July

The Transfusion Medicine Advisory Group (TMAG) of BC has prepared guidelines to assist physicians in their clinical decision-making regarding the appropriate use of frozen plasma products in adults and neonates. These guidelines are available electronically on the British Columbia Provincial Coordinating Office web site (www.bloodlink.bc.ca) and will be updated periodically.

Patients in a partial hospitalization program were found to benefit from the addition of small doses of atypical neuroleptic medications during their treatment in an 18-week group psychotherapy program offered by the Psychodynamic Psychiatry Service of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton.[1] The psychiatric day treatment program (DTP) consists of both unst

Numerous clinical observations by mental health professionals indicate that Aboriginal people have a much higher rate of mental health problems than non-Aboriginals.[1,2] Some argue that the higher rate of mental illness is a direct result of contact with European settlers and subsequent changes in Aboriginal lifestyle.

As summer arrives many of our patients will be spending time outdoors with their family, friends, and pets. This is an important opportunity to review measures they can take to reduce the risk of illnesses spread by mosquitoes and ticks. The most important vectorborne illnesses to consider in BC are West Nile virus (WNV) spread by mosquitoes and Lyme disease (LD) transmitted by the bite of an infected tick.

Addictive behaviors are a common source of distress and disability. Signs of addictive behaviors range from well-known issues such as alcohol and tobacco abuse to less-studied areas such as gambling addiction.