Top 5 psychiatry stories of April

Healio Psychiatry has compiled a list of its top five most-viewed stories in April.

A study on COVID-19’s psychological impact on health care workers, a feature on the mental health effects of quarantine and social isolation measures by age group and a study on the prevalence of cannabis withdrawal syndrome were just some of the most-read stories on Healio Psychiatry for the month.

Which story resonated with you most? Leave a comment or write to us on Twitter @HealioPsych.

'Every clinician is also a patient': Study shows psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on health care workers

Health care workers in Wuhan and other regions of China reported experiencing psychological burden related to the novel coronavirus pandemic, according to results of a survey study published in JAMA Network Open. Those in Wuhan, women, nurses and frontline health care workers directly engaged in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with COVID-19 were especially affected. Read more.

COVID-19’s mental health effects by age group: Children, college students, working-age adults and older adults

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many quarantine and social isolation measures designed to keep individuals physically distanced from others for the foreseeable future. Although these initiatives are necessary to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, they may be causing widespread mental health effects, including depression and loneliness, among younger and older individuals alike, according to experts.

Healio Psychiatry spoke with mental health professionals regarding the specific pandemic-related mental health challenges of four different age groups — children, college students, working-age adults and older adults. Read more.

Cannabis withdrawal syndrome may affect nearly 50% of regular users

Cannabis withdrawal syndrome appeared common among regular cannabis users, according to results of a systematic review and meta-analysis published in JAMA Network Open. Read more.

COVID-19 survivors may face 'significant neuropsychiatric burden,' experts suggest

Individuals who recover from COVID-19 infection may experience a significant neuropsychiatric burden long after the current pandemic, according to authors of a review article published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. Thus, researchers should conduct prospective neuropsychiatric and neuroimmune monitoring of those exposed to SARS-CoV-2 at various points in the life course to better understand the long-term impact of COVID-19, as well as to create a framework for the integration of psychoneuroimmunology into epidemiologic studies of pandemics, the authors noted. Read more.

New form of magnetic brain stimulation may relieve treatment-resistant depression

A new magnetic brain stimulation intervention reduced severe depression symptoms among 90% of participants in a study published in American Journal of Psychiatry. Read more.