Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Study reveals impact of overdose deaths on U.S. children

An estimated 1.4 million U.S. children -- 2% of all children nationwide - had lost a family member to a drug overdose as of 2019, according to a study by researchers at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and Pennsylvania State University.

30 Sep 2024

California voters consider tough love for repeat drug offenders

California voters are considering whether to roll back some of the criminal justice reforms enacted a decade ago as concerns about mass incarceration give way to public anger over property crime and a fentanyl crisis that has plagued the state since the covid-19 pandemic hit.

30 Sep 2024

UCLA Health researchers showcase advances in radiation oncology at ASTRO

UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers and physicians who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies will present data on the latest radiation oncology research and clinical trial results at the 66th annual American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) meeting in Washington D.C., Sept. 29 to Oct. 2.

27 Sep 2024

Study reveals gaps in anti-bullying and sexual harassment education in schools

While violence prevention education has increased in U.S. schools, only 1 in 10 schools today require violence prevention discussions in class, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition at the Orange County Convention Center.

27 Sep 2024

New study reveals growing disparities in preterm birth rates

Preterm births have increased by more than 10 percent over the past decade, with racial and socioeconomic disparities persisting over time, according to a new study analyzing more than five million births.

27 Sep 2024

Digital games show promise for improving ADHD and depression in youth, but anxiety remains a challenge

A meta-analysis reveals gamified digital mental health interventions effectively reduce depression and ADHD in youth, highlighting engagement in treatment.

27 Sep 2024

Insufficient sleep during pregnancy associated with neurodevelopmental risks in offspring

Pregnant women who do not get enough sleep may be at higher risk of having children with neurodevelopmental delays, according to new research published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

26 Sep 2024

Study highlights gender differences in genetic risk for psychotic disorders

A team of researchers from the University of Barcelona and the Centre for Biomedical Research in the Mental Health Network (CIBERSAM) has published a pioneering study that reveals significant findings in the field of genetic psychiatry from the perspective of separate gender analysis.

26 Sep 2024

Maternal obesity doubles the risk of developing autism in children

Researchers investigate the potential relationship between maternal fat mass and long-term mental health issues in children born to these mothers.

26 Sep 2024

Weekend warrior exercise linked with lower risk of developing 264 diseases

Busy with work and other obligations, some people concentrate their moderate-to-vigorous exercise in one or two days of the week or weekend.

26 Sep 2024

Nursing aides plagued by PTSD after ‘nightmare’ covid conditions, with little help

One evening in May, nursing assistant Debra Ragoonanan's vision blurred during her shift at a state-run Massachusetts veterans home.

26 Sep 2024

High impulsivity linked to increased stress response during boring tasks

Research at the University of Portsmouth has explored the relationship between high impulsivity and boredom, in an effort to find out what drives rash and sometimes unhealthy decisions.

26 Sep 2024

COVID-19 causes lasting cognitive impairment tied to brain injury markers

Researchers found that COVID-19 patients experienced widespread cognitive deficits one year post-hospitalization, associated with elevated brain injury markers and reduced brain volume. Cognitive recovery plateaued over time, suggesting lasting impacts.

26 Sep 2024

Foundation receives $100,000 to advance MS care

The Foundation of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (FCMSC) recently received a generous donation of $100,000 from EMD Serono Inc., in honor of June Halper, MSN, APN-C, FAAN, MSCN. Ms. Halper a longtime pioneer in the comprehensive care movement for multiple sclerosis (MS), and leading nurse practitioner and MS advocate, passed away on July 24, 2024, at the age of 86, working until her final days as CEO of the CMSC, FCMSC and IOMSN (International Organization of MS Nurses).

26 Sep 2024

Study highlights importance of empathetic care for children in pain

Whether it's a sore arm or a fear of injections, how a child is treated when they present with pain could significantly affect how they respond to and manage pain later in life.

25 Sep 2024

Remote video consultations show positive impact on depression and anxiety

Remote video consultations between patients and mental health specialists show a small but significant improvement on symptoms of depression and anxiety, finds a trial published by The BMJ today.

25 Sep 2024

Wrist-based sensors provide insights into sunlight’s impact on depression

Wrist-based activity sensors worn by individuals with depression and those without over the course of two weeks provided evidence for the relationship between daily sunlight exposure and physical activity, according to a study published September 25, 2024, in the open-access journal PLOS Mental Health by Oleg Kovtun and Sandra Rosenthal from Vanderbilt University, U.S.

25 Sep 2024

Higher doses of buprenorphine linked to lower emergency visits in opioid use disorder

Adults with opioid use disorder who receive a higher daily dose of the opioid addiction treatment medication buprenorphine may have a lower risk of subsequent emergency department visits or use of inpatient services related to behavioral health (such as for mental health and substance use disorders) than adults receiving the recommended dose, according to an analysis funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

25 Sep 2024

Earthquake aftermath linked to higher rates of menstrual irregularities

In research published in Brain and Behavior, investigators found increased rates of menstrual irregularities in women living in areas affected by the 2023 earthquake in Turkey.

25 Sep 2024