Mental Health

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.

New research shows that older adults who get high-quality rest are much less likely to develop depression symptoms over a multi-year period. Improving your daily sleeping habits might offer a powerful way to protect your long-term mental health.

A new study suggests that older adults who consume high amounts of ultra-processed foods face a greater risk of dementia. Switching to fresh, unprocessed foods tends to offer protective benefits for long-term brain health.

Ever felt a sudden, creepy sense of dread in an old building? New research suggests the culprit isn't a ghost, but infrasound. These unheard, low-frequency vibrations can trick the body into feeling stressed, sad, and irritated.

A new study of over 18,000 adults suggests that the location of body fat, not just overall BMI, is critical to brain health. Researchers found evidence that deep belly fat is particularly damaging to the brain's white matter.

A recent study reveals that adults who exceed their ideal family size experience lower emotional well-being. By contrast, people who have fewer children than desired report similar happiness levels to those who meet their parenting goals.

A new neuroimaging study reveals that people with higher levels of autistic traits process self-conscious emotions differently. Researchers discovered that altered communication between specific brain regions explains why these individuals tend to experience heightened shame and reduced guilt.

When children watch their parents interact, their brains sync up with the adults via an invisible biological alignment. A new scanning study reveals that this synchronization provides a vital pathway for emotional learning and protects kids against behavioral struggles.

Consuming lavender herbal tea twice daily may offer an accessible way to soothe the severe emotional distress and anxiety associated with misophonia, a condition where ordinary noises prompt intense psychological reactions.