09/27/01 - FDA Issues Topamax Warning
New studies show that Topamax (generic: topiramate) can temporarily or permanently affect your vision. Secondary angle closure glaucoma or myopia is a rare but serious side effect of this anticonvulsant / mood stabilizer.

08/26/01 - Can Bipolars Adopt?
The answer is YES! Bipolar Disorder does not have to be a bar to adoption. Be sure to read all three parts of Carrie Burr's powerful story for detailed information on adoption by a bipolar parent.

08/09/01 - Supporting Grown Children?
What do you think about parents being ordered to support grown children who are disabled by mental illness?

07/25/01 - Rapid Cycling Research
Exciting news: The FDA has approved a pilot study involving the treatment of rapid cycling bipolar disorder using vagus nerve stimulation.

06/25/01 - Dual Diagnosis - Issues with Diagnosis and Treatment
A very large percentage (some estimate as high as 60%) of those with bipolar disorder also struggle with a substance or alcohol addiction. The majority of these people will struggle for years having only one disorder accurately diagnosed. Why?

05/28/01 - In Remembrance
On the day when the United States remembers its war dead, we remember the people who lost the war with manic depression and committed suicide.

05/14/01 - Dual Diagnosis - Is There a Single Cause?
Dual diagnosis is defined as a chronic mental illness coexisting with a substance abuse disorder. As many as 60% of those with bipolar disorder struggle with alcohol and/or drug abuse. Why?

04/30/01 - ER Teaches Bipolar Disorder
Sally Field's return to ER as Abby's bipolar mother showed viewers a harrowing look at a major depressive episode followed by a suicide attempt. This portrayal continues to be one of the most accurate to date on American television - but has some serious flaws.

04/16/01 - Anticonvulsants Cause Birth Defects
A study published in April 2001 finds that there is a significantly higher risk of major birth defects when one or more drugs such as Depakote or Tegretol are taken during pregnancy.

04/02/01 - Lithium: The First Mood Stabilizer
Part 4: Whoa, Fat!
We conclude our look at Lithium be examining the possible reasons why so many people gain weight - sometimes a LOT of weight - while taking it.

03/26/01 - Lithium: The First Mood Stabilizer
Part 3: Major Precautions and Warnings
Important facts about this medication, including salt intake, pre-existing conditions, interactions with other medications and other issues..

03/19/01 - Lithium: The First Mood Stabilizer
Part 2: Tests and Toxicity
Tests have to be run before starting lithium therapy to make sure it is safe and appropriate for the patient. More tests have to be done throughout the course of therapy to make sure blood levels are within the safe and effective range, because lithium overdose can be very dangerous.

03/12/01 - Lithium: The First Mood Stabilizer
Part 1: History, and a Mystery Solved
It took nearly 50 years for scientists to start figuring out how lithium works. In Part 1 of a four-part series, we look at the history of lithium and the ground-breaking research that unlocked its mysteries.

02/26/01 - The "Kindling Model" Revisited
The "Kindling Model" is the theory that "the first episode of bipolar disorder, whether manic or depressive, is more likely to be associated with major psychological stressors than are episodes occurring later in the course of the illness." However, a recent study published in "The Journal of Abnormal Psychology" suggests that this model does not fully explain bipolar disorder.

02/12/01 - Police Handling of the Mentally Ill
Confrontations between police and the mentally ill often end in tragedy: injury or - all too often - death for the subject, and emotional distress for the officers involved. In the wake of the Robert Pickett shooting outside the White House, Kim looks at the problem and what some U.S. cities are doing to solve it.

01/29/01 - Review: Anthology of a Crazy Lady
Susan Heisler tells the unvarnished truth about her lifelong struggle and the stability she finally found, a raw, illuminating tale punctuated by bleak, painful drawings, prose poems and cries for help from the journal she kept.

01/15/01 - Weight Loss Incentive Program for Bipolars
Medications to control depression and mania can cause serious weight gain, and this added weight can be especially difficult to lose. Our community is banding together to support each other in our efforts to take the pounds off, and we're offering weekly tips and other resources to help reach our goals.

01/08/01 - U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Children's Mental Health
A look at this January 3, 2001 report which details the current problems in mental healthcare for children in the United States and outlines goals and steps that need to be accomplished in order to give effective help to children. Includes entire text of the report.

01/01/01 - Reflections on the Millenia
Marcia reflects on what we know of the history of mental illness and what we can expect from the third millennium, beginning January 1, 2001, based on lines of research currently underway and drawing as well on history and science fiction.

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