Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Psychiatry for June 2015. 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.
Three Issues to Consider Before Selecting EHR
TUESDAY, June 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Work flow, features and functionality, and technical infrastructure should all be considered in advance of selecting an electronic heath record (EHR) system, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Patients Want Online Access to Physicians, Health Records
TUESDAY, June 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Internet-savvy Americans would like to add their doctors to their group of Facebook friends or e-mail contacts, according to a study published online June 24 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Trauma, PTSD May Raise Women’s Odds of CVD
TUESDAY, June 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Women who have experienced a traumatic event or develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) face an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), a new large study suggests. The report was published online June 29 in Circulation.
U.S. Children Experience High Rates of Assault, Abuse
MONDAY, June 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — More than one-third of U.S. children and adolescents have been physically assaulted — mostly by siblings and peers — in the past year, and one in 20 children have been physically abused by a parent or another caregiver in the same time period. These findings were published online June 29 in JAMA Pediatrics.
AMA Discusses Pre-Retirement Evaluation for Aging Doctors
MONDAY, June 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Issues relating to physician retirement and evaluation of aging physicians before retirement are discussed in a Council on Medical Education report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
SSRIs Tied to Higher Fracture Odds in Menopausal Women
FRIDAY, June 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Women prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to ease menopausal symptoms may face a long-term rise in their risk for bone fracture, a new study suggests. The findings was published online June 25 in Injury Prevention.
Functional MRI of the Brain May Help Guide Treatment for OCD
FRIDAY, June 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help some patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and a new study suggests that brain scans can help spot those patients for whom the therapy will be most effective. The research was published online May 20 in Frontiers in Psychiatry.
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Teens Unfamiliar With Harms of Marijuana, E-Cigarettes
FRIDAY, June 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Adolescents are not receiving the message that marijuana or electronic cigarettes might harm their health, new research suggests. The findings were published online June 23 in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
C-Section, Autism Spectrum Disorder Link Questioned
FRIDAY, June 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — While initial study results suggested children born by cesarean section are more likely to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, the association did not remain in additional analysis of sibling pairs, implying the increased risk was more likely due to unknown genetic or environmental factors. The findings were published online June 24 in JAMA Psychiatry.
SCOTUS Upholds Subsidies for Affordable Care Act
FRIDAY, June 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Supreme Court upheld on Thursday the legality of tax subsidies for millions of Americans who signed up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
Cognition Tests May Help ID Alzheimer’s Risk Decades Earlier
FRIDAY, June 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Changes in cognition and memory that precede obvious symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease may begin decades prior to disease onset, according to a study published online June 24 in Neurology.
Review: Colposcopy Linked to Adverse Psychological Outcomes
WEDNESDAY, June 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For women with abnormal cervical cytology, colposcopy and related procedures are associated with adverse psychological outcomes, especially anxiety, according to a systematic review published online June 22 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology.
Edible Cannabis Products Often Mislabeled
WEDNESDAY, June 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Most edible cannabis products sampled in three major U.S. cities are mislabeled, often containing more or less active ingredient than indicated on the packaging, according to a report published in the June 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Moderate-Quality Evidence for Marijuana Rx for Pain, Spasticity
WEDNESDAY, June 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Medical marijuana may be useful in treating chronic pain and spasticity, but less effective for other conditions, according to the results of a review published in the June 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
ACOG: Doctors Should Urge Against Prenatal Marijuana Use
TUESDAY, June 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Doctors should discourage women from using marijuana during pregnancy and breastfeeding, due to the potential effects that the drug’s active ingredients can have on a child’s brain development, new guidance states. The committee opinion was released Monday by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and published in the July issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Too Much Sitting Linked With Higher Risk of Anxiety
TUESDAY, June 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — People who spend much of their day sitting may be more likely to feel anxious, a new review suggests. The findings were published online June 19 in BMC Public Health.
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Anxiety Independently Predicts Pain in Patients With MS
TUESDAY, June 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Pain is prevalent in more than half of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and is independently predicted by anxiety, according to a study published online June 18 in Pain Medicine.
Medical Identity Theft Incidents Increasing
MONDAY, June 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Medical identity theft is on the rise, costly to consumers, and challenging to resolve, according to the fifth annual report published by the Ponemon Institute.
Caution in Social Media Age: Self-Promotion Can Backfire
FRIDAY, June 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In a series of experiments, researchers found that people who self-promote often offend others. The study was published in the June issue of Psychological Science.
One-Day Workshop Ups Stress Recovery for Cancer Care Workers
FRIDAY, June 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For cancer care workers, a one-day interventional workshop can improve recovery from job stress, according to a study published online June 10 in the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology.
Hundreds Arrested Nationwide for Medicare/Medicaid Fraud
FRIDAY, June 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Hundreds of people have been charged after health care fraud sweeps were made across the United States, the federal government said Thursday.
Health Highlights: June 19, 2015
FDA Cracks Down on Online Sale of Illegal Medical Products
FRIDAY, June 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with international partners, moved this week against more than 1,050 websites that sell potentially dangerous counterfeit medicines and medical devices, the agency said Thursday.
CDC: Narcon Overdose-Reversal Kits Are Saving Addicts’ Lives
FRIDAY, June 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Friends and family members have saved the lives of tens of thousands of opioid users from overdoses by using emergency injection kits containing naloxone (Narcan), according to a new federal report. The findings were published in the June 19 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Virtual Credit Card Fees Amount to 3 to 5 Percent of Payments
THURSDAY, June 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Payment with virtual credit cards (VCCs) is associated with considerable fees, although physicians are often unaware of these charges, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).
Too Much Serotonin Implicated in Social Anxiety Disorder
THURSDAY, June 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Levels of serotonin in the brain are too high in people with social anxiety disorder, rather than too low as previously believed, according to research published online June 17 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Consumption of Trans Fats Linked to Worse Memory
WEDNESDAY, June 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Consumption of trans fats may negatively affect memory, according to research findings published online June 17 in PLOS ONE.
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Maternal Stress-Linked Changes in Vaginal Microbiota Explored
WEDNESDAY, June 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Maternal stress-induced changes in the vaginal microbiota impact vaginal immunity and metabolic processes, according to an experimental study published online June 16 in Endocrinology.
Unique White Matter Injuries for Anxiety, Depression Post TBI
WEDNESDAY, June 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Unique white matter injury patterns are seen for anxiety and depression after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), but not for irritability, according to a study published online June 16 in Radiology.
Direct Messaging Not Yet Widely Adopted by Physicians
TUESDAY, June 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Direct secure messaging (Direct), which is a standardized protocol for exchanging clinical messages and attachments, has not been widely adopted by physicians, despite its potential for improving care coordination, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
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ADHD Rx Studied for Cognitive Boost in Menopause
TUESDAY, June 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), a stimulant usually prescribed to children and adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), may help to improve menopausal women’s executive function, a new, small study suggests. The findings were published online June 11 in Psychopharmacology.
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Review Examines Inappropriate Prescribing of IV Fluids
TUESDAY, June 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Inappropriate prescribing of intravenous (IV) fluids most often involves incorrect volumes and types of IV fluids prescribed, according to a review published online June 11 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
Article Weighs Paying Off Student Loans Versus Investment
MONDAY, June 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Newly-minted physicians should consider the issues relating to paying off their loans versus investing for retirement, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
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ER Visits for Self-Harm Rising for U.S. Teens
MONDAY, June 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Between 2009 and 2012, self-injuries accounted for a rising percentage of children’s emergency department trips — increasing from 1.1 to 1.6 percent of all visits, according to a study published online June 15 in Pediatrics.
Mental, Physical Activities Don’t Ward Off Alzheimer’s Biomarkers
FRIDAY, June 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Physical and cognitive activity don’t appear to prevent the brain from developing the biomarkers that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, a new study suggests. The report was published online June 10 in Neurology.
Mindfulness Shows Promise in Eating Disorder Prevention
FRIDAY, June 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Mindfulness may be a promising approach for prevention of eating disorders among adolescent girls, according to a study published online June 6 in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.
Car Crash Risk Up for New Users of Sedating Sleep Meds
FRIDAY, June 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Sedating sleep medications increase the risk for car accidents among new users compared with nonusers, with risk continued for up to a year among regular users, according to a new report published online June 11 in the American Journal of Public Health.
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Poison Control Calls Up Steeply Due to Synthetic Cannabinoid
FRIDAY, June 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Calls to poison centers for issues related to synthetic marijuana have risen more than 220 percent since last year, according to research published in the June 12 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Children With ADHD May Focus Better When Allowed to Fidget
THURSDAY, June 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often fidget, but new research suggests intense fidgeting may actually help them focus on the task at hand. The study was published online June 11 in Child Neuropsychology.
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Some Graduating Seniors Not Matching to Residency Positions
THURSDAY, June 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — More than 250 of this year’s graduating seniors from U.S. medical schools did not match to a residency position, according to the American Medical Association.
Fermented Food Intake May Help Protect Against Social Anxiety
THURSDAY, June 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Fermented foods that contain probiotics seem to have a protective effect against social anxiety, especially among those with neuroticism, according to a study published in the Aug. 15 issue of Psychiatry Research.
CDC: Men With Anxiety, Depression Not Getting Treated
THURSDAY, June 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Close to one in 10 American men suffer from depression or anxiety, but fewer than half get treatment, according to a June data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
Lysosomal Proteins May Benefit Alzheimer’s Diagnosis, Treatment
THURSDAY, June 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Lysosomal proteins may offer a way to diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s disease earlier, a new study suggests. The findings were published online June 10 in Neurology.
Report Offers Guidance on Medical Ethics Education
WEDNESDAY, June 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An analysis of the current state of medical ethics education in the United States has been published in the June issue of Academic Medicine. The article, the Romanell Report, also offers guidance to assist medial ethics educators in meeting expectations.
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Geographic Location Most Important for Residents
WEDNESDAY, June 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For residents, the most important element in a future practice is geographic location, with lifestyle, adequate call hours and personal time, and a good financial package also cited as being important, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).
Extra Time During MCAT Linked to Less Success in Med School
WEDNESDAY, June 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Medical school applicants with Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores obtained with extra test administration time have lower rates of success in medical schools, according to a study published in the June 9 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Parental Age Factors Linked to Autism Risk
TUESDAY, June 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Parents’ ages may play a role in a child’s risk of developing autism spectrum disorders (ASD), according to new research published online June 9 in Molecular Psychiatry.
Review: Cognitive Behavioral Techniques Benefit Insomnia
TUESDAY, June 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-i) helps patients fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, according to a review published online June 9 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Analysis Targets U.S. Hospitals With Highest Markups
TUESDAY, June 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The 50 U.S. hospitals with the highest charge-to-cost ratio have markups approximately 10 times the Medicare-allowable costs, and most of these hospitals are for profit, according to a study published in the June issue of Health Affairs.
AMA Offers Guidance for Physician-Hospital Relationships
MONDAY, June 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — New guidelines can enable successful physician hospital relationships and integrated leadership, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Exposure to Guns, Knives Ups Trauma Symptoms in Children
MONDAY, June 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — More than one in four children in the United States are exposed to weapon-related violence — as a victim or witness — which increases their risk for mental health problems, according to research published online June 8 in Pediatrics.
Misuse of Stimulants May Begin Earlier Than Expected
MONDAY, June 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Misuse of prescription stimulant medications such as Ritalin and Adderall may begin at an earlier age than previously believed, according to research published in the July 1 issue of Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Pediatric Anesthesia Prior to Age 4 May Affect IQ Testing
MONDAY, June 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Children who receive general anesthesia during surgery before they turn 4 years of age may later score slightly lower on listening comprehension and performance IQ, compared to children who had never had general anesthesia; however, overall IQ scores appear to remain within the normal range. These findings were published online June 8 in Pediatrics.
Special Diets, Supplements May Be Counterproductive in ASD
MONDAY, June 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Special diets or supplements for children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can leave children still deficient in some nutrients, such as calcium, according to new research. On the other hand, special diets and supplements can cause children to take in excessive amounts of other nutrients, such as vitamin A. These findings were reported online June 4 in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Anxiety, Depression Impact Symptoms, QoL in GERD
FRIDAY, June 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Anxiety and depression are linked to increased severity of retrosternal pain and heartburn and reduced quality of life among patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), according to a study published in the June issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
FDA Panel Votes 18-6 to Approve Rx for Female Libido
FRIDAY, June 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended approval Thursday of flibanserin, a medication designed to treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women.
Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Formed
THURSDAY, June 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Nine states have enacted the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact law, with the seventh state’s enactment triggering formation of a commission to administer a process for physicians seeking licensure in multiple states, according to a report published by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Hyperhomocysteinemia Linked to Worse Cognitive Status
THURSDAY, June 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For older adults, hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with worse cognitive status, even after accounting for B group vitamin (BGV) status, according to a study published online June 1 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Morbidity, Mortality Up for Patients With Delirium in ICU
THURSDAY, June 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Intensive care unit patients who develop delirium have a higher mortality risk, longer hospital stays, and are more likely to have cognitive impairment after hospital discharge, according to a review published online June 3 in The BMJ.
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Nearly 3 in 10 Americans Have Alcohol Use Disorder
WEDNESDAY, June 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Nearly 30 percent of Americans have a problem with alcohol at some point in their lives, ranging from binge drinking to full-blown alcoholism, but fewer than 20 percent are ever treated, according to a report published online June 3 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Menopausal Symptoms Unaffected by Vitamin D, Calcium
WEDNESDAY, June 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Vitamin D and calcium supplements do not help ease the symptoms of menopause, according to study results published online June 1 in Maturitas.
Some Varenicline Concerns Not Supported by Evidence
WEDNESDAY, June 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Varenicline (Chantix) doesn’t increase the risk of suicidal behavior, mental illness, criminal acts, or traffic accidents, according to a study published June 2 in The BMJ.
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Therapy Program Improves Teens’ Diabetes, Depression
WEDNESDAY, June 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The evidence-based family therapy program Behavioral Family Systems Therapy for Diabetes (BFST-D) improves both diabetes health outcomes and depressive symptoms among adolescents with type 1 diabetes, according to a study published online May 26 in Diabetes Care.
24-Hour Diastolic BP Linked to Cognitive Performance in T2DM
WEDNESDAY, June 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Among individuals with type 2 diabetes there is a quadratic association for 24-hour diastolic blood pressure (BP) with information processing speed and memory, according to a study published online May 27 in Diabetes Care.
Risk to Infant From SSRI Use in Late Pregnancy Deemed Small
TUESDAY, June 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Infants born to mothers taking antidepressants in late pregnancy may be slightly more likely to develop persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), a new study suggests, but the risk is very small. The findings were published in the June 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Review: Monitor Weight for Youth on Antipsychotics
TUESDAY, June 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Youth prescribed antipsychotic medication should be monitored for exaggerated weight gain, and agents other than olanzapine, clozapine, and risperidone may be best in patients where obesity is a pre-existing concern, according to a review published online May 28 in Obesity Reviews.
TBI Linked to Parkinson’s Risk in Patients Aged ≥55 Years
TUESDAY, June 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients aged 55 years and older presenting to an inpatient/emergency department setting with traumatic brain injury (TBI) have an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease (PD), according to a study published in the June issue of the Annals of Neurology.
Sleep Apnea Risk Found to Rise With PTSD Severity in Veterans
MONDAY, June 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For U.S. veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the risk of sleep apnea increases along with the severity of the mental health condition, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.
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