Healio (10/11, Oldt) reports, “Patients recently discharged from acute psychiatric care were more likely to exhibit violent behaviors if they reported continued cannabis use,” researchers concluded after analyzing “data from the MacArthur Risk Assessment Study for 1,136 psychiatric patients recently discharged.” The findings were published online Sept. 21 in Frontiers in Psychiatry: Forensic Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Persistent cannabis use linked to violence in mental health,” Dugré JR, et al., Healio, October 11, 2017.

HealthDay (10/11, Preidt) reports, “Talk therapy may help relieve menopause-related sleep problems and depression, [according to] a new study” that was scheduled to be presented at the North American Menopause Society’s annual meeting. Patients who underwent “four cognitive behavioral therapy sessions targeting insomnia and hot flashes in a small group of menopausal women…had improvements in sleep and depression, and the results were similar regardless of depression severity.” According to HealthDay, “a small group” of women took part in the study.

Related Links:

— “Talk Therapy May Help Menopause Woes,” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, October 11, 2017.

Healio (10/10, Oldt) reports, “Treatment responses to citalopram were comparable among older and younger adults with major depressive disorder [MDD],” researchers concluded after analyzing data on some “2,280 nonpsychotic adults, of whom 106 were older adults, with DSM-4-TR-defined MDD.” The findings were published online in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Citalopram similarly effective for depression in older, younger adults,” Steiner AJ, et al., Healio, October 10, 2017.

U.S. News & World Report (10/11) reports many older adults struggle to receive mental healthcare services because of factors such as being “hindered by modern culture perpetuating the stigmas and misconceptions of ageism and mental health issues; social isolation; high health care costs; and a dwindling supply of geriatric caregivers for America’s growing older population.” The article says HHS’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Health Resources and Services Administration are working to expand access to mental healthcare at the primary care setting.

Related Links:

— “A Look Into Older Adults’ State of Mind,” Katelyn Newman, U.S. News & World Report, October 11, 2017.

The New York Times (10/11, Denizet-Lewis, Subscription Publication) examines severe anxiety among teens in a 7,600-word article. The piece profiles teens who have struggled with severe anxiety and their treatment, such as medications, hospitalizations, and residential treatment facilities. The article mentions that “anxiety is the most common mental-health disorder in the United States, affecting nearly one-third of both adolescents and adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.” The piece also discusses current research and studies on anxiety.

Related Links:

— “Why Are More American Teenagers Than Ever Suffering From Severe Anxiety?,” BENOIT DENIZET-LEWIS, New York Times, October 11, 2017.