The Wall Street Journal (7/17, Hernandez, Morris, Subscription Publication) reports that frequent use of digital media by adolescents may be associated with an increased risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD), researchers concluded after following some 2,500 teenagers over two years. The findings were published July 17 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

CNN (7/17, Howard) reports that the study’s “results ‘affirm the 2016 American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines to prioritize activities that promote adolescent executive functioning and well-being, including sleep, physical activity, distraction-free homework, and positive interactions with family and friends,’ wrote” Jenny Radesky, MD, “who was a lead author of the academy’s guidelines for young children.” In an accompanying editorial, Radesky observed that “although not directly addressed by this study, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for parent involvement in their adolescent’s media use – including discussions about prosocial uses of media, digital citizenship, misinformation, and persuasion awareness – are relevant to the cognitive and emotional reactions to digital media of adolescents.”

According to Newsweek (7/17, Gander), “the American Psychiatric Association states five percent of children have” AD/HD, but “the figure could be higher according to the Centers for Disease Control” and Prevention.

Also covering the story are a USA Today (7/17) video, USA Today (7/17, Suppe), Reuters (7/17, Rapaport), the NBC News (7/17, Fox) website, the NPR (7/17, Chatterjee) “Shots” blog, HealthDay (7/17, Norton), MedPage Today (7/17, Hlavinka), and Healio (7/17, Demko).

Related Links:

— “Frequent Technology Use Linked to ADHD Symptoms in Teens, Study Finds, ” Daniela Hernandez and Betsy Morris, The Wall Street Journal, July 17, 2018.

MedPage Today (7/18, Monaco) reports, “Apathy was tied to a heightened risk for incident dementia in older adults,” researchers concluded after examining data from 16 “studies with 7,299 individuals that used a validated apathy definition.” The findings of the review were published online July 18 in JAMA Psychiatry. Healio (7/18, Demko) also covers the story.

Related Links:

— “Apathy Tied to Higher Dementia Risk in Memory Clinic Patients, “Kristen Monaco, MedPage Today , July 18, 2018.

Medscape (7/16, MacReady, Subscription Publication) reports, “Mobile apps that offer advice on managing mental health may ‘medicalize’ normal ups and downs and encourage the overdiagnosis of certain conditions,” researchers concluded after conducting “a qualitative content analysis of advertising materials for 61 popular mental health apps to determine how the apps frame the issues of mental health and illness, and how that in turn shapes perceptions of the pattern, causation, and management of mental health problems.” The findingswere published in the July/August issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.

Related Links:

— Medscape (requires login and subscription)

Healio (7/16, Demko) reports that “depression and anxiety disorders remain underrecognized in patients with heart failure and may lead to adverse outcomes,” researchers concluded in the findings of a 36-study review published in the July issue of the Harvard Review of Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Anxiety, depression tied to adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure, “Savannah Demko, Healio, July 16, 2018.

According to Healio (7/13, Demko), the findings of a 12-study “systematic review” published online June 5 “in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry revealed a link between recent cannabis use and negative long-term symptoms and treatment outcomes among people with anxiety and mood disorders.”

Related Links:

— “Cannabis use may negatively impact people with anxiety, mood disorders, “Savannah Demko, Healio, July 13, 2018.