https://medicalxpress.com/mental-health-news/ en-us Latest health news and information about Psychology and Mental Health Often, humans and other animals seek information that can help them complete tasks and attain desired rewards. In some cases, however, they seek information driven simply by curiosity and a desire to obtain knowledge for its own sake, even if it does not lead to external rewards. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-curiosity-neural-brain-valuable-rewards.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 14:40:06 EDT news705929111 For some, abstaining from alcohol can subsequently increase compulsive drinking. Our research team found that, in abstaining mice, this urge to drink is preceded by changes in the activity of a particular brain region, pointing to potential new screening opportunities to identify and help those most vulnerable to relapse. Our research is published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-alcohol-brain-compulsive-mice.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 13:20:03 EDT news705930361 A study from Emory University School of Medicine suggests that a single 20-minute session of noninvasive deep brain stimulation, paired with mindful breathing, may strengthen the brain's response to reward and reduce anxiety. Changes in reward-related brain activity remained detectable for approximately one week after the session. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-deep-brain-reward-minute-session.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 12:00:01 EDT news705924571 As AI use gains traction in mental health care, Deakin University researchers have raised the alarm that there are currently no agreed-upon frameworks in place to regulate or guide its application. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-ai-people-distress-mental-health.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 10:07:20 EDT news705920790 Individuals with anorexia nervosa restrict food intake, sometimes to the point of starvation. Yet a new study published in The Journal of Neuroscience finds that the cognitive machinery they use to make decisions about what to eat is remarkably similar to that of healthy eaters. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-food-decisions-anorexia-engage-brain.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 17:20:07 EDT news705853021 Combining ketamine and psychotherapy is a safe and feasible approach with promising benefits for people experiencing chronic neuropathic pain, according to a new study by researchers at St. Michael's Hospital, the University of Toronto and York University. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-ketamine-psychotherapy-combined-approach-chronic.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 17:00:02 EDT news705851341 Being diagnosed with a severe mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder can reduce a person's life expectancy by up to 20 years compared with the general population, University of Queensland researchers have found. The research was published in Lancet Psychiatry. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-severe-mental-illness-linked-physical.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:20:02 EDT news705839267 For decades, neuroscientists have been trying to determine whether different neuropsychiatric conditions are linked to specific variations in brain structure and neural connections. While past studies identified possible signatures of various conditions, most findings have been inconsistent and do not conclusively delineate brain structural patterns associated with specific mental health disorders. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-brain-imaging-struggles-psychiatric-disorder.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:20:01 EDT news705830615 Smartphones have become an essential part of everyday life. The anxiety or discomfort experienced when people are unable to use their mobile phones or when their phones are not within reach is known as nomophobia in psychology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-nomophobia-heavier-social-media-downtime.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:00:01 EDT news705829921 Leucovorin prescriptions for children spiked after federal officials claimed the drug was an effective treatment for autism during a September 2025 press conference, according to a new Michigan Medicine-led study published in The New England Journal of Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-leucovorin-prescriptions-children-federal-autism.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:00:03 EDT news705758342 Scientists at UCL have developed a framework for stress-testing how AI chatbots respond to vulnerable users, helping researchers identify weaknesses and test ways to make mental health interactions safer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-mental-health-emerge-ai-chatbot.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:40:04 EDT news705680701 The most comprehensive review to date has identified the most effective bipolar disorder treatments across different age groups and mood phases. It was published in The BMJ. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-free-bipolar-disorder-treatments.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:40:05 EDT news705669781