In continuing coverage, the New York Times (9/30, Bakalar, Subscription Publication) reported, “Hormonal contraceptives are associated with an increased risk for depression,” researchers found after studying “more than a million women ages 15 to 34, tracking their contraceptive and antidepressant use from 2000 to 2013,” and excluding “women who before 2000 had used antidepressants or had another psychiatric diagnosis.”

The large study also revealed that “the risk was greater in adolescent girls, but this may be because adolescent girls are especially susceptible to depression.” The findings were published online Sept. 28 in JAMA Psychiatry.

Psychiatric News (9/30) reported, “Former APA President Nada Stotland, MD,” MPH, “said the findings should not result in precipitate action by patients or their physicians.” Even though “the effects are significant, clinicians must compare them to what could happen if women were not on hormonal contraceptives, she added.”

Related Links:

— “Contraceptives Tied to Depression Risk,” NICHOLAS BAKALAR, New York Times, September 30, 2016.

In an opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal (10/2, Morgenthau, Subscription Publication), attorney and WWII veteran Robert M. Morgenthau calls on Congress and the Administration to take responsibility of veterans’ suicide rate being about double that of the general population. He applauds the work being done in many areas of the Department of Veterans Affairs in helping many veterans deal with mental health issues and PTSD.

However, the rate of suicide among veterans has remained unchanged and the VA has not been able to meet the needs of those it serves, Morgenthau asserts, calling for allowing veterans to access civilian mental-health services and improving treatment by expanding both public and private partnerships.

Related Links:

— “The VA’s Faltering Battle Against Veteran Suicide,” ROBERT M. MORGENTHAU, Wall Street Journal, October 2, 2016.

In a special piece for the New York Times (9/29, Szalavitz, Subscription Publication), author Maia Szalavitz writes that the four traits of “sensation-seeking, impulsiveness, anxiety sensitivity, and hopelessness” may put children at risk for addiction, according to the Preventure antidrug program. Preliminary research indicates that “personality testing can identify 90 percent of the highest risk children, targeting risky traits before they cause problems.”

Related Links:

— “The 4 Traits That Put Kids at Risk for Addiction,” MAIA SZALAVITZ, New York Times, September 29, 2016.

HealthDay (9/29, Preidt) reports that research suggests “knowing they have a family history of breast cancer or a high-risk gene mutation doesn’t lead to increased anxiety or depression in teen girls.” Such “teens may actually have greater self-esteem and a better understanding of cancer risk than their peers, researchers said.” The findings of the 320-girl study were published in the October issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Related Links:

— “Knowing Their Breast Cancer Risk May Empower Teens,” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, September 29, 2016.

Kaiser Health News (9/28, Rodriguez) reports that a study “found women using hormonal contraception faced a higher rate of developing depression and using antidepressants than women who did not use the drugs.” The findings were published in JAMA Psychiatry.

STAT (9/28, Robbins) reports that investigators “found that among more than 1 million Danish women, those using hormonal contraception were more likely to be diagnosed with depression or prescribed an antidepressant for the first time, in the subsequent months or years, compared to their peers not using hormonal contraception.” STAT adds, “Increased risks were found across nearly all types of hormonal contraception, and were highest among adolescent girls.”

Related Links:

— “Large Danish Study Links Contraceptive Use To Risk Of Depression,” Carmen Heredia Rodriguez , Kaiser Health News, September 28, 2016.