Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

UH psychologist receives NIH grant to evaluate remote parenting program for premature infants

A University of Houston psychologist has received a $2.8 million grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to lead the first randomized clinical trial testing whether a remotely delivered parenting program can improve healthy infant brain development to support long-term mental health outcomes for babies born prematurely.

29 Jul 2026

Wildfire evacuation triggered long-term mental health impacts for LA residents

Los Angeles County residents living in evacuation warning or order zones during the 2025 wildfires experienced heightened levels of anxiety and depression almost a year later, according to new USC research.

29 Jul 2026

ACLM launches Project Remission to shift the goal of chronic disease care

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) today announced the launch of Project Remission, a call to action to shift the goal of chronic disease care from symptom management to the possibility of achieving remission and health restoration.

29 Jul 2026

Oral semaglutide reduces heavy drinking in adults with alcohol use disorder

A clinical trial led by researchers at CU Anschutz has found that oral semaglutide, a medication widely used for diabetes and weight loss, reduces heavy drinking in adults with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).

29 Jul 2026

The everyday habits linked to better grades in teenagers

Researchers found that regular meals, Mediterranean diet adherence, sufficient sleep, and limited television viewing were independently associated with better grades among 974 adolescents. Meeting more healthy lifestyle recommendations was consistently associated with stronger performance across first, second, and third languages.

29 Jul 2026

New report urges stronger intimate partner violence screening for veterans

When Congress passed the Deborah Sampson Act of 2020 - named for a woman who served in the Revolutionary War disguised as a man - the goal was to broaden access to government-provided medical care for female military veterans.

28 Jul 2026

Heatwave exposure associated with accelerated biological aging in middle-aged and older adults

As global climate change intensifies, heatwaves are becoming more frequent, longer, and more severe, emerging as an important environmental stressor for human health.

28 Jul 2026

Lifestyle habits may explain difference in endometriosis symptoms

Investigating lifestyle factors, this study highlights their role in quality of life for women with endometriosis, advocating for personalized care strategies.

28 Jul 2026

Research reveals hidden sleep crisis among workers in mid-later life

Sleep disturbances are far more common among workers in mid-later life than previously believed, according to a study that links work-related stress to a range of wellbeing issues.

28 Jul 2026

Some caffeinated drinks are linked to poorer memory

A study on caffeine's impact reveals product-specific effects on anxiety, memory, and stress among university students, highlighting mental health implications.

28 Jul 2026

Permanent supportive housing improves health outcomes

The study reveals that permanent supportive housing fosters long-term health improvements, addressing chronic illness and mental health in homeless populations.

28 Jul 2026

Trial successfully lowers alcohol use in humanitarian setting

The first known randomized trial of an alcohol-reduction intervention in a humanitarian setting found a significant, sustained effect in lowering alcohol use.

27 Jul 2026

Survey shows Native Americans lack awareness of plant-based diets for diabetes prevention

Although Native Americans experience some of the nation's highest rates of type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases, a new national survey suggests many have not heard about one of the most effective dietary approaches for preventing and even reversing the disease.

27 Jul 2026

New poll shows young adults lack practical healthcare management skills

Many young adults may be entering adulthood without the practical skills needed to manage their own healthcare, suggests a new national poll.

27 Jul 2026

AI mental health chatbots feel empathetic, but safety evidence still lags

Immune dysregulation may contribute to depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and anxiety through chronic inflammation, altered neuroimmune signaling, genetic susceptibility, and stress-related epigenetic changes. Evidence also suggests that biologically defined patient subgroups may benefit from more precise, immune-informed approaches to diagnosis and treatment.

27 Jul 2026

West Virginia University study examines common triggers for anxious driving

West Virginia University researchers say driving anxiety, one of the most common phobias, is triggered by a variety of circumstances that can lead to panic attacks and an avoidance of the open road during the summer traveling season and at other times of the year.

24 Jul 2026

Longer activity bouts link to lower future dementia and mental health risks

A UK Biobank analysis of 66,483 adults found that longer daily moderate-to-vigorous activity bouts and less fragmented activity were associated with lower subsequent risks of inpatient diagnoses of dementia, depression, and anxiety, independent of total activity time. In neuroimaging data from 13,108 participants, these activity patterns were also associated with more favorable brain measures, although the observational analyses cannot establish cause and effect.

23 Jul 2026

Higher neuroticism may curb strenuous exercise, genetic analysis suggests

Researchers used a UK survey and genetic data to examine whether higher neuroticism is associated with lower exercise engagement. Under the study’s Mendelian randomization assumptions, higher neuroticism was estimated to reduce participation in moderate and vigorous physical activity, while conscientiousness may lessen this effect.

23 Jul 2026

Study reveals high prevalence of post-pandemic fatigue and sleep disturbances

Disrupted sleep and anxiety may be an ongoing issue for many people after the pandemic, whether due to COVID-19 directly or to the stress and anxiety caused by the global pandemic, and may contribute to the fatigue commonly reported by people with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome (PCS, or 'long COVID').

23 Jul 2026

Motor abnormalities may predict multiple mental health disorders

Motor issues-such as coordination problems, motor slowing, or sudden, uncontrolled movements-have been recognized as signs of psychological disorders since the 1800s. How they map to mental health conditions, however, remains unknown.

22 Jul 2026