New studies claim that child abuse may predispose women to a combination of migraine accompanied by major depression. Researchers at the University of Toledo–Health Science Campus determined that women with migraines and severe depression were two-times more likely to have been sexually abused as a child than those with migraines alone. Furthermore, if the maltreatment continued past the age of 12 years, women with migraine were five times more likely to report depression. "When sexual abuse carries over into adulthood that is when it is most strongly associated with the migraine/depression complex," noted principal investigator Gretchen Tietjen, MD. "Our findings contribute to the mounting data showing abuse in childhood has a powerful effect on adult health disorders and the effect intensifies when abuse lasts a long time or continues into adulthood," she said.

The findings also note that sexual abuse may have a greater impact on health than physical abuse. While many studies have linked headache and a history of abuse, this is the first one to utilize specific criteria for migraine and also address the effect of depression on the migraine-abuse relationship.

With a history of physical abuse, the association with migraine plus major depression was strongest when it occurred after the age of 12 years. The researchers believe that this could be the because of injury to the head and neck; however, this was not possible to confirm using the available data.

Dr. Tietjen also said that child maltreatment might alter neurobiologic systems and predispose victims to disorders such as migraine, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and depression.

She also notes that clinicians who see patients with migraine unresponsive to standard interventions should administer a depression screen. "I find a lot of my patients who come to me complaining of migraine have also previously been diagnosed with depression and are being treated with an antidepressant. However, it is not until I apply a depression screen that I realize that even though they've been on long-term antidepressant therapy, they are still suffering from major depression, which suggests they are undertreated. In such cases it may be worthwhile to put a greater emphasis on the psychiatric aspects of their condition to see whether that mitigates their migraine."

Our award winning series, Child Abuse (658) describes vulnerable child syndrome and also presents detailed information on neglect as well as sexual, psychological, and physical abuse. Scenarios are used throughout to illustrate salient points as well as describe mandatory reporting by professionals. The programs can be used for nursing, social work, psychology, education, or child development majors as well as clinics, schools, after-school programs, social work agencies, and hospitals (to help meet The Joint Commission requirement).

The second edition of clinical practice guidelines on lung cancer diagnosis and management have been issued by the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP). "Other than skin cancer, lung cancer is now the most common cancer and is the most frequent cause of death from cancer in both men and women," write ACCP chair W. Michael Alberts, MD, FCCP, and colleagues. "In recognition of the importance of lung cancer in the population and with the rise of evidence-based medicine as a basis for diagnosing the disease and managing those afflicted, in the year 2000 the ACCP, through its Health and Science Policy Committee, commissioned the development of evidence-based guidelines on the diagnosis and management of lung cancer.... Fortunately, the pace of discovery in the diagnosis and management of lung cancer has quickened." These guidelines were developed with adherence to formal guideline methodology, attention to process detail, and the newly developed ACCP grading system.

New chapters include with diagnostic surgical pathology, bronchioloalveolar lung cancer, complementary therapies, and integrative oncology in lung cancer. Other topics have been revised and describe advances in screening, how to determine if a pulmonary nodule is lung cancer, care of the patient with bronchial intraepithelial neoplasia or early central airways lung cancer, palliative care, quality-of-life, and bereavement issues.

Many programs in our Oncology series deal with lung cancer and can be used by schools of nursing and hospitals for updates and nursing orientation. They include Symptom:

• Management for the Patient with Lung Cancer (508)
• Managing Assessments and Supportive Cancer Care (505)
• Chemotherapy Administration for the Oncology Nurse (512)
• Tumor Lys1s Syndrome and Pleural Effusion (509)
• Sepsis and DIC (510)
• Symptom Management for the Radiation Oncology Patient(513)
• Guided Visualization: Working with the Healing Power of Your Immune System (511)
• Traditional Pain Management in Oncology Treatment (517)
• Alternative Pain Management in Oncology Treatment (518)
• Cancer as a Family Diagnosis: Supporting the Caregivers (515)
• Cancer: Supporting Couples and Children (516)

Children who are at high risk for developing type 1 diabetes may be able to reduce that risk by as much as 55 percent by eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in fish, fish oil, walnuts, and canola and olive oils. "The kids with more omega-3 in their diets were about half as likely to develop type 1 diabetes than those with less," said study author Jill Norris, a professor in the department of preventive medicine and biometrics at the Barbara David Center for Childhood Diabetes at the University of Colorado. Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and are believed to help reduce the incidence of heart disease.

Previous studies noted that children who were give cod liver oil supplements, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, did not develop type 1 diabetes as others in the control group. However, it was never clear if that finding was a result of the fat or vitamin D in the oil. The study was refined with the results pointing to the link between the omega-3 fatty acids and reduced risk of type 1 diabetes. "In type 1 diabetes, there is an inflammatory response that causes [islet] cell destruction, and it may be that omega-3 is a modulator of that inflammation," said Dr. Stuart Weiss, an endocrinologist at New York University Medical Center. He added, "It may just be that omega-3s have delayed the onset of the disease, but the longer those cells function, the better." Norris also cautioned that it is too soon to recommend that children, even those at risk for developing diabetes, consume more omega-3s for the its prevention.

Our award-winning series on Diabetes (685) describes cardiovascular risks as well as glycemic control issues. It can be used for nursing students as well as by hospitals for staff orientation, updates, or inservices.

• October 04, 2007: Nurses Now Affected by Malpractice Claims
• September 27, 2007: Braden Scale Most Effective for Identifying Risk for Pressure Ulcers
• September 20, 2007: New Guidelines for Controlling Asthma in Adults and Children
• September 13, 2007: New Data Analyses Techniques Show Long-Term Survival Better for Cancer Patients
• September 6, 2007: Cortical Stimulation Gives New Hope to Stroke Patients
• August 30, 2007: 50% of All Cancer Deaths can be Linked to Obesity and Smoking
• August 23, 2007: Physical Activity Found to Improve Cardiovascular Risk in Children with Type 1 Diabetes
• August 16, 2007: Hostility and Depression Harmful to Men's Immune System
• August 7, 2007: Decrease in Women's Use of Hormone Therapy Linked to Drop in Breast Cancer
• August 2, 2007: Use of SSRI's Down in Teens While Suicide Number Rises
• July 26, 2007: New Definitions from the International Diabetes Federation

Concept Media produces and distributes award winning education media for colleges, healthcare institutions, social service agencies and counseling centers throughout North America, Europe, and the South Pacific. Most programs come in VHS, DVD and CD formats. Site Licenses and Distance Learning packages are also available for our library of programs.

Concept Media is best known in the area of professional nursing education and represented in more than 95% of the nation's nursing school media libraries. We have developed partnerships with leading nursing education institutions including Brigham Young University, Drexel University, and ICN/ Washington State University College of Nursing. Concept Media is well-respected and has received numerous awards for programs on diabetes, human development, mental health, substance abuse, counseling, and addiction.

For your convenience, Concept Media also offers additional resources in the form of Instructor's Guides which are available online. And, in keeping with our mission to focus on the needs of educators in the healthcare field, we invite you to call with any suggestions, questions, program requests, or ways in which we can better serve you.

We would like to hear from you. Please email us on any topics you would like to see covered in Hot Topics.

hottopics@conceptmedia.com. Or call us at (800) 233-7078.