In continuing coverage, the Washington Post (5/29, Sun) “To Your Health” blog reports that in an NCHS Data Brief, the CDC has released results of a study suggesting that “women in every age group in the United States were more likely than men to have serious mental health problems.” Researchers arrived at that conclusion after analyzing data from the National Health Insurance Survey. The report “also found that more than one-fourth of people age 65 or older who are afflicted with these mental health problems have difficulty feeding, bathing and dressing themselves,” a finding that “researchers said…was surprising.”

Related Links:

— “Report: Women are more likely to have serious mental health problems than men,” Lena H. Sun, Washington Post, May 28, 2015.

In a 5,700-word piece, the New York Times Magazine (5/31, MM35, Solomon) reports that “antenatal depression, or depression suffered during pregnancy…affects up to 15 percent of expectant women.” When the condition is severe, it poses a dilemma for women who are taking antidepressant medications, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Many women are afraid to take them for fear of harming the fetus. Untreated depression, however, has “been linked in multiple studies to miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, neonatal complications and smaller newborns.”

What’s more, maternal depression may “alter a newborn’s amygdala…while high levels of stress during pregnancy are associated with cognitive impairment and slowed language development.” Women should consult with their physicians on what to do. In some cases, cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapy may provide a medication-free alternative.

Related Links:

— “The Secret Sadness of Pregnancy With Depression,” Andrew Solomon, New York Times Magazine, May 28, 2015.

Kaiser Health News (5/27, Andrews) reports that while it is “clear that second opinions can help individual patients make better medical decisions, there’s little hard data showing that second opinions lead to better health results overall.” A study provided by second-opinion service Best Doctors found that more than 40% of nearly 6,800 examined second opinions “resulted in diagnostic or treatment changes.” Another study reviewing existing research “found that 10 to 62 percent of second opinions resulted in major changes to diagnoses or recommended treatments.” However, it is not clear how outcomes are changed. Hardeep Singh of the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, who co-authored both studies, said, “What is the real diagnosis at the end? The first one or the second one? Or maybe both are wrong.”

Related Links:

— “Second Opinions Often Sought But Value Is Not Yet Proven,” Michelle Andrews, Kaiser Health News, May 26, 2015.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (5/27, Roth) reports in the “largest study of its kind,” researchers at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden have “determined that actual autism rates probably have not changed in recent years, even though diagnoses of autism cases continue to climb.” Researchers “found that about 1 percent of those in an ongoing study of twins met the criteria for having autism, even though the number of officially diagnosed autism cases in the country’s national health registry had climbed steadily over a 10-year-period.”

Related Links:

— “Swedish study suggests cases of autism have not been rising,” Mark Roth, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 26, 2015.

HealthDay (5/27, Thompson) reports that Mount Sinai School of Medicine researchers have found that hospice care “may help a surviving spouse better cope with depression following the death of a loved one.” Lead author Katherine Ornstein said, “If a spouse dies, you’re more likely to be depressed. That’s the way it is. Hospice doesn’t get rid of that. But we found that the group in hospice is improving afterward.”

Related Links:

— “Hospice May Help Ease Depression After Loss of Spouse,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, May 26, 2015.