Psychiatric News (1/4) reports, “Youth who make threats of violence against others at school often have a range of psychiatric and learning disorders,” researchers concluded in a study that “included 157 youth aged five to 18 years…51.6% were receiving special education services.” Additionally, the study revealed that “many of these youth report having been bullied, and more than half have a history of traumatic family events.” The findings were published online ahead of print Jan. 2 in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Youth Who Threaten Violence at School May Have Psychiatric, Learning Problems, Psychiatric News, January 4, 2023

According to the New York Times (1/3, Barry), “children who habitually checked their social media feeds at around age 12 showed a distinct trajectory, with their sensitivity to social rewards from peers heightening over time,” while “teenagers with less engagement in social media followed the opposite path, with a declining interest in social rewards.” Researchers arrived at these conclusions after conducting “successive” functional magnetic resonance imaging “brain scans of middle schoolers between the ages of 12 and 15, a period of especially rapid brain development.” The findings were published online in JAMA Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— “https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/03/health/social-media-brain-adolescents.html “Ellen Barry, The New York Times, January 3, 2023

According to Healio (1/3), in a Dec. 23 statement posted to its website, “the American Psychiatric Association said it is pleased that provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 will promote access to mental health and substance use disorder care.” The APA voiced concern, “however, that Congress is restoring only 2.5% of a 4.5% Medicare payment cut for all physicians beginning Jan. 1,” saying, “This runs counter to the need to improve access to care for patients, and we urge Congress to revisit this continuing challenge as soon as possible in the new year.”

Related Links:

— “APA lauds mental health provisions in Federal spending package, criticizes payment cut “Mindy Valcarcel, Healio, January 3, 2023

Psychiatric News (1/3) reports, “At the end of each year, members of the American Journal of Psychiatry (AJP) Editorial Board select the studies they found particularly impactful in the previous 12 months,” and for 2022 have selected nine studiesthat “have expanded the understanding of the impact of stress hormones on brain development, revealed new insights into how and when the brains of infants who go on to develop autism diverge from their peers, exposed the long-term cognitive effects of cannabis use, and more.” The American Journal of Psychiatry is a publication of the American Psychiatric Association.

Related Links:

— “AJP Editors Identify Top Studies in 2022 That May Have Significant Impact in Psychiatry, Psychiatric News, January 3, 2023

MedPage Today (1/3, Monaco) reports, “Physical activity can help alleviate depressive symptoms in teens,” investigators concluded in the findings of a 21-study systematic review and meta-analysis published online Jan. 3 in JAMA Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)