Endocrinology Advisor (3/4, Nye) reports a study found that “thyroid dysfunction is related with increased risk for depression.” Prior studies “suggest an association between depression and abnormal hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis function.” Researchers concluded, “[T]hyroid dysfunction was associated with depression. Increasing TSH levels were associated with a small increase in the odds of [clinically relevant depression], especially among women, and patients who were not prescribed [antidepressants] or were on [thyroid hormone replacement].” The study was published in Thyroid.

Related Links:

— “Elevated Thyrotropin Levels Associated With Depression,” Jessica Nye, PhD, Endocrinology Advisor, March 4, 2025

Modern Healthcare (3/3, Berryman , Subscription Publication) reports UnitedHealthcare“plans to cut nearly 10% of prior authorizations this year, the company said in a notice Saturday.” Under the “initiative, the insurer said it will remove pre-approval requirements for home health services managed by its home and community division.” These changes, effective April 1, “will apply to Medicare Advantage and dual special needs plans in 36 states and Washington, D.C.” The decision follows a broader industry trend, with other insurers like Cigna and some Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies also reducing prior authorization requirements.

Related Links:

— “UnitedHealthcare to reduce prior authorization requirements,” Berryman, Modern Healthcare, March 3, 2025 — Free Registration Required

Psychiatric News (3/3) reports a study found that “one in 10 buprenorphine initiations is provided via telehealth, and about 20% of those involved no in-person visit within two years prior or 30 days after.” Researchers said, “Our findings suggest that telehealth initiation of buprenorphine without a prior in-person visit is an important pathway for accessing this lifesaving treatment for adults with opioid use disorder.” The study was published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “One in 10 Patients Starts Buprenorphine Treatment for OUD via Telehealth,” Psychiatric News, March 3, 2025

HealthDay (3/3, Thompson ) reports a study suggests that “suicide prevention campaigns are overlooking seniors, even though people 75 and older have the highest rates of suicide for any age group.” Researchers found that “none of the seven most prominent suicide prevention programs include any messaging aimed at at-risk seniors on their web sites.” Moreover, “older adults are ignored even though five of the programs specifically acknowledge older adults as a high-risk population for suicide on those very web sites.” They concluded, “Our hope is that shedding a light on this imbalance may lead to major suicide prevention organizations considering ways to make their resources more easily accessible to older adults.”

The study was published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Seniors Overlooked By Suicide Prevention Programs,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, March 3, 2025

HealthDay (2/28, Thompson ) reported a study suggests that “many young women entering menopause suffer needlessly from symptoms related to the transition” because they think they are too young. Researchers found that “more than half of women aged 30 to 35 have already developed moderate to severe symptoms of impending menopause,” which include “mood swings, delayed or absent periods, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, painful sex, heart palpitations and frequent urination.” Most of these women “wait decades before seeking treatment, under the mistaken belief that menopause symptoms…shouldn’t appear until their 50s, researchers said.” Researchers “said they hope their results will help fill an ‘alarming gap’ in the understanding of perimenopause symptoms among younger women.” The study was published in npj Women’s Health.

Related Links:

— “Young Women Suffer Menopause Symptoms In Silence, Study Says,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, February 28, 2025

HealthDay (2/28, Thompson ) said that people who “regularly exercise have better mental and brain health, researchers will report in early April at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in San Diego and online.” Investigators found that “moderate to vigorous physical activity reduces risk of dementia, stroke, anxiety, depression and sleep disorders.” Researchers said, “With our large number of participants and the use of devices that provide objective measurements of activity levels, these results will have implications for assessing risk factors and developing interventions to prevent the development of these diseases.”

Related Links:

— “Physical Activity Linked to Better Mental, Brain Health,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, February 28, 2025

Psychiatric News (2/28) reported a study suggests that “patients with dementia taking some antidepressants,particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), experienced faster cognitive decline compared with those not taking these medications.” According to the study, “adults taking antidepressants experienced faster cognitive decline during follow-up compared with non-use (an additional 0.3-point loss on the MMSE per year). Among adults who had severe dementia at baseline, those taking antidepressants experience an additional 1.5-point loss on the MMSE per year.” In particular, “three SSRIs on the list – escitalopram, sertraline, and citalopram – were associated with greater cognitive decline compared with non-use. Compared with sertraline, escitalopram presented with faster cognitive decline, while citalopram was linked to a slower cognitive decline.” The study was published in BMC Medicine.

Related Links:

— “SSRIs Associated With Faster Cognitive Decline in Patients With Dementia,” Psychiatric News, February 28, 2025

CNN (3/10, Valinsky ) reports that CVS is set to open about a dozen smaller stores this year, each “about…half the size of its traditional layout and” that “have only a pharmacy.” The initiative is part of CVS’ broader turnaround strategy, which includes over 1,000 store closures and layoffs as the company adapts to changes in the retail pharmacy industry. A CVS spokesperson stated that the smaller stores will cater to community pharmacy needs while providing some over-the-counter products.

Forbes (3/9, Japsen ) reports the news “comes as CVS’ main rival Walgreens Boots Alliance works on a financial turnaround, closes hundreds of stores and prepares for private ownership after Walgreens last week announced a $10 billion sale to Sycamore Partners.” The push for “new sizes and formats has taken on more urgency because both companies have large amounts of debt and face escalating pressure from flat or falling sales of general merchandise in the front of their stores.”

Related Links:

— “CVS is opening smaller stores that only have pharmacies,” Jordan Valinsky, CNN, March 10, 2025

MedPage Today (2/3, George ) reports “headache diagnoses were persistently associated with an increase in attempted and completed suicides, a population study of more than 100,000” patients with headache “in Denmark showed.” Researchers found that “across four types of headache – migraine, tension-type headache, post-traumatic headache, and trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia – the association was robust.” The findings were published in JAMA Neurology.

Related Links:

— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

Psychiatric News (2/3) reports “kindergarten-ag e children who have fathers with depression are more likely than children not exposed to paternal depression to have behavioral problems and poor social skills several years later, a study” found. The researchers said their findings “suggest the need for interventions supporting school-aged children exposed to paternal depression. … Pediatricians, with their frequent contact with families, are well-positioned to address these important needs.” The findings were published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Related Links:

— “Fathers’ Depression May Affect Children’s Behavior, Psychiatric News, January 3, 2025