Healio (2/7, Weldon) reports, “Around 20% of U.S. child passenger deaths in auto accidents from 1982 through 2020 involved an alcohol-impaired driver – typically the child’s own driver, according to a study” published in Pediatrics. Researchers found that “of the 7,944 child passengers who died in motor vehicle crashes from 2011 to 2020, 22% died in crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver with a BAC of 0.08 g/dL or greater. In this subgroup, 64% died while riding in the same vehicle as an impaired driver. Additionally, 69% of impaired drivers survived the crash that killed their child passenger.”

Related Links:

— “1 in 5 child deaths in auto accidents involves alcohol-impaired driver,”Rose Weldon, Healio, February 7, 2024

Psychiatric News (2/7) reports, “Community-dwelling children with schizotypal personality disorder may benefit from dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, according to” research. Investigators found that “in the omega-3 only and omega-3 plus CBT groups, total schizotypy was reduced by 28.0% and 21.3%, respectively, by the end of treatment, and by 25.7% and 36.6%, respectively, at 3 months after treatment.” Meanwhile, “children in both groups showed greater improvement than children in the control group at 3 and 6 months, with the greatest improvements seen in children who reported higher omega-3 intake.” The findings on 290 children were published in Schizophrenia Bulletin.

Related Links:

— “Children With Schizotypal Personality Disorder May Benefit From Dietary Supplementation With Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Research Suggests, Psychiatric News, February 7, 2024

NBC News (2/6, Lovelace ) reports, “More than a year after the Food and Drug Administration announced a nationwide shortage of Adderall, doctors and patients say they are still struggling to get their hands on ADHD medications.” And “despite repeated promises from drugmakers that the supply crunches would be resolved soon, shortages persist and frustration is growing.” High demand, “coupled with drugmakers’ claim that they’re being restricted in how much they can make, has fueled a nationwide shortage, experts say.”

Related Links:

— “‘I’m fed up’: Frustrations grow as ADHD drug shortage continues,”Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, February 6, 2024

Psychiatric News (2/6) reports, “Black adults who have been exposed to gun violence at any point in their lives may have a higher risk of suicidal ideation, planning a suicide, or attempting a suicide, a study…has found.” More than 3,000 Black adults in the US were surveyed. Investigators found that “overall, 56% of participants reported being exposed to at least one type of gun violence, and 12% reported being exposed to at least three types of gun violence.” The researchers found that “participants who were exposed to one or two types of gun violence had 1.69 times the odds of reporting lifetime suicidal ideation, whereas those who were exposed to three or more types of gun violence had 2.27 times the odds of reporting lifetime suicidal ideation.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Exposure to Gun Violence Increases Risk of Suicidality in Black Adults, Psychiatric News, February 6, 2024

HCP Live (2/6, Derman) reports, “Lurasidone is linked to improving social functioning in patients with schizophrenia, a new study found.” The researchers “leveraged data from a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group 6-week JEWEL study which started in May 2016 and ended in November 2018, as well as a subsequent 12-week open-label extension study to evaluate longer-term changes.” The findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Lurasidone Linked to Improving Social Functioning for Schizophrenia,”Chelsie Derman, HCP Live, February 6, 2024