Jan 18 2022
Mobile phone-based mental health interventions have gained popularity as a potential solution to the cost and access issues of traditional mental health care. A new study analyzed previous research on such interventions, including 145 studies involving 48,000 participants, to determine whether they benefit users as designed. Overall, the study found modest positive results for certain conditions – such as anxiety and depression – but little evidence that mobile-phone based interventions are as effective or more effective than traditional care. More rigorous studies, including a full exploration of potential negative outcomes, are necessary to understand the impact of these interventions. To learn more, see the study in PLOS Digital Health.
Jan 12 2022
Transgender individuals often face significant mental health challenges, including a higher risk of suicide compared to their cisgender peers. In a recent analysis of data from the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, researchers explored the link between receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAH) in adolescence or adulthood and future mental health outcomes. Among adults who indicated that they had ever desired GAH, those who had received it at any point in their life were less likely to report suicidal behavior in the past year or severe psychological distress in the past month. Further, those who received GAH in adolescence (age 14-17) experienced better mental health outcomes than those who received GAH in adulthood. To learn more, see the study in PLOS One.
Nov 29 2021
Individuals with mental illness often have additional physical health challenges, due to the side effects of some psychiatric medications and other lifestyle factors. According to a new analysis of more than 30 systematic reviews, type 2 diabetes – which affects about 10% of the general population – is common among people with psychiatric conditions. Researchers found that 16% of individuals with a substance use disorder also have type II diabetes, followed by 14% of those with an anxiety disorder, 11% each of those with bipolar disorder or psychosis, and 10% of those with schizophrenia. To learn more, see the study in Diabetologia.
Nov 15 2021
New research supports previous findings that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a type of antidepressant medication, are associated with decreased mortality in patients with COVID-19. Using electronic health records from a population of more than 80,000 people diagnosed with COVID-19, researchers compared patients prescribed SSRIs with similar patients not treated with SSRIs. Relative risk of mortality was reduced for individuals taking any SSRI, those taking fluoxetine, and those taking either fluoxetine or fluvoxamine. Patients taking a specific SSRI other than fluoxetine or fluvoxamine did not experience statistically significant reductions in mortality risk. To learn more, see the study in JAMA.
Nov 03 2021
Cannabis use disorder (CUD) among individuals hospitalized during pregnancy increased significantly between 2010-2018, and this population may also be at an elevated risk for other psychiatric illnesses. Among a sample of nearly 21 million prenatal hospitalization records, 2% involved a pregnant individual with a diagnosis of CUD in 2018, compared to 0.8% in 2010. Pregnant women with CUD were also more likely to experience co-occurring depression or anxiety. Further research is needed to better understand the relationship between the use of cannabis and mental illness – especially among vulnerable populations such as pregnant women – and how targeted interventions can improve health outcomes. To learn more, see the study in JAMA.
Oct 25 2021
This month, SAMHSA released results from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an annual nationwide survey on mental health, substance use, treatment rates, and more. The report shows increased prevalence of mental illness and substance use disorders (SUDs) among U.S. adults during 2020, consistent with research on the negative mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Young adults ages 18-25 experienced the highest rates of mental illness of any age group, highlighting the pandemic’s disproportionate effect on young people. Encouragingly, while mental illness and SUDs are on the rise, treatment rates have also increased – meaning more people who need help are getting it. To learn more, see the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Oct 19 2021
Many people with mental illness use cigarettes as a way to cope with their symptoms, despite the negative overall health impacts of smoking. E-cigarettes, which deliver nicotine without the additional carcinogens of cigarette smoke, have risen in popularity among people who believe they are a less-harmful option or may even help them quit. However, new research using a representative sample of U.S. adults finds that switching to e-cigarettes from traditional cigarettes did not prevent relapse to smoking within one year of quitting. Individuals who switched to any tobacco product, including e-cigarettes, were 8.5% more likely to relapse within one year compared to those who were entirely tobacco-free. To learn more, see the study in JAMA.
Oct 04 2021
One in three suicide attempts may be attributable to adversity in childhood, according to a new systematic review from researchers at Harvard and Columbia University. Researchers analyzed findings from 19 separate research studies which included data on more than 20 million participants to examine the relationship between experiences of childhood adversity – including abuse, neglect, family violence, and financial hardship – and health outcomes later in life. In addition to physical health conditions like heart disease and cancer, childhood adversity was most strongly associated with suicide attempts. These findings highlight the need to understand, and develop interventions for, individuals who have experienced adversity. To learn more, see the study in JAMA.
Sep 22 2021
Research has shown a higher rate of death from COVID-19 in people with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, but the cause is not known. To investigate a possible cause, researchers analyzed data on more than 400 individuals with serious mental illness who had been diagnosed with COVID-19. Although the findings confirmed increased risk of mortality among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, the study found no increased risk in those taking antipsychotic medication. Further research is needed to understand this issue, but this study supports the safety of maintaining an antipsychotic regimen while at risk for COVID-19. To learn more, see the study in JAMA.
Sep 15 2021
Supported employment services can significantly improve occupational functioning and quality of life for individuals with mental illness, but the stigma associated with referral to a mental health facility may prevent some from accessing it. A recent study tested the efficacy of Individual Placement and Support (IPS), a type of supported employment, delivered directly to veterans with a variety of nonpsychotic mental health conditions in a primary care setting. Compared to standard, less personalized vocational rehabilitation services, veterans receiving IPS obtained steady work more quickly, leading to more full-time jobs and higher incomes - all within their existing primary care system. To learn more, see the study in Psychiatric Services.