Reuters (9/21, Rapaport) reports that in girls, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) may be “more likely to amplify issues with defiance and acting out than problems with depression or anxiety,” researchers found after analyzing “data from 18 previously published studies with a total of about 2,000 participants.” The review’s findings were published online Sept. 21 in Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— “Girls with ADHD often struggle with defiance, conduct issues,” Lisa Rapaport, Reuters, September 21, 2016.

Healio (9/21, Oldt) reports that patients “with mental health disorders had increased risk for suicide three months after discharge from a psychiatric hospital, particularly those who did not receive outpatient health care six months before hospital admission,” researchers found after evaluating “national retrospective longitudinal cohort of inpatients in the Medicaid program who were discharged with a first-listed diagnosis of depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance use disorder and other mental disorder (n = 770,643).”

Also included in the analysis was “a 10% random sample of inpatient adults diagnosed with nonmental disorders (n = 1,090,551).” The findings were published online Sept. 21 in JAMA Psychiatry.

Psychiatric News (9/21) reports the authors of an accompanying editorial emphasized how “very important” it is “to carefully plan and initiate referrals for aftercare.” Under ideal circumstances, “outpatient treatment should be introduced before discharge, so that the patient is familiar with the persons who will care for them after discharge,” the editorialists wrote.

Related Links:

— “Psychiatric inpatients have high risk for suicide after hospital discharge,” Amanda Oldt, Healio, September 21, 2016.

The Los Angeles Times (9/20, Healy) reports in “Science Now” that stress in women may “erase the benefits of a healthful diet,” researchers found. Specifically, the 58-woman study revealed that “suffering a day of stresses…erased the difference between women who got healthy fats and those who got fats more commonly linked to heart disease.” The findings were published Sept. 20 in Molecular Psychiatry. HealthDay (9/20, Thompson) also covers the study.

Related Links:

— “Chill out, ladies. Stress can erase the benefits of your healthful diet,” Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times, September 20, 2016.

Kaiser Health News (9/19, Gold) reports that approximately one out of five US women “will experience depression in her lifetime, twice the number of men.” Currently, “about 15 percent of women take an antidepressant,” but “among women age 40 to 59, that number is nearly 23 percent, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

Related Links:

— “The Women’s Health Issue No One Talks About,” Jenny Gold, Kaiser Health News, September 19, 2016.

HealthDay (9/19, Dallas) reports about two-thirds of parents want middle schools and high schools to teach their students about “how to cope with issues such as stress, depression, bullying and suicide,” in their health classes, according to a survey done by C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health. Many parents responded that their children’s schools do not currently teach about these topics in health classes.

Related Links:

— “2 of 3 Parents Want Schools to Expand Health Education,” Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay, September 19, 2016.

In an article titled “5 Myths About Aging,” Consumer Reports (9/16, Levine) pointed out, “Older people are no more likely than younger ones to be depressed, says Robert Roca, MD, chairman of the American Psychiatric Association’s Council on Geriatric Psychiatry.” When seniors “do become depressed, ‘usually it stems from a loss associated with growing older,’” Dr. Roca explained. He said, “They lose loved ones or friends, they lose their identity because they retire, their physical vigor declines and they can’t do as many activities as they used to.”

Related Links:

— “5 Myths About Aging,” Hallie Levine, Consumer Reports, September 16, 2016.

PBS NewsHour (9/18, Segal) reports a recent spike in suicides in the US has raised concerns about the small number of psychiatric beds in the US for suicidal patients and others in need of psychiatric care. The article points out that the number of psychiatric beds for patients per capita in the US decreased by 95% between 1955 and 2005, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Related Links:

— “Why do suicidal patients wait hours for a hospital bed?,” CORINNE SEGAL, PBS NewsHour, September 18, 2016.

HealthDay (9/18, Dallas) reported, “Internet addiction may signal other mental health issues among college students,” researchers found after evaluating “internet use of 254 freshmen at McMaster University in Ontario.” The findings were scheduled for presentation at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology’s annual meeting.

Related Links:

— “Internet Addiction May Be Red Flag for Other Mental Health Issues: Study,” Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay, September 19, 2016.

The New York Times (9/19, Louis, Subscription Publication) reports a new study suggests that attention deficit disorder (ADD) “is the most common mental health diagnosis among children under 12 who die by suicide.” In evaluating “deaths in 17 states from 2003 to 2012,” researchers “compared 87 children aged 5 to 11 who committed suicide with 606 adolescents aged 12 to 14 who did, to see how they differed.” The findings were published in the journal Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— “More Child Suicides Are Linked to A.D.D. Than Depression, Study Suggests,” CATHERINE SAINT LOUIS, New York Times, September 19, 2016.

Healio (9/15, Oldt) reports, “A literature review” published online Sept. 9 in the American Psychiatric Association’s American Journal of Psychiatry suggested that Food and Drug Administration-approved “hypnotic medications were associated with increased risk for suicidal ideation.” In particular, the study authors “expressed concern regarding benzodiazepine receptor agonist hypnotics, which can cause parasomnias and may lead to suicidal ideation or behavior in individuals not known to be suicidal.”

Related Links:

— “Hypnotics may increase risk for suicidal ideation, suicide,” McCall WV, et al., Healio, September 15, 2016.