A 13-year study tracked the mental health of new doctors during their most stressful time, showing a significant reduction in depression scores over the past decade. The study suggests that reduced work hours, increased sleep, more feedback from supervisors, and greater use of mental health care contributed to this change.
The study found that 'general psychiatric burden', 'social isolation', and 'depression/anxiety' worsened during the pandemic, with women more likely to be affected. Factors such as job type, income, and social connections played a significant role in these issues.
Researchers found a link between the width of growth marks on baby teeth and exposure to early-life adversity, including maternal stress and anxiety. The study's results could lead to the development of a tool to identify children at risk for mental health disorders, allowing for preventive treatments.
The MC3 program provides a lifeline for primary care providers in Michigan, connecting them with psychiatrists and behavioral specialists for consultation and training. This has led to improved diagnosis and care for young people with mental health concerns, including those who express suicidal thoughts or have harmed themselves.
The November issues of The American Journal of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Services address adversity, trauma, and suicide, highlighting the importance of resilience and susceptibility. The journals feature research reports on mental health services delivery for people with serious mental illness.
Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine identified the anterior insula's role in predicting and emotionally processing pain in HIV-DSP patients. The study suggests that reduced anterior insula activity or increased cingulate activity may improve pain outcomes for these patients.
A study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry reveals that older psychiatric patients are more likely to be restrained in non-emergency situations than younger adults. The research examined over 226,000 Ontario inpatient records and found a significant association between age, risk of falls, physical disability, and psychiatric symptoms...
A prospective-longitudinal study found that pregnant women with lower emotional stability and personality traits tend to have worse subjective birth experiences. Unexpected events like Caesareans can exacerbate these negative experiences.
A new machine learning-based algorithm has been developed to identify adolescents who have experienced suicidal thoughts and behavior. The algorithm, applied to a large dataset of survey responses from over 179,000 high school students in Utah, shows high accuracy in predicting individual adolescents at risk.
SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 3, 2021
A nationwide US population-level study found that prior poor mental health at the county level had a positive and significant association with COVID-19 infection rates. Areas with greater vulnerability in poor mental health prior to the pandemic had a greater burden of COVID-19. The study used aggregated survey data from 2,839 US count...
SourceElsevier·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 2, 2021
Researchers at Mount Sinai found that people used forward thinking when trying to influence others, regardless of controllability. This neural activity was linked to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, a decision-making center involved in strategic thinking.
Longitudinal study reveals cortical thinning in people with bipolar disorder, especially those with more manic episodes. The findings suggest that bipolar disorder may be a neuroprogressive disorder, worsened by the progression of symptoms.
A systematic review of youth helplines found that while they appear to be beneficial, there is limited evidence on their effectiveness, particularly for lower socioeconomic backgrounds. The study highlights the need for further research and tailored services to address systemic barriers to help-seeking.
SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·TypeSystematic review·DateNov 2, 2021
A review of current literature found irregular brain responses to challenging tasks and mistakes may be key to understanding links between abnormal behaviors in mental illness and cognitive disorders. Studies suggest that people with conditions like anxiety, OCD, and ADHD have different brain waves following mistakes compared to health...
A new register study at Umea University found that people with psychotic or bipolar disorders are significantly more likely to die from influenza, pneumonia, or sepsis. The proportion of deaths due to these conditions was sixfold in certain age groups, highlighting the need for preventive measures.
A study found that adults with a history of childhood maltreatment, particularly sexual abuse, exhibit reduced brain connectivity in attention systems. Oxytocin treatment has been shown to increase connectivity, suggesting its potential as a treatment for PTSD and childhood trauma-related disorders.
Research identified a deficit in activation of positive valence processing soon after trauma, suggesting its role in resilience to PTSD. The study found that decreased activity in the ventral striatum predicted more severe PTSD symptoms at 14 months.
SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging·TypeImaging analysis·DateOct 26, 2021
A new study found that COVID-19 can trigger severe psychiatric symptoms in adolescents, with anti-neural antibodies playing a potential role. Two patients with mild/asymptomatic COVID developed suicidal thoughts and paranoid fears, while another patient without prior psychiatric history recovered fully after treatment.
Researchers investigated whether continued magnetic seizure therapy (MST) could effectively prevent the relapse of treatment-resistant depression. The study found that MST was associated with a lower relapse rate compared to earlier research assessing one-time, acute MST.
Researchers used machine learning on UK Biobank data to create proxy measures for brain age, intelligence, and neuroticism traits. These indirect measurements strongly correlate with specific diseases or outcomes, offering a potential solution for mental health diagnoses.
A study published in Nature Communications demonstrates how the brain constructs the present moment through recent past experiences. The researchers discovered that brief stimuli leave a trace in the brain for almost a minute, accumulating biases in perception that allow subjects to fine-tune their sensory channels over time.
A UC Davis MIND Institute study suggests telehealth evaluation can help families access care and diagnose autism earlier. The research found that telehealth approaches in the first year of life improved access to care for infants with elevated autism risk, reducing waitlists and parental stress.
Researchers found four distinct brain activity profiles in trauma survivors that correlated with symptoms of anxiety and PTSD six months later. High reward reactivity was linked to increased symptoms of both conditions.
Researchers have identified that moment-to-moment brain signal variability can reliably predict the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy for patients with social anxiety disorder. This finding suggests that neural variability may be a reliable indicator of individual differences in treatment response, particularly when using ...
New research highlights the potential of telehealth to increase patient engagement through improved access and convenience. However, studies found limited evidence that telehealth results in better retention or outcomes compared to in-person treatment. Researchers emphasize the need for more empirical work to confirm its benefits.
A recent study published in PLOS Medicine found that people with mental illnesses have poorer sleep quality compared to the general population. The study analyzed data from 89,205 participants and discovered significant differences in sleep patterns, including increased waking frequency and duration.
Researchers found associations between 10 sleep measures and lifetime psychiatric diagnoses, with sleep efficiency most affected. The study used wrist accelerometer data from 89,205 individuals, providing detailed, objective sleep measurements at scale.
A recent study published in British Journal of Psychiatry found that adolescents diagnosed with mental health disorders are more likely to be excluded from education and labor market for at least five years. The results highlight the importance of timely treatment and rehabilitation to prevent social exclusion.
Researchers from UvA's Centre for Urban Mental Health propose a new conceptual framework to understand the dynamic interplay between urban factors and mental health. The framework identifies key factors influencing urban environments and their impact on mental well-being, including air pollution, noise, and social cohesion.
The CARE Consortium has received $42.65 million in new funding to follow athletes for up to 10 years after concussive injury, examining the impacts of head injuries on brain health. The study aims to validate advanced biomarkers and identify neurobiological pathways contributing to long-term negative consequences.
Researchers created a customized device that targets unique brain circuits associated with depression, providing immediate relief. The approach uses neural biomarkers to personalize therapy and has shown long-term efficacy in treatment-resistant patients.
Research finds that at-risk teen girls who have experienced sexual abuse are more likely to be cyberbullied and experience heightened offline sexual activities. Targeted intervention strategies using algorithm-based approaches could help these teens navigate the Internet safely.
A pilot study found that depressed COVID patients responded well to SSRIs, with 91% showing improvement within 4 weeks. The study suggests post-COVID depression is treatable and may benefit from antidepressant treatment.
Researchers found that an existing drug, prucalopride, can improve cognitive function by enhancing activity in brain areas related to memory. In a study of 44 healthy volunteers, those taking prucalopride performed better on a memory test and showed increased activity in the hippocampus and right angular gyrus.
Researchers have discovered a protein called "shank" that acts as a biomarker for modifiable memories. This discovery may lead to the development of new treatments for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) by identifying factors that make memories susceptible to change.
Researchers found that depressed adolescents' brains reduce activity in brain areas related to visual processing when shown distressing images. Antidepressant treatment restored brain activity to healthy levels, suggesting a potential vulnerability in adolescent brains.
Researchers found associations between driving convictions, accidents, and behaviors like junk food consumption and alcohol. Genetic variation in serotonin metabolism was also linked to risky driving.
A new study shows that a four-week psychological treatment called Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) can provide potent and durable relief for chronic back pain in two-thirds of patients. The treatment alters brain networks associated with pain processing, reducing symptoms that last for up to one year.
A new study by UCL researchers has found that staying on long-term antidepressants reduces the risk of relapse by 39% compared to those who stop taking them. The study involved 478 primary care patients and found that 56% experienced a relapse within a year if they discontinued their medication, while only 26% did so after a full year.
A new study led by UCSF indicates that depression in early adulthood can increase the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. The research found that moderate or high depressive symptoms were associated with a 73% higher odds of cognitive impairment among older participants.
The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry publishes a special issue to strengthen the rights and voices of older people worldwide. The issue aims to reduce the burden of ageism, mentalism and ableism, which currently permeates virtually every aspect of older persons' lives.
Researchers found that methamphetamine, cocaine, and nicotine withdrawal share similar features in mouse brains, including reduced modularity and increased functional connectivity. This reorganization may contribute to the addictive nature of psychostimulants.
A new study found that schizophrenia is associated with a loss of excitation but an increase in inhibition, resulting in hallucinations. The researchers used EEG data from 107 participants to demonstrate decreased synaptic gain, which may guide pharmacological and neurostimulation treatments.
The European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) conference, ECNP 2021, will take place in Lisbon and online from October 2-5. Over a thousand abstracts are expected to be presented on various topics in psychiatry and neuroscience.
A new study from McGill University reveals that delaying school start times can help reduce stress and improve coping skills in teenagers during times of crisis. The research found that allowing teens to follow their natural sleep-wake cycle led to improved mental health outcomes.
Researchers at Boston Medical Center have identified six stages of engagement in ADHD treatment, highlighting the importance of breaking down barriers for racial and ethnic minority families. The study provides a comprehensive framework that can help healthcare systems better match the needs of children with ADHD and their families.
The September issues of American Psychiatric Association journals explore innovative treatments for opioid use disorder and analyze the mental health implications of police reform. Research articles cover various disorders, including ADHD, anorexia nervosa, and cardiovascular disease in psychiatric patients.
A new study found that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) significantly reduces deaths by suicide among older adults with depression in the months following hospitalization. The therapy may also improve overall health and cognitive functioning.
A Mount Sinai study found that polygenic risk scores were no better at predicting worsening symptoms than written reports in schizophrenia patients. The results raise questions about the use of polygenic risk scores in real-world situations, suggesting a doctor's report may be an untapped source of predictive information.
A new study by UCL researchers highlights the significant mental health burden on frontline healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. The study calls for increased mental health awareness training, more assertive outreach to identify those in need, and sustained funding for psychological support services.
Researchers reviewed 79 studies on neurocognitive impairments and brain abnormalities associated with nonfatal opioid overdoses in humans. The findings suggest a link between overdose, cognitive impairment, and brain changes, which could influence attention span, memory, and executive function.
A five-year telepsychiatry trial found significant improvements in rural patients' access to care, mental health symptoms, and quality of life. The study treated over 1,000 patients with bipolar disorder and/or PTSD, often underserved by traditional mental health services.
A Wayne State University researcher is applying topological data analysis to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to discover hidden brain structures. This collaboration aims to provide medical researchers with new tools for analyzing complex fMRI data.
A study published in Science Advances reveals a previously unknown mechanism behind compulsive alcohol use, which may be targeted by medication. A small group of nerve cells in the central amygdala promote alcohol use despite negative consequences.
A new study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that most children diagnosed with ADHD don't outgrow the disorder. In fact, researchers followed a group of 558 children with ADHD for 16 years and found that only 10% completely outgrew it.
A study of over 11,000 elementary school students found Black children are 3.5 times more likely to receive detentions or suspensions than their white peers, even after controlling for socioeconomic factors. This disparity suggests individual biases and systemic racism may be contributing to the findings.
SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·TypeObservational study·DateAug 12, 2021
A new study has found that chronic opioid use changes gene expression in the brains of people with opioid use disorder (OUD), suggesting proinflammatory signaling and synaptic remodeling. The affected genes involved in immune response and neuronal connections were also identified, offering new targets for treatment.
Researchers have found that improved learning processes are associated with reduced symptoms of depression. By using brain imaging and mathematical modeling, the team identified distinct paths to depression symptoms and proposed a new approach for treating clinical depression.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found individuals with preexisting mood disorders are at a higher risk of COVID-19 hospitalization and death. This suggests that those with preexisting mood disorders should be categorized as an at-risk group on the basis of a preexisting condition.
A new study suggests that older adults, particularly women and those in fair or poor health, are more likely to experience worsened mental health symptoms during the pandemic. The study recommends screening for depression, anxiety, and sleep problems and connecting participants to treatment resources.