Eating Disorders: All that a Pediatrician Should Know.

Eating Disorders are psychiatric conditions that can manifest clinically as malnutrition due to restrictive eating and weight control behaviors or obesity due to binge eating. Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa have peak onset during adolescence and young adulthood. This population is at the highest risk due to psychosocial changes surrounding identity development and body image that occurs during this life-stage. Though binge eating disorder and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder are not characterized by body image overvaluation, peak onset is also during adolescence and young adulthood.

A Trying Time: Problematic Internet Use (PIU) and its association with depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of problematic Internet use (PIU) among adolescents and young adults (AYA) was approximately 9-11% before the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of PIU among AYAs (especially younger adolescents) during the COVID-19 pandemic using the Problematic and Risky Internet Use Screening Scale (PRIUSS). Additionally, we examined the relationship between PIU, depression and anxiety among AYAs during the same period. METHODS: A descriptive-analysis survey study was completed over a 6-month period from January 4, 2021, to June 30, 2021. It was conducted at a tertiary care Adolescent Medicine Clinic with AYAs age 12-21. The PRIUSS screened for PIU, the PHQ-9A [Patient Health Questionnaire-9A] screened for depression, and the GAD-7 [General Anxiety Disorder-7] screened for generalized anxiety. Fisher's exact test, the Mann-Whitney test and Spearman correlations were performed. RESULTS: A positive PRIUSS score was observed in 18% of the 447 participants. Of these participants, 44% had a pre-existing diagnosis of depression, 39% had a pre-existing diagnosis of anxiety and 29% had a pre-existing diagnosis of depression and anxiety. There was a positive correlation between PRIUSS, PHQ-9A and GAD-7 total scores. A higher PRIUSS score was associated with a higher PHQ-9A and GAD-7 score (p < 0.001). There was also a positive correlation between a positive PRIUSS score and a pre-existing diagnosis of depression (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed a higher prevalence of PIU during the COVID-19 pandemic using the PRIUSS. In addition, a positive correlation between PRIUSS scores and pre-existing diagnosis of depression, positive GAD-7 and PHQ-9A scores was noted. In conclusion, medical providers should consider screening for PIU in AYAs with positive mental health screens.