Top psych stories of December: Early-life stress, prazosin treatment response and more

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

A study on the psychiatric effects of early-life stress exposure, research on prazosin treatment response related to alcohol withdrawal and data on the cost-effectiveness of autoimmune encephalitis among those with first-episode psychosis were just some of the most-read stories on Healio Psychiatry for the month.

Early-life stress exposure linked to neural inflammation and psychiatric effects

Children exposed to severe, chronic stress may be at increased risk for developing neural inflammation that can affect their mental health, according to study results published in American Journal of Psychiatry. Read more.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms significantly moderate prazosin treatment response

Withdrawal symptoms significantly moderated prazosin treatment response for alcohol use outcomes and for associated symptoms, according to study results published in American Journal of Psychiatry. Read more.

Autoimmune encephalitis screening cost-effective for those with first-episode psychosis

Routine screening for autoimmune encephalitis among patients with first-episode psychosis appeared cost-effective in the United States, according to study results published in Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Read more.

Survey shows significant mental health burden on frontline care workers during pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the mental health of frontline health care workers, according to survey results released by Mental Health America. Read more.

COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated OCD symptoms in children and adolescents

Children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder have experienced worsened symptoms amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published in BMC Psychiatry. Read more.