A combination of buprenorphine and samidorphan has shown significant symptom reduction in patients with major depression, with no evidence of dependence or withdrawal. The trials suggest a new class of antidepressants with a novel mechanism of action could have a significant impact for patients with persistent symptoms.
Researchers have established an in vitro model of human neuron development to investigate the complex genetic origins of mental illnesses. The study found that changes in gene expression during neural development were significantly associated with genetic risk for schizophrenia.
A study published in Molecular Psychiatry has identified two subanesthetic doses of ketamine as effective in reducing symptoms of treatment-resistant depression. The doses of 0.5 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg showed significant symptom improvement, while lower doses did not produce the same results.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that adolescent cannabis use is associated with impairments in learning, memory, attention, and decision-making, as well as lower academic performance. The research team followed a large sample of high school students over four years to investigate the complex relatio...
A recent study found that 55.0% of individuals aged 50+, 62.9% with moderate depression, and 67.8% with severe depression had arthritis. The study highlights the importance of treating arthritis-related pain in older adults with depressive symptoms.
The study found that prescription rates for ADHD medications are still lower than diagnosis rates worldwide, highlighting disparities in clinical approaches to treating the condition. In contrast, regions like North America have higher medication use rates, but also face concerns of overdiagnosis and overmedication.
A study in rats found that increased orexin neurons contribute to cocaine addiction and that restoring these neurons or blocking their signaling can reverse addiction. The findings suggest a promising avenue for treating addiction with orexin-based therapies.
A new study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that internet- and telephone-assisted trainings for parents and children with disruptive behavior at age 4 significantly reduced child behavioral problems and increased parental skills. The program showed positive long-term outcomes, i...
A new study published in Molecular Psychiatry reveals that patients with ADHD and emotional instability disorders exhibit similar brain changes, particularly in the frontal lobe. The findings suggest a broader treatment approach for both conditions, potentially benefiting individuals with ADHD who also experience emotional problems.
Stanford researchers found that ketamine works as an antidepressant by activating the brain's opioid system. The study overturns previous beliefs about the drug's mechanism and presents new treatment opportunities for depression, pain, and opioid addiction.
A new study published in Biological Psychiatry found that high maternal cortisol levels during pregnancy are associated with anxious and depressive-like behaviors in female offspring at the age of 2. The effect is linked to altered brain connectivity, particularly in the amygdala region important for emotion processing.
A study of 1.2 million people in the USA found that regular exercise reduces poor mental health days by 43.2%. Exercise types and duration played a significant role in this association, with team sports, cycling, and aerobics having the biggest reductions.
A new study found a link between parental smoking and depression with an increased risk of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. The analysis of 23,561 Korean children revealed that family environmental factors play a crucial role in ADHD development.
A new study using machine learning has identified four brain-based dimensions of mental health disorders, including mood, psychosis, fear, and disruptive externalizing behavior. These findings suggest that psychiatric symptoms do not neatly fall into established categories, but instead emerge from diverse clinical domains to form dimen...
A study by researchers at IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation and University of Rome found that childhood adversity alters the immune system, increasing sensitivity to cocaine in adulthood. Exposure to psychosocial stress early in life leads to permanent changes in immune function, sensitizing the body to cocaine's effects.
Researchers at the University of Alberta developed a machine-learning algorithm to analyze brain function images and predict schizophrenia diagnosis with 78% accuracy. The model also identified patients who would respond positively to antipsychotic treatment risperidone with 82% accuracy.
Researchers found that increased in utero folic acid exposure was associated with changes in later brain development, predicting a reduced risk for symptoms of psychosis. These findings suggest that prenatal folic acid fortification may be an important intervention in preventing severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that only 22% of American youths who received treatment for anxiety disorders stayed anxiety-free over a six-year period. The study also revealed that 30% remained chronically ill and 48% relapsed, highlighting the need for more dur...
A new study published in Brain Stimulation reveals that people undergoing voluntary and involuntary electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) have similar outcomes, providing reassurance for those who received involuntary treatment. The study found that both groups showed significant improvement, but individuals receiving involuntary ECT were mo...
Researchers identified Klf9 as a key factor mediating the detrimental effects of chronic stress on neuronal connectivity and fear responses. Silencing Klf9 expression protected mice from stress-induced changes in dendritic spines and behavior.
A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found an association between preschool and school-age irritability and aberrant reward-related brain connectivity. This suggests possible mechanisms underlying mood dysregulation in youth with increased irritability during these developmental st...
A new study published in Biological Psychiatry provides updated estimates of the lifetime and 12-month prevalence of eating disorders in the US. The study found that 0.80% of US adults will be affected by anorexia nervosa, 0.28% by bulimia nervosa, and 0.85% by binge eating disorder in their lifetime.
A new study identifies a brain abnormality associated with a person's general risk for mental illness, found in participants with higher mental health liability. The study suggests a single risk factor may predict development of any form of psychiatric disorder.
A new study published in JAMA Psychiatry suggests that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) could be a cost-effective option for patients who fail to get relief from two other types of treatment, such as antidepressant medications and talk therapy. ECT emerged as a cost-effective choice for patients with treatment-resistant depression.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai will compare evidence-based approaches for treating depressive symptoms in people with advanced heart failure, aiming to improve quality of life and outcomes. The study is part of a larger effort to address the significant challenge of treating depression in heart failure patients.
A new clinical trial published in Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry shows that a computerised test of attention and activity (QbTest) can reduce the time needed to make a diagnostic decision on ADHD, increase the likelihood of excluding ADHD when it is not present, and improve clinicians' confidence in their decision-making. T...
A new study found that children with greater parent-child communication have better brain connectivity, leading to lower harmful alcohol use and emotional eating in young adulthood. The research highlights the importance of parenting skills in childhood for long-term brain development and health behaviors.
A new study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that children with difficulties in social communication have a higher risk of suicidal self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and suicide plans by age 16. Depression in early adolescence partially explains this association.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that over a quarter of young people seeking treatment had a history of at least one overdose. Factors associated with increased overdose risk included alcohol, cocaine, and amphetamine use, as well as psychiatric conditions like depression and anxiety disorders.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that individuals with schizophrenia who experienced childhood trauma had improved health outcomes when they possessed high levels of psychological resilience. The research team evaluated data from 114 participants with schizophrenia and 101 non-psychiatric comparison subjects.
A study of over 11,000 twins found that children's reading level is highly heritable and determines their reading habits. The research highlights the importance of improving both reading skills and motivation to combat a cycle where children avoid reading due to difficulties.
A nationwide study of 2.8 million people over 36 years found that sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with an increased risk of developing both dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The risk of dementia increased with the number and severity of injuries, even a single mild TBI.
Research published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that stopping exercise can lead to significant increases in depressive symptoms within three days. The study, conducted by PhD student Julie Morgan and Professor Bernhard Baune, suggests a novel effect on mental health that warrants further investigation.
A meta-analysis of nine randomized controlled trials found that SSRIs were more effective in treating youth anxiety disorder than SNRIs. Patients started to see improvements from medication around two weeks, with the most significant improvement occurring in the fourth week of treatment.
A study published in Biological Psychiatry reveals distinct molecular changes in gene expression between men and women with major depressive disorder, suggesting different pathology and treatment needs.
A new study by the Eurasian Child & Adolescent Mental Health Study network reveals a strong correlation between Human Development Index scores and the availability of mental health services. Countries with high HDI rankings have higher ratios of child and adolescent psychiatrists per population size, indicating better investment in chi...
A six-year study found that cognitive enhancement therapy (CET) significantly improved neurocognitive function in adults with autism, particularly in attention and social understanding. In contrast, enriched supportive therapy (EST) showed slower but still significant improvements in social cognition.
A new study by UCLA researchers found that daily consumption of curcumin improved memory and mood in people with mild, age-related memory loss. The study, which involved 40 adults aged 50-90, showed significant improvements in cognitive power and reduced amyloid and tau signals in the brain.
A new study in The Lancet Psychiatry found that tamper-resistant oxycodone tablets had no significant effect on rates of opioid use or harms at a population level. However, the study did find that people who inject drugs were less likely to tamper with the tablets, suggesting a potential benefit for this group.
A study published in International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry suggests that smaller social networks and feelings of loneliness are significant risk factors for late-life depression. The findings also emphasize the need to detect childhood abuse in adults with depression and consider it in treatment planning.
A new study published in Biological Psychiatry found that bipolar I and II disorders have different biological causes, with stronger family clustering for each subtype. The research also identified distinct gender differences and genetic correlations between the subtypes.
Researchers at UTHealth found that individuals with bipolar disorder exhibit accelerated epigenetic aging, which may explain why they are more prone to age-related diseases and have shorter lifespans. The study suggests that lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and substance use can contribute to this premature aging.
A recent study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry reveals that cognitive-behavioral sleep interventions are most effective for adolescents with higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that sleep improvement treatments can be a useful tool in addressing mental health issues.
Researchers found that heart rate variability measured by an electrocardiogram indicated whether subjects had major depression or bipolar disorder. Patients with bipolar disorder had higher blood levels of inflammation biomarkers than those with major depression.
A special issue in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry explores the intersection of neuroscience and law, highlighting key areas such as addiction, dementia, chronic pain, and behavioral genetics. The research has significant implications for legal proceedings and mental health treatment.
A study by Aarhus University finds that cognitive behavioral therapy is highly effective in treating OCD in children and adolescents. The research, involving 269 participants from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, showed that 92% of those who benefited from the treatment remained symptom-free a year after completion.
A new study in Biological Psychiatry provides direct human evidence for a decades-old theory linking heightened arousal and reactivity in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to overactivity of the locus coeruleus (LC), a brain region that mediates arousal and reactivity. The study found that participants with PTSD exhibited increased ...
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation awarded nine outstanding scientists for their work in schizophrenia, mood disorders, child and adolescent psychiatry, and cognitive neuroscience. John M. Davis and Deanna L. Kelly were recognized for their innovative research on schizophrenia treatment and prevention.
A recent study published in Biological Psychiatry has found a link between brain inflammation and suicidal thinking in patients with major depressive disorder. Researchers at the University of Manchester discovered increased levels of microglial activation in brains of living patients with MDD who were experiencing suicidal thoughts.
A new study reveals consistent correlations between white matter structural patterns and autistic symptoms in both ASD and ADHD, highlighting potential shared disease mechanisms. The study's findings suggest that biomarkers could guide more specific diagnostic tests and treatments.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital identified structural brain differences in individuals with severe FND symptoms, particularly reduced insula volume and increased amygdala volume. The study aims to advance understanding of FND pathophysiology and develop better treatments for this debilitating condition.
Advancements in mathematical tools are enhancing understanding of brain processes, including learning, emotion, dopamine signaling, and information processing. Studies using computational models are shedding light on the mechanisms underlying psychiatric diseases.
A study published in JAMA Psychiatry suggests that reducing nicotine content in cigarettes can decrease their addictiveness in vulnerable populations. The research team found that low-nicotine dose cigarettes could serve as economic substitutes for higher-dose commercial-level nicotine cigarettes when the cost of the latter was greater.
A recent study by McLean Hospital researchers highlights the need for better security and privacy measures in health apps designed for dementia patients. The paper found that many apps collect user-generated content without adequate protection, posing a risk to patients' sensitive information. Clinicians are urged to educate themselves...
Researchers have developed a more precise way of diagnosing suicide risk by identifying biomarkers in blood that change in concert with changes in suicidal thoughts. A refined set of biomarkers applies universally to predict risk of suicide among both male and female patients, while others are specific to diagnoses and genders.
A new study in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found that middle-aged and older adults can successfully use a smartphone-based intervention to self-manage their serious mental illness. The app takes patients through 10 sessions over three months, covering topics such as stress vulnerability and medication adherence.
A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found a consistent pattern of increased risk of later violence among adolescents with depression. The research team identified modest increases in risk of violence in depression, with an odds ratio of two-fold in one sample.
A randomized trial found that incorporating 12-step program elements into adolescent substance-use disorder treatment resulted in significantly reduced substance-related consequences. Participants in the integrated program also reported higher rates of 12-step meeting attendance, associated with longer periods of continuous abstinence.
A study reveals that childhood psychiatric disorders, such as ADHD and depression, significantly increase the risk of developing addictions later in life. The research highlights the importance of early detection and intervention for mental health problems.
The study found deletions in NRXN1 and duplications in CNTN6 genes linked to an increased risk of Tourette syndrome. These genetic variants affect brain development and may contribute to the disease's progression.