COVID-19 Pandemic and Eating Disorders: What Can We Learn About Psychopathology and Treatment? A Systematic Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis systematic review aims to collect evidence regarding the impact of the SarsCov-2 pandemic on people affected by eating disorders (EDs) targeting the following variables: psychopathology changes, mechanisms of vulnerability or resilience, and perception of treatment modifications during the pandemic.Recent FindingsSince the beginning of the pandemic, a mental health deterioration has been detected in the general population and especially in people affected by pre-existing psychiatric conditions. Furthermore, mental healthcare has moved toward online treatment.SummaryED people showed a trend tow...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - October 21, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
Child and Adolescent Psychosocial Support Programs Following Natural Disasters —a Scoping Review of Emerging Evidence
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review aimed to identify and describe evidence published in the past 3 years from trials of psychosocial support programs for children and adolescents affected by natural disasters.Recent FindingsPrevious reviews have indicated these programs are beneficial overall. Positive impacts were documented in school-based programs conducted by trained teachers and paraprofessionals with stronger effects achieved by more qualified professionals.SummaryThe review found supporting evidence for positive impacts of post-disaster psychosocial programs. However, the strength of evidence is limited due to h...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - October 15, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
Impact of Racial Discrimination on the Mental Health of Minoritized Youth
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe impacts of racism and discrimination on developing minoritized youth are increasingly shown as having the potential to create long-lasting adverse outcomes on children ’s developmental trajectories.Recent FindingsFrom the quality of the schools they attend, to the level and amount of toxicants in the air they breathe, to equitable access to health care, and within interpersonal relationships and experiences with their peers, multiple forms of racism, systemic/structural, interpersonal/personally mediated, and internalized shape the health status of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPo...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - October 14, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
Children and Adolescents with Disabilities and Exposure to Disasters, Terrorism, and the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Scoping Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis paper reviews the empirical literature on exposures to disaster or terrorism and their impacts on the health and well-being of children with disabilities and their families since the last published update in 2017. We also review the literature on studies examining the mental health and functioning of children with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.Recent FindingsFew studies have examined the effects of disaster or terrorism on children with disabilities. Research shows that children with disabilities and their families have higher levels of disaster exposure, lower levels of disaster p...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - October 13, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
Recent Updates in Psychopharmacology for the Core and Associated Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder
This article aims to review the recent literature pertaining to psychopharmacology for the core and associated symptoms of ASD including social impairment, repetitive behaviors, irritability, and language impairment.Recent FindingsRecent medication trials targeting social impairment in ASD have focused on neuropeptides (oxytocin and vasopressin) and memantine. None of these three medications has demonstrated consistent benefit for social impairment in ASD; however, additional studies are underway. Two double-blind, placebo-controlled studies on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) provide evidence against the us...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - October 13, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
Children and Adolescents with Disabilities and Exposure to Disasters, Terrorism, and the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Scoping Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis paper reviews the empirical literature on exposures to disaster or terrorism and their impacts on the health and well-being of children with disabilities and their families since the last published update in 2017. We also review the literature on studies examining the mental health and functioning of children with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.Recent FindingsFew studies have examined the effects of disaster or terrorism on children with disabilities. Research shows that children with disabilities and their families have higher levels of disaster exposure, lower levels of disaster p...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - October 13, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
Recent Updates in Psychopharmacology for the Core and Associated Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder
This article aims to review the recent literature pertaining to psychopharmacology for the core and associated symptoms of ASD including social impairment, repetitive behaviors, irritability, and language impairment.Recent FindingsRecent medication trials targeting social impairment in ASD have focused on neuropeptides (oxytocin and vasopressin) and memantine. None of these three medications has demonstrated consistent benefit for social impairment in ASD; however, additional studies are underway. Two double-blind, placebo-controlled studies on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) provide evidence against the us...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - October 13, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
Premenstrual Exacerbations of Mood Disorders: Findings and Knowledge Gaps
AbstractPurpose of ReviewIn contrast to premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), premenstrual exacerbations (PMEs) of ongoing mood disorders are understudied. The aim of this review is to describe diagnostic issues, epidemiology, underlying mechanisms, and treatment for PME in unipolar depression and bipolar disorder, and to discuss clinical and research implications.Recent FindingsCommunity-based and clinical studies estimate that in women with mood disorders around 60% report PME, while some women with bipolar disorder also show symptom exacerbations around ovulation. In general, PME predicts a more severe illness course ...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - October 9, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
Review of Changes in the Reinforcing Effects of Alcohol in Weight Loss Surgery Patients
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe reinforcing effects of alcohol are well documented, and they have been shown to play a role in the development of alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Also well established is the fact that post-weight loss surgery (WLS) patients are at an increased risk for AUDs. In the current manuscript, we review the notion that the reinforcing effects of alcohol may change from before to after WLS and discuss a number of determinants of alcohol reinforcement change in WLS patients.Recent FindingsIt has been increasingly well understood that WLS patients are at an increased risk for AUD, but empirical support for ...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - October 6, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
Correlates of Quality of Life in Anxiety Disorders: Review of Recent Research
AbstractPurpose of ReviewAnxiety disorders are highly prevalent conditions that have a detrimental impact on quality of life (QOL), particularly when left untreated. In the present review, we summarize recent literature, published within the last 3 years, on QOL in anxiety disorders, with a focus on factors that may play a role in the relationship between anxiety and QOL.Recent FindingsWe organize our findings into four categories: (1) subjective distress, (2) behavioral responses, (3) functional impairment, and (4) clinical factors. Results indicate that greater anxiety symptom severity is linked with poorer QOL, and co...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - October 6, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
The Impact of Social Media on College Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Multinational Review of the Existing Literature
AbstractPurpose of ReviewDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, both social media use and rates of anxiety and depression among college students have increased significantly. This begs the question, what is the relationship between social media use and college student mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic?Recent FindingsPrior studies have found mixed results regarding the relationship between social media use and college student mental health. This relationship has become increasingly complex during the COVID-19 pandemic. We found that excessive or problematic social media use during the COVID-19 pandemic was correlated with w...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - October 6, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
