Psychiatric News (3/7) reported a study found that “girls who experience childhood trauma are at a higher risk of developing internalizing symptoms like depression and anxiety by ages 12 to 14, an association that is partially explained by starting puberty ahead of their peers.” Researchers found that “early starters had significantly higher exposure to trauma at baseline compared with slow or typical developers, while slow developers had lower trauma exposure compared with typical developers. Slow developers also had significantly lower internalizing symptoms compared with early starters and typical developers.” The studywas published in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

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— “Childhood Trauma, Early Puberty Associated With Internalizing Symptoms in Girls,” Psychiatric News, March 7, 2025

MedPage Today (3/7, Monaco ) reported that a large systematic review and meta-analysis found that “about 40% of adults with chronic pain had clinical symptoms of depression and anxiety.” Researchers found that “as for formal diagnoses, 36.7% of people with chronic pain met criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD), and 16.7% met criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).” They noted these rates were “markedly higher than population norms,” which are about “8% and 3%, respectively, for U.S. adult population prevalence.” In addition, “6.3% of chronic pain sufferers met diagnostic criteria for persistent depressive disorder, 7.5% for panic disorder, and 2.2% for social anxiety disorder.” The study was published in JAMA Network Open.

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— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

HealthDay (3/6, Thompson ) reports a study found that “chronic stress can increase young women’s risk of stroke.” Researchers asked participants aged 18 to 49 to complete “a 10-question survey about their stress levels, and stroke patients were asked to recall the stress they’d faced in the month prior to their stroke.” They found that “stroke patients were more likely to have at least moderate stress levels.” And “about 46% had moderate or high stress levels, compared to 33% of those who hadn’t suffered a stroke.” After researchers adjusted “for other factors that affect stroke risk,” they determined “that moderate stress was associated with a 78% increased risk of stroke in women. They did not find a link between stress and stroke in men, however.” The study was published in Neurology.

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— “Chronic Stress Boosts Stroke Risk In Young Women,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, March 6, 2025

Healio (3/6, Mahoney ) reports a study found that “patients with glaucoma appeared to have poorer general health, mental health and quality of life, with more severe visual field impairment linked to worsening physical health outcomes.” Prior research had shown “that the progression of glaucoma, fear of blindness and limitations in performing daily activities lead to reduced quality of life (QoL) and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.” Researchers concluded, “Our findings underscore the importance of considering the psychological aspects of glaucoma management, particularly for patients with more advanced visual field loss.” The study was published in Cureus.

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— “Glaucoma associated with poorer mental health, quality of life,” Moira Mahoney, Healio, March 6, 2025

The Hill (3/5, Irwin ) reports that more than 31 million Americans borrowed money for health care in 2024, according to a West Health-Gallup survey. These individuals accumulated approximately $74 billion in debt despite having some form of health insurance. The majority of borrowers were “were ages 18-29, 30-39 and 40-49,” with only 2% over 65. Black and Hispanic Americans were more likely to borrow, with 23% of Black respondents and 16% of Hispanic adults doing so, compared to 9% of white adults. Additionally, 58% of Americans “say they are at least somewhat concerned that a major health event will put them in debt.” The survey included 3,583 respondents and had a margin of error of 2.1 percentage points.

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— “31 million Americans borrowed money for health care last year: Poll,” Lauren Irwin, The Hill, March 5, 2025

The New York Times (3/5, Belluck ) reports a new study sheds light on postpartum depression, which “affects about one in every seven women who give birth, but little is known about what happens in the brains of pregnant women who experience it.” Researchers found that “women with symptoms of depression in the first month after giving birth also had increases in the volume of their amygdala.” In addition, “women who rated their childbirth experience as difficult or stressful – a perception that is often associated with postpartum depression – also showed increases in the volume of the hippocampus, a brain area that helps regulate emotions.” The study is part of a “growing body of research that has found that certain brain networks, especially those involved in social and emotional processing, shrink during pregnancy, possibly undergoing a fine-tuning process in preparation for parenting.” The study was published in Science Advances.

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— “The New York Times (requires login and subscription)

Medical Economics (3/4, Littrell) reports a study suggests “that patients who perceive discrimination in health care settings are more likely to delay seeking medical care due to nervousness. This trend is particularly prevalent among younger adults and racial and ethnic minorities.” According to researchers, “mediation analysis revealed that patient-clinician communication significantly influenced the relationship between discrimination and care delays, with the strongest impact observed among younger adults – ages 18 to 44 – and racial and ethnic minority groups.” Researchers believe the “study underscores the importance of fostering effective and inclusive communication with patients – particularly those from historically marginalized groups.” They concluded, “By prioritizing better [communication], health care delays associated with patient apprehension related to perceived discrimination may be reduced.” The study was published in JAMA Network Open.

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— “Patients’ fear of discrimination drives health care delays,” Austin Littrell, Medical Economics, March 4, 2025

Endocrinology Advisor (3/4, Nye) reports a study found that “thyroid dysfunction is related with increased risk for depression.” Prior studies “suggest an association between depression and abnormal hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis function.” Researchers concluded, “[T]hyroid dysfunction was associated with depression. Increasing TSH levels were associated with a small increase in the odds of [clinically relevant depression], especially among women, and patients who were not prescribed [antidepressants] or were on [thyroid hormone replacement].” The study was published in Thyroid.

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— “Elevated Thyrotropin Levels Associated With Depression,” Jessica Nye, PhD, Endocrinology Advisor, March 4, 2025

Modern Healthcare (3/3, Berryman , Subscription Publication) reports UnitedHealthcare“plans to cut nearly 10% of prior authorizations this year, the company said in a notice Saturday.” Under the “initiative, the insurer said it will remove pre-approval requirements for home health services managed by its home and community division.” These changes, effective April 1, “will apply to Medicare Advantage and dual special needs plans in 36 states and Washington, D.C.” The decision follows a broader industry trend, with other insurers like Cigna and some Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies also reducing prior authorization requirements.

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— “UnitedHealthcare to reduce prior authorization requirements,” Berryman, Modern Healthcare, March 3, 2025 — Free Registration Required

Psychiatric News (3/3) reports a study found that “one in 10 buprenorphine initiations is provided via telehealth, and about 20% of those involved no in-person visit within two years prior or 30 days after.” Researchers said, “Our findings suggest that telehealth initiation of buprenorphine without a prior in-person visit is an important pathway for accessing this lifesaving treatment for adults with opioid use disorder.” The study was published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “One in 10 Patients Starts Buprenorphine Treatment for OUD via Telehealth,” Psychiatric News, March 3, 2025