Healio (4/9, Gramigna) reported, “Hospitalized individuals who had mood disorder history were at increased risk for greater COVID-19 morbidity and mortality,” investigators concluded in a study that sought “to assess the link between prior mood disorder diagnosis and hospital outcomes among 2,988 individuals, of whom 717 had a prior mood disorder diagnosis, who were admitted with COVID-19 to two academic medical centers and four community hospitals in Eastern Massachusetts between Feb. 15, 2020, and May 24, 2020.” The findings of the “retrospective cohort study” were published online April 6 in the American Journal of Psychiatry, a publication of the American Psychiatric Association.

Related Links:

— “Mood disorder diagnosis increases risk for COVID-19 mortality among hospitalized patients “Joe Gramigna, Healio, April 9, 2021

HealthDay (4/8) reports that when investigators “used standardized scales to measure” attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) “symptoms, stress levels and resilience in 558 college students, they found that those who reported more symptoms also had more stress,” but “four benchmarks of resilience – social support, social skills, the perception of one’s ability to reach a goal, and planning and prioritizing – made a big difference.” The study revealed that “resilient students had less stress than their AD/HD symptoms would have otherwise predicted.” The findings were published online ahead of print April 6 in the Journal of College Counseling.

Related Links:

— “College Can Really Ramp Up Stress for People With ADHD ” Denise Mann, HealthDay, April 8, 2021

Healio (4/8, Gramigna) reports, “More than 40% of U.S. military veterans reported moderate or greater levels of posttraumatic growth linked to the COVID-19 pandemic,” with “most common areas of growth” including “greater appreciation of life, improved social relationships and increased personal strength.” The findings of the 3,078-veteran survey study were published online April 8 in a research letter in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “43% of veterans report increased posttraumatic growth linked to COVID-19 pandemic “Joe Gramigna, Healio , April 8, 2021

The AP (4/8, Stobbe) reports that “the number of U.S. suicides fell nearly 6% last year amid the coronavirus pandemic – the largest annual decline in at least four decades, according to preliminary government data.” The AP adds, “Death certificates are still coming in and the count could rise.” However, “officials expect a substantial decline will endure, despite worries that COVID-19 could lead to more suicides.”

Related Links:

— “US suicides dropped last year, defying pandemic expectations ” Mike Stobbe, AP, April 8, 2021

HealthDay (4/7, Preidt, Mundell) reports, “A combination of hearing and vision loss is tied to an increased risk of mental decline and dementia, but having just one of those impairments isn’t connected with a higher risk,” researchers concluded in a study that “included 6,520 people, aged 58 to 101, whose visual and hearing impairments were assessed by asking them about their use of glasses or hearing aids.” After adjustment for confounding factors, the study team “concluded that people with both hearing and vision impairment were twice as likely to develop dementia as those with one or neither of the impairments.” The findings were published online in the journal Neurology.

Related Links:

— “Diminished Hearing, Vision Together Could Be Risk Factor for Dementia ” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, April 7, 2021