Medscape (12/30, Swift Yasgur, Subscription Publication) reported, “Persistent postconcussion symptoms (PPCS) are tied to a significantly increased risk of developing subsequent depressive symptoms,” researchers concluded in the findings of an 18-study systematic review and meta-analysis that included “more than 9000 patients.” The research revealed “a fourfold higher risk of developing depressive symptoms in those with PPCS versus those without PPCS.” The findingswere published online Dec. 27 in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— Medscape (requires login and subscription)

Contributor Deb Gordon writes for Forbes (12/29) that a “new study published” online Dec. 28 “in JAMA Network Open set out to systematically assess available mental health apps based on critical measures such as clinical validation and privacy practices.” Additionally, the study team “examined degrees of innovation and the association between app privacy measures and app popularity,” analyzing “578 mental health-related apps across 105 dimensions, using an app evaluation framework established by the American Psychiatric Association.” The study revealed not only “a lack of evidence and innovation among the apps evaluated,” but also a “lack of correlation between privacy scores and consumer ratings,” indicating that “consumers may not be aware of or focused on privacy features.”

Related Links:

— “Using A Mental Health App? New Study Says Your Data May Be Shared “Deb Gordon, Forbes, December 29, 2022

Healio (12/29, Herpen) reports, “Resilience and organizational support protected against burnout, while social support and resilience led to better mental health outcomes among healthcare workers a year after the COVID-19 pandemic,” researchers concluded in a survey study in which “467 individuals completed the three-month assessment and 410 completed the 12-month survey, with 394 participants completing both the three- and 12-month questionnaires.” The findings were published online Dec. 20 in the journal BMC Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Organizational support, resilience prevented burnout at 12 months for health care workers “Robert Herpen, Healio, December 29, 2022

Healio (12/28, Downey) reports, “People experiencing persistent post-concussion symptoms were at a higher risk for depressive symptoms,” investigators concluded in the findings of an 18-study, 9,101-participant systematic review and meta-analysis published online in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Persistent post-concussion symptoms linked to greater risk for depression “Ken Downey Jr., Healio, December 28, 2022

The Hill (12/28, O’Connell-Domenech) reports, “Restricted abortion access is associated with heightened suicide risk among younger women, according to a…study” that used “state-level data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on adult women from 1974 to 2016.” Investigators “said they found a link between enforcing laws restricting abortion access and an increased risk for women of reproductive age, particularly those 20 to 34 years old,” but “they did not find such a risk for older women, according to the study” published online Dec. 28 in JAMA Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Restricted abortion access linked to increased suicide risk in younger women “Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech, The Hill, December 28, 2022