https://medicalxpress.com/psychiatry-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Psychiatry An increasing number of Americans are getting—and surviving—cancer. There were more than 18 million cancer survivors in the U.S. in 2025, and the National Cancer Institute estimates that number will grow to 22 million by 2035. But long after completing treatment, many survivors face lingering mental health challenges that go unaddressed. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-americans-surviving-cancer-mental-health.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 08:48:45 EDT news700991220 Engaging in a variety of physical activities—especially those of higher intensity—may be linked to lower odds of experiencing depressive symptoms, according to new research published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-variety-intensity-odds-depressive-symptoms.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 08:40:04 EDT news700982401 A major new study has found that mental health and behavioral changes such as depression, anxiety and emotional instability are common in people who survive encephalitis—inflammation of the brain that can be caused by infection or autoimmune disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-largest-global-mental-health-brain.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 07:00:01 EDT news700979162 We worry about the time kids spend using screens—but what if the time their caregivers spend on phones is also harmful? Scientists working on digital mental health noticed increasing reports of teenagers struggling with their parents' phone use and decided to investigate. Their new findings show that teenagers who report that their caregivers are often distracted from them by devices are more likely to display insecure attachment styles, which can have serious negative consequences for their future health and well-being. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-teenagers-parents-distracted-insecure.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:01 EDT news700899061 For some psychologists, it's becoming more common to use AI systems to replace human thinking in research. That's a very risky choice based on misconceptions, warn Iris van Rooij and Olivia Guest in a new paper published today in Current Directions in Psychological Science. "Research based on artificial intelligence models will never be an adequate substitute for understanding and replicating human thought." https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-psychologists-shouldnt-ai.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 19:00:03 EDT news700922042 Removing criminal penalties for possessing cannabis for personal use, or introducing tightly controlled legalization of cannabis, does not appear to increase levels of cannabis use. However, the commercial sale of cannabis is linked to increased health risks, with large-scale for-profit markets—such as those seen in the U.S. and Canada—resulting in more potent products and higher rates of addiction. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-legalizing-cannabis-addiction-tightly.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 18:30:08 EDT news700904521 New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, has found that people with psychosis experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can benefit from a trauma-focused therapy integrated with cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis (CBTp). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-trauma-therapy-effective-people-psychosis.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 18:30:07 EDT news700901462 Adolescence is a critical stage when many lifelong challenges first emerge, including mental health difficulties. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-barriers-mental-health-awareness-young.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 18:00:02 EDT news700921177 Youth who have contact with the U.S. legal system may be at increased risk of mental health symptoms, including anxiety, depression, hostility and psychoticism, according to a study published in PLOS One by Raquel V. Oliveira and Elizabeth Culatta from Augusta University. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-legal-contact-years-worse-mental.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:00:07 EDT news700905721 Psilocybin combined with psychotherapy can lead to long-term improvements in depressive symptoms in people with treatment-resistant depression. This has been shown by a recently published long-term follow-up study conducted by the Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the MIND Foundation. The antidepressant effects persisted for up to 12 months. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-psilocybin-combined-psychotherapy-antidepressant-effects.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 12:20:04 EDT news700914833 Carnegie Mellon University and University of California, San Francisco researchers have found that childhood trauma, poverty, social isolation and other adverse life experiences are associated with brain changes linked to schizophrenia-spectrum disorders—findings that could help researchers identify people at risk earlier and develop interventions before severe symptoms emerge. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-early-life-schizophrenia.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 11:00:21 EDT news700758496 Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric disorder characterized by persistent restriction of food intake, fear of gaining weight and distorted body image, often leading to significantly low body weight. Relapse rates for people treated for the disorder are alarmingly high, at up to 50% within one year of the person restoring body weight. The disorder has one of the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric disorder, with suicide being the leading cause of death. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-vibrating-pill-relapse-anorexia-nervosa.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 11:00:17 EDT news700845144 A new study from Michigan State University found increases in binge eating when taking hormone pills in the form of oral contraceptives—but not in all women. This is the first large-scale study of changes in binge-related symptoms with oral contraceptive use. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-birth-pills-binge-reveals.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 11:00:05 EDT news700901281 A reality TV star's claim that a beta blocker dulled their emotions and made them appear calm on camera has sparked a wave of social media commentary. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-beta-blocker-heart-drugs-anxiety.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 10:40:02 EDT news700910401 Conduct problems—including persistent rule-breaking, aggression, irritability and difficulty following school rules—are associated with small but widespread differences in brain structure, according to a major international study of more than 14,000 children and adolescents, led by the University of Bath in the U.K. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-antisocial-behavior-young-people-linked.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:00:07 EDT news700896662 In a pilot clinical trial published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society that included older adults with depression receiving standard care, adding probiotic therapy produced modest but meaningful reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms compared with adding a placebo. However, both groups demonstrated substantial overall improvements during follow-up. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-probiotics-depression.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 03:10:07 EDT news700756861 An analysis published in The Journal of Rural Health has found that among U.S. veterans with serious mental illness (SMI), rural veterans were somewhat more likely to have co-occurring mental health conditions than urban veterans but were less likely to receive SMI care. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-ruralurban-differences-mental-health-veterans.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 03:10:06 EDT news700756801 Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are widely prescribed for diabetes and obesity, but studies have found evidence that the medications may also influence behavior, such as supporting impulse control and reducing substance use and alcohol consumption by potentially interacting with the brain's reward and stress systems. New research in Criminology adds to this growing evidence. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-popular-weight-loss-medications-behaviors.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 03:10:01 EDT news700756921 A recent study in PsyCh Journal has uncovered numerous limitations in applying a popular framework for assessing social–emotional skills (such as empathy, persistence and curiosity) to children and adolescents around the world. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-framework-socialemotional-skills-youth-lacking.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 03:00:01 EDT news700758399 Some people might not mind spending time alone, but new research with data from 18 countries suggests that older people who struggle with loneliness—rather than strictly being alone—may experience faster mental and physical decline. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-loneliness-cognitive-impairment-shorter-life.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:40:02 EDT news700834122 In contrast to classical digital media, short-video platforms are characterized by rapidly changing content, highly personalized recommendations and a targeted maximization of usage time. This is precisely where the study begins: It examines whether and how this specific design—and not just the content—can influence neurocognitive and emotional effects in adolescents and young adults. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-endless-scroll-inattention-stress-25s.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:20:13 EDT news700834028 Men are overrepresented when it comes to heart disease, but there are certain conditions that mainly affect women, such as "broken-heart syndrome." Stress and anxiety are common in this group. A new study led by researchers at Uppsala University and Karolinska Institutet shows that internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can reduce symptoms and help patients manage their emotions better. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-online-cbt-eases-stress-broken.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:00:03 EDT news700833866 Chronic stress, the prolonged exposure to psychological and/or physical strain, is known to be a risk factor for depression, anxiety and some other psychiatric disorders. Past studies suggest that chronic stress disrupts the integrity of myelin, a fatty insulating layer that surrounds nerve fibers and helps electrical signals travel efficiently between brain cells. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-intermittent-fasting-shield-brain-chronic.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 13:40:03 EDT news700832011 More than three-quarters of psychologists report their patients are discussing artificial intelligence in therapy, using the technology to seek additional support with their mental health, find a diagnosis, or for friendship and intimate relationships, according to a survey by the American Psychological Association. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-psychologists-patients-chatbots-mental-health.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 13:20:11 EDT news700833385 More than 1 in 10 adults in the United States believe they had a substance use problem at some point, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Among these adults, more than 7 in 10 considered themselves to be in recovery. An increasingly common way people support their recovery is by visiting recovery community centers (RCCs), which have emerged across the country and in Pennsylvania. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-recovery-community-centers-people.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:20:01 EDT news700824905 University of Warwick researchers have shaped a new Mental Health Joint Code of Practice, launched by the Construction Leadership Council, that presents solutions to poor mental health in construction, which is one of the most significant risks facing the construction industry. The Office for National Statistics says the suicide rate for men in U.K. construction is nearly four times the national average. Yet mental health harm is not inevitable; it is the result of decision-making around how construction work is designed, planned and led. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-tackling-root-mental-health.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:00:05 EDT news700824893 A smile. A frown. The faces a child pays closer attention to might offer insight into their mental health. Depression may shape how much children pay attention to emotional expressions—sad or happy faces—and those changes appear to depend on whether the child has a family history of depression, according to a first-of-its-kind study from Binghamton University, State University of New York. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-depression-rewire-kids-pay-attention.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 11:40:02 EDT news700828382 What does it mean for a hospital to offer "trauma-informed care?" How about a hairdresser? Or even a paint color consultant? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-traumainformed.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 09:00:05 EDT news700812061 The Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Feinberg has a distinct strength in understanding how behavior and lifestyle influence gastrointestinal (GI) health. Through its work and in collaboration with the Northwestern Medicine Digestive Health Center, the division conducts research aimed at improving treatments for disorders of the digestive tract and related organs. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-evidence-behavioral-interventions-gastroenterology.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 08:20:04 EDT news700809541 Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may still be underrecognized and underdiagnosed in England despite recent increases in diagnosis, according to a study led by researchers at UCL, University of Liverpool and King's College London. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-adhd-underdiagnosed-adults-england.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 07:20:04 EDT news700807321