Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Understanding the risks of taking Z-drugs for insomnia

ZZZZZ. Remember sleeping through the night? Not lately?

24 Feb 2025

Childhood trauma and neighborhood disorder influence post-injury recovery in urban Black men

A new Penn Nursing study published in the Journal of Urban Health reveals that both Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and perceived neighborhood disorder significantly impact the mental health of Black men in Philadelphia following serious traumatic injuries.

24 Feb 2025

New research shows why limits on working memory exist

Working memory is what allows humans to juggle different pieces of information in short-term scenarios, like making a mental grocery list and then going shopping or remembering and then dialing a phone number.

24 Feb 2025

Frequent takeaway food and low exercise levels linked to higher anxiety and depression

Researchers examine how food choices and different levels of physical activity may impact the risk of depression and anxiety among university students.

23 Feb 2025

Optimistic mindsets linked to better health behaviors and well-being

Do you see the glass as half empty or half full? If you rewind to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, chances are you experienced some level of pessimism.

22 Feb 2025

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