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Latest News Around the Web

Approximately 1 In 10 US Children Ages 5 To 17 Has Been Diagnosed With ADHD, Data Indicate

HealthDay (3/20, Mundell , Miller) reports that approximately “1 in every 10 U.S. children ages 5 to 17 has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to” data from the National Center for Health Statistics. These “data from the National Health Interview Survey covers the years 2020 through 2022 and came from in-person or phone interviews involving a representative sample of American homes.”

The survey “found that 11.3% of school-age children have been diagnosed with ADHD, with boys more likely to have this diagnosis (14.5%) than girls (8%).” These findings were published as an NCHS Data Brief.

Related Links:

— “One in 10 U.S. School-Age Kids Have ADHD: Report,” Ernie Mundell, Carole Tanzer Miller, HealthDay, March , 2024

Advocacy Groups Push To Restore ACA Protections For LGBTQ+ People

Bloomberg Law (3/20, Pazanowski , Subscription Publication) reports, “A Trump administration rule that eliminated the Affordable Care Act’s protections for LGBTQ+ people must be vacated, Boston-based advocacy groups told a federal court in a long-running case.” The Biden Administration “has been promising to undo former President Donald Trump’s 2020 ‘rollback rule’ since early 2021 and still hasn’t done so, the advocacy groups said.”

And though HHS “keeps saying a new version is imminent, the potential for another change of administration means people can’t wait any longer, the groups said in Tuesday’s brief to the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts.”

Related Links:

Bloomberg Law (requires login and subscription)

BDD Affects Nearly Two In Every 100 Teens, Research Finds

Psychiatric News (3/20) reports, “Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), defined as excessive preoccupation with perceived flaws in personal appearance, affects almost two in every 100 teens, according to” a study. Additionally, the research “found that BDD is much more common in girls than boys.”

The researchers also found that “children and adolescents with BDD are highly likely to have other psychiatric disorders—especially depression and anxiety—and to experience psychosocial problems, self-harm and/or suicide attempts.”

The findings were published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Body Dysmorphic Disorder or Appearance Preoccupation Common in Teens,” Psychiatric News, March 20, 2024

Link Between Psychedelics And Manic Symptoms In Adolescents Appears To Be Associated With Genetic Vulnerability To Schizophrenia Or Bipolar Disorder, Research Finds

Healio (3/20, Herpen) reports, “While psychedelic use may be associated with fewer psychotic symptoms among adolescents, the link between psychedelics and manic symptoms appears to be associated with genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, data show.”

Investigators came to this conclusion after analyzing “data from 16,255 adolescent twins (54.7% girls) born between July 1992 and December 2005, who first participated in the Child and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden at age 9 years and were later assessed at ages 15, 18 and 24 years.” The findings were published in JAMA Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Link between psychedelic use, manic symptoms in teens may be associated with genetics,” Robert Herpen, MA, Healio, March 20, 2024

Researchers Identify Five Distinct Suicide Profiles That Could Improve Detection And Treatment Of Co-Existing Health Conditions, Bolster Suicide Prevention Strategies

MedPage Today (3/20, DePeau-Wilson ) reports, “Five distinct suicide profiles that could improve detection and treatment of co-existing health conditions and bolster suicide prevention strategies were identified in a cross-sectional study.” In the “analysis of 306,800 suicide deaths, individuals who faced physical health challenges comprised the largest profile class of the five (31.7%).”

The data indicated that “decedents with this profile (class 4) also had the lowest rates of disclosing suicidal intent (14.4%) or leaving a suicide note (25.1%).” Although “physical health conditions made up the largest profile, the remaining profiles were comprised of individuals who predominantly faced mental health or substance abuse conditions: Class 1: comorbid mental health and substance use problems (13.5%); Class 2: mental health problems (17.6%); Class 3: crisis, alcohol-related, and intimate-partner problems (18%);” and “Class 5: polysubstance problems (19.2%).”

The findings were published in JAMA Psychiatry.

Related Links:

MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

Foundation News

Carolyn Im to Receive MFP Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award

The 2023 Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry (MFP) Anti-Stigma Advocacy Prize will be awarded to Carolyn Im for her A Piece of My Mind in JAMA, “Major Developments During Medical School” published October 25, 2022.

She very effectively articulates some of the adjustments medical students with recurrent depression might have to make.  She encourages students to seek psychiatric help when needed and points out that dealing with mental health issues can foster personal growth and make us better physicians.

The Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award carries a $500 prize and will be formally presented at the Maryland Psychiatric Society annual meeting on April 20.

The Foundation established this annual prize for a worthy media piece, preferably local or regional, that accomplishes one or more of the following:

  • Shares with the public their experience with mental illness in themselves, a family member, or simply in the community.
  • Helps others to overcome their inability to talk about mental illness or their own mental illness.
  • Imparts particularly insightful observations on the general subject of mental illness.

Click here for information about past winners.

Foundation Radio Spot Examines the Rise of Telehealth Due to Pandemic

Every dark cloud has a silver lining. Even the COVID-19 pandemic has seen some positive consequences for mental health care. A new radio spot from the Foundation examines the rise of Telehealth during days of lockdown and stress over the past few years, including increased acceptance by insurance companies in the wake of the U.S. government declaring a national mental health crisis.

Telehealth in the COVID-19 AgeTelehealth in the COVID-19 Age, MP3, 1.3MB

You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.

New Foundation Radio Spot Notes Women’s Health In Jeopardy

It’s not easy to be a woman these days. Women’s health is especially in jeopardy, particularly for those who are pregnant. A new radio spot from the Foundation examines studies about women denied reproductive choice have significantly worse mental health, and other studies about women jailed for drug addiction and more.

Women’s HealthcareWomen’s Healthcare, MP3, 1.3MB

You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.

Seeking Nominations for 2023 Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award

The annual Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry (MFP) Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award recognizes a worthy piece published in a major newspaper that accomplishes one or more of the following:

  • Shares with the public their experience with mental illness in themselves, a family member, or in the community.
  • Helps others to overcome their inability to talk about mental illness or their own mental illness.
  • Imparts particularly insightful observations on the general subject of mental illness.

The article should be published during the period from January 15, 2022 to January 15, 2023. A Maryland author and/or newspaper is preferred. Click here for past winners and published articles.

The award carries a $500 prize, which is given at the Maryland Psychiatric Society annual meeting in April. Please send nominations to mfp@mdpsych.org no later than January 16, 2023.

Foundation Talks About New 9-8-8 Suicide Lifeline in PSA

Like the national emergency number 9-1-1, the US now has a new National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number: 9-8-8. The Foundation says it is for anyone experiencing any acute mental health crisis, whether that be suicidal thoughts, a substance abuse problem, or any needed emotional support. The lifeline can be used by family and loved ones to call for help with someone they know how is having a crisis.

Dial 988 for the National Suicide Prevention LifelineDial 988 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, MP3, 1.2MB

You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.