Psychiatry

A large grassy area covered in a display of t-shirts erected with names of people killed by gun violence around a sign that reads MEMORIAL TO PHILADELPHIANS MURDERED BY ILLEGAL GUNS.

Managing mental health amid gun violence

In 2021, Philadelphia saw a record number of 486 homicides by shooting as well 1,846 non-fatal shootings. According to clinical psychologist Leah Blain, exposure to trauma, including to gun violence, increases the risk of negative health outcomes.

From Penn Medicine News ・

A put-out cigarette standing on its end, next to half of another crumpled cigarette. In the background are two whole cigarettes.

Parental nicotine use and addiction risk for children

In research done using rats, Penn Nursing’s Heath Schmidt and colleagues found that males that engaged in voluntary nicotine use had offspring more likely to do so, too. Some offspring also developed impaired memory and anxiety-like behavior.

Michele W. Berger ・

swirly painting of faces and heads

The pandemic’s psychological scars

It’s been a long and uncertain road, with some groups shouldering a disproportionately greater burden of mental anguish from COVID-19. Yet now there’s a glimmer of hope. Has the page finally turned?

Michele W. Berger ・

A mostly eaten apple in front of a mirror showing a whole, uneaten apple.

Hospitalizations for eating disorder increased during pandemic

Researchers can’t yet pinpoint definitive reasons, though they surmise it was a combination of factors, including stress, an outsized focus on weight gain and personal appearance, and maybe even symptoms of COVID-19 itself.

Michele W. Berger ・

Headshots of two people. On the left is a person with glasses wearing a blazer, white shirt and blue tie. On the right is a person in a black blazer, black-and-white blouse and visible necklace. Both are smiling.

The path to deeper connections, even amidst a pandemic

A new book from Penn’s Edward Brodkin and psychology doctoral candidate Ashley Pallathra focuses on the science and practice of attunement, the process by which people can most effectively connect to themselves and others.

Michele W. Berger ・



In the News


NBC News

Fentanyl plus stimulants drives ‘fourth wave’ of overdose epidemic in the U.S.

Anna Childress of the Perelman School of Medicine says that fentanyl was ripe for combination with other drugs when it first appeared, given the long trend of combining opioids and stimulants.

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Philadelphia Business Journal

Penn Medicine opens walk-in crisis response center at Cedar Avenue campus

Penn Medicine has relocated its crisis response center to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania-Cedar Avenue campus in West Philadelphia. The facility opened with remarks from Maria Oquendo.

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The New York Times

Can’t sleep? Try this proven alternative to medication

Philip Gehrman of the Perelman School of Medicine says that as many as 80% of the people who try cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia see improvements in their sleep, with most patients finding relief within four to eight sessions even if they’ve had insomnia for decades.

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Business Insider

Five things experts do before bed to get the best sleep possible

Mathias Basner of the Perelman School of Medicine says that amount and quality are the two key components of good sleep.

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CNN

Wegovy shown to reduce risk of heart attack, stroke in major cardiovascular trial

Jena Shaw Tronieri of the Perelman School of Medicine says that current insurance coverage for weight loss medication is poor, with many people struggling for access.

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Prevention

Researchers say this simple hack could stop your nail-biting habit

Lily Brown of the Perelman School of Medicine says that any behavior that creates a physical barrier to a nail-biting habit can be helpful.

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