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Latest News Around the Web

Research Finds Use Of GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs By Children, Teens Does Not Increase Risk For Suicide, Suicidal Thoughts

HealthDay (10/14, Mundell ) reports parents and physicians “may worry that the use of GLP-1 weight-loss meds by children and teens might raise psychiatric risks, including the risk for suicide and suicidal thoughts,” but new research “involving more than 54,000 U.S. adolescents found no such link.” Investigators found that children with obesity “who used the drugs had a 33% decline in their risk for thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts compared to adolescents who didn’t.” The findings were published in JAMA Pediatrics.

Healio (10/14, Monostra ) reports study results indicate that “adolescents using a GLP-1 were more likely to experience gastrointestinal symptoms…but had lower risk for acute pancreatitis…than the control group.”

Related Links:

— “GLP-1 Weight-Loss Meds Won’t Raise Teens’ Suicide Risk, May Even Lower It,” Ernie Mundell, , October 14, 2024

Individuals With ID Who Do Not Live With Their Family Not More Likely To Be Prescribed Antipsychotics To Manage Challenging Behaviors, Study Says

Psychiatric News (10/11) reported, “Individuals with intellectual disability (ID) who do not live with their family are not more likely to be prescribed antipsychotics to manage challenging behaviors like aggression,” a recent study found.

Investigators “analyzed medical chart data from 112 adults with ID who received care at a regional health system from 2019 to 2021” and found that “about 60% of all patients were prescribed antipsychotics, with the highest proportion of prescribing found for adults in group homes or other supported living.” The research was published in Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice.

Related Links:

— “Living Situation of People With ID Does Not Appear to Influence Antipsychotic Prescribing Decisions,” Psychiatric News, October 11, 2024

Research Highlights Burden Of Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder

HCPlive (10/10, Brooks) reports, “New research is calling attention to the burden of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, providing new evidence highlighting various unmet needs for patients with these conditions.” Using “data from the Healthcare Integrated Research Database, the study found patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder had high levels of comorbidities and healthcare resource utilization, frequently incurring elevated costs but receiving suboptimal treatment that they often discontinued, leading to relapse.” The findings were published in Schizophrenia.

Related Links:

— “Study Describes Unmet Needs in Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder Management,” Abigail Brooks, MA, HCP Live, October 10, 2024

Persistent Loneliness Raises Odds For Dementia, Study Suggests

HealthDay (10/10, Mundell ) reports, “A new study finds persistent loneliness taking a toll on aging brains and significantly raising a person’s odds for dementia.” Researchers “found loneliness was linked to a 31% rise in the likelihood that a person would go on to develop any form of dementia.” Additionally, loneliness “raised the chances of cognitive impairment in people by 15%.” The findings were published in Nature Mental Health.

Related Links:

— “Loneliness Raises Odds for Dementia by 31%,” Ernie Mundell, HealthDay, October 10, 2024

About 15.5M US Adults Have ADHD, Study Suggests

Reuters (10/10, Singh) reports, “Roughly 15.5 million U.S. adults have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and most of them struggle with gaining access to treatment for the condition, according to data from a U.S. study released on Thursday.” Approximately “one-third of those reporting a diagnosis of ADHD said they had received a prescription for a stimulant drug used to treat it in the previous year, researchers reported in the” CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The study also found that “nearly three quarters of those with a prescription for a stimulant drug reported difficulty getting it filled because the medication was unavailable.”

Related Links:

— “More than 15 million US adults have ADHD, new study estimates,” Puyaan Singh, Reuters, October 10, 2024

Foundation News

New Radio Ad Explores Racial Inequities and Mental Health in Current Crises

Institutional and structural racism are major factors in these times of pandemic and civil unrest. The African American community is particularly hit hard by the coronavirus, police brutality, and the economic burdens that come with them. The ad explains how there is hope and help available.

Racial Inequities and Current Crises in AmericaRacial Inequities and Current Crises in America, MP3, 712KB

You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.

The Foundation Strongly Condemns All Forms of Racism

A Message from the Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry Board of Directors:

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry strongly condemns all forms of racism.  The Foundation calls on all Americans and all levels of government to actively oppose racism, and all related violence and brutality. The Foundation recognizes that there are wide disparities in treatment of mental illness and access to care related to race. Consistent with our mission to fight stigma associated with mental illness and to promote awareness and access to care for all individuals regardless of race, the Foundation pledges to support programs which combat racism.

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry stands in solidarity with the agendas of the American Psychiatric Association, Maryland Psychiatric Society, and the Black Psychiatrists of America.  We endorse the following action items outlined by the Black Psychiatrists of America:

• Declare racism a public health problem and establish national goals for addressing this as a health equity issue. Give priority to addressing the issues of health care disparities including the mental health needs of historically marginalized communities across the US.
 
• Provide adequate funding for the clinical care, training, and research needed to eliminate health disparities and require racism impact statements for all government funded services and research. 
 
• Establish a governmental multidisciplinary and ethnically diverse commission with representatives from the major health care professional associations in medicine, nursing, psychiatry, public health, psychology, social work, etc., and the faith-based community to provide recommendations to Congress regarding policies on how best to improve the health and well-being of our nation’s Black citizens.
 
• Declare “Civic Mental Health” a national priority and incorporate it into the educational curriculum from K-college, as well as in the training of local, state and national officials, law enforcement, and the criminal justice system. 
 
• Establish police community review boards with power to take action in areas of police misconduct pending formal review by the appropriate authorities. This will offer a level of empowerment when communities feel they have a voice that can be heard. 
 
• Assure adequate insurance coverage for mental disorders and emotional distress that are the outgrowth of racism, police brutality, discrimination of all kinds and violence. 

The Maryland Psychiatric Society has also put out a statement on their website.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) also condemns racism and has published their statement, too.

New Radio Ad Explores Mental Health in the Wake of the Coronavirus

A recent poll shows that more than half the people in the United States are feeling extremely worried by the coronavirus. They find they aren’t sleeping properly, are distracted, or being driven into depression. The ad explains how there is hope and help available.

The Coronavirus and Your State of MindThe Coronavirus and Your State of Mind, MP3, 721KB

You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.

New Radio PSA Examines Rise in Child Suicides

Suicide rates among those under age 25 increased 56% in the last decade and tripled for 10 to 14 year olds. Getting professional help is important for the health of the child.

The Suicide Epidemic Among ChildrenThe Suicide Epidemic Among Children, MP3, 3.2MB

You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.