Section - CAP Smart Takes

03. Adolescent Depression and Anxiety Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Published on December 1, 2023 Certification expiration date: December 1, 2026

David R. Rosenberg, M.D.

Chair of the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience - Wayne State University School of Medicine

Key Points

There is concern regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent mental health, both acutely and chronically. Examining for changes in depression and anxiety before to the early and later pandemic periods is highly relevant.

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Text version

Hi! I’m David Rosenberg from the Psychopharmacology Institute. In this Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Smart Take, we examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent mental health. The study focuses on a large sample of Canadian adolescents in the COMPASS Study, spanning 3 phases of the pandemic: Pre-COVID (2018–19), the onset, and the ongoing period. The findings reveal a consistent rise in anxiety and depression symptoms across these periods.

Interestingly, the increase in symptoms from the early to ongoing pandemic stages was more significant than from prepandemic to early pandemic. Notably, females and younger students showed higher increases in depression and anxiety compared with their male and older counterparts, with no marked differences across races or ethnicities. A deeper analysis revealed that the symptom escalation during the ongoing pandemic was double that of the early stage.

The study acknowledges potential confounds due to age-related changes and the varying stages

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04. Adoption of Vaping Cessation Methods by U.S. Adolescents

Learning Objectives:

Evaluate the effects of methylphenidate on pain perception thresholds among pediatric patients with ADHD.
Discuss the likelihood of autism spectrum disorder persisting in children as they get older.
Recognize that depression and anxiety symptoms among youth increased consistently during the early and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic periods.
Identify common vaping cessation methods being used by adolescents as well as factors associated with vaping cessation.
Recognize how common therapeutic errors with ADHD medication may be and what can be done to reduce such errors.

Original Release Date: December 1, 2023

Review and Re-release Date: March 1, 2024

Expiration Date: December 1, 2026

Expert: David Rosenberg, M.D.

Medical Editor: Melissa Mariano, M.D.

Relevant Financial Disclosures:

None of the faculty, planners, and reviewers for this educational activity have relevant financial relationships to disclose during the last 24 months with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Contact Information: For questions regarding the content or access to this activity, contact us at support@psychopharmacologyinstitute.com

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Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of Medical Academy LLC and the Psychopharmacology Institute. Medical Academy is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians

Credit Designation Statement

Medical Academy designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.