HealthDay (1/12, Thompson ) reported that individuals “who use exposure therapy to overcome one phobia can find themselves less afraid of other things, according to the results of a study.” Investigators found that “people who underwent exposure therapy for spiders wound up experiencing an average 15% reduction in their fear of heights.” The findings were published in Translational Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Overcoming One Phobia Might Ease Other Fears, Study Finds,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, January 12, 2024

Healio (1/12, Herpen) reported, “In a cohort of adults with traumatic brain injury, level of impairment for those who exhibited cognitive impairment after 6 months was directly correlated to TBI severity, according to” a study.

The findings were published in JAMA Network.

Related Links:

— “Degree of cognitive impairment after 6 months dependent on TBI severity,” Robert Herpen, MA, Healio, January 12, 2024

HCP Live (1/12, Campbell ) reported, “Looking to avoid physician burnout? A new study suggests taking vacation time and avoiding work while on vacation could be a good place to start.” Conducted by American Medical Association scientists, the study results “suggest more than 50%” of physicians “were taking 15 or fewer vacation days per year, with 1 in 5 taking 5 or fewer, and 70% reporting performing work on the typical vacation day.” The results were published in JAMA Network.

Related Links:

— “Physicians Who Take Vacation Time, Avoid Working on Vacation Less Likely to Suffer Burnout,” Patrick Campbell, HCP Live, January 12, 2024

HCP Live (1/12, Derman) reported, “Physical activity could help prevent depression in older adults, according to new research.” Investigators came to this conclusion after looking at “data from 3 studies: Health and Retirement Study, Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe, and Korean Longitudinal Study.” The findings were published in Sports Medicine.

Related Links:

— “Physical Activity Linked to Decreased Risk of Depression in Older Adults,” Chelsie Derman, HCP Live, January 12, 2024

The AP (1/11, Aleccia ) reports, “A preliminary review of side effects from popular drugs used to treat diabetes and obesity shows no link with suicidal thoughts or actions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.” However, the agency “also said officials cannot definitively rule out that ‘a small risk may exist’ and that they’ll continue to look into reports regarding more than a dozen drugs, including Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro.”

Reuters (1/11, Satija, Sunny) reports that health care professionals “should monitor their patients for new or worsening depression, suicidal thoughts, or any unusual changes in mood or behavior, consistent with the prescribing information for the drugs, the FDA said,” adding that the agency will “announce its final recommendations after completing its review.”

Related Links:

— “Drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy show no link with suicide, FDA says,” Jonel Aleccia, Associated Press, January 11, 2024