The Washington Post (6/7, Malhi) reports, “Early implementation of a type of skin-to-skin contact called kangaroo mother care appears to significantly improve the odds of survival for preterm or low-birth-weight babies, according to a sweeping scientific analysis published Monday.” Investigators “analyzed data from multiple studies that collectively included more than 15,000 infants worldwide” and “found that, compared to conventional care, kangaroo mother care seemed to reduce mortality by 32% within the first 28 days of life.” In addition, the research “suggests that the benefits of kangaroo mother care are higher when it’s implemented within 24 hours of birth.” The research was published in BMJ Global Health.

Related Links:

— “https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2023/06/07/premature-baby-kangaroo-care-reduce-death-rates/,” Sabrina Malhi, The Washington Post, June 7, 2023

CNN (6/7, Howard) reports, “When asked serious public health questions related to abuse, suicide or other medical crises, the online chatbot tool ChatGPT provided critical resources – such as what 1-800 lifeline number to call for help – only about 22% of the time,” researchers concluded in findings published online June 7 in a research letter in JAMA Network Open. For the study, investigators “examined…how ChatGPT responded to 23 questions related to addiction, interpersonal violence, mental health and physical health crises.” The study’s conclusion “suggests that public health agencies could help AI companies ensure that such resources are incorporated into how an artificial intelligence system like ChatGPT responds to health inquiries“.

Related Links:

— “ChatGPT’s responses to suicide, addiction, sexual assault crises raise questions in new study,” Jacqueline Howard, CNN, June 7, 2023

Psychiatric News (6/7) reports, “Veterans who received outpatient care from a clinic that provided psychiatric services after being discharged from the intensive care unit (ICU) for severe COVID-19-related illness showed significant mental health improvements in the months following their discharge,” according to the findings of a 77-patient study published in the May/June issue of the Journal of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “MH Symptoms of Survivors of Severe COVID-19 Improve With Follow-Up Care,” Psychiatric News, June 7, 2023

NBC News (6/7, Edwards) reports, “If children and teenagers receive any help for an anxiety disorder, it’s usually medication, not counseling,” according to findings published online June 7 in the journal Pediatrics. After examining “data representing 46.4 million pediatric office visits from 2006 through 2018” broken down “in chunks of time: 2006-2009, 2010-2013 and 2014-2018,” the study team found “an inverse relationship between the need for therapy and what has been given over more than a decade.” In other words, “as the number of youth with anxiety disorders has risen continually since 2006, the number of children receiving psychotherapy has decreased.” CNN (6/7, Holcombe) also covers the story.

Related Links:

— “Children with anxiety are prescribed medications but little therapy,” Erika Edwards, NBC News, June 7, 2023

The New York Times (6/6, Rojas, Ghorayshi) reports U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida Judge Robert Hinkle “issued a scathing assessment on Tuesday of the state’s ban on gender transition care for minors” and “issued a preliminary injunction in response to an emergency request by the families of” three children. Hinkle “ruled specifically that three transgender children can be prescribed puberty blockers despite the new state law, which also adds new hurdles for adults who seek similar care.” The injunction “does not apply to other aspects of the far-reaching legislation, which also bars gender-transition surgery for minors, alters child custody statutes to treat transition care as equivalent to child abuse, and forbids the use of state funds to pay for transition care.”

Related Links:

— “Judge Sides With Families Fighting Florida’s Ban on Gender Care for Minors,” , The New York Times Rick Rojas and Azeen Ghorayshi, June 6, 2023