The Baltimore Sun (10/10, Doran) reports on Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections, or PANDAS, a disorder in which “children experience an atypical immune system reaction which can cause obsessions, compulsions, motor and vocal tics, anxiety, mood swings and cognitive and learning challenges.”

Although little is known about the syndrome, “recent neurological research, led by National Institutes of Health (NIH) researchers and other scientists and physicians around the nation, has expanded the boundaries of what is known about these conditions.”

In Maryland “and many other states, Oct. 9th has been designated PANDAS Awareness Day,” which the paper says creates educational opportunities.

Related Links:

— “Little known disorder underscores education needs [Commentary],” Patricia Rice Doran, Baltimore Sun, October 9, 2014.

On its front page and as part of its “The Cost of Not Caring” series, USA Today (10/10, A1, Zoroya) reports in a 2,900-word article called “40,000 Suicides Annually, Yet America Simply Shrugs,” that the “nearly 40,000 American lives lost each year make suicide the nation’s 10th-leading cause of death, and the second-leading killer for those ages 15-34.”

In recent years, “biological research [has] led scientists…to assert that suicidal behavior is a disorder that deserves to be included in the bible on mental health illnesses – the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder – so doctors could better diagnose, identify and move into treatment those who are suicidal,” and “American Psychiatric Association officials who periodically revise the manual want more study.”

Maria Oquendo, MD, a psychiatry professor at Columbia University, said, “They (the authors) said it’s an idea that obviously needs to be considered but is not quite ready for inclusion.”

Related Links:

— “40,000 suicides annually, yet America simply shrugs,” Gregg Zoroya, USA Today, October 9, 2014.

The New York Times (10/8, Reynolds) “Well” blog reported that according to a study published in the September issue of the journal Pediatrics, physical activity appears to enhance cognitive performance in youngsters. The study of 220 eight- and nine-year-old children revealed that kids who took part in a year-long exercise program “displayed substantial improvements in their scores on each of the computer-based tests of executive function.”

In addition, “they were better at ‘attentional inhibition,’ which is the ability to block out irrelevant information and concentrate on the task at hand, than they had been at the start of the program, and had heightened abilities to toggle between cognitive tasks.”

Related Links:

— “How Exercise Can Boost Young Brains,” Gretchen Reynolds, New York Times, October 8, 2014.

Medscape (10/9, Brauser) reports that according to a meta-analysis published in the October issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry, “psychotherapy may be effective in treating subclinical depression and may prevent progression to major depressive disorder (MDD).” The “meta-analysis of 18 studies of adult participants with subclinical depression showed that among those who received some form of psychotherapy, there was a significant reduction in the incidence of major depressive episode six months later, compared with those who received a controlled condition.” What’s more, “psychotherapy had a moderate effect on lowering depressive symptoms.”

Related Links:

— Medscape (requires login and subscription)

TIME (10/8, Sifferlin) reports that, according to two reports published in The Lancet Psychiatry, “schools should be a first line of defense for catching young people at risk for mental health issues from depression to” attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD).

UK-specific data in the reports indicate that “about 75% of adults who access mental health treatment had a diagnosable disorder when they were under age 18, but in high-income countries, only 25% of kids with mental health problems get treatment.” But, “by prioritizing mental health in a child’s early years, more people will get the treatment they need early on.”

Related Links:

— “Why Schools Should Screen Their Students’ Mental Health,” Alexandra Sifferlin, Time, October 7, 2014.