What We're Reading: Postpartum Depression Drug Approval; Marijuana and Psychosis; Mississippi Abortion Bill

FDA Approves First Drug for Postpartum Depression

The FDA approved Sage Therapeutics’ brexanolone (Zulresso), the first drug specifically developed to treat postpartum depression, reported The Associated Press. The intravenous drug, administered over 2.5 days, comes with an estimated price tag of $34,000 without insurance. A study assessing the drug found that when new mothers with moderate to severe depression took brexanolone, half stopped feeling depressed after 2.5 days, which was double the rate seen with those taking placebo.

Marijuana Use Linked to Psychosis

As states around the country continue to take steps toward legalizing marijuana, a new study from The Lancet Psychiatry is warning of a health risk associated with frequent use: psychosis. According to the study, high frequency of daily marijuana use and high-potency marijuana increases the risk of a psychotic disorder, with daily marijuana users being 3.2 times more likely to have a psychotic disorder than never users and high potency users being 1.6 times more likely.

Fetal Heartbeat Bill Passes in Mississippi

The Mississippi Senate passed its heartbeat abortion ban, which could bar abortion as early as 6 weeks into a women’s pregnancy. Fifteen Democrats voted against the bill. Governor Phil Bryant, R-Mississippi, has signaled that he will sign the legislation. If signed, the state will have the most restrictive abortion policy in the United States, although other states are debating similar legislation, reported Mississippi Today.