Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Bias in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Bipolar Disorder in Minorities A Medscape Psychiatry & Mental Health "Expert Interview" - "African Americans with bipolar disorder are more likely to carry the diagnosis of schizophrenia than their white counterparts. Why does this imbalance exist? How can you avoid misdiagnosing minorities? How does this lack of diagnostic precision affect therapy? On behalf of Medscape, Randall F. White, MD, interviewed Amy Kilbourne, PhD, MPH, Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Schizophrenia in Women From Medscape coverage of the 2nd World Congress on Women's Mental Health - " Sex and gender differences in schizophrenia have been described for a long time, especially with respect to age at onset, symptomatology, and course of the disease. More recently, sex differences in brain morphology and function have been reported. Furthermore, there has been a growing interest in gender-specific psychosocial influences and gender-sensitive therapeutic approaches. Together, the presentations by several speakers during the 2nd World Congress on Women's Mental Health gave us a comprehensive overview of the evidence-based knowledge about sex and gender differences and the specifics of schizophrenic disorders in women. Biological as well as psychosocial differences between men and women were outlined, and the implications for diagnostic procedures as well as therapy (pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and social measurements) were discussed." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].