The New York Times (5/23, Pearson, Richtel, Levenson) reports that on Tuesday, US surgeon general Dr. Vivek Murthy “issued an extraordinary public warning…about the risks of social media to young people, urging a push to fully understand the possible ‘harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.’” Murthy, in a 19-page advisory, “noted that the effects of social media on adolescent mental health were not fully understood, and that social media can be beneficial to some users.” But, he wrote, “There are ample indicators that social media can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.”

The Hill (5/23, Choi) reports, “Murthy specifically pointed to the possibility of a link between time spent on social media and depression and anxiety,” citing “one 2019 study that found adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15 who spent more than three hours on social media daily had double the risk of developing symptoms of depression and anxiety.”

NBC News (5/23, Edwards, Jackson) reports, “The advisory urges policymakers and the companies that make the social media platforms to share with parents the burden of managing children’s and adolescents’ social media use,” and it “outlines recommendations for both technology companies and lawmakers.”

Meanwhile, Reuters (5/23) reports that APA CEO Saul Levin, MD, MPA, FRCP-E, FRCPsych, said, “The first principle of healthcare is to do no harm – that’s the same standard we need to start holding social media platforms to.”

Related Links:

— “Surgeon General Warns That Social Media May Harm Children and Adolescents “Matt Richtel, The New York Times, May 23, 2023

PatientEngagementHIT (5/22, Heath) reports, “One in five patients experience some cost-related barrier to medication adherence, a… JAMA Network Open report showed, meaning their drugs are too expensive for them to take as prescribed.” In general, “researchers found that prescription drug costs are seriously impeding patients’ care management and daily life,” since for “some patients, this means rationing pills to make them last longer,” and “for others, it means not filling the prescription at all.”

Related Links:

— “Cost a Barrier to Medication Adherence, But Price Estimates May Help ” Sara Heath, PatientEngagementHIT , May 22, 2023

Medscape (5/22, Anderson, Subscription Publication) reports, “Only 11% of eating disorder apps protect the privacy of users as is mandated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), according to” findings presented at the American Psychiatric Association 2023 Annual Meeting. Investigators came to this conclusion after conducting “a review of commercially available eating disorder apps by searching the Apple and Google play stores using key phrases such as ‘eating disorder,’ ‘anorexia,’ and ‘binge eating disorder.’” Thirty-six apps were then reviewed “using the 105 questions based on the APA’s app evaluation model, which covers categories such as efficacy, privacy, accessibility, and clinical applicability.”

Related Links:

— Medscape (requires login and subscription)

Medscape (5/22, Brooks, Subscription Publication) reports, “Patients taking antidepressant medication, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), often report emotional blunting even as their depression eases,” according to the findings of a 25-study “scoping review” presented in a poster at the American Psychiatric Association 2023 Annual Meeting.

Related Links:

— Medscape (requires login and subscription)

Medscape (5/22, Brooks, Subscription Publication) reports, “Young people who [died by] suicide using a gun are often introduced to guns through family traditions and use the family gun to [die by] suicide,” researchers concluded after conducting “11 ‘psychological autopsy interviews’ with the loved ones of nine young people aged 17-21 who died by gun-related suicide.” The study team “interviewed six mothers, three fathers, one sibling, and one close friend.” The findings were presented in a poster at the American Psychiatric Association 2023 Annual Meeting.

Related Links:

— Medscape (requires login and subscription)