STAT (3/15, Sheridan) reports, “Richer countries have higher rates of anxiety in their population than poorer countries and” such “anxiety also interfered more with daily activities and responsibilities,” researchers from the World Health Organization’s World Mental Health Survey Consortium found. In particular, “there was a higher proportion of people in higher-income countries with generalized anxiety disorder [GAD]…and with severe GAD.” The findings were published online March 15 in JAMA Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Rich countries are more anxious than poorer countries,”Kate Sheridan, STAT, March 15, 2017.

Healio (3/15, Oldt) reports, “Individuals with intermittent explosive disorder had increased risk for substance use disorders,” researchers found after analyzing “data from the community-based National Comorbidity Survey Replication (n = 9,282).” The study’s conclusion “suggests aggressive behavior may be an indicator of substance use disorder risk.” The findings were published online in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Aggression may predict substance use disorder, Healio, March 15, 2017.

Reuters (3/16, Tagaris, Konstantinidis) reports that “Greece Refugees and migrants stuck in Greek camps, including children…are cutting themselves, attempting suicide and using drugs to cope with the ‘endless misery,’ international charities said” this week. Reuters adds, “In reports marking” a “year since the European Union struck a deal with Turkey to stem the flow of refugees and migrants to Greece, Save the Children and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) found anxiety, depression and aggression were” increasing.

Related Links:

— “Migrant mental health crumbles in Greece: rights groups,”Karolina Tagaris, Reuters, March 16, 2017.

Healio (3/15, Oldt) reports, “Individuals recently discharged from inpatient psychiatric treatment had significantly increased risk for premature death, particularly in the first year after discharge,” researchers found after analyzing “data from Danish national registers for 48,599 individuals discharged from inpatient treatment at ages 15 to 44 years.” All “study participants were followed from age 15 years until death, emigration or through December 2011.” The findings were published online March 15 in JAMA Psychiatry.

Psychiatric News (3/15) quotes the study authors, who wrote, “Clinicians should keep these patients safe by serving as a liaison between primary and secondary health care services to ensure patients are receiving holistic care that meets their physical and mental health needs as well as addresses their psychosocial problems.”

Related Links:

— “Risk of Premature Death May Be Highest in Year Following Psychiatric Hospital Discharge,Psychiatric News, March 15, 2017.

HealthDay (3/16, Steele) reports that even though the “US suicide rate has been rising gradually since 2000, suicides in less urban areas are outpacing those in more urban areas,” researchers found in a report published March 17 in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Related Links:

— “U.S. Suicide Rates Rising Faster Outside Cities,” Margaret Farley Steele, HealthDay, March 16, 2017.

MedPage Today (3/16, Walker) reports that research indicated the likelihood “that an opioid-naive patient would become a chronic opioid user increased sharply after as little as 5 days of use.” Additionally, researchers found that “a second opioid prescription or refill and a cumulative dose of 700 morphine-milligram equivalents also led to the sharpest increases in probability of continued opioid use among commercially insured, opioid-naive, cancer-free adults.” The findings were published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Related Links:

— “Longer Initial Opioid Prescription Ups Risk of Chronic Use,”Molly Walker, MedPage Today, March 16, 2017.

Reuters (3/16, Tagaris, Konstantinidis) reports that “Greece Refugees and migrants stuck in Greek camps, including children…are cutting themselves, attempting suicide and using drugs to cope with the ‘endless misery,’ international charities said” this week. Reuters adds, “In reports marking” a “year since the European Union struck a deal with Turkey to stem the flow of refugees and migrants to Greece, Save the Children and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) found anxiety, depression and aggression were” increasing.

Related Links:

— “Migrant mental health crumbles in Greece: rights groups,”Karolina Tagaris, Reuters, March 16 , 2017.

The New York Times (3/15, Bakalar, Subscription Publication) reports, “Background checks and waiting periods for gun purchases are associated with lower suicide rates,” investigators found. The findings were published in the April issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

Related Links:

— “Some Gun Laws Tied to Lower Suicide Rates,”Nicholas Bakalar, The New York Times , March 15, 2017.

Reuters (3/8, Singh) reports that on March 8, the US Department of Veterans Affairs announced “it intends to expand mental health care to former service members with other-than-honorable (OTH) administrative discharges.” Under the proposal, “former OTH service members will be able to seek treatment at a VA emergency department, Vet Center or contact Veterans Crisis Line, the department said in a statement.” Currently, “veterans who do not receive an honorable discharge are not eligible for many” VA benefits, Reuters points out.

According to the AP (3/8, Yen), the department intends to begin implementing the changes in June or July as part of its expanded suicide prevention initiative. Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin said he could not wait for legislation because “this is a national emergency that requires bold action.”

Related Links:

— “U.S. to expand mental health care for some veterans,”Kanishka Singh, Reuters, March 08, 2017.

HealthDay (3/10, Preidt) reported that middle-aged adults who suffer from orthostatic hypotension “may be at increased risk for dementia when they’re older,” researchers found after analyzing “data from more than 11,500 adults, average age 54, who were followed for 20 or more years.” The findings were scheduled for presentation at the American Heart Association meeting.

Related Links:

— “Dizzy Spells in Middle-Age Tied to Dementia Risk Later,” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, March 10, 2017.