Psychiatric News (6/13) says, “For every 22 extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs) issued in Connecticut, one suicide is prevented, according to a report in JAMA Network Open. ERPOs, also known as red flag gun laws, allow firearms to be removed from people at high risk of self-injury or injury to others.” Researchers concluded, “As policymakers attempt to learn how to use ERPOs most effectively and equitably, the heterogeneous U.S. landscape presents an opportunity for future studies to identify and learn more about the effect of different ERPO implementation approaches, which, in turn, could help guide policy and legislative decisions.”

Related Links:

— “About 1 in 20 Risk Protection Orders To Remove a Firearm Prevent a Suicide, Researchers Find, Psychiatric News, June 13, 2024

The New York Times (6/13, Rosenbluth) says, “Many firearm owners in the United States do not securely store their guns, even when the weapon is kept loaded and there are children in the home, according to a report released on Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” The report “found that many gun owners kept weapons unlocked and loaded in their homes despite rising rates of suicides involving guns and firearm fatalities among children.” In all eight states where people were surveyed, “about half of respondents who reported having loaded firearms in their homes said that at least one loaded gun was kept unlocked, a finding consistent with similar studies about firearm storage behavior.”

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

HealthDay (6/13, Thompson ) reports, “Bipolar disorder doesn’t have to be a lifelong challenge, a new study says. Nearly 1 in 4 people with bipolar disorder wind up achieving complete mental health, researchers found.” Additionally, “more than 2 in 5 become free from bipolar symptoms over time, results show.” The findings were published in the Journal of Affective Disorders Reports.

Related Links:

— “Nearly 1 in 4 People With Bipolar Disorder Achieve Complete Mental Health,”Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, June 13, 2024

The Washington Post (6/14, Ortega) reported, “Black adolescents’ experiences with racial discrimination may put them at higher risk of depression and anxiety, according to a study published [last] week in JAMA Network Open that sheds light on the long-term impact of racism.” For the study, researchers “pulled data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, a nationwide project funded by the National Institutes of Health that collects data on children’s health and brain development.” In addition to reviewing surveys collected from these participants, researchers used fMRIs of their amygdalas “to better understand the role it plays in Black youths’ responses to threats such as racism.” They “found a correlation between youths whose amygdala shut down in response to negative stimuli and increased reporting of internalizing symptoms – including anxiety and depression.”

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— “The Washington Post (requires login and subscription)

The AP (6/17, Johnson ) reports, “A new study documents lost opportunities to treat drug overdose survivors covered by the Medicare program – and illustrates the difficulty of managing chronic pain.” Medicare beneficiaries “who survived a drug overdose in 2020 were much more likely to later receive opioid painkillers than any medication to treat addiction – and some went on to die of an overdose.” In the study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, “researchers found 53% of overdose survivors received opioid painkillers while 4% received treatments such as buprenorphine. Only 6% filled prescriptions for the overdose antidote naloxone. Within a year of their overdose, 17% experienced a second nonfatal overdose and 1% died of an overdose.”

Related Links:

— “Lost chances to treat overdose survivors are documented in new Medicare study,”Carla K. Johnson, AP, June 17, 2024

Healio (6/14, Young) reported, “Individuals diagnosed with glaucoma may benefit from increased monitoring for dementia symptoms, particularly if they were diagnosed at age 80 years or older, according to a study in Ophthalmology.” In the study, “participants with glaucoma had a more than 35% increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease, about 65% greater risk for vascular dementia and about 55% greater risk for all-cause dementia, regardless of sex.”

Related Links:

— “Increased monitoring for dementia may be needed in patients with glaucoma,”Kate Young, Healio, June 14, 2024

Cardiovascular Business (6/12, Walter ) reports, “Drinking alcohol on a regular basis is associated with a heightened risk of hypertension, according to a new meta-analysis published in Hypertension.” In the study, “overall, the team’s analysis revealed a ‘positive and almost linear association’ between alcohol consumption and hypertension. Risk ratios were 0.89 for individuals who drank no alcohol, 1.11 for those who drank at least 24 g/d, 1.22 for those who drank at least 36 g/d and 1.33 for those who drank at least 48 g/d.”

Related Links:

— “Even moderate alcohol use increases risk of high blood pressure, new meta-analysis confirms,”Michael Walter, Cardiovascular Business, June 12, 2024

HealthDay (6/12, Mundell ) reports, “Depression and memory declines may be closely linked in older people, new research suggests.” Senior study author Dr. Dorina Cadar said, “Our study shows that the relationship between depression and poor memory cuts both ways, with depressive symptoms preceding memory decline and memory decline linked to subsequent depressive symptoms.” However, “in contrast to the finding that memory and depression were closely intertwined, the research did not show a strong relationship between depression and another marker of brain health, verbal fluency.” The results were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Depression Could Take Toll on Memory With Age,”Ernie Mundell, HealthDay, June 12, 2024

Rheumatology Advisor (6/11, Maitlall) reports, “The high prevalence of mental health conditions among individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) emphasizes the need for early screening, intervention, and tailored strategies to mitigate the impact of these conditions on patient outcomes, according to study results published in Rheumatology.” In the study, “among adults with SLE, cognitive impairment, mood disorders, and depressive disorders were the 3 most common mental health conditions, corresponding to prevalence rates of 27.0%, 27.0%, and 22.4%, respectively.”

Related Links:

— “Emotional Wellness Impacts Outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus,”James Maitlall, MD, Rheumatology Advisor, June 11, 2024

The Washington Post (6/11, Beard) reports, “A growing body of evidence suggests the effects of mental health has a disproportionate impact on women’s bodies.” Data recently “presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session in April indicate that depression and anxiety accelerate the development of new cardiovascular disease risk factors, particularly among young and middle-aged women.” Trial participants “with a history of anxiety or depression before the study were about 55 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes compared to those without.” These results were “most pronounced among women with anxiety or depression who were under 50, who were nearly twice as likely to develop cardiovascular risk factors compared with any other group.”

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— “The Washington Post (requires login and subscription)