NPR (10/2, Noguchi) reported, “Many health care workers surveyed say they feel burnt out,” and this has “a direct impact on patient care.” The pandemic “has left many doctors, nurses, medical assistants, respiratory therapists and others on the front lines of care exhausted and overwhelmed, fueling greater levels of burnout that were already high.” The availability “of vaccines against the coronavirus sparked hope of a return to normal – only to be dashed by the latest surge of cases, driven primarily by people who aren’t vaccinated.”

Related Links:

— “Health workers know what good care is. Pandemic burnout is getting in the way “Yuki Noguchi, NPR , October 2, 2021

Psychiatric News (10/1) reported, “Patients with bipolar disorder who have a high genetic risk for the condition or for schizophrenia may have a higher risk of hospitalization compared with those who have a lower genetic risk for either of these conditions,” researchers concluded after analyzing “the polygenic risk scores of 954 patients who had bipolar disorder for at least five years to determine if the patients’ genetic risk of bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, or schizophrenia was associated with severe bipolar disorder.” The findings were published online Sept. 28 in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

Related Links:

— “Genetic Risk of Some Mental Illnesses Tied to Increased Hospitalizations in Bipolar Disorder, Psychiatric News, October 1, 2021

HealthDay (10/1) reported, “Besides the long-established benefits of breastfeeding for baby and mom, a new study reports one more: Nursing could help chase the blues away.” Breastfeeding “is linked to a lower risk for postpartum depression…and nursing for a longer time may further ease depression symptoms, according to the findings,” which were published in the journal Public Health Nursing.

Related Links:

— “Breastfeeding Longer May Lower Postpartum Depression Risk “Cara Murez, HealthDay, October 1, 2021

HealthDay (9/30, Reinberg) reports, “For those who smoke or drink, it’s only a small step to marijuana, researchers” concluded in a study suggesting that “legal consumption of alcohol and tobacco may directly increase the level of illicit drug use.” The findings were published online Sept. 29 in the journal Addiction. HealthDay does not disclose the number of participants in the study.

Related Links:

— “Smoking, Drinking Gateway to Pot, Study Finds “Steven Reinberg, HealthDay, September 30, 2021

The New York Times (9/30, Caron) reports, “For about one in 20 people in the northern half of the United States, cooling temperatures and shorter, darker days may signal the onset of seasonal affective disorder, or SAD,” which “is believed to run in families and is more common among women.” The article explains measures people can take to control SAD, such as bright-light therapy and walking outdoors for about 20 minutes to half an hour each day.

Related Links:

— “How to Fend Off Winter Depression “Christina Caron, The New York Times, September 30, 2021