Neurology Advisor (11/5, Khaja) reports, “Symptoms of depression and eating disorders are self-reported by treatment-seeking adolescents with obesity, according to study results.” Investigators came to this conclusion after conducting “a parallel, multicenter, randomized clinical trial (Fast Track to Health) between January 2018 and March 2023 at children’s hospitals in Australia to assess changes in self-reported symptoms of depression, eating disorders, and binge eating among adolescents aged 13 to 17 with obesity…and at least 1 cardiometabolic complication.” The findings were published in JAMA Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— “Is Obesity Associated With Depression, Eating Disorders in Adolescents?,” Hibah Khaja, PharmD, Neurology Advisor, November 5, 2024

MedPage Today (11/5, DePeau-Wilson ) reports, “Greater use of virtual mental health care services was linked to a lower risk of suicide-related events, according to a retrospective cohort study” that included “more than 16,000 veterans with prior mental health diagnoses.” The research “showed that a 1% increase in the proportion of mental health care received through telehealth services was associated with a 2.5% decrease in suicide-related events.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

Women Who Have Had Concussions More Likely To Suffer Severe Mental Health Problems Following Childbirth, Study Suggests
HealthDay (11/4, Thompson ) reports, “Women who’ve had concussions are more likely to suffer severe mental health problems following childbirth, a new study shows.” Researchers found that “a history of concussion increased a new mother’s risk of severe mental illness by 25%, after adjusting for other factors.” The findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “History of Concussion Could Raise a New Mom’s Odds for Mental Health Issues,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, November 4, 2024

Psychiatric News (11/4) reports, “As autumn renders the daylight hours shorter and winter creeps closer, a significant percentage of Americans will experience changes in mood, according to the latest APA Healthy Minds poll.” About “two-fifths of Americans (41%) said their mood declines during the winter months.” The poll found that “this is especially true in the Midwest and Northeast, where 52% and 46% of respondents, respectively, said they experience a decline in mood.” APA President Ramaswamy Viswanathan, MD, said, “The winter months have less light, the time change can feel abrupt, and the holidays for some are overwhelming. … It’s helpful to keep tabs on your mood. … If you’re feeling very poorly, consider talking to a mental health clinician, and also know that spring is only a few months away.”

Related Links:

— “Poll Finds Many Americans Experience Changes in Mood as Winter Approaches,” Psychiatric News, November 4, 2024

Healio (11/4, Jenkins ) reports, “Exercise interventions reduced daily alcohol dependence and significantly improved physical and mental health, like heart rate and anxiety, among patients with alcohol use disorder, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis.” The researchers said “the changes in the five outcome indicators of physical and mental status were statistically significant…wh ich proves that exercise can be an adjunctive means of improving the quality of life and reducing the relapse rate of” patients with AUD “in conjunction with clinical treatments.” The findings were published in PLOS ONE.

Related Links:

— “Exercise improves physical, mental health in people with alcohol use disorder,” Cassandra Jenkins, Healio, November 4, 2024

Healio (11/1, Wursta) reports, “According to published results, severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, may be risk factors for decreased bone mineral density, fragility fractures and undiagnosed osteoporosis.” Researchers “performed a longitudinal population-based cohort study of 444,480 patients aged 50 years and older.” The findings were published in the British Journal of General Practice.

Related Links:

— “Mental illness may be associated with fragility fractures, undiagnosed osteoporosis,” Max R. Wursta, Healio, November 1, 2024

Healio (11/1, Kellner ) reports, “Although state laws have expanded access to naloxone, overdose deaths among adolescents and young adults continue to climb, according to data.” Researchers found that “before NALs were implemented, opioid-related deaths rose 7.8% per year,” and “afterward, states with patient-specific NALs saw an increase of 4.7% per year in such deaths, and states with patient-nonspecific NALs experienced increases of 8.7% per year.” The findings were published in JAMA Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— “Study: Naloxone access laws have not reduced youth opioid deaths,” Sara Kellner, Healio, November 1, 2024

Medical Economics (10/31, Littrell) says a study “looked at 200 adults with chronic neck or back pain, and reported that effective physician-patient communication during the initial consultation can have significant implications toward patients’ overall outcomes.” According to one researcher, “patients were better equipped to manage their uncertainties, including fears, anxiety and confidence in their own ability to cope with their condition, as a result of effective communication during their first consultation.” The findings were published in the Journal of Health Communication.

Related Links:

— “Physician-patient communication during initial consultation affects outcomes for chronic pain patients,” Austin Littrell, Medical Economics, October 31, 2024

Oncology Nurse Advisor (10/31, Larson) reports, “Level of psychological distress, anxiety symptoms, and preparedness for cancer survivorship moderate the efficacy of psychosocial interventions in younger breast cancer survivors.” Oncology Nurse Advisor adds, “Pretreatment assessment of these moderators can help clinicians decide which interventions are most appropriate for these patients.” The research was published in JCO Oncology Practice.

Related Links:

— “Efficacy Moderators Identify Beneficial Psychosocial Interventions for Younger BC Survivors,” Jennifer Larsen, Oncology Nurse Advisor, October 31, 2024

Healio (10/29, Jenkins ) reports, “A community coalition-engaged intervention led to a statistically significant reduction in overdose deaths involving any opioid and psychostimulantsother than cocaine, according to a study.” T

he researchers said that the “results suggest that community-focused, data-driven interventions that scale up evidence-based practices with a communications campaign may collectively contribute to successes in addressing the evolving nature of some opioid-involved polysubstance overdose deaths.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Community-engaged intervention reduces polysubstance overdose deaths by 37%,” Cassandra Jenkins, Healio, October 29, 2024