Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Low-calorie diets linked to higher psoriatic arthritis risk, genetic study suggests

This Mendelian randomization study found that low-calorie diets may slightly increase the risk of psoriatic arthritis, while vegetarian and gluten-free diets showed no causal links to psoriasis, acne, or atopic dermatitis. The findings challenge assumptions about universally beneficial dietary patterns and highlight the need for cautious interpretation of dietary interventions in inflammatory skin disease.

19 Oct 2025

CogLinks model reveals how the brain adapts to changing rules

Every day, your brain makes thousands of decisions under uncertainty. Most of the time, you guess right. When you don't, you learn. But when the brain's ability to judge context or assign meaning falters, thoughts and behavior can go astray.

18 Oct 2025

How age influences the perception of ambiguous facial expressions

Do you find it easy to perceive people you meet as happy and positive? Or are you vigilant and look for signs of dissatisfaction and anger in their facial expressions?

17 Oct 2025

Family conflict and peer pressure drive teen mental health risks

A new study from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis provides some answers.

16 Oct 2025

New computer model sheds light on how brain circuits support flexible thinking

Every day, your brain makes thousands of decisions under uncertainty. Most of the time, you guess right.

16 Oct 2025

Major NIHR funding to drive health research and innovation in the Thames Valley region

Aston University and the University of Oxford have won £16.3m in funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to fund infrastructure to improve the health of people living in the Thames Valley region and beyond.

16 Oct 2025

Your smartphone might not be hurting your mood after all

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16 Oct 2025

New European trial tests subcutaneous EEG technology for people with epilepsy

A new clinical trial co-led by researchers at FutureNeuro and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences is investigating how advanced brain monitoring could improve the diagnosis and management of epilepsy.

16 Oct 2025

LGBTQ+ adolescents face higher rates of mental health challenges and substance use

New research from the University of Delaware finds that LGBTQ+ adolescents in Delaware face strikingly higher rates of mental health challenges and substance use compared to their peers.

15 Oct 2025

Pets comfort the lonely, but relying on them too much may backfire

This study found that pet ownership does not directly improve well-being but may indirectly enhance it by reducing loneliness, particularly among individuals living alone. However, over-reliance on pets as substitutes for human relationships can increase loneliness and lower well-being.

15 Oct 2025

Climate change fuels worry and hopelessness among Canadian teenagers

More than a third of Canadian teens say climate change is impacting their mental health, according to a national study led by Athabasca University researchers.

15 Oct 2025

Child maltreatment leaves measurable biological scars on children's DNA

Child maltreatment, which includes abuse and neglect, is one of the most serious public health concerns worldwide.

15 Oct 2025

Study provides new framework for understanding domestic violence

Before going on to commit violence, domestic abusers use a mix of intense affection and emotional cruelty, combined with tales of their own childhood trauma, to generate a deep psychological hold that can feel like an "addiction" according to some victims.

15 Oct 2025

New insights into MDMA therapy for PTSD and beyond

A comprehensive peer-reviewed invited review published today in Psychedelics by Dr. Kenji Hashimoto and colleagues (Dr. Mingming Zhao and Dr. Jianjun Yang) synthesizes the evolving landscape of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, examining robust clinical evidence in treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder while identifying promising applications in autism spectrum disorder, eating disorders, and existential distress

14 Oct 2025

PTSD following sexual assault linked to profound fronto-limbic brain changes

Around 70% of women who suffer a sexual assault develop PTSD; now scientists have shown that many of these women show a marked reduction in the usual communication between two important brain areas involved in processing and control of emotions, the amygdala and the pre-frontal cortex.

13 Oct 2025

Daytime sleepiness in older adults linked to cognitive decline after surgery

People 60 and older who are excessively sleepy during the day may have more problems with memory and thinking after surgery, suggests a study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2025 annual meeting.

13 Oct 2025

FAU launches transformative community initiative to prevent substance use among youth

Florida Atlantic University has received a $3 million, five-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a division of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, to lead a transformative community initiative designed to prevent substance use among South Florida's youth.

13 Oct 2025