HealthDay (12/3, Reinberg) reports that research published last week revealed that “one in 40 children have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and a second study that was published online Dec. 3 in the journal JAMA Pediatrics arrived at the same conclusion.” Included in the latest study were “data on 43,000 children who took part in the 2016 National Survey.

Related Links:

— “Another Tally Puts Autism Cases at 1 in 40, “Steven Reinberg, HealthDay, December 03, 2018.

The New York Times (12/3, Belluck) reports that more and more, patients, mental health advocates and physicians believe psychiatric advance directives (PADs) “could help transform the mental health system by allowing patients to shape their care even when they lose touch with reality.” In addition, PADs “offer a middle path by allowing patients to designate family members to speak for them when they’re too sick to do so themselves.” Some physicians “and hospitals are wary that the documents could tie their hands and discourage treatment they consider warranted,” while others “worry the directives won’t be updated to reflect medical advances.” Some people even “question whether people with serious psychiatric conditions are ever capable of lucidly completing such directives.”

Related Links:

— “Now Mental Health Patients Can Specify Their Care Before Hallucinations and Voices Overwhelm Them, ” Pam Belluck, The New York Times, December 03, 2018.

HealthDay (12/3, Preidt) reports, “An increase in prescriptions for antidepressants followed the 2016 ‘Brexit’ vote in England,” researchers concluded after comparing “monthly prescribing data for antidepressants in England with other classes of drugs not used to treat mood disorders.” The findings were published online Nov. 21 in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Related Links:

— “Brexit Had Brits Turning to Antidepressants: Study, ” Robert Preidt, HealthDay., December 03, 2018.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (11/30, Staples) reported that every single day in the US, “78 children, teens and young adults are injured or killed by guns.” In 2017 “alone, 285 children got hold of a gun and inadvertently shot themselves or someone else.” What’s more, teenagers are especially “at a higher risk for suicide when there is a gun in the home.”

Related Links:

— “Want to help prevent teen suicide? Get rid of the gun in your house, “Gracie Bonds Staples, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 30, 2018.

HealthDay (12/1, Preidt) reported that two separate studies both concluded that “teens and adults with epilepsy are at increased risk for depression and should undergo regular screening.” One study included “nearly 400 teens…with epilepsy,” while the second study “involved 120 adults with epilepsy.” The findings of both studies were scheduled to be presented at the American Epilepsy Society’s annual meeting.

Related Links:

— “Depression Is a Risk for Teens, Adults With Epilepsy, ” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, December 01, 2018.