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Communication between the Mental Health and Justice Systems - The Center for Mental Health Services GAINS Center has released a report dispelling common myths concerning the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) —legislation that was passed in 1996 to streamline electronic transmission of health information. One myth held by some health care providers is that HIPAA protects patient privacy from law enforcement officials, inhibiting communication between mental health professionals and the justice system. Get the report.

FDA proposes new warnings about suicidal thinking, behavior in young adults who take antidepressant medications: Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed that manufactures of antidepressant medications update the wording of their “black box warning” labels to include specifics about the increased risks of suicidality in young adults, ages 18 to 24, during initial treatment with the medication – typically the first or second month.

Depression Linked to Atherosclerosis: Depression appears to increase the build up of plaques in blood vessels, or atherosclerosis, which can lead to an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular problems, a study in the Archives of General Psychiatry indicates. The researchers from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis also examined the effects of anxiety and anger on blood vessel plaque build up but found no link. "Taken together, our results indicate that depression, but perhaps not anxiety and hostility/anger, may be involved in the initiation and/or progression of atherosclerosis," the researchers conclude. (Reuters, 2/15/07)

Relationship Insecurity Can Affect Immune System: An individual’s feelings of insecurity in close relationships may weaken his or her immune system, a study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine indicates. The study’s Italian researchers wrote that this finding is in line with previous research showing the negative impact that chronic stress can have on a person’s immune system. The researchers note, however, that the study didn’t prove a causal relation between relationship insecurity and worse health. (Reuters, 2/13/07)

Chronic Distress Can Lead to Dementia: Older adults who have chronic emotional distress appear to be more likely than others to develop dementia, Rush University Medical Center researchers report in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine. The dementia that they are at risk for developing, however, appears not to be associated with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, leading researchers to conclude that an unknown mechanism is the cause. (Reuters, 2/16/07)

Children Affected by Exposure to an Even a Small Amount of Alcohol Before Birth: Even drinking a small amount of alcohol during pregnancy appears to increase the risk of mental health problems in a woman’s child in later years, British researchers report in the journal Pediatrics. The negative effect of drinking less than one drink a week during the first trimester was found primary in girls, a finding that surprised the researchers. They had expected only to find that large amounts of alcohol would have any impact on later mental health, and that the effect would be found primarily in boys. Because this finding is unexpected, it should be considered preliminary, the researchers wrote, but that in general, pregnant women should avoid all alcohol to be safe. (Reuters, 2/16/07)

Meth Use Ups Risk of Heart Disease: Methamphetamine use appears to increase individuals’ risk of developing cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle, University of California, Davis, researchers report in the American Journal of Medicine. The researchers found that people who have used methamphetamine were nearly four times more likely than others to develop the disease. How the drug causes the disease is unclear but might be associated with direct toxicity, spasms of the heart’s arteries, high blood pressure and enhanced hardening of the arteries. (Reuters, 2/13/07)