Neurology Advisor (7/29, Khaja) reports, “Traumatic brain injury (TBI) may potentially increase the risk for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, with varying effects depending on age, sex, and severity, according to study results.” Investigators undertook “an observational study combining a population-based approach, nested case-control, and sibling comparison design to explore the link between TBI and later bipolar disorder and schizophrenia diagnoses, investigate if there is a correlation influenced by TBI severity, and assess potential moderating effects of demographic and familial factors.” The findings were published in Psychiatry Research.

Related Links:

— “Traumatic Brain Injury May Raise Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Risk,”Hibah Khaja, Neurology Advisor, July 29, 2024

HCP Live (7/29, Derman) reports, “A new study demonstrated the number of relapses among patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) depends on whether their depression symptoms improve on antidepressants.” Using “data from the double-blind, randomized clinical trial on alcohol-specific inhibition training among patients with AUD,” researchers “analyzed 153 detoxified AUD patients who attended a 12-week residential treatment program between 2015 and 2019.” The findings were published in Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research.

Related Links:

— “Patients with AUD Have Fewer Relapses When Antidepressants Improve Depression,”Chelsie Derman, HCPlive, July 29, 2024

Healio (7/26, Rhoades) reported, “Increased social isolation may be linked to greater risks for several adverse health outcomes in older adults, according to a study.” Researchers came to this conclusion after assessing “associations between changes in social isolation and multiple health outcomes – including death, CVD, dementia, stroke and disability — within a sample of 13,649 respondents aged 50 years or older from the 2006 to 2020 Health and Retirement Study waves.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Social isolation increases risk for death, dementia in older adults,”Andrew (Drew) Rhoades, Healio , July 26, 2024

The New York Times (7/28, Belluck ) says researchers on Sunday “reported that a blood test was significantly more accurate than doctors’ interpretation of cognitive tests and CT scans in signaling” Alzheimer’s disease. The study “found that about 90 percent of the time the blood test correctly identified whether patients with memory problems had Alzheimer’s,” while “dementia specialists using standard methods that did not include expensive PET scans or invasive spinal taps were accurate 73 percent of the time” and “primary care doctors using those methods got it right only 61 percent of the time.” The findings were published in JAMA and presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.

Related Links:

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

HCPlive (7/26, Derman) reported that a “study found probable PTSD was prevalent among adults long after the mass violence incidents occurred in their community.” Researchers came to this conclusion after conducting “a cross-sectional survey study from February 2020 to September 2020 with a sample of adults from 6 communities who had most likely experienced a mass violence incidence between 2015 and 2019.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “1 in 4 Adults in the Community Meet PTSD Criteria Following Mass Shooting,”Chelsie Derman , HCPlive, July 26, 2024

Psychiatric News (7/25) reports, “More than half of people incarcerated before the age of 18 go on to be reincarcerated as adults, with bipolar disorder and substance use disorders significantly increasing the odds of recidivism, according to a study.” Researchers found “other reincarceration risk factors that had been previously identified included not graduating college, parental drug use and imprisonment, and childhood and lifetime homelessness.” The findings were published in the Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law.

Related Links:

— “Bipolar Disorder, Substance Use Disorder Raise Odds of Reincarceration of Youths as Adults, Psychiatric News, July 25, 2024

HCPlive (7/25, Derman) reports, “A recent study found physical activity engagement is inversely associated with reducing depression symptoms, and the association was stronger among people with greater pain.” Researchers found “participating in physical activity can help reduce symptoms of depression in individuals with osteoarthritis, especially those with greater pain levels.” The findings were published in PLOS Global Public Health.

Related Links:

— “Physical Activity Linked to Reducing Depression Symptoms, Mediated by Pain,”Chelsie Derman, HCPlive, July 25, 2024

The Hill (7/25, Teshome) reports, “Mental health inequities are projected to cost the U.S. $14 trillion between now and 2040, according to a new study from the School of Global Health at Meharry Medical College and the Deloitte Health Equity Institute.” The study “concluded that unaddressed mental health conditions create a significant economic burden for the country and that eliminating inequities in treatment could lead to significant savings on health care.”

Related Links:

— “Mental health inequities projected to cost US $14 trillion over 16 years, new study says,”Eden Teshome , The Hill, July 25, 2024

Psychiatric News (7/24) reports a study found “individuals with depression and/or anxiety are more than twice as likely to carry medical debt that makes paying bills difficult compared with individuals without those diagnoses.” Researchers also found “those with depression or anxiety who carry medical debt are more likely to delay or forego treatment than diagnosed individuals without medical debt.” The findings were published in JAMA Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Medical Debt Linked to Delayed, Foregone Care Among Those With Depression, Anxiety, Psychiatric News, July 24, 2024

HealthDay (7/24, Thompson ) reports, “Misuse of illicit prescription drugs is falling dramatically among U.S. high school students, a new study says.” Researchers found “the percentage of seniors who say they’ve misused prescription drugs in the past year has dropped to 2% in 2022, down from 11% back in 2009.” The findings were published in JAMA.

Related Links:

— “Big Drop in U.S. Kids, Teens Misusing Prescription Meds,”Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, July 24, 2024