https://medicalxpress.com/mental-health-news/ en-us Latest health news and information about Psychology and Mental Health Psychological therapies may be evaluated using research methods designed for drugs rather than talking treatments—potentially limiting patient choice and shaping mental health services in the wrong way—according to a new academic analysis from The University of Manchester. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-therapy-wrong-standards-analysis.html Sun, 07 Jun 2026 05:00:01 EDT news699881400 University of Cincinnati and Ohio State University researchers have found that adults with developmental disabilities who have integrated care were less likely to go to the emergency room or be hospitalized than those who did not. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-er-hospital-stays-adults-developmental.html Sat, 06 Jun 2026 16:00:01 EDT news699978147 "Every time you drink heavily, even if you do so infrequently, it can affect your role as a parent," says doctoral research fellow Barbara Carvalho. She led a comprehensive systematic review conducted by researchers at the University of Agder, in collaboration with Oxford Brookes University. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-rethink-safe-parental-alcohol-experts.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:40:01 EDT news699860185 Researchers at Bradley Hospital found that a virtual reality (VR) training program can help therapists feel more confident using exposure therapy and reduce their negative beliefs about it—even more than traditional classroom-style training alone. The study, published in the journal JMIR Medical Education, is one of the first to test how the level of immersion in VR affects therapist training, and it uses a clear framework aimed at addressing a major reason exposure therapy is underused. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-virtual-reality-therapists-exposure-therapy.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:20:03 EDT news699886921 On April 26, the United States reclassified cannabis from a Schedule I controlled substance, which lacks any medical benefits, to a Schedule III controlled substance, which has accepted medical uses and lower potential for misuse than a Schedule I substance. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-qa-expert-discusses-cannabis.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 11:40:02 EDT news699878043 A class of flu drugs may reduce cognitive decline and premature aging in people living with chronic viral infection, reports a new study led by Northwestern University that began with blood samples from people with HIV and extended into preclinical drug trials. The findings point to a potential new therapy for cognitive problems in people with HIV, with broader implications for other aging-related diseases, such as dementia. The study is published in Med. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-flu-drugs-cognitive-decline.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 11:00:03 EDT news699781862 If you've had therapy, particularly if you got it through a public health care system like the NHS in the UK or Medicare in Australia, there's a good chance it was cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Even with private health insurance, if you want therapy, the one you are most likely to be recommended is CBT. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-weve-therapy-pill-patients-paying.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 10:40:02 EDT news699873210 Women make up half the world's population yet are the focus of relatively little research, leading to deficits in their mental health care. A Perspective shares key takeaways from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine workshop, "Essential Health Care Services Related to Anxiety and Mood Disorders in Women," which was organized to provide recommendations to the United States Health Resources and Services Administration. The Perspective describes the challenge facing women and offers several evidence-based solutions. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-anxiety-depression-women.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 07:20:02 EDT news699854821 Adolescents who use drugs or binge drink alcohol are more likely to experience psychological distress and have seriously thought of or attempted suicide, according to a new study from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research (CHPR). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-dangerous-associations-drug-alcohol-adolescent.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 23:20:01 EDT news699795695 There is a well-documented puzzle in social epidemiology: Immigrants have better health than the native-born when they first arrive, but they lose this advantage at older ages. Is acculturation to blame—the process by which immigrants adopt the culture and behavior of their new country? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-american-society-toll-immigrant-health.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 17:00:03 EDT news699803821 Parents of children with ADHD, autism and other disabilities reported increased psychological flexibility and reduced stress after participating in the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy–based program Navigator ACT. The results come from a study conducted at Karolinska Institutet and published in the journal Autism Research. "The intervention made it easier to be the parent you want to be," says first author Tiina Holmberg Bergman. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-based-parents-children-disabilities-stress.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:40:04 EDT news699801121 A new study from Bradley Hospital researchers shows that cannabis use during adolescence is associated with differences in brain regions involved in motivation and reward, which support healthy development. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-teen-cannabis-disrupt-dopamine-brain.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:40:04 EDT news699802082 You sit down to start a task you care about. Nothing happens. You open your phone instead. Minutes turn into hours. You feel restless, flat, or oddly exhausted, even though you haven't done much at all. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-dopamine-menus-small-pleasures-unstuck.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:20:07 EDT news699796142 An interactive robotic plushie called "Purrble" could improve depressive symptoms in LGBTQ+ teens. The research, published in Nature Medicine, also found that participants were twice as likely to see improvements in symptoms of anxiety, and more likely to see improvements to their emotional regulation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-robotic-plushie-significantly-ease-depression.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:40:04 EDT news699795913 Women are twice as likely as men to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—and new research may offer a biological clue as to why. A Virginia Tech study found that the female brain forms fear memories using a molecular process not seen in the male brain. The findings suggest that treatments for PTSD may need to be tailored differently for men and women, said the study's lead researcher, Timothy Jarome, an associate professor of neurobiology in the School of Animal Sciences located within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-memories-differently-male-female-brains.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:20:09 EDT news699792241 When a person goes through a traumatic experience, they often find themselves thinking that what happened could have been different or even avoided. This process, known as counterfactual thinking, is an automatic psychological response to adverse events. Now, a study published in the journal Scientific Reports explores how this type of thinking affects women who have suffered an early pregnancy loss. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-early-pregnancy-loss-affects-week.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:00:01 EDT news699790561 LGBTQ+ people are woven into the lives of middle-aged and older Americans, a new national poll reports. About seven out of 10 non-LGBTQ+ people older than 50 (69%) have at least one personal connection to a person who is LGBTQ+, according to results from the University of Michigan's National Poll on Healthy Aging. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-older-lgbtq-adults-age-poll.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:00:03 EDT news699787621 Becoming a mother changes the brain not just temporarily, but for life. Pregnancy and the postpartum period trigger lasting changes in the maternal brain through the brain chemical dopamine, producing long-term benefits to learning, memory, and maternal behavior, a process disrupted by chronic postpartum stress. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-motherhood-lifelong-brain-dopamine-linked.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:40:06 EDT news699787921 Over the past few decades, researchers have developed effective treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a psychiatric disorder some people develop after experiencing trauma. These treatments often involve talking through the trauma and understanding what happened with a therapist. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-wrong-people-nonwestern-backgrounds-recover.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:20:05 EDT news699784681 New research by Georgetown scientists shows how the brain rewires itself to automate learned tasks. The findings challenge a long-held understanding of how humans master complex skills, suggesting that true multitasking is really possible. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-brain-true-multitasking-intensive.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:02 EDT news699698529 A new book titled "SocialsVoice" shines a light on the relationship between social media content and mental health from the perspective of Latino youth—a group that engages with social media across multiple languages and cultural perspectives. Through concrete examples, the book presents a complex portrait of their experiences online, including both the mental health risks posed by certain content and the presence of supportive, anti-stigmatizing voices. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-youth-social-media-mental-health.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 22:20:04 EDT news699719648 Abdominal pain before an important exam, nausea during intense stress, or sudden intestinal problems following difficult life experiences—many people regard such symptoms as a temporary bodily reaction. However, a growing body of evidence confirms that the relationship between the brain and the gut is far deeper. A publication co-authored by Professor Agata Mulak of Wroclaw Medical University indicates that gastrointestinal health is influenced not only by genes, diet and gut bacteria, but also by culture, social relationships, economic status and the way individuals function within society. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-culture-stress-social-life-gut.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 21:00:01 EDT news699724201 In 2006, Carl Koch sued his employer for damages after burn injuries during a workplace accident that left him with chronic pain. The employer accused him of malingering, so the judge admitted a neuroscientist as an expert witness, who testified that he could see Koch's pain on a brain scan. The case was settled for more than ten times the amount the employer initially offered. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-brain-scans-ai-people-chronic.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 20:40:01 EDT news699723001 From responding to the ping of your phone notification to reaching for a snack at the end of the day, many everyday behaviors begin as mindful choices and end up feeling almost automatic. Now a study from Johns Hopkins University, published in Nature Communications, suggests that such shifting may not always happen slowly. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-habits-faster-previously-thought.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:00:06 EDT news699723781 Breaking up is hard. Are there certain behaviors or communication techniques that could result in ex-partners feeling better post-break? Researchers from the University of Ottawa's Relationships and Couple Health (REACH) Lab have explored this topic and have found that when the initiator of a breakup engages in "autonomy-supportive" behaviors—which can include being honest, using non-controlling language, and taking time to acknowledge the other person during disagreements—ex-partners experienced positive emotions and subjective vitality. By showing a level of respect for the former relationship, these behaviors helped provide better closure. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-hard-easier.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:40:06 EDT news699720662 A new study suggests that the weather may have an effect on how people feel. Published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, the research found that daily outdoor temperatures are linked to changes in mood, energy levels and sleep quality, adding to a growing body of research examining how environmental factors influence mental health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-temperature-emotional-seasons.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:40:05 EDT news699723301 Postpartum and perinatal depression are known challenges for those going through pregnancy, but there has been less focus on the more prevalent disorder of anxiety. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-anxiety-pregnancy-priority.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:20:01 EDT news699707941 New research from the George Washington University has yielded some unexpected insights into how autistic and non-autistic people learn about one another's preferences. The study indicates that both groups rely on similar learning strategies; however, key differences may help us understand how autistic and non-autistic peers understand one another. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-insights-autistic-people.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:20:08 EDT news699710035 A new study from the Emory University School of Medicine shows gentle vibrations placed on the chest during mindfulness meditation may help people with trauma-related symptoms better sense and reconnect with their bodies through changes in the brain. The findings, published May 16 in Neuropsychopharmacology, point to a low-cost, noninvasive approach that may strengthen brain pathways tied to body awareness. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-chest-vibration-mindfulness-body-awareness.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:20:06 EDT news699700980 Fresh concerns have been raised over long-term use of antidepressants, with a new summary of evidence revealing limited benefits and higher health risks, prompting calls for treatment reviews every six months. Researchers from Adelaide University and The University of Queensland were involved in the clinical overview, which has been published in the Australian Journal of General Practice. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-rethink-term-antidepressants-benefit-months.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:00:04 EDT news699700840