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Latest News Around the Web
Over 40 Percent Of US Adults Know Someone Who Died By Suicide
HealthDay (4/21, Gotkine ) reports that “more than 40 percent of U.S. adults know someone who died by suicide.” The results were “approximated nationally representative estimates of suicide prevalence for U.S. adults using data from the second round of the National Center for Health Statistics Rapid Surveys System, an online survey of 7,046 adults.” The findings were published in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Related Links:
— “About 40 Percent of U.S. Adults Report Knowing Someone Who Died by Suicide,” Elana Gotkine, HealthDay, April 21, 2025
Daily Oral And Monthly Extended-Release Injectable Naltrexone Similarly Effective, Study Finds
MedPage Today (4/21, Minerd ) reports on a study finding that “daily oral and monthly extended-releaseinjectable naltrexone were similarly effective at reducing heavy drinking days in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD).” The study included “248 adults prescribed treatment at hospital discharge, the mean percentage of heavy drinking days decreased from 66.7% at baseline to 27.4% at 3 months in the oral naltrexone group and from 70.7% to 23.8% in the extended-release injectable naltrexone group.” The findingswere published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Related Links:
— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)
Observation of predictable visual stimuli could be early behavioral marker for autism spectrum disorder
HealthDay (4/18, Gotkine ) reported a study suggests that “predictable movement stimuli could be a behavioral marker for early autism spectrum disorder (ASD) screening.” Researchers analyzed “observation durations for predictable movements for children with potential ASD (13 male and four female) compared to typically developing children (nine male and two female) using a preferential-looking paradigm.”
They found that “children with potential ASD spent significantly more time observing predictable movements, especially in the latter part of the stimulus presentation.” Researchers concluded, “This study’s results highlight the potential of predictable stimuli as an early screening tool, offering promise for improving early diagnosis and intervention for children at risk for ASD.” The study was published in Scientific Reports.
Related Links:
— “Observation of Predictable Visual Stimuli a Potential Early Indicator for Autism,” Elana Gotkine, HealthDay, April 18, 2025
Nearly One-Fourth Of Physicians Surveyed Say They Favor A Ban On TikTok Due to Health Misinformation
Medical Economics (4/18, Littrell) reported on a Sermo survey of “more than 1,100 physicians worldwide” finding that 23% of physicians endorse “an outright ban” on TikTok, “due to the app’s role in spreading health misinformation.” In addition 43% of respondents “identified TikTok as a significant source of misinformation about medical treatments.” Asked about social media they personally use, 5% said TikTok, 26% Sermo, 23% Facebook, and 16% LinkedIn.
Related Links:
— “1 in 4 physicians support a TikTok ban, citing health misinformation,” Austin Littrell, Medical Economics, April 18, 2025
Study Examines Association Of Oral Finasteride And Suicide
Dermatology Advisor (4/18, Kuhns) reported on a study finding that “oral finasteride use at various doses was associated with completed suicide, depression suicidal, suicidal behavior, and suicidal ideation following the identification of post-finasteride syndrome, but was not associated with suicide attempts.” The study was based on “data from the United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).” The findings were published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. Finasteride is used to treat Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy and men’s pattern baldness.
Related Links:
— “Oral Finasteride Associated With Increased Depression, Suicidal Ideation Rates,” Lisa Kuhns, PhD, Dermatology Advisor, April 18, 2025
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.