Clinical outcome data of anxiety patients treated with cannabis-based medicinal products in the United Kingdom: a cohort study from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry.

Rationale: Cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) have been identified as novel therapeutics for generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) based on pre-clinical models; however, there is a paucity of high-quality evidence on their effectiveness and safety.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with GAD treated with dried flower, oil-based preparations, or a combination of both CBMPs.

Methods: A prospective cohort study of patients with GAD (n = 302) enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry prescribed oil or flower-based CBMPs was performed.

Digital Technology Use and Mental Health Consultations: Survey of the Views and Experiences of Clinicians and Young People.

Background: Digital technologies play an increasingly important role in the lives of young people and have important effects on their mental health.

Objective: We aimed to explore 3 key areas of the intersection between digital technology and mental health: the views and experiences of young people and clinicians about digital technology and mental health; implementation and barriers to the UK national guidance recommendation-that the discussion of digital technology use should form a core part of mental health assessment; and how digital technology might be used to support existing consultations.

Methods: Two cross-sectional web-based surveys were conducted in 2020 between June and December, with mental health clinicians (n=99) and young people (n=320).

Mental Health Practitioners' and Young People's Experiences of Talking About Social Media During Mental Health Consultations: Qualitative Focus Group and Interview Study.

Background: Increasing concerns among mental health care professionals have focused on the impact of young people's use of digital technology and social media on their mental well-being. It has been recommended that the use of digital technology and social media be routinely explored during mental health clinical consultations with young people. Whether these conversations occur and how they are experienced by both clinicians and young people are currently unknown.

Hierarchical clustering of prolonged post-concussive symptoms after 12 months: symptom-centric analysis and association with functional impairments.

Background: Following a concussion, approximately 15% of individuals experience persistent symptoms that can lead to functional deficits. However, underlying symptom-clusters that persist beyond 12 months have not been adequately characterized, and their relevance to functional deficits are unclear. The aim of this study was to characterize the underlying clusters of prolonged post-concussive symptoms lasting more than 12 months, and to investigate their association with functional impairments.

Developing good practice indicators to assist mental health practitioners to converse with young people about their online activities and impact on mental health: a two-panel mixed-methods Delphi study.

Background: Online activity has been linked to poor mental health in children and young people, particularly those with existing vulnerability who may inadvertently or otherwise access harmful content. It is suggested health and social care practitioners should address online activity during mental health consultations, but guidance about acceptable or effective ways to do this is lacking. This study sought to derive good practice guidance to support mental health practitioners to engage young people in conversations about their online activities and impact on mental health.

Optimizing Existing Mental Health Screening Methods in a Dementia Screening and Risk Factor App: Observational Machine Learning Study.

Background: Mindstep is an app that aims to improve dementia screening by assessing cognition and risk factors. It considers important clinical risk factors, including prodromal symptoms, mental health disorders, and differential diagnoses of dementia. The 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire for depression (PHQ-9) and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) are widely validated and commonly used scales used in screening for depression and anxiety disorders, respectively.

Does anxiety moderate the effectiveness of mirtazapine in patients with treatment-resistant depression? A secondary analysis of the MIR trial.

Background: There is a lack of evidence to guide treatment of comorbid depression and anxiety. Preliminary evidence suggests mirtazapine may be effective in treating patients with both depression and anxiety symptoms.

Methods: We undertook a secondary analysis of mirtazapine (MIR): a placebo-controlled trial of the addition of mirtazapine to a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor in treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in primary care.

Valproate for acute mania.

Background: Bipolar disorder is a severe and common mental disorder where patients experience recurrent symptoms of elevated or irritable mood, depression, or a combination of both. Treatment is usually with psychiatric medication, including mood stabilisers, antidepressants and antipsychotics. Valproate is an effective maintenance treatment for bipolar disorder.