HCPlive (1/3, Walter) reports, “Preterm birth and family history result in an increased risk of developing a psychiatric disorder by age 15, with many also suffering from two or three disorders, mainly anxiety,” attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, “and major depression,” investigators concluded in a 670-child study that “evaluated the prevalence, co-occurrence, sex differences, and functional correlates of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) psychiatric disorders in 15-year-old adolescents born extremely preterm.” The findings were published online Dec. 28 in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Extremely Preterm Births Linked to Increase Risk of Psychiatric Disorders “Kenny Walter, HCPlive, January 3, 2022

Healio (1/3, VanDewater) reports, “Negative mental health effects and increased substance use caused by the COVID-19 pandemic were more common in the LGBTQ community,” researchers concluded in a “repeated cross-sectional monitoring survey” to which “2,984 people responded in round one, conducted from May 14, 2020, to May 19, 2020, and 3,009 people responded in round two, conducted from Sept. 14, 2020, to Sept. 21, 2020.” The findings were published in the January issue of the journal Psychiatry Research.

Related Links:

— “Mental health impacts of substance use during pandemic greater in LGBTQ community “Kalie VanDewater, Healio, January 3, 2022

HealthDay (12/30, Norton) reported, “The percentage of older Americans reporting serious problems with memory and thinking has declined in recent years – and higher education levels may be part of the reason,” researchers concluded in a study “based on 10 years of data from an annual Census Bureau survey,” namely 2008 to 2017. Overall, included were “5.4 million Americans age 65 and older.” The findings were published online in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Related Links:

— “More U.S. Seniors, Especially Women, Are Retaining Healthy Brains: Study ” Amy Norton, HealthDay, December 30, 2021

Healio (12/30, Lawrence) reported, “Patients with cancer who resided in low-income and rural areas appeared at higher risk for suicide than those in high-income and urban areas, according to a retrospective, population-based study.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Residents of low-income, rural areas at higher risk for suicide after cancer diagnosis “Ryan Lawrence, Healio, December 30, 2021

Psychiatric News (12/30) reported, “More than one in five fathers have symptoms of depression and anxiety at some point during the first year after their children are born,” researchers concluded in a survey study that included “2,544 fathers” who “provided data for at least one time point during the first year postpartum, and 2,442 fathers” who “provided data during the second year.” The findings were published online Dec. 28 in the journal Depression and Anxiety.

Related Links:

— “Comorbid Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety Common in Fathers After Their Children Are Born, Psychiatric News, December 30, 2021