Medscape (9/27, Davenport) reported that a new position statement “released by the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research” and published online Sept. 25 in the journal World Psychiatry, “emphasizes that there is epidemiologic, basic scientific, and clinical evidence to show that diet both influences risk for and outcomes of mental health disorders.” Because “a number of nutrients are linked to brain health,” the position statement also “calls for more robust research to determine the clinical impact of dietary changes and to identify biomarkers.”

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— Medscape (requires login and subscription)

HealthDay (9/26, Preidt) reported, “People with sleep apnea are at increased risk for depression, but continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for their apnea may ease their depression,” according to the results of a 293-participant study published in the September issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

Related Links:

— “Sleep Apnea May Raise Risk of Depression,” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, September 25, 2015.

Reuters (9/24) reports that the American Psychiatric Association recently told regulators that mergers of major health insurers could reduce access to mental healthcare.

Related Links:

— “U.S. insurance mega mergers could hurt care: psychiatric group,” Caroline Humer, Reuters, September 24, 2015.

The Huffington Post (9/24) reports that research suggests that “white men are more likely to face depression associated with stressful life events than black men or women of any race.” The study included nearly 6,000 adults.

Related Links:

— “White Men Have Less Life Stress, But Are More Prone To Depression Because Of It,” Erin Schumaker, Huffington Post, September 23, 2015.

The Chicago Tribune (9/23) and Forbes report that the study, published online in American Journal of Preventive Medicine, used data from the United Kingdom Women’s Cohort Study, following 12,778 women age 37 to 78 over a 12-year period. The women were divided into three groups based on self-assessments of their fidgeting habits: low, middle, or high. Among the women who did not fidget, the researchers “found that women who sat for seven or more hours daily had a 30 percent increased risk of dying from any cause,” compared to those who sat less than five hours a day. Meanwhile, “middle or high fidgeters saw no increased risk.”

Related Links:

— “Fidget While You Work: It May Be Good For Your Health,” Alice G. Walton, Forbes, September 23, 2015.