In “Health & Science,” the Washington Post (3/29, Marcus) delved into the debate among physicians whether “genetic testing helps” them “better prescribe antidepressants.” Last November, “the Food and Drug Administration…released a statement warning patients and doctors to be cautious about genetic testing that has not been approved by the FDA, including those that guide the prescribing of antidepressants.” The statement, prepared by the directors of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health and of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said, “The FDA is aware of genetic tests that claim results can be used by physicians to identify which antidepressant medication would have increased effectiveness or side effects compared to other antidepressant medications.” Nevertheless, “the relationship between DNA variations and the effectiveness of antidepressant medications has never been established,” the statement added.

Related Links:

— “Can genetic testing help doctors better prescribe antidepressants? There’s quite a debate, “Ilana Marcus, The Washington Post, March 29, 2019

Forbes (3/31, Disalvo) contributor David DiSalvo wrote, “Findings from a new study” published online March 22 in Nature Digital Medicine “suggest that users should be cautious” when it comes to mental health apps that claim “to effectively diagnose and manage several disorders.” The study found that “not only do few of the apps rely on real-world experience in their design,” but also that “most also lack any credible scientific evidence to support their claims.” Investigators arrived at these findings after having “identified 1,435 mental health apps from the two most popular app stores (iTunes and Google Play), and then” focusing “on 73 of the apps ‘representing the most highly ranked’ to evaluate their claims.” The study authors also noted that “these findings are important as industry certification options are discussed to improve offerings to consumers, along with screening of apps by accredited organizations like the American Psychiatric Association.”

Related Links:

— “Study: Mental Health Apps Are Loaded With Scientific Language, But Light On Scientific Evidence, “David DiSalvo, Forbes, March 31, 2019

Kaiser Health News (3/30, Galewitz) reported that “after more than 2,000 Missouri children diagnosed with mental illness were shifted from traditional Medicaid into three for-profit managed-care companies,” there was “a doubling in the percentage who had thoughts of suicide or attempted suicide,” according to a report from the Missouri Hospital Association. The report also found that “the average length of stay for these children in psychiatric hospitals dropped from 10 days to seven following the Medicaid change in May 2017.”

Related Links:

— “Suicide risk great after Missouri Medicaid kids shifted to managed care, hospitals say, “Phil Galewitz, Kaiser Health News, March 30, 2019

HealthDay (3/28, Preidt) reports, “Children with autism may have trouble interpreting facial emotions in strangers, but” research indicates “some are as ‘in-tune’ with their mother’s expressions as kids without autism.” Included in the study were four- to eight-year-olds “with and without autism who viewed five facial expressions – happy, sad, angry, fearful and neutral – on both familiar and unfamiliar faces.” The study fond that youngsters “with high-functioning autism could read emotions on their mother’s faces just as well as those without autism.” The article does not disclose the number of study participants. The findings were published online in the journal Child Psychiatry & Human Development.

Related Links:

— “Kids With Autism ‘In Tune’ With Mom’s Feelings: Study, ” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, March 28, 2019

HealthDay (3/28) reports, “The risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among children and teens is higher if they think their response to a traumatic event is abnormal,” researchers concluded in a study that “included more than 200 children, aged eight to 17, treated at a hospital emergency department after traumatic incidents, such as car crashes, assaults and dog attacks.” The findings were published online March 25 in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Kids Can Get ‘Stuck’ on Traumatic Event, Leading to PTSD, “Robert Preidt, HealthDay, March 28, 2019