The New York Times (2/7, Jacobs) reports that on Thursday, Instagram announced “it would no longer allow graphic images of self-harm, such as cutting, on its platform,” a change which seems to come “in response to public attention to how the social network might have influenced a 14-year-old’s suicide.” Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, issued a statement explaining the change, noting “a distinction between graphic images about self-harm and nongraphic images, such as photos of healed scars,” which will still be allowed but will be “more difficult to find.”

Related Links:

— “Instagram Bans Graphic Images of Self-Harm After Teenager’s Suicide, “Julia Jacobs, The New York Times, February 7, 2019

Medscape (2/7, Hackethal, Subscription Publication) reports, “Having chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) may increase the risk for depression and/or anxiety compared with not having the condition,” researchers concluded in a study involving 16,224 adults with CRS and 32,448 without CRS. The findings were published online Feb. 7 in JAMA Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.

Related Links:

— Medscape (requires login and subscription)

The NPR (2/6, Lambert) “Shots” blog reports certain “antidepressants may dampen the effects of some common opioids, resulting in less effective pain management,” research suggests.

Healio (2/6, Demko) reports, “Using a machine learning approach,” investigators “found that patients on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs] who were prescribed prodrug opioids had more pain after leaving the hospital than those prescribed active form opioids.” The findings of the 4,306-patient study were published online Feb. 6 in PLOS One.

Related Links:

— “Antidepressants Can Interfere With Pain Relief Of Common Opioids, “Jonathan Lambert, NPR, February 6, 2019

The Wall Street Journal (2/6, Holland, Subscription Publication) reports that for older adults with mental illnesses, particularly seniors living in rural areas who cannot easily visit a psychiatrist or other mental healthcare clinician due to disability or cognitive issues, telepsychiatry may be beneficial, providing patients with needed therapy online.

Related Links:

— “Online Psychotherapy for the Elderly, “Emily Holland, The Wall Street Journal, February 06, 2019

MedPage Today (2/6, Hlavinka) reports, “Lower birth weight was associated with increased risk for several subsequent psychiatric disorders,” researchers concluded in a study of “over 500,000 sibling pairs.” The study revealed that people “with lower birth weights were significantly more likely to develop depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder…and autism.” The findings were published online Feb. 6 in JAMA Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)