October 21, 2020

How You Can Help Prevent Suicide During the COVID-19 Pandemic

SATURDAY, Sept. 26, 2020 -- Challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic may increase the risk of suicide, so it's crucial to know the warning signs, a mental health expert says.

Suicide is often preventable, because people considering suicide want help, according to Dr. Ahmad Hameed, a psychiatrist at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Penn.

September 30, 2020

FDA Adds Abuse Warning to Labels for Xanax, Valium

THURSDAY, Sept. 24, 2020 -- Reacting to an upsurge in abuse of benzodiazepine sedatives such as Valium, Xanax and Ativan, U.S. officials on Wednesday added a "Boxed Warning" to the drugs' labels, cautioning about the danger.

Benzodiazepines are tranquilizers commonly prescribed to help ease issues such as anxiety, seizures, insomnia and panic disorders.

September 21, 2020

PTSD May Be Tied to Greater Dementia Risk

THURSDAY, Sept. 17, 2020 -- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may significantly increase the risk of dementia later in life, according to a new study.

The researchers found that people with a history of PTSD were up to two times more likely to develop dementia than those who never had PTSD.

September 17, 2020

Dangerous Abuse of Anxiety Drug Phenibut Is on the Rise

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 9, 2020 -- A growing number of Americans may be having serious reactions after taking phenibut -- an unapproved anxiety drug sold in some dietary supplements.

That's the finding of a new study looking at calls to U.S. poison control centers. The numbers are not huge: Between 2009 and 2019, there were 1,320 calls related to phenibut.

September 2, 2020

Pandemic Drove Spike in Panic Attacks

MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 -- The coronavirus pandemic has made many people more anxious. But for some, the threat of deadly infection and the drastic changes to everyday life may have triggered panic attacks.

New research found that between mid-March and early May of this year, there were 375,000 more Google searches for anxiety or panic attacks than would normally be expected.