By Peggy O'Farrell
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Research

Drug study: Researchers at the University at Buffalo say that schizophrenia and bipolar disorder themselves might predispose psychiatric patients to diabetes - not the newer medications used to treat the illnesses.

The findings seem to contradict the growing perception that atypical antipsychotics such as clozapine and risperidone contributed to the increased rate of diabetes among patients with severe mental illness.

But studies at Buffalo's School of Pharmacy and Pharmacy Sciences suggest that routine care for patients with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia should include screenings for diabetes, hypertension and obesity. The studies also suggest severe mental illness should be listed as a risk factor for diabetes.

One study found that higher incidence of diabetes among the seriously mentally ill predates the use of antipsychotic medications. Researchers reviewed data on more than 500 patients submitted to a state hospital from 1940 to 1950.

The second study found that the incidence of diabetes was twice as high among patients who didn't receive antipsychotic medications for schizophrenia and bipolar disorders as patients who did receive it.

Hot news

Off the charts: Songs with violent lyrics increase aggression-related thoughts and emotions, a new study shows. And the emotions are directly related to the violence in the lyrics, contradicting the theory that violent music provided a positive catharsis for violent feelings.

Researchers from Iowa State University and the Texas Department of Human Services studied more than 500 college students to see the effects of seven violent songs by seven artists and eight nonviolent songs by eight artists. Results showed that violent songs led to more aggressive interpretations of ambiguously aggressive language, such as "rock, "hit" and "stick" and increased aggressive feelings.

"One major conclusion from this and other research on violent entertainment media is that content matters. This message is important for all consumers, but especially for parents of children and adolescents," said Dr. Craig A. Anderson, lead author.

Calendar

Program: Christ Hospital and the Lindner Center for Research and Education will present "Spring Forward with Heart-Healthy Updates," 4-6 p.m. May 29 at Christ. Free. Registration: 585-2273.

Resource

Free booklet: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Council on Patient Information and Education are offering a free booklet, "Your Medicine: Play It Safe," to cut down on medication errors. To order, visit Web site

safemeds.htm or call (800) 358-9295.

Contact Peggy O'Farrell by phone, 768-8510; fax, 768-8330, or e-mail, pofarrell@enquirer .com