Psychiatric News (11/28) reports, “A strong placebo response contributes significantly to the perception of pain reduction observed in clinical trials of cannabis-based therapies, according to” the findings of a 20-study, 1,459-adult patient systematic review and meta-analysis published online Nov. 28 in JAMA Network Open. Additionally, the research “suggests that media coverage of cannabis trials may promote high expectations of pain relief in clinical trial participants, thus increasing the placebo effect.”

Related Links:

— “Media Coverage, Placebo Response Linked to Pain Relief Seen in Cannabinoid Trials, Psychiatric News, November 28, 2022

USA Today (11/28, Ryu) reports, “Schizophrenia is a lifelong, psychotic disorder that affects fewer than 1% of the U.S. population, but is one of the most stigmatized mental illnesses,” affecting “how people think, feel and act.” While “people have also associated it with mass violence or shootings,” mental health clinicians “warn the relationship between schizophrenia and violence is often oversimplified and rarely ever causal.” Even though “it’s true that some may exhibit aggression or unpredictability when their symptoms go untreated or when combined with substance use, research has supported that most are not actually violent.” In fact, “serial killers are more likely to exhibit antisocial personality disorders (such as sociopathy or psychopathy), according to the American Psychiatric Association, and those with schizophrenia are at increased risk of becoming victims, rather than perpetrators, of violence.”

Related Links:

— “Do you really know what schizophrenia is? Most people don’t. “Jenna Ryu, USA Today, November 28, 2022

Healio (11/28) reports, “According to a recently released survey, 45% of Americans are worried about their mental health” during the upcoming holiday season. The “results of the poll, from BetterHelp, were made in conjunction with global research company Material, from an online survey of 1,009 American adults in November.” Findings from the poll “revealed that 72% of Americans expect something to negatively impact their mental wellbeing this winter, with the economy and managing family dynamics topping the list.”

Related Links:

— “Poll: 45% of Americans concerned about mental health during holidays “Shenaz Bagha, Healio, November 28, 2022

Neurology Advisor (11/23, Jacobs) reported, “Nonaffective psychotic disorders are an important, potentially modifiable risk factor for all-cause dementia, with individuals with these disorders warranting close monitoring for cognitive decline in later life,” investigators concluded in the findings of a 13-study systematic review and meta-analysis published in the journal Psychological Medicine.

Related Links:

— “Psychotic Disorders as a Potentially Modifiable Risk Factor for Dementia “Sheila Jacobs, Neurology Advisor, November 23, 2022

HealthDay (11/25, Murez) reported, “Researchers have found that nearly 3% of pregnancies in the United States were exposed to addictive opioid drugs,” according to results “from an analysis of data from 21,905 pregnant women in what’s dubbed the ECHO program (Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes).” The analysis “found opioid use in pregnancy was more prevalent in white individuals,” and use “was also more common in women with a history of depression and multiple substance use.” These resultswere published in the Journal of Women’s Health.

Related Links:

— “Nearly 3% of pregnancies in U.S. exposed to opioids “Cara Murez, HealthDay, November 25, 2022

NBC News (11/23, Wile) reported “critical shortages of the ADHD drug” amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall) “and the antibiotic amoxicillin have left families reeling as the medicines their loved ones need become harder to find.” The article added, “Drugmakers have offered little insight into the reasons for the shortages, other than to blame surging demand.” However, “according to experts, drug companies face few repercussions for not disclosing key information about the production of these medications,” and consequently, “U.S. consumers remain at the mercy of drug companies when it comes to learning the cause of the shortages or how and when they might be resolved.”

Related Links:

— “Adderall and amoxicillin shortages raise questions about transparency and accountability in Big Pharma “Rob Wile, NBC News, November 23, 2022

The American Journal of Managed Care (11/26, McNulty) reported, “The risk of experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) may be higher in women who give birth resulting from unintended pregnancies, according to a study published in Social Science & Medicine.” Furthermore, “while women who conceive via fertility treatments may not be at an increased risk, the type of treatment used to conceive may impact outcomes.” These “findings suggest that pregnancy intention, rather than fertility treatment use or type of fertility treatment, may have the greatest impact on PPD from among the variables considered in the study.”

Related Links:

— “Unintended Pregnancy May Increase Risk of Postpartum Depression, Study Finds “Rose McNulty, The American Journal of Managed Care, November 26, 2022

MedPage Today (11/23, DePeau-Wilson) reported, “Use of medications for” attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) “was not associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk,” investigators concluded in the findings of a 19-study systematic review and meta-analysis published online Nov. 23 in JAMA Network Open. The researchers found that “among over 3 million people, there were no statistically significant associations between AD/HD medication use and any CVD risks among children and adolescents…young or middle-age adults…or older adults…over a median follow-up ranging from 0.25 to 9.5 years.”

Related Links:

— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

Healio (11/22, Swain) reports, “Children who experienced adversity from age 0 to 15 years were at elevated risk for developing CVD in young adulthood compared with those who did not,” investigators concluded in findings published online in the European Heart Journal. For the study, investigators “analyzed 1,263,013 individuals born in Denmark between 1980 and 2001 who were not diagnosed with CVD or congenital heart disease before age 16 years,” then “stratified the cohort into five groups based on adversity experienced between birth and age 15 years.”

Related Links:

— “People with childhood adversity at elevated risk for CVD in young adulthood “Erik Swain, Healio, November 22, 2022

According to Healio (11/22, Hemphill), in a Nov. 21 news release, “the American Psychiatric Association said it ‘stands in solidarity’ with the LGBTQ community in the aftermath of the shooting at Club Q Nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and amidst ongoing discrimination.” The release stated, “Bias toward LGBTQI people, whatever form it takes, hurts mental health.” In addition, the release said, “We stand opposed to laws and rhetoric that discriminate against [the LGBTQ] community, whether it is promoting dangerous conversion therapy or restricting provision of health care services to trans or gender-diverse individuals.”

Psychiatric News (11/22) reports, “As APA has responded to past acts of mass gun violence, the organization asserted that gun violence is a public health crisis.” The association stated, “APA has worked over the past years, often in concert with other physician and mental health organizations…to promote legislation that strengthens background checks, research, and other methods to control access to firearms.” In addition, “APA strongly opposes rhetoric that would link violent acts of hate and mass shootings to mental illness.”

Related Links:

— “APA supports LGBTQ community in wake of nightclub shooting “Nancy Hemphill, Healio, November 22, 2022