NIMH Updates
National Institute of Mental Health Outreach Partnership Program Update July 1, 2009 I. Science and Service News Updates II. Resources: Publications, Toolkits, Other Resources III. Calendar of Events IV. Calls for Public Input V. Clinical Research Participation News VI. Funding Information VII. Programmatic Funding Opportunities VIII. Research Funding Opportunities (PAs and RFAs) To subscribe to receive the
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES National Institutes of Health National Institute of Mental Health Office of Constituency Relations and Public Liaison July 1, 2009 Science and Service News Updates NIMH: Brief, Clinic-Based, Peer-led Intervention Helps Reduce Subsequent STDs in African American Men A brief, one-time intervention delivered by a trained peer health advisor was an effective and low-cost method for reducing new infections among young, heterosexual, African American men diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (STD), according to an NIMH-funded study. Such programs may help reduce STD-related health disparities, which currently affect a disproportionate number of African American men in the United States. The study was published in the April 2009 supplemental issue of the Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/brief-clinic-based-peer-led-intervention-helps-reduce-subsequent-stds-in-african-american-men.shtml NIMH: Much Touted "Depression Risk Gene" May Not Add to Risk After All—New Look at Data Confirms Strong Association between Depression and Stressful Life Events Stressful life events are strongly associated with a person's risk for major depression, but a certain gene variation long thought to increase risk in conjunction with stressful life events actually may have no effect, according to researchers funded by the NIMH. The study, published in the June 17, 2009, issue of the Press Release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/much-touted-depression-risk-gene-may-not-add-to-risk-after-all.shtml FDA Issues Safety Communication about an Ongoing Review of Stimulant Medications Used in Children with ADHD There may be an association between the use of stimulant medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, known as ADHD, and sudden cardiac death in healthy children, according to a study published in the FDA News Release: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm166616.htm NIMH Science Update: Questions Raised About Stimulants and Sudden Death Rarity Makes Definitive Assessment Elusive: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/questions-raised-about-stimulants-and-sudden-death.shtml NIDA Info facts Stimulant ADHD Medications - Methylphenidate and Amphetamines: http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/ADHD.html July 1, 2009 NIDA Study Shows School-Based Prevention Program Reduces Problem Behaviors in Fifth-Graders by Half—Researchers See Drop in Rates of Substance Abuse, Violence, and Early Sexual Activity A study suggests that school-based prevention programs begun in elementary school can significantly reduce problem behaviors in students. Fifth graders who previously participated in a comprehensive interactive school prevention program for one to four years were about half as likely to engage in substance abuse, violent behavior, or sexual activity as those who did not take part in the program. The study, supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) will appear in the August 2009 print issue of the Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jun2009/nida-18.htm NIAAA: As College Drinking Problems Rise, New Studies Identify Effective Prevention Strategies Alcohol-related deaths among U.S. college students rose from 1,440 deaths in 1998 to 1,825 in 2005, along with increases in heavy drinking and drunk driving, according to an article in the July supplement of the Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jun2009/niaaa-15.htm SAMHSA Announces FY 2010 Guidance for Submissions to National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provided guidance for those interested in submitting programs and practices to its National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP). The notice is published in the June 23, 2009 Federal Register. NREPP is a voluntary rating and classification system designed to provide the public with reliable information on the scientific basis and practicality of interventions that prevent and/or treat mental and substance use disorders. Under NREPP, minimum review criteria require that interventions must: be evaluated using an experimental or quasi-experimental study design; demonstrate one or more positive change outcomes in mental health and/or substance use among individuals, communities or populations; have results that are published in a peer-reviewed publication or documented in a comprehensive evaluation report; and provide documentation, such as manuals, guides, or training materials, to facilitate broader public dissemination of the intervention. Press Release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0906220500.aspx July 1, 2009 SAMHSA: New National Study Shows that More than 1 in 5 Young Adults Need Treatment for Alcohol or Illicit Drug Use—Study Also Shows That Less Than 1 in 10 Young Adults Needing this Treatment Receive It Nearly 7 million Americans aged 18 to 25 were classified as needing treatment in the past year for alcohol or illicit drug use according to a new national study. The SAMHSA study also shows that that 93 percent of these young adults did not receive the help they needed at a specialty treatment facility. These levels have remained relatively stable since 2002. The study also showed that the vast majority of young adults needing, but not receiving, specialized treatment for these substance use problems did not perceive their need for help. Even among the 4 percent of young adults who thought they needed specialized help in the past year, but who had not received it – less than one third made any attempt to get treatment. Press Release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0906261345.aspx Patient-Centered Research Report Sent to Congress Outlining Research Priorities for $400 Million for HHS in Recovery Act—Council Reports Back After Vigorous Public Outreach; Advises New Research Dollars To Focus On Populations Who Have Been Under-Represented And Better, More Coordinated Dissemination Of Information To Patients And Providers Recommendations for how the HHS Office of the Secretary will spend $400 million in funds for patient-centered research, also known as comparative effectiveness research, were released by Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER). The report, mandated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is designed to help the HHS Secretary and lawmakers improve the quality of care for patients, and provide patients and doctors the best information possible to make decisions about health care. The http://www.hhs.gov/recovery/programs/cer Resources: Publications, Toolkits, Other Resources New on the NIMH Website Meeting Summary available for 2009 NIMH Professional Coalition for Research Progress Meeting NIMH held its fifth annual meeting of the Professional Coalition for Research Progress (The Coalition) on May 8, 2009 in Washington, D.C. The meeting served as an opportunity for representatives from professional organizations with an interest in NIMH research to hear about advances in mental health research and current and new research directions and strategies for NIMH; to network with colleagues; and, to interact with and express their views directly to the NIMH Director, Thomas Insel, M.D. and senior level staff. Invited speakers provided information on a new collaborative study with the U.S. Army, changes in NIMH support for research training and career development, and progress made in genomics research. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/outreach/coalition/coalition-meeting-summary-may-8-2009/nimh-professional-coalition-for-research-progress.shtml July 1, 2009 NIH Research Matters Touted "Depression Risk Gene" May Not Add to Risk After All A gene variation long thought to increase a person's risk for major depression when paired with stressful life events may actually have no effect, according to a new analysis. The result challenges a common approach to studying depression risk factors. http://www.nih.gov/news/research_matters/june2009/06222009depression.htm Prevention Program Reduces Problem Behaviors in Fifth Graders A new study found that elementary school children in a character development program were more likely to steer clear of substance abuse, violent behavior or sexual activity by fifth grade than those who weren’t offered the program. http://www.nih.gov/news/research_matters/june2009/06222009fifthgraders.htm New SAMHSA Resources Suicide Prevention Resource Center: Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Rural Primary Care This new product contains the information and tools needed to implement state-of-the-art suicide prevention practices in primary care settings. Although the tools are designed with the rural practice in mind, most are quite suitable for use in non-rural settings as well. By taking a systems approach, the kit offers the support necessary to establish the primary care provider as one member of a team, fully equipped to reduce suicide risk among their patients. The toolkit is available free through a web-based portal and was developed collaboratively by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education Mental Health Program, with funding from the Health Resources Services Administration and SAMHSA. http://www.sprc.org/pctoolkit/index.asp 2009 Recovery Month to Mark 20th Anniversary: TV and Radio Public Service Announcements Unveiled National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month) will host its 20th anniversary observance in September 2009. SAMHSA unveiled materials developed to help communities plan and host Recovery Month events and activities and to help publicize the Agency’s 24/7 toll-free substance use disorder information and treatment referral Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP. http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0906240556.aspx SAMHSA: New Treatment Improvement Protocols from the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Addressing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Substance Abuse Treatment This Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) is designed to assist substance abuse counselors in working with adult clients who may be suicidal, and will help clinical supervisors and administrators support the work of substance abuse counselors. http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=18118 July 1, 2009 Incorporating Alcohol Pharmacotherapies into Medical Practice This TIP provides clinical guidelines for the proper use of medications in the treatment of alcohol use disorders. The underlying objective is to expand access to information about the effective use of these medications, not only in specialty substance abuse treatment programs but through physicians’ offices and other general medical care settings. http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=18117 Updated SAMHSA CMHS GAINS Center Resources Moving Toward Evidence-based Housing Programs for Persons with Mental Illness in Contact with the Justice System The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) National GAINS Center has developed a fact sheet that identifies how communities can move toward evidence-based housing for person with mental illness that have a history of justice involvement. The Center has recently updated the fact sheet, originally developed in 2005, to reflect areas in which substantial progress has been made in the past few years. http://www.gainscenter.samhsa.gov/pdfs/ebp/MovingTowardEvidence-BasedHousing.pdf Developing a Comprehensive Plan for Mental Health and Criminal Justice Collaboration The National GAINS Center has updated its Sequential Intercept Model, a conceptual framework for communities to consider the interface between the criminal justice and mental health systems as they address concerns about criminalization of people with mental illness in their jurisdiction. The model envisions a series of "points of interception" where an intervention can be made in criminal justice processing that will prevent individuals with mental illnesses from entering or penetrating deeper into the criminal justice system. http://www.gainscenter.samhsa.gov/pdfs/integrating/GAINS_Sequential_Intercept.pdf SAMHSA: New Reports from the Office of Applied Studies TEDS Report on Discharges from Substance Abuse Treatment Services Provide Nationwide Data about Substance Abuse Treatment Experiences The latest Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) report on Discharges from Substance Treatment Services provides an important array of information about the approximately 1.5 million treatment discharges occurring at reporting state-licensed treatment facilities across the country. http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=18020 Fathers' Alcohol Use and Substance Use among Adolescents, 2006-2007 Almost one in twelve fathers living with adolescents aged 12 to 17 had an alcohol use disorder, and 68.1 percent used alcohol in the past year but did not have an alcohol use disorder. The rate of past year alcohol use among adolescents was lower for those who lived with a father who did not use alcohol in the past year than for those who lived with a father who used alcohol but did not have an alcohol use disorder and for those who lived with a father with an alcohol use disorder. http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k9/108/FatherAlcUse.cfm July 1, 2009 CDC: Alcohol and Suicide Among Racial/Ethnic Populations: 17 States, 2005-2006 This Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study is unique because it examines the association of alcohol and suicide in several racial and ethnic groups simultaneously. The study showed that alcohol was linked to suicide across a variety of populations including sex, age, and racial and ethnic groups. The results from the 17 states show that almost one-quarter of those who died by suicide when they were tested for alcohol were above the legal limit for alcohol intoxication. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5823a1.htm?s_cid=mm5823a1_e New Resources from the Department of Justice Helping the Mentally Ill Under Corrections Supervision Through funding from the National Institute of Corrections, http://nicic.gov/Downloads/PDF/Library/023634.pdf Web Site Aims To Prevent Police Suicide The Florida Regional Community Policing Institute at St. Petersburg College, with support from Bureau of Justice Assistance, has launched http://policesuicide.spcollege.edu/indexIHW.htm AHRQ: Outcomes of Community Health Worker Interventions The objective of this new report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is to conduct a systematic review of the evidence on characteristics of community health workers (CHWs) and CHW interventions, outcomes of such interventions, costs and cost-effectiveness of CHW interventions, and characteristics of CHW training. The analysis found that CHWs can serve as a means of improving outcomes for underserved populations for some health conditions. The effectiveness of CHWs in numerous areas requires further research that addresses the methodological limitations of prior studies and that contributes to translating research into practice. http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/tp/comhworktp.htm Calendar of Events Broadcast: The Mentally Ill in Jail: Whose Problem Is It Anyway? July 15, 2009 12:00 - 3:00 PM ET The National Institute of Corrections will host a live 3-hour satellite/Internet broadcast to provide an overview of opportunities that can help an organization prepare to work with persons suffering from mental illness in jails. http://www.nicic.org/Training/SIB071509 July 1, 2009 Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools National Conference August 3-5, 2009, National Harbor, Maryland The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools National Conference will address issues related to crisis planning; health, mental health, and physical education; broad-based issues related to alcohol, drug and violence prevention; civic and character education; scientifically-based programs; and many other areas concerning drug and violence prevention. http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osdfs/news.html National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media 2009 August 11-13, 2009, Atlanta, Georgia SAMHSA is joining with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to sponsor the 2009 National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media. SAMHSA’s goal for co-sponsoring the conference is to increase the visibility and presence of mental health and substance abuse service delivery organizations, providers, and advocates, and to leverage the new media environment to address the needs of people with or at risk for substance use and mental disorders. http://www.cdc.gov/healthmarketing/NCHCMM2009/ AHRQ's 2009 Annual Conference: Research to Reform: Achieving Health System Change September 13-16, 2009, Bethesda, Maryland http://www.ahrq.gov/about/annlconf09.htm Calls for Public Input Request for Information: Input on Field Capacity for NIMH’s interest in Leveraging Existing Healthcare Networks to Transform Effectiveness Research The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is seeking input on the capacity of the field to use existing healthcare networks to conduct large-scale effectiveness research of mental health treatment, preventive, and services interventions. Advice is sought from the interventions and services research communities, stakeholders within healthcare delivery systems and other interested groups on the current capacity of the field with regards to efficient use of existing user friendly health information systems for the identification, recruitment and enrollment of patients into trials; efficient recruitment of providers to deliver novel interventions within research studies; efficient collection and storage of biologic materials for research use, and in general efficient clinical data collection for research analysis. Deadline for Responses: July 31, 2009 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-MH-09-012.html July 1, 2009 Public Comments Sought on Regulations for Financial Conflicts of Interest in Federally-Funded Research The National Institutes of Health is seeking comments from the public on possible changes to the federal regulations regarding Responsibility of Applicants for Promoting Objectivity in Research for which Public Health Service (PHS) Funding Is Sought (42 C.F.R. Part 50, Subpart F) and Responsible Prospective Contractors (45 C.F.R. Part 94). The Advance Notice of Proposed Rule Making (ANPRM) was motivated by NIH’s ongoing commitment to enhance effective oversight and regulatory compliance. Through the ANPRM, NIH invites public comment on all aspects of the regulation, with particular interest in potential for expanding the scope of the regulation and disclosure interests; the definition of "Significant Financial Interest" identification and management of conflicts by institutions; assuring institutional compliance; requiring institutions to provide additional information to the PHS; and broadening the regulations to address institutional conflicts of interest. Comments must be received by July 7, 2009. More information: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-10666.pdf Clinical Research Participation News NIMH: Autism Spectrum Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Study If your child or teen (ages 7-17) is suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) he or she may be able to participate in a research study at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). We are investigating the medication riluzole. Children and adolescents with 1) both Autism Spectrum Disorder and OCD or 2) a primary diagnosis of OCD may be eligible. Participants will be randomized to either riluzole or placebo (pill with no active ingredient) for 12 weeks. At the end of 12 weeks, all participants will have the option of taking riluzole (no chance of placebo). A comprehensive psychiatric and medical evaluation and follow-up visits approximately monthly for 6 months, and at 9 and 12 months, are included. There is no cost to participate. Travel assistance may be provided. For further information please call 301-435-6652 or 301-496-5323 (Lorraine Lougee, LCSW-C) or email OCDNIMH@intra.nimh.nih.gov. National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. For more Clinical Research Information: http://patientinfo.nimh.nih.gov July 1, 2009 Funding Information Center for Mental Health Services Application for Financial Support: Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA): 2009 National Conference and Chapter Leadership Forum The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is planning on providing financial support to consumers of mental health services who would like to participate in the annual conference and chapter leadership forum sponsored by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. The purpose of the scholarships is to foster transformation of mental health care to focus on recovery. Application deadline: July 10, 2009 https://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0906&L=cmhs_adca_enews&T=0&P=223 Programmatic Funding Opportunities Health Resources and Services Administration: Targeted Issues in Traumatic Brain Injury: Juvenile Justice and TBI https://grants.hrsa.gov/webExternal/SFO.asp?ID=80201885-452C-49BC-82EE-2F3712705708 Indian Health Service: The Methamphetamine & Suicide Prevention Initiative for American Indian and Alaska Native Urban Programs http://www.ihs.gov/NonMedicalPrograms/gogp/index.cfm?module=HHS-2009-IHS-METHY-0001 Research Funding Opportunities Selected NIH Requests for Applications (RFAs) [Full listing of NIH RFAs at http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/search_results.htm?year=active&scope=rfa] Identification and Characterization of Sensitive Periods for Neurodevelopment in Studies of Mental Illness (R01) (RFA-MH-10-010) http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-10-010.html Identification and Characterization of Sensitive Periods for Neurodevelopment in Studies of Mental Illness (R21) (RFA-MH-10-011) http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-10-011.html Selected NIH Program Announcements [Full listing of NIH PAs at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/search_results.htm?year=active&scope=pa] None. July 1, 2009 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES National Institutes of Health The To subscribe to receive the The information provided in the NIMH Update is intended for use by the Outreach Partners, National Partners, and their associates for the express purpose of exchanging information that may be useful in the development of state and local mental health outreach, information, education, and partnership programs.