HealthDay (7/17, Reinberg) reported, “The death of a twin, especially earlier in life, leaves the surviving twin at risk for psychiatric problems,” particularly in identical twins, investigators concluded. After analyzing data from Sweden, researchers “found people who had experienced the death of a co-twin between 1973 and 2013,” then compared “psychiatric diagnoses in these twins with their non-twin siblings and with more than 22,600 people whose twin was still alive.” The study revealed that the “risk of being diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder increased by 55% to 65% after the death of a co-twin.” The findings were published online July 15 in the journal e-Life.

Related Links:

— “Loss of a Twin Linked to Risk for Mental Illness, ” Steven Reinberg, HealthDay, July 17, 2020

Healio (7/17, Monostra) reported, “Postmenopausal women who are prescribed antidepressants, beta-blockers and insulin are more likely to experience weight gain than those who do not use these medications,” investigators concluded after analyzing “data on BMI (n = 76,252) and waist circumference (n = 76,579) during a three-year period from postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 years who participated in the Women’s Health Initiative.” The findings were published online in the journal Menopause.

Related Links:

— “Certain drugs may promote unintentional weight gain in postmenopausal women, “Michael Monostra, Healio, July 17, 2020

Medscape (7/16, Brooks, Subscription Publication) reports, “A growing number of psychiatrists in the US no longer accept insurance and will only see patients who can pay upfront, out-of-pocket for office visits,” investigators concluded after analyzing “data from 2007-2016 from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.” The study revealed that “the percentage of self-paid psychiatrist office visits has trended upward (from 18.5% in 2007-2009 to 26.7% in 2014-2016).” In addition, “the percentage of psychiatrists who work in predominantly self-pay practices has also trended upward (from 16.4% in 2007-2009 to 26.4% in 2014-2016).” The findings were published online July 15 in a research letter in JAMA Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— Medscape (requires login and subscription)

Psychiatric News (7/16) reports that on July 15, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) “and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)…issued recommendations for schools and communities as they move to safely reopen schools in the COVID-19 era.” Both organizations “urged schools and communities to keep” certain “precautions in mind when considering reopening,” such as “public health agencies” basing “recommendations on returning students, teachers, and staff to classrooms on scientific evidence and local community circumstances, not politics.” What’s more, “the return to school must include appropriate protections for all children, families, school personnel, and other members of the community.”

Related Links:

— “APA, AACAP Outline Plan for School Reopening That Emphasizes Safety, Optimizes Mental Health, Psychiatric News, July 16, 2020

MedPage Today (7/16, D’Ambrosio) reports, “One in five women that used prescription opioids during pregnancy reported misuse,” investigators from the CDC concluded after analyzing “2019 survey data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), covering 32 states, as well as survey data from two states that did not participate in PRAMS.” The study revealed that “of more than 1,400 women who used opioids during pregnancy, 21% self-reported misuse, stating that they received prescriptions from sources other than” clinicians, “or used opioids for non pain-related reasons,” The findings were published online July 17 in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Related Links:

— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)