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Latest News Around the Web

Ketamine Clinics Opening In US Reportedly Not Following APA Recommendations

MedPage Today (3/4, DePeau-Wilson ) reports, “The proliferation of ketamine clinics in the U.S. has veered far off course from the recommendations of the nation’s premier psychiatric association when it comes to using the anesthetic to treat mood disorders, experts say.” MedPage Today adds, “In 2017, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) issued a consensus statement on the use of ketamine in treating mood disorders, published in JAMA Psychiatry.” However, “the ketamine clinics cropping up across the U.S. don’t appear to follow that guidance, Smita Das, MD, PhD, MPH, of Stanford University and a spokesperson for the APA, told MedPage Today.” Dr. Das said, “[Intravenous] ketamine is being offered in smaller clinics off-label and there isn’t a practice guideline from the American Psychiatric Association that’s recommending ketamine for use in the way that it’s being used.” Dr. Das also “said the surge of ketamine clinics is something of a ‘wild west’ where vulnerable patients are being offered treatment without being informed of the downsides.”

Related Links:

— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

Many Individuals Who Had ED Visit For Cannabis Use Developed New Anxiety Disorder Within 3 Years, Study Finds

HCP Live (2/6, Derman) reports, “Many individuals who had an emergency department visit for cannabis use developed a new anxiety disorder within 3 years, according to a new study.” Investigators found that “this applied to 27.5% of individuals who visited the emergency room due to heavy cannabis use.” The findingswere published in eClinicalMedicine.

Related Links:

— “Heavy Cannabis Use Linked to Increased Risk for Anxiety,”Chelsie Derman, HCP Live, February 6, 2024

Vaping, skipping breakfast tied to higher risk of headaches for teens

HealthDay (3/1, Thompson ) reported, “Vaping and skipped meals appear to be the main causes of frequent headaches among teens, a new study says.” Published in Neurology, the study found that “overall, regular meals reduced risk of frequent headaches by 8%, researchers report. Researchers also found that teens who use e-cigarettes daily have twice the odds of frequent headaches than those who’ve never vaped.”

Related Links:

— “Vaping, Skipping Breakfast Ups Headache Risk for Teens,”Dennis Thompson, HealthDay , March 1, 2024

Women With Schizophrenia Are More Likely To Develop CVD Compared With Those Without The Condition, Study Finds

Healio (3/2, Schaffer ) reported, “Epidemiological data show women with schizophrenia are 63% more likely to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD) during 3.5 years of follow-up compared with those without the condition, with a greater risk observed for women with obesity.” Investigators came to this conclusion after analyzing “data from 4,124,508 adults without baseline CVD or renal replacement therapy.” The findings were published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Related Links:

— “Data show ‘robust’ relationship between schizophrenia, heart disease in women,”Regina Schaffer, Healio, March 2, 2024

Large Majority Of Adults Who Have Pets Feel That Their Pets Have Positive Impact On Their Mental Health, APA Poll Finds

Psychiatric News (3/1) reported, “A large majority of U.S. adults who have pets feel that their pets have a positive impact on their mental health, according to the latest findings from APA’s Healthy Minds Poll.” In a news release, APA President Petros Levounis, M.D., M.A., said, “It’s easy to overlook the role of pets when we’re talking about mental health.” Dr. Levounis added, “But for people who do enjoy the company of animals, they can be a source of companionship, comfort, love, and friendship. I routinely encourage adoption of a pet to my patients who struggle with addiction to alcohol, drugs, or technology. We’re also starting to see more and more research around the role that animals can play in recovery from depression and other psychiatric disorders.”

Related Links:

— “Pet Ownership Has a Positive Impact on Mental Health, APA Poll Finds, Psychiatric News, March 1, 2024

Foundation News

New PSA Examines Anxiety from Political and Social Media

The Foundation has released a new Public Service Announcement now playing on local Maryland radio stations. It examines the wide variety of feelings people experience after a particularly divisive political campaign or a significant event getting 24 hour coverage across networks and online. Those feelings can include alienation from family and friends, anger at a system or event out of their control, and grief or helplessness at what may come. There are things that can be done to help, ranging from breaks from Facebook and Twitter and similar sites to seeking actual help from professionals.

Listen to the PSA on our home page or on our PSA collection here, where you can listen to or download other advice given in past PSAs, also.

“This is My Brave” Event Coming December 7

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This is my Brave – Baltimore event will be held Wednesday, December 7.
Doors Open at 5 PM – Show starts at 6 PM at Towson University’s West Village Commons, Towson, MD 21252. The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry is supporting this inspiring, monologue-based production featuring people sharing their stories of living with and recovering from mental illness through original essay, poetry, dance and music.

Foundation Establishes Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry has established the Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award. It is designed to recognize a worthy piece published in a major newspaper that accomplishes one or more of the following:

  • Shares with the public their experience with mental illness in themselves, a family member, or simply in the community.
  • Helps others to overcome their inability to talk about mental illness or their own mental illness.
  • Imparts particularly insightful observations on the general subject of mental illness.
  • A Maryland author and/or newspaper is preferred.

The award carries a $500 prize, and has its own dedicated page here.

The winner for 2016 is Amy McDowell Marlow.

“My dad killed himself when I was 13. He hid his depression. I won’t hide mine.”
Published February 9, 2016 in the Washington Post

In this piece, Ms. Marlow gives a very poignant description of dealing with her own depression and emotional experiences beginning in childhood while dealing with a parent’s depression and eventual suicide.

New PSA Examines Prisons, Inmates and Mental Health

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry, Inc.’s latest public service announcement on local Maryland radio stations focuses on mental health care in the United States prison system. It examines the problem of mental illness being the reason for incarceration in the first place, and the lack of care once a person is behind bars.

Prisons, Inmates and Mental HealthPrisons, Inmates and Mental Health

You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.

Follow the Foundation on Twitter!

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry, Inc. now has it’s very own Twitter account. You can follow us there to get the latest news about what we’re doing as well as be notified of the psychiatric news we mention here and when a new radio spot goes online. Just click the button below or in the left column to add us to your Twitter feed!