Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Psychiatry for July 2017. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Google Searches for Suicide Up Post 13 Reasons Why Series
MONDAY, July 31, 2017 (HealthDay News) — After the release of the controversial Netflix series 13 Reasons Why — a show that depicts the suicide of a fictional teenager — there were surges in the number of Google searches using the term “suicide,” according to a research letter published online July 31 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Opioid-Related Fatal Car Crashes Up 7-Fold in Last Two Decades
MONDAY, July 31, 2017 (HealthDay News) — There has been a seven-fold increase in the number of drivers killed in car crashes while under the influence of prescription opioids, according to a report published online July 20 in the American Journal of Public Health.
FDA Proposes Lowering Nicotine Levels in Cigarettes
MONDAY, July 31, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to begin a public dialogue about reducing nicotine levels in combustible cigarettes to non-addictive levels through achievable product standards, agency officials said Friday.
Increased Dementia Risk With Hearing Loss in Older Adults
FRIDAY, July 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The risk of dementia is increased for older adults with hearing loss, according to a study published online July 22 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Walnuts Up Insula Activation to Highly Desirable Food Cues
FRIDAY, July 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Short-term walnut consumption is associated with reduced feelings of hunger and appetite and increased activation of the right insula, according to a study published online July 17 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
ACOG: Opioid Agonist Rx First Choice in Affected Pregnancies
FRIDAY, July 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — While opioid agonist pharmacotherapy continues to be the recommended therapy for pregnant women with an opioid use disorder, medically supervised withdrawal can be considered under the care of a physician experienced in perinatal addiction treatment and with informed consent, according to a committee opinion published in the August issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Light Therapy Shows Moderate Benefits for Cognitively Impaired
FRIDAY, July 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For cognitively impaired individuals, light therapy has a moderate effect on behavioral disturbances (BDs) and depression, and a small effect on sleep quality, according to a meta-analysis published online July 22 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Binge Drinking Down Among Young College Students
THURSDAY, July 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — After years of increases in binge drinking among college students, rates have now dropped, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
2016 Saw Increase in Number of Physicians Since 2010 Census
THURSDAY, July 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Census reports have demonstrated an increase in the number of physicians and in the actively licensed U.S. physician-to-population ratio from 2010 to 2016, according to a study published in the Journal of Medical Regulation.
Mental Stress Tied to Abnormal Left Atrial Electrophysiology
THURSDAY, July 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Acute mental stress is associated with abnormal left atrial electrophysiology, according to a study published online July 20 in the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology.
New, Noninvasive Method May Help Determine Dementia Type
THURSDAY, July 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Distinguishing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) from frontotemporal dementia (FTD) may get easier using a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) approach, according to a study published online July 26 in Neurology.
Lack of Training Linked to Cancer Patient Caregiver Burden
THURSDAY, July 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For caregivers providing care to cancer patients, lack of training is associated with increasing burden, according to a study published online July 20 in Cancer.
New Alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention Manual Developed
WEDNESDAY, July 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has announced the development of a new alcohol screening and brief intervention manual for use in family medicine practices.
SAMHSA: Opioid Abuse Up Among Older Adults
WEDNESDAY, July 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — While opioid abuse has decreased among younger Americans, the same cannot be said for older adults, according to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Greater Engagement for Patients Who Read Visit Notes
TUESDAY, July 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Greater engagement is reported by patients who read notes and submit feedback, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of Medical Internet Research.
Guidelines Developed for Art Therapy for Children With ASD
TUESDAY, July 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Guidelines have been developed for the use of art therapy in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a study published in the July issue of The Arts in Psychotherapy.
Nearly All Donated Brains From NFL Players Show CTE
TUESDAY, July 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Ninety-nine percent of former National Football League (NFL) players who donated their brain to science were found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to a case series published in the July 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
ADHD Rx Associated With a Lower Risk for Alcohol, Drug Abuse
TUESDAY, July 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Teens and adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have a lower risk of developing an alcohol or drug problem if they take medications to treat their ADHD, according to a study published online recently in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Fasting Plasma Glucose, HbA1c Linked to Alzheimer’s in T2DM
TUESDAY, July 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) visit-to-visit variation, represented by the coefficient of variation (CV), and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) CV are independently associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), according to a study published online July 13 in Diabetes Care.
Average Increase in Physician Compensation 2.9% in 2016
MONDAY, July 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The AMGA 2017 Medical Group Compensation and Productivity Survey reports that 77 percent of physician specialties experienced increases in compensation in 2016, with an overall weighted average increase of 2.9 percent.
More Than Half of Murdered U.S. Women Killed by Partners, Exes
MONDAY, July 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Most women murdered in the United States die at the hands of a current or former intimate partner, according to research published in the July 21 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Poorer Perception of Nasal Function With Poor Mental Health
MONDAY, July 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Patients with poor mental health have a poorer self-perception of nasal function, according to a study published online July 20 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
Longer Estrogen Exposure May Protect Against Depression
FRIDAY, July 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Women exposed to estrogen for longer periods of time during the reproductive years may have a lower risk of depression, according to a study published online July 17 in Menopause.
AMA Module Offers Help for Adding Pharmacist to Practice
FRIDAY, July 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A new American Medical Association (AMA) education module has been developed to help embed clinical pharmacists within a medical practice.
Perceived Physical Activity Level Predicts Mortality
FRIDAY, July 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Perceived physical activity is associated with mortality, even after adjustment for actual physical activity, according to a study published online July 20 in Health Psychology.
Educational Intervention Doesn’t Up Hand, Stethoscope Hygiene
FRIDAY, July 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — An intervention including education is not associated with an increased rate of hand hygiene or stethoscope hygiene, according to a study published in the July 1 issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.
Antidepressants in Pregnancy May Contribute to Autism in Child
THURSDAY, July 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — In the long-standing debate over whether antidepressants are safe to take during pregnancy, a new study, published online July 19 in The BMJ, suggests that exposure to the drugs in the womb might increase a child’s risk of autism.
‘Life’s Simple 7’ Adherence in 20s Tied to Better Brain Health Later
THURSDAY, July 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — People with heart-healthy habits in their 20s tend to have larger, healthier brains in their 40s, according to a study published online July 19 in Neurology.
Distress Screening Tied to Fewer ER Visits for Cancer Patients
WEDNESDAY, July 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Adherence to distress screening protocols by cancer programs is associated with lower rates of medical service utilization, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
Reduction of Opioid Dose May Improve Pain, Quality of Life
WEDNESDAY, July 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Reductions in opioid dosing might improve pain and function, as well as boost quality of life, according to a report published online July 18 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
High Court Rules Against Interstate Medical Liability
TUESDAY, July 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The Washington State high court has ruled against interstate medical liability, according to a report from the American Medical Association.
Patient-Centered Communication Could Help Reduce Burnout
MONDAY, July 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Better patient-physician communication can improve care and reduce burnout, according to a report published by the American Medical Association.
Empowerment Linked to HRQoL in Teen, Young Adult CA Survivors
MONDAY, July 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors, empowerment is independently associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL), according to research published online July 11 in Cancer.
Early Career Burnout Can Be Contagious Via Social Networks
FRIDAY, July 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For early career teachers (ECTs), social network members’ burnout levels are associated with increased burnout levels, according to a study published in the August issue of Teaching and Teacher Education.
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Opioids Second Only to Marijuana in Illicit Drug Abuse Rates
THURSDAY, July 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Abuse of prescription opioids is second only to marijuana abuse as the most common illegal drug problem in the United States, according to a report from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Link for Maternal Antidepressant, Kids’ Brain Health Questioned
THURSDAY, July 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — There is an increased risk of intellectual disability in children whose mothers take antidepressants while pregnant, but the association appears to be related to factors other than the medication use itself, according to a study published online July 12 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Addition of Aripiprazole Ups Major Depressive Disorder Remission
WEDNESDAY, July 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), augmentation with aripiprazole is associated with an increased likelihood of remission, according to a study published in the July 11 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Medicaid Enrollees Are Satisfied With Their Health Care
WEDNESDAY, July 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Medicaid enrollees are largely satisfied with their health care, and most are able to access the care they need when they need it, according to a research letter published online July 10 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Most Caregivers of Older Adults at End of Life Are Unpaid
TUESDAY, July 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Most caregivers who provide care to older adults in the 12 months before death are unpaid, and end-of-life caregivers report more care-related challenges, according to research published in the July issue of Health Affairs.
Cognitive Screening Tools Can Be Used in Home Medication Review
TUESDAY, July 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Suitable cognitive screening tools can be used by pharmacists during home medication review, according to research published online July 5 in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research.
Health Service Use Unchanged From 1996-1997 to 2011-2012
TUESDAY, July 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Utilization of health services was largely unchanged from 1996-1997 to 2011-2012, but expenditures increased, according to a study published in the July/August issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
American Adults Without Health Insurance Rises by Two Million
TUESDAY, July 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The number of American adults without health insurance has increased by about two million so far this year, according to a new Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index poll.
Patients Are Often Recording Doctor’s Visits
TUESDAY, July 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Patients may be recording office visits, with or without permission, according to an opinion piece published online July 10 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Cognitive Function Up With Adherence to Mediterranean Diet
MONDAY, July 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For older adults, greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and the Mediterranean-DASH diet Intervention for Neurodegeneration Delay (MIND) is associated with improved cognitive function, according to a study published online recently in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Most Firearm Suicides Not Tied to Mental Illness, Substance Use
MONDAY, July 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Few individuals with history of a mental health or substance use condition, or those who have a previous suicide attempt, commit firearm suicide, according to a research letter published online July 3 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Over Half of Opioids Prescribed to Adults With Mental Illness
FRIDAY, July 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Of the 115 million prescriptions written for opioids each year in the United States, 60 million are for adults with mental illness, according to a study published online July 6 in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.
Market Competition Linked to Change in Generic Drug Prices
THURSDAY, July 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Market competition levels are associated with changes in the price of generic drugs, according to a study published online July 4 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Traumatic Brain Injury May Up Later Risk of Dementia
THURSDAY, July 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A severe head injury, especially during middle age, could dramatically increase the risk for developing dementia later in life, according to research published online July 5 in PLOS Medicine.
Poor Sleep Could Be Modifiable Risk Factor for Alzheimer’s
THURSDAY, July 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Sleep quality is associated with risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), according to research published online July 5 in Neurology.
AMA: Doctors Should Make Sure Their Online Info Is Accurate
THURSDAY, July 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — In a technologically advanced society, physicians need to take advantage of the internet to reach patients and exercise caution in their online presence, according to a report published by the American Medical Association.
At-Risk Pain Patients Can Cut Opioid Use With Psychology Tools
WEDNESDAY, July 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Teaching coping skills may help reduce the risk that patients with chronic pain will become addicted to opioids, according to research published online June 28 in the Canadian Journal of Pain.
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