The New York Times (1/29, Richtel ) reports, “Teenagers who use cannabis, alcohol and nicotine are more likely to have underlying psychiatric symptoms, and worse symptoms, than their peers who are not regularly using substances, new research has found.” Investigators “found that such substances are linked to an array of symptoms and conditions, including anxiety, depression, hyperactivity and suicidal ideation.” Additionally, the research “found that the link between substance use and mental health existed even at low levels of drug and alcohol use.” The study was found in JAMA Pediatrics.

Related Links:

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

The AP (1/27, Shastri ) reported there are “nearly 1,400 federally designated community health centers” that provide “routine medical care, social services and, in some cases, fresh food” to about “one in 11 Americans.” These community health centers “serve as a critical safety net in every state and U.S. territory for low-income people of all ages,” but the “safety net” is “under stress,” as there has been “a 45% increase in the number of people seeking care” since 2012. On top of that, “many centers are short-staffed and struggling to compete for doctors, mental health professionals, nurses and dentists.”

Related Links:

— “Community health centers serve 1 in 11 Americans. They’re a safety net under stress,” Devi Shastri, Associated Press, January 27, 2024

HealthDay (1/26, Thompson ) reported that “a new national study of U.S. college athletes” finds “that women and men recover from sports-related head injuries at about the same pace.” Investigators found that “recovery patterns for both genders were similar on tests of brain function, concussion symptoms, mental health, and balance and reaction time.” Additionally, “there…was no significant difference in the time it took men and women to return to unrestricted participation in sports.” The findings were published in Sports Medicine.

Related Links:

— “Sports Concussion Recovery Time Similar for Men, Women,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, January 26, 2024

Psychiatric News (1/26) reported, “More than half of all first prescriptions for stimulant medications during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic were initiated via telemedicine, a study…has found.” Additionally, the research “suggests that telemedicine was more commonly used by psychiatrists than other health care [professionals] and was associated with greater odds of receiving follow-up care.” The study was published in Psychiatric Services.

Related Links:

— “More Than Half of New Stimulant Prescriptions at Pandemic’s Height Delivered Via Telemedicine,” Psychiatric News, January 26, 2024

Healio (1/25, Kellner) reports, “Parents of children with cancer are at increased risk for suicide attempt within the first 7 years following their child’s diagnosis, according to a population comparison study.” The data indicated that “the risk was higher with certain variables like the child being aged younger than 18 years at diagnosis…being diagnosed with highly aggressive cancer…or dying due to cancer.” The findings were published in PLOS Medicine.

Related Links:

— “Parents of children with cancer at higher risk for suicide attempt,” Sara Kellner, Healio, January 25, 2024

CNN (1/25, Rogers ) reports, “Being socially withdrawn and experiencing physical discomforts as a preteen is associated with a higher risk of having suicidal thoughts at age 16, according to” a study. In the study of more than 2,700 individuals, investigators found that study “participants who experienced social withdrawal and somatic symptoms throughout adolescence were around two to three times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts at age 16.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “If your teen is socially withdrawn, be on the lookout for more serious problems, study suggests,” Kristen Rogers, CNN, January 25, 2024

Healio (1/25, Cooper) reports, “Patients with autoimmune disease demonstrate a 30% higher risk for perinatal depression, while those with perinatal depression have a 30% higher risk for subsequent autoimmune disease, according to” a study. Investigators came to this conclusion after conducting “a nested case-control study to evaluate links between autoimmune disease and subsequent perinatal depression risk, then a matched cohort study to find associations between perinatal depression and later risk for autoimmune disease.” The findings were published in Molecular Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Patients with autoimmune disease have 30% higher risk for perinatal depression,” Justin Cooper, Healio, January 25, 2024

NBC News (1/24, Lovelace ) reports the FDA “issued a new warning late Tuesday about supplements that contain the ingredient tianeptine, commonly known as ‘gas station heroin.’” The supplements – “sold under the name Neptune’s Fix and often found at gas stations, convenience stores and online – are linked to serious side effects including seizures, loss of consciousness and death.” The agency, “which first warned about the tianeptine-containing products in November, said it is still receiving reports of people being poisoned by the supplements.”

Related Links:

— “FDA issues new warning about supplements containing tianeptine,” Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, January 24, 2024

Healthcare IT News (1/24, Fox ) reports the KLAS Arch Collaborative “conducted a [healthcare professional] experience survey focused on clinicians’ use of electronic health records between January 2022 and August 2023” to assess physician and nurse burnout. The organization “says the data in its study, Understanding & Addressing Trends in Physician & Nurse Burnout 2024, indicates that burnout rates are slightly decreasing among doctors and nurses, but are still above pre-pandemic levels.” To address “burnout, doctors and nurses want improved staffing levels, better alignment with leaders and EHR efficiency, while nurses want better compensation.”

Related Links:

— “Fix daily irritants to reduce clinician burnout, KLAS says,” Andrea Fox, Healthcare IT News, January 24, 2024

HealthDay (1/24, Mundell ) reports that research suggests the blood pressure drug propranolol may “help ease anxiety in people with autism.” Investigators “found that people who received propranolol had significantly lower anxiety levels at their three-month checkup.” The study, in which “69 people between the ages of 7 and 24 who had autism were given the drug,” was published in Psychopharmacology.

Related Links:

— “Common Heart Drug Might Lower Anxiety in Kids With Autism,” Ernie Mundell, HealthDay, January 24, 2024