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)

According to Healio (12/31, Young), research published online in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology reveals that “patients with familial hypercholesterolemia may have elevated risk for developing eating disorders. “ In arriving at that conclusion, the study team “used the Norwegian Patient Registry and the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry to identify FH…and control…populations.”

Related Links:

— “Patients with familial hypercholesterolemia may be more vulnerable to eating disorders “Kate Young, Healio, December 31, 2022

Medscape (12/30, Swift Yasgur, Subscription Publication) reported, “Persistent postconcussion symptoms (PPCS) are tied to a significantly increased risk of developing subsequent depressive symptoms,” researchers concluded in the findings of an 18-study systematic review and meta-analysis that included “more than 9000 patients.” The research revealed “a fourfold higher risk of developing depressive symptoms in those with PPCS versus those without PPCS.” The findingswere published online Dec. 27 in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— Medscape (requires login and subscription)

Contributor Deb Gordon writes for Forbes (12/29) that a “new study published” online Dec. 28 “in JAMA Network Open set out to systematically assess available mental health apps based on critical measures such as clinical validation and privacy practices.” Additionally, the study team “examined degrees of innovation and the association between app privacy measures and app popularity,” analyzing “578 mental health-related apps across 105 dimensions, using an app evaluation framework established by the American Psychiatric Association.” The study revealed not only “a lack of evidence and innovation among the apps evaluated,” but also a “lack of correlation between privacy scores and consumer ratings,” indicating that “consumers may not be aware of or focused on privacy features.”

Related Links:

— “Using A Mental Health App? New Study Says Your Data May Be Shared “Deb Gordon, Forbes, December 29, 2022