Healio (6/24, Amorosi) reports researchers found that almost a fifth “of patients who undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) develop symptoms of PTSD within 6 months.” The findings were presented during the ASCO20 Virtual Scientific Program.

Related Links:

— “Many patients develop clinically significant PTSD symptoms early after HSCT, “Drew Amorosi, Healio, June 24, 2020

Cancer Network (6/24, Slater) reports researchers found in a population-based study that adult cancer survivors were more likely to have mental health problems than the general population. The study’s authors wrote, “These findings provide implications for future programs and policies aimed at effectively preventing and detecting mental illness and reducing unmet [mental health] treatment needs for this vulnerable population.” The study was published in Cancer.

Related Links:

— “Elevated Mental Health Problems Observed Among Cancer Survivors, “Hannah Slater, Cancer Network, June 24, 2020

Psychiatric News (6/24) reports, “The percentage of children presenting to emergency departments (EDs) with mental illness and substance use disorders rose dramatically between 2007 and 2016, with visits related to deliberate self-harm increasing by more than 300%,” investigators concluded after analyzing “data from the 2007 to 2016 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.” The study revealed that over the period of a decade, “the total number of pediatric ED visits was stable, but pediatric ED visits for all mental health disorders rose 60% and visits related to substance use disorder rose 159%.” Meanwhile, over this time period, “ED visits for deliberate self-harm increased by 329%.” The findings were published in the June issue of Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— “Threefold Increase Seen in Children Visiting Emergency Departments for Deliberate Self-Harm, Psychiatric News, June 24, 2020

Healio (6/23, Gramigna) reports, “Despair appeared associated with increased risk for suicidality and substance misuse among young adults,” investigators concluded after analyzing “data of 1,420 participants of the Southeastern, mixed urban-rural population-based Great Smoky Mountains Study, which was conducted between Nov. 10, 1992 and Sept. 22, 2015.” The findings of the 1,420-participant study were published online in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Despair among young adults may increase risk for suicidality, substance misuse, “Joe Gramigna, Healio , June 23, 2020

HealthDay (6/23, Reinberg) reports, “People with schizophrenia have a suicide rate 170 times higher than the general population,” investigators concluded after examining “20 years of population data, including information on 75,000 patients with schizophrenia,” each of whom “was followed for about 10 years, on average.” The findings were published online June 2 in the journal Schizophrenia Research.

Related Links:

— “Suicide Rate 170 Times Higher for People With Schizophrenia, “Steven Reinberg, HealthDay, June 23, 2020