Mental Disorder News and Research

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GLP-1 receptor agonists improve mood and metabolic health in adults with mental illness

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) can lead to significant weight loss and improve blood sugar control in adults with severe mental illness, as well as having positive effects on mood, well-being, and quality of life in those both with and without mental illness, according to a systematic review of the available evidence being presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Malaga, Spain (11-14 May).

11 May 2025

New research challenges myths about parenting and adult personalities

New research challenges traditional views and myths in psychology, such as the long-held belief that parenting is the biggest influence on adult personalities.

7 May 2025

Ultra-processed foods increase risk of anxiety and depression, study shows

A large UK Biobank study linked ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption to increased risks of anxiety, depression, substance use disorder, and other mental health outcomes. A metabolomic signature associated with UPF intake partially mediated these relationships, especially in adults under 60.

5 May 2025

Gut bacteria and metabolites reveal depression-linked patterns in older adults

A cross-sectional study of 400 older adults with metabolic syndrome reveals that individuals with depression have distinct gut microbiota and metabolite profiles. Eight bacterial genera and 15 fecal metabolites were significantly associated with depression, suggesting a gut-brain axis link.

29 Apr 2025

Discovery sheds light on protein's role in myelin formation and schizophrenia

Research published in the Journal of Neurochemistry has detailed the role of a protein, hnRNP A1, in the formation and stability of myelin, suggesting an important impact on neurodegenerative diseases and mental disorders such as multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia.

17 Apr 2025

Study identifies contrast perception deficit in people with schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that affects around 1% of the world's population. Researchers of the University of Barcelona have identified a deficit in contrast perception in people with schizophrenia.

28 Jan 2025

What causes behavioral side effects in popular weight loss drugs?

The study of GLP1R variants shows associations with cardiometabolic traits and behavioral changes, highlighting indirect effects of GLP1RA on mental health.

23 Jan 2025

Immune system changes may predict antipsychotic resistance in schizophrenia Scientis...

Researchers from the National Healthcare Group (NHG)'s Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) have made strides in understanding the connection between the immune system and resistance to antipsychotic medications in schizophrenia, using changes in immune cell populations to predict potential treatment resistance and initiate the most appropriate treatment sooner.

16 Jan 2025

Depression genes amplify women's heart disease risk

Study reveals a sex-specific link between genetic risks for psychiatric disorders and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), with women showing a higher risk of atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, and heart failure linked to genetic predisposition to major depression. Menopause and modifiable factors like BMI and smoking amplify these risks.

8 Dec 2024

AI model combines speech and brain activity to diagnose depression

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses. As many as 280 million people worldwide are affected by this disease, which is why researchers at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model that helps to identify depression based on both speech and brain neural activity.

20 Nov 2024

Cognitive behavioral therapy shows promise for prolonged grief disorder

Integrative cognitive behavioral therapy shows greater efficacy than present-centered therapy in reducing grief severity and comorbid symptoms after treatment.

15 Nov 2024

New insights on the association between genes, gut microbiota, and mental health

The study identifies links between gut microbiota, genetic variants in IBD, and mental health disorders, offering insights into potential biomarkers for CMDs.

31 Oct 2024

Liver X receptor beta offers new hope in treating depression and anxiety

Liver X receptor beta (LXRβ) shows potential in reducing depression and anxiety by improving neurogenesis, reducing neuroinflammation, and enhancing cognitive and emotional function. More research on LXR agonists could reveal new treatments for mental health disorders.

8 Oct 2024

COVID-19 vaccine uptake higher in people with mental illness but drops for those not on medication

Researchers examined the link between mental illness and COVID-19 vaccine uptake, finding high vaccination rates but lower uptake among unmedicated individuals with mental health conditions.

1 Oct 2024

WHO calls for action to support adolescent mental and sexual health

Increased investment is urgently needed to address evolving health risks and meet the mental and sexual and reproductive health needs for the nearly 1.3 billion adolescents (aged 10-19 years) globally, according to a new scientific publication released by the World Health Organization (WHO).

23 Sep 2024

Redlined communities face higher mental health risks from air pollution

Air pollution is bad for mental health. That much is clear. Now, new research shows the impact may be even worse in neighborhoods that were historically redlined.

23 Aug 2024

University of Oxford’s online therapies offer hope for anxiety and PTSD patients

Urgent treatment solutions are needed for children, adolescents and adults with mental health conditions. Despite the government committing to spending 8.9% of all NHS funding on mental health treatment last year, the pipeline to build new facilities and train new staff will take years and, on their own, are insufficient to meet demand.

5 Aug 2024