Mental Health
Scientists build a more accurate Alzheimer’s risk score using global DNA data
Standard genetic tests for Alzheimer's often fail in non-European populations. A new study shows that blending global genetic data creates a highly accurate tool that predicts bot…
Personality impairments link childhood maltreatment to adult anxiety
A recent study finds that childhood emotional abuse and neglect are strongly linked to adult anxiety. This relationship is largely explained by impairments in how a person perceiv…
First human trial of psilocin since the 1960s reveals better tolerability than psilocybin
A new study suggests that consuming psilocin directly—rather than its precursor, psilocybin—provides a similar psychedelic experience with fewer side effects. Researchers also fou…
Watching violent online pornography is linked to poorer sexual health
Young adults who frequently watch physically violent online pornography report lower empathy, more acceptance of violence against women, and increased difficulties with sexual fun…
Scientists map the brain pathway that links social isolation to increased alcohol consumption
Researchers have identified a specific brain circuit that drives increased alcohol intake following social isolation. The findings provide a biological mechanism for how a negativ…
Brain damage reveals how a specific region generates mind-wandering
Damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex hinders a person's ability to let their mind wander. A new small study suggests this brain region is necessary for generating the inte…
Over half the risk for postpartum psychosis is tied to genetics, large study finds
A new study indicates that over half the risk for postpartum psychosis is driven by genetics. The findings provide evidence that the condition is a biological vulnerability rather…
Study reveals a double standard in how we view AI-assisted communication
While people generally prefer it when AI use in communication is openly disclosed, a new psychology study shows we heavily overestimate how much others rely on these digital assis…
Four key moments from 'America's saddest murder trial' – video
The weeks-long murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother accused of fatally strangling her three children, has ended in a mistrial. As the public now waits for what w…
Individuals with psychotic spectrum disorder are less successful in recognizing the emotions of others
A recent study finds that people with psychotic spectrum disorders who have a history of aggression are significantly less accurate at recognizing emotions than non-aggressive pat…
Lindsay Clancy: five key moments from ‘America’s saddest murder trial’
Massachusetts mother accused of fatally strangling her children faces possibility of retrial after judge declares mistrialFull report: Judge declares mistrial in Lindsay Clancy ca…
Treatment-resistant depression linked to reduced brain entropy
Patients with treatment-resistant depression show a widespread loss of complexity in their resting brain activity. A recent brain imaging study suggests this reduced neural entrop…
Lindsay Clancy murder trial: jury says with ‘heavy heart’ it cannot reach unanimous verdict – live updates
Jury returns to tell judge for a third time it cannot reach a verdict in case of Massachusetts woman who killed her childrenJudge set to declare mistrial in Lindsay Clancy case af…
Singlehood is increasingly celebrated among women, but the pressure to couple up persists
"Single positivity" encourages young women to embrace independence, but this cultural approval comes with an expiration date. A new study reveals that as single women age, they fa…
People with more social freedom tend to be more willing to put off immediate gratification
Your willingness to sacrifice immediate joy for long-term rewards isn't just a personality trait. New research shows that living in a society where it’s easy to make new friends b…
Gentle rocking beds could offer a new way to treat insomnia
For adults who struggle to stay asleep, a bed that sways gently throughout the night might offer a path to better rest. New research reveals that continuous rocking reduces nightt…
Psychiatrists detail mother’s sudden descent into severe psychosis and delirious mania following childbirth
A recent case report details a 27-year-old mother’s sudden onset of severe psychosis and delirious mania following a cesarean delivery. The findings suggest that electroconvulsive…
Neuroticism intensifies the transfer of fear and negativity during associative learning
People who score high in neuroticism not only react more intensely to negative events, but they also transfer those bad feelings onto neutral objects more easily. New research hig…
A computational model explains the sudden rise in societal division
A new computational model reveals that simply increasing the number of close social connections past a certain threshold naturally forces society to splinter into deeply divided, …
Regular coffee beats decaf in protecting the brain from chronic stress, mouse study finds
A new study in mice indicates that caffeinated coffee prevents stress-induced memory loss and depression-like behaviors, while decaf offers no such protection. The findings sugges…
New Zealand drugs regulator approves use of MDMA to treat severe PTSD
New Zealand decision follows Australian approval in 2023 of psychedelics to treat PTSD and treatment-resistant depressionTwo psychiatrists in New Zealand won approval on Friday to…
Focusing on your appearance increases benevolent sexist beliefs in both men and women
A new study finds that when men and women focus on their physical appearance, they become more likely to endorse benevolent sexism. These seemingly positive but restrictive belief…
New research questions the role of fertility in women’s indirect aggression
A new psychological study reveals that women's competitive reactions toward romantic and social rivals are driven by their baseline personality traits. Hormone fluctuations during…
Psilocin triggers rapid neural growth in laboratory study
Psilocin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, promotes the rapid growth of neural connections in laboratory settings. A new study reveals how these structural changes match th…