Reading Roundup | August 13, 2021

Posted August 13, 2021

Focusing on OCD and relationships, as well as depression in adolescents.

• “A Marriage Stressed by Obsessions and Compulsions” — Nicole Comforto, NY Times (8/6/2021) [article]

  Nicole Comforto shares the story of the onset of her husband's OCD. As we've seen many times, it took a while for Comforto's husband to be diagnosed with OCD because it did not present in the way that society expects it to (i.e., as compulsive cleaning tendencies as it is often displayed in TV and film). Comforto's husband's OCD was around safety, especially contamination. In fact, there are various types of OCD that have nothing to do with "neatness" or cleaning. We have a helpful page on this website that discusses a number of different types of OCD out there: https://www.citycenterpsychotherapy.com/ocd-treatment

• “COVID-19 and Adolescent Depression and Suicide Risk Screening Outcomes” — Stephanie L. Mayne et. al., Journal of The American Academy of Pediatrics (8/2021) [article]

  A recent study shows an increase in mental health concerns among children ages 12-21 during the pandemic. Notably, incidences of positive screenings for depression and suicide risk were higher over the same period in 2020 than they were in 2019. These findings are unsurprising given the restrictions that everyone has experienced during the pandemic, and especially the limited social activities available to children. The key takeaway is the importance of screening for depression and suicide risk so that suffering individuals can receive the care that they need.

• “How do cities impact mental health? A new study finds lower rates of depression” —Sarah Steimer - University of Chicago (7/28/2021) [article]

  A study aiming to quantify "what it feels like to live in a city" finds that one key aspect of city-living is a higher level of social connectivity than non-city-living, and that more social outlets for individuals is connected to lower levels of depression.