May-June 2011 Update

I n this column, I would like to make the readership aware of an important update. At the end of February of 2011, the United States Food and Drug Administration sent out a notification to health care providers indicating that there were drug labeling changes being made for the antipsychotic drug class, specifically in the Pregnancy Section. The updated section included information about the potential risk of developing extrapyramidal signs and withdrawal symptoms in those neonates born to mothers treated with the antipsychotic agents during the last trimester of pregnancy. They further elaborated that the signs and symptoms may vary in duration ranging from hours to days and could sometimes potentially require an increased hospital stay for the newborns.

Keeping with our tradition, I would like to breakdown some very interesting findings brought up a recently published article, which are relevant to the level of care many patients across the United States receive (or do not receive). The study (Zima et al., 2010) compared and contrasted the treatments received by children between the ages of 5 and 11 years old with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, either in primary care settings or in mental health specialty clinics. The study followed 530 children from November 2004 through September 2006. During this period, for this cohort, the unmet need for mental health services ranged from 13% to 20%. In the primary care settings though, 80% to 85% of children had a stimulant prescription filled. Unfortunately, the members of this group averaged only one to two follow-up visits per year. These findings have many interpretations, but they call into question whether our system is sufficiently helping the youth of our country reach their true potential.

An updated list of conferences follows for your consideration.