MedPage Today (7/27, Walsh) reports, “Individuals with a history of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) had twice the risk of subsequently developing lupus,” investigators concluded after analyzing “data for Medicaid enrollees residing in the 29 most populous states during the years 2007 to 2010.” Investigators “identified 10,942 incident cases of” systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), “who were matched according to age, sex, and race/ethnicity with 109,420 controls.” The findings were published online in Arthritis Care & Research.

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— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

Healio (7/27, Gramigna) reports, “Depression appeared to adversely affect cognitive performance but not cognitive change among a cohort of individuals aged 90 years or older,” investigators concluded after analyzing “data from the LifeAfter90 cohort, a racially and ethnically diverse cohort of participants aged 90 years or older that launched in 2018 to attempt to characterize cognitive and brain aging among this age group.” The findings of the 655-participant study were presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.

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— “Depression may affect cognitive performance among those in their 90s “Joe Gramigna, Healio, July 27, 2021

MedPage Today (7/27, Grant) reports, “Mental health disorders were associated with an increased risk of COVID-19-related mortality, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis of 16 studies from seven countries.” Researchers “noted that although they were able to determine the associations between severe mental health disorders and risk of COVID-19 mortality, it wasn’t possible to identify significant differences between specific mental health disorders.” The review was published in JAMA Psychiatry.

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— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

Modern Healthcare (7/26, Hellmann, Subscription Publication) reports, “The $2.3 trillion government spending bill passed in December permanently allowed Medicare to cover mental health services delivered virtually but…beneficiaries must see the practitioner in person within six months before virtual treatment begins.” This requirement, which is anticipated “to take effect next year, has puzzled and frustrated” clinicians and “advocates, who argue it has no clinical benefit, will deter patients from seeking care and make it difficult to expand access to mental healthcare in rural communities.” Now, bipartisan legislation “would remove the requirement stating that beneficiaries must see their mental health practitioner in person before beginning virtual care and subsequent periods afterward, which is to be determined by HHS.” The American Psychiatric Association and the American Medical Association, among others, support such legislation.

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— “Providers, advocates say Medicare telehealth policy poses barrier to mental healthcare “Jessie Hellmann, Modern Healthcare, July 26, 2021

USA Today (7/26, Brook) reports, “Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed deep concern about suicide among troops during a visit to U.S. forces stationed in Alaska where there has been an alarming spike in those deaths” since Dec. 30. Since then, “at least six soldiers have died by probable suicide…and suicide is suspected in several others, USA TODAY has reported.” According to the article, “Austin raised the issue of suicide in nearly every visit he had with military, civilian and tribal leaders during his visit to Alaska, according to a Defense official who was not authorized to speak publicly about the meetings.” Austin is quoted as saying, “Mental health is health period.” He added, “And we have to approach it with the same energy that we apply to other – any other health issue, with compassion and professionalism and resources. And so if you’re hurting, there are resources available.”

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— “‘Mental health is health. Period.’ Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin decries stigma in message to troops “Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, July 26, 2021