Across the globe, an estimated 25.2% of children and adolescents suffer from depression, and over 20% battle anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. (JAMA Pediatrics)

The investigational NMDA receptor antagonist AXS-05 succeeded for treatment-resistant depression versus placebo in the 44-participant, phase III MERIT trial, Axsome Therapeutics announced.

However, the FDA sent a letter to Axsome saying there may be a delay in its priority approval review of AXS-05 for major depressive disorder — which was expected to come by the end of the month — citing some review issues with labelling and post-marketing requirements. (pharmaphorum)

Risk of overdose was increased by 1.8-fold when multiple prescribers were doling out overlapping opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions versus just one prescriber. (JAMA Network Open)

The American Psychiatric Association offered tips on how to cope with the stress and anxiety of returning to the workplace in the ever-changing COVID-19 world.

In related news, frontline COVID workers need better mental health support to cope with soaring levels of depression, PTSD, anxiety and burnout from the pandemic. (PLOS One)

Even just a small increase in air pollution was tied to a higher risk for dementia, according to Seattle-area data. “We found that an increase of 1 microgram per cubic meter of exposure corresponded to a 16% greater hazard of all-cause dementia. There was a similar association for Alzheimer’s-type dementia,” said Rachel Shaffer, PhD, of the University of Washington Seattle School of Public Health. (Environmental Health Perspectives)

How does ketamine combat depressive symptoms so well? It likely has to do with how it acts on the the glutamate system. (ScienceDaily)

Last Updated August 11, 2021