psychiatry

How could bisphenol A raise depression risk? Study identifies six key molecular targets

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Researchers combined genetic epidemiology, transcriptomics, molecular docking, and mouse experiments to show how a common endocrine-disrupting chemical may influence biological pathways tied to major depressive disorder. Study: Bisphenol a exposure and major depressive disorder: an integrative analysis combining network toxicology, molecular docking, genetic epidemiology, and transcriptomic validation. Image Credit: monticello / Shutterstock A new study … Read more

Childhood ADHD medication shows protective effect against future psychosis

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A major new study, led by scientists at University College Dublin and the University of Edinburgh and funded by the St John of God Research Foundation, has found that commonly prescribed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication in childhood may lower the long‑term risk of developing serious psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia. Treatment with methylphenidate, the … Read more

Psychiatrists’ use of biomarkers could open a new window into mental health diagnoses

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Amanda Miller was 30 and pregnant with her second child in Hershey, Pennsylvania, when she developed depression. After she gave birth, her depression worsened. It was joined by a slew of unexplained health problems. Miller, a neuroscientist, said she saw several psychiatrists and got prescriptions for drug after drug. Over two years, she tried four … Read more

One-in-four senior psychiatrist posts vacant in Northern Ireland – The Irish News

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Over a quarter of senior psychiatry posts in Northern Ireland are vacant or covered by expensive locums. The Royal College of Psychiatrists gathered information from all five health trusts, finding that 29% of consultant posts are either vacant or covered by locum doctors. Pressures on SAS specialist psychiatrists (senior doctors who work alongside consultants) were … Read more

Study links excessive smartphone use with poor body image and disordered eating

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New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London has found that excessive smartphone use is closely associated with disordered eating, including uncontrolled eating and emotional overeating, as well greater symptoms of food addiction in young people with no diagnosis of an eating disorder.  The research, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, established a significant and consistent association between Problematic Smartphone Use … Read more

Study finds treatment gap for young ADHD patients with substance use disorders

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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder, affecting 12%–13% of adolescents in the United States, according to some studies. The pattern of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity can interfere with daily life, raising problems at home, work or school. At the same time, individuals diagnosed with ADHD are at a higher risk of developing substance use … Read more

New digital shield against metabolic disease in youth psychosis

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A new clinic-ready web-based risk prediction tool called PsyMetRiC is now available to forecast the risk of young people with psychosis developing cardiometabolic disorders such as obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes.  The algorithms behind PsyMetRiC have been specifically tailored for young people with psychosis, and predict clinically significant weight gain within one year, metabolic syndrome … Read more

New review reveals complex polygenic architecture underlying common epilepsies

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An insightful mini-review published in Genomic Psychiatry synthesizes the rapidly expanding landscape of molecular genetic research on common epilepsies, assembling evidence from genome-wide association studies, whole-exome sequencing projects, and advanced statistical modeling to illuminate the polygenic architecture that underpins these heterogeneous neurological disorders. The synthesis, led by Dr. Olav B. Smeland of the Centre for … Read more

New review calls for biologically grounded approach to psychiatric diagnosis

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A comprehensive invited review published today in Brain Medicine confronts one of the most persistent paradoxes in modern medicine: psychiatry remains the only major clinical discipline that diagnoses complex illness primarily through conversation and symptom checklists, while fields such as oncology and cardiology long ago embraced laboratory markers, imaging, and molecular profiling. The review, authored … Read more