Reuters (5/29, Rumney) reports, “Nicotine alternatives used in vapes being launched in the U.S. and abroad, such as 6-methyl nicotine, may be more potent and addictive than nicotine itself, though the scientific data remains incomplete, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and independent researchers.” These substances “are not subject to U.S. tobacco and vaping regulations that are designed to control traditional nicotine, a highly addictive drug,” meaning “manufacturers can sell vapes containing synthetic nicotine analogues such as 6-methyl nicotine in the United States without seeking authorization from the FDA – a process that can be costly, time-consuming and is often unsuccessful.”

Related Links:

— “Exclusive: Nicotine-like chemicals in U.S. vapes may be more potent than nicotine, FDA says,”Emma Rumney, Reuters , May 29, 2024

KFF Health News (5/28, Graham) reports, “Caring for older adults with dementia is stressful, especially when they become physically or verbally aggressive, wander away from home, develop paranoia or hallucinations, engage in inappropriate or repetitive behaviors, or refuse to let caregivers help them.” Now, however, “help is available from a first-of-its-kind website created by prominent experts in this field.” The site “offers free training in a comprehensive approach to managing neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia – a method known as DICE – based on several decades of scientific research as well as extensive clinical practice.”

Related Links:

— “New Help for Dealing With Aggression in People With Dementia,”Judith Graham , KFF Health News, May 28, 2024

Psychiatric News (5/28) says, “In contrast to the overall rise in U.S. suicide rates since 2000, the suicide rate among people diagnosed with cancer has been dropping since 1989, according a report in Translational Psychiatry.” In the general population, “average suicide rates increased 1.7% a year since 2000, researchers reported. By contrast, average cancer-related suicide deaths declined gradually between 1989 and 2013, followed by a sharper decline between 2013 and 2017, during which the rate dropped 27% a year on average.”

Related Links:

— “Psychosocial Care Credited for Declining Suicide Rate Among Patients With Cancer,Psychiatric News , May 28, 2024

HCP Live (5/28, Derman) reports, “In a recent study, major depressive disorder (MDD) was the most observed comorbidity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), followed by somatoform disorder and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).” In the study, researchers wrote, “It was surprising that almost 80% of participants reported some degree of psychological distress in the form of major depression, somatoform disorders, and generalized anxiety disorder, which is one and half times more than reported in the literature.” The findings were published in Reumatologia.

Related Links:

— “Major Depressive Disorder Is the Most Observed Psychiatric Comorbidity in RA,”Chelsie Derman, HCP Live, May 28, 2024

Healio (5/26, Byrne ) reported, “Health care institutions and their staffs must take action to ensure bereavement care shifts from ‘an afterthought to a public health priority,’ according to a position paperpublished in The Lancet Public Health.” Bereavement care “often is considered part of palliative care; however, there often is a lack of continuity of care for bereaved individuals after a person dies in palliative or end-of-life care settings, the paper’s authors contend.” The gap in care “can leave bereaved individuals with feelings of abandonment and lack of access to support services, as well as increased risk for morbidity and mortality.” Healio interviewed paper co-author Wendy G. Lichtenthal, PhD.

Related Links:

— “Bereavement care, often an ‘afterthought,’ should be public health priority,”Jennifer Byrne, Healio , May 26, 2024