HealthDay (2/26) reported researchers “examined the association between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and intracerebral hemorrhage,” findings that “rates of intracerebral hemorrhage were 11% in people who’d been prescribed antidepressants and 14% in those who had not.” Included in the study were “nearly 128,000 people who had a stroke between 2010 and 2019.” The findings are slated for presentation “at the American Academy of Neurology’s virtual annual meeting, April 17-22.”

Related Links:

— “Common Antidepressants Won’t Raise Risk for Bleeding Strokes: Study “Robert Preidt, HealthDay, February 26, 2021

The Chicago Tribune (2/26, Schoenberg) reported as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, some physicians are pushing back against the stigma of seeking mental health services. The medical profession traditionally “celebrates stamina at the expense of self-care,” and many physicians are concerned about seeking mental health services because of “state medical boards that ask intimidating questions about mental health.”

Related Links:

— “Doctors under stress from COVID-19 say they need mental health services: ‘We’re human beings, just like everyone else’ “Nara Schoenberg, The Chicago Tribune, February 26, 2021

Forbes (2/26) contributor Deb Gordon wrote, “Nearly 29 million Americans have an eating disorder in their lifetime – 5.5 million in any given year – at an annual cost to the healthcare system of $4.6 billion, according to a Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders… report [PDF] from the National Academy for Eating Disorders,” and hospitalizations for eating disorders “average 14 days [PDF] and $19,400 – the longest and costliest mental and/or substance use disorder admissions.” Forbes adds that a new California “law requires insurers to cover all medically necessary mental health services, according to American Psychiatric Association guidelines rather than insurers’ internal policies.”

Related Links:

— “Despite Progress, Patients Still Struggle With Insurance Coverage For Eating Disorder Treatment “Deb Gordon, Forbes, February 26, 2021

HealthDay (2/25, Preidt) reports researchers found “that mental illness isn’t a factor in most mass shootings or other types of mass murder.” The findings were published in Psychological Medicine.

Related Links:

— “Mental Illness Not a Factor in Most Mass Shootings ” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, February 25, 2021

HealthDay (2/25, Norton) reports researchers found in a preliminary study that “people with Alzheimer’s disease often have a history of depression or anxiety, which might mean an earlier emergence of memory and thinking problems.” The findings were presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting.

Related Links:

— “History of Mental Illness Tied to Earlier Onset of Alzheimer’s Disease “Amy Norton, HealthDay, February 25, 2021

Healio (2/25, Gramigna) reports researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis and concluded that “childhood AD/HD appeared linked to increased risk for a subsequent psychotic disorder.” The review study was published in JAMA Psychiatry.

Psychiatric News (2/25) also covers the study.

Related Links:

— “Childhood ADHD diagnosis increases risk for subsequent psychotic disorder “Joe Gramigna, Healio, February 25, 2021

Psychiatric News (2/24) reports, “More than half of individuals living in a large metropolitan county in North Carolina who died suddenly outside the hospital had at least one diagnosed mental illness or substance use disorder in the previous five years, and more than one-third had two or more,” investigators concluded after screening “for sudden deaths attended by emergency medical services in Wake County, N.C., from March 1, 2013, to February 28, 2015.” The study revealed that among people “with mental and/or substance use disorders, cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic conditions were common.” The findings were published online Feb. 17 in Psychiatric Services, a publication of the American Psychiatric Association.

Related Links:

— “Mental Illness, Substance Use Disorders Found Common Among Individuals Who Die Suddenly, Psychiatric News, February 24, 2021

Medscape (2/24, Brunk, Subscription Publication) reports Dr. Jonathan Alpert, chair of the APA’s Council on Research, spoke “during an annual psychopharmacology update held by the Nevada Psychiatric Association” about the link between chronic medical conditions and depression. Dr. Alpert said depression is 2-10 times more common among people with chronic medical conditions, especially those with chronic pain. Dr. Alpert also said, “About 60% of adults over 65 have two or more chronic conditions, of which depression is the single most common comorbidity.”

Related Links:

— Medscape (requires login and subscription)

The Wall Street Journal (2/23, Chaker, Subscription Publication) reports a survey conducted by researchers at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education suggests that many Americans have felt lonely during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that young adults and mothers have been particularly affected by this trend.

Related Links:

— “Pandemic Loneliness Is Hitting Young Adults Especially Hard “Anne Marie Chaker, The Wall Street Journal, February 23, 2021

Healio (2/23, Gramigna) reports, “The prevalence of adverse mental health symptoms among U.S. adults remained elevated in the later phase of the COVID-19 pandemic vs. prepandemic,” investigators concluded after conducting “a survey study between August 28, 2020, and Sept. 6, 2020,” that “analyzed data of 5,186 U.S. adults aged 18 years or older who completed 139-item online surveys through Qualtrics for the COVID-19 Outbreak Public Evaluation Initiative.” The findings were published online Feb. 19 in a research letter in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Adverse mental health symptoms remain elevated among U.S. adults in pandemic’s later phase “Joe Gramigna, Healio, February 23, 2021