MedPage Today (3/4, DePeau-Wilson ) reports, “The proliferation of ketamine clinics in the U.S. has veered far off course from the recommendations of the nation’s premier psychiatric association when it comes to using the anesthetic to treat mood disorders, experts say.” MedPage Today adds, “In 2017, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) issued a consensus statement on the use of ketamine in treating mood disorders, published in JAMA Psychiatry.” However, “the ketamine clinics cropping up across the U.S. don’t appear to follow that guidance, Smita Das, MD, PhD, MPH, of Stanford University and a spokesperson for the APA, told MedPage Today.” Dr. Das said, “[Intravenous] ketamine is being offered in smaller clinics off-label and there isn’t a practice guideline from the American Psychiatric Association that’s recommending ketamine for use in the way that it’s being used.” Dr. Das also “said the surge of ketamine clinics is something of a ‘wild west’ where vulnerable patients are being offered treatment without being informed of the downsides.”

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— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

HCP Live (2/6, Derman) reports, “Many individuals who had an emergency department visit for cannabis use developed a new anxiety disorder within 3 years, according to a new study.” Investigators found that “this applied to 27.5% of individuals who visited the emergency room due to heavy cannabis use.” The findingswere published in eClinicalMedicine.

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— “Heavy Cannabis Use Linked to Increased Risk for Anxiety,”Chelsie Derman, HCP Live, February 6, 2024

HealthDay (3/1, Thompson ) reported, “Vaping and skipped meals appear to be the main causes of frequent headaches among teens, a new study says.” Published in Neurology, the study found that “overall, regular meals reduced risk of frequent headaches by 8%, researchers report. Researchers also found that teens who use e-cigarettes daily have twice the odds of frequent headaches than those who’ve never vaped.”

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— “Vaping, Skipping Breakfast Ups Headache Risk for Teens,”Dennis Thompson, HealthDay , March 1, 2024

Healio (3/2, Schaffer ) reported, “Epidemiological data show women with schizophrenia are 63% more likely to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD) during 3.5 years of follow-up compared with those without the condition, with a greater risk observed for women with obesity.” Investigators came to this conclusion after analyzing “data from 4,124,508 adults without baseline CVD or renal replacement therapy.” The findings were published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

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— “Data show ‘robust’ relationship between schizophrenia, heart disease in women,”Regina Schaffer, Healio, March 2, 2024

Psychiatric News (3/1) reported, “A large majority of U.S. adults who have pets feel that their pets have a positive impact on their mental health, according to the latest findings from APA’s Healthy Minds Poll.” In a news release, APA President Petros Levounis, M.D., M.A., said, “It’s easy to overlook the role of pets when we’re talking about mental health.” Dr. Levounis added, “But for people who do enjoy the company of animals, they can be a source of companionship, comfort, love, and friendship. I routinely encourage adoption of a pet to my patients who struggle with addiction to alcohol, drugs, or technology. We’re also starting to see more and more research around the role that animals can play in recovery from depression and other psychiatric disorders.”

Related Links:

— “Pet Ownership Has a Positive Impact on Mental Health, APA Poll Finds, Psychiatric News, March 1, 2024