MedPage Today (6/1, Bankhead) reports, “Almost 20% of patients undergoing stem-cell transplantation had clinically significant symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 6 months after the procedure, according to a report from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) virtual meeting.” The research found that “overall, 47 of 250 patients had significant PTSD symptoms, most often intrusion, avoidance, and hypervigilance.” Furthermore, “baseline quality of life (QoL), psychological symptoms, and marital status (single) had significant associations with PTSD 6 months after transplantation.”

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— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

According to Psychiatric News (6/1), the American Psychiatric Association (APA) “has issued statements in response to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man in police custody in Minneapolis, and the resulting civil unrest this past weekend as demonstrators across the nation protested police brutality and institutional racism.” APA President Jeffrey Geller, MD, MPH, stated, “The demonstrations are a result of racism against Black people that has gone unchecked – and at times has been fostered by leaders of this country. APA will not stand for racism against Black Americans.” APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, MD, MPA, said, “APA stands with the Black community and all those opposed to racism to protect and improve the lives of those who have experienced discrimination and the associated trauma.”

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— “APA Condemns Racism, Police Brutality and Calls for End to Racial Inequities, Psychiatric News, June 1, 2020

Modern Healthcare (5/29, Johnson, Subscription Publication) reported, “Experts fear the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s surveillance of COVID-19 cases and deaths among healthcare workers are under-counting the impact on the front lines, which could obscure the scope of the pandemic as it hits the front lines.” CDC numbers show “more than 63,000 healthcare workers have been infected with COVID-19 and 307 have died from the virus as of Friday.” However, “those figures are based on information received from a relatively small pool of test reports,” as “the vast majority of the data collected lacks key information about the occupational status of those getting tested for the coronavirus.”

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— “CDC underestimates COVID’s toll on healthcare workers, experts say, “Steven Ross Johnson, Modern Healthcare, May 29, 2020

CNN (5/31, Lamotte) reports, “Witnessing acts of racism via video, radio or social media can produce fear, anger and outrage, but even those who don’t take to the streets can experience significant emotional distress.” According to experts, this is called “vicarious racism,” and people can be harmed without being the victim. Studies have shown “that race-related stress is a significantly more powerful risk factor for poor mental health than stressful life events.” This “can contribute to anxiety disorders and depression.”

Related Links:

— “Vicarious racism: You don’t have to be the target to be harmed, “Sandee LaMotte, CNN, May 31, 2020

Healio (5/28, Gramigna) reports researchers in Japan found “postpartum women were more likely to use fatal suicide attempt methods and have more distinct and serious psychopathology than pregnant women.” The findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Postpartum women at greater risk for fatal suicide attempt than pregnant women, “Joe Gramigna, Healio, May 28, 2020