Medscape (8/3, Brooks, Subscription Publication) reports researchers found “depression and anxiety in patients with COVID-19 may reflect penetration of the novel coronavirus into the central nervous system (CNS).” The findings were published in The Laryngoscope.

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— Medscape (requires login and subscription)

Reuters (8/3, Parodi) reports, “COVID-19 survivors suffer higher rates of psychiatric disorders including post-traumatic stress (PTSD), anxiety, insomnia and depression, according to a study conducted by San Raffaele hospital in Milan on Monday.” The Milan “survey showed that more than half of the 402 patients monitored after being treated for the virus experienced at least one of these disorders in proportion to the severity of the inflammation during the disease.” The report was published in Brain, Behavior and Immunity.

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— “Some COVID-19 survivors suffer psychiatric disorders, Italian study says, “Emilio Parodi, Reuters, August 3, 2020

Healio (7/31, Gramigna) reported, “A behavioral pain management intervention was associated with improved pain-related outcomes among individuals with substance use disorders and chronic pain,” investigators concluded in a study that randomized “to treatment 264 men, with 133 to ImPAT [Improving Pain During Addiction Treatment] and 131 to SPC [supportive psychoeducational control], and 246 women, with 122 to ImPAT and 124 to SPC, with the goal of recruiting approximately equal numbers of men and women to examine results by sex.” The findings were published online July 29 in JAMA Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Behavioral pain management effective for substance use disorders, chronic pain, “Joe Gramigna, Healio, July 31, 2020

Psychiatric News (7/30) reports APA President Jeffrey Geller, MD, MPH, said in a statement, “We are mourning the loss of a leader who meant so much to the Black community and to all Americans who strive for equity and justice. For more than a half century, Rep. John Lewis showed what walking the walk truly means in promoting civil rights, even putting his own life at risk in service of the cause. His lesson to us is to continue that work through speaking up, taking tangible actions, exhibiting humility, and practicing perseverance.”

Related Links:

— “APA Mourns Loss of Rep. John Lewis, Praises Trailblazing Legacy, Psychiatric News, July 30, 2020

CNN (7/30, LaMotte) reports researchers found in three studies that “a lack of access to high-quality education at an early age; being overweight during early adulthood; or having high blood pressure, diabetes and two or more heart health risk factors in the teen years, 20s and midlife were significantly connected to cognitive issues and dementia in later life.” The findings were presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2020.

MedPage Today (7/30, George) reports the research suggests that “about 40% of dementia cases may be prevented or delayed by modifying 12 risk factors.”

Newsweek (7/30, Gander) and HealthDay (7/30, Mozes) also cover the research.

Related Links:

— “Poor health in teens and 20s raises risk of dementia later, studies say, “Sandee LaMotte, CNN, July 30, 2020