General Mental Health
- The diagnostic manual known as "the Bible of psychiatry" is about to get a major overhaul. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) puts out the tome known in the field as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5). The APA outlined its thinking and approach for the next revision in five studies published in The American Journal of Psychiatry. Instead of a weighty volume, the next DSM will be "a living document" online and easier to update. The APA hasn't set a strict timeline and hasn't decided yet if it will be called the DSM-6 or some new name. Read more here.
- Over the last several days, many Americans have seen upsetting, and often violent, images and videos of protests in Minneapolis amid a flood of ICE agents entering the city for a federal immigration enforcement operation. Research has shown that images of extreme violence can impact mental health, increasing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Read more here.
Gun Violence and Mental Health
- A study showed that firearm injuries among parents were associated with increased rates of psychiatric disorder diagnoses and mental health visits in their children. Trauma-related diagnoses, including PTSD, showed the largest increase compared with controls. Researchers suggested that parental firearm injury should flag the need for additional support for affected children. Read more here.
The Opioid Crisis
- President Trump signed an executive order aimed at combating drug addiction and substance abuse, dubbing it “the Great American Recovery Initiative.” The initiative directs federal agencies to use grant funds to support addiction recovery and increase awareness surrounding addiction. The effort will also help agencies consolidate a number of programs including those pertaining to drug prevention, treatment, and recovery support. Read more here.
- Long-term alcohol use has been linked to higher risks of colorectal cancer, according to a study published in the journal Cancer. Researchers found that those with heavy lifetime alcohol consumption have up to a 91% higher risk of developing colorectal cancer compared with those who drank very little. That risk significantly increased with consistent heavy consumption, whereas those who quit drinking may have demonstrated decreased risk of precancerous tissue. Read more here.
Research
- The findings of this quality improvement study suggest that practice facilitation was associated with increased adoption of evidence-based screening and counseling for unhealthy alcohol use when provided to small and medium-sized primary care practices. This increase is projected to substantially reduce the harm of unhealthy alcohol use. Read more here.
- In this survey study of 20 847 US adults, 10.3% reported daily use of generative AI, including 5.3% who used it multiple times per day. Greater levels of AI use were associated with modest increases in depressive symptoms, with odds of at least moderate depression 30% greater among those with daily use, particularly among younger users. These findings suggest there is a need to understand the nature and mechanism of this association and its heterogeneity across age-defined subgroups. Read more here.
Health Insurance Subsidies
- Kate Bivona and her husband don’t know what they would do if either gets seriously sick or injured. Beginning in January, the monthly cost of her Affordable Care Act insurance jumped by about $300 — making it too expensive for them to afford. Bivona and her husband dropped down to a bronze plan, cutting their bill by more than half but leaving them with an $18,000 annual deductible. More enrollees are making the same calculation this year: lower premiums now, far higher bills later if they need care. Read more here.
Federal Policy
- Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and the providers in their networks are crying foul over potentially getting virtually no reimbursement increase from the program in 2027. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the proposed reimbursement for MA in 2027 would be "a net average year-over-year payment increase of 0.09%, or over $700 million in MA payments to plans in calendar year 2027," according to a fact sheet. Read more here.
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