Psychiatry

President Trump directed Attorney General Jeff Sessions to file a federal lawsuit, separate from state lawsuits, against opioid manufacturers in an effort to help stem an epidemic of addiction in the United States. Medscape Medical News

Samples sent to the DEA contained potent synthetic marijuana. A local man was arrested and is considered a person of interest regarding at least some of the overdoses, most of which happened in a park near Yale. Medscape Medical News

In the largest study of its kind to date, investigators found a modest but worrisome association between use of benzodiazepines and an increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Medscape Medical News

Peer comparison letters sent to high-volume quetiapine prescribers led to a significant reduction in the number of prescriptions written for elderly patients. Medscape Medical News

Offspring of parents with strong religious beliefs have an 80% reduced risk for suicidal thoughts and attempts, new research shows. Medscape Medical News

Patients with first-episode schizophrenia who don’t respond to a first antipsychotic may achieve rapid remission with clozapine, a drug that’s usually reserved for severe disease. Medscape Medical News

The American Psychiatric Association has published a new textbook designed to educate trainees and established practitioners alike about the growing occupational hazard of physician suicide. Medscape Medical News

Previous research has tied exercise to improved mental health, but findings have been inconsistent. This study, which included over 1 million people, found that exercise has beneficial effects on mental health. Medscape Medical News

Medications used to treat alcohol and opioid use disorder reduce arrest rates, suicidal behavior, and accidental overdose. Medscape Medical News

The devastating loss of a promising young doctor prompts soul-searching and action at one of the nation’s largest emergency room staffing companies. Kaiser Health News

Jornay PM is a novel formulation of methylphenidate taken in the evening instead of first thing in the morning to provide early-morning control of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. FDA Approvals

Children with autism made more eye contact and related better to others after using a smartphone app paired with Google Glass. Medscape Medical News

Methylphenidate appears to be the best first-line drug choice for attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents, new research shows. Medscape Medical News

The main psychoactive ingredient in kratom, 7-hydroxymitragynine, has high abuse potential that may increase the intake of other opiates. Medscape Medical News

The first state-based analysis of trends showed a significant increase between 1999 and 2014 in opioid use disorder in pregnant women at labor and delivery in all 28 states studied, according to the CDC. Medscape Medical News

The first state-based analysis of trends showed a significant increase between 1999 and 2014 in opioid use disorder in pregnant women at labor and delivery in all 28 states studied, according to the CDC. Medscape Medical News

Tait Shanafelt focuses on helping doctors cope with such problems as long hours and copious record-keeping, seeking to prevent burnout and reduce the rate of physician suicide. As doctors’ well-being improves, he says, so does patient care. Kaiser He…

Low blood levels of the acetyl-L-carnitine molecule may be a biomarker for major depression. Lowest levels occur in patients with treatment resistance, more severe symptoms, and younger age at onset. Medscape Medical News