Mental Disorder News and Research

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Genomic studies give new insights into the biological basis of PTSD

After analyzing the genomes of more than one-quarter of a million military veterans, a team of scientists, led by researchers at University of California San Diego, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS), Yale University and West Haven VA, have identified 18 specific, fixed positions on chromosomes (known as loci) that appear associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

28 Jan 2021

Mental disorders highly prevalent during coronavirus pandemics

Researchers in the United States have conducted an analysis showing the high prevalence of mental disorders across populations impacted by coronavirus pandemics.

24 Dec 2020

Higher proportion of male bosses found to have negative attitudes toward depression

A higher proportion of male than of female managers have negative attitudes toward depression, a University of Gothenburg study shows.

14 Dec 2020

Healthy gut microbiota contributes to normal brain function, study shows

Depression is a mental disorder that affects more than 264 million people of all ages worldwide. Understanding its mechanisms is vital for the development of effective therapeutic strategies.

11 Dec 2020

Children of low-income families have greater risk of developing mental disorders later in life

The results gained in a study involving approximately one million Danish children increase the understanding of how socio-economic differences in childhood affect the development of mental disorders in the Nordic countries.

20 Nov 2020

Study investigates link between socio-economic position and risk of mental disorders

Researchers at the University of Helsinki, Aarhus University and the University of Manchester have investigated the link between the socio-economic position of parents and the risk of children developing mental disorders later in life.

20 Nov 2020

Perceived risk of COVID-19 infection increases likelihood of depression among people in Soweto

Associations between depression and issues such as hunger, violence, poor healthcare, and high rates of poverty have long been recognized, but this study is the first to look at the mental health effects of the pandemic and national lockdown in South Africa under those conditions.

19 Oct 2020

Global social media challenge kicks off to get the world moving on mental health

A global social media challenge to get the world moving on mental health is launched today with a call for a massive scale-up in investment in mental health.

7 Oct 2020

WHO and partner organizations call for massive scale-up in investment in mental health

Mental health is one of the most neglected areas of public health. Close to 1 billion people are living with a mental disorder, 3 million people die every year from the harmful use of alcohol and one person dies every 40 seconds by suicide.

28 Aug 2020

Depressed adolescents at greater risk of having a heart attack in mid-life

Depression or anxiety in adolescence is linked with a 20% greater likelihood of having a heart attack mid-life, according to research released today at ESC Congress 2020.1

26 Aug 2020

Researchers identify genetic risk factors that increase risk of bipolar disorder in people with depression

In a new study from the Danish psychiatry project iPSYCH, researchers have identified genetic risk factors for developing bipolar disorder and psychoses among people with depression.

25 Aug 2020

DNA hypermethylation correlated with reduced amygdala volume in male patients with schizophrenia

Researchers at Kumamoto University, Japan have revealed that DNA methylation occurs in the gene that codes serotonin transporter (SERT), a protein that regulates neurotransmitter transmission, in schizophrenia and bipolar patients.

9 Jul 2020

Familial severe psychiatric history affects treatment of bipolar disorder patients

Patients with bipolar disorder who have multiple family members with severe mental disorders, are more difficult to treat and require more medicine.

11 Jun 2020

Anesthetic drug Ketamine uses serotonin receptors to relieve depression

Ketamine is a drug used to induce general anesthesia. It has also been found to act rapidly to relieve depression that has failed to respond to two other rounds of medication. A new study published in the journal Translational Psychiatry in May 2020 reports the mechanism of action of the drug, which was hitherto unknown. This could help find new ways to treat this debilitating and sometimes fatal condition.

31 May 2020

Yoga eases depressive symptoms in people with other mental health issues

Researchers have found that the practice of yoga could help those with mental health problems by easing symptoms of depression effectively. Their study titled, "Effects of yoga on depressive symptoms in people with mental disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis," was published in the latest issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The study was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and Health Education England.

18 May 2020

How the brain makes a limb feel like it does not belong

What is body integrity dysphoria (BID)? News-Medical speaks to Professor Peter Brugger and Dr. Gianluca Saetta to find out.

12 May 2020

Schizophrenia related to abnormal fatty metabolism in the brain

Researchers discovered a brain deficiency in people with schizophrenia that could lead to development of new drug therapies.

28 Apr 2020

Aussie veterans could afford a new lease on life through art therapy

Aussie veterans could be afforded a new lease on life as ground-breaking research from the University of South Australia shows how art therapy is transforming the wellbeing and mental health of service men and women diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

23 Apr 2020

Study explores mental health preparedness among youth in foster care

An estimated 25,000 to 28,000 youth transition out of foster care each year in the United States. In a new study, interviews with hundreds of 17-year-olds in the California foster care system reveal not only elevated mental health counseling and medication use, but also that youth with indicated mental health needs feel less prepared to manage their mental health.

20 Apr 2020

Hypertensive pregnancy disorders may lead to mental health conditions in children

Hypertensive pregnancy disorders, especially preeclampsia, a form of high blood pressure during pregnancy, may lead to adverse mental health conditions in children, according to new research published today in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal.