Parents Of Children With Cancer Face Increased Risk For Suicide Attempt Within First 7 Years After Child’s Diagnosis, Study Finds

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

Researchers Identify Factors Associated With Higher Risk Of Suicidal Thoughts At Age 16

CNN (1/25, Rogers ) reports, “Being socially withdrawn and experiencing physical discomforts as a preteen is associated with a higher risk of having suicidal thoughts at age 16, according to” a study.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— “If your teen is socially withdrawn, be on the lookout for more serious problems, study suggests,” Kristen Rogers, CNN, January 25, 2024

Patients With Autoimmune Disease Had 30% Higher Risk For Perinatal Depression, While Patients With Perinatal Depression Had 30% Higher Risk For Subsequent Autoimmune Disease, Study Finds

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

FDA warns supplements containing tianeptine linked to seizures, loss of consciousness, death

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

KLAS Survey Finds Clinician Burnout Rates Still Above Pre-Pandemic Levels

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

Blood Pressure Drug May Help Ease Anxiety In People With Autism, Small Study Suggests

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

Mental Health Interventions Reduce Inflammatory Biomarkers In Patients With IBD, Research Finds

HCP Live (1/24, Brooks) reports, “The clinical impact of treatment interventions for mood may span beyond mental health, according to findings from a recent systematic review and meta-analysis.” The research “showed treatments addressing mood outcomes also demonstrated beneficial effects for general inflammation and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-specific biomarkers, further detailing the greater impact of psychological interventions for accentuating the effect on biomarkers and objective disease outcomes.” The findings were published in eBiomedicine.

Related Links:

— “Mental Health Interventions Reduce Inflammatory Biomarkers in IBD by 18%,” Abigail Brooks, MA, HCP Live, January 24, 2024

Anxiety, Depression Symptoms Increased In Trigger States Following Dobbs Abortion Decision, Study Finds

HCP Live (1/23, Derman) reports, “Anxiety and depression symptoms increased in trigger states (states where Dobbs triggered a pre-existing ban on abortion) following the Dobbs abortion decision overturning Roe vs. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, according to a new study” published in JAMA Open Network. In the study, researchers “compared changes in symptoms in the 13 trigger states (159, 854 respondents) and the 37 non-trigger states (558,899 respondents).” They found “respondents in trigger states had a mean PHQ-4 of 3.51 which increased to a score of 3.81 post-Dobbs decision. Moreover, the team observed a significantly greater increase in the mean Patient Health Questionnaire-4 in trigger states versus non-trigger.”

Related Links:

— “Anxiety, Depression Symptoms Increase Post-Dobbs Abortion Decision,” Chelsie Derman, , January 23, 2024

70% of children drop of out organized sports by age 13 due to injuries, overtraining, and burnout

ABC News (1/22, Hannon) reports, “Injuries, overtraining and burnout are contributing to a high dropout rate in youth sports, according to a new report from the nation’s leading group of pediatric doctors.” The report from the American Academy of Pediatrics “found that 70% of kids drop out of organized youth sports by age 13.” Additionally, “nearly 1 in 10 youth athletes experience burnout, and as many as 35% experience overtraining, according to the report.”

Related Links:

— “Leading pediatric group warns competitive youth sports are leading to burnout, injuries,” Dr. Erin Hannon, ABC News, January 22, 2024