Depression an obstacle in treating older patients ...

AMNews: April 4, 2005. Depression an obstacle in treating older patients ... American Medical News
Scenario: How can you best treat an aging patient with quality-of-life issues?
Millions of aging men and women with chronic medical conditions complicated by social and psychological problems resist elective treatments, even those that could significantly improve their quality of life. What can, and should, primary care physicians do?

Mental Health is our Collective Wealth:

A Discussion Paper (2 April 2003)
M. McCubbin, R. Labonte, R.B. Sullivan, & B. Dallaire. Submitted by R. Labonte to the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Advisory Network
on Mental Health, and Health Canada
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This paper introduces readers to population mental health issues. First, we present a simple framework for Population Mental Health, showing improving mental health status as a function of individual capacities, environmental supports, and equity in the distribution of environmental supports. Also, we explain how the mental health of individuals depends not only on themselves, but also on their environments: ecological, social, political, economic.
Next follows key “pathways to population mental health”, with suggested actions ¾ often implicating decision-makers outside the mental health or health systems ¾ to improve the mental health of our society. Here is a selection of such actions

FDA panel findings intensify struggles with prescribing of antidepressants ...

AMNews: Oct. 4, 2004. FDA panel findings intensify struggles with prescribing of antidepressants ... American Medical News
By Susan J. Landers, AMNews staff. Oct. 4, 2004.

Washington -- Physicians who treat depressed children and teens are even more carefully weighing the risks and benefits of prescribing antidepressant medications after the Sept. 14 recommendation of two Food and Drug Administration advisory panels that the agency place "black box" warnings on the medications' labels.

After considering evidence from 24 clinical trials, and testimony of numerous physicians and anguished parents whose children committed suicide after treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, the Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee and the Pediatric Advisory Committee jointly voted 15-8 to recommend that the strongest possible warning be placed on the drugs' labels to alert physicians to their dangers.