Peak body for immunologists changes guidelines as evidence shows up to 90% of those reporting allergy don’t have one
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The majority of Australians who report a penicillin allergy are not truly allergic, prompting the peak body for immunologists to change its guidelines in a bid to reduce hospital stays and tackle antimicrobial resistance.
Penicillin, one of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics in Australia, was thought to cause allergies in 10% of Australians, or about 2.8 million people.
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© Photograph: Ange/Alamy
© Photograph: Ange/Alamy
© Photograph: Ange/Alamy
© Claire Merchlinsky/The New York Times; Photographs via Getty
Study identifies ‘circadian depression’ as affecting nearly a quarter of more than 11,000 participants
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Australian researchers have identified a new subtype of depression – termed “circadian depression” – linked to disruptions in the body’s internal clock, which they believe is less responsive to traditional antidepressant treatments.
In a study published in British Journal of Psychiatry, involving clinical and genetic data from 11,380 Australians with mostly severe and recurrent depression, researchers identified circadian depression as affecting nearly a quarter (23%) of participants.
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© Photograph: milos-kreckovic/Getty Images
© Photograph: milos-kreckovic/Getty Images
© Photograph: milos-kreckovic/Getty Images
People diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) face a roughly 71% higher overall risk of early death compared to those without the condition, according to a new review published in JAMA Network Open.
However, taking prescription ADHD medication may offer a protective benefit, lowering overall risk of death, the review found.
Researchers analyzed data from 19 observational studies involving nearly 16 million people across three continents to evaluate the long-term effects associated with the condition.
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The review considered both unnatural causes of death, such as injuries and suicide, and natural causes, including physical health conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Across all categories, individuals with ADHD experienced elevated mortality rates compared to those without the diagnosis.
"We found that people with ADHD face an increased risk not only of death by suicide and injury, but also of deaths by natural causes, adding to evidence that health inequalities faced by people with ADHD are broad and wide-ranging," senior author Joshua Stott, professor of aging and clinical psychology at University College London (UCL), said in a press release.
The risk of death from suicide was nearly doubled, showing an 89% increase, while the risk of dying from intentional or unintentional injuries, such as motor vehicle accidents, was 55% higher, the study found.
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There was also a 27% higher risk of death from natural causes among people with ADHD.
The increased risk of death from natural causes was often tied to long-term health risks like smoking and substance use, as well as executive function challenges that can make it harder to manage chronic conditions, attend doctor’s appointments and follow treatment plans.
In one analysis, researchers checked whether medical treatment changed overall mortality rates.
Among people with ADHD, those taking prescribed ADHD medication had a 25% lower risk of death from any cause compared to those not taking medication, suggesting that effective treatment may lower some of the behavioral effects and health risks associated with the condition.
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"ADHD is not by definition a life-limiting condition, as the right support and treatment can help people live long and healthy lives," Stott said.
"Our findings underscore the importance of ensuring that everyone who may have ADHD has access to accurate diagnosis and treatment."
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Despite these findings, the researchers emphasized several key limitations.
All included studies were observational, meaning the results show associations rather than direct cause-and-effect relationships.
The findings on ADHD medication came from just three of the 19 studies, so those results are still preliminary and based on a much smaller group of people.
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Results also varied widely across individual studies due to differences in diagnostic criteria, healthcare access and tracking methods, while underlying factors such as socioeconomic status and other mental health conditions were not controlled across data sets.
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"Our findings provide early evidence to suggest that medication may play an important role in supporting the health of people with ADHD, but this is based on a small number of studies and further research is needed to clarify this link," first author Lucy Corrigan, a research assistant in the University of Liverpool’s Department of Psychology, said in the same press release.
"Medication is just part of the story; many people with ADHD benefit from comprehensive, long-term treatment and support."
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