USA Today (8/21, Hoyer) reports that USA Today analysts, using data obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, found “one in six positions — nearly 41,000 — for critical intake workers, doctors, nurses and assistants were unfilled as of mid July,” at Veterans Affairs hospitals. For nine of the VA’s hospitals, the number of vacancies is as high as one in three. In particular, vacancy rates are highest “for psychologists. In 13 regional health care systems, 40 to 64% of psychologist positions are” not currently filled.

Related Links:

— “Half of critical positions open at some VA hospitals,” Meghan Hoyer, USA Today, August 20, 2015.

HealthDay (8/21, Haelle) reports, “People with psoriasis may be twice as likely to experience depression as those without the common skin condition, regardless of its severity,” according to a study slated for presentation at a dermatology meeting. Researchers arrived at the study’s conclusion after analyzing “the responses of more than 12,000 US adults in the 2009-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted by” the CDC.

Related Links:

— “Psoriasis Linked to Higher Risk of Depression,” Tara Haelle, HealthDay, August 20, 2015.

CNN (8/20, Gallman) reports that according to David Spiegel, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, hypnotherapy is “literally the oldest Western conception of a psychotherapy.” For over 40 years, Spiegel “has been conducting studies about the benefits of hypnosis” and “said there is no doubt that hypnosis works as an effective therapeutic technique to manage pain and kick bad habits.”

Related Links:

— “Not just for TV: Hypnosis legit part of comprehensive treatment plan,” Stephanie Gallman, CNN, August 18, 2015.

The San Antonio Business Journal (8/19, Saporito, Subscription Publication) reports that “an initiative by a San Antonio lawyer has led to the production of a new video from the State Bar of Texas to inspire lawyers struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues to seek help.” The video “uses personal stories from Texas attorneys to show how the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program, or TLAP, can change lives.”

Related Links:

— “New video reaches out to lawyers with substance abuse, mental health issues,” Susan Saporito, San Antonio Business Journal, August 18, 2015.

The Telegraph (UK) (8/19, Knapton) reports that researchers in the UK who “studied 2,000 teenagers to see if their social groups could influence how they felt about life” discovered that “having mentally stable, happy friends helped to improve the mood of those who were depressed.” Interestingly, “depressed people did not seem to have an impact on the state of mind of those around them,” the study revealed. The findings appeared in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Related Links:

— “Depression is not contagious but an upbeat mood is, say scientists,” Sarah Knapton, The Telegraph, August 19, 2015.