Kaiser Health News (3/24, Gillespie) reports that a study (3/24) published in the February issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry suggests that “for every dollar spent on treating depression, almost five dollars is spent on the treatment and workplace costs of related medical conditions like back and chest pain, sleep disorders and migraines – placing a greater financial burden on businesses and the health care system” in the US. The study “used data from adults 18 to 64 diagnosed with major depressive disorder in 2005 or 2010 from an OptumHealth claims database and from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.” Robert Roca, who chairs the American Psychiatric Association’s council on geriatric psychiatry and who was not involved with the study, “says the gradual integration of mental health care into primary care means more people may be diagnosed early and treated. ‘The ACA sets the stage for this kind of integration effort, and I’m optimistic that we’ll see benefit down the road.’”

Related Links:

— “Depression, Related Ailments Take Their Toll On The Workplace, Study Finds,”Lisa Gillespie, Kaiser Health News , March 23, 2015.

NPR (3/23, Aubrey) reports in its “Shots” blog on new research that suggests that the “black and white” thinking that there are “alcoholics and everyone else” is being challenged. Dr. John Mariani, a Columbia University researcher, “says that the thinking has evolved, and that the field of psychiatry recognizes there’s a spectrum.” Furthermore, “the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has a whole list of tips aimed at cutting down — everything from drinking tracker cards that you can keep in your wallet to help you track your drinking when you go out, to strategies for handling urges.”

Related Links:

— “Rethinking Alcohol: Can Heavy Drinkers Learn To Cut Back?,”Allison Aubrey, NPR, March 23, 2015.

The CBS News (3/23) website reported that today’s marijuana is “more potent by far than the weed sold a generation ago, according to new data being presented Monday at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS).” Charas Scientific researcher Andy LaFrate, PhD, said, “I would say the average potency of marijuana has probably increased by a factor of at least three. We’re looking at average potencies right now of around 20 percent THC.” The National Institute on Drug Abuse “says the potency of marijuana has been steadily increasing over the past few decades, but a level of 20 or 30 percent THC is even greater than the institute has reported in the past.”

Related Links:

— “Marijuana far more potent than it used to be, tests find, The CBS News, March 23, 2015.

The Boston Globe (3/27, Schworm, Rocheleau) reports that a statement “by authorities that the copilot of a Germanwings flight deliberately crashed the airliner into the French Alps on Tuesday is renewing questions about whether the aviation industry does enough to screen for mental illness.” Some experts now “argue for a more rigorous system,” given “the enormous stress of the job and the hundreds of lives at stake.” Most airlines “conduct psychological testing during the hiring process, experts said, and applicants that show signs of instability are quickly weeded out,” but once pilots have been hired, they “undergo yearly medical exams that do not include psychological tests.”

Related Links:

— “US system has scant mental health scrutiny,”Peter Schworm and Matt Rocheleau, The Boston Globe , March 26, 2015.

The Hill (3/21, Marcos) “Floor Action” blog reported that the Medical Evaluation Parity for Service Members Act, introduced in the House of Representatives last week, “would require new military recruits to undergo a mental health assessment.” The two sponsors of the measure, Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) and Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), “said it would help the military identify behavior issues early before they manifest into serious psychological problems like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).” Companion legislation has been introduced into the Senate by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA).

Related Links:

— “Bill would require mental health evaluations of new military recruits,”Cristina Marcos, The Hill, March 20, 2015.