MDMA/ecstasy use and psilocybin use are associated with lowered odds of psychological distress and suicidal thoughts in a sample of US adults

2022 ◽  
pp. 026988112110589
Author(s):  
Grant M Jones ◽  
Matthew K Nock
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Causes Of Death ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
Suicidal Thinking ◽  
The Past ◽  
Adult Participants ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors

Background: Suicide is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and rates within the United States have risen over the past two decades. Hence, there is a critical need for novel tools to treat suicidal ideation and related mental health conditions. 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)/ecstasy and classic psychedelics may be two such tools. Aims: The aim of this study was to assess non-causal associations between MDMA/ecstasy and classic psychedelic use and psychological distress and suicide risk. Methods: In this study, we examined the aforementioned associations among 484,732 adult participants in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2008–2019). Results: Lifetime MDMA/ecstasy use was associated with reduced odds of past year suicidal thinking (10% reduced odds; odds ratio (OR) = 0.90; 95% confidence interval, CI = (0.84–0.97); p < 0.01) and past year suicidal planning (OR = 0.88; 95% CI = (0.78–0.99); p < 0.05). Furthermore, lifetime psilocybin use was associated with reduced odds of past month psychological distress (OR = 0.78; 95% CI = (0.73–0.84); p < 0.001) and past year suicidal thinking (OR = 0.90; 95% CI = (0.83–0.96); p < 0.01). Finally, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) was associated with increased odds of past year suicidal thinking (OR = 1.07; 95% CI = (1.00–1.15); p < 0.05). Conclusion: MDMA/ecstasy and psilocybin use are associated with reduced odds of suicidal thinking and related outcomes—though experimental studies are needed to determine whether these associations are causal. These findings call for more research into the efficacy of MDMA/ecstasy and classic psychedelics for treating psychological distress and suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and for updated drug legislation that allows for further investigation into these substances.

scholarly journals New Methods for Assessing Rapid Changes in Suicide Risk

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth D. Ballard ◽  
Jessica R. Gilbert ◽  
Christina Wusinich ◽  
Carlos A. Zarate
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
New Techniques ◽  
Current State ◽  
Digital Phenotyping ◽  
Rapid Changes ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Ecological Momentary ◽  
Assessment Strategies ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors

Rapid-acting interventions for the suicide crisis have the potential to transform treatment. In addition, recent innovations in suicide research methods may similarly expand our understanding of the psychological and neurobiological correlates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This review discusses the limitations and challenges associated with current methods of suicide risk assessment and presents new techniques currently being developed to measure rapid changes in suicidal thoughts and behavior. These novel assessment strategies include ecological momentary assessment, digital phenotyping, cognitive and implicit bias metrics, and neuroimaging paradigms and analysis methodologies to identify neural circuits associated with suicide risk. This review is intended to both describe the current state of our ability to assess rapid changes in suicide risk as well as to explore future directions for clinical, neurobiological, and computational markers research in suicide-focused clinical trials.

scholarly journals Equity and length of lifespan are not the same

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (30) ◽  
pp. 8420-8423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Seligman ◽  
Gabi Greenberg ◽  
Shripad Tuljapurkar
Keyword(s):  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Health Equity ◽  
Causes Of Death ◽  
The United States ◽  
Past Century ◽  
The Past ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Mortality Improvement ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Age Of Death

Efforts to understand the dramatic declines in mortality over the past century have focused on life expectancy. However, understanding changes in disparity in age of death is important to understanding mechanisms of mortality improvement and devising policy to promote health equity. We derive a novel decomposition of variance in age of death, a measure of inequality, and apply it to cause-specific contributions to the change in variance among the G7 countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States) from 1950 to 2010. We find that the causes of death that contributed most to declines in the variance are different from those that contributed most to increase in life expectancy; in particular, they affect mortality at younger ages. We also find that, for two leading causes of death [cancers and cardiovascular disease (CVD)], there are no consistent relationships between changes in life expectancy and variance either within countries over time or between countries. These results show that promoting health at younger ages is critical for health equity and that policies to control cancer and CVD may have differing implications for equity.

scholarly journals Investigating the Perceived Impact of Psychosis on Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamelia Harris ◽  
Patricia Gooding ◽  
Sarah Peters ◽  
Gillian Haddock
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Psychological Pain ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
Affective Psychosis ◽  
Amplifying Effect ◽  
Perceived Impact ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors ◽  
The Impact

Abstract There is evidence showing a link between experiencing psychosis and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. However, individual accounts of the impact of psychosis on suicidal experiences have not been examined in detail. This study aimed to investigate the perceived impact of psychosis on suicidal thoughts and behaviors from the perspectives of individuals with these experiences. Semi-structured interviews with 20 people with non-affective psychosis and lifetime experiences of suicidal thoughts and/or behaviors were conducted. Data were analyzed using inductive Thematic Analysis. Based on participants’ experiences of psychosis and suicidal thoughts and behaviors, 3 themes were identified, including (1) Psychosis experiences are immensely distressing, (2) Changes in behaviors and appraisals of self, and (3) Suicidality as a means of escaping distress. A practical heuristic was proposed, describing a vicious cycle between psychological distress and changes in behaviors and self-appraisals, whereby suicidality was perceived as the only way to escape immense psychological pain. Hallucinations and delusions were central to the development of suicidal experiences. However, certain types of delusions, such as grandiose delusions, were sometimes found to reduce the intensity of suicidal experiences and associated psychological distress. It is necessary to examine the impact of psychosis on individuals, in order to assess the possibility of suicide-related experiences, as certain aspects of psychosis can have an amplifying effect, whereas others can have a weakening effect on those experiences. Minimizing the immense psychological pain experienced by some people with psychosis and the inter-related suicidal thoughts and behaviors is of paramount importance for clinical practice.

scholarly journals Psychological Distress Among Smokers in the United States: 2008–2014

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 707-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J Zvolensky ◽  
Charles Jardin ◽  
Melanie M Wall ◽  
Misato Gbedemah ◽  
Deborah Hasin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Annual Family Income ◽  
The Past ◽  
Never Smokers

Abstract Introduction Decline in smoking in the United States has slowed over the past 25 years. Mental health problems are common among smokers, and may be an impediment to quitting and remaining abstinent. The study investigated the relationship between serious (past-30-day) psychological distress (SPD) and smoking, estimated trends in the prevalence of SPD among current, former, and never smokers in the United States from 2008 to 2014, and investigated whether heterogeneity in these trends varied by sociodemographic characteristics. Methods Data were drawn from the National Household Survey on Drug Use (NSDUH), an annual cross-sectional study of persons ages 12 and over (N = 270 227). SPD and smoking in the past 30 days were examined using logistic regression models among adults 18 and older. The prevalence of SPD was examined annually among current, former, and never smokers from 2008 to 2014. Results SPD increased among smokers in the United States from 2008 to 2014. An increase in SPD was more rapid among non-daily smokers than daily smokers. The prevalence of SPD was higher among younger smokers, those with less formal education and lower annual family income and higher among current smokers than former and never smokers. The relationships between SPD and smoking were stronger among smokers with higher education levels and annual family income. Conclusions Our findings suggest an increase in SPD among smokers over time and that as smoking has declined, those with SPD are comprising a greater proportion of the remaining smokers. Results suggest that mental health must be integrated into mainstream tobacco control efforts. Implications The greater prevalence and increasing rate of Serious Psychological Distress among smokers, relative to former- and never-smokers, from 2008 to 2014 provides support that the greater mental health burden among smokers may be contributing to the slowed reduction in smoking prevalence in the United States. In addition, relationships between SPD and smoking were consistently stronger among smokers with higher levels of education and annual family income. Such results suggest the necessity of incorporating mental health treatments in tobacco use reduction efforts.

scholarly journals HYPERTENSION: THE SILENT KILLER

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
Mohammad Maaz Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
High Blood Pressure ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Causes Of Death ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
The United States ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
The Past ◽  
Increasing Trend

Today world face one of the biggest problem is hypertension in adults. Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, increases the risk for heart disease and stroke, two leading causes of death for people in the United States [1]. In the United States, about 77.9 million (1 out of every 3) adults have high blood pressure. A global brief on hypertension by WHO reported that, the prevalence of hypertension in adults aged 25 and above was about 40% around the world in 2008, rising from 600 million in 1980 to 1 billion in 2008 during the past 28 years [2]. Similarly, this prevalence among the adults aged 18 and above in China has risen from 18.8% in 2002 to 25.2% in 2015, presently, there are more than 200 million hypertensive patients in China [3]. Epidemiological studies show a steadily increasing trend in hypertension prevalence over the last 40 years, more in urban than in the rural areas. This is converse to findings reported from developed countries where there is a significant decrease in its prevalence.

scholarly journals Frequent Assessment of Suicidal Thinking does not Increase Suicidal Thinking: Evidence from a High-Resolution Real-Time Monitoring Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel D.L. Coppersmith ◽  
Rebecca Fortgang ◽  
Evan Kleiman ◽  
Alexander Millner ◽  
April Yeager ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Time Increase ◽  
Monitoring Methods ◽  
Real Time Monitoring ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
Suicidal Thinking ◽  
Monitoring Study ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors ◽  
Frequent Assessment ◽  
Repeated Assessment

Researchers, clinicians, and patients are increasingly using real-time monitoring methods to understand and predict suicidal thoughts and behaviors. These methods involve frequently assessing suicidal thoughts, but it is unknown if asking about suicide repeatedly is iatrogenic. We tested two questions about this approach: (1) does repeatedly assessing suicidal thinking over short periods of time increase suicidal thinking? (2) is more frequent assessment of suicidal thinking associated with more severe suicidal thinking? In a real-time monitoring study (N = 81, number of surveys = 9,819), we found no evidence to support the notion that repeated assessment of suicidal thoughts is iatrogenic.

Partisanship and violent intentions in the United States

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluf Gøtzsche-Astrup
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Political Violence ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Science Literature ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Total N ◽  
Original Population ◽  
The Past ◽  
Drastic Increase

We have witnessed a drastic increase in partisanship in the United States in the past decades. This increase has sparked concern about the risk that the effects may not be as benign as the positive political engagement and activism behaviors that the political science literature has traditionally investigated. This paper explicitly targets the risk that increased partisan identities may lead to stronger intentions to engage in violent political behaviors. By integrating insights form the literature on radicalization to political violence, and using three original, population representative cross-sectional and experimental studies of adult Americans (total n=3,797), this paper shows that stronger partisan identities drive stronger intentions to engage in political violence, but that this effect holds for partisans with a callous, manipulative personality structure only.

scholarly journals Cigarette Use, E-Cigarette Use, and Dual Product Use Are Higher Among Adults With Serious Psychological Distress in the United States: 2014–2017

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 1875-1882
Author(s):  
Andrea H Weinberger ◽  
Jiaqi Zhu ◽  
Jessica L Barrington-Trimis ◽  
Katarzyna Wyka ◽  
Renee D Goodwin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Serious Psychological Distress ◽  
Dual Use ◽  
The Past ◽  
Product Use ◽  
Distress Scale

Abstract Introduction Cigarette use is declining yet remains common among adults with mental health conditions. In contrast, e-cigarette use may be on the rise. This study investigated the relationship between serious psychological distress (SPD) and the exclusive and dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes among US adults from 2014 to 2017. Aims and Methods Data came from 2014 to 2017 National Health Interview Survey, an annual, cross-sectional survey of nationally representative samples of US adults (total combined analytic sample n = 125 302). Past-month SPD was assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) and cigarette and e-cigarette use were assessed at each wave. Logistic regressions examined product use by SPD status in 2017 and trends in product use by SPD status from 2014 to 2017. Analyses adjusted for demographic covariates. Results The prevalence of cigarette use, e-cigarette use, and dual use was higher among adults with SPD than without SPD in each year including the most recent data year 2017 (cigarette use, 39.50% vs. 13.40%, p &lt; .001; e-cigarette use, 7.41% vs. 2.65%, p &lt; .001; dual use, 5.30% vs. 1.26%, p &lt; .001). Among adults with SPD, the prevalence of cigarette, e-cigarette, and dual product use did not change from 2014 to 2017 in contrast to a decreasing prevalence in cigarette, e-cigarette, and dual product use among individuals without SPD. Conclusions US adults with SPD report higher levels of cigarette, e-cigarette, and dual product use than adults without SPD. Use of these products has not declined over the past several years in contrast to decreasing trends among adults without SPD. Implications These data extend our knowledge of tobacco product use and mental health disparities by showing that in addition to higher levels of cigarette use, US adults with SPD also use e-cigarettes and dual products (cigarette and e-cigarette) more commonly than those without SPD. Furthermore, the use of these products has not declined over the past several years in contrast to continuing declines among adults without SPD. More research is needed to understand the potential positive and negative consequences of e-cigarette use among adults with SPD.

Changes in Mental Health and Treatment, 1997–2017

2021 ◽  
pp. 002214652098413
Author(s):  
Amy L. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Cohort Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Treatment Seeking ◽  
Period Effect ◽  
The Past ◽  
Over Time

Mental health outcomes have shown dramatic changes over the past half-century, yet these trends are still underexplored. I utilize an age-period-cohort analysis of the National Health Interview Survey from 1997 to 2017 (N = 627,058) to disentangle trends in mental health outcomes in the United States over time. Specifically, I leverage the contrast between reported psychological distress and rates of mental health treatment to isolate which has changed, how, and for whom. There is little evidence that psychological distress is worsening over time. Yet, treatment seeking has increased over the past 20 years. The increase in treatment seeking is best modeled as a period effect, providing initial evidence that the historical context has influenced responses to mental health over time for Americans of all ages and birth cohorts. I conclude with potential mechanisms and implications for future mental health research.

Mokken Scale Analysis of Lifetime Responses on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale’s Severity of Ideation Subscale

Assessment ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 107319112091362
Author(s):  
Jeffrey V. Tabares ◽  
Jonathan E. Butner ◽  
Craig J. Bryan ◽  
Julia A. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Risk Model ◽  
Functional Equivalence ◽  
Correct Order ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
Severity Rating ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors ◽  
Risk Scale

Suicide risk screening assumes that suicidal thoughts and behaviors exist on a continuous, hierarchical spectrum with some suicidal thoughts implicated with greater risk for suicidal behaviors. However, screening measures based on the hierarchical model may not capture the suicide risk construct. This study assessed psychometric properties of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS) for (a) between- and within-person measurement dimensions, (b) item utility in capturing the suicide risk construct, and (c) tenability of a hierarchical risk model. We found that the CSSRS functions differentially between and within individuals, CSSRS items capture more suicide risk construct, and that CSSRS items in current practice likely appear in the correct order. The current CSSRS reasonably represents within-person suicide risk, but not between-person risk. Scale norms or alternate scoring could facilitate functional equivalence and utility for between- and within-person CSSRS dimensions.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document