Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Heart health benefits soar with regular sleep schedules, research finds

Irregular sleep patterns significantly increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), with higher sleep regularity associated with reduced cardiovascular risks. This large UK Biobank study underscores the need to prioritize sleep regularity in public health and clinical guidelines.

1 Dec 2024

Study reveals physical and mental effects of unintended pregnancies on mothers

By taking data prior to birth into account, a study by the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) used a novel way to analyze the physical and mental effects that unintended pregnancies have on mothers.

29 Nov 2024

CBT and rehabilitation likely to improve long covid symptoms

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and a program of physical and mental rehabilitation probably improve symptoms of long covid, but the effects are modest, finds a review of the latest evidence published by The BMJ today.

27 Nov 2024

Better maternal diet boosts brain growth and IQ in kids

Higher maternal diet quality during early pregnancy is associated with larger brain volumes and higher IQ scores in offspring aged 10 and 14. Editorial explains why prenatal nutrition plays a crucial role in long-term brain and cognitive development.

27 Nov 2024

Culturally appropriate interventions strengthen healthcare responses to domestic violence

Culturally appropriate women-centred interventions can help healthcare systems respond to domestic violence, research has found.

27 Nov 2024

Social media's role in shaping public attitudes toward obesity

Through an analysis of tweets (now rebranded X) relating to obesity published between April 2019 and December 2022, a study conducted by the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) and the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has revealed that most of these tweets convey negative sentiments about overweight.

27 Nov 2024

Study: One in five young Spaniards spends over two hours daily on TikTok

One in five young Spaniards spends more than two hours a day on TikTok and exceeds the recommended limits for the use of social media, which may lead to an increase in their likelihood of experiencing mental health problems.

27 Nov 2024

Woman’s saliva could offer clues to stress and mental health during pregnancy

New research out of Michigan State University found that the number and type of microbes present in the saliva of pregnant women differ according to whether they are experiencing life stress and symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

27 Nov 2024

Irregular sleep may elevate risk of major cardiovascular events

An irregular sleep-wake cycle is associated with a heightened risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, even for those who clock up the recommended nightly hours of shut-eye, finds research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

26 Nov 2024

Depression increases risk of menstrual pain

Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from depression and often experience more severe physical symptoms.

26 Nov 2024

Rising waters, rising risks: The health impact of climate-driven floods

Flooding, driven by climate change, poses escalating health risks globally, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations while demanding innovative prevention, preparedness, and recovery strategies.

26 Nov 2024

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Public health and the dairy cow in the room

Public health, one of the more misunderstood concepts in the health world, is about the health of entire populations, rather than individuals.

26 Nov 2024

Genetic factors drive early onset and complications of type 2 diabetes in British Asians

A genetic predisposition to having lower insulin production and less healthy fat distribution are major causes of early-onset type 2 diabetes in British Asian people.

26 Nov 2024

Immigration detention center contractor sues over California health inspections

GEO Group, one of the nation's largest private prison contractors, filed a federal lawsuit last month against California officials to strike down a state law allowing local public health officials to inspect immigration detention facilities.

26 Nov 2024

Empowering lived experience in healthcare research

Researchers are calling for a formal process that recognizes and acknowledges the invaluable contributions of those with lived experience in healthcare research.

26 Nov 2024

Preparing family physicians for expanded roles in wartime care

In wars and conflict, family physicians are frequently called on to serve in expanded roles and are witnesses to the enormous mental and physical suffering of individuals, families, communities, and populations.

25 Nov 2024

Boosters cut long COVID risk significantly

Vaccination, especially booster doses, reduces the risk of long COVID by up to 29%, highlighting its critical role in preventing lingering Omicron-era complications.

25 Nov 2024

New funding expands study of brain changes in bipolar disorder

Leila Nabulsi, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in computational neuroscience at the Keck School of Medicine of USC's Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (Stevens INI) has received funding to expand research on the neurocircuitry that underlies bipolar disorder.

25 Nov 2024

How neural and hormonal gut-brain communication shapes metabolism and health

Interoception research reveals how gut-brain communication via neural, hormonal, and microbial pathways regulates metabolism, hunger, and overall health, offering insights for therapeutic innovations.

25 Nov 2024

Peer support program shows promise for cancer patients in Vietnam

Having cancer can be one of the most physically and emotionally draining experiences of a person's life, but navigating this disease without adequate support or resources makes this journey even more burdensome.

25 Nov 2024