The AP (12/13, Johnson) reports “a large Swedish study has” found that people with hypochondriasis “tend to die earlier than people who aren’t hypervigilant about health concerns.” The study “found that people with the diagnosis have an increased risk of death from both natural and unnatural causes, particularly suicide.”

Chronic stress and its effect “on the body could explain some of the difference, the authors wrote.” Dr. Jonathan E. Alpert, “who leads the American Psychiatric Association’s council on research,” said, “It takes a great deal of respect and sensitivity conveyed to patients that this itself is a kind of condition, that it has a name. … And, fortunately, there are good treatments.” The findings were published in JAMA Psychiatry.

MedPage Today (12/13, DePeau-Wilson) also reports on the study.

Related Links:

— “In hypochondria paradox, Swedish study finds a higher death rate in those who fear serious illness,” Carla K. Johnson, Associated Press, December 13, 2023

Reuters (12/12, Lapid) reports, “Children with obesity should receive intensive counseling to promote healthy diet and exercise habits starting at age 6, according to a draft recommendation” issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force on Wednesday. In 2017, the USPSTF “had recommended … that screening for obesity start at age 6.” However, “research since then has shown the effectiveness of intensive behavioral interventions … for achieving a healthy weight and improving the quality of life for children and adolescents, the panel said.”

CNN (12/12, Christensen) reports, “The task force’s draft recommendations do not include weight loss medications or surgery, although it has looked at some research on those interventions.”

Related Links:

— “US panel recommends children with obesity start counseling from age 6,” Nancy Lapid, Reuters, December 12, 2023

HealthDay (12/12, Thompson) reports “gun advocates often claim that mental illness is the driving force behind mass shootings in the United States,” but a new study “argues that gun violence is more likely driven by the massive numbers of firearms available throughout the country, providing easy access.” The findingswere published in the American Journal of Medicine.

Related Links:

— “Firearm Access Drives High Rate of U.S. Gun Deaths, International Study Finds,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, December 12, 2023

Healio (12/12, Capaldo) reports, “Isotretinoin is not associated with an increased risk for suicide or psychiatric conditions on a population level, according to a study.” The researchers found “isotretinoin use was associated with a lower risk of suicide attempt at 2 to 4 years following treatment.” The findings were published in JAMA Dermatology.

Related Links:

— “Isotretinoin not associated with increased risk for suicide, psychiatric conditions,” Gabrielle Capaldo, Healio, December 12, 2023

HCPlive (12/11, Derman) reports, “Cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) are associated with improving anxiety, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life in patients with” AD/HD, “according to a new study.” The research found that “with the CBMP treatment, less patients had to take concomitant” AD/HD “medication, with a reduction of 38.46% in lisdexamfetamine, 15% in methylphenidate, and 14.29% in dexamfetamine.” The findings were published in Neuropsychopharmacology Reports.

Related Links:

— “Cannabis Treatment Linked to Improving Quality of Life in ADHD Patients,” Chelsie Derman, HCPLive, December 11, 2023

Healio (12/11, Weldon) reports, “A rise in child suicides in the United States may be connected to the nation’s opioid crisis, according to a study.” The research “found 48,063 deaths designated as suicides for the 10- to 17-year-old population in the U.S. from 1980 to 2020.” According to the “study, areas of the U.S. that had more exposure to reformulated OxyContin [oxycodone hydrochloride] ‘experienced sharper growth in child suicide rates.’” The findings were published in Demography.

Related Links:

— “Study links ‘shocking’ rise in child suicide rates to opioid crisis,” Rose Weldon, Healio, December 11, 2023

Healio (12/11, Weldon) reports, “A rise in child suicides in the United States may be connected to the nation’s opioid crisis, according to a study.” The research “found 48,063 deaths designated as suicides for the 10- to 17-year-old population in the U.S. from 1980 to 2020.” According to the “study, areas of the U.S. that had more exposure to reformulated OxyContin [oxycodone hydrochloride] ‘experienced sharper growth in child suicide rates.’” The findings were published in Demography.

Related Links:

— “Study links ‘shocking’ rise in child suicide rates to opioid crisis,” Rose Weldon, Healio, December 11, 2023

Youth With ASD More Likely To Be Restrained When Hospitalized, Research Suggests
Psychiatric News (12/11) reports, “Children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more than twice as likely as those without ASD to be restrained while hospitalized, according to a report.” The findings were published in Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— “Youth With Autism More Likely to Experience Restraint in Hospital,” APA Psychiatric News Alert, December 11, 2023

CNN (12/8, Musa) reported that “with growing attention on traumatic brain injury and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, known as CTE, in sports, clinicians and researchers from across the country, including” physicians “from the NFL, are offering guidance on how to prevent further harm in athletes.”

Experts in the fields of “athletic brain injury and long-term cognitive disorders gathered at a summit Friday at the Cantu Concussion Center at Emerson Health in Concord, Massachusetts, ‘to gather and share their findings, with a goal of identifying gaps in current research that need to be addressed,’ according to a consensus statement from the group.”

Related Links:

— “Experts in concussion, NFL leaders gather to identify gaps in knowledge, offer guidelines on preventing brain injuries,” Amanda Muse, CNN, December 8, 2023

Psychiatric News (12/8) reported “skipping breakfast and eating a diet high in foods associated with inflammation (for example, foods fried in oil) may raise the risk of depression, a study” found. Study “participants who ate a pro-inflammatory diet had 1.42 times the odds of having depressive symptoms compared with those who ate an anti-inflammatory diet.” The findings were published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

Related Links:

— “Skipping Breakfast, Pro-Inflammatory Diet Linked to Depressive Symptoms,” APA Psychiatric News Alert, December 8, 2023