Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Co-prescribing stimulants and opioids may fuel the twin epidemic of overdose

The combination of prescribed central nervous system stimulants, such as drugs that relieve ADHD symptoms, with prescribed opioid medications is associated with a pattern of escalating opioid intake, a new study has found.

22 Feb 2025

Study finds lack of consensus on how to treat chronic non-cancer pain

Chronic pain is complex and difficult to treat. Prescribing opioid pain medications has become controversial but may help some patients.

22 Feb 2025

Study links excessive screen time to psychological distress in adolescents

Adolescents who spend more than three hours a day engaged in sedentary behaviors – including playing video games, reading for leisure or spending a lot of time distracted by screens – have a higher risk of facing psychological distress in the future, according to a study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

21 Feb 2025

The dangers of fraudulent diabetes products and how to avoid them

As the number of people diagnosed with diabetes continues to grow, an increasing number of products marketed under the guise of "dietary supplements" or "over-the-counter drugs" promising to prevent, treat, and even cure diabetes are being sold illegally.

21 Feb 2025

Study links fetal acetaminophen exposure to increased risk of ADHD

Fetal acetaminophen exposure increases the likelihood that a child will develop attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a study published Feb. 6 in Nature Mental Health.

21 Feb 2025

NIHR grant supports research into how musical practices can enhance perinatal mental health

The National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) has awarded a major grant of over £2.8 million to the University of Roehampton and Stellenbosch University for a four-year research project.

21 Feb 2025

Eating more flavonoids may slow aging and boost brain health, study finds

A high intake of flavonoid-rich foods, such as tea, apples, blueberries, and red wine, is linked to reduced risks of frailty, poor mental health, and physical impairment in older adults, particularly women.

20 Feb 2025

Study links screen time to increased risk of manic symptoms in preteens

Preteens who spend more time on screens are more likely to develop manic symptoms years two-years later, according to a new study published in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.

20 Feb 2025

An ice rink to fight opioid crisis: Drug-free fun vs. misuse of settlement cash

A Kentucky county nestled in the heart of Appalachia, where the opioid crisis has wreaked devastation for decades, spent $15,000 of its opioid settlement money on an ice rink.

20 Feb 2025

Research reveals concerning links between fitness apps and disordered eating

With New Year resolutions in full swing and health tracking apps at our fingertips, new research reveals concerning links between health and fitness apps and disordered eating, body image concerns and excessive exercise.

20 Feb 2025

Hydrodissection may offer hope for post-amputation pain relief

A reliable method to treat post-amputation pain remains elusive, but a new Northwestern Medicine study conducted in collaboration with Ukrainian physicians suggests that hydrodissection - a simple procedure that injects fluid around nerves - may reduce residual limb pain and opioid dependence.

19 Feb 2025

Blocking mobile internet for two weeks improves mental health and well-being

Today, nearly every American - 91% - owns a cellphone that can access the internet, according to the Pew Research Center. In 2011, only about one-third did. Another study finds they average 5 hours and 16 minutes a day staring at small screens.

19 Feb 2025

Republicans are eyeing cuts to Medicaid. What’s Medicaid, again?

In January, during a congressional hearing on his way to becoming secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. got basic details wrong about Medicaid — a program he now oversees.

19 Feb 2025

More screen time, more stress? Study links device use to teen mental health

Research shows that excessive screen time contributes to stress and depression in adolescents, highlighting the need for balanced digital habits and exercise.

19 Feb 2025

Lasting impact of long COVID and the protective benefits of vaccination

Researchers explore the mental and physical health outcomes in patients with long COVID.

19 Feb 2025

Milk boosts gut-friendly bacteria while cheese alters microbiome balance, study reveals

Researchers found that dairy consumption influences gut microbiota composition, with milk promoting beneficial bacteria and cheese altering microbial diversity in distinct ways.

18 Feb 2025

New treatment cuts aggression in male offenders with antisocial personality disorder

A new psychological therapy designed by a team of UCL-led researchers has been found to reduce rates of violence and aggression among male offenders with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD).

18 Feb 2025

UTHealth Houston launches at-home telerehabilitation trial for stroke patients in Rio Grande Valley

A new at-home telerehabilitation care service for stroke patients will be offered to residents of Cameron County in the Rio Grande Valley as part of a randomized clinical trial led by researchers from across UTHealth Houston.

18 Feb 2025

Low Medicaid telehealth reimbursement contributing to workforce crisis at FQHCs

A new study published in JAMA Network Open finds that low Medicaid telehealth reimbursement in New York State may be exacerbating a workforce crisis at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), particularly among mental health care practitioners.

18 Feb 2025

Deny and delay? California seeks penalties for insurers that repeatedly get it wrong

When Colleen Henderson's 3-year-old daughter complained of pain while using the bathroom, doctors brushed it off as a urinary tract infection or constipation, common maladies in the potty-training years.

18 Feb 2025