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Owning a pet has often been associated with improved mental health among owners, including enhanced quality of life, and decreased levels of depression and loneliness. The aim of this study was to identify whether owning a cat and/or dog was associated with better psychological wellbeing during a strict lockdown period in Victoria, Australia, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were analysed from a large-scale mental health study: the COvid-19 and you: mentaL heaLth in AusTralia now survEy (COL-LATE). The impact of pet ownership on levels of resilience, loneliness and quality of life were examined in a sample of 138 pet owners and 125 non-pet owners. Hierarchical linear regression analyses indicated that pet ownership was significantly associated with poorer quality of life, but not significantly associated with resilience or loneliness, after accounting for situational factors (e. g. job loss) and mood states. Contrary to expectations, the findings suggest that during a specific situation such as a pandemic, pets may contribute to increased burden among owners and contribute to poorer quality of life.

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✓ The authors report their experience with 12 cases in which the roots of the sciatic nerve were compressed at the intervertebral foramina by degenerative arthritis (arthrosis) of the posterior facets, and in which foraminotomy and facetectomy brought relief of pain. Patients with disc narrowing, spondylolisthesis, and transitional vertebrae place unusual stress on the posterior facets. This may lead to hypertrophy and the development of marginal osteophytes that project downward with eventual constriction of the intervertebral foramen and entrapment of the nerve root. Such alterations are common in patients over 40, and when found in the presence of unremitting sciatic pain without evidence of a herniated disc or other etiology, a causal relationship must be considered.

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Background The COVID-19 pandemic has brought challenges for the mental health of young people. The volume, negative content and potential for misinformation within COVID-19 related news can be an additional cause of distress. This systematic review aims to synthesise the research findings on the relationship between COVID-19 news and distress in young people. Methods Following the PRISMA guidelines, PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases were searched on 24 April 2021 for articles that contained empirical research examining the association between COVID-19 news consumption and mental health in samples of young people with a mean age between 10 and 24 years. Results The 13 included studies involved 760,474 participants in predominantly cross-sectional studies, with data collected during COVID-19 lockdowns across seven countries. Increased consumption of COVID-19 news was associated with a decline in mental health ( n = 12). The results were more consistent for news obtained on social media with variation for traditional media sources. Misinformation may further explain the relationship. Limitations Heterogeneity across study methodologies, lack of longitudinal research and validated measures of news consumption. Conclusions The reviewed literature supports the association between increased consumption of COVID-19 related news and decreased mental health in young people. This group may benefit from support to mitigate the psychological impacts of COVID-19 news. Future research should utilise longitudinal designs, ecological momentary assessments, and reliable/valid measures of news consumption to explore the negative mental health associated with COVID-19 news in young people.

Collectively, the findings provide empirical evidence for the continuum theory and support the use of schizotypy as a model for investigating schizophrenia.

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