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Review Finds Nearly 70% Of Patients With OCD Experience Aggressive Obsessions In Their Lifetime
Healio (2/20, Feliciano) reported a systematic review and meta-analysis of 110 studies found that “about 70% of individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder reported experiencing aggressive obsessions during their lifetime.” The researchers observed that “among patients with OCD, 70.3% reported experiencing aggressive obsessions during their lifetime and 52.6% experienced them within the last week. For 28% of patients, aggressive obsessions were their primary and most distressing symptom.” They noted that “patients with early-onset OCD were 1.17 times more likely to report aggressive symptoms than those with late-onset OCD. Prevalence was also higher among patients who experienced suicidal ideation, who were 1.98 times more likely to report aggressive symptoms.” The reviewwas published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.
Related Links:
— “Most adults with OCD experience aggressive obsessions,”Octavia Feliciano, Healio, February 20, 2026
Review Finds Nearly 70% Of Patients With OCD Experience Aggressive Obsessions In Their Lifetime
Healio (2/20, Feliciano) reported a systematic review and meta-analysis of 110 studies found that “about 70% of individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder reported experiencing aggressive obsessions during their lifetime.” The researchers observed that “among patients with OCD, 70.3% reported experiencing aggressive obsessions during their lifetime and 52.6% experienced them within the last week. For 28% of patients, aggressive obsessions were their primary and most distressing symptom.” They noted that “patients with early-onset OCD were 1.17 times more likely to report aggressive symptoms than those with late-onset OCD. Prevalence was also higher among patients who experienced suicidal ideation, who were 1.98 times more likely to report aggressive symptoms.” The reviewwas published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.
Related Links:
— “Most adults with OCD experience aggressive obsessions,”Octavia Feliciano, Healio, February 20, 2026
Teens Who Frequently Drink Sugary Beverages Have Higher Risk For Anxiety Disorders, Review Suggests
HealthDay (2/19, Neff) reports a systematic review and meta-analysis of nine studies “identified a troubling link between high-sugar drinks and increased anxiety symptoms in young people. Researchers reviewed studies published over the last 25 years, looking for patterns in how a teenager’s diet affects their mind. The beverages analyzed included soda, energy drinks, sweetened juices, flavored milks and even sugary teas and coffees.” The results showed that “the more sugary drinks a teenager consumed, the more likely they were to report symptoms of anxiety. In fact, a meta-analysis of the data linked high sugar intake to 34% higher odds of having an anxiety disorder.” The researchers “emphasized that their findings show an association between sugary drinks and anxiety rather than a direct cause-and-effect.” The review was published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.
Related Links:
— “Sweetened Drinks Linked to Higher Anxiety in Teens,”Deanna Neff, HealthDay , February 19, 2026
Certain Social Determinants, Psychological Factors Elevate Risk For New Persistent Opioid Use After Surgery, Research Suggests
Healio (2/19, Leiser) reports, “Certain social determinants and psychological factors may elevate a person’s risk for new persistent opioid use after surgery, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis.” Researchers found that “enrollment in Medicaid and preoperative use of benzodiazepines – widely prescribed to treat anxiety disorders, insomnia and seizures – both correlated with 77% higher odds for new persistent opioid use.” People “with mood disorders and anxiety also exhibited elevated risk.” The findings were published in Pain Medicine.
Related Links:
— “‘Valuable insights’: 4 factors may raise risk for new persistent opioid use after surgery,”Mark Leiser, Healio, February 19, 2026
Pain During, Following Pregnancy Increases Postpartum Depression Risk, Review Finds
HealthDay (2/18, Thompson) reports an evidence review of 23 studies found that “pain during pregnancy and after delivery can significantly increase a woman’s risk of postpartum depression.” The researchers “crafted a list of factors that can increase women’s risk of pain and postpartum depression,” including mental health during pregnancy (such as depression and anxiety); delivery method (especially Cesarean); pain management practices; discrimination toward racial and ethnic minorities; and overall neglect of pain. The review was published in Current Psychiatry Reports.
Related Links:
— “Pain Drives Postpartum Depression, Review Finds,”Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, February 18, 2026
Foundation News
Foundation’s Latest Radio Spot Examines Alcohol and Sports
The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry, Inc. recently began airing a new public service announcement on local Maryland radio stations. It focuses on the role alcohol can play as the fall sports season begins.
You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.
Depressed Adolescents Often Struggle Alone
The Los Angeles Times (4/29, Healy) “Booster Shots” blog reported that although “some 2-million Americans adolescents experienced a bout of major depression last year,” only about one-third of them received help, according to a report released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to “kick off a month of national activity aimed at raising awareness of childrens’ mental health.”
Overall, about “8.1% of the population between 12 and 17 years old reported experiencing a period of depressed mood lasting two or more weeks in the preceding 12 months.” Depressive episodes increased with age; and adolescent boys were “consistently less likely to report depression.” Nearly 15 percent of “girls 15 to 17 years old” described a “major depressive episode in the preceding year, compared to an average of 6.4% of boys” of the same age “who did so.”
Related Links:
– “Depressed teens mostly struggle alone,” Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times, April 29, 2011.
John Plaskon Wins 2011 Outstanding Merit Award
At the MPS annual meeting in April, the Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry presented its 2011 Outstanding Merit Award to John Plaskon, executive director of Crossroads Community, Inc. in Centreville, for his vision and leadership in opening a new mental health clinic in rural Queen Anne’s County during the height of the recession.
The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry established the annual Outstanding Merit Award for a worthy program in Maryland that accomplishes one or more of the following:
- Increases public awareness and understanding of mental illness
- Enhances the quality of care for psychiatric illness
- Reduces the stigma of mental illness
The award, open to the entire Maryland community, carries a prize of $500. Find information on nominating for the 2012 award here.
2012 Outstanding Merit Award Entries Open Now
Nominations are now being accepted for the Foundation’s 2012 Outstanding Merit Award.
The annual Outstanding Merit Award is given for a worthy endeavor in Maryland that accomplishes one or more of the following:
- Increases public awareness and understanding of mental illness
- Enhances the quality of care for psychiatric illness
- Reduces the stigma of mental illness
Nominations for this award of $500 are being invited from the entire Maryland community. A short nomination form must be submitted with a cover letter by March 1, 2012, to the Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry, 1101 Saint. Paul Street, Suite 305, Baltimore, MD 21202-6405. The form is available as PDF or Word document.
Foundation’s Latest Radio Spot Examines Disaster and Crisis
The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry, Inc. recently began airing a new public service announcement on local Maryland radio stations. It focuses on the psychological effects of disasters such as the recent tragic earthquake and tsunami in Japan as well as the toll personal crises can take on the mind.
You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.