Top 5 psychiatry stories of May

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

A poll on COVID-19’s impact on parental stress levels, research on the role of environmental factors in autism prevalence and a study of the link between autism and sleep onset problems during infancy 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.

Parents experiencing high stress levels related to COVID-19, poll shows

Nearly half of parents of children aged younger than 18 years reported high levels of stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to results of a national poll released today by the American Psychological Association.

Much of this stress was associated with the management of children’s online learning, as well as with economic or work concerns. Read more.

Environmental factors fail to explain increased autism prevalence

Environmental factors linked to autism spectrum disorder did not increase in importance over time and thus are unlikely to explain the increase in ASD prevalence, according to results of a twin design study published in JAMA Psychiatry. Read more.

Infants with sleep onset problems more likely to be diagnosed with autism

Infants who experienced sleep onset problems during the first year of life were significantly more likely to be diagnosed later with autism spectrum disorder, according to results of a longitudinal neuroimaging study published in American Journal of Psychiatry. Read more.

Intimate partner violence prevalent among older women beyond guideline-recommended screening age

Intimate partner violence remained prevalent among middle-aged and older women and was associated with morbidity in these populations, according to results of a cohort study published in JAMA Network Open.

Researchers noted that screening for intimate partner violence among women aged older than 44 years may improve detection and provision of evidence-based services to at-risk individuals. Read more.

Researchers predict psychiatric burden of COVID-19 using insights from past coronavirus outbreaks

Insights from past coronavirus outbreaks may help predict the psychiatric burden of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to results of a systematic review and meta-analysis published in The Lancet Psychiatry. Read more.