Disability News Weekly Roundup Monday, Jan 6 – Friday Jan 10

Health:

Chicago Tribune— Daily Pot Tied to Age of First Psychotic Episode

In a study of adults who experienced psychosis for the first time, having smoked marijuana daily was linked to an earlier age of onset of the disorder, according to UK researchers.

 

Reuters—Behavioral Therapy May Treat Migraines in Kids, Teens

Researchers found that kids who received cognitive behavioral therapy, a type of psychotherapy that teaches relaxation and coping techniques, had significantly fewer days with headaches.

 

Science Daily—Green Spaces Deliver Lasting Mental Health Benefits

Analyzing data that followed people over a five year period, the research has found that moving to a greener area not only improves people’s mental health, but that the effect continues long after they have moved. The findings add to evidence that suggests increasing green spaces could deliver substantial benefits to public health.

 

Policy:

Politico— Democrats Downbeat on Paying for Unemployment

Senate Republicans spent the past two days floating a raft of proposals to pay for the $6.5 billion extension of benefits that expired Dec. 28, all of which have landed as a dud inside the Democratic caucus, sources said. Instead, the chamber’s focus is shifting to finding the estimated $25 billion needed to fund a year-long extension of the program.

 

Science:

Science Daily— Scientists Find New Mechanism Underlying Depression

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have shown that changes in one type of non-neuronal brain cell, called microglia, underlie the depressive symptoms brought on by exposure to chronic stress. In experiments with animals, the researchers were able to demonstrate that compounds that alter the functioning of microglia can serve as novel and efficient antidepressant drugs.

 

Science Daily—Drugs Related to Cannabis Have Pain-Relieving Potential for Osteoarthritis

Chemical compounds synthesized in the laboratory, similar to those found in cannabis, could be developed as potential drugs to reduce the pain of osteoarthritis and could also reduce joint inflammation, according to new research carried out at the Arthritis Research UK Pain Centre at The University of Nottingham.

 

Special Interest:

The Washington Post—Disney’s Disability Access Program: A Progress Report from Ellen Seidman

Under the old system, people with any type of disability that could interfere with waiting in line or accessing rides received a card that allowed them to wait in shorter lines or use alternate entrances at many attractions. But some people with disabilities were offering themselves as special-access “tour guides,” charging fees to allow people without disabilities to access the shorter lines. Disney revamped its policies to try to curb this abuse.

 

Chicago Tribune—Doors to Treatment Opening for Poor People Struggling with Mental Illnesses

Five years ago, Joseph Hale didn’t care whether he lived or died. He was unemployed, hooked on drugs and deeply depressed. Help came after Hale swallowed a bottle of pills and landed in South Shore Hospital. There, an outreach worker persuaded him to seek help at a local mental health agency. Within a few months, Hale was living in a men’s residence, going to group therapy every day, and beginning to feel secure for the first time in his life.

 

Grantland—Remembering Rain Man: The $350 Million Movie That Hollywood Wouldn’t Touch Today

No one in their right mind would green-light Rain Man today. Levinson, whose most recent films include the found-footage horror movie The Bay and HBO’s Phil Spector, can’t help but agree. “A movie about people … I’m not sure you would even get distribution,” (director, Barry) Levinson says. “And if you had distribution, they would put a toe in the water and hope they got some money back. Break even and call it a day. It’s the nature of the business today.”