Medical debt tied to higher likelihood of forgone mental health care More than one in seven adults reported carrying medical debt in 2023, and of these, one in three forwent mental health care in the subsequent year, according to a research letter published online April 18 in JAMA Health Forum. Read More
US Preventive Services Task Force recommends counseling to prevent perinatal depression The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends counseling for women at increased risk for perinatal depression (PND). This recommendation forms the basis of a draft recommendation statement published online April 22. Read More
Serotonin system’s hidden complexity may reshape understanding of day-to-day decision making Our lives are filled with binary decisions—choices between one of two alternatives. But what's really happening inside our brains when we engage in this kind of decision making? Read More
Brain networks study examines the transition from early to chronic psychosis Patients in the early stages of psychosis respond to treatments differently than those who have developed a chronic version of the disorder. Understanding the neurobiological changes from early to chronic stages is essential for developing targeted prevention and treatment strategies. But how symptoms change during this transition—and what role the brain plays—is unclear. Read More
Study shows significant increase in mental health diagnoses among publicly insured children In the first comprehensive investigation into the trends of mental health diagnoses among children with public health insurance, a new study reports the percentage of mental health and neurodevelopmental disorder diagnoses increased substantially in the decade before the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More
Virtual reality interface design affects users both physically and mentally, study finds Once seen as a novelty, virtual reality (VR) technology has dramatically improved over the years and is now used widely in fields including health care, manufacturing and training. Read More
Science confirms what an only child already knows: Caregiving alone is tough Caring for an aging parent is one of life's most meaningful—and challenging—experiences. For adults who grew up as only children, that task often comes without support. No siblings to share the stress, split costs or take turns during long nights—just one person carrying the entire load. Read More
Gratitude comes with benefits. A social psychologist explains how to practice it when times are stressful A lot has been written about gratitude over the past two decades and how we ought to be feeling it. There is advice for journaling and a plethora of purchasing options for gratitude notebooks and diaries. And research has consistently pointed to the health and relationship benefits of the fairly simple and cost-effective practice of cultivating gratitude. Read More
Babies follow social cues despite trauma, study finds Babies living as refugees have some of the same social skills as children with more secure home conditions. This is shown by a new study that researchers from Uppsala University have conducted in cooperation with colleagues in Uganda, Zimbabwe and Bhutan. Over 800 children participated in the study, making it one of the largest infant studies ever conducted using eye movement measurements. Read More
Brain connectivity study identifies neural mechanisms behind psychosis remission A study led by Pompeu Fabra University reveals which brain mechanisms allow psychosis to remit. The results of this pioneering research could have important clinical implications for exploring new intervention strategies in patients with psychosis. The study was carried out in collaboration with one of the main psychiatry groups at Lausanne University Hospital (Switzerland). Read More