Healio (7/17, Miller) reports, “Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric disorders with onset in childhood,” researchers found in a report published in the June issue of Pediatric Annals. The report “is intended for primary care pediatricians to help them identify normal stresses vs. anxiety disorders, and help their patients move, through psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, toward wellness.”

In particular, author Sabrina Fernandez, MD, an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California-San Francisco, focused on strategies to recognize, diagnose and treat “general anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder and panic disorder” among children.

Currently, “according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, there is a ‘critical shortage’ of mental health professionals for those aged younger than 18 years.” That is why it is important for primary care professionals to “help identify normal stresses vs. anxiety disorders,” Dr. Fernandez said.

Related Links:

— “Strategies to diagnose, treat anxiety disorders for primary care pediatricians,” Fernandez S., Healio, July 17, 2017.

HealthDay (7/16, Preidt) reported, “Just a slight increase in social interaction benefits older adults with dementia and lowers health care costs,” researchers found after examining data on some “800 dementia patients living in 69 nursing homes in the UK.” The findings were presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.

Related Links:

— “One Social Hour a Week Can Help Someone With Dementia,” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, July 16, 2017.

Healio (7/13, Oldt) reports that in a 418-patient, “double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized” phase 3 study, “lisdexamfetamine dimesylate reduced risk for relapse in moderate to severe binge-eating disorder over six months.” The findings were published online July 12 in JAMA Psychiatry. Psychiatric News (7/12) also covered the study.

Related Links:

— “Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate lowers binge-eating disorder relapse risk,” Hudson JI, et al., Healio, July 13, 2017.

Rheumatology News (7/12, Dotinga) reports, “Most patients who were prescribed opioid” analgesics “did not go back for a refill right away, but nearly half of patients who stopped taking the drugs for at least six months ended up using them again over a three-year period,” researchers found after analyzing “medical and pharmacy data from 2009-2012 for 2.5 million people.” The findings were presented at the American Psychiatric Association’s annual meeting.

Related Links:

— “Nearly Half of Patients Who Stop Taking Opioids for 6 Months Resume Use Later,” Randy Dotinga, Rheumatology News, July 12, 2017.

Medscape (7/12, Brooks) reports, “The antidepressant fluoxetine (multiple brands) may help ease hypochondriasis, and adding cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) provides a small incremental benefit,” researchers found. The findings of the 195-patient study were published online June 29 in the American Journal of Psychiatry, a publication of the American Psychiatric Association.

Related Links:

— Medscape (requires login and subscription)