Healio (9/4, Gramigna) reported, “Certain types of childhood maltreatment were linked to suicide behaviors among children and young adults,” investigators concluded in a systematic review and meta-analysis that “included 79 studies with 337,185 youths, with a mean age of 15.67 years.” Researchers found “significant associations between higher suicide attempt rates and sexual abuse…physical abuse,” emotional abuse, emotional neglect, physical neglect, and “combined abuse.” What’s more, “these forms of childhood maltreatment were linked to as much as a 2.5 times higher risk for suicide ideation, and sexual abuse specifically with a four times higher risk for suicide plans,” the review revealed. The findings were published online in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Childhood maltreatment linked to increased suicide behaviors among children, young adults “Joe Gramigna, Healio, September 4, 2020

The Washington Post (9/3, Brulliard, Wan) reports that “physicians and researchers are seeing signs” that the coronavirus pandemic “is doing deep damage to people’s sleep.” Dubbed “coronasomnia” by some experts, it “could prove to have profound public-health ramifications – creating a massive new population of chronic insomniacs grappling with declines in productivity, shorter fuses and increased risks of hypertension, depression and other health problems.”

Related Links:

— “The pandemic is ruining our sleep. Experts say ‘coronasomnia’ could imperil public health. ”
Karin Brulliard and William Wan, The Washington Post, September 3, 2020

HealthDay (9/3, Norton) reports that anticholinergic medications may “speed up older adults’ mental decline – especially if they are at increased risk of dementia,” investigators concluded. The study also revealed that “healthy older adults on these medications had an increased risk of developing mild cognitive impairment.” The findings of the 688-older adult study were published online Sept. 2 in the journal Neurology.

Related Links:

— “Common Meds Tied to Faster Mental Decline in Seniors “Amy Norton, HeathDay, September 3, 2020

HealthDay (9/3, Preidt) reports, “Young adults with kidney problems may be at increased risk for mental decline in middle age,” investigators concluded in a study that “included more than 2,600 people with an average age of 35.” Participants underwent “blood and urine tests to assess kidney function every five years for 20 years, and the tests were used to estimate their risk of kidney failure at each visit.” When the study period ended, “participants were given thinking and memory tests.” The findings were published online Sept. 2 in the journal Neurology.

Related Links:

— “Kidneys Might Affect Mental Status As You Age “Robert Preidt, HealthDay, September 3, 2020

The New York Times (9/3, Bakalar) reports obesity “may be linked to an increased risk for dementia,” investigators concluded in a study that analyzed “data on 6,582 men and women, age 50 and older, who were cognitively healthy at the” beginning of the study and who were tracked “for an average of 11 years.” The findings were published online June 23 in the International Journal of Epidemiology.

Related Links:

— “Excess Weight May Increase Your Risk of Dementia “Nicholas Bakalar, The New York Times, September 3, 2020

HealthDay (9/2, Preidt) reports, “Cyberbullying is less common among teens who feel loved and supported by their parents,” investigators concluded after analyzing survey “responses from more than 12,600 U.S. youth aged 11 to 15 years” in which the children “were asked about their bullying behaviors and their relationship with their parents.” The study revealed that “the more adolescents considered their parents as loving, the less likely they were to cyberbully, the survey findings” revealed. The findings were published online in the International Journal of Bullying Prevention.

Related Links:

— “Cyberbullying Could Rise During Lockdown, But Parents Can Stop It “Robert Preidt, HealthDay, September 2, 2020

NBC News (9/3, Kingkade) reports researchers “found active shooter drills in schools correlated with a 42 percent increase in anxiety and stress and a 39 percent increase in depression among those in the school community, including students, teachers and parents, based on their social media posts,” according to a report released by Everytown for Gun Safety. The report is based “on research from Georgia Tech’s Social Dynamics and Wellbeing Lab, which analyzed 27.9 million tweets and 1,454 Reddit posts that came from accounts with connections to 114 schools in 33 states that held active shooter drills in the 2018-19 academic year.”

Related Links:

— “Active shooter drills are meant to prepare students. But research finds ‘severe’ side effects “Tyler Kingkade, NBC News , September 3, 2020

The AP (9/2, Tanner) reports researchers at Boston University found “half of U.S. adults surveyed reported at least some signs of depression, such as hopelessness, feeling like a failure or getting little pleasure from doing things,” which is “double the rate from a different survey two years ago.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

HealthDay (9/2, Reinberg) and MedPage Today (9/2, Hlavinka) also cover the story.

Related Links:

— “Depression, anxiety spike amid outbreak and turbulent times “Lindsey Tanner, AP, September 2, 2020

NPR (9/1, Hamilton) reports on the challenges and benefits of distance learning for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) “and other learning disabilities.” For some children, not being “around peers” can make it “easier to focus.” For other youngsters, however, distractions in the home make distance learning much more difficult, and lack of peer interaction, “recess and the physical activity that goes with it” may prove trying to both kids and their parents. Several parents and experts are interviewed in the article.

Related Links:

— “Remote Learning’s Distractions Put Extra Pressure On Students With ADHD “Jon Hamilton, NPR, September 1, 2020

Psychiatric News (9/1) reports, “Racial and ethnic discrimination may increase the risk that members of minority groups will experience severe alcohol use disorder,” investigators concluded after analyzing “data from 17,115 racial/ethnic minorities who participated in the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol-Related Conditions III (NESARC-III), a national survey that took place in 2012-2013.” The findings were published online ahead of print in the November issue of the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

Related Links:

— “Discrimination May Increase Risk of Severe Alcohol Use in Minorities Psychiatric News, September 1, 2020