MedPage Today (10/26, DePeau-Wilson) reports, “Young women with autism had a higher risk for psychiatric disorders than young men with autism,” investigators concluded. The study revealed that “between the ages of 16 and 25, 77 of 100” women with autism “and 62 of 100” men with autism “received at least one psychiatric diagnosis.” Compared with men, women with autism “had statistically significant standardized risk differences for any psychiatric disorder…which was larger for anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders.” The findings were published online Oct. 26 in JAMA Psychiatry.

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— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

Healio (10/26) reports, “According to a recent poll conducted by the American Psychiatric Association” and announced in an Oct. 17 press release, “75% of Americans said mental health support should be provided to incarcerated persons.” The survey data were derived “from the latest Healthy Minds Monthly poll commissioned by the APA” and “included 2,111 adults, who responded between Sep. 30 and Oct. 2.” In the release, APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, MD, MPA, stated, “Lawmakers should heed this information and take action.”

Related Links:

— “Poll: 75% of Americans believe incarcerated persons should get mental health support “Shenaz Bagha, Healio, October 26, 2022

ABC News (10/25, Yegiants) reports, “As temperatures continue to increase worldwide, so do profound impacts on our health, including our mental health, according to a major reportby almost 100 experts, including the World Health Organization, recently published” online in The Lancet Countdown. The report revealed that “severe temperature increases, and heat waves have been associated with a decline in mental health and increased suicidality.” As the climate changes, “young people in particular have been more susceptible to depression, anxiety, substance use and issues with sleep, the report said.” Elizabeth Haase, MD, who chairs American Psychiatric Association’s Committee on Climate Change and Mental Health, told ABC News, “Eighty-four percent of young people, are moderately to extremely anxious about climate change.”

Related Links:

— “Increasingly warming planet jeopardizes human health, major report warns “Dr. Anna Yegiants, ABC News, October 25, 2022

Psychiatric News (10/25) reports, “About one in 15 children and adolescents hospitalized for COVID-19 experiences neurologic complications,” investigators concluded after analyzing data on a “total of 15,137 children and adolescents hospitalized for COVID-19.” Those complications included “an increased risk of admission to the intensive care unit…hospital readmissions, and death.” The findings were published online in Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— “Neurological Complications Associated With Worse Outcomes in Youth Hospitalized for COVID-19, Psychiatric News, October 25, 2022

Healio (10/25, Liptak) reports, “Antidepressants desvenlafaxine, paroxetine, venlafaxine and vortioxetine were found to have reasonable acceptability, efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of adults with stable major depressive disorder [MDD],” investigators concluded in a systematic review and meta-analysis that included “34 double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trials involving 9,384 patients with MDD.” The findings were published online Oct. 17 in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Select antidepressants show balance in efficacy, acceptability in adults with MDD “Holly Liptak, Healio, October 25, 2022