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Mobile Health Tools May Benefit Caregivers of Young Adults with Early Psychosis

Jul 08 2021
As digital health technology rises in popularity, mobile health tools designed for caregivers may be valuable in reducing gaps in service and support. In a survey of 43 caregivers of young adults with early psychosis, participants were asked about potential features of a mobile health (mHealth) app designed to support them in their caregiving role. Most respondents supported features that tracked their loved ones’ treatment needs, such as changes in symptoms, but were less interested in features focused on their own care and wellbeing. Overall, this research demonstrates the value of developing mHealth interventions for caregivers focused on the practical responsibilities of their role. To learn more, see the study in Psychiatric Services.

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Study Shows Disparity, Lack of Availability in Mental Health Crisis and Emergency Walk-In Services

Jun 15 2021
Between 2014 and 2018, 43% of U.S. mental health facilities offered no mental health crisis services, according to a recent analysis of the annual National Mental Health Services Survey. Less than half (48%) of facilities reported providing active-response crisis services, while an even smaller proportion (34%) reported offering walk-in emergency psychiatric services. Services varied significantly by state, with the lowest availability in the Northeast and in coastal or border states such as California, Texas, Florida, and North Carolina. These results suggest significant policy efforts are necessary to ensure equitable access to outpatient crisis care. To learn more, see the study in Psychiatric Services.

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Adolescent ED Visits for Suicidality Increase During Pandemic – Especially Among Girls

Jun 11 2021
In 2020, the proportion of mental health-related emergency department (ED) visits increased by 31% among adolescents aged 12-17 compared to 2019, according to a CDC analysis. Trends in ED visits for suspected suicide attempts among adolescents are especially concerning – in February–March 2021, suicide-related ED visits among girls aged 12-17 had increased 51% compared to the same period in 2019. Among boys, suicide-related ED visits increased by 4% during this period. This data illustrates the critical need to address adolescent mental health, as well as the unique experience of mental health concerns among girls and young women. To learn more, see the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.  

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Success in Matching Therapist Strengths with Patient Needs in a Community Setting

Jun 09 2021
Measurement-based matching, or proactively assigning patients to specific therapists based on their respective symptoms and strengths, can effectively improve outcomes according to new research. From 2017 to 2019, adult outpatients in 6 Ohio mental health clinics were randomized to either standard case assignment or measurement-based matching – receiving treatment from a therapist with historical success in their relevant treatment domains. Those intentionally matched with therapists saw significantly greater improvements on a variety of symptom measures compared to those assigned to therapists in the standard manner. To learn more, see the study in JAMA.

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Half of New Mothers in London Experienced Postpartum Depression during COVID-19 “Lockdown"

May 11 2021
New mothers were twice as likely to experience postpartum depressive symptoms during the first “lockdown” of COVID-19 compared to pre-COVID, according to a new study from University College London. Researchers surveyed 162 London mothers with children under 6 months old between May and June of 2020. Compared to an estimated 23% before the pandemic, 48% met criteria for postpartum depression. The researchers also collected information about each mother’s social networks during the study period. Although virtual and remote communication was not as beneficial as in-person support, mothers with larger social networks reported less severe depressive symptoms. To learn more, see the study in Frontiers in Psychology.  

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Majority of Community Behavioral Health Service Users Support Continued Telehealth Access

May 07 2021
In a new survey of people utilizing community behavioral health services, 80% report that their experiences with telehealth were as good or better than in-person services before prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers surveyed 1,482 individuals receiving telehealth services from a New York City behavioral health agency in May 2020. Of those who indicated interest in continuing telehealth after the pandemic, 83% would prefer a mix of telehealth and in-person visits. Telehealth continues to show promise as a supplemental tool to increase and sustain access to mental health care. To learn more, see the study in Psychiatric Services.

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Study Examines Limitations of Routine Firearm Access Screening for Individuals with Depression

May 04 2021
Providers often ask about access to firearms during mental health and suicide risk screenings, but new research shows that individuals with depressive symptoms experience a variety of concerns about disclosing this information. Researchers interviewed 37 primary care patients in a Washington state health system about their experience responding to the question, “Do you have access to guns?” Overall, participants voiced concerns about privacy, autonomy, and relevance. Alternative questioning techniques — such as those focusing on a broader scope of lethal means or a person’s intentions with a firearm — may encourage individuals to answer accurately, resulting in improved clinical information. To learn more, see the study in Psychiatric Services.

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Psychiatric Conditions among Justice-Involved Youth Persist into Adulthood

Apr 05 2021
A longitudinal study of over 1,800 individuals shows that 64% of males and 35% of females who had a psychiatric disorder when they were in juvenile detention still had a disorder 15 years later. Among all participants, 52% of males and 31% of females had a psychiatric disorder as adults – much higher than the average U.S. adult population. Participants were interviewed up to 12 times between 1995 and 2015 to assess mental health symptoms over time. The findings further emphasize the need to address mental health conditions among youth in the justice system, reducing barriers to successful transition to adulthood. For more information, see the study in JAMA.

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Prevalence of Mental Health Symptoms, Unmet Need for Care Increase during COVID-19 Pandemic

Apr 02 2021
Between August 2020 and February 2021, the percentage of U.S. adults reporting recent symptoms associated with an anxiety or depressive disorder increased from 36.4% to 41.5%, according to a new report from the CDC. The percentage of adults with an unmet need for mental health care also increased during this period, from 9.2% to 11.7%. Young adults (ages 18-29) and individuals without a high school education experienced the most significant increases in both mental health symptoms and unmet need for care, suggesting these populations may be particularly susceptible to the mental health effects of the pandemic. For more information, see the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Mice Brains Show Similarities to Human Brains in Experience of Hallucinations

Apr 02 2021
Because it is difficult to quantify the experience of psychosis, progress toward understanding its biology has been limited. A new study indicates that mice may be a scientifically useful model. When exposed to ketamine and trained to expect a reward when they heard a specific sound, mice behaved similarly to humans experiencing auditory hallucinations. The mice also showed increased levels of dopamine during the study activity and resumed normal behavior after being treated with the antipsychotic haloperidol, a further similarity to humans. If further research proves that the mouse model is reliable it may be a valuable new avenue to increase our understanding of conditions like schizophrenia. For more information, see the study in Science.