MedPage Today (5/22, George) reports researchers found in a longitudinal study that “people with bipolar disorder had a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease than people without the disorder.” The findings were of the 56,340-adult study were published online May 22 in Neurology. The authors of an accompanying editorialobserved that the study’s results should be interpreted with the understanding that it’s difficult to determine when Parkinson’s disease starts, and as such it’s possible that “bipolar disorder or mood dysregulation approximating bipolar disorder may more appropriately be viewed as an early symptom of Parkinson’s disease.”

Related Links:

— “Parkinson’s Tied to Bipolar Disorder, “Judy George, MedPage Today, May 22, 2019

Healio (5/21, Adams) reports, “Data from three studies presented” at the American Psychiatric Association’s annual meeting indicated that “among patients with major depressive disorder [MDD] and suicidal ideation or suicide attempt who were diagnosed during hospitalization or visit to the” emergency department (ED), “8.4% experienced readmission or a future ED visit within six months after discharge.” In addition, “researchers reported that treatment within the year prior to suicidal ideation was distinctly low among these patients.”

Related Links:

— “Studies highlight unmet needs in patients with MDD, suicide attempt/ideation, “Ella Daly, MD, Healio, May 21, 2019

Reuters (5/20, Rapaport) reports, “New teen drivers with” attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) “are more likely to crash their cars than adolescents who don’t have” the disorder, particularly “right after they get their license,” researchers concluded after following “14,936 teens in New Jersey for two years.” When compared to teenagers without AD/HD, “young drivers with the condition were 62 percent more likely to crash within the first month of getting licensed, the study found.” What’s more, “over their first four years behind the wheel, teens with” AD/HD “were 37 percent more likely to crash,” the study revealed. The findings were published online in Pediatrics. HealthDay (5/20, Gordon) also covers the study.

Related Links:

— “Teen drivers with ADHD have higher crash rates even with graduated licenses, “Lisa Rapaport, Reuters, May 20, 2019

According to USA Today (5/20, O’Donnell), the US “medical system falls far short of meeting the demand for teen mental health services because cases of suicide and psychiatric disorders are skyrocketing.” In fact, “research from federal regulators and medical groups shows the suicide rate for young people ages 10 to 19 rose by 56% from 2007 to 2016, the latest year for which figures are available.” Despite that, “only 40% of young people with major depression got treatment, according to the National Institute for Mental Health.”

Related Links:

— “Help hard to find for teens struggling with mental health, thoughts of suicide, “Jayne O’Donnell, USA Today, May 20, 2019

Reuters (5/16, Rapaport) reports researchers found “children and teens who are bullied are more than twice as likely as peers who are not victimized to take painkillers.” The findings were published in Acta Paediatrica.

Related Links:

— “Bullied kids more likely to use painkillers, “Lisa Rapaport, Reuters, May 16, 2019