Popular Articles

Rise In New Cases Of Alzheimer's And Dementia, Even In The 'Oldest Old'
The number of people with Alzheimer"s and dementia - both new cases and total numbers with the disease - continues to rise among the very oldest segments of the population in contradiction of the conventional wisdom, according to research reported today at the Alzheimer"s Association 2009 International Conference on Alzheimer"s Disease (ICAD 2009) in Vienna.
generic viagra online
Senate HELP Committee's Health Reform Bill Gives Needed Relief For America's Families
Senator Christopher Dodd, who is presiding over the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee during the absence of Committee Chair Edward Kennedy, today released the remaining portions of the health care reform bill that the Committee will consider when the July 4th recess ends. The following is the statement of Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA, about the bill:
News of the day
Alzheimer's Society Comment On New Data Observing The Cost Effectiveness Of Aricept (donepezil)
New research presented at the annual meeting of ISPOR suggests that prescribing Aricept on diagnosis of either mild or moderate Alzheimer"s disease would save the NHS money.
Oncology

Nightmares Predict Elevated Suicidal Symptoms

Self-reported nightmares among patients seeking emergency psychiatric evaluation uniquely predicted elevated suicidal symptoms, according to a research abstract presented at SLEEP 2009, the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies. Results indicate that severe nightmares were independently associated with elevated suicidal symptoms after accounting for the influence of depression, whereas symptoms of insomnia were not. These findings suggest that nightmares stand alone as a suicide risk factor. The sample included 82 men and women between the ages of 18 and 66, who were in a community mental health hospital admissions unit awaiting an emergency psychiatric evaluation. Evaluations determined eligibility for crisis stabilization inpatient admittance. Patients" nightmares, insomnia, depression and suicidal tendencies were assessed through several questionnaires, including the Disturbing Dreams and Nightmare Severity Index, Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS). According to principal investigator, Rebecca Bernert, doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at Florida State University, findings of the study emphasize the need for a more thorough assessment of sleep among acutely-ill patients, as it may be an important opportunity for intervention. "Sleep disturbances, especially nightmares, appear to be an acute warning sign and risk factor for suicide," said Bernert. "Given that poor sleep is amenable to treatment, and less stigmatized than depression and suicide, our findings could impact standardized suicide risk assessment and prevention efforts." The study states that sleep complaints are now listed among the top 10 warning signs of suicide by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Sleep and mood disturbances are closely related, and depression is the single best predictor of suicide. People who suffer from persistent sleep problems should consult a sleep expert at one of the 1,600 centers accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). Those experiencing a suicidal crisis or emotional distress are encouraged to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which offers a 24-hour crisis hotline. Abstract Title: Insomnia and Nightmares as Predictors of Elevated Suicide Risk Among Patients Seeking Admission to Emergency Mental Health Facility Presentation Date: Tuesday, June 9 Category: Sleep in Psychiatric Disorders Abstract ID: 1120 Kelly Wagner American Academy of Sleep Medicine


Add your comment:
Name:
Site address: http://
Your message:
Enter today\\\\'s date, 2 digits
(spam protection):