MedPage Today (12/3, D’Ambrosio) reported, “Among pregnant people living with HIV, marijuana use climbed over the last decade both in pregnancy and during the postpartum period,” researchers concluded in a study that “analyzed nearly 3,000 pregnancies from 2,300 people living with HIV.” The findings were published online in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

Healio (12/3, Herpen) reported, “Survivors of childhood cancer had increased risk for long-term psychiatric disorders compared with their siblings or peers, according to a register-based cohort study.” The findingswere published in The Lancet Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Survivors of pediatric cancer at increased risk for psychiatric disorders “Robert Herpen, Healio, December 3, 2021

Psychiatric News (12/2) reports the American Psychiatric Association (APA) commissioned “a nationwide poll[PDF]” revealing that 41% “of Americans said their level of stress increases during the holidays, compared with just 7% percent who said it diminishes.” Respondents were concerned about “contracting COVID-19 during gatherings (38%) and finding (40%) and affording (46%) gifts.” The poll, which was “conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of APA, was fielded between November 17 to 21 among a nationally representative sample of 2,119 adults.” APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, MD, MPA, stated, “While we are pleased to be rejoining our families and friends, depending on who you are or where you work, stress may be a bigger factor.”

Related Links:

— “APA Poll Reveals COVID-19 and Other Worries During Holiday Festivities, Psychiatric News, December 2, 2021

Healio (12/1, Gramigna) reports, “Healthcare professionals experienced fear of infection, short staffing and inadequate protective equipment during the pandemic in 2020, resulting in emotional distress,” researchers concluded in a study that “recruited healthcare professionals to answer a survey in two phases of five weeks each: April 24, 2020, to May 30, 2020 (phase one; n = 335; 86% women), and October 24, 2020, to Nov. 30, 2020 (phase two; n = 1,009; 90.5% women),” receiving “responses from 1,831 individuals on demographic questions and assessments for moral injury, intrinsic religiosity and burnout.” The findings were published online Nov. 24 in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Health care workers faced moral injury during pandemic “Joe Gramigna, Healio, December 1, 2021

Psychiatric News (12/1) reports, “Patients with schizophrenia are significantly more likely to die from COVID-19 than those without the disorder, even though they appear to have lower rates of infection,” investigators concluded after analyzing “data from the electronic health records (EHRs) of more than 2.5 million patients in the Optum COVID-19 Electronic Health Record database.” Additionally, the study revealed that “while patients with mood disorders and anxiety were found less likely to die from COVID-19 than those with schizophrenia, they still died at higher rates from the virus than those without mental disorders.” The findings were published online Nov. 23 in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “COVID-19 Most Deadly for Patients With Schizophrenia, Study Suggests, Psychiatric News, December 1, 2021