Mental Health

A major new study has found that verbal abuse in childhood may be just as damaging to long-term mental well-being as physical abuse. This groundbreaking research highlights the need to treat verbal abuse as a serious public health issue.

In a landmark shift in how mental health conditions are treated in the near future, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved the first at-home brain-stimulation device that can rapidly relieve moderate to severe depression symptoms.

Dopamine doesn’t flood the brain as once believed – it fires in exact, ultra-fast bursts that target specific neurons. The discovery turns a century-old view of dopamine on its head and could transform how we treat everything from ADHD to Parkinson’s.

Definium Therapeutics has announced the strong Phase 3 results of its single-dosed lysergide drug DT120 in treating adults with major depressive disorder. It met its main goal and all key secondary efficacy endpoints in the first trial of its kind.

A new study suggests the drug’s influence over our brain’s control systems may attenuate behaviors linked to aggression, which, given the widespread use of these pharmaceuticals, could ultimately dampen the rate of violent crime.

A common laxative may do more than aid digestion: it could sharpen memory and attention in people with depression. This existing drug, currently used to treat chronic constipation, has shown promise in tackling these often-overlooked cognitive issues.

Researchers tracked pet owners across five days to see whether interacting with a dog or cat influences mood in real time. Here's what they found.

Paraquat is one of the world’s most widely used herbicides. It’s also highly toxic, and some research points to a link with Parkinson’s disease. But what does the evidence really say?

People with Alzheimer’s disease who took the over-the-counter supplement glucosamine were 25% more likely to die within five years than those who didn’t. This new study investigates its role in speeding up cognitive decline.

Many people manage their symptoms with antihistamines bought from a pharmacy. But recent headlines have raised a worrying question: could some of the medicines used to relieve hay fever symptoms increase the risk of dementia?

A new study suggests that as many as 20% of Parkinson's disease cases may be something else entirely, highlighting the importance of test accuracy before treatment is even on the cards. As to why it's been misdiagnosed – well, it's complicated.

A team of researchers from George Mason University in Virginia, US, has developed a new model to simulate the team dynamics and group behaviours associated with long-term space travel.

Infections around the time of pregnancy may leave lasting marks on the developing brain of children. The new research adds to growing evidence that the immune environment during pregnancy may play a role in shaping long-term brain health.

If you've wondered why you procrastinate with doing your taxes early or starting mundane jobs, it's not because you dislike them. New research has uncovered a specific pathway in the brain that slams the brakes on investing energy in these tasks.

Nitrous oxide, known as laughing gas, has shown rapid antidepressant effects in people with depression, with symptoms easing within hours of inhaling it. The treatment involves breathing in a mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen for up to an hour.

There's a well-established link between depression and chronic low-grade inflammation. Now, a new meta-study shows that treating the inflammation can reduce depression in two ways, offering a potential alternative to antidepressants and their side effects.

In a breakthrough, scientists have discovered that a variant in one gene can cause mental illnesses – something previously believed to only be the result of several variants working together. What's more, these conditions often develop in childhood.

Survivors of childhood trauma experience high risk for depression. If they have high levels of SGK1 in their brain tissue, they’re at greater risk. Combined with genetic screening for the protein, SGK1 inhibitors could be a life-saving intervention.