Psychiatry News and Research

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Psychiatry is the treatment, study and prevention of mental disorders.

Problematic gaming in pre-teens linked to higher risk of psychotic experiences

Pre-teens who struggle to control their video gaming habits are more likely to have psychotic-like experiences a year later, a new study has found.

4 Mar 2026

New research on two million people quantifies how genetic risks overlap across diagnoses

A sweeping new peer-reviewed study published in Genomic Psychiatry has introduced a concept that could reshape how psychiatrists and geneticists think about mental illness: genetic specificity.

3 Mar 2026

Low‑dose oral lithium may help slow the decline of verbal memory, trial suggests

Lithium-a decades-old treatment for bipolar disorder-may hold potential neuroprotective benefits beyond mood stabilization.

2 Mar 2026

Engineered proteins track gene expression in living primate brains

Gene therapy has been successfully used to treat a number of diseases, including immune deficiencies, hereditary blindness, hemophilia and, recently, Huntington's disease, a fatal neurological disorder.

27 Feb 2026

Stronger connection found between cannabis use and mental illness

An analysis of 35,000 Canadians shows that rising cannabis use and worsening mental‑health symptoms are increasingly appearing together, with the connection between the two strengthening over time.

26 Feb 2026

Study reveals nature's profound impact on brain health and well-being

Spending time in nature, even briefly, triggers changes in the brain that calm stress, restore attention and quiet mental clutter, a new study has found.

26 Feb 2026

Study finds sharp drop in benzodiazepine use among older adults

Benzodiazepine treatment declined among U.S. adults between 2018 and 2022, with the steepest drop among adults ages 56 and older, according to a new study by researchers at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

25 Feb 2026

Reducing miRNA levels helps rescue vascular defects in Rett syndrome

MIT researchers have discovered that two common genetic mutations that cause Rett syndrome each set off a molecular chain of events that compromises the structural integrity of developing brain blood vessels, making them leaky.

25 Feb 2026

Five sessions a day TMS approach may reduce depression symptoms in one week

For the many patients with depression who haven't found relief through medication, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) - a noninvasive therapy that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain - has become an increasingly important treatment option.

23 Feb 2026

Study finds widespread off-label use of antipsychotics among older people

The use of antipsychotic medications for purposes other than those officially approved is common among older adults in Finland.

23 Feb 2026

Certain brain regions found to be more active in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder

A new study revealed that certain brain regions are more active in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) during cognitively demanding tasks.

22 Feb 2026

Delirium after cardiac procedures carries serious long-term risks

Delirium is a sudden onset of acute confusion in which those affected are disoriented, have impaired attention, and experience altered perception -often accompanied by hallucinations or sleep disturbances.

20 Feb 2026

Study analyzes alterations in the cerebral cortex in people with psychosis

Researchers at the University of Seville have analyzed alterations in the cerebral cortex in people suffering from psychosis.

20 Feb 2026

Low-fiber diets quickly impair emotional memory in aging brains

Past studies in animals have shown that a highly processed diet is linked to memory problems and inflammation in the aged brain – and the effect can happen fast, after just three days of poor eating.

19 Feb 2026

Study reveals distinct brain roles for MNK1 and MNK2 enzymes

Researchers at the Max Delbrück Center show that two related enzymes, MNK1 and MNK2, act on the brain to regulate different behaviors.

19 Feb 2026

Exercise pills could offer new hope for depression treatment

We all know the feeling: the mental clarity that comes after a good run or a heavy workout. Science backs this up, even showing that for non-severe depression, exercise can be just as effective as antidepressants or therapy.

19 Feb 2026

Study reveals higher rates of substance use among non‑heterosexual groups in the U.S.

A study led by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine reveals higher rates of substance use among all non‑heterosexual groups in the U.S., including people who are uncertain of or who use different terms to describe their sexual identity.

18 Feb 2026

Dual approach strengthens recovery for military PTSD

Military service members and veterans frequently experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is linked to a range of psychological challenges and adverse effects.

17 Feb 2026

Psychedelic effects of ketamine do not predict sobriety

The psychedelic effects recreational users often seek from taking ketamine do not predict the therapeutic benefits for people being treated for alcohol use disorder.

16 Feb 2026

SSRI use during pregnancy linked to gestational diabetes risk and early adaptation problems in newborns

An international team of researchers has found that the use of SSRI antidepressants during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes and early adaptation problems in newborns, even after taking maternal depression into account.

13 Feb 2026