Researchers have identified structural grey matter differences in the brains of women with a history of peripartum depression compared to those without. The study found that hormone fluctuations during pregnancy and childbirth may be key to understanding this condition.
SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging·TypeImaging analysis·DateDec 5, 2024
A review paper suggests that MDMA-assisted therapy can benefit military personnel with traumatic brain injuries, improving emotional and cognitive challenges. The drug may facilitate social connections, increased self-esteem, and neural plasticity, leading to improved treatment outcomes.
Researchers at UCSF found a brain signature of resilience in mice that suggests a new way to treat severe depression. Stress changes activity in the amygdala, distinguishing resilient from less resilient mice. By stimulating neurons, the team improved decision-making and reduced ruminating in less resilient mice.
Professor Lavretsky's pioneering work integrates conventional psychiatric treatments with mind-body interventions, developing novel therapeutic combinations for treatment-resistant depression and cognitive disorders. Her research has transformed approaches to mental health and aging, emphasizing whole person health and prevention.
The American Journal of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Services journals feature research on the amygdala, PTSD, and discrimination in their December issues. The studies highlight the interconnections between these topics and explore their implications for diagnosis and treatment.
A new survey by Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center finds that 56% of Americans prioritize alone time for mental health, while 46% don't get enough during the holidays. Dr. Sophie Lazarus suggests taking brief breaks alone to reduce stress and improve mental well-being.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet found that patients with frontotemporal dementia show reduced brain activity when witnessing pain in others, leading to a lack of empathy. This study aims to increase understanding of this specific dementia disease and its impact on caregivers.
A new study by the University of Exeter highlights the need for more targeted mental health support for migrant children in schools. The review of 38 studies shows that stigma around mental health and stressors associated with migration are significant barriers to accessing support.
A new Northwestern Medicine study found the 'lizard brain' is connected to newly evolved social cognitive network regions, which are involved in thinking about other people. This link helps shape the function of the social cognitive network by giving it access to the amygdala's role in processing emotionally important content.
A two-week arts intervention found to have a positive impact on mental health and well-being in adolescents with depression. The study suggests that engaging in the arts offers a pathway for exploring new ways of thinking, developing insights, and sparking self-discovery.
The Medical University of South Carolina is using a $1.75 million grant to develop and test the effectiveness of telehealth-enabled collaborative care management for primary care patients in rural South Carolina. The goal is to improve behavioral health outcomes while reducing pressure on primary care physicians.
Researchers found semaglutide and liraglutide substantially decrease AUD hospitalization risk compared to approved medications. Clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings and explore their efficacy in treating AUD.
Dr. Etienne Sibille's work develops novel therapeutics for cognitive deficits in depression and age-related disorders through Damona Pharmaceuticals, a biopharma company he co-founded.
A randomized clinical trial shows cognitive behavioral therapy for prolonged grief outperforms present-centered therapy in treating comorbid symptoms, while both treatments demonstrate effectiveness and acceptability. The findings suggest potential for dissemination and increased patient choice.
This study found that adolescents who used cannabis exhibited unique metabolomic patterns associated with psychotic-like experiences, including variations in lipid metabolism and oxidative stress. In contrast, non-users showed correlations between inflammatory metabolic changes and hallucinations.
A new study has identified ten priorities for future research on reducing and stopping psychiatric medication, covering topics such as safely reducing/stopping medication and providing support to individuals undergoing discontinuation. The findings highlight the value of co-production and address gaps in the existing evidence base.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that religiosity, spirituality, and meaning-making have a small but significant protective effect against suicidality. The study suggests that clinicians should personalize and culturally adapt suicide prevention and treatment strategies to effectively address this issue.
Researchers discovered brain cells that map an animal's position in behavioural coordinates, helping understand how the brain generates complex behaviors. The findings may be useful in understanding psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia.
Researchers developed a method to visualize AMPA receptors using PET scans, revealing differences in density and distribution between healthy subjects and those with psychiatric disorders. This discovery may lead to new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism spectrum disorder.
The November issues of APA journals focus on research related to substance use disorders, including a special issue on the topic. The American Psychiatric Association has published several studies and guidelines on these topics, providing valuable insights for mental health professionals.
A study by neurodivergent researchers has revealed that psychiatrists who are unaware they're autistic may misdiagnose patients. Recognizing one's autism improves therapeutic relationships with autistic patients, but some assessors remain unaware due to lack of disclosure.
A new study led by CAMH shows that a combination of therapies can slow cognitive decline in older adults with conditions increasing the risk of dementia. Participants receiving Cognitive Remediation plus transcranial direct current stimulation experienced slower cognitive decline compared to those receiving a control intervention.
A new study found that psilocybin significantly reduced OCD-like behaviors and tic-like head-body twitches in genetically modified mice. The research provides hope for new treatments for these conditions and may offer benefits for patients who have not responded to current therapies.
Depression alters neural circuits in the amygdala, leading to reduced activity in pleasant stimuli and increased activation in negative stimuli. This negativity bias contributes to depressive symptoms. Researchers found a potential treatment by reactivating neurons involved in positive encoding of environmental stimuli.
A cohort study examines how traumatic and adverse childhood experiences influence developmental changes in psychiatric risk and cognitive ability. The findings suggest targeted early prevention and intervention strategies for at-risk youth.
A new therapeutic approach combining cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and lucid dreaming has shown promise in reducing nightmare severity and frequency in patients with narcolepsy. The study, published in the Journal of Sleep Research, found overall reductions in nightmare symptoms in all six participants tested.
Researchers say implementing established strategies is critical to addressing the physician well-being crisis, including reducing workload and facilitating timely mental health treatment. The review also highlights the need for policies supporting diverse perspectives to improve well-being among underrepresented groups.
A large cohort study found that mothers with eating disorders were more likely to have children with psychiatric disorders, while those with pre-pregnancy BMI outside the normal range also showed an increased risk. The findings suggest that clinicians should consider these factors when preventing offspring mental illness.
A randomised clinical trial shows that integrating physiotherapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy is effective in improving symptoms and physical aspects of the quality of life of patients with functional movement disorders. The study suggests this approach could be cost-effective and opens up new lines of research.
A new Lancet Commission report urges policy action on societal drivers and health services' response to self-harm, which affects 14 million people annually. The report highlights the need for compassionate support and responsible reporting on self-harm, particularly among young people in low- and middle-income countries.
A cross-sectional study reveals a significant risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among autistic transgender and gender-nonconforming US college students. The study emphasizes the importance of providing targeted support to address this issue.
A study published in Scientific Reports found that rats' social structures are more complex than previously thought, with varying patterns of dominance and coexistence. The researchers' findings suggest that psychiatric medications may need to be re-evaluated due to the complexity of rat social dynamics.
A recent study found that tau protein buildup disrupts the salience network, a crucial communication network in the brain, leading to behavioral changes. The study used advanced medical imaging to analyze the brains of 128 people with early-stage dementia and showed a strong association between tau disruption and behavioral symptoms.
A survey of 4,426 LGBTQ+ adults in the USA found that those who underwent conversion practice experience poor mental health, including depression, PTSD, and suicidal thoughts or attempts. Transgender participants reported greater mental health symptoms overall.
A multinational study found that people with unmedicated mental illness are less likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19, with a 9% lower vaccination rate compared to the general population. Individuals with substance use disorder were also 16% less likely to receive the vaccine.
The Boston Clinic implemented an innovative embedded neuropsychological assessment program to improve access to disability assessments for US citizenship applicants. The program provided crucial assessments to 34 patients, with 36% qualifying for N-648 forms despite initial normal cognitive screenings.
Researchers found that SSRI antidepressants improve cognitive functions like verbal memory by reducing a specific serotonin receptor. The study suggests that stimulating this receptor may be a promising target for optimizing antidepressant treatment outcomes.
A new study confirms that hormonal and biochemical factors affect alcohol dependence in men and women differently, implying the need for sex-specific treatments. Researchers found associations between hormone levels and treatment outcomes, highlighting the importance of considering gender differences in treating alcoholism.
A randomized clinical trial shows that transitioning insomnia care away from long-term sedatives to cognitive behavioral therapy can be achieved through a mailed, direct-to-patient approach. This method reduces sedative use and improves sleep outcomes in older adults.
A groundbreaking article proposes a transdiagnostic framework that views neurodivergent conditions as points on a spectrum rather than distinct categories. This approach acknowledges the shared characteristics and complex interplay between these conditions and recognizes their frequent overlap with mental health challenges.
A study by McLean Hospital found that high doses of amphetamine increase the risk of new-onset psychosis or mania in adults. The risk is highest for those taking 30 mg or more of dextroamphetamine, with an 81% attributable risk percentage.
Researchers at McGill University have made new findings on the consistency of delusion themes in youth and young adults with psychosis. The study, involving over 600 patients, suggests that delusions often persist even as other symptoms improve, requiring different treatment strategies.
A cross-sectional study of commercially insured patients suggests that there may be meaningful heterogeneous associations between cannabis policy and state-level outcomes, as well as between cannabis policy and drug class, with implications for patient substance use and mental health outcomes.
A new study reveals that Latinx immigrant adults are extorted an average of $804 during their journey to the US southern border. The most common perpetrators were police officers and immigration officials. Experts say extortion should be considered an extreme stressor, which can inform mental health treatment for newly arrived immigrants.
A new 'deep scanning' approach reveals that individuals with depression have a larger salience network in the frontal cortex and striatum, increasing their risk for depression. This finding suggests that people may be pre-wired for depression if they have this brain feature in childhood.
A post hoc analysis found semaglutide treatment did not increase the risk of developing depression or suicidal ideation and was associated with a small reduction in depressive symptoms. Monitoring for mental health concerns is essential for individuals with obesity to receive proper support and care.
A study found that ketamine clinics have inconsistent policies on pregnancy-related safeguards, including inadequate warning systems and contraception prescription. This is concerning given the potential harm of ketamine to developing fetuses.
The September issues of APA journals focus on depression risk factors and treatments, as well as noninvasive brain stimulation therapies. The American Journal of Psychiatry explores the promise of these therapies in treating depression.
A new study using manifold learning and signal processing techniques identifies a significant correlation between adolescent brain activity and mental health symptoms. The approach, called exogenous PHATE, combines brain activation data with environmental variables to improve detection of existing symptoms and predict future ones.
SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 3, 2024
A new Swedish registry study found that girls with mental illness or neurodevelopmental conditions have lower HPV vaccination coverage compared to their peers. The study involved over 115,000 girls and found significant differences in vaccination rates among those with psychiatric diagnoses or receiving psychotropic medications.
A cohort study found elevated depression and anxiety levels in unvaccinated people with COVID-19 diagnosis compared to before or without the virus. Vaccination was associated with lower incidence of mental illnesses after hospitalization for COVID-19.
A recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that children with persistently raised inflammation are at a higher risk of experiencing serious mental health disorders, including psychosis and depression, in early adulthood. The research also discovered that those who experienced inflammation at a young age were more likely to devel...
A new study by Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found that probiotics can improve the immune system and behavior of both mothers and their offspring during pregnancy. Probiotics may also help counteract negative effects of prenatal stress, such as changes in brain inflammation and amino acid metabolism.
Mental health crisis calls to 911 may lead to inappropriate responses and increased risk of harm. Harvard-trained psychiatrist Dr. Rupinder Legha advocates for reevaluating the standard for mental health crisis response.
The latest issues of American Psychiatric Association journals feature new research on PTSD, phobias, and psychiatric vulnerabilities. A special issue on eating disorders is also highlighted in the August issue of Psychiatric Services.
A recent study by Weill Cornell Medicine found that many Medicaid enrollees face significant barriers to accessing psychiatric care, with wait times often extending up to six months. In four major US cities, only 18% of listed psychiatrists and mental health professionals were reachable and offered appointments.
A novel study finds that monitoring cortical microstructural change in the brain using diffusion weighted MRI scans may help identify individuals at risk for cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. Tracking these changes over time could provide precious time for disease-modifying treatments.
SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging·TypeImaging analysis·DateJul 30, 2024
Research reveals that children with psychiatric disorders in 2017 faced more severe challenges and reduced support from societal factors compared to previous generations. The study highlights the need for further research into why this trend has occurred, aiming to provide necessary support and prevent future negative trends.
A UNIGE team studied a cohort of patients with a 22q11.2DS microdeletion and found unique «coupling» between structure and activity of their brain regions, leading to either over- or under-coupling. This specificity paves the way for identifying reliable risk markers.
Young Japanese-speaking migrants have higher rates of early treatment dropout due to inadequate observed conversational fluency, emphasizing the importance of tailored language support. Researchers suggest that language proficiency influences early self-discontinuation of psychiatric treatment among foreign residents in Japan.