The Washington Post (2/23, J Sima) reports, “Inflammation in the body may be triggering or exacerbating depression in the brains of some patients,” with clinical data suggesting that “targeting and treating the inflammation may be a way to provide more-precise care.” According to the Post, “it appears that inflammatory agents in the blood can break down the barrier between the body and the brain, causing neuroinflammation and altering key neural circuits, researchers say,” and “in people at risk for depression, inflammation may be a trigger for the disorder.” The article goes on to summarize recent studies exploring how inflammation appears to be a “pathway to depression.”

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— “The Washington Post (requires login and subscription)

Healio (2/23, Welsh) reports that “during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a temporary increase in unstable or unsafe living situations and intimate partner violence for pregnant people in the U.S., according to” results of a “cross-sectional population-based interrupted time-series analysis” published online in JAMA Network Open. The study team “noted a 38% increase in unstable and/or unsafe living situations during the first month of the COVID-19 pandemic…and a return to the overall trend afterward for the remaining study period,” as well as “a 101% increase in intimate partner violence during the first 2 months of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Related Links:

— “Increase in domestic violence seen early in COVID-19 pandemic among pregnant individuals “Erin T. Welsh, Healio, February 23, 2023

The Hill (2/23, Hou) reports, “Half of Americans…say the government should emphasize lowering prescription drug costs and reducing the cost of health care over other public health-related priorities,” according to the Axios-Ipsos American Health Index. In “comparison, 14 percent” of poll respondents “listed reducing gun deaths and another 14 percent cited research into cures and treatment for major diseases as a top priority for government action.” The article adds, “Asked to identify what they believe is the No. 1 threat to public health in the U.S., 26 percent listed opioids and fentanyl, 21 percent listed obesity, 17 percent pointed to access to guns or firearms, and 12 percent cited cancer.”

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— “Americans worried about rising drug costs, health bills: survey “Chia-Yi Hou, The Hill, February 23, 2023

Psychiatric News (2/22) reports, “Patients with trichotillomania (also known as hair-pulling disorder) and/or excoriation (skin-picking) disorder may experience symptom improvements while taking the Alzheimer’s medication memantine,” investigators concluded in a study that “recruited 100 adults…with a current primary DSM-5 diagnosis of trichotillomania…excoriation disorder…or both.” The findings were published online Feb. 22 in the American Journal of Psychiatry, a publication of the American Psychiatric Association.

Related Links:

— “Memantine May Reduce Symptoms of Hair-Pulling, Skin-Picking Disorder, Psychiatric News, February 22, 2023

Parkinson’s News Today (2/22, Maia) reports, “Among several atypical antipsychotics, Nuplazid (pimavanserin) seems to be the most effective at easing Parkinson’s disease psychosis…while sparing motor function,” researchers concluded in the findings of a 19-study systematic review and network meta-analysis that “evaluated outcomes with Nuplazid and other atypical antipsychotics such as clozapine, quetiapine, olanzapine, ziprasidone, and risperidone.” The findings were published online in the Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry & Neurology.

Related Links:

— “Nuplazid, clozapine treat Parkinson’s psychosis without motor decline “Margarida Maia, Parkinson’s News Today, February 22, 2023