric patients 6-12 years old diagnosed

with " ADHD. "

 

Read the complete MedWatch 2005 Safety Summary, including links to the

Public Health Advisory, FDA Statement and other supporting information

for healthcare professionals and patients, at:

 

http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2005/safety05.htm#Adderall

 

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