HCPlive (3/28, Derman) reported, “A new national survey reported that healthcare [professionals] prioritize quality of life, long-term symptom management, and treatment consistency for patients with bipolar I disorder and schizophrenia.” The survey of 127 psychiatrists and 126 nurse practitioners/physician assistants, conducted online by The Harris Poll, found that “medication adherence was a top concern for healthcare [professionals] when selecting treatments for bipolar I disorder (36%) and schizophrenia (41%). Other concerns included manic (32%) and depressive (31%) episodes for bipolar I disorder, and patients’ ability to take medication as prescribed (41%) and maintain independence and complete daily living activities (38%).” The survey “found that most [professionals] (97%) often look for treatment options that minimize the number of different treatments their patient needs at once.” In addition, “new treatments are more likely to be adopted if included in clinical guidelines and accessible through insurance, with [professionals] valuing strong clinical research and patient experiences.”

Related Links:

— “Survey: Providers Prioritize QoL, Long-Term Care in BPD, Schizophrenia,” Chelsie Derman, HCPLive, March 28, 2025

HealthDay (3/28, Thompson ) reported a study found that “about 40% of troubled 8- to 20-year-olds reported social media use that could be problematic, saying that they feel discontented, disconnected and upset when they can’t log on to their favorite sites.” Researchers found that “these young people also had higher levels of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts, as well as poorer overall well-being, compared to peers in treatment who weren’t overly attached to social media.” In addition, “troubled young people hooked on social media had higher levels of substance abuse.” Researchers stated, “What we often see is that the characteristics of problematic use mirror those of addiction, with continued use even when wanting to stop, cravings, interference with daily tasks and activities, deceptive use, interpersonal disruptions and more.” The study was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

Related Links:

— “Social Media Can Drag Down Troubled Young People,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, March 28, 2025

The AP (3/27, Seitz ) reports, “In a major overhaul, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will lay off 10,000 workers and shut down entire agencies, including ones that oversee billions of dollars in funds for addiction services and community health centers across the country.”

CNN (3/27, Tirrell , Luhby , Goodman , Gumbrecht ) reports, “In its announcement, HHS said it will consolidate from 28 to 15 divisions, including a new Administration for a Healthy America, and will reduce regional offices from 10 to five.”

Related Links:

— “Health and Human Services will lay off 10,000 workers and close agencies in a major restructuring,” Amanda Seitz, Associated Press, March 27, 2025

Psychiatric News (3/27) reports a systematic review and meta-analysis shows that “nearly a quarter of referrals to psychiatric emergency departments (PEDs) in the United States are made by police, a rate dramatically higher than the global average.” According to the review, “patients referred to PEDs by police tended to be homeless males with a diagnosis of substance use and/or psychotic disorders and were more likely to display aggressive behavior.” On average, “13.7% of PED admissions globally were referred by police, compared with 22.8% in the United States. Compared with patients not referred by police, police-referred patients globally were more than four times as likely to show aggressive behavior, 1.84 times as likely to be homeless, and 1.33 times and 1.45 times as likely to have a diagnosis of a substance use or a psychotic disorder, respectively.” The review was published in Psychiatric Services.

Related Links:

— “Individuals in U.S. More Likely to Be Referred to Psychiatric EDs by Police Than in Other Countries,” Psychiatric News, March 27, 2025

Medscape (3/27, Cotelo, Subscription Publication) reports a study found “the use of antidepressants has been linked to a 2% weight gain in patients who used this treatment at any point during a 6-year follow-up.” According to researchers, “the average weight gain after 6 years was 0.53 kg (1.01% of body weight), and 24.5% of participants gained more than 5% of their body weight.” They said the “data indicate that women, individuals under 55, and those with normal weight at the start of the study were more likely to experience” weight gain with antidepressant use. They concluded, “All individuals taking antidepressants had a higher likelihood of weight gain and developing obesity, with the risk increasing for those with continued use of these medications.” The study was published in Frontiers in Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— Medscape (requires login and subscription)