Reuters (11/28, Jegtvig) reported that, according to a study published online Nov. 11 in the Journal of Adolescent Health, about 25% of US teens go to bed later than 11:30 pm on school nights. What’s more, these teens appear to experience higher degrees of emotional distress and have a more difficult time in school than their counterparts who get to bed at an earlier hour. Researchers analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to arrive at these conclusions.

Related Links:

— “Later teen bedtimes tied to school problems and distress, “Shereen Jegtvig, Reuters, November 28, 2013.

Reuters (11/30, Raven) reported that according to a study published online Nov. 18 in the Journal of Adolescent Health, teens who have a family member undergoing a military deployment may have a greater risk for depression and a higher risk for suicidal thoughts. Researchers arrived at that conclusion after surveying 9,300 ninth and eleventh graders from both military and non-military families.

Related Links:

— “Military deployments tied to teens’ depression, “Kathleen Raven, Reuters, November 29, 2013.

HealthDay (11/28, Preidt) reported that, according to a study published online Nov. 27 in JAMA Psychiatry, children and adolescents “are increasingly more likely than adults to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder.” For the study, “researchers analyzed data from nearly 450,000 patient visits to US doctors’ offices between 1995 and 2010.” The study found that “between the periods from 1995 to 1998 and 2007 to 2010, visits that led to diagnoses of mental-health problems increased faster for patients” under the age of 21 than for adults. At the same time, visits to psychiatrists also increased more rapidly in young people than in adults.

Related Links:

— “Mental-Health Disorders Growing Faster Among Kids Than Adults: Study, “Robert Preidt, HealthDay, November 27, 2013.

HealthDay (11/26, Reinberg) reports that, according to a study published online Nov. 25 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, “low levels of the hormone estrogen are not to blame for mood swings and poor memory after menopause.” Researchers arrived at this conclusion after examining “data on more than 600 postmenopausal women, aged 41 to 84,” none of whom were taking hormone replacement therapy. TheDaily Mail (UK) (11/26) also covers the story.

Related Links:

— “Estrogen Won’t Make Women Sharper After Menopause, Study Finds, “Steven Reinberg, HealthDay, November 25, 2013.

The Wall Street Journal (11/26, Landro, Subscription Publication) reports hospitals are taking steps to help an increasing number of patients suffering from post-ICU syndrome, which includes short-term brain injury, post-traumatic stress, depression and feelings of lethargy. Some ICU patients who are sedated or are put on ventilator develop that syndrome. The Society of Critical Care Medicine says up to 80 percent of ICU survivors may be suffering from some form of cognitive or brain dysfunction. The Journal says patients mainly at risk of this syndrome are those who have been treated for sepsis, or blood poisoning. The paper says hospitals, recognizing the problem, are making changes to normal ICU procedures such as allowing breaks for patients on ventilation.

Related Links:

— “Hospitals Take On Post-ICU Syndrome, Helping Patients Recover, “Laura Landro, The Wall Street Journal, November 25, 2013.