Mental Health

The AAP updated its guidance for pediatric mental health support in light of findings reported earlier this year that the prevalence of anxiety and depression among children has doubled during the pandemic.

The initial surge of the COVID-19 pandemic uncovered a rise in diagnoses of and hospitalizations for anorexia nervosa in both children and adolescents, per a cross-sectional study from Canada published in JAMA Network Open Pediatrics.

Loneliness may signal underlying psychotic experiences among adolescents, according to results of a population-based birth cohort study published in Schizophrenia Research.

The FDA has granted breakthrough device designation to Linus Biotechnology Inc. for a diagnostic aid that may identify the presence of autism spectrum disorder using a single strand of hair.

Adopting family-centered nutrition programs can positively influence diet in children with autism, according to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.

Early-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder among youths may affect decision-making because of uncertainty in the environment, according to results of a cross-sectional study published in JAMA Network Open.

Reading from printed books benefits children more than reading from a tablet, a study published in Pediatrics found.

Survivors of childhood cancer had increased risk for long-term psychiatric disorders compared with their siblings or peers, according to a register-based cohort study.

The presence of neurodevelopmental or mental disorders or self-harm before age 24 years increased risk for missing school, according to results of a nationwide, retrospective, electronic cohort study.

Referrals from primary care providers to Pediatric Mental Health Care Access programs rose and involved more complex mental health concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to study results.