A better diet helps beat depression in young men

Young men with a poor diet saw a significant improvement in their symptoms of depression when they switched to a healthy Mediterranean diet, a new study shows. Depression is a common mental health condition that affects approximately 1 million Australians each year. It is a significant risk factor for suicide, the leading cause of death in young adults. The 12-week […]

Multiple diagnoses are the norm for mental illness; A new genetic analysis helps explain why

More than half of people diagnosed with one psychiatric disorder will be diagnosed with a second or third in their lifetime. About a third have four or more. This can make treatment challenging and leave patients feeling unlucky and discouraged. But a sweeping new analysis of 11 major psychiatric disorders offers new insight into why comorbidities are the norm, rather […]

How can mental health professionals open their minds to psychosis?

Effective clinical care for patients with psychosis means understanding the ‘lived experience’ of their delusions, say researchers at the Universities of Birmingham, York and Melbourne. By understanding the intricacies of feelings, attitudes, and experiences which are interlinked with delusions, clinicians will be better able to build trust and genuine engagement with patients. In a new study, published today (4 May […]

Gastrointestinal issues linked with anxiety, social withdrawal for kids with autism

Children with autism spectrum disorder tend to experience gastrointestinal issues, such as constipation and stomach pain, at a higher rate than their neurotypical peers. Some also experience other internalizing symptoms at the same time, including stress, anxiety, depression and social withdrawal. Until now, no studies have examined the causal relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms and internalizing symptoms. A new study at […]

Psychiatric symptoms in Alzheimers disease

In addition to memory problems and other cognitive symptoms, most people with Alzheimer’s disease also suffer from mental health issues. It has long been unclear whether these occur because of tissue changes in the brain, or whether they represent psychological reactions to cognitive symptoms. A study from Lund University in Sweden has provided new insight, and is published in Biological Psychiatry. […]

A drug that treats alcoholism may be the next anti-anxiety medication

Alcoholism, if left untreated, could have dangerous repercussions. Thus, it is no surprise that there are a range of drugs developed to treat this condition. Of these drugs, disulfiram (DSF) is approved by the Food and Drug Agency (FDA) for the treatment of alcoholism. DSF primarily inhibits the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), which is responsible for the metabolism of alcohol. […]

Pandemic drives use of telehealth for mental health care

The COVID-19 pandemic likely permanently increased the delivery of mental health counseling through telehealth, according to new research from Oregon Health & Science University. The retrospective analysis was published today in the April issue of the journal Health Affairs. “Our study suggests that telehealth services for mental health counseling expanded significantly and is likely to stay,” said lead author Jane Zhu, M.D., assistant […]

Pandemic lockdowns had severe mental health consequences for women in the developing world

While potentially crucial to preventing the spread of COVID-19, lockdowns are associated with increased rates of depression and anxiety as well as food insecurity among women in India and other parts of the developing world, according to a new research. The study from the University of California San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy finds that women whose social […]

Initial treatment choice for prostate cancer doesn’t affect mental health outcomes

Depression and other mental health outcomes are similar for men choosing different options for initial treatment of localized prostate cancer, reports a study in The Journal of Urology®, an Official Journal of the American Urological Association (AUA). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer. “However, our research identifies several characteristics linked to declines in emotional well-being after starting prostate cancer […]

Most workers experience multiple, interconnected vulnerabilities to COVID-19

COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on people’s physical and mental health and has caused economic hardship. However, this adversity has disproportionately hurt certain populations—including essential workers and women—deepening existing disparities. One reason behind these disparities? The same people have been affected by clusters of interrelated factors, according to new research published in PLOS Global Public Health. “Most research on COVID-19 […]