As suicides rise in the US, the 988 hotline offers hope – but most Americans aren’t aware of it

July 2023 marks the one-year anniversary of the national launch of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Currently, more than 200 call centers throughout the U.S. are responding to 988…

Amotivation and Anhedonia Key to Social Functioning in Schizophrenia

Summary: Amotivation and anhedonia, rather than expressive dysfunction, are crucial to determining the social functioning of individuals with schizophrenia. The transdiagnostic network analysis examined the relationship between negative symptoms, other…

Investigating Stress Response in PTSD and Depression Through Gene Analysis

Summary: Researchers conducted an analysis of genes in nearly 575,000 brain cells from individuals with and without post-traumatic stress and major depressive disorders (PTSD and MDD), yielding new insights into…

Scorching Stress: The Hidden Mental Toll of Summer Heatwaves

Summary: Research suggests that extreme summer heat can significantly impact mental health, in addition to physical health. Changes in emotions and behaviors can occur due to heat’s influence on serotonin,…

New Dads with Prior Antidepressant Use 30x More Likely to Restart Treatment

Summary: New fathers with a history of antidepressant use are over 30 times more likely to require such treatment again in the first year after their child’s birth. The study,…

Redefining Depression: TBI Affective Syndrome Discovered

Summary: A new study suggests that depression post-traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be a distinct disease separate from traditional major depressive disorder. This revelation, arising from unique patterns observed in…

Abnormal Brain Folding a Biomarker for Major Depressive Disorder

Summary: Researchers discovered a biomarker for major depressive disorder (MDD) in the brain’s outer layer folds, or gyri. The investigation, first of its kind, associates MDD with the local gyrification…

Kindness Meditation Boosts Memory Recall in Depression Recovery

Summary: A form of meditation focused on unconditional kindness can enhance memory recall in individuals with a history of depression. Participants engaged in daily ten-minute meditations aimed at promoting happiness,…

Laughter as Medicine: Humor Therapy Reduces Depression and Anxiety Symptoms

Summary: Humor therapy might alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. The comprehensive study comprised 29 diverse studies from nine countries, involving 2,964 participants with depression, anxiety, or both. While most…

Alterations in Alcohol Consumption Echo Depression Symptom Changes

Summary: A new study uncovers a correlation between changes in alcohol consumption and the ebb and flow of depression symptoms. People reporting lower alcohol use simultaneously noted reductions in depressive…