Mental Health

A comprehensive review of more than 50 studies has found a strong link between spirituality and a lower risk of substance abuse. Participating in religious or spiritual services significantly reduces the likelihood of harmful drug and alcohol use.

A new pilot study suggests that combining the psychedelic compound psilocybin with cognitive behavioral therapy is well-tolerated and highly effective at reducing symptoms of clinical depression. Researchers observed profound improvements in patients' moods and emotional regulation.

While many people with early signs of Alzheimer's disease remain mentally sharp for years, others experience rapid memory loss. Scientists have discovered distinct patterns of decline, which could change how future treatments are tested and developed.

When toys are present in a room, young children with autism often focus their visual attention on the objects rather than human faces. Removing visual clutter can gently encourage neurodivergent toddlers to spend more time observing social interactions.

A single snapshot of brain volume forecasts future memory decline better than tracking brain shrinkage over time. This approach highlights the brain's structural reserve, offering a practical tool to identify those at highest risk for developing clinical dementia.

A new analysis shows both antidepressants and short-term psychodynamic therapy effectively treat depression. However, for patients starting with highly severe symptoms, medication might offer slightly better improvements than therapy alone.

A massive analysis of brain scans suggests that reduced gray matter volume and white matter integrity mediate aggressive behavior in patients with schizophrenia, providing new insights into the biology of violence.

Despite troubling reports of anxiety and depression among users of new weight loss and diabetes medications, a comprehensive genetic and clinical analysis reveals no biological link between the drugs and mental health disorders.

A new study suggests that experiencing a mental illness is becoming a distinct political identity, particularly among Gen Z. Those who strongly identify with their mental health conditions are increasingly demanding expanded healthcare, education, and welfare funding.

An intense dislike of the unknown is a major source of anxiety for people with autistic traits. A new study explores how putting complex feelings into words is associated with managing this discomfort.

Rising rates of teenage depression are often blamed on growing income inequality. However, a decade-long study of over half a million adolescents reveals that local shifts in the wealth gap have practically zero impact on teen depressive symptoms.

Young people who regularly view pornography featuring aggressive themes are more likely to enact those dominant behaviors with their own partners. New research suggests this behavioral connection is associated with lower romantic satisfaction in adolescent relationships.

A new meta-analysis found that MDMA-assisted therapy significantly reduces PTSD symptoms. However, researchers warn the evidence quality is "very low" due to flaws in how the clinical trials were conducted, including a failure to use proper placebos.

A recent study suggests the brains of teenage girls with depression fail to adapt to repeated social rejection. This lack of habituation in the amygdala provides evidence for disrupted social learning during a sensitive developmental period.