Rebekah S Huber, Sally Weinstein, Aimee E Sullivan, Melissa M Batt, Jennifer Vande Voort, Melinda Westlund Schreiner, Funlola Are, Ioanna Douka, Melissa DelBello, Manpreet K Singh, Leslie Hulvershorn, Ramnarine Boodoo, Christopher J Hammond, James R Brasic, Neera Ghaziuddin, Richard Dopp, Leslie Miller
{"title":"Challenges and Opportunities in Using Cognitive Screeners for Adolescents and Young Adults With Bipolar Disorder.","authors":"Rebekah S Huber, Sally Weinstein, Aimee E Sullivan, Melissa M Batt, Jennifer Vande Voort, Melinda Westlund Schreiner, Funlola Are, Ioanna Douka, Melissa DelBello, Manpreet K Singh, Leslie Hulvershorn, Ramnarine Boodoo, Christopher J Hammond, James R Brasic, Neera Ghaziuddin, Richard Dopp, Leslie Miller","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240045","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240045","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adolescents and young adults with bipolar disorder often experience cognitive deficits that hinder academic performance and social interactions, affecting long-term outcomes. Identifying cognitive impairments is crucial for improving clinical management of bipolar disorder. Use of cognitive screeners is recommended to identify cognitive difficulties and for ongoing assessment. Although cognitive screeners are effective with adults, their use with adolescents and young adults is limited. This project assessed clinicians' attitudes and practices regarding cognitive screening of adolescents and young adults with bipolar disorder. The National Network of Depression Centers (NNDC) Child and Adolescent Mood Disorders Task Group developed a survey for clinicians treating adolescents and young adults (ages 14-25) with bipolar disorder, evaluating their knowledge of and attitudes toward cognitive screening and barriers to implementation. A total of 163 clinicians across 23 NNDC sites completed the survey. Most recognized the impact of cognitive deficits on functioning (87%) and treatment response (76%). More than 90% reported that cognitive assessments would be beneficial; however, 78% were unaware of available tools, and 64% reported barriers to implementation. Findings highlight a need for clinician education and addressing barriers to implementation. This article outlines the importance of using screeners in treatment of adolescents and young adults with bipolar disorder and provides practical information for using screeners and recommendations for implementation.</p>","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"23 2","pages":"125-132"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11995903/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144001416","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}
Stephane J Strong, Halle A Thomas, Zachary W Adams, Leslie A Hulvershorn
{"title":"Comorbid Cannabis Use and Mood Disorders Among Adolescents.","authors":"Stephane J Strong, Halle A Thomas, Zachary W Adams, Leslie A Hulvershorn","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240049","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240049","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adolescence is a unique developmental period marked by increased exploration and risk-taking, as well as important brain development milestones. Many people who use substances will begin using during adolescence, and cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance among adolescents. For adolescents with mood disorders, cannabis use (and, by extension, cannabis use disorder) is even more likely, and the associated consequences are even more significant. In this review, we explore the assessment of cannabis use disorder among adolescents, the impact of cannabis use on mood symptoms, level-of-care recommendations for adolescents with comorbid cannabis use and mood disorders, and effective treatment options.</p>","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"23 2","pages":"133-140"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11995898/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144042415","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}
{"title":"Ethical Considerations Related to Stigma in Mental Health Aspects of Treating Substance Use Disorders.","authors":"Jacob M Appel","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240033","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240033","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"23 1","pages":"61-65"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11701825/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142959817","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}
{"title":"The Story of the Stop Stigma Together Campaign: A National Movement to Stop the Stigma of Mental and Substance Use Disorders.","authors":"Seth Kahan","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240027","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240027","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"23 1","pages":"55-60"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11701824/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142959497","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}
{"title":"Stopping Mental Illness Stigma: Changing Attitudes, Language, and Policies.","authors":"Glen E Kreiner","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240036","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240036","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Stigma has been a pervasive and stubborn part of the mental illness landscape, but it need not be. This article explores the nature of mental health stigma, where it comes from, how it is manifested, how it harms people, and what can be done about it. The article articulates the need to clearly understand three major levels of mental health stigma-structural (e.g., laws and policies in society, institutions, and organizations), social (e.g., biases and attitudes toward others), and self (e.g., beliefs and feelings that those with mental health conditions have about themselves). Psychiatrists, psychologists, medical doctors, and counselors have, unfortunately, too often reinforced these mental health stigmas through policies, practices, and discourse. This article provides tips and strategies for collective and individual stigma reduction, with a particular focus on what mental health practitioners can do attitudinally, linguistically, and behaviorally.</p>","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"23 1","pages":"2-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11701820/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142959554","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}
{"title":"Artificial Intelligence Scribes in Psychiatry.","authors":"Patrick Buckley, Yanshan Wang, Priya Gopalan","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240024","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Artificial intelligence (AI) scribes for clinical documentation are likely to be among the first AI tools to affect the day-to-day practice of psychiatry, yet many psychiatrists are unfamiliar with them. This article introduces psychiatrists to AI scribes, including their potential benefits and risks. AI scribes may enhance efficiency, reduce physician burnout, and improve patient-physician rapport by automating documentation processes. Key concerns include privacy, accuracy, and the ability to capture nuanced patient communication. Initial recommendations for responsibly integrating AI scribes into psychiatric practice are provided, emphasizing the importance of balancing technological benefits with careful oversight.</p>","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"23 1","pages":"44-48"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11701814/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142959800","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}
{"title":"Addressing Mental Health Needs in Rural and Indigenous Communities: Serving People on Their Terms.","authors":"Kurt Michael, Aaron J Fischer, Trevor Olsen","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240035","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240035","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Historically, the suicide rates in rural and Indigenous communities have been disproportionately high. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, stigma, mental health workforce shortages, and the diminished health care infrastructure in rural and remote regions have only amplified this trend. Fortunately, several innovative and culturally responsive approaches have been developed in the context of these communities to address these persisting mental health disparities. Two specific approaches, embedded school mental health partnerships and telehealth solutions, are described in detail in this article. Both examples have shown considerable promise in stemming the tide of these sobering epidemiological trends in rural and Indigenous communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"23 1","pages":"19-24"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11701816/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142959798","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}
{"title":"Mental Health Care Works: Insights From a Public Service Campaign.","authors":"Vedrana Hodzic, Rawle Andrews, William Butler","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240030","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240030","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The United States is experiencing a mental health crisis, with COVID-19 increasing the prevalence of mental health concerns and demand for services, but also leaving millions without care, including many who do not know that treatment is needed or available. The American Psychiatric Association Foundation's Mental Health Care Works campaign was informed by results from an assessment of mental health awareness and perceptions of adults in the United States. These results highlighted the need for more public education about the efficacy of mental health care and ongoing need to normalize treatment and make care more accessible and relatable. The campaign features examples of success stories of treatment and helps spread the message that mental health care is effective. The campaign materials are a resource for health professionals to provide education to patients and society, informing them that mental health care works and that there is no health without mental health.</p>","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"23 1","pages":"40-43"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11701821/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142959835","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}