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,…

Psychiatric History of Both Parents Tied to Preterm Birth Risk

Summary: A new study reveals the increased risk of preterm birth in infants when both parents have psychiatric diagnoses. The research analyzed data on all live births in Sweden between…

Study Challenges Longstanding Beliefs About Action of Antipsychotic Medications

Summary: Researchers uncovered a pivotal detail that could revolutionize schizophrenia treatment. Contrary to longstanding belief, antipsychotic drugs that mitigate overactive dopamine, a hallmark of schizophrenia, interact primarily with a different…

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,…

Curing America’s loneliness epidemic would make us healthier, fitter and less likely to abuse drugs

A national health advisory issued by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on May 3, 2023, sheds light on the urgent public health issues of loneliness and isolation. The report reflects…

Schizophrenia Linked to Non-Inherited Genetic Mutations

Summary: Researchers found a link between schizophrenia and somatic copy-number variants, mutations occurring post-inheritance. The study scrutinized genotype-marker data from over 20,000 blood samples, identifying two genes, NRXN1 and ABCB11,…

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…

Perceptions of Past Abuse: Memory of Childhood Trauma Impact Mental Health More Than Abuse Itself

Summary: he recollection and processing of childhood abuse or neglect can significantly impact mental health in adulthood, more than the experiences themselves. The research revealed that self-reported experiences of early…