Healio (8/21, Young) reported, “Approximately one in six patients with cirrhosis had depression while more than half had moderate-severe anxiety, according to the results of a phone interview survey.” Investigators analyzed data from “1,021 patients” who “completed it.” The findings were published online in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Related Links:

— “Anxiety, depression common among patients with cirrhosis, “Alex Young, Healio, August 21, 2020

HealthDay (8/21, Preidt) reported, “Eating disorders – such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia and binge-eating disorder – cost the U.S. economy nearly $65 billion in one recent year,” investigators concluded in a study that also revealed that “about 75% of that ($48.6 billion) was due to lost productivity.” The study “team found that there were nearly 54,000 emergency department visits due to eating disorders in fiscal year 2018 to 2019, costing $29 million, and over 23,500 in-patient hospitalizations due to eating disorders, costing $209 million.” The findings were disclosed in “a news release from the Academy for Eating Disorders.”

Related Links:

— “Eating Disorders Cost Billions in the U.S., “Robert Preidt, HealthDay, August 21, 2020

HCPlive (8/20, Walter) reports researchers have “determined the overall effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of geriatric adults with pre-existing major depressive disorder (MDD).” For the study, researchers “examined 73 community-living older adults with pre-existing MDD living in Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis,” finding that these older adults “were more concerned by the risk of contracting the virus than by the risks of social isolation.” What’s more, the study revealed that “older patients exhibited resilience to the stress and isolation of physical distancing.” The findings were published online ahead of print in the September issue of the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Geriatric Patients with Depression Showing Resiliency During COVID-19 Pandemic, “Kenny Walter, HCPlive, August 20, 2020

HealthDay (8/20, Reinberg) reports, “Girls with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa may have stunted growth,” researchers concluded in a study that included “255 girls around age 15 who were hospitalized for anorexia nervosa.” After measuring “patients’ height at the time of hospitalization and again at adulthood,” investigators found that “the women’s adult height was much shorter than expected compared with the genetic potential gauged by their parents’ height.” The findings were published online in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Related Links:

— “Anorexia Often Stunts Girls’ Growth, Study Finds, “Steven Reinberg, HealthDay, August 20, 2020

NBC News (8/19) reports the USPSTF’s new guidance “recommends behavioral counseling for all sexually active adolescents, as well as for adults at high risk for STIs.” The USPSTF says cases of STIs could be reduced significantly if younger people received counseling about risky behavior.

Related Links:

— “USPSTF Guidance Says Young People Should Receive Counseling About Risky Behavior To Reduce Cases Of STIs, “Kelsie Sandoval, NBC News, August 19, 2020