NBC News (11/23, Wile) reported “critical shortages of the ADHD drug” amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall) “and the antibiotic amoxicillin have left families reeling as the medicines their loved ones need become harder to find.” The article added, “Drugmakers have offered little insight into the reasons for the shortages, other than to blame surging demand.” However, “according to experts, drug companies face few repercussions for not disclosing key information about the production of these medications,” and consequently, “U.S. consumers remain at the mercy of drug companies when it comes to learning the cause of the shortages or how and when they might be resolved.”

Related Links:

— “Adderall and amoxicillin shortages raise questions about transparency and accountability in Big Pharma “Rob Wile, NBC News, November 23, 2022

The American Journal of Managed Care (11/26, McNulty) reported, “The risk of experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) may be higher in women who give birth resulting from unintended pregnancies, according to a study published in Social Science & Medicine.” Furthermore, “while women who conceive via fertility treatments may not be at an increased risk, the type of treatment used to conceive may impact outcomes.” These “findings suggest that pregnancy intention, rather than fertility treatment use or type of fertility treatment, may have the greatest impact on PPD from among the variables considered in the study.”

Related Links:

— “Unintended Pregnancy May Increase Risk of Postpartum Depression, Study Finds “Rose McNulty, The American Journal of Managed Care, November 26, 2022

MedPage Today (11/23, DePeau-Wilson) reported, “Use of medications for” attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) “was not associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk,” investigators concluded in the findings of a 19-study systematic review and meta-analysis published online Nov. 23 in JAMA Network Open. The researchers found that “among over 3 million people, there were no statistically significant associations between AD/HD medication use and any CVD risks among children and adolescents…young or middle-age adults…or older adults…over a median follow-up ranging from 0.25 to 9.5 years.”

Related Links:

— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

Healio (11/22, Swain) reports, “Children who experienced adversity from age 0 to 15 years were at elevated risk for developing CVD in young adulthood compared with those who did not,” investigators concluded in findings published online in the European Heart Journal. For the study, investigators “analyzed 1,263,013 individuals born in Denmark between 1980 and 2001 who were not diagnosed with CVD or congenital heart disease before age 16 years,” then “stratified the cohort into five groups based on adversity experienced between birth and age 15 years.”

Related Links:

— “People with childhood adversity at elevated risk for CVD in young adulthood “Erik Swain, Healio, November 22, 2022

According to Healio (11/22, Hemphill), in a Nov. 21 news release, “the American Psychiatric Association said it ‘stands in solidarity’ with the LGBTQ community in the aftermath of the shooting at Club Q Nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and amidst ongoing discrimination.” The release stated, “Bias toward LGBTQI people, whatever form it takes, hurts mental health.” In addition, the release said, “We stand opposed to laws and rhetoric that discriminate against [the LGBTQ] community, whether it is promoting dangerous conversion therapy or restricting provision of health care services to trans or gender-diverse individuals.”

Psychiatric News (11/22) reports, “As APA has responded to past acts of mass gun violence, the organization asserted that gun violence is a public health crisis.” The association stated, “APA has worked over the past years, often in concert with other physician and mental health organizations…to promote legislation that strengthens background checks, research, and other methods to control access to firearms.” In addition, “APA strongly opposes rhetoric that would link violent acts of hate and mass shootings to mental illness.”

Related Links:

— “APA supports LGBTQ community in wake of nightclub shooting “Nancy Hemphill, Healio, November 22, 2022