HealthDay (5/4, Murez) reports research indicates that “autistic traits” may predict “eating problems,” with “the link…more pronounced particularly among girls or women.” Included in the study were “nearly 200 identical and fraternal twins between the ages of 15 and 33, including 28 individuals diagnosed with autism, who were all part of the Roots of Autism and ADHD Twin Study in Sweden.” The findings were presented at the International Society for Autism Research virtual annual meeting.

Related Links:

— “Eating Issues Common in People With Autism, and Girls Are More Susceptible “Cara Murez, HealthDay, May 4, 2021

Healio (5/4, Gramigna) reports, “The early portion of the COVID-19 pandemic led to ‘dramatic changes’ in psychiatric care, which were primarily linked to the rapid transition to telehealth care,” investigators concluded after analyzing “electronic health records data included in a large, community-based health care system between March 9 to May 31 in 2019 (n = 94,720) and for the same timeframe in 2020.” The findings were published online March 3 in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
“ Compared to 2019, psychiatric visits increased significantly (P < .0001) in 2020, with the majority being telephone/video-based (+264%). Psychiatric care volume increased overall (7%), with the greatest increases in addiction (+42%), behavioral health in primary care (+17%), and adult psychiatry (+5%) clinics. While patients seeking care with preexisting psychiatric diagnoses were mainly stable (−2%), new patients declined (−42%). Visits for substance use (+51%), adjustment (+15%), anxiety (+12%), bipolar (+9%), and psychotic (+6%) disorder diagnoses, and for patients aged 18–25 years (+4%) and 26–39 years (+4%), increased. Child/adolescent and older adult patient visits decreased (−22.7% and −5.5%, respectively), and fewer patients identifying as White (−3.8%) or male (−5.0) or with depression (−3%) or disorders of childhood (−2%) sought care.” Related Links:

— “Early phase of COVID-19 pandemic led to ‘dramatic changes’ in psychiatric care “Joe Gramigna, Healio, May 4, 2021

HCPlive (5/2, Iopoce) reported researchers have “examined whether personality disorders and personality changes can happen in the short-term and are detectable during early adolescence, or if they develop later in life.” For the study, “investigators analyzed data collected from” 763 “adolescent inpatients in suburban New York, who completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire.” The study revealed that “adult behavioral profiles linked to childhood emotional abuse are also present proximal to the trauma, rather than only occurring later in life.” The findings were presented at the American Psychiatric Association virtual annual meeting.

Related Links:

— “Personality Disorders Present in Children Following Emotional Abuse “Connor Iapoce, HCPlive, May 2, 2021

Healio (5/3, Gramigna) reports, “Structural racism in the United States has had a significant effect on psychosis risk at the individual and neighborhood levels, according to results of a review paper published” online May 3 in the American Journal of Psychiatry, a publication of the American Psychiatric Association, and discussed during a press briefing at the American Psychiatric Association’s virtual annual meeting. The review “assessed possible risk factors for and effects of structural racism in the U.S. in three areas, which were neighborhood disparities; trauma/stress experienced on individual and collective levels; and pregnancy-related complications,” revealing that “inequitable access to health care, healthy foods, education and employment opportunities and safe housing perpetuated disparities in U.S. neighborhoods for Black and Latino individuals.”

Related Links:

— “Structural racism a ‘critical public health threat,’ increases psychosis risk “Joe Gramigna, Healio, May 3, 2021

Medscape (5/3, Brooks, Subscription Publication) reports, “Concern and anxiety around COVID-19 remains high among Americans, with more people reporting mental health effects from the pandemic this year than last, and parents concerned about the mental health of their children,” findings from “a new poll by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) show.” Even though “the overall level of anxiety has decreased from last year’s APA poll, ‘the degree to which anxiety still reigns is concerning,’ APA President Jeffrey Geller, MD, MPH, told Medscape Medical News.” Results of this “latest poll were presented at the virtual American Psychiatric Association 2021 virtual Annual Meeting and are “based on an online survey conducted March 26 to April 5 among a sample of 1000 adults age 18 years or older.

HealthDay (5/3, Preidt) reports, “Among parents, concerns about their children were significant.” Dr. Geller said, “This poll shows that even as vaccines become more widespread, Americans are still worried about the mental state of their children.” Dr. Geller added, “This is a call to action for policymakers, who need to remember that in our COVID-19 recovery, there’s no health without mental health.”

Psychiatric News (5/3) quotes APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, MD, MPA, who stated, “While most people, including most children, will likely adapt and recover well as we emerge from the pandemic, we know from previous research that for some, the mental health impacts of this trauma and distress will continue to have repercussions into the future.” Dr. Levin added, “We need to be prepared to help those who need it in the coming months and years.”

Related Links:

— Medscape (requires login and subscription)