Americans’ Anxiety on Rise, Postpartum Depression Findings, and More From APA’s 2018 Annual Meeting: Day Three

Day three of APA’s Annual Meeting included an address by the first assistant secretary for mental health and substance use in HHS; the release of a study in the American Journal of Psychiatry, which found a family history of psychiatric disorders increases the risk of postpartum depression; and the results of an APA poll, which found Americans are concerned about gun violence and the opioid crisis.

From now through May 9, Psychiatric News will deliver an evening digest of some of the day’s highlights. Whether you are here in New York or at home, these reports will convey the excitement and outstanding scientific program being presented at this year’s meeting.

McCance-Katz Leads Effort to Focus SAMHSA on Serious Mental Illness, Substance Use

The federal government can work to serve patients and physicians, said Elinore McCance-Katz, M.D., Ph.D., at the Convocation of Distinguished Fellows at APA’s 2018 Annual Meeting tonight. Read More >

Familial History of Psychiatric Disorders Key in Predicting Postpartum Risk

A family history of psychiatric disorders, especially bipolar disorder, is an important risk factor among pregnant women for postpartum psychiatric disorder, according to a population-based cohort study published in AJP in Advance and released today at APA’s Annual Meeting. Read More >

APA Poll Finds Americans’ Anxiety Is Increasing, Especially About Health, Safety, and Finances

Anxiety levels are up across all ages and demographic groups, according to a national survey of Americans aged 18 and older released today by APA. The results reflect a striking unity around the issue of gun violence (see story below) and a sadly intimate familiarity with the opioid crisis: nearly a third of people know someone addicted to opioids. Read More >

Most Americans Agree That Gun Violence Is Public Health Problem, Call for Action

Most Americans (87 percent) see gun violence as a public health threat, including 77 percent of Republicans and 96 percent of Democrats, according to the results of a national poll released by APA today. Read More >

2018 Bolivar Award Winner Uses Modern Spectroscopy to Answer Century-Old Questions

Using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Juan Bustillo, M.D., and his group have found that the brains of people with schizophrenia contain more glutamate per volume than controls and that this glutamate concentration increases gradually with age. Read More >

Leaders Know Who They Are, Not Just What They Do, Says Hertling

In his address last night, retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling said the skills of leadership—which are taught in the military as a discrete discipline—can be incorporated into medicine. “Leadership is the art of understanding motivations, influencing people, building teams, and communicating purpose in order to accomplish stated goals while improving the profession,” he said.
Read More >

Black Psychiatrists, Patients Share History of Trauma

In accepting the 2018 Solomon Carter Fuller Award, Patricia Newton, M.D., M.A., M.P.H., noted that many of the same challenges that Fuller, recognized as the first African-American psychiatrist, faced a century ago are still present for African-American psychiatrists and patients. Read More >

APA Raises $20,00 for Victim Assistance Project

As part of APA’s annual APA Gives Back program, APA President Anita Everett, M.D., presented a donation of $20,000 to this year’s recipient, Safe Horizon: The Streetwork Project, at the Opening Session of APA’s 2018 Annual Meeting. Safe Horizon has been helping victims of violence and abuse in New York City since 1978. Read More >