CMS Finds Overpayment for Antipsychotic Medications

Physicians too often violate federal standards designed to prevent overmedication and inappropriate use of drugs, according to a report by the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Testifying before a U.S. Senate panel recently, high-ranking government officials said that in the six months between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2007, 51 percent of the Medicare reimbursement claims for atypical antipsychotic medications were erroneous and cost the program $116 million. The report also found that 83 percent of all reviewed Medicare atypical antipsychotic drug claims for older adults living in nursing homes were for off-label uses. The officials said that more care must be taken to keep physicians from prescribing such medications, although the panel’s chairman noted that the drugs can be beneficial “when properly prescribed,” according to an article published in Health Care Daily Report.

Source: http://www.bna.com/officials-antipsychotic-drug-n12884904634/
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Trends in treating Depression favor psychotropic medications over psychotherapy

The way that depression is treated in the US has changed over the last 20 years. Between 1987 and 1997, significantly more people were treated for depression on an outpatient basis. During this time, the use of of psychotherapy declined, replaced by antidepressant medications. In 1987, 37.3 % of outpatients  treated for depression received anti-depression medication. By 1997, it had doubled to 74.5 %. Two recent studies looked at the next decade from 1998 to 2007 to see if these trends in treating depression continued.

Results revealed a continued decline in the use of psychotherapy and stabilization in the use of antidepressants to treat depression. Both studies were supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) See studies at http://www.ahrq.gov/research/jul11/0711RA22.htm

Reprinted at darkestcloset.blogspot.com

Schizophrenia Awareness Week

In honor of Schizophrenia Awareness Week, here are some chilling reminders of the not-so-distant past.
Warning: this images, published as ads in medical journals may disturb some individuals.

http://www.bonkersinstitute.org/medshow/thorazsenile.html

http://www.bonkersinstitute.org/medshow/thorazine.html

Reposted at darkestcloset.blogspot.com