Here you will find the latest news and links to stories that are pertinent to Bipolar Disorder. Please Check back often as I plan to be adding to this page as I find new information. The newest information will appear at the top of the page.
Researchers have stummbled upon a possible new treatment for Bipolar Disorder and other depressive disorders. During research that involved using an MRI machine, researchers found that the participants in the study came out of the MRI  feeling better moods than when they went in.  Researchers are excited and feel that this could be a real break through for depression sufferers. Studies are being done to verify this finding. For more information visit:
www.psychiatry24x7.com/news
www.medicalnewstoday.com  
January 7th, 2004
January 7, 2004
Symbyax was approved by the FDA for treatment of Bipolar Disorder on December 29, 2003. It is a combination of Prozac and Zyprexa. This is the very first medication to be approved  by the FDA specificly for the treatment of BP. For more information please visit:
http://my.webmd.com and search for Symbyax
January 7, 2004
Researchers think they have found a physical link to help in the diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder.  Part of the brain that is involved with emotion , the amygdala, is shown to be significantly smaller in those adolecents and adults with the disorder than those with out, using an MRI to compare. They also saught to find if there might be deterioration of this section of the brain over time, caused by the disease. They found that both adolecents and adults with the disease showed the decreased size of the anygdala. This finding could assist in early diagnosis of the disorder.
For more information visit :
www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/health/2329745
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January 13th 2004
(from BPKids)
Zyprexa, an A-typical anti-psycotic, has now been approved by the FDA as a maintenance drug for BP. It was the first drug approved for mainia by the FDA.
Zyprexa is used for controling mania, for those of you unfamiliar with this drug. My son has taken it, it was the first he had tried,. We noticed almost an immediate noticeable wieght gain. One of the biggest downfalls with this medication is the fact that it can trigger diabities in those with the predisposition. I found thet information while researching the drug when my son was on it. Type 2 diabities runs strongly in my family. Upon finding this information and with the noticeable weight gain that we saw in our son, I talked to his doctor and he was changed to Seroquel. It also has the same side effect but it is a lower occurrence than Zyprexa. My son did not gain the weight (and even lost quite a bit) like he did on the Zyprexa either, another sign that the Seroquel was a better answer. If you notice sudden and severe weight gain on this medication, especially if you have diabities in your family history, contact your Psy.
January 13th 2004
BP Kids.org
Seroquel has been approved for the use of monotherapy and adjunct therapy for treatment of mania associated with Bipolar Disorder by the FDA.
Visit <www.bpkids.org> for more information on these issues and the full articles.
Laura's Law
Orange County, California, is trying topass a new law that would allow families and others to get court orderd intensive outpatient treatment for the mentally ill against the ill persons wishes.
This law, Dubbed Laura's Law after a 19 year old victim of a mentally ill man who opened fire in a outpatient clinic in Navada County where she worked, applies to mentally ill patients who have been hospitalized or jailed at lease 2x in the last 36 months or have engaged in one or more acts, attempts or threats of serious violence in the last 4 years.
There are several different persons who can petition for the ill person, this list contains the following: family members, directors of hospitals or mental health service programs which is providing treatment to the person who is ill and parole officers who are in charge of the ill person.
The strict standard set in the 1968 Lanterman-Petris- Short act,which requires that a mentally ill individual must be an immediate danger to themselves or others before being placed in court ordered treatment, will be loosened by this law if enacted.
The next hearing on the matter will be from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm February 4th at the council Chambers in Santa Ana City Hall, 20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana. If this law will affect you or a loved one, please use your right to express your opinion at this hearing or write your county government