High Poisoning Rates Among Teenage Girls, and Other News

Teenagers are poisoning themselves at increasing rates, with teenage girls significantly more likely than teenage boys to self-poison, according to new research published in the journal Injury Prevention.

Researchers looked at 17,862 poisonings that occurred between 1992 and 2012 among children in the United Kingdom ages 10 to 17. Of those that took place between 2007 and 2012, 64% were intentional and 4% were reported as accidental. Sixteen percent were related to alcohol, and in another 16% of cases, it was not possible to determine whether the poisoning was intentional.

Over the 20-year study period, intentional poisonings almost doubled. Teenage poisonings rose by 27% in the same time period. Teenage girls ages 15-16 were especially likely to harm themselves by drinking to excess.

Several recent studies suggest teenage mental health often goes overlooked. A 2015 survey of adolescent girls found 58% thought mental health issues were a serious concern, with 37% expressing concerns about cyberbullying and 36% concerned about their ability to get a job. Respondents felt their parents had different concerns, citing drug use (42%), alcohol (33%), and smoking (29%).

ADHD May Emerge After Childhood for Some People, According to New Study

Attention-deficit hyperactivity (ADHD) has traditionally been treated as a childhood condition, though it may persist into adulthood. New research published in JAMA Psychiatry suggests some people can develop ADHD as adults, even if they had no symptoms in childhood. The findings suggest about 70% of young adults with ADHD in the study did not have any symptoms in childhood.

For Treatment-Resistant Depression, Magic Mushroom Drug Holds Promise

Despite $10B ‘Fix,’ Veterans Are Waiting Even Longer to See Doctors

In spite of funding for the $10 billion Veterans Choice program, veterans are still facing long waits to see a doctor. Wait times are now worse than they were last year, with more than 70,000 veterans waiting a month or more to see a health care provider. Previous research pointed to a crisis in access to mental health care among soldiers.

Think You’re an Ethical Person? You May Just Have a Selective Memory

According to a study of 2,109 people, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the brain may actively work to cultivate a positive self-image. According to the study, people’s brains may blur memories of actions that conflict with moral values, and sharpen memories of more positive actions.

REM Sleep Essential for Normal Memory Formation

According to a study of mice, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep—the phase of sleep during which dreams are most likely—is key to memory formation. Researchers used light pulses to “turn off” brain cells associated with memory formation while the mice were in REM sleep, and found this made it difficult for them to complete memory tasks learned from the previous day.

Chronic Fatigue Patients More Likely to Suppress Emotions

According to research published in the journal Health Psychology, people with chronic fatigue are more likely to report anxiety and distress, but are also more likely to suppress these feelings. During times of intense stress, they also show a more exaggerated “fight-or-flight” response.

People with chronic fatigue often face stigma, and may even encounter people who think their condition is not real. A previous study showed researchers are closer to identifying a biological cause of chronic fatigue.

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