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More InfoLatest News Around the Web
Patients With Insomnia Report More Negative Effects Of Sleep Tracking Apps, Study Finds
Psychiatric News (3/23) reports a survey study found that “about half of adults have used apps to monitor their sleep, and while feedback is generally positive, adults with insomnia report that these apps can increase sleep-related anxiety.” The results showed that “among 1,002 adults in Norway (51% male) who completed an online questionnaire on sleep habits, 46% reported using sleep apps; app use was more prevalent in women and adults under 50.” They noted that “only 15% of respondents believed the app improved their sleep quality; about 2% believed the app worsened sleep.” Furthermore, “adults with insomnia were not more likely to use sleep apps than those without. However, adults with insomnia who used apps were more likely to report being worried about their sleep or that something was wrong with their sleep.” The study was published in Frontiers in Psychology.
Related Links:
— “Sleep Tracking Apps May Increase Stress for Adults With Insomnia, Psychiatric News, March 23, 2026
Prescribing Stimulants Can Have Potential Benefits To Patients With ADHD And Substance Use Disorder, Study Suggests
HealthDay (3/20, Neff) reported a study suggests “that the very patients who could benefit from ADHD medication the most – those also struggling with drug or alcohol addiction – are the least likely to receive it.” For the study, researchers “analyzed the health records of more than 1.2 million people between 15 and 25 years of age with ADHD.” They observed that when young adults with ADHD and a substance use disorder “stayed on their ADHD medication, they saw a 30% reduction in their risk of death over five years. These patients also had fewer accidental overdoses and were less likely to harbor thoughts of self-harm.” The study “noted that patients on stimulants had a 4% lower rate of suicide attempts compared to those on non-stimulant alternatives.” Despite these benefits, “the study pointed to hesitation on the part of some doctors because some ADHD meds, particularly central nervous system stimulants, are controlled substances.” The study was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Related Links:
— “Some Patients With ADHD and Addiction History Missing Out,”Deanna Neff, HealthDay, March 20, 2026
Women Under 50 Are More Likely To Seek Psychotherapy For Depression Than Men, Study Finds
Psychiatric News (3/20) reported a study found that “young women are far more likely to seek psychotherapy for depression and anxiety than young men,” but the “gender gap narrows among older adults, with more men over 50 seeking psychotherapy for depression than women of the same age.” Researchers observed that “among adults with depression, women were significantly more likely than men to receive psychotherapy (43% vs 34%). The female gender gap was widest among young adults ages 18 to 25 at 22%; the gap shrank to 12% among adults ages 26 to 49 and reversed for adults 50 and older, with 1% more men seeking psychotherapy for depression in this age group.” Regarding adults with daily anxiety, “36% of women received psychotherapy overall compared with 27% of men. The female gender gap narrowed from 13% among 18- to 25-year-olds to 12% among 26- to 49-year-olds and 4% among those 50 and older.” The studywas published in The American Journal of Psychotherapy.
Related Links:
— “Psychotherapy Significantly More Common Among Women—Until They Turn 50, Psychiatric News, March 20, 2026
Psilocybin Plus Psychotherapy Shows Little Efficacy For Easing Depressive Symptoms In Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression, Study Finds
MedPage Today (3/18, Monaco) reports a study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that “psilocybin plus psychotherapy showed limited efficacy for easing depressive symptoms in individuals with treatment-resistant depression.” According to researchers, “after withdrawal from antidepressants, 17% and 12.5% of patients who received one dose of 25 mg and 5 mg psilocybin, respectively, achieved at least a 50% reduction in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-17 (HAMD17) at week 6 compared with 10.6% of controls who received placebo in the form of nicotinamide.” They noted that “for 25 mg psilocybin vs nicotinamide, the adjusted was OR 1.73. Because the first hierarchical comparison was nonsignificant, no further formal testing was performed.” Furthermore, a systematic review and meta-analysis, also published in JAMA Psychiatry, concluded that “psychedelic-assisted therapy was no more effective than open-label treatment with traditional antidepressants.”
Related Links:
— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)
Poll shows eight in 10 ACA re-enrollees say health care costs are higher this year
The AP (3/19, Swenson) reports a new survey from KFF found that about 8 in 10 Americans “who re-enrolled in Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage say their health care costs are higher this year, including about half who say their costs are ‘a lot’ higher.” Of the 1,117 Americans surveyed “who had ACA marketplace coverage in 2025, including those who dropped coverage or changed plans, about 55% said they’re planning to deal with health care costs by cutting spending on food and other basic household needs.” Although about 7 in 10 enrollees “stayed on ACA health insurance,” that figure includes “about 3 in 10 who changed plans within the marketplace.” Furthermore, the poll shows that “about 1 in 10 of last year’s enrollees said they dropped coverage altogether and are now uninsured.” According to the AP, a “main reason for increased costs was the Dec. 31expiration of enhanced tax credits that had offset premiums for most enrollees.”
Related Links:
— “What Americans are giving up to afford ACA health insurance, according to a new poll,”Ali Swenson , AP, March 19, 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.

