Healio (1/2, Welsh) says, “Maternal cannabis use was associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including small for gestational age, preterm birth, stillbirth and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, linked to placental function, researchers reported.” The findingswere reported in JAMA.

Related Links:

— “Maternal cannabis use linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes related to placental function,” , Healio, January 2, 2024

NPR (1/2, Dembosky) reports that 100,000 young adults or adolescents have a psychotic episode every year in the US, but “on average, it takes people a year and a half to get into meaningful treatment, if they ever do at all. About 80 to 90% of affected young people inch through the country’s fragmented mental health care system, many struggling to find a clinician with adequate training in psychosis.”

Additionally, “only 10 to 20% … find space in one of the holistic treatment programs recommended by the National Institute of Mental Health,” because “these programs rarely have enough slots available … and because health insurance companies typically refuse to cover the full cost of these programs.”

The article notes that “multiple agencies, including the National Institute of Mental Health, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the American Psychiatric Association, all recommend full-scope early psychosis care for treatment of a first psychotic episode.”

Related Links:

— “It keeps people with schizophrenia in school and on the job. Why won’t insurance pay?,” April Dembosky, NPR, January 2, 2024

HealthDay (1/2, Mundell) reports, “Reduced income, unemployment and mental health issues are more common among people who live with a loved one diagnosed with depression, new research shows.” Investigators found that “folks living with a depressed person had, on average, $4,720 less in total annual income, than people who didn’t.” Additionally, “folks living with a person who was depressed…were more likely to be unemployed,” and had “lower scores on tests aimed at assessing mental and physical health.”

The findings were published in the Journal of Affective Disorders. In a news release from the American Psychiatric Association, study lead author Paul Greenberg said, “These findings indicate that the impact of depressive symptoms may extend beyond the affected individuals, imposing a burden on other adults in their households.”

Related Links:

— “Living With a Depressed Loved One Can Take Mental, Financial Toll,” Ernie Mundell, HealthDay, January 2, 2024

HCP Live (1/2, Derman) reports, “Young adults and adolescents are the age groups most likely to discontinue ADHD medication within 5 years, according to a new study.” Meanwhile, “children had the lowest rates.” The findings were published in The Lancet Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Young Adults, Adolescents Discontinue ADHD Medication More Than Children,” Chelsie Derman, HCPLive, January 2, 2024

HealthDay (12/29, Mundell) reported, “Suicide rates for Vietnam veterans over the past four decades were no higher than that of the general population.” Nonetheless, “between 1979 and 2019 – the period covered by the new study – almost 100,000 Vietnam War vets did lose their lives to suicide, the researchers noted.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Vietnam War Veterans at No Higher Risk for Suicide: Study,” Ernie Mundell, HealthDay, December 29, 2023