Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Psychiatry for November 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.
Low-Quality Evidence for Methylphenidate in ADHD
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Clinicians prescribing methylphenidate for treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and teens must weigh the benefits and adverse effects in the context of low-quality evidence, according to the authors of a review published online Nov. 25 in The Cochrane Library.
AAFP Recommends Doctors Explore Use of Social Media
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The use of social media channels and associated benefits for physicians are highlighted in a recent article published by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). And guidelines are provided for physicians wishing to become active in social media.
CBT, Exercise Show Benefit in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
TUESDAY, Nov. 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Cognitive behavioral therapy, and graded exercise therapy are among the best available treatments for extended relief of chronic fatigue syndrome. The new findings were published online recently in The Lancet Psychiatry.
Music Can Help Doctors Develop Relationships With Patients
TUESDAY, Nov. 24 2015 (HealthDay News) — For one physician, writing songs has improved her self-awareness and strengthened her relationships with patients, according to an article published by the American Medical Association.
ACP: Physicians Should Prescribe Generic Meds If Possible
TUESDAY, Nov. 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Physicians should prescribe generic medications whenever possible, keeping in mind that generics have comparable effectiveness to brand name medications and are associated with reduced costs and increased adherence, according to new guidelines published online Nov. 24 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Drug Overdose Rates Up Substantially Among U.S. Youth
MONDAY, Nov. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Nationwide, the drug overdose mortality rate has more than doubled during the past decade among people aged 12 to 25 — rising from 3.1 deaths per 100,000 in 1999-2001 to 7.3 deaths in 2011-2013, according to the Trust for America’s Health’s new Reducing Teen Substance Misuse: What Really Works report.
Comorbid Stress, Depressive Symptoms Common in Diabetes
MONDAY, Nov. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For individuals with diabetes, comorbid stress and/or depressive symptoms are common and increase risks for adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes, according to a study published online Nov. 17 in Diabetes Care.
E-Portfolio Developed to Assess Millennial Med Students
THURSDAY, Nov. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Electronic portfolios are being used to transform medical students’ assessments and track progress as students advance through medical training, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Bright Light Therapy Might Also Treat Nonseasonal Depression
THURSDAY, Nov. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Light therapy, a treatment for seasonal affective disorder, may also benefit nonseasonal depression, according to research published online Nov. 18 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Social Jetlag Tied to Prediabetes, Cardiovascular Disease Risk
THURSDAY, Nov. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Social jetlag due to a habitual discrepancy between endogenous circadian rhythm and actual sleep times, imposed by social obligations, is associated with metabolic risk factors that are linked to cardiovascular disease and prediabetes, according to a study published online Nov. 18 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Pioglitazone Found to Help Some With Unremitting Depression
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new small study is adding evidence to the theory that insulin resistance may play a leading role in some cases of depression. Findings from the study were published online Oct. 12 in Psychiatry Research.
Burnout Reduces Readiness to Change Teaching Approaches
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Occupational burnout appears to reduce clinical faculty members’ readiness to change teaching approaches, according to a study published online Nov. 13 in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.
AAFP: Expected 0.5 Percent Pay Increase Reduced to Zero
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A small but promised Medicare pay increase has effectively been reduced to zero for all physician specialties, according to the final 2016 Medicare physician fee schedule and a report published by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Benefits for Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Primary Care
MONDAY, Nov. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are moderately efficacious for improving general health in primary care, and are effective for improving mental health and quality of life, according to a meta-analysis published in the November/December issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
CDC: Autism Rate Up Post Survey Method Changes
FRIDAY, Nov. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — About one in 45 children have an autism spectrum disorder, according to a new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey of parents. This apparent increase is likely due to a change of questions parents were asked about their child, the study authors said. The findings were published Nov. 13 in the CDC’s National Health Statistics Reports.
CDC: Adult Smoking Rate Falls to New Low in the United States
FRIDAY, Nov. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Under 17 percent of adults said they smoked in 2014, down from nearly 21 percent in 2005. And the average number of cigarettes smoked daily fell from nearly 17 to fewer than 14 by 2014. The latest numbers are published in the Nov. 13 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Suicide Risk Up for Head, Neck Cancer Patients
FRIDAY, Nov. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Head and neck cancer patients may be at increased risk for suicide, according to research published online Nov. 12 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
ACP Issues Guidance on ‘Concierge’ Practices
TUESDAY, Nov. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Direct patient contracting practices (DPCPs), in which patients pay out of pocket for some or all services provided by the practice, are growing in popularity, according to a position paper published online Nov. 10 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Few Adults With Severe Mental Illness Screened for Diabetes
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — About 30 percent of adults with severe mental illness (SMI) taking antipsychotic medications undergo diabetes-specific screening using validated screening measures, according to a study published online Nov. 9 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Web-Based CBT Program Cuts Suicidal Ideation in Interns
MONDAY, Nov. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A web-based cognitive behavioral therapy (wCBT) program is effective for preventing suicidal ideation among medical interns, according to a study published online Nov. 4 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Omega-3 Supplements Don’t Help With Depression
FRIDAY, Nov. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — There’s little evidence that taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements helps treat depression, according to a review published online Nov. 5 in The Cochrane Library.
Updated Checklist for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy Studies
FRIDAY, Nov. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An updated list of 30 essential items should be included in every report of a diagnostic accuracy study, according to the Standards for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (STARD) 2015. These new guidelines have been published in several journals, including Radiology, Clinical Chemistry, and The BMJ.
Poll: Americans Want Health Care Costs Kept in Check
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Most Americans now support aggressive regulation to keep health care costs in check — including price caps on drugs, medical devices, and payments to doctors and hospitals, a new HealthDay/Harris Poll has found.
Doctors Who Order More Tests Have Fewer Malpractice Claims
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) –The more tests and treatments U.S. doctors order for patients, the less likely they are to be sued for malpractice, according to a study published online Nov. 4 in The BMJ.
Branded Rx May Up the Power of Placebo
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A brand-name label made a placebo tablet work as well as an active nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, according to research published online Oct. 12 in Health Psychology.
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ACP Joins Amicus Curiae Brief to Supreme Court
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The American College of Physicians (ACP) has joined other organizations in an amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court, urging the court to uphold considerations of race and ethnicity in the medical school admissions process.
Doctors Should Consider Financial Factors Before Career Change
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Financial and other factors should be considered before physicians change career direction, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
AMA: 6 Steps to Help Ensure Patients Get Preventive Care
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Panel management, or population health management, can help physicians provide necessary preventive and chronic care to all patients regardless of their visit frequency, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Prescription Medication Use on the Rise in the United States
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — More Americans than ever are taking prescription drugs, as well as using more of them, according to research published in the Nov. 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
No Evidence for Stopping Antidepressants Before Plastic Sx
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — There is no evidence to support antidepressant medication cessation in patients undergoing plastic surgery, according to a meta-analysis published in the November issue of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.
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Online Cognitive Therapy May Benefit Some Patients
TUESDAY, Nov. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Online cognitive behavioral therapy can help with anxiety, depression, and emotional distress related to illness as much, if not more, than standard face-to-face interventions, according to research published online Nov. 2 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
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New Electronic Health Record Regulations Released
TUESDAY, Nov. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — New electronic health record (EHR) regulations modify Stage 2 of the meaningful use program and finalize requirements for Stage 3, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Competition for Fellowships Broke Records in 2015
MONDAY, Nov. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — According to the American Medical Association (AMA), 2015 was a record-breaking year for fellowship applications.
Prescribing Drugs ‘Off-Label’ Can Pose Serious Safety Risks
MONDAY, Nov. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Off-label drug use puts patients at risk for serious side effects, especially when scientific evidence is lacking, according to a study published online Nov. 2 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Displaying Prices to Providers Seems to Reduce Order Costs
MONDAY, Nov. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Displaying order prices to physicians seems to reduce order costs, according to a review published online Oct. 23 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
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