HCP Live (5/21, Smith) reports, “There is a bidirectional association between inflammatory joint disease (IJD) and depression among patients, according to recent findings, although the link appears not to be likely impacted by patients’ treatment resistance or severity of their depression.” In the study, published in General Hospital Psychiatry, participants “who had depression were found to have a greater risk for later IJD versus their population comparators (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for IJD 1.34 [95% CI 1.30–1.39]; for PsA, 1.45 [1.29–1.63]; RA, 1.27 [1.15–1.41]; AS, 1.32 [1.15–1.52]).”

Related Links:

— “Bidirectional Link Identified Between Depression, Inflammatory Joint Disease,”Tim Smith, HCP Live, May 21, 2024

USA Today (5/20) reports “the pandemic and Zoom have seeded an online therapy boom,” and “therapists say they have never been busier.” According to USA Today, “the share of young adults ages 18 to 34 who sought counseling rose swiftly in the pandemic years, from 12% in 2019 to 18.4% in 2022, the most recent figure available from federal researchers,” while “the share of all adults seeking counseling rose from 9.5% to 12.6%.” Meanwhile, “spending on mental health services also rose, climbing by more than half, 53%, from March 2020 to August 2022, according to” a study published in JAMA Health Forum. Almost “100% of [healthcare professionals] now offer telehealth to their patients, industry surveys have found.” APA Telepsychiatry Committee Chair Dr. Shabana Khan said about telehealth, “We have been doing this for a while. We know it works well. … I think a good clinician is a good clinician, no matter how they provide the care.”

Related Links:

— “Americans are getting more therapy than ever — and spending more. Here’s why.,”Daniel de Visé , USA TODAY, May 20, 2024

The New York Times (5/20, Richtel ) reports, “As more places legalize marijuana, policymakers and health officials have worried about the health risks that the drug may pose to adolescents.” However, “a new study suggests that an additional demographic is at risk: seniors.” Published in JAMA Internal Medicine on Monday, the study “found that after Canada legalized marijuana, the number of emergency room visits for cannabis poisoning rose sharply among people ages 65 and older.” Such incidents “doubled after Canada legalized sale of the cannabis flower, and then tripled just 15 months later, when Canada legalized the sale of edibles.”

CNN (5/20, Rogers ) reports, “During the eight-year study period, there were 2,322 emergency department visits for cannabis poisoning in older adults who were age 69 on average. Nearly 17% of those adults were simultaneously intoxicated with alcohol, about 38% had cancer and 6.5% had dementia.”

Psychiatric News (5/20) also reports.

Related Links:

— “The New York Times (requires login and subscription)

NBC News (5/19, Lovelace ) reports, “Many of the ADHD medication shortages that have plagued the U.S. for the last two years have now been resolved, the Food and Drug Administration says.” However, some physicians “and patients report they are still struggling to get prescriptions filled.” Overall, “nine manufacturers now have ADHD medications back in stock, according to the FDA’s drug shortage database, up from six last September.” And “an FDA spokesperson said the agency expects additional supply will be returning in the coming months after a new manufacturer, U.S. Pharma Windlas, recently began distributing doses.

Related Links:

— “ADHD drug shortage shows signs of letting up, but some patients still struggle,” Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, May 19, 2024

Healio (5/16, Young) reports, “Time, financial and energy constraints are the leading barriers to mental health care access for health care workers, according to research.” Investigators came to this conclusion after conducting “a cross-sectional survey-based study” in which they “evaluated the burden of mental illness and access to resources and treatment for health care workers,” including a total of “149 participants in various health care roles including nurses, physicians, pharmacists and support staff.” The findings were presented at the American Psychiatric Association annual meeting.

Related Links:

— “Time, finances, energy leading barriers to health care worker access to mental health care,”Kate Young , Healio, May 16, 2024