US News & World Report (10/31, Leonard) reports that, according to a viewpoint articlepublished online Oct. 30 in JAMA Psychiatry, “complications from smoking, such as heart disease, lung disease and cancer,” appear to be shortening the lives of people with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. In fact, people with mental illnesses appear to smoke at twice the rate of people without mental disorders. Researchers point “to the acceptance of smoking in treatment facilities, the physical needs of someone who has a mental illness, the lack of collaboration between behavioral health and public health agencies and insufficient Medicaid funding for tobacco control.”

Related Links:

— “An Ignored Group of Smokers: People With Mental Illness, “Kimberly Leonard, US News & World Report, October 30, 2013.

Reuters (10/31, Pittman) reports that, according to a review of 14 studies published online Oct. 30 in PLoS One, online groups and social media may be a source of support for troubled teens who may be at increased risk for suicide and self-harm. However, they may also heighten those risks by exposing those adolescents to endorsements of self-harm. In some cases, online groups and social media may also harbor cyber-bullies who pick on vulnerable teens.

The NPR (10/31, Shute) “Shots” blog reports that the review also found a strong association “between online forums and increased risk of suicide, a risk not found with other forms of social networking.”

Related Links:

— “Online forums a ‘mixed bag’ for depressed youth, “Genevra Pittman, Reuters, October 30, 2013.

Medscape (10/31, Osterweil) reports that research published online in the Annals of Oncology indicate that during “the year after a cancer diagnosis, adolescents and young adults are at more than twice the risk of attempting or committing suicide.”

HealthDay (10/31) reports that researchers looked at data on about 8 million Swedish people “aged 15 to 30.” The investigators “found that those with a cancer diagnosis had a 60 percent greater risk of suicide or attempted suicide compared to similar young people without cancer.” The researchers found that “the risk peaked the first year after diagnosis, when it was 150 percent higher.”

Related Links:

— “Suicide a Risk for Young Cancer Patients, Study Finds, “Steven Reinberg, HealthDay, October 30, 2013.

Medwire (10/30, Grasmo) reports that, according to a study published online Oct. 19 in the journal Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, “patients with bipolar disorder who reside in the United States have a higher parental incidence of bipolar disorder [BD] and depression than those who live in Europe.” The analysis of self-reported data from 525 patients with BD during the years 1995–2002 revealed that “21% of US patients had one parent with a history of bipolar disorder, compared with 10% of European patients, while in 15% versus 4% of patients both parents had bipolar or unipolar depression.”

Related Links:

— “Parental bipolar history common in US bipolar patients, “Ingrid Grasmo, Medwire News, October 30, 2013.

MedPage Today (10/30, Petrochko) reports that, according to an oral presentation given at the annual conference of the American Academy of Pediatrics, “participation in extracurricular activities, sports or otherwise, may be protective against bullying behaviors in children.” After analyzing data on some 62,215 youngsters ranging in age from six to 17, researchers found that “students who engaged in a nonsport extracurricular activity and played sports were significantly less likely to engage in bullying (odds ratio 0.67, 95% CI 0.57-0.79).”

Related Links:

— “After-School Activities May Curb Bullying, “Cole Petrochko, MedPage Today, October 29, 2013.

HealthDay (10/26, Norton) reported that youngsters who have sustained head injuries or concussions appear to “have a much higher-than-average rate of depression,” according to a study presented at the national conference of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Researchers came to this conclusion after analyzing data from “a 2007 nationally representative study covering nearly 82,000” youngsters and adolescents younger than age 18.

Medscape (10/28, McNamara) quotes the study’s lead author, who said, “Our take-home message is that knowledge of this association may help parents and” physicians “identify children at risk for depression and initiate therapy of this treatable” condition.

Kids, Teens With Concussions May Need Short Break From School. The New York Times (10/27, Hoffman) “Well” blog reported that yesterday at its annual conference as well as online in the journal Pediatrics, “the American Academy of Pediatrics issuedrecommendations (10/23) for ‘return to learn’ checklists to alert doctors, school administrators and parents to potential cognitive and academic challenges to students who have suffered concussions.”

The Time (10/27, Sifferlin) “Healthland” blog reported that even though kids “may appear to be physically normal after having a concussion, they may actually have trouble learning new information and retaining it.” Returning to school too quickly “may exacerbate these symptoms.” The guidelines recommend that children with particularly severe symptoms may need to stay home from school. Previous research has shown that it may take up to three weeks before a child is fully recovered from a concussion.

Related Links:

— “Kids With Head Injuries May Be Prone to Depression, “Amy Norton, HealthDay, October 25, 2013.

HealthDay (10/25, Dallas) reports that research published in Neurology suggests that individuals “who take certain commonly used blood pressure medications have a significantly lower risk for Alzheimer’s disease than” individuals who do not use the medications. Researchers looked at data on approximately 2,200 individuals aged between 75 and 96 years. The investigators found that “regular use” of “diuretics, ARBs and ACE inhibitors” reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s.

Related Links:

— “Common Blood Pressure Drugs Tied to Lower Risk of Alzheimer’s: Study, “Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay, October 24, 2013.

Reuters (10/25, Raven) reports that research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology suggests that depression may not increase an individual’s risk of developing cancer. Investigators came to this conclusion after analyzing data from more than 14,000 individuals over a period of 15 years.

Related Links:

— “No link between depression and cancer risk: study, “Kathleen Raven, Reuters, October 24, 2013.

On Wednesday evening, Vice President Joe Biden and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius both appeared at the inaugural gala of the Kennedy Forum Mental Health Summit held in Boston, Massachusetts. The forum, which includes a day-long conference today, commemorates the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy’s signing of the Community Mental Health Act, a law that funded mental health centers throughout the US.

The Boston Globe (10/24, Conaboy) reports that Vice President Biden “said Wednesday night that the United States is ‘on the cusp’ of major changes in how mental illness is diagnosed and treated.” In addition, Biden “called provisions of the Affordable Care Act that list treatment for mental illness and substance use disorders as essential health benefits that insurers must pay for.” Also lauding the ACA “as a boon for people suffering from mental illness” was HHS Secretary Sebelius.

Related Links:

— “US ‘on the cusp’ of mental health advances, Biden says, “Chelsea Conaboy, The Boston Globe, October 23, 2013.

USA Today (10/24, Kennedy) reports, “A key part of mental health policy – the final rule on mental health parity – has been delayed…because of the government shutdown this month, said” Jeffrey Lieberman, MD, president of the American Psychiatric Association. Officials with the Obama Administration “say the rule will be issued by the end of the year, and that it entered the final stage of review Monday.” Dr. Lieberman also called the Affordable Care Act “a ‘pivotal moment’ for mental health care…because it will help with homelessness and crime, which are both driven by mental illness.”

Related Links:

— “JFK’s vision for mental health care languishing?, “Kelly Kennedy, USA Today, October 23, 2013.