The King's Fund have published a report this morning suggesting investment in mental health services must increase massively to cope with a rise in the number of people with dementia.
They also call for more investment in preventive services, which makes sense. I worry how this is all going to happen though - there is going to have to be a massive increase in taxes to pay for elderly care in the future and nobody seems prepared to accept tax increases anymore. Just look at the hauliers.
There's been some new research on a new type of "ultra brief" ECT, which researchers claim has no side effects. Reduction of side effects has to be an improvement but can the brain really be re-booted like a computer? I guess if it comes to a point where there are really no other options...
Also preventive treatment such as antidepressants or talking therapy may help ward off post-stroke depression.
And there's an interesting piece in the New York Times about whether we should sell placebo pills for children.
There's been some new research on a new type of "ultra brief" ECT, which researchers claim has no side effects. Reduction of side effects has to be an improvement but can the brain really be re-booted like a computer? I guess if it comes to a point where there are really no other options...
Also preventive treatment such as antidepressants or talking therapy may help ward off post-stroke depression.
And there's an interesting piece in the New York Times about whether we should sell placebo pills for children.
I thought the piece about selling placebo pills for children was very interesting. But I think the last comment of the article was most pertinent. Kids have survived long enough without them and there doesn't seem any point in creating an early and unnecessary reliance on medication - perhaps the drug companies have a vested interest and when they can't construct illnesses to which they can sell the cure, they market a cure for no illness!