Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Psychiatry may be moving closer to precision medicine

For decades, treating depression has largely involved a difficult form of medical guesswork: prescribing one antidepressant after another in hopes that one will eventually help.

6 Jul 2026

Lifelong violence against women linked to significantly earlier menopause

The research, published in the journal Maturitas, links trauma experienced to the onset of the menopause up to 20 months earlier and an increase in hot flushes, depression and cardiometabolic health problems.

6 Jul 2026

Swiping-based dating apps show strongest ties to compulsive use and body dissatisfaction

A meta-analysis of 27 studies involving 21,263 adults linked swiping-based dating app use to small-to-moderate adverse mental health correlates, especially compulsive use, body image concerns, and appearance-related anxiety. General well-being was not significantly associated with app use in the primary analysis, and the authors stressed that mostly cross-sectional evidence cannot prove causality.

5 Jul 2026

New international certification program launched to improve stroke rehabilitation

A UTHealth Houston neurologist was among a group of two dozen healthcare professionals from across the globe who developed an international certification program designed to improve rehabilitation care among stroke survivors.

3 Jul 2026

Scent-enhanced virtual reality eased negative emotions after use

Integrating scents into virtual reality may reduce negative emotions in isolated environments, but more research is needed for sustained psychological benefits.

3 Jul 2026

Reduced sunshine linked to higher demand for mental health care

The study highlights the relationship between weather and mental health care use, suggesting routine weather patterns could forecast service demand effectively.

3 Jul 2026

Study maps domestic violence perpetrator interventions across the Indo-Pacific

Domestic and family violence (DFV) rates in the Indo-Pacific are among the highest globally, but there is a lack of focus, both in research and policy, on the issue across the region.

2 Jul 2026

European project explores how gut microbiome, dietary and lifestyle factors interact with mental health

Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression affect millions of people across Europe and are increasingly recognised as closely linked to diet, nutrition, social inequalities and broader lifestyle factors.

2 Jul 2026

Broad neurodevelopmental spectrum better predicts children's educational outcomes

A paper published in the leading journal Molecular Psychiatry on Friday 3 July at 1am British Summer time led by researchers from Queen Mary University of London and Royal Holloway, University of London challenges the way we think about neurodevelopmental conditions.

2 Jul 2026

Wearable devices reveal changing sleep patterns throughout college years

Sleep is a fundamental aspect of human health that plays a crucial role in cognitive function, academic performance, and social interactions.

1 Jul 2026

Compulsive smartphone use linked to higher depression risk in older adults

Compulsive smartphone habits in older adults can be linked to a higher risk of depression, according to a study led by a Rutgers researcher.

1 Jul 2026

Scientists urge caution over psychedelics as ADHD treatment

In recent years, there has been growing interest among adults with ADHD in the practice of microdosing classic psychedelics such as psilocybin and LSD.

1 Jul 2026

Study finds early-onset Parkinson’s burden has more than doubled worldwide

A GBD 2021 analysis of 204 countries and territories found that early-onset Parkinson’s disease burden among people aged 20 to 49 more than doubled from 1990 to 2021. Age-standardized incidence, prevalence, and disability rates rose globally, with higher estimated burden among males, rapid growth in middle and high-middle SDI regions, and moderate ecological correlations with pesticide use.

1 Jul 2026

Study links semaglutide and tirzepatide to fewer anxiety and depression diagnoses in obesity care

A US electronic health record study found that adults with obesity who started semaglutide or tirzepatide had lower recorded hazards of anxiety and depression than matched patients using naltrexone-bupropion. However, among adults without type 2 diabetes, tirzepatide was linked to higher recorded hazards of anxiety and insomnia than semaglutide, underscoring the need for cautious monitoring.

1 Jul 2026

Global review reveals persistent discrimination against people with psychosis

People with psychosis continue to face abuse, discrimination and early death, despite global reform efforts to protect their human rights, according to La Trobe University researchers.

30 Jun 2026

Researchers identify key predictors for mother-infant bonding difficulties

Mother-to-infant bonding difficulties (MIBD) are commonly associated with postnatal depression. MIBD has been linked to developmental delays and child abuse.

30 Jun 2026

Study finds two effective therapies for common childhood eating disorder

The first randomized, controlled trial for a common childhood eating disorder has shown how therapists and parents can help those struggling with the condition, known as avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, or ARFID.

29 Jun 2026

Teen reliance on AI could hinder healthy relationship development

As teenagers increasingly turn to artificial intelligence chatbots for advice about friendships, family conflicts and romantic ties, researchers are raising concerns that the technology could disturb how young people learn to navigate human relationships.

29 Jun 2026

Daily weather fluctuations affect mental health service demand in England

New research led by the University of East Anglia (UEA) suggests even modest, short-term changes in weather can have a measurable impact on NHS mental health service demand across England.

29 Jun 2026