Feature Channels: Psychology and Psychiatry

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The combined effects of systemic and interpersonal racism layered on top of negative experiences within the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with depression and anxiety among Black people in the postpartum period, according to a new study by researchers in The Intergenerational Exposome Program (IGNITE) of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The findings were published today in JAMA Psychiatry.

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Right from birth, human brains are organized into networks that support mental functions such as vision and attention, a new study shows.

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Researchers from the University of California, Irvine, participated with the international SCHEMA (SCHizophrenia Exome Meta-Analysis) Consortium in a landmark genetic study of more than 121,000 people which has identified extremely rare protein-disrupting mutations in 10 genes that strongly increase an individual's risk of developing schizophrenia — in one instance, by more than 20-fold.

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A new nationally representative study published online in the International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology found two in five adults (42%) with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were in excellent mental health.

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The brain structure of patients with recent onset psychosis and depression can offer important biological insights into these illnesses and how they might develop.

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People would rather spend their money on a charitable cause than simply give to it, a new study suggests. You may wonder: What’s the difference? The answer is control.

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Everybody knows at least one. That person in your life who’s irritating, exasperating and generally unpleasant to be around. In other words, a total asshole. New research from the University of Georgia suggests that the “biggest assholes” in many people’s lives are middle-aged men.

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A review of studies exploring changes in alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed an increase in problematic alcohol use in some countries. Overall, the pandemic’s impact on drinking was mixed, and likely dependent on multiple factors including the local social distancing and alcohol-specific policies in force. Although several countries, including the US, have previously reported higher alcohol sales during the pandemic, synthesized information on the impact on alcohol consumption was lacking. Factors potentially linked to greater pandemic drinking include social isolation, anxiety and depression, blurring of work and leisure hours, loss of employment, and the shift from in-premise to home-based drinking. However, for some people, the same factors may have prompted a reduction in drinking. Alcohol-related policies, as well as lockdown restrictions, varied around the world. In certain countries, such as South Africa, alcohol sales were temporarily banned, whereas in parts

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A new paper by an Oregon State University-led research team provides a scientific framework to help shape the rollout of a program in Oregon that will legally permit the use of psilocybin for therapeutic reasons.

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We’re all familiar with the classic “look” of a movie bad guy: peering through narrowing eyes with a sinister sneer (like countless James Bond villains, including Christopher Walken’s memorable Max Zorin in A View to a Kill) or pumped up to cartoon-like dimensions (like the Soviet boxer Drago who growls “I must break you” to Rocky Balboa in Rocky IV).

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Sally A. Theran, associate professor of psychology at Wellesley College, has studied how young people can fight the depressive symptoms associated with the "superhero ideal" -- the pressure to be the best at everything they do -- by developing authentic and healthy relationships with peers, family members, and teachers.

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Lead is an environmental neurotoxicant that causes neurocognitive deficits and cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. It also disproportionately affects socially disadvantaged communities. The association between lead exposure and children’s IQ has been well studied, but few studies have examined the effects of blood lead on children’s physiological stress and behavior. Three University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) studies shed light on how lead can affect children and adolescents’ physiological stress and emotional/behavioral development.

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Petros Levounis, professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and associate dean for professional development at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, has been named president-elect of the American Psychiatric Association.

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People who are organized, with high levels of self-discipline, may be less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment as they age, while people who are moody or emotionally unstable are more likely to experience cognitive decline late in life, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

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A study published in Molecular Psychiatry is the first to look at multiple levels of biology within women with postpartum depression (PPD) to see how women with the condition differ from those without it.

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A new U of T Scarborough study finds that liberals and conservatives differ in how they perceive dominance in women, which may influence their likelihood to vote them into political office.

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University of Alberta researchers have trained a machine learning model to identify people with post-traumatic stress disorder with 80 per cent accuracy by analyzing text data.

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People may feel less vulnerable and take fewer safety precautions about COVID-19 when they are with, or even just think about, their friends instead of acquaintances or strangers, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

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A study from SMU (Southern Methodist University) and UC3M (Universidad Carlos III de Madrid) in Spain produced some surprising results: the gap separating the interests of men and women on some topics is larger in countries known for promoting gender equality than in countries with more rigid gender roles.

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The University of California, Irvine, has several members from a variety of fields of study that are available to comment on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Their names and areas of expertise are found below.   Matthew Beckmann, associate professor, political science. Beckman studies the organizational structures and operational strategies presidents can use to pick their team, invest their time, focus their attention, channel their effort, discipline their thinking, coordinate their subordinates, and, most importantly, make decisions.

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In a landmark genetic study of more than 121,000 people, an international consortium called SCHizophrenia Exome Meta-Analysis (SCHEMA), led by researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, has identified extremely rare protein-disrupting mutations in 10 genes that strongly increase an individual's risk of developing schizophrenia. The Genomic Psychiatry Cohort (GPC) study, based at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and led by Drs. Carlos and Michele Pato, is a major contributor to this study and the second, complementary study, led by researchers at Cardiff University on behalf of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC).

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Cellphone “selfies” distort facial features, an effect that may be driving an uptick in requests for plastic surgery, UT Southwestern researchers show in a new study. The findings, reported in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, highlight an unexpected consequence of social media and the need for plastic surgeons to discuss this phenomenon with their patients.

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A longitudinal study tested the novel hypothesis that aggressive and disruptive children engage in frequent conflicts with classmates to strengthen their position in the group and enhance their popularity. Results revealed that higher initial levels of peer-reported aggression and disruptiveness were associated with increases in peer-reported popularity over the course of a semester, particularly for children who reported frequent disagreements with peers.

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A new study led by researchers at UCLA has shown that a specialized primary care medical home improved the care and treatment of patients with serious mental illness, resulting in better mental health-related quality of life.

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There is good news for people suffering from depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other mental health disorders. New research published in the journal Clinical Psychological Science explains how people who have suffered from mental illness can go on to develop a long-lasting sense of well-being and achieve a “high-functioning” life.

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Here are some of the latest articles that have been added to the Clinical Trials channel on Newswise.

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Around three in 10 adolescent young carers in the UK think about self-harming, and more than 10% contemplate harming others – often the person for whom they are caring, new data show.

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Black patients presenting at Emergency Departments (EDs) across the country with psychiatric complaints are 63 percent more likely to be chemically sedated than their white counterparts. But researchers also found that, at hospitals that serve a majority of Black patients, white patients were more likely to be chemically sedated for psychiatric complaints when compared to hospitals that predominantly serve white patients.

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COVID-19 health care workers experienced high rates of potential moral injury that are comparable to rates among military veterans, according to a collaborative study between Duke University, Vanderbilt University, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

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Charismatic people with psychopathy tendencies were more likely to avoid detection and punishment for their poor behavior, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.

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Gunshot survivors experience serious increases in mental health disorders, substance use disorders, and pain in the year following a firearm injury Survivors’ family members also experience a rise in mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD in the year after loved ones’ injuries

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Adolescents with severe obesity may not pursue metabolic bariatric surgery for weight loss due to lack of information, difficulties with access to care, and because of social stigma, according to a newly published study.

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A new study finds that efforts to empower employees need to be coupled with efforts that allow those employees to do their jobs well. If institutional obstacles make it difficult for workers to thrive, empowering them can lead to unethical behavior.

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Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey offer forms of pet therapy for cancer patients. Diane L. Haley, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, director of Patient Experience at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey shares more about providing patient-centered care through interaction with furry friends.

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Teens who are stopped by the police are more likely to report greater disengagement from school the next day, and racial and ethnic minority youth reported more invasive police encounters than white youth, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

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New research shows a progressive exercise training program mitigates some physiological and psychological effects of adverse childhood experiences in otherwise healthy young women. The study will be presented at the American Physiological Society annual meeting at Experimental Biology 2022.

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Counseling is a great tool for learning how to navigate the stressors in our lives. However, finding the right counselor is often challenging and can be overwhelming. “It is essential to find a good counselor with whom you connect,” advises Rachel Jacoby, Ph.D., an award-winning counselor, and faculty member in Palo Alto University’s Counseling Education Program. In celebration of National Counseling Awareness Month, Dr. Jacoby offers this set of tips to help you select the right counselor.

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Don't let the fear of failure disrupt your weight loss journey.

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While potentially crucial to preventing the spread of COVID-19, lockdowns are associated with increased rates of depression and anxiety as well as food insecurity among women in India and other parts of the developing world, according to a new research.