HealthDay (1/11) reports, “Even people with mild cases of COVID-19 may commonly feel run down and unwell months later, a new study suggests.” This “study, of patients at one Irish medical center, found that 62% said they had not returned to ‘full health’ when they had a follow-up appointment a few months after their COVID-19 diagnosis,” and “nearly half complained of ongoing fatigue.” The findings were published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.

Related Links:

— “Even Mild Cases of COVID Can Leave ‘Long-Haul’ Illness, Study Shows ” Amy Norton, HealthDay, January 11, 2021

CNN International (1/12, Smith) reports that millions of Americans are frightened of needles, according to a 2018 metanalytic study published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing. Now, “as Covid-19 vaccines roll out across the globe, addressing such fears is essential to public health.” APA President Dr. Jeffrey Geller is quoted saying, “Phobia is a fear and anxiety about a specific stimulus.” CNN International adds, “About 30% of people will experience an anxiety disorder in their lifetime, Geller said. Of those, between 7% and 9% of individuals have a specific phobia.” Individuals “with relatively mild fear of needles might be able to cope with their anxiety by practicing relaxation techniques on their own, Geller explained.” He said, “There are many meditation techniques that one can be taught.”

Related Links:

— “Millions have a real fear of needles. Overcoming that is critical for the vaccine rollout “Jen Rose Smith, CNN, January 12, 2021

Healio (1/11, Gramigna) reports, “Patient age was linked to virtual visit type preference for telepsychiatry during the COVID-19 pandemic, with older adults preferring telephone visits over video visits,” investigators concluded in a survey study that sought “to evaluate these factors after stay-at-home orders were issued in Michigan, patients’ initial choice of virtual care modality and their anticipated participation in telepsychiatry following reopening of clinics for in-person visits.” The study revealed “an association between patient age and chosen visit type, with those aged 44 years or older more likely than those aged 44 years or younger to choose telephone visits.” The findings of the 244-patient study were published in the December issue of JMIR Formative Research.

Related Links:

— “Most patients access telepsychiatry via video, but age affects preferences “Joe Gramigna, Healio, January 11, 2021

The New York Times (1/8, Belluck) reported many people who recover from COVID-19 “will experience lingering problems like fatigue, insomnia, depression, anxiety or diminished lung function.” Researchers studied 1,733 patients “who were discharged from a hospital in Wuhan” and “found that more than three-quarters of them had at least one symptom six months later.” The study was published in The Lancet.

STAT (1/8, Cooney) and MedPage Today (1/8, Walker) also cover the story.

Related Links:

— “6 Months After Leaving the Hospital, Covid Survivors Still Face Lingering Health Issues “Pam Belluck, The New York Times, January 8, 2021

Psychiatric News (1/8) reported, “Financial distress, feeling downhearted, and doing activities less carefully were identified through machine learning as risk factors for suicide,” investigators concluded after drawing “on data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, which is conducted with a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults 18 years and older.” The findings were published online Jan. 6 in JAMA Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Study Confirms Well-Known Suicide Risk Factors, Identifies New Risks, Psychiatric News, January 8, 2021

According to HealthDay (1/8, Thompson), the US is “in a state of shock and outrage over” the Jan. 6 “riotous siege on the U.S. Capitol Building by supporters of President Donald Trump.” Because “there could be still worse to come before the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden,” it is important to take care of “mental and physical health…in the coming days of trial and tribulation…American Psychiatric Association President” Jeffrey Geller, MD, MPH, “said.” By “sticking to a normal daily routine, sleeping well, staying hydrated, eating healthy, exercising and participating in self-calming techniques like meditation or yoga, Geller said” that people could ease the stress they feel. People also should “try to avoid the use of alcohol, drugs or tobacco, Geller added.”

Related Links:

— “Coping With Anxiety, Fear During a Rocky Presidential Transition ” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, January 8, 2021

MedPage Today (1/7, Ingram) reports researchers found that among patients with cancer “receiving long-term opioid treatment for pain, 19% developed behaviors of nonmedical opioid use.” The findings were published in JAMA Oncology.

Related Links:

— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

The Washington Post (1/7, Chiu) reports, “Many Americans have been unable to pull their eyes away from images of hundreds of Trump supporters storming the U.S. Capitol building Wednesday – smashing windows, trampling over police officers, rampaging through the halls of government and forcing frightened lawmakers to flee.” But “constant exposure to images that generate fear, anxiety and distress can exact a heavy toll on people’s minds and bodies.” People also “may struggle with concentration or difficulties with sleep, causing confusion and exhaustion, said Jeffrey Geller, president of the American Psychiatric Association.” These effects “are likely to be only worsened by prolonged exposure to the triggering media, Geller said.”

Related Links:

— “The Washington Post (requires login and subscription)

The New York Times (1/4, Goldberg) reports on the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on addiction treatment. For example, some addiction treatments have been forced to close and studies have found that binge drinking has increased during the pandemic.

Related Links:

— “‘Relapsing Left and Right’: Trying to Overcome Addiction in a Pandemic “Emma Goldberg, The New York Times, January 4, 2021

HealthDay (1/4, Murez) reports, “The COVID-19 pandemic is taking a toll on the emotional health of pregnant women whose exercise routines have been disrupted because of the coronavirus,” investigators concluded after analyzing “data from an online survey of more than 1,800 U.S. women from all 50 states and Puerto Rico.” The study revealed that “women had higher depression scores than their counterparts who were able to exercise as usual.” The findings were published online in PLOS ONE.

Related Links:

— “As Lockdowns Keep Pregnant Women From Exercise, Depression Rates Rise: Study ” Cara Murez, HealthDay, January 4, 2021