Pub Date : 2021-03-01DOI: 10.2174/221067661101211020094011
Lois T. Flaherty
Articles in this issue of Adolescent Psychiatry illustrate the wide gaps between what we know (or are finding out) and what we do. Three are focused on inpatient treatment – the highest level of care – is the subject of three articles, one on how Covid-19 has altered inpatient treatment, one on psychotic patients in Greece, and one on patients with substance use disorders in Canada. The other three articles all point the way to possible primary interventions, ranging from modifying parenting styles and expectations (a tall order) to engaging adolescents in yoga and meditation (something already being done in some schools).
{"title":"From Tertiary to Primary Prevention","authors":"Lois T. Flaherty","doi":"10.2174/221067661101211020094011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/221067661101211020094011","url":null,"abstract":"Articles in this issue of Adolescent Psychiatry illustrate the wide gaps between what we know (or are finding out) and what we do. Three are focused on inpatient treatment – the highest level of care – is the subject of three articles, one on how Covid-19 has altered inpatient treatment, one on psychotic patients in Greece, and one on patients with substance use disorders in Canada. The other three articles all point the way to possible primary interventions, ranging from modifying parenting styles and expectations (a tall order) to engaging adolescents in yoga and meditation (something already being done in some schools).","PeriodicalId":43326,"journal":{"name":"Adolescent Psychiatry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2021-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46563434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-03-01DOI: 10.2174/2210676611666210915120236
Liat Haruvi Catalan, A. Klomek, G. Shoval, G. Zalsman, L. Schapir, T. Shechner, Orit Krispin, Neta Horesh, A. Apter, S. Fennig
Suicide attempts occur mostly during adolescence and are much more frequent in females than in males, although males tend to commit suicide more often than females. This study aims to examine the association between female gender, gender conflict, depression, stress and suicide attempts in adolescent girls. Participants included 86 adolescent girls aged 12-21 (µ=15.7, SD=3.07) with depression (n=29), attempted suicide (n=15) or both (n=42), admitted consecutively to a tertiary medical center and 93 healthy controls from the community. Depression, suicidal ideation and behavior, gender identity and conflict, personality factors, and stress were compared between the study group and controls and each of the three study-subgroups and controls. A difference was found in the perception gap of own femininity versus others' expectations of the subject’s femininity, between the suicide attempters both with and without depression and the controls. Personality factors were also found to be related to depression and suicide attempts. Suicide attempters with depression showed more harm avoidance than those without depression. Novelty seeking was significantly higher in non-depressed suicide attempters than in controls but not when compared to suicide attempters with depression. It seems that suicide attempts and depression may not only be related to female gender identity. Conflicting gender expectations may result in increased stress, raising the risk for suicide attempts, particularly in girls with high harm avoidance.
{"title":"Association of Perceived Gender Conflict with Depression and Attempted Suicide in Adolescent Girls","authors":"Liat Haruvi Catalan, A. Klomek, G. Shoval, G. Zalsman, L. Schapir, T. Shechner, Orit Krispin, Neta Horesh, A. Apter, S. Fennig","doi":"10.2174/2210676611666210915120236","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/2210676611666210915120236","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000\u0000 Suicide attempts occur mostly during\u0000adolescence and are much more frequent in females than in males, although males\u0000tend to commit suicide more often than females. This study aims to examine the\u0000association between female gender, gender conflict, depression, stress and suicide\u0000attempts in adolescent girls.\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000 Participants included 86 adolescent girls aged 12-21 (µ=15.7, SD=3.07)\u0000with depression (n=29), attempted suicide (n=15) or both (n=42), admitted\u0000consecutively to a tertiary medical center and 93 healthy controls from the\u0000community. Depression, suicidal ideation and behavior, gender identity and\u0000conflict, personality factors, and stress were compared between the study group and\u0000controls and each of the three study-subgroups and controls.\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000A difference was found in the perception gap of own femininity versus\u0000others' expectations of the subject’s femininity, between the suicide attempters both\u0000with and without depression and the controls. Personality factors were also found to\u0000be related to depression and suicide attempts. Suicide attempters with depression\u0000showed more harm avoidance than those without depression. Novelty seeking was\u0000significantly higher in non-depressed suicide attempters than in controls but not\u0000when compared to suicide attempters with depression.\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000 It seems that suicide attempts and depression may not only be related to\u0000female gender identity. Conflicting gender expectations may result in increased stress,\u0000raising the risk for suicide attempts, particularly in girls with high harm avoidance.\u0000","PeriodicalId":43326,"journal":{"name":"Adolescent Psychiatry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2021-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68180405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-02-22DOI: 10.2174/2210676611666210111094448
Tara Benczkowski, Christine Kostoroski, Mackenzie Stabile, K. Holler
Suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempts (SAs) among adolescents are a significant public health concern worldwide. The current study extends previous research by exploring the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and SI and SAs in a sample of adolescent inpatients as well as identifying specific predictors for increased risk of SI and SAs. Associations between ACE scores and self-reported SI and SAs were explored in a sample of 154 adolescent inpatients via clinical interview and by analyzing the association between cumulative ACE scores and scores on the Suicidal Tendency scale of a larger personality measure. We also tested for independent relationships between 19 ACEs and SI and SAs to determine unique predictors for suicidality. One-way ANOVA analyses revealed that those who attempted suicide reported significantly more ACEs compared to those who did not attempt suicide. Witnessing violence in the home, school, or neighborhood, and experiences of discrimination increased one’s likelihood to attempt suicide by two to threefold, while sexual abuse, neglect, and physical abuse increased this likelihood by three-to-fourfold. Stepwise linear regression analyses demonstrated that emotional abuse, living with someone who had mental health problems or attempted suicide were most associated with elevated Suicidal Tendency scores on a personality measure. Early identification, education and intervention are imperative to limit or eliminate ACEs from occurring. The impact of cumulative as well as specific ACEs on suicide risk should be closely considered as areas for such intervention. Areas for future research include extending to include more diverse populations such as the LGBTQ community as well as more ethnically and racially diverse populations.
{"title":"The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempts in an Inpatient Adolescent Sample","authors":"Tara Benczkowski, Christine Kostoroski, Mackenzie Stabile, K. Holler","doi":"10.2174/2210676611666210111094448","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/2210676611666210111094448","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000\u0000Suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempts (SAs) among adolescents are a significant public health\u0000concern worldwide. The current study extends previous research by exploring the association between adverse childhood\u0000experiences (ACEs) and SI and SAs in a sample of adolescent inpatients as well as identifying specific predictors for\u0000increased risk of SI and SAs.\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000Associations between ACE scores and self-reported SI and SAs were explored in a sample of 154 adolescent\u0000inpatients via clinical interview and by analyzing the association between cumulative ACE scores and scores on the Suicidal\u0000Tendency scale of a larger personality measure. We also tested for independent relationships between 19 ACEs and SI and\u0000SAs to determine unique predictors for suicidality.\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000One-way ANOVA analyses revealed that those who attempted suicide reported significantly more ACEs compared\u0000to those who did not attempt suicide. Witnessing violence in the home, school, or neighborhood, and experiences of\u0000discrimination increased one’s likelihood to attempt suicide by two to threefold, while sexual abuse, neglect, and physical\u0000abuse increased this likelihood by three-to-fourfold. Stepwise linear regression analyses demonstrated that emotional abuse,\u0000living with someone who had mental health problems or attempted suicide were most associated with elevated Suicidal\u0000Tendency scores on a personality measure.\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000Early identification, education and intervention are imperative to limit or eliminate ACEs from occurring.\u0000The impact of cumulative as well as specific ACEs on suicide risk should be closely considered as areas for such\u0000intervention. Areas for future research include extending to include more diverse populations such as the LGBTQ\u0000community as well as more ethnically and racially diverse populations.\u0000","PeriodicalId":43326,"journal":{"name":"Adolescent Psychiatry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2021-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42229634","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-02-22DOI: 10.2174/221067661004210217115200
L. Flaherty
{"title":"Gangs, Inpatients and Outpatients, and Young Mothers: Research on Adolescents in the Community and the Clinic","authors":"L. Flaherty","doi":"10.2174/221067661004210217115200","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/221067661004210217115200","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":43326,"journal":{"name":"Adolescent Psychiatry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2021-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47498975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-02-22DOI: 10.2174/2210676610999201229141153
Georgia A. Naldrett, Jane L. Wood
The current study investigated the relationship between gang involvement and multiple mental health difficulties; anxiety, depression, paranoia, victim trauma and perpetrator trauma. Additionally, it examined the mediating influence of an individuals’ exposure to violence within this relationship. One hundred adolescents aged 11-16 years old, completed two questionnaires and an interview which investigated their friendship groups, exposure to violence and mental well-being. Eighteen participants were identified as current or ex-gang members and the other eighty-two were classified as the non-gang comparison group. Findings show that gang members displayed more symptoms of depression and perpetrator trauma compared to non-gang members. The relationship between gang involvement and these mental health difficulties was mediated by exposure to violence. Discussion focuses on the need for researchers, practitioners and policy makers to acknowledge the relationship between gang involvement and mental health difficulties and implement additional strategies to support young people currently or previously involved in gangs.
{"title":"Gang Involvement, Mental Health Difficulties and Exposure to Violence in 11-16-Year-Old School Students","authors":"Georgia A. Naldrett, Jane L. Wood","doi":"10.2174/2210676610999201229141153","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/2210676610999201229141153","url":null,"abstract":"The current study investigated the relationship between gang involvement and multiple mental health difficulties; anxiety, depression, paranoia, victim trauma and perpetrator trauma. Additionally, it examined the mediating influence of an individuals’ exposure to violence within this relationship. One hundred adolescents aged 11-16 years old, completed two questionnaires and an interview which investigated their friendship groups, exposure to violence and mental well-being. Eighteen participants were identified as current or ex-gang members and the other eighty-two were classified as the non-gang comparison group. Findings show that gang members displayed more symptoms of depression and perpetrator trauma compared to non-gang members. The relationship between gang involvement and these mental health difficulties was mediated by exposure to violence. Discussion focuses on the need for researchers, practitioners and policy makers to acknowledge the relationship between gang involvement and mental health difficulties and implement additional strategies to support young people currently or previously involved in gangs.","PeriodicalId":43326,"journal":{"name":"Adolescent Psychiatry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2021-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49555354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-02-22DOI: 10.2174/2210676611666210111093742
Thyna Catamaran, C. Savoy, H. Layton, E. Lipman, K. Boylan, R. J. Lieshout
Young mothers have higher rates of mental health problems yet can be difficult to engage in care. Few interventions exist targeting the full range of mental health problems these women face. While transdiagnostic psychotherapies have been utilized in adolescent groups, they have not been tested in young mothers. Our objective was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a public health nurse-delivered transdiagnostic CBT-based resilience curriculum for young mothers in a supported school setting, and to determine preliminary estimates of the program’s effects. 56 mothers 21 years of age or younger were recruited from a supported high school program in Canada. Using a pretest/post-test design with no control group, measures of maternal depression, anxiety, emotion regulation, and offspring behaviour were collected immediately before and after the completion of the weekly 10-session intervention. The intervention was feasible and acceptable to young mothers. While few statistically significant changes were noted in the complete sample, for those with moderate-severe depression at baseline, program participation resulted in clinically meaningful improvements in depression, anxiety, and emotion regulation. Provision of a transdiagnostic CBT-based resilience building program delivered by public health nurses in a supported school setting was both feasible and well-tolerated. Given the preliminary nature of this study, its clinical utility is unclear, though it may have benefits for young mothers with more significant mental health problems at baseline.
{"title":"Feasibility of Delivering a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy-Based Resilience Curriculum to Young Mothers by Public Health Nurses","authors":"Thyna Catamaran, C. Savoy, H. Layton, E. Lipman, K. Boylan, R. J. Lieshout","doi":"10.2174/2210676611666210111093742","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/2210676611666210111093742","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000\u0000 Young mothers have higher rates of mental health problems yet can be difficult to engage in care.\u0000Few interventions exist targeting the full range of mental health problems these women face. While transdiagnostic\u0000psychotherapies have been utilized in adolescent groups, they have not been tested in young mothers.\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000Our objective was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a public health nurse-delivered transdiagnostic\u0000CBT-based resilience curriculum for young mothers in a supported school setting, and to determine preliminary estimates\u0000of the program’s effects.\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000 56 mothers 21 years of age or younger were recruited from a supported high school program in Canada. Using a\u0000pretest/post-test design with no control group, measures of maternal depression, anxiety, emotion regulation, and offspring\u0000behaviour were collected immediately before and after the completion of the weekly 10-session intervention.\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000The intervention was feasible and acceptable to young mothers. While few statistically significant changes were\u0000noted in the complete sample, for those with moderate-severe depression at baseline, program participation resulted in\u0000clinically meaningful improvements in depression, anxiety, and emotion regulation.\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000Provision of a transdiagnostic CBT-based resilience building program delivered by public health nurses in a\u0000supported school setting was both feasible and well-tolerated. Given the preliminary nature of this study, its clinical utility\u0000is unclear, though it may have benefits for young mothers with more significant mental health problems at baseline. \u0000","PeriodicalId":43326,"journal":{"name":"Adolescent Psychiatry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2021-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49129643","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-02-10DOI: 10.2174/2210676611666210210104431
D. Kanchibhotla, Saumya Subramanian, S. Kulkarni
Background: Today’s teenagers face several challenges that result in poor mental health, depression and anxiety. Several studies in the past decade have explored meditation as an adjunctive therapy for mental illness however the long term residual benefits of meditation have rarely been studied. The aim of the study was to investigate the benefits of a four day meditation retreat on cognitive abilities, mental and emotional well-being of teenagers. 303 teenagers participated in this study. Cognitive abilities of the students were measured using theSix letter cancellation test (SLCT). Mental and emotional well-being was measured using World Health Organization Well-being index (WHO-5) and Strength and Difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) respectively. Data analysis was performed using paired sample t-test and repeated measure ANOVA. Teenagers demonstrated a 33% increase in average accuracy for SLCT post intervention. WHO-5 mental well-being index scores also increased significantly (p <1). The participants experienced significant reduction in emotional problems and hyperactivity as measured by SDQ. The benefits of the retreat continued to persist, when measured after 40 days of the intervention. A well-structured meditation retreat has significant and long term benefits on teenagers’ mental well-being, emotional stability and cognitive capacity.
{"title":"Improvement in Cognitive Abilities, Mental and Emotional Well-being of Teenagers following a Meditation Retreat: An Open-Trial pilot study","authors":"D. Kanchibhotla, Saumya Subramanian, S. Kulkarni","doi":"10.2174/2210676611666210210104431","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/2210676611666210210104431","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000\u0000Background: Today’s teenagers face several challenges that result in poor mental health, depression and anxiety. Several studies in the past decade have explored meditation as an adjunctive therapy for mental illness however the long term residual benefits of meditation have rarely been studied. \u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000 The aim of the study was to investigate the benefits of a four day meditation retreat on cognitive abilities, mental and emotional well-being of teenagers. \u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000303 teenagers participated in this study. Cognitive abilities of the students were measured using theSix letter cancellation test (SLCT). Mental and emotional well-being was measured using World Health Organization Well-being index (WHO-5) and Strength and Difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) respectively. Data analysis was performed using paired sample t-test and repeated measure ANOVA. \u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000 Teenagers demonstrated a 33% increase in average accuracy for SLCT post intervention. WHO-5 mental well-being index scores also increased significantly (p <1). The participants experienced significant reduction in emotional problems and hyperactivity as measured by SDQ. The benefits of the retreat continued to persist, when measured after 40 days of the intervention. \u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000 A well-structured meditation retreat has significant and long term benefits on teenagers’ mental well-being, emotional stability and cognitive capacity.\u0000\u0000","PeriodicalId":43326,"journal":{"name":"Adolescent Psychiatry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2021-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41571481","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-02-02DOI: 10.2174/2210676611666210202090610
L. Bond, A. Murtagh, S. Morgan
COVID-19 is one of the most challenging and devastating public health emergencies we have experienced in our lifetimes. There is a growing concern that the pandemic and its imposed public health restrictions may be harming a generation of young people. This is concerning for child and adolescent psychiatry as there is already a mismatch between resources and demand. This paper will outline the day to day working challenges encountered by the SPMHS adolescent service, staffstaff, and patients in the initial months of the COVID-19 crisis and some of the strategies implemented to deal with these. In St. Patrick’s University Hospital in Ireland, significant challenges in the adolescent service were encountered in the initial months of the COVID-19 crisis. These included cessation of face-to-face patient interactions, therapeutic leave and visiting restrictions, school closure, social restrictions, difficulties in organizing medical appointments and investigations, family stress and increased workload for staff. Strategies including telepsychiatry have enabled the delivery of an efficient and accessible adolescent service during this crisis. Future research into how best we can support children and adolescents during COVID-19 particularly those with existing mental illness is crucial.
{"title":"Challenges of Covid-19 on Adolescent Psychiatric Service Provision in an Independent Inpatient and Outpatient Setting","authors":"L. Bond, A. Murtagh, S. Morgan","doi":"10.2174/2210676611666210202090610","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/2210676611666210202090610","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000\u0000COVID-19 is one of the most challenging and devastating public health emergencies we have experienced in our lifetimes. There is a growing concern that the pandemic and its imposed public health restrictions may be harming a generation of young people. This is concerning for child and adolescent psychiatry as there is already a mismatch between resources and demand.\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000This paper will outline the day to day working challenges encountered by the SPMHS adolescent service, staffstaff, and patients in the initial months of the \u0000COVID-19 crisis and some of the strategies implemented to deal with these. \u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000In St. Patrick’s University Hospital in Ireland, significant challenges in the adolescent service were encountered in the initial months of the COVID-19 crisis. These included cessation of face-to-face patient interactions, therapeutic leave and visiting restrictions, school closure, social restrictions, difficulties in organizing medical appointments and investigations, family stress and increased workload for staff. Strategies including telepsychiatry have enabled the delivery of an efficient and accessible adolescent service during this crisis. \u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000Future research into how best we can support children and adolescents during COVID-19 particularly those with existing mental illness is crucial.\u0000\u0000","PeriodicalId":43326,"journal":{"name":"Adolescent Psychiatry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2021-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47050860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-01-25DOI: 10.2174/2210676611666210125085400
D. Rettew
Many states are currently considering legislature that would legalize and commercialize cannabis for medical and recreational purposes. Physicians and other health professionals are frequently called upon to offer an expert opinion on the public health implications of these bills. For many, the role as a scientific expert and advocate in a political process is new. To outline themes and lessons learned for science-minded clinicians engaged in deliberations over cannabis legislation. To describe how science can get used and misused in the political process. This article describes the experience of a psychiatrist who was actively involved in one state’s deliberations through cannabis legalization bills. Major themes that emerged during the process are described as are recommendations for other health professionals who may find themselves involved in similar processes related to cannabis legalization and other controversial initiatives that rely on the interpretation of scientific information. Psychiatrists and other clinicians can make important contributions to the political process for legislative debates that involve science-based mental health information.
{"title":"Science Up in Smoke: One Psychiatrist’s Journey Through the Politics of Cannabis Legalization","authors":"D. Rettew","doi":"10.2174/2210676611666210125085400","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/2210676611666210125085400","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000\u0000Many states are currently considering legislature that would legalize and commercialize cannabis\u0000for medical and recreational purposes. Physicians and other health professionals are frequently called upon to offer an expert\u0000opinion on the public health implications of these bills. For many, the role as a scientific expert and advocate in a political\u0000process is new.\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000To outline themes and lessons learned for science-minded clinicians engaged in deliberations over cannabis\u0000legislation.\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000To describe how science can get used and misused in the political process.\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000This article describes the experience of a psychiatrist who was actively involved in one state’s deliberations through\u0000cannabis legalization bills.\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000Major themes that emerged during the process are described as are recommendations\u0000for other health professionals who may find themselves involved in similar processes related to cannabis legalization and\u0000other controversial initiatives that rely on the interpretation of scientific information.\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000Psychiatrists and other clinicians can make important contributions to the political process for legislative\u0000debates that involve science-based mental health information.\u0000","PeriodicalId":43326,"journal":{"name":"Adolescent Psychiatry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2021-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46811845","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-01-01DOI: 10.2174/2210676611666210616163340
Jesse D Hinckley, Christian Hopfer
Background: Marijuana legalization occurred gradually in Colorado through political processes.
Objectives: This review aimed at describing the history of marijuana legalization and correlated shifts in product availability, use patterns, and risk perceptions and describes associated emerging concerns with this process for adolescents and young adults.
Methods: This review focuses on the history of marijuana legalization and correlated shifts in product availability, use patterns, and risk perceptions.
Results: Along with the legalization of marijuana, there has been strong commercialization characterized by the widespread development of dispensaries, new products including edibles and concentrates, and an overall lowering of the "price per serving" of marijuana. While the frequency of marijuana use among adolescents does not appear to have shifted substantially, young adult patterns of use have demonstrated an increase in usage. A substantial shift has occurred in the increasing use of concentrates and high potency products. Emerging concerns related to high potency products include increased acute care visits, prevalence and outcomes of comorbid mental health disorders, cannabis-induced psychosis, driving while high, marijuana-related lung injuries, and increased use during pregnancy. Yet, there are also potential medical uses of marijuana.
Conclusion: To date, scientific evidence of the mental or physical effects of high potency products is currently very limited. Clinical issues related to the treatment of marijuana use and comorbid psychiatric disorders in youth are discussed with a focus on how low risk perceptions influence treatment considerations.
{"title":"Marijuana Legalization in Colorado: Increasing Potency, Changing Risk Perceptions, and Emerging Public Health Concerns for Youth.","authors":"Jesse D Hinckley, Christian Hopfer","doi":"10.2174/2210676611666210616163340","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/2210676611666210616163340","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Marijuana legalization occurred gradually in Colorado through political processes.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This review aimed at describing the history of marijuana legalization and correlated shifts in product availability, use patterns, and risk perceptions and describes associated emerging concerns with this process for adolescents and young adults.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This review focuses on the history of marijuana legalization and correlated shifts in product availability, use patterns, and risk perceptions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Along with the legalization of marijuana, there has been strong commercialization characterized by the widespread development of dispensaries, new products including edibles and concentrates, and an overall lowering of the \"price per serving\" of marijuana. While the frequency of marijuana use among adolescents does not appear to have shifted substantially, young adult patterns of use have demonstrated an increase in usage. A substantial shift has occurred in the increasing use of concentrates and high potency products. Emerging concerns related to high potency products include increased acute care visits, prevalence and outcomes of comorbid mental health disorders, cannabis-induced psychosis, driving while high, marijuana-related lung injuries, and increased use during pregnancy. Yet, there are also potential medical uses of marijuana.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>To date, scientific evidence of the mental or physical effects of high potency products is currently very limited. Clinical issues related to the treatment of marijuana use and comorbid psychiatric disorders in youth are discussed with a focus on how low risk perceptions influence treatment considerations.</p>","PeriodicalId":43326,"journal":{"name":"Adolescent Psychiatry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10078756/pdf/nihms-1885785.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9642157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}