Neuropsychopharmacology News and Research

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Severe mental illness may accelerate dementia and stroke vulnerability

People living with severe mental illness face a substantially higher risk of dementia throughout adulthood, as well as a significantly elevated risk of stroke in early and middle adulthood, according to a large new study based on health records from Catalonia, Spain.

17 Aug 2026

Falling fentanyl deaths drive historic drop in American drug overdoses

Researchers from the University of California San Diego have found that U.S. overdose death rates declined dramatically between 2023 and 2024, marking the first recorded drop in all four waves of the nation's overdose crisis.

2 Jun 2026

Scientists link schizophrenia risk gene to early cortical neuron changes

Researchers at King's College London have identified the biological nature and timing of changes in human cortical neurons caused by altering activity of a schizophrenia-associated gene in developing human neurons.

20 May 2026

Brain injury survivors use psychedelics to manage symptoms

A new study from the University of Victoria (UVic) has identified a segment of traumatic brain injury survivors who are using psychedelics to self-medicate for cognitive, mood and somatic symptoms such as headaches.

27 Apr 2026

CBD shows promise, but this review warns the hype is outpacing the science

A Neuropsychopharmacology Circumspectives article argues that cannabidiol has genuine therapeutic potential, especially in treatment-resistant pediatric epilepsy, but evidence for most other uses remains limited, heterogeneous, and not yet mature enough for broad clinical adoption. The authors also warn that poor retail product quality, inaccurate labeling, contaminants, hepatotoxicity risk, and drug interactions are major barriers to safe and effective real-world use.

20 Apr 2026

Teen cannabis use linked to slower growth in memory and thinking

Researchers from University of California San Diego have found that teenagers who begin using cannabis show slower gains in thinking and memory skills as they grow. The study, published on April 20, 2026 in Neuropsychopharmacology, analyzed data from more than 11,000 participants in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, the largest long-term study of brain development in U.S. youth.

20 Apr 2026

How social and environmental exposures across life influence mental health risk

Researchers outline how the exposome framework, which captures the totality of environmental exposures across the lifespan, can help explain how non-genetic factors shape mental health risk and resilience. The perspective highlights how integrating environmental, biological, and social data could improve prevention strategies, research models, and personalized mental health care.

10 Mar 2026

Adjunctive brexpiprazole boosts schizophrenia patients' information processing speed

Cognitive impairment, including decreased attention and memory, remains one of the most disabling aspects of schizophrenia, affecting social life of patients.

12 Feb 2026

Chronic alcohol use profoundly alters gene expression in the brain's reward system

Chronic alcohol consumption profoundly alters gene expression in key brain regions involved in reward, impulse control, and decision-making, according to a study led by researchers at the Institute for Neurosciences, a joint center of Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).

9 Feb 2026

Central reference database launched to categorize and coordinate mental health biomarker research

Psychiatrists and neuroscientists are taking a major step toward objective mental health diagnosis by launching a central reference database for the classification and communication of mental health biomarker research.

19 Jan 2026

Vagus nerve stimulation shows lasting benefit in treatment-resistant depression

Findings reveal that vagus nerve stimulation leads to lasting benefits in treatment-resistant depression, improving function and quality of life over two years.

16 Jan 2026

Cannabidiol could become a therapeutic tool for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Cannabidiol (CBD) could become a therapeutic tool to address some of the most frequent and disabling consequences of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), a condition caused by alcohol exposure during pregnancy.

14 Jan 2026

Implanted vagus nerve stimulation device offers lasting relief for severe depression

About 20% of U.S. adults experience major depression in their lifetime. For most people, symptoms improve within a few treatment attempts, but up to one-third of patients have treatment-resistant depression, for which standard antidepressant medication or psychotherapy isn't enough.

13 Jan 2026

School canteen meals fall short on nutrition and sustainability

An EHU study reveals that the food served to children in canteens exceeds fat, protein and sodium recommendations.

16 Dec 2025

Scientists uncover excessive maturation and aging in the hippocampus

In a groundbreaking study, researchers at Fujita Health University and the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science have uncovered a previously overlooked form of brain abnormality linked to anxiety: excessive maturation and aging in the hippocampus, a state they term "hyper-maturity."

27 Oct 2025

Caraway seeds inspire new seizure-fighting medicines

A UNLV-led team of researchers has co-opted a common kitchen spice to create a new class of cannabidiol (CBD)-like medicines that show powerful seizure-reducing effects - offering a safer, more affordable, and more effective treatment for childhood seizure disorders than existing frontline therapies.

15 Oct 2025

Study links skin conditions to worse outcomes in mental health patients

Scientists have discovered that mental health patients who have skin conditions may be more at risk of worse outcomes, including suicidality and depression.

9 Oct 2025

Antidepressant fluoxetine alters brain energy use and boosts neural plasticity

A new study shows that the widely used antidepressant fluoxetine does more than boost serotonin levels: it changes how brain cells manage their energy and rebuild their connections, potentially helping the brain "loosen up" and adapt during depression treatment.

25 Sep 2025

Study provides new insights into understanding the origins of schizophrenia

A study published in Molecular Psychiatry and led by the EHU's Neuropsychopharmacology group, which is also a member of CIBER Mental Health (CIBERSAM) and of the Biobizkaia Health Research Institute, provides new insights into understanding the origins of schizophrenia.

23 Sep 2025

Semaglutide may one day be used to treat cocaine addiction

A drug already prescribed for type 2 diabetes and obesity may one day be used to treat cocaine addiction. In animal studies, researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, found that semaglutide reduced both cocaine use and relapse.

5 Sep 2025