Top Stories

Lessons learned in peer workforce development

Lori Ashcraft, PhD, and William A. Anthony, PhD
For the most part, peers have proven their worth to even the most cynical bystanders. But it hasn’t all been a glorious experience—not for them, for other staff, or for the larger organization. In this column we want to take an honest look at what’s working and why, so we can replicate our successes and have even better outcomes.

Massachusetts DMH to close state hospital

News release
The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health informed members of the Massachusetts Nurses Association/National Nurses United of its plan to close Taunton State Hospital, one of six state operated mental health facilities in the state to care for people suffering from acute and chronic mental illness.

Mental health treatment hospital is 'right at home' in Bel Air

Dennis Grantham, Editor-in-Chief
For some individuals with psychiatric disorders, feeling ‘at home’ in the mental health treatment environment is everything. Bridges to Recovery offers comprehensive mental health treatment in a uniquely personal, high-end home-based environment.

Aparttime: African American History Month and behavioral health

February 3, 2012     H. Steven Moffic, MD
blog
As some Americans recognize February as "National African American History Month," too few of them, even in the field of behavioral health, pause to recognize the continued patterns of prejudice in diagnosis and treatment that make African American males far more likely to be diagnosed with serious mental illness or incarcerated for drug-possession offenses. It's time we took a look at that problem.

Acadia to implement suite of HMS financial applications at over 25 facilities

February 3, 2012     News release
news
Acadia Healthcare has chosen a suite of fully integrated financial-management applications from Healthcare Management Systems (HMS) to help maximize the operating efficiency of more than two dozen of its facilities nationwide.

Lakeside Behavioral Healthcare announces new board members

February 3, 2012     News release
news
Lakeside Behavioral Healthcare, a non-profit organization providing mental health care services in Orange County, has appointed David Christner, Mary Perez and Michelle Ward to its Board of Directors.

The missing link to "metabolic syndrome" -- FOUND!

February 2, 2012     Dennis Grantham, Editor-in-Chief
blog
For years, mental health providers have worried about the incidence of "metabolic syndrome" among consumers taking atypical antipsychotic meds for serious mental illness. Now, a study has identified the link.

Leading health indicators about your health and well-being

February 2, 2012     Ron Manderscheid, PhD
blog
Assigned the task of leading a Subcommittee to make recommendations about which topics should become Healthy People 2020 Leading Health Indicators causes one to pause and reflect.

Study evaluates metabolic side effects of antipsychotic meds

February 1, 2012     News release
news
Researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute have released a paper describing how antipsychotic drugs interfere with normal metabolism by activating a protein called SMAD3, an important part of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) pathway.

Vivitrol pilot study to focus on inmate treatment

February 1, 2012     News release
news
Alkermes has announced a new open-label study designed to evaluate the feasibility of initiating treatment with Vivitrol in prison and continuing treatment upon release into the community.

Acadia names Walgreens EVP/CFO to board

January 31, 2012     News release
news
Acadia Healthcare has named Wade D. Miquelon to its board of directors. Miquelon joined Walgreen Co. in June 2008 as senior vice president and CFO, and has been executive vice president and CFO since July 2009.

New autism category proposed for DSM-5

January 31, 2012     News release
news
The American Psychiatric Association is proposing a new diagnostic criteria for the fifth edition of the DSM-5 for autism, which would create a new category called "autism spectrum disorder" to incorporate several previously separate diagnoses, including autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder.

TMS NeuroHealth Centers physician named 'Top Doc'

January 30, 2012     News release
news
Dr. Niku Singh, medical director at TMS NeuroHealth Centers in Tysons Corner has been being included in the Washingtonian Magazine's "Top Doctors" for 2012. The award is based on feedback from a questionnaire sent to thousands of physicians in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

Blogs

Aparttime: African American History Month and behavioral health

February 3, 2012     H. Steven Moffic, MD
As some Americans recognize February as "National African American History Month," too few of them, even in the field of behavioral health, pause to recognize the continued patterns of prejudice in diagnosis and treatment that make African American males far more likely to be diagnosed with serious mental illness or incarcerated for drug-possession offenses. It's time we took a look at that problem.

Don Cornelius death sheds light on depression for African Americans

February 3, 2012     Nick Zubko, Associate Editor
Don Cornelius, the creator Soul Train, passed away this week at the age of 75. Does his apparent suicide shed light on the prevalent mental health challenges facing the African American community?

The missing link to "metabolic syndrome" -- FOUND!

February 2, 2012     Dennis Grantham, Editor-in-Chief
For years, mental health providers have worried about the incidence of "metabolic syndrome" among consumers taking atypical antipsychotic meds for serious mental illness. Now, a study has identified the link.

Leading health indicators about your health and well-being

February 2, 2012     Ron Manderscheid, PhD
Assigned the task of leading a Subcommittee to make recommendations about which topics should become Healthy People 2020 Leading Health Indicators causes one to pause and reflect.