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Latest News Around the Web

Barriers to divorce during pregnancy, reproductive health care lead to serious health risks among pregnant or recently pregnant women

Healio (11/12, Southall ) reports, “Significant barriers to divorce during pregnancy and reproductive health care led to serious health risks among pregnant or recently pregnant women in the U.S. between 2018 and 2021, according to results of a cross-sectional study.” Researchers found “significantly high rates of intimate partner homicide…when state law prohibited divorce finalization during pregnancy.” Investigators “specifically observed high rates of intimate partner homicide among white females aged 10 years to 24 years.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Barriers to divorce during pregnancy, reproductive care pose risks for women,” Jennifer R. Southall, Healio, November 12, 2024

Excessive Drinking Continued Increasing In 2022, Study Finds

The Hill (11/12, Timotija ) reports that “excessive drinking continued increasing in 2022, after rising during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Researchers “found that heavy alcohol use from 2018 to 2020 jumped by 20 percent, and then increased another 4 percent from 2020 to 2022.” The spike “was seen in all regions of the U.S., races and genders, besides Asian Americans and Native Americans.” According to the study, “in 2023, over 69.3 percent of Americans said they had had some alcohol, a slight increase from 69.03 in 2022. … In 2018, it was 66.3 percent.” Meanwhile, “heavy drinking went up from 5.1 percent in 2018 to 6.3 percent in 2022.”

HealthDay (11/12, Foster ) reports that “the latest findings were culled from data in the National Center for Health Statistics’ National Health Interview Survey.”

Related Links:

— “Excessive drinking inches higher after pandemic increase: Research,” Filip Timotija, The Hill, November 12, 2024

Childhood asthma linked to difficulties with memory, other cognitive functions

MedPage Today (11/11, Putka ) reports, “Childhood asthma was associated with difficulties with memory and other cognitive functions, according to an observational cohort study.” In an “analysis, children with earlier onset of asthma had lower rates of memory improvements as measured by the Picture Sequence Memory Test compared with those without asthma.” Researchers found that “when children with later-onset asthma were compared with the kids without asthma, no such difference was observed.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links: — MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

AD/HD Influences Children’s Weight In Ways That Will Shape Their Long-Term Health, Study Suggests

HealthDay (11/11, Thompson ) reports, “Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder can influence a child’s weight in ways that will shape their long-term health, a new study says.” Children “with AD/HD tend to have lower birth weight, which increases their risk of developmental delays and health problems, researchers in the U.K. found.” However, “these kids also are more likely to develop obesity after age 5, a weight swing that can place even more risk upon their health in adulthood, researchers said.” The findings were published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “How ADHD May Influence a Child’s Weight,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, November 11, 2024

Body dysmorphic disorder negatively impacts quality of life, body image during pregnancy

Healio (11/8, Welsh) said, “Body dysmorphic disorder may negatively impact quality of life and body image during pregnancy, especially during first and third trimesters, highlighting the need for interventions and support for pregnant women, researchers reported.” About “31.01% of women reported concern with weight gain associated with pregnancy and postpartum.” The findings were published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.

Related Links:

— “Body dysmorphia during pregnancy worsens self-image, quality of life,” Richard Smith, Healio, November 8, 2024

Foundation News

New Foundation Radio Ad Examines #MeToo Trauma

Starting February 5, 2018, the Foundation will begin airing a new public service ad on area radio stations. It specifically examines the long term effects of trauma evidenced by the #MeToo movement as well as recent prosecution of abusers, such as the trial of the former doctor for the Olympic gymnastics team. Those effects range from anxiety disorder to suicide, and help is available for all of them.

#Metoo trauma can have long-term mental health consequences#Metoo trauma can have long-term mental health consequences, MP3, 1.5MB

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.

Foundation’s Oral History Project To Go Online

As reported in the Maryland Psychiatric Society News, the Foundation’s Oral History Project is well on its way. The project is designed to collect fascinating stories about psychiatrists from different backgrounds who entered a career path that brought them to Maryland. There are nineteen interviews already archived at MPS, and the Foundation is seeking more. You can find more information about the project as well as get information on contacting the Foundation here:

Oral History Project

Latest Foundation Radio Ad Discusses Police Training and the Mentally Ill

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry, Inc.’s latest public service announcement on local Maryland radio stations focuses on how police in Baltimore are being trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of a whole range of mental health conditions and hopefully avoid tragedies.

Training helps police help the mentally illTraining helps police help the mentally ill

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 Foundation PSA Examines College and Drug Use

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry, Inc.’s latest public service announcement on local Maryland radio stations. When does most drug abuse start in college? Right now – finals and summer. According to studies half a million students started drug and alcohol abuse just in the past year. The PSA examines prevention and treatment, especially at this early age.

College and First Use of Drugs and AlcoholCollege and First Use of Drugs and Alcohol, MP3, 2.4MB

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.

John Lion, M.D. Wins 2017 Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award

The Board of Directors of the Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry voted in February to present its 2017 Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award to Dr. John Lion for his piece, “Steadfast talking is the only cure for suicide” published December 18, 2016 in the Baltimore Sun. The board felt it reassured readers that even serious mental illness like depression can be overcome, even if there are setbacks along the way that evoke suicidal thoughts.

The award was established to recognize the article that best fulfills the following goals:

Shares with the public their experience with mental illness in themselves, a family member, or simply in the community.
Helps others to overcome their inability to talk about mental illness or their own mental illness.
Imparts particularly insightful observations on the general subject of mental illness.
A Maryland author and/or newspaper is preferred.

The award carries a $500 prize which the foundation plans to award at the April 27 Maryland Psychiatric Society annual meeting. The 2016 winner was Amy Marlow, whose article “My dad killed himself when I was 13. He hid his depression. I won’t hide mine.” was published February 9, 2016 in the Washington Post.