Healio (7/2, Jenkins) reports, “Youth with autism spectrum disorder and psychiatric comorbidities were more likely to be hospitalized and show greater symptom severity, which led to prolonged hospital stays and higher costs, according to study results.” In the study, “results showed patients with ASD and comorbid impulse control disorders had the highest likelihood of psychiatric hospitalization (OR = 7.2; 95% CI, 6.47-8.07), followed by disruptive behavior disorders (OR = 2.5; 95% CI, 2.2-2.77) and mood disorders (OR = 2.2; 95% CI, 1.99-2.41).” These findings were presented at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting.

Related Links:

— “Psychiatric comorbidities increase odds of hospitalization among youth with ASD,”Cassandra Jenkins, Healio, July 2, 2024

MedPage Today (7/1, DePeau-Wilson ) reports, “Multiple first-line antidepressant medications were broadly linked with weight gain, although bupropion (Wellbutrin) had the least amount of weight change, according to observational data.” In a two-year study, “the estimated weight gain was lower for bupropion compared with sertraline (Zoloft) – the most commonly prescribed antidepressant in the analysis – at 6 months (difference -0.80 kg, 95% CI -1.26 to -0.42 kg), according to” researchers. Additionally, six-month weight gain was higher for “escitalopram (Lexapro): difference 0.41 kg (95% CI 0.31-0.52 kg); paroxetine (Brisdelle): difference 0.37 kg (95% CI 0.20-0.54 kg); duloxetine (Cymbalta): difference 0.34 kg (95% CI 0.22-0.44 kg); venlafaxine (Effexor): difference 0.17 kg (95% CI 0.03-0.31 kg);” and “citalopram (Celexa): difference 0.12 kg (95% CI 0.02-0.23 kg)” than bupropion. These results were published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

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— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

The New York Times (6/30, Philipps) reports research suggests brain damage experienced by Navy SEALs who died by suicide “may be just as widespread in SEALs who are still alive. A Harvard study, published this spring, scanned the brains of 30 career Special Operators and found an association between blast exposure and altered brain structure and compromised brain function.” Additionally, “the more blast exposure the men had experienced, the more problems they reported with health and quality of life.” The results were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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— “The New York Times (requires login and subscription)

ABC News (6/29, Kekatos ) reported, “While anti-LGBTQ+ legislation can have a harmful effect on mental health, experts and LGBTQ+ rights advocates say legislation that strengthens protections for LGBTQ+ people can do just the opposite as well as bring a sense of acceptance and belonging.” Studies have “shown that LGBTQ+ people are more likely to experience mental health struggles than those who are heterosexual or cisgender. LGBTQ+ individuals are 2.5 times more likely to have depression and anxiety or to misuse substances compared with heterosexual individuals, according to the American Psychiatric Association.”

Related Links:

— “LGBTQ people say their mental health is positively impacted when states have protective laws,”Mary Kekatos, ABC News, June 29, 2024

Healio (6/27, Welsh) says, “Perinatal vs. non-perinatal suicide was more likely to be associated with depression, substance use, physical health issues and recent bereavement, highlighting the need for targeted interventions and policies, researchers reported” in JAMA Network Open. In the study, “researchers observed higher odds of the following contributing factors for perinatal vs. matched non-perinatal deaths: intimate partner problems (OR = 1.45); recent argument (OR = 1.33;); depressed mood (OR = 1.39); substance or other abuse (OR = 1.21); physical health problems (OR = 1.37); and death of a family member or friend (OR = 1.47).”

Related Links:

— “Mental, physical health, domestic violence, substance use tied to maternal suicide rate,”Erin T. Welsh, Healio, June 27, 2024