Risk behaviors and health care use among 396 initially hospitalized veterans with severe mental illnesses were examined. Health care use was abstracted from Veterans Affairs databases (March 1998 to June 2000) for one year after hospital discharge. Lifetime intravenous drug use was related to increased use of outpatient services, and current alcohol use was related […]
An evaluation was conducted to compare the impact of an 8-week cardiovascular disease risk reduction group teaching program for 92 individuals with mental retardation (MR; IQ less than 70) and 97 normal learners. The curriculum emphasized exercise, nutritional choices, and stress reduction. Body Mass Index (BMI; weight in kilograms, divided by height in meters, squared), […]
An evaluation was conducted to compare the impact of an 8-week cardiovascular disease risk reduction group teaching program for 92 individuals with mental retardation (MR; IQ less than 70) and 97 normal learners. The curriculum emphasized exercise, nutritional choices, and stress reduction. Body Mass Index (BMI; weight in kilograms, divided by height in meters, squared), […]
In this project, researchers examined access to health care by individuals with developmental disabilities in Kansas from low-income populations and from minority backgrounds (i.e., African American, Hispanic, and American Indian). Four criteria for determining access were: availability, accessibility, affordability, and appropriateness of care. Factors that pose barriers and facilitate access are described and recommendations are […]
Health is influenced by political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, behavioral and biological conditions—either positively or negatively. Health promotion aims to make these factors more favorable through health advocacy. Advocating for physical, mental, and social health requires that individuals with I/DD have opportunities to identify and realize their aspirations, develop the capacity to satisfy their needs, […]
Purpose: To provide a review of the health problems of women with severe mental illness (SMI) that are related to their psychiatric disorders and disabilities, prolonged use of psychotropic medications, and high-risk lifestyle practices. Data Sources: Review of current literature uncovered through MEDLINE, Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health, and Psychological Abstracts as well […]
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined 67 organizations, led by the LAC, reinforcing with suggestions CMS guidance on the application of MHPAEA (Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act) to Medicaid and CHIP. The December 2 letter to CMS is here: PDF. […]
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined a No Health without Mental Health (NHMH) submission to the HHS Physician Focused Payment Model TAC on the importance of behavioral health integration in primary care is response to the PTAC RFI on population-based care models. The November 14 NHMH submission with five allied partners is here: PDF. […]
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined a Mental Health Liaison Group led letter to Congress supporting the COMPLETE Care Act (HR 5819 and S. 1378). COMPLETE is Connecting Medical Providers Links. The November 12 letter is here: PDF. […]
Rebuilding Trust toward Gender-Affirming Care This piece is the second installment in our blog series discussing transgender health care from the disability lens. Transgender healthcare has changed since its early days with Hirschfield and his colleagues. So has our understanding of what it means to be transgender. About 1 in 250 American adults identifies as […]