The NPR (3/6, Jaffe) “Morning Edition” program and “Shots” blog report that “antipsychotics are much less effective than non-drug treatments in controlling the symptoms of dementia, according to a” review (3/6) published March 4 in the British Medical Journal. Researchers arrived at that conclusion after examining “more than two decades of scientific studies.” The review’s authors “say the treatments that showed the best results were the ones that trained caregivers how to communicate calmly and clearly, and to introduce hobbies or other activities for the patient.” The piece also notes that the FDA has warned that “antipsychotics increase the risk of death for people with dementia.”

Related Links:

— “Behavioral Therapy Helps More Than Drugs For Dementia Patients,” Ina Jaffe, National Public Radio, March 5, 2015.

HealthDay (3/6, Preidt) reports that research to be presented at the American College of Cardiology’s annual meeting suggests that “treating depression with antidepressants may have an added bonus: reducing heart risks.” Investigators looked at data on approximately 5,300 individuals “with moderate to severe depression.” The researchers found that those “who took antidepressants alone had a 53 percent lower risk of death, heart disease and stroke over three years than those who did not take antidepressants or statins.”

Related Links:

— “Easing Depression May Boost Heart Health, Study Finds,” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, March 5, 2015.

The AP (3/6, Stobbe) relays that a report released March 5 by the CDC reveals that “the suicide rate for girls and young women in the US continues to rise, at a pace far faster than for young males.” The reason for the steady increase in female suicides remains unclear, but “one expert said it may be because more girls and young women are hanging themselves or using other forms of suffocation.”

The NBC News (3/6, Fox) website reports that CDC researchers, led by suicide expert Thomas Simon, PhD, found that “during 1994-2012, suicide rates by suffocation increased, on average, by 6.7 percent and 2.2 percent annually for females and males, respectively,” they wrote in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Related Links:

— “REPORT: SUICIDES BY GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN CONTINUE TO CLIMB,” Mike Stobbe, Associated Press, March 5, 2015.

The Washington Post (3/6, Paquette) “Wonkblog” reports that during the years from 1999 to 2011, “death rates climbed substantially among only white women, ages 15 to 54.” A study released March 5 from the Urban Institute has now “attributed half the rise to ‘accidental poisoning,’ or drug overdoses” from prescription painkillers (opioids). In fact, “deaths from painkiller overdoses among women have increased more than 400 percent since 1999, the CDC reports, compared with 265 percent among men.”

Related Links:

— “Why death rates among white women are soaring,” Danielle Paquette, Washington Post, March 5, 2015.

Bloomberg News (3/12, Cao) reports that according to a survey conducted by the National Safety Council, “About one in seven believe it’s appropriate to share” prescription opioids “with friends and family.” Additionally, 28% believe sharing is “slightly risky,” with “little or no negative consequences,” while 26% believe “it’s a misdemeanor.” Just 32% realize it’s a felony, “punishable by at least a year in jail.”

Related Links:

— “Most Painkiller Users Don’t Know Opioid Sharing Is Felony,” Jing Cao, Bloomberg News, March 11, 2015.