Forbes (2/26) contributor Deb Gordon wrote, “Nearly 29 million Americans have an eating disorder in their lifetime – 5.5 million in any given year – at an annual cost to the healthcare system of $4.6 billion, according to a Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders… report [PDF] from the National Academy for Eating Disorders,” and hospitalizations for eating disorders “average 14 days [PDF] and $19,400 – the longest and costliest mental and/or substance use disorder admissions.” Forbes adds that a new California “law requires insurers to cover all medically necessary mental health services, according to American Psychiatric Association guidelines rather than insurers’ internal policies.”

Related Links:

— “Despite Progress, Patients Still Struggle With Insurance Coverage For Eating Disorder Treatment “Deb Gordon, Forbes, February 26, 2021

HealthDay (2/25, Preidt) reports researchers found “that mental illness isn’t a factor in most mass shootings or other types of mass murder.” The findings were published in Psychological Medicine.

Related Links:

— “Mental Illness Not a Factor in Most Mass Shootings ” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, February 25, 2021

HealthDay (2/25, Norton) reports researchers found in a preliminary study that “people with Alzheimer’s disease often have a history of depression or anxiety, which might mean an earlier emergence of memory and thinking problems.” The findings were presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting.

Related Links:

— “History of Mental Illness Tied to Earlier Onset of Alzheimer’s Disease “Amy Norton, HealthDay, February 25, 2021

Healio (2/25, Gramigna) reports researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis and concluded that “childhood AD/HD appeared linked to increased risk for a subsequent psychotic disorder.” The review study was published in JAMA Psychiatry.

Psychiatric News (2/25) also covers the study.

Related Links:

— “Childhood ADHD diagnosis increases risk for subsequent psychotic disorder “Joe Gramigna, Healio, February 25, 2021

Psychiatric News (2/24) reports, “More than half of individuals living in a large metropolitan county in North Carolina who died suddenly outside the hospital had at least one diagnosed mental illness or substance use disorder in the previous five years, and more than one-third had two or more,” investigators concluded after screening “for sudden deaths attended by emergency medical services in Wake County, N.C., from March 1, 2013, to February 28, 2015.” The study revealed that among people “with mental and/or substance use disorders, cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic conditions were common.” The findings were published online Feb. 17 in Psychiatric Services, a publication of the American Psychiatric Association.

Related Links:

— “Mental Illness, Substance Use Disorders Found Common Among Individuals Who Die Suddenly, Psychiatric News, February 24, 2021