The New York Times (10/4, Caron ) reports on nighttime depression, a “colloquial term for depressive symptoms that either appear or worsen late at night,” but “it is not itself a diagnosis.” The Times says “nighttime depression is best characterized as a low mood.” American Psychiatric Association President-Elect Theresa Miskimen Rivera, MD, explained, “It’s a sense of sadness.”

Several factors can impact “mood late at night, including insomnia, loneliness, alcohol or drugs,” as well as “our circadian rhythms.” Also, nighttime depression can “feel uncomfortable — ‘not only in your mind, but in your body,’ Dr. Rivera added.” The Times adds, “Dr. Rivera advised keeping a pen and paper by your bedside to jot down any thoughts and then taking a fresh look during the day,” and to “seek care quickly or call 988” if “feelings at night become severe.”

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— “The New York Times (requires login and subscription)

HCPlive (10/3, Derman) reports, “A new study showed adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders have high rates of comorbid mental health conditions and substance use but only a few received minimally adequate psychiatric treatment.” The research “revealed 71% of adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders received some mental health treatment in the past year…and only 26% were currently taking an antipsychotic.” The findings were published in Psychiatric Services.

Related Links:

— “Schizophrenia Patients Face High Mental Health Comorbidity, Limited Treatment,” Chelsie Derman, HCP Live, October 3, 2024

Politico (10/2, Chiappa ) reports, “Countries should consider regulating digital devices like smartphones in a similar way to tobacco products, to combat social media’s rising negative impact on young people’s mental health, the World Health Organization’s Natasha Azzopardi Muscat said.”

With growing “evidence that problematic gaming and social media behavior is on the rise among adolescents in Europe, countries should take inspiration from other areas of public health where legislation has helped address potentially damaging habits – such as tobacco laws, she said.” Measures such as “age limits, controlled prices and even no-go zones worked for regulating tobacco, so they could be taken as an example for how to curb damaging use of handheld devices like smartphones, Azzopardi Muscat, director of country health policies and systems at WHO Europe, told POLITICO.”

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— “Control smartphones like tobacco, says leading WHO expert,” Claudia Chiappa, Politico, October 2, 2024

Healio (10/1, Welsh) says, “Mental health counseling is more effective at mitigating the risk for preterm birth compared with antidepressant treatment among pregnant women with depression, researchers reported.” Investigators found that “an increased number of mental health counseling visits from two to three was associated with a 21% greater reduction in preterm birth risk…and four or more visits was associated with a 43% greater reduction.” The findings were published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Related Links:

— “Mental health counseling more effective at reducing preterm birth vs. antidepressants,” Erin T. Walsh, MA, Healio, October 1, 2024

MedPage Today (9/30, DePeau-Wilson ) reports, “Exposure to conversion practices was associated with increases in several mental health symptoms for sexual and gender minority individuals, according to a cross-sectional study.”

In “the analysis of more than 4,000 people,” investigators found “that self-reported exposure to both gender identity and sexual orientation conversion practices was linked with greater symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (β 2.84, 95% CI 0.94-4.74) and suicidality (β 2.14, 95% CI 0.95-3.32) compared to those without any exposure.”

The findings were published in the Lancet Psychiatry. Study co-author Nguyen K. Tran, PhD, MPH, said these findings highlight “that these harmful practices continue to occur, not only within religious groups but also among mental health professionals, despite explicit opposition from multiple healthcare governing bodies such as the American Psychiatric Association.”

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— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)