Oncology Nurse Advisor (2/4, Moore) reported, “Caregivers’ anxiety/depression symptoms may affect quality of life (QOL) for children with cancer, according to results of a study of caregivers of children with a cancer diagnosis.” The research was published in the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology.

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— “Caregiver Anxiety/Mental Health Affects QOL for Children With Cancer “Vicki Moore, Oncology Nurse Advisor , February 4, 2022

MedPage Today (2/4, George) reported brains of patients with COVID-19 “had some of the same pathological changes seen in Alzheimer’s disease, which may explain the memory problems people with long COVID experience, a small study suggested.” This study, which was “based on autopsies of 10 people who died with COVID-19, linked the inflammatory response found in SARS-CoV-2 infection with pathways causing tau hyperphosphorylation typically associated with Alzheimer’s disease, reported” researchers. The findingspublished in Alzheimer’s & Dementia “also indicated a role for leaky ryanodine receptor 2…in the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the researchers wrote.”

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— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

Psychiatric News (2/3) reports, “The addition of the diagnostic category prolonged grief disorder to DSM-5-TRis timely and important given the COVID-19 pandemic’s enormous death toll, wrote Holly Prigerson, PhD, of Weill Cornell Medicine and colleagues in a Viewpoint” published online Feb. 2 in JAMA Psychiatry. The authors of the viewpoint wrote, “Because of the pandemic, the absolute number of [prolonged grief disorder] cases is likely to increase and the 7% to 10% prevalence rate among…bereaved people may rise.” They added, “Clinicians should learn how to accurately assess, to accurately and differentially diagnose, and to offer or refer patients for treatment.”

Related Links:

— “New Criteria Can Help Clinicians Diagnose, Treat Prolonged Grief Disorder, Psychiatric News, February 3, 2022

According to Healio (2/3, Gramigna), in an 81-study scoping review, investigators have “identified variables reported as significant in three or more randomized clinical trials with respect to adolescent depression outcomes.” Those variables included “age, sex/gender and baseline depression severity.” The findings were published online Feb. 1 in JAMA Network Open. “33 RCTs with results described across 81 publications, variable domains reported as significant in at least 3 RCTs with respect to depression outcomes included age, sex/gender, baseline depression severity, early response to treatment, sleep changes, parent-child conflict, overall psychopathology, suicidal ideation, hopelessness, functional impairment, attendance at psychotherapy sessions, and history of trauma”.

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— “Researchers pinpoint variables linked to adolescent depression outcomes “Joe Gramigna, Healio, February 3, 2022

Healio (2/3, Gramigna) reports, “Several traits related to obsessive-compulsive personality disorder [OCPD] predicted post-pandemic adjustment difficulties,” investigators concluded after conducting “a survey of 438 adults from the general population during a temporary easing of lockdown in the U.K. between July 2020 and November 2020, which showed 25% of participants experienced readjustment difficulties.” The study revealed that people “with a history of mental disorder and obsessive-compulsive traits and symptoms, including rigidity determined via a neurocognitive test of attentional flexibility, had significant difficulties.” The findings were published online ahead of print in the April issue of the Journal of Psychiatric Research.

Related Links:

— “Obsessive-compulsive traits may affect post-pandemic adjustment “Joe Gramigna, Healio, February 3, 2022