Psychiatry News and Research

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

Reading for pleasure linked to better mental health and greater empathy

Reading for pleasure – from tucking into a Jane Austen classic to devouring a Heartstopper graphic novel – is linked to better mental health, greater empathy and a lower risk of dementia, say researchers.

15 Sep 2026

Natural anti-NMDAR1 antibody may protect the brain following traumatic brain injury

Every year, an estimated 20 million people worldwide sustain a concussion or other traumatic brain injury (TBI), which leads to a two- to four-fold increase in the risk of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

15 Sep 2026

Scientists discover brain spot that drives risk-taking decisions

Every day, your brain runs the same calculation: take a risk or play it safe? Your gas tank might be low, but there's just enough to make it to work on time.

15 Sep 2026

Add-on drug lumateperone boosts sexual function in patients with depression

Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and an inadequate response to standard antidepressants who received an add- on treatment with the drug lumateperone saw significantly improved sexual function, found a new study led by a University of Virginia School of Medicine researcher.

15 Sep 2026

Study links heritability and polygenicity across complex human traits

Researchers at the University of Oslo have mapped which parts of our DNA carry the inherited differences behind complex traits and disorders.

11 Sep 2026

Early studies hint that ketones may affect pathways linked to PTSD

An integrative review found that ketogenic therapy may influence metabolic, inflammatory, oxidative stress, and neurotransmitter pathways implicated in PTSD, with animal studies and small human studies reporting early signs of symptom improvement. Human evidence remains limited to very small cohorts, case reports, and pilot studies, and controlled trials have yet to establish clinical efficacy.

11 Sep 2026

Study reveals how brain reward circuitry builds psychological resilience

New research has uncovered that how the brain responds to anticipated rewards plays a key role in building psychological resilience after a traumatic experience.

10 Sep 2026

Review highlights solute carriers as targets for central nervous system disorders

Solute carriers (SLCs) are specialized transport proteins that control the movement of nutrients, ions and neurotransmitters across cell membranes and are essential for brain metabolism and neuronal communication.

10 Sep 2026

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia may slow biological aging in older adults

A new UCLA Health study found that treatment of insomnia using cognitive behavioral therapy slowed the pace of biological aging in older adults.

8 Sep 2026

Hormone therapy during menopause transition associated with lower heart disease risk

A study led by Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Pittsburgh provides pivotal insights into one of the most debated questions in women's health: how does hormone therapy for menopause symptoms affect cardiovascular disease risk when used in peri- or early postmenopause?

8 Sep 2026

GLP-1 drugs looked promising for depression. The evidence tells a more complicated story

A systematic review of 43 studies found highly heterogeneous results for GLP-1 receptor agonists across animal models and human research assessing depression-, anxiety-, and stress-related outcomes. No study directly tested these drugs as a treatment for PTSD, and the available evidence does not currently support their use for depression or PTSD, although people with metabolic dysfunction may warrant further investigation.

7 Sep 2026

Psilocybin microdosing sounds promising, but the strongest studies tell a different story

A systematic review of 11 studies involving 3,262 adults found that psilocybin mushroom and truffle microdosing was associated with reported improvements across areas including mental health, well-being, cognition, creativity, and social functioning. However, the evidence was methodologically weak and highly heterogeneous, the two placebo-controlled trials found no significant improvements, and inadequate adverse-event reporting means efficacy and safety remain uncertain.

7 Sep 2026

Psilocybin study explores new treatment for cocaine use disorder

Albert Arias, MD, chief of addiction psychiatry at Carilion Clinic, has received an award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to research how psilocybin, a psychedelic compound being studied for several psychiatric and substance use disorders, can offer a new approach for people with cocaine use disorder.

4 Sep 2026

Mental health warning labels prompt young people to limit screens

Pop-up messages that warn of the harms of social media - such as mental health consequences - have potential to reduce young people's social media use, a new Stanford Medicine study has found.

4 Sep 2026

Extreme long-distance running triggers major surge in body's cannabis-like molecules

A marathon, 100 kilometers or even 230 kilometers in one go: Anyone running such distances puts enormous strain on their body.

4 Sep 2026

Maternal illness may reshape fetal brain development through epigenetics

Neurodevelopmental conditions, which include autism spectrum disorders, ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), and more, impact around ten percent of the American population.

2 Sep 2026

Bridging science and family story to understand schizophrenia origins

Twin studies have placed the heritability of schizophrenia at roughly eighty percent for decades. Concordance between identical twins, who share the entire genome, does not reach fifty percent. Both figures are well established, and they do not fit together comfortably.

2 Sep 2026

Stay sharp after menopause: How aerobic exercise can improve key thinking skills

Regular aerobic exercise – the kind that gets your heart pumping – can improve important thinking skills called executive functions, and the benefits appear especially strong for women after menopause, according to Rutgers researchers.

2 Sep 2026

Study identifies 36 risk genes for OCD and tic disorders

A Rutgers-led international collaboration has identified 36 genes that substantially raise the risk for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and chronic tic disorders – providing what two researchers said is the most detailed biological understanding of how these conditions develop – and how they might eventually be treated.

1 Sep 2026

Study links human gut bacteria to levels of key chemicals in the brain

The neuroactive potential of bacteria living in the human gut is associated with levels of key chemicals in the brain, according to a new study from the University of Surrey and the University of Roehampton.

1 Sep 2026

Psychiatry News and Research

Further Reading

Reading for pleasure linked to better mental health and greater empathy

Natural anti-NMDAR1 antibody may protect the brain following traumatic brain injury

Scientists discover brain spot that drives risk-taking decisions

Add-on drug lumateperone boosts sexual function in patients with depression

Study links heritability and polygenicity across complex human traits

Early studies hint that ketones may affect pathways linked to PTSD

Study reveals how brain reward circuitry builds psychological resilience

Review highlights solute carriers as targets for central nervous system disorders

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia may slow biological aging in older adults

Hormone therapy during menopause transition associated with lower heart disease risk

GLP-1 drugs looked promising for depression. The evidence tells a more complicated story

Psilocybin microdosing sounds promising, but the strongest studies tell a different story

Psilocybin study explores new treatment for cocaine use disorder

Mental health warning labels prompt young people to limit screens

Extreme long-distance running triggers major surge in body's cannabis-like molecules

Maternal illness may reshape fetal brain development through epigenetics

Bridging science and family story to understand schizophrenia origins

Stay sharp after menopause: How aerobic exercise can improve key thinking skills

Study identifies 36 risk genes for OCD and tic disorders

Study links human gut bacteria to levels of key chemicals in the brain

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