MedPage Today (12/22, Monaco) reports a systematic review and meta-analysis of 137 studies found that “nearly one in two transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth reported suicidal ideation or self-injury, and one in four attempted suicide.” The researchers observed that “in a study of 131,429 TGD individuals ages 25 and younger, 48.8% experienced suicidal ideation and 26.2% reported a suicide attempt.” Meanwhile, “pooled prevalence estimates also showed that 46.6% of TGD youths experienced nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI).” Researchers said, “These rates are 2 to 3.5 times higher than those reported for cisgender youth (20.5% for suicidal ideations, 7.1% for attempts, and 17.7% for NSSI).” Furthermore, they noted “prevalence rates of suicide attempt were higher in North America (29%) compared with Europe (22%) and Asia (19%).” The review was published in JAMA Pediatrics.

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— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

Dermatology Advisor (12/19, Stong) reported a study found that “alopecia areata is associated with a significantly increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders.” The research team observed the “alopecia group had a cumulative incidence of any psychiatric disorder of 17.3% compared with 3.9% in the control group, for a risk ratio (RR) of 4.49. Severe psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder were diagnosed in 0.7% of patients in the alopecia group and 0.2% of patients in the control group. Specifically, 6.4% of patients with alopecia had a depressive disorder compared with 1.3% of control patients. Anxiety disorders occurred in 10.6% of the alopecia group and 2.8% of the control group.” Additionally, “women with alopecia had an increased psychiatric burden compared with men.” The study was published in Dermatology and Therapy.

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— “Alopecia Areata Is Associated With Increased Risk for Psychiatric Disorders,”Colby Stong, Dermatology Advisor, December 19, 2025

HealthDay (12/19, Thompson) reported a study suggests that “psychiatric conditions as varied as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder might be driven by very similar genetic underpinnings.” According to researchers, “mental health problems can be sorted into five general genetic categories, each with a shared ‘genetic architecture’ driving people’s illness.” The five general categories involving 238 genetic variants includes: disorders with “compulsive features” like anorexia, Tourette disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder; “internalizing” disorders like depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder; substance use disorders; neurodevelopmental conditions “like autism and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder;” and bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. With that said, “70% of the genetic signal associated with schizophrenia is also associated with bipolar disorder, the study said.” The study was published in Nature.

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— “Different Mental Health Conditions Share Similar Genetics, Study Says,”Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, December 19, 2025

HealthDay (12/18, Thompson) reports, “It’s beside the point to debate whether vaping or nicotine pouches can be more healthy than smoking a cigarette, a major new report argues.” HealthDay says “nicotine is toxic to the heart and blood vessels regardless of how it’s consumed, according to an expert consensus report.” One researcher said, “Across cigarettes, vapes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches, we consistently see increased blood pressure, damage to blood vessels and a higher risk of heart disease. … No product that delivers nicotine is safe for the heart.” The findings were published in the European Heart Journal.

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— “Vapes Or Cigs, Doesn’t Matter — Nicotine Is Toxic To Heart Health, Experts Say,”Dennis Thompson, HealthDay , December 18, 2025

The AP (12/18, Whitehurst, Barrow) reports the President signed an executive order Thursday that could reclassify “marijuana away from its current classification as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD,” and instead would be “a Schedule III substance, like ketamine and some anabolic steroids.” While the reclassification by the Drug Enforcement Administration would not make cannabis legal for recreational use by adults nationwide, “it could change how the drug is regulated and reduce a hefty tax burden on the cannabis industry.” Furthermore, it will also “open new avenues for medical research,” and overall represents “a major shift in federal drug policy that inches closer to what many states have done.”

NBC News (12/18, Gregorian, Reichman, Dean) reports the order “directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to conclude the formal rescheduling process, which has been going on for more than a year, and move to publish a final rule that would reclassify cannabis.” It also “directs the White House deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs to work with Congress to allow people in the U.S. to benefit from access to CBD products while still restricting sale and access to products that pose serious health risks.”

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— “Trump signs executive order that could reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug,”Lindsay Whitehurst and Bill Barrow , AP, December 18, 2025