Healio (2/5) reports that approximately “30% of adults in the United States experienced loneliness at least once a week, and 10% reported feeling lonely every day, according to January’s Healthy Minds Monthly Poll from the American Psychiatric Association.” In a press release, APA President Petros Levounis, MD, MA, said, “The Healthy Minds Monthly poll confirms loneliness is widespread, especially in young people.” Dr. Levounis added, “The U.S. Surgeon General is correct to label it as a public health problem with troubling outcomes and to suggest steps communities can take. Doctors and other clinicians can make a major difference in their patients’ wellbeing and physical health when they ask about loneliness and how to mitigate its effects.”

Related Links:

— “One-third of Americans report feeling lonely every week,”Shenaz Bagha, Healio , February 5, 2024

Healio (2/23, Welsh) reported, “Pregnant women who were prescribed opioid drugs had increased likelihood of spontaneous preterm delivery, and odds increased as total dose increased, according to case-control study results.” Researchers found “that each doubling of nonzero opioid MME [morphine milligram equivalents] was associated with a 4% increase in spontaneous preterm birth odds compared with no opioid exposure.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Odds for spontaneous preterm birth rise as opioid exposure increases,”Erin T. Welsh, Healio, February 23, 2024

Healio (2/23, Young) reported, “Individuals with vision impairment have greater odds of experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety and social isolation, according to new research.” The study found “severe social isolation symptoms were more prevalent among those with objectively measured vision impairment, but not among those with self-reported vision impairment.” The findings were published in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Related Links:

— “Vision impairment associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, social isolation,”Kate Young, Healio, February 23, 2024

HCPlive (2/23, Derman) reported, “A new study found women who work in healthcare face significantly more stress and burnout than men who work in healthcare – and job satisfaction and better work-life balance can prevent women from experiencing harmful stress.” Researchers “analyzed 71 studies published in 26 countries and 4 languages between 1979 – 2022.” In 16% of those studies, “investigators found gender inequality contributes to female healthcare” professionals’ “stress and burnout.” The findings were published in Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health.

Related Links:

— “Women Working in Healthcare Have Significantly More Burnout Than Men Colleagues,”Chelsie Derman, HCPlive, February 23, 2024

Healio (2/23, Welsh) reported, “U.S. policy changes are needed to reduce perinatal mental health deserts, standardize social determinants of health data, improve psychiatric curriculums and establish paid parental leave, researchers” argue. The investigators came to these conclusions after evaluating “publications from the past 3 years regarding the impact of mental illness on maternal mortality.” The findings were published in JAMA Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Policy changes needed to improve maternal mental health in US,”Erin T. Welsh, Healio, February 23, 2024