Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Scientists unravel mystery about how nature can access genetic information in cells

Australian scientists have unraveled part of the mystery about how nature can usefully access genetic information in cells despite it being so tightly packed away.

26 Mar 2020

Hotter temperatures linked to bad mental health

Hot days increase the probability that an average adult in the U.S. will report bad mental health, according to a study published on March 25, 2020 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Mengyao Li of the University of Georgia, and colleagues.

25 Mar 2020

California lawmakers struggle to conduct business amid COVID-19 lockdown

The weekend before California shuttered its Capitol building, Senate leader Toni Atkins spent hours on the phone - taking the roles of a student learning from epidemiologists and a legislator discussing with colleagues how the country's most populous state should respond to the COVID-19 crisis.

25 Mar 2020

Increase in anxiety, depression and suicidal thinking in US adolescents, survey reports

Data has revealed anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and other "internalizing" problems are rising in American adolescents.

25 Mar 2020

Mother-infant touch and contact promote baby's neurophysiological development

As the world prioritizes social distancing to stop or slow down the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), a new study by researchers at Florida Atlantic University demonstrates that mother-infant touch and contact are essential for optimal neurodevelopmental regulation in early infancy.

25 Mar 2020

Research team identifies a molecule that directs neurons

The habenula is a small region at the centre of the brain, but is crucial for people's lives. It is made up of groups of nerve cells that control the "neurotransmitters" of the brain, that is to say substances like dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin.

24 Mar 2020

Nearly all older Americans support including dental coverage in Medicare

Nearly all older Americans support adding a dental benefit to the Medicare program that covers most people over age 65, according to a new national poll that also reveals how often costs get in the way of oral health for older adults.

24 Mar 2020

Study shows importance of sleep for children’s health and social competence

Researchers at Keio University report in the journal Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health the results of an in-depth study on the importance of sleep for children’s health and social behavior.

24 Mar 2020

Overweight and obese people at higher risk of COVID-19

Since the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) first emerged in China, a series of studies have provided a better understanding of the virus and how it affects the human body. Evidence shows that vulnerable or high-risk populations include older adults, those who are immunocompromised, and those who have underlying medical conditions.

24 Mar 2020

New toolkit for talking to kids about coronavirus

A team of University of Arizona researchers has created a toolkit for parents, teachers and school administrators to reference before talking to their kids about coronavirus.

23 Mar 2020

Behave or expect lockdown like Italy, UK warns

Governments across the globe need to impose strict measures to implement lockdowns and quarantine procedures to fight the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. The United Kingdom has imposed social distancing guidance, but some are still not following it appropriately.

23 Mar 2020

Researchers develop and test autism-specific quality of life measurement tool

A new study led by researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia shows that a set of simple questionnaires can help clinicians and families better evaluate the quality of life of people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

23 Mar 2020

Spinal stabilization exercise program designed by Lithuanian scientists is 3 times more efficient

With the significant part of the global population forced to work from home, the occurrence of lower back pain may increase. Lithuanian scientists have devised a spinal stabilization exercise program for managing lower back pain for people who perform a sedentary job.

23 Mar 2020

More mental health care utilization reduces odds of suicide among youths, study finds

A multistate study of Medicaid enrollees led by researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found that suicide risk was highest among youth with epilepsy, depression, schizophrenia, substance use and bipolar disorder.

23 Mar 2020

Study finds promising biomarker for diagnosis of schizophrenia and treatment response

Around four in a thousand people worldwide suffer from schizophrenia, according to scientific estimates. The disease affects people from all walks of life, including Vincent van Gogh, the painter Agnes Martin, mathematician John Nash and Eduard Einstein, a son of the great physicist. The disease touches men and women equally.

23 Mar 2020

New drug can alleviate the side effects of tricyclic antidepressants

About one in five Danes are affected by depression at some point in their lives. The severe depressions may be treated with the so-called 'tricyclic antidepressants', an antidepressant drug that is more effective than the drugs used for mild and moderate depressions.

22 Mar 2020