Psychiatric News (11/6) reports research found that “toddlers who have more than 14 hours per week of screen time have nearly twice the odds of having a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder when they are 12 years old.” Investigators found that “children were more likely to have more than 14 hours of screen time when they were 2 years old if they were boys, their mothers had less than 13 years of education or less, or they lived in households with a family income of $60,000 or less.” The findings were published in JAMA Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— “Excessive Screen Time in Toddlers Linked to Autism Diagnosis in Early Adolescence,” Psychiatric News, November 6, 2024

Neurology Advisor (11/5, Khaja) reports, “Symptoms of depression and eating disorders are self-reported by treatment-seeking adolescents with obesity, according to study results.” Investigators came to this conclusion after conducting “a parallel, multicenter, randomized clinical trial (Fast Track to Health) between January 2018 and March 2023 at children’s hospitals in Australia to assess changes in self-reported symptoms of depression, eating disorders, and binge eating among adolescents aged 13 to 17 with obesity…and at least 1 cardiometabolic complication.” The findings were published in JAMA Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— “Is Obesity Associated With Depression, Eating Disorders in Adolescents?,” Hibah Khaja, PharmD, Neurology Advisor, November 5, 2024

MedPage Today (11/5, DePeau-Wilson ) reports, “Greater use of virtual mental health care services was linked to a lower risk of suicide-related events, according to a retrospective cohort study” that included “more than 16,000 veterans with prior mental health diagnoses.” The research “showed that a 1% increase in the proportion of mental health care received through telehealth services was associated with a 2.5% decrease in suicide-related events.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

Women Who Have Had Concussions More Likely To Suffer Severe Mental Health Problems Following Childbirth, Study Suggests
HealthDay (11/4, Thompson ) reports, “Women who’ve had concussions are more likely to suffer severe mental health problems following childbirth, a new study shows.” Researchers found that “a history of concussion increased a new mother’s risk of severe mental illness by 25%, after adjusting for other factors.” The findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “History of Concussion Could Raise a New Mom’s Odds for Mental Health Issues,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, November 4, 2024

Psychiatric News (11/4) reports, “As autumn renders the daylight hours shorter and winter creeps closer, a significant percentage of Americans will experience changes in mood, according to the latest APA Healthy Minds poll.” About “two-fifths of Americans (41%) said their mood declines during the winter months.” The poll found that “this is especially true in the Midwest and Northeast, where 52% and 46% of respondents, respectively, said they experience a decline in mood.” APA President Ramaswamy Viswanathan, MD, said, “The winter months have less light, the time change can feel abrupt, and the holidays for some are overwhelming. … It’s helpful to keep tabs on your mood. … If you’re feeling very poorly, consider talking to a mental health clinician, and also know that spring is only a few months away.”

Related Links:

— “Poll Finds Many Americans Experience Changes in Mood as Winter Approaches,” Psychiatric News, November 4, 2024