The reality of chronic fatigue syndrome

According to a study in America researchers have shown that chronic fatigue syndrome is diagnosable by examining spinal cord fluid. Sufferers had 16 proteins within the fluid that non sufferers didn't. This is good news for sufferers who have had to endure medical indecision in cause, treatment and the actual validity of the illness.

BMC Neurology (2005) 5:23 1471-2377

Eat fish, swim with dolphins!

As well as eating lots of fish, you now need to be swimming with dolphins. Research published in The British Medical Journal said that swimming with dolphins can alleviate mild to moderate depression.

British Medical Journal (2005) 331: 1231-1234

When unknowns do mad things in public...

"When unknowns do mad things in public, it's embarrassing. They are not glamorous or special or rich, and therefore mental behaviour from them is unseemly. But when celebrities do mad things in public, it's either charming, or scandalous, or hilarious, or terribly dangerous and exciting. Or an expression of their tortured genius. Or an involuntary creative eruption. Or a courageous attempt to subvert convention. Whatever. It's always a glamorous thing." !

Polly Vernon, 'Celebrity Etiquette - Stretch the envelope of sanity and you'll be loved truly, madly, deeply'

The Observer Magazine, 6th Nov 2005

Brain food

Remember your mum telling you that eating fish is good for the brain... well it is! Chicago researchers have proven that eating fish, especially those higher in Omega 3, reduces cognitive impairment by 10-13% in the over 65s. Research has already shown the impact on children's concentration and there is a widely held belief that it also acts as an anti depressent, so try out http://www.cookeryonline.com/Fish/index.html!

Anger Management

The Shell House will be running a three day intensive Anger Management workshop in association with IRMA Training soon. For more information email info@theshellhouse.co.uk.

I don't like Mondays

Monday is the most common day to commit suicide, and between 1993 and 2002 the largest number of suicides occured on 1 Jan 2000. Does this support the theory that suicide is related to the stress of new beginnings?

Office For national Statistics www.statistics.gov.uk

BBC will not show self harming behaviour

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4152166.stm

Cinderella

Health minister Rosie Winterton claims mental health is no longer 'the NHS Cinderella service' with an increase in funding of £293m this year.

National Mental Health Nursing Conferance, 11-12 July 2005

Self harm in the news

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/4590655.stm

Depression - some statistics

• By 2010 depression will be the second most common cause of disability worldwide, ahead of road accidents and second to heart disease
• Every year one in ten people in the UK seek treatment for depression
• 25% of people seen in primary care (e.g. GP, A&E) have a mental health component to their illness (that is more than people with asthma and diabetes)

Hoban V Depression NT 3 May 2005 Vol 101 No 18 pg 21

So... you're not alone. Please remember, depression is a treatable condition and there are many ways to treat it. Although medication can help it is no longer the first port of call. Much benefit can be gained by self help, excercise and diet. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy has also shown very positive results when compared with medication. Of course, medication can also be of use, so don't dismiss it out of hand if your best advice is to take it.

If you feel that you are suffering from depression contact your GP and talk through the options available. If they are not up to date with the latest research ask to talk to a mental health nurse or counsellor.

Prozac use for under 18s

The European Medicines Agency is recommending that selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitors (SNRIs) should not be used to treat children and adolescents unless authorised, because of the increased risk of suicide related behavior and hostility. It says that doctors should carefully monitor patients prescribed these drugs. UK regulators agreed with these guidelines with the exception of Prozac (Fluoxetine), however a final UK ruling is due in two to three months.

Nursing Times 3 May 2005 Vol 101 No 18