On the front of its Personal Journal section, the Wall Street Journal (9/25, D1, Beck, Subscription Publication) reported that according to experts, autism appears to have both genetic and environmental causes. For example, a study of 192 pairs of twins with an autism spectrum disorder revealed that even when one identical twin has autism, the other twin has a 70% chance of also having autism. Among fraternal twins, the likelihood of the second twin being diagnosed with an ASD is about 35%. Both the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange and the Autism Sequencing Consortium are working with DNA samples to identify genes related to autism. Other factors that may contribute to autism are advanced paternal age, being born prematurely, and poor maternal nutrition during pregnancy.

Related Links:

— “Progress in Identifying the Genetic Roots of Autism, “Melinda Beck, The Wall Street Journal, September 24, 2012.

American Medical News (9/24, Moyer) reported, “An updated national suicide prevention strategy (pdf) calls on physicians to screen patients at increased risk of taking their own lives and to educate family members about ways to support such individuals.” People at risk for suicide “include those with an illness that impairs their physical functions or causes chronic pain, members of the Armed Forces and veterans.” These “recommendations are part of the 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention issued Sept. 10 by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Office of the Surgeon General and the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention.”

Related Links:

— “Suicide prevention strategy calls for screening those most at risk, “Christine S. Moyer, American Medical News, September 21, 2012.

The Los Angeles Times (9/23, Roan) reported that healthcare experts and scientists “are pushing for broad recognition of addiction as a disease and more medical approaches to therapy,” rather than a reliance on self-help programs and “medication-free” treatments. The government also “has announced the creation of new resources to help guide patients, families and doctors toward science-based addiction treatment.” Gil Kerlikowske, head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and President Obama’s top advisor on drug policy, has sought to reframe addiction, noting it “is not a moral failing on the part of the individual. It’s a chronic disease of the brain that can be treated.” At the National Institute on Drug Abuse, chief Nora Volkow, MD, said there is more emphasis on vaccines for cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and nicotine, that will block the brain’s response to those drugs. The Times provides much more detail on developments in the field.

Related Links:

— “Treatment for addicts is starting to change, “Shari Roan, Los Angeles Times, September 22, 2012.

In the first of a series of reports called “The Last Battle”, the Fayetteville (NC) Observer (9/23, Barnes) noted, “The rising suicide rate and the increasing number of service members and veterans dealing with post-combat stress or substance abuse show that the military’s mental health programs are not getting the job done.” Veterans Affairs, meanwhile, has a claims backlog that in part stems from the many Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who are filing for VA benefits. In order to help decrease the backlog, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta “met in May to reaffirm their commitment to a fully operational health records system that would allow the VA and DOD to share medical records of soldiers and veterans electronically.” Some lawmakers, however, feel that project is not coming along quickly enough.

In a related story, the Fayetteville (NC) Observer (9/24, Ramsey) says VA “has promised to eliminate its entire backlog — more than 820,000 claims nationwide — by 2015.” The agency “has hired more than 3,000 claims processors and bought a $300 million computer system. But the wait times in North Carolina — and in the other areas across the country that process the most claims — are getting worse.” Patrick Bellon, executive director of Veterans for Common Sense, thinks VA should change its claims system so that follows the IRS model, in that VA would grant claims and then do audits of the claims granted. As it is now, says Bellon, vets are waiting for money from VA and “while they’re waiting for the money, their financial situations are deteriorating.”

Panetta Says VA And DoD Are Devoting More Funding To PTSD Research. As part of its “The Last Battle” series of reports, theFayetteville (NC) Observer (9/23) interviewed Panetta, who said, “We just had another $100 million in joint funding by DoD and VA to try to develop some consortia to look at diagnosis and treatment” of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in service members and veterans. Panetta added, “We’ve really been pushing on trying to open up access to quality mental and behavioral health care, trying to expand access, so we’ve got some 9,000 new psychiatrists and psychologists, social workers and nurses.” The Observer, however, took note of VA’s “huge” claims backlog. In response, Panetta said preventing suicides by service members and veterans requires a “fundamental and deep commitment on the part of everybody to address this issue.”

VA Mental Healthcare System Urged To Partner With Private Sector. In a Wall Street Journal (9/24, Subscription Publication) op-ed, attorney Robert M. Morgenthau criticizes the care that 63-year-old Vietnam veteran Peter Wielunski got from Veterans Affairs before committing suicide in May. Morgenthau praises VA for trying to improve its mental healthcare system by increasing the system’s budget and by hiring more mental healthcare employees. He argues, however, that VA can only properly care for suicidal veterans by partnering with private-sector hospitals and universities.

Related Links:

— “The Last Battle: Is the Army doing enough to help soldiers suffering from mental health problems?, “Greg Barnes, Fayobserver, September 23, 2012.

On its front page, the New York Times (9/21, A1, Borden, Subscription Publication) reports that despite the National Football League’s rules and restrictions on uniforms and accessories, the league leaves it up to players to decide what kind of helmet to wear. “Even as head injuries have become a major concern, the NFL has neither mandated nor officially recommended the helmet models that have tested as the top performers in protecting against collisions believed to be linked to concussions.” Players choose helmets based on comfort, habit, or appearance. “As a consequence, despite lawsuits related to head injuries and the sport’s ever-increasing speed and violence, some players are using helmets that appear to place them at greater risk.”

Related Links:

— “Despite Risks, N.F.L. Leaves Helmet Choices in Players’ Hands, “Sam Borden, The New York Times, September 20, 2012.