| Science
and News Update |
Gene Linked to Autism in
Families with More Than One Affected Child
A version of a gene has been linked to autism in families
that have more than one child with the disorder. Inheriting two copies
of this version more than doubled a child's risk of developing an
autism spectrum disorder, scientists supported by the National Institute
of Mental Health (NIMH) and the National Institute on Child Health
and Human Development (NICHD) have discovered. In a large sample totaling
1,231 cases, they traced the connection to a tiny variation in the
part of the gene that turns it on and off. People with autism spectrum
disorders were more likely than others to have inherited this version,
which cuts gene expression by half, likely impairing development of
parts of the brain implicated in the disorder, report Drs. Daniel
Campbell, Pat Levitt, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center at Vanderbilt University,
and colleagues, online during the week of the October 16, 2006 in
the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Read press release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/press/autismmetgene.cfm
|
Preschoolers with ADHD Improve
with Low Doses of Medication
The first long-term, large-scale study designed to determine the safety
and effectiveness of treating preschoolers who have attention deficit/hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD) with methylphenidate (Ritalin) has found that overall,
low doses of this medication are effective and safe. However, the
study found that children this age are more sensitive than older children
to the medication's side effects and therefore should be closely monitored.
The 70-week, six-site study was funded by the National Institutes
of Health's National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and was described
in several articles in the November 2006 issue of the Journal of the
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Read press release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/press/preschooladhd.cfm
|
NIMH: Antipsychotic Medications
Used to Treat Alzheimer’s Patients Found Lacking
Commonly prescribed antipsychotic medications used to treat Alzheimer's
patients with delusions, aggression, hallucinations, and other similar
symptoms can benefit some patients, but they appear to be no more
effective than a placebo when adverse side effects are considered,
according to the first phase of a large-scale clinical trial funded
by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The trial, known
as the Clinical Antipsychotic Trial of Intervention Effectiveness
study for Alzheimer's disease (CATIE-AD), was published in the October
12, 2006, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Read press release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/press/catie_ad.cfm
Read Q&A: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/catie_alzheimers_qa.cfm
Read NIMH Perspective on Treating Alzheimer's Patients with Antipsychotic
Medications: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/dirupdate_catie-alzheimers.cfm
|
NIMH: How Strep Triggers
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – New Clues
A likely mechanism by which a bacterial infection triggers obsessive
compulsive disorder (OCD) in some children has been demonstrated by
scientists at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and collaborators
at California State University (CSU) and the University of Oklahoma
(UO). Their research suggests that an antibody against strep throat
bacteria sometimes mistakenly acts on a brain enzyme, disrupting communications
between neurons and causing a form of obsessive compulsive and related
tic disorder in children — pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric
disorders associated with streptococci (PANDAS).
Read Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/press/pandasmechanism.cfm
|
NIMH Researchers Discover
Medication’s Antidepressant Potential
A commonly used sedative and motion-sickness treatment shows promise
as a fast-acting antidepressant, according to a study conducted by
researchers at NIMH. Patients with major depression or bipolar disorder
who had predominantly poor prognoses improved dramatically, showing
significant decreases in symptoms associated with depression and anxiety
almost immediately after being treated with the medication. Report
on these findings can be found in the October 2006 issue of the Archives
of General Psychiatry.
Read Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/press/fureybrief.cfm |
NIAAA: Study Links Receptor
to Stress-Induced Alcohol Relapse
Relapse to uncontrolled drinking after periods of sobriety is a defining
characteristic of alcoholism and is often triggered by stress. This
new study in rats reports that a specific receptor for a stress-response
transmitter may play an important role in stress-induced relapse.
A series of behavioral experiments confirmed that the alcohol-preferring
rats were more sensitive to stressful situations. The study, a collaboration
between scientists at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism (NIAAA) and at Camerino University, Italy, appears online
in the Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences on October 2, 2006.
Read press release: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/NewsEvents/NewsReleases/stress-induced.htm |
NIAAA: Fruit Fly Study Identifies
Gene Mutation That Regulates Sensitivity to Alcohol
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
have discovered a gene mutation in fruit flies that alters sensitivity
to alcohol. The findings, reported in the October 6 issue of the Journal
Cell, may have implications for human studies seeking to understand
innate differences in people’s tolerance for alcohol. The scientists
examined the behavior of fruit flies (Drosophila) exposed to alcohol.
Ordinarily, at low doses of alcohol fruit flies increase their activity,
while high doses have a sedative effect. However, the researchers
found some fruit flies were much more resistant to alcohol sedation.
These flies continued to move about much longer than typical fruit
flies exposed to the same amount of alcohol.
Read press release: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/NewsEvents/NewsReleases/fruitfly.htm |
SAMHSA: Tribal Initiatives
to Promote Mental Health and Prevent Substance Abuse and Mental Illness
Receive More than $49 Million in FY 2006 SAMHSA Grants
After implementing a new policy that American Indians and Alaska Natives
will be eligible for all discretionary grants, the Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has awarded $49.3
million in FY 2006 grant funding for 14 new, and one supplemental,
discretionary grants to tribal organizations for prevention, treatment
and recovery support services.
Read press release: http://www.samhsa.gov/news/newsreleases/061004_tribal.aspx |
SAMHSA Awards $49 Million
in Grants Treat People Who Are Homeless
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) announced
a series of grants to provide treatment to persons who are homeless,
suffering from substance use or mental disorders or both. The first
grant program (Development of Comprehensive Drug/Alcohol and Mental
Health Treatment Systems for Persons Who are Homeless, also known
as The Treatment for Homeless Program), includes 23 grants totaling
$45 million for five years to expand and strengthen treatment services.
In addition, 21 supplemental grants totaling $4 million for one year
were awarded to help current grantees enhance their services component
to ensure that individuals experiencing chronic homelessness obtain
mental health and substance abuse treatment, linkage to housing and
housing support services, case management, and other recovery-oriented
services.
Read press release: http://www.samhsa.gov/news/newsreleases/061006_homeless.aspx |
SAMHSA Awards $54.6 Million
for Cooperative Agreements for Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral
and Treatment (SBIRT)
SAMHSA and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) jointly
announced the award of four cooperative agreements totaling $54.6
million over five years for its Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral
and Treatment (SBIRT) Program for persons with substance use disorders.
This brings the total of SBIRT awards to states and tribal organizations
to 11. An additional 12 brief intervention grants have been made to
colleges and universities to integrate screening and brief intervention
into their student health programs. Under the most recent SBIRT awards,
states will work to expand their continuum of care for persons at
risk for or diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder to include screening,
brief intervention, and referral to treatment. These services are
performed in general medical and other community settings, such as
community health centers, nursing homes, schools, student assistance
programs, occupational health clinics, hospitals and emergency departments.
Read press release: http://www.samhsa.gov/news/newsreleases/061011_SBirt.aspx |
FDA Approves the First Drug
to Treat Irritability Associated with Autism, Risperdal
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Risperdal (risperidone)
orally disintegrating tablets, an adult antipsychotic drug, for the
symptomatic treatment of irritability in autistic children and adolescents.
The approval is the first for the use of a drug to treat behaviors
associated with autism in children. These behaviors are included under
the general heading of irritability, and include aggression, deliberate
self-injury, and temper tantrums.
Read press release: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01485.html |
FDA Approves Expanded Use
of Treatment for Patients With Severe Alzheimer's Disease
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Aricept (donepezil
hydrochloride) for the treatment of severe dementia in patients with
Alzheimer's Disease. Aricept was previously approved for the treatment
of mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer's type. It now becomes
the first product approved for the treatment of all degrees of severity
of the disease.
Read press release:
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01491.html |
HHS Awards $58 Million through
Compassion Capital Fund
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced awards
totaling $58,025,562 through the Compassion Capital Fund (CCF). The
awards, to 420 faith-based and community organizations, are designed
to help grass-roots faith-based and community organizations enhance
their ability to provide a wide range of social services for those
in need. Those services include aid for homeless persons, at-risk
youth and rural communities and initiatives to empower youth and promote
healthy marriage.
Read press release: http://www.dhhs.gov/news/press/2006pres/20061006.html |
HHS Awards $11.2 Million
for Mentoring Children of Prisoners
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded approximately
$11.2 million to 76 organizations to train adult volunteers to mentor
children and youth whose parents are incarcerated. The grants are
part of mentoring children of prisoners program introduced by President
Bush in his 2003 State of the Union address. Nearly 2 million children
in the United States have an incarcerated parent. Studies have shown
children with incarcerated parents who have mentors are less likely
to use drugs or alcohol and initiate violence and are more likely
to attend and perform well in school. Since this program began in
2003, approximately $158 million has been awarded to grantees to provide
new mentors to children and youth of incarcerated parents. Over 33,000
mentors and children have been matched so far, on track with the target
of 100,000 matches by fiscal year 2008.
Read press release: http://www.dhhs.gov/news/press/2006pres/20061005.html |
HHS Approves New York Plan
to Update Medicaid
HHS approved a five-year, $3 billion experiment by New York State
to reorient its Medicaid program to take care of more people in their
homes and communities with an eye toward enhancing patient satisfaction,
eliminating waste and improving the economic viability of the program.
New York’s Medicaid program currently covers nearly 4 million
beneficiaries at an estimated annual cost to the state and federal
governments of $43 billion. The traditional delivery system, which
emphasizes inpatient hospital and nursing home care, is expensive,
inflexible and often not oriented to patient needs. The approval will
set the state on a course of eliminating excess waste with unused
hospital and nursing home beds, building creative new care solutions
in homes and communities and shifting greater emphasis to preventive
programs such as disease management.
Read press release: http://www.dhhs.gov/news/press/2006pres/20061003.html |
CDC Launches Multi-state
Study on Autism: $5.9 Million Awarded to Five Sites
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is initiating
a multi-state collaborative study to help identify factors that may
put children at risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and other
developmental disabilities. Approximately 2,700 children, ages 2 to
5, and their parents will be part of this study. CDC has awarded a
total of $5.9 million to five sites - Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
in California, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment,
Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill, and the University of Pennsylvania. These sites make
up the Centers for Autism and Developmental Disabilities Research
and Epidemiology (CADDRE) Network. CDC will also be participating
in the study, and will include children and their parents from the
metropolitan Atlanta area.
Read press release: http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r061006.htm |
DOE: $11.6 Million in Grants
Awarded for Highly Qualified Special Education Teachers, Early Intervention
Personnel
The Department of Education announced the award of $11.6 million in
grants to help develop highly qualified teachers for students with
disabilities, especially in areas where chronic shortages exist. The
money will also be used to train specialists in early intervention
and other aspects of services for students with disabilities, recognizing
that the earlier children can be identified as being in need of services,
the greater the likelihood they can reach their education potential.
Read press release: http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2006/10/10052006.html |
| Resources:
Publications, Toolkits, Other Resources |
NIDA Speeds Transfer of
Research Findings into Clinical Tools: Treatment Products Announced
at 2006 Blending Conference
Thousands of people in the United States seeking treatment for drug
abuse will benefit from years of scientific research, thanks to
new products announced at the 2006 Blending Conference in Seattle,
a meeting hosted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
The new portfolio of treatment products highlights the latest research
findings on drug abuse topics, including addiction to opioid drugs
(such as heroin and OxyContin), as well as techniques that modify
behavior to enhance a person's commitment to stop abusing drugs.
The new tools integrate PowerPoint slides, CDs, and bibliographies
containing the most recent research findings. These products provide
treatment professionals with resources that accelerate the adoption
of science-based interventions into clinical practice.
http://www.drugabuse.gov/newsroom/06/NR10-16.html
The new products and other information on the NIDA Blending initiative
can be accessed at http://www.drugabuse.gov/blending/. |
New SAMHSA Resources
SAMHSA Highlights Efforts to Blend Research with Practice
Successful efforts to incorporate research findings into clinical
practice are described in the September/October 2006 issue of SAMHSA
News, the newsletter of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration. The issue describes a joint effort by SAMHSA and
the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to decrease the 17-year
gap that typically occurs between the publication of research results
in scholarly journals and their application in clinical practice.
The "Blending Initiative," as the effort is called, takes
findings on substance abuse treatment typically gleaned from NIDA's
Clinical Trials Network and packages them into readily understandable
curricula and tools for service providers. Topics covered so far
include the treatment of opioid addiction with the medication buprenorphine
and the use of the Addiction Severity Index, a tool for addiction
counselors to collect information about all aspects of a client's
life to use in building a treatment plan.
http://www.samhsa.gov/news/newsreleases/061011_newsletter.aspx
The September/October 2006 issue is available online at http://www.samhsa.gov/samhsa_news/.
SAMHSA News is published bimonthly in both hardcopy and electronic
format. To receive a free subscription, telephone 1 (888) 577-8977
(toll-free) or (240) 221-4001 in the Washington, DC, metropolitan
area. |
SAMSHA-Science-Based Substance
Abuse Prevention Planning System Now Available to States
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
announced the availability of Communities That Care (CTC) -- a science-based
substance abuse prevention planning system for use by States and
communities to help prevent drug and alcohol abuse before it starts.
CTC models a community-wide approach to prevention that also enables
communities to select the right substance use prevention program
for their needs in preventing substance abuse problems. CTC helps
communities monitor and improve overall program quality, and ultimately
prevention practice.
http://www.samhsa.gov/news/newsreleases/061013_sasystem.aspx
SAMHSA Communities That Care materials are available on their website,
http://preventionplatform.samhsa.gov for downloading and
reproduction. |
SAMSHA: New Report from the
Office of Applied Studies
The NSDUH Report: Service Utilization for Mental Health Problems among
Adults
This report presents estimates of the prevalence of mental health
treatment among adults and describes the types of treatment received
and the characteristics of persons receiving treatment based on data
from the 2000 and 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA).
The report found that among adults aged 18 or older, 13% (27.9 million
persons) received treatment or counseling for mental health problems
in the past 12 months. About 5.1% of all adults and 19.2% of adults
who received treatment for mental health problems in the past year
perceived an unmet need for treatment or counseling for mental health
problems in the past year. Of those adults who perceived an unmet
need for treatment for mental health problems in the past year, 48.1%
reported cost or insurance issues as a barrier to treatment.
Read the full report: http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k6/mhTX/mhTX.cfm |
| |
| Calls
for Public Input |
SAMSHA: Solicitation Seeks
Testers for Jail Diversion Tool Kit
SAMHSA’s GAINS TAPA Center for Jail Diversion is soliciting
applications from jurisdictions interested in testing the Jail Diversion
Tool Kit. The Tool Kit was developed to provide guidance to jurisdictions
at the early stages of developing a jail diversion program for people
with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse. The
Center needs frontline input into its usefulness from jurisdictions
which are currently planning a jail diversion program for people with
serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders. Applications are
due on October 31, 2006.
Read details about of the solicitation: http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov/pdfs/eNews/ToolKitTestSolicitation9_06.pdf |
| Calendar
of Events |
20th Annual National Meeting
on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention in Higher
Education
Arlington, Virginia, October 18-22, 2006
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free
Schools will convene this national conference to examine issues around
alcohol and other drug abuse and violence prevention on college campuses
and in their surrounding communities. http://www2.edc.org/higheredcenter/natl/2006/ |
Teleconference: TF-CBT—The
Cognitive Processing Component
October 19, 2006, 2:00pm-3:30pm EDT
The CMHS-sponsored National Child Traumatic Stress Network is hosting
a free teleconference on the Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
(TF-CBT). More details on the teleconference will be available soon
on the web. Register early, as a limited number of phone lines are
available.
http://www.nctsnet.org/nccts/nav.do?pid=ctr_top_train_tele_sched |
Conference: Understanding
and Reducing Health Disparities—Contributions from the Behavioral
and Social Sciences
Bethesda, Maryland, October 23-24, 2006
Sponsored by the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Research, this
conference will focus on three broad areas of action influencing health
disparities: policy, prevention, and healthcare. It will emphasize
the health disparities in the development, testing, and delivery of
interventions, as well as, behavioral, social, and biomedical research.
The conference will include research relevant to a wide range of population
groups residing in the United States, while not attempting to provide
detailed analyses of each and every group.
http://obssr.od.nih.gov/HealthDisparities/index.html |
Web Forum: Children Exposed
to Domestic Violence Discussion
October 25, 2006, 2:00 p.m. E.T.
The Office of Justice Programs' Office for Victims of Crime, partnering
with the Office on Violence Against Women and the Office of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention, will host a Web Forum to discuss
assisting children exposed to domestic violence. The 1-hour session
will be led by Dr. David Finkelhor, Director, Crimes Against Children
Research Center, and Betsy McAlister-Groves, Director, Child Witness
to Violence Project.
http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ovcproviderforum/asp/participate.asp |
Alternatives 2006 Conference:
Blazing the Trail to Recovery Through Transformation
Portland, Oregon, October 25-29, 2006
The Alternatives Conference sponsored by CMHS offers in-depth technical
assistance on consumer/survivor delivered services and self-help/recovery
methods. The Alternatives Conference also offers a forum for mental
health consumers and survivors from across the nation to meet and
exchange information and ideas.
http://www.alternatives2006.org |
Webcast: Building a Stronger,
Healthier Community—A National Showcase of Recovery Month Events
November 1, 2006
This CSAT webcast will highlight Recovery Month community forums,
walks and runs for recovery, family-oriented picnics and barbeques,
locally sponsored events with major and minor league baseball teams,
music-based activities, and other events that exemplify that addiction
is treatable and recovery is possible.
http://www.recoverymonth.gov/2005/multimedia/w.aspx?ID=451 |
Teleconference: Trauma and
Culture
November 9, 2006, 2:00pm-3:30pm EST
The CMHS-sponsored National Child Traumatic Stress Network is hosting
a free teleconference on trauma and culture. More details on the teleconference
will be available soon on the web. http://www.nctsnet.org/nccts/nav.do?pid=ctr_top_train_tele_sched |
National Project Homeless
Connect Week 2006
December 4-8, 2006
Project Homeless Connect is a one day event sponsored by mayors and
other community leaders and designed to provide housing, services,
and hospitality in a convenient one-stop model for people experiencing
homelessness. More than 35 cities have replicated this model. The
Interagency Council on Homelessness will convene several national
conference calls to support cities planning 2006 National Project
Homeless Connect participation. Calls are being convened every 2 weeks
to share best practices and common questions. For more information
on conference calls, send an email to: usichevents@usich.gov
http://www.usich.gov/slocal/NationalProjectHomelessConnectPromo.html |
Teleconference: Trauma and
Adolescence
December 7, 2006, 2:00pm-3:30pm EST
The CMHS-sponsored National Child Traumatic Stress Network is hosting
a free teleconference on trauma and adolescence. More details on the
teleconference will be available soon on the web.
http://www.nctsnet.org/nccts/nav.do?pid=ctr_top_train_tele_sched |
| Funding
Information |
| |
| Research
Funding Opportunities (PAs and RFAs) |
NIH Program Announcements
(PAs)
[Full listing of NIH PAs at http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/index.html] |
Biobehavioral Methods to
Improve Outcomes Research (R21)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-008.html |
Structural Interventions,
Alcohol Use, and Risk of HIV/AIDS (R21)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-005.html |
Community-Based Participatory
Research at NIMH (R21)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-07-004.html |
Alcohol Education Project
Grants (R25)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-07-001.html |
NIH Request for Applications
(RFAs)
[Full listing of NIH RFAs at http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/index.html] |
Mechanisms of Drug Abuse
Interactions with HIV Neuropathogenesis (R21)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DA-07-003.html |
