Depression News and Research

Latest Depression News and Research

Global review highlights gaps in adolescent mental health research

A new systematic review of 172 studies including data from over 12 million adolescents across 166 countries reveals that while cross-national adolescent mental health research including low- and middle-income countries has expanded significantly, large gaps remain in global representation.

12 Aug 2025

Lavender oil could speed recovery after brain surgery

Lavender essential oil aromatherapy improves sleep quality and reduces postoperative delirium in brain surgery patients, offering a natural aid for recovery.

12 Aug 2025

Study reveals troubling gaps in accuracy, fairness of mental health screenings for incarcerated youth

Approximately 70% of incarcerated youth in the United States have a mental disorder. The challenges in this population are profound – about 30% report suicidal thoughts, 12% have attempted suicide and 25% experience solitary confinement, a condition strongly associated with increased suicide risk.

11 Aug 2025

Stalking and restraining orders linked to higher risk of heart disease in women

Women who reported having been stalked or obtained a restraining order were each more likely to experience a heart attack and/or stroke in later years compared to those who did not, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association's flagship journal Circulation.

11 Aug 2025

Challenges and promise of meditation apps in modern mental health care

Do you have a meditation app on your smartphone, computer or wearable device? Well, you're not alone.

8 Aug 2025

Talking therapy shows lower effectiveness for young adults

Talking therapy offered by the NHS for people with depression or anxiety appears to be less effective for people aged 16-24 than those aged 25-65, according to a new study led by UCL researchers.

8 Aug 2025

Gender gaps in Mediterranean eating and living

Gender differences in Mediterranean diet adherence impact health outcomes, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to promote healthier lifestyles.

8 Aug 2025

AI-powered sweat sensor predicts anxiety before symptoms appear

Researchers have developed Stressomic, a wearable microfluidic biosensor that sequentially measures cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine in sweat at six-minute intervals. The device distinguishes physical from psychological stress and predicts anxiety levels using machine learning.

7 Aug 2025

Personalizing endometrial cancer prevention through diet and lifestyle

This review synthesizes emerging evidence on modifiable risk factors for endometrial cancer (EC)-the sixth most common female malignancy globally-with rising incidence despite diagnostic advances.

7 Aug 2025

Therapists recommend what patients should know before starting CBT

Of 1.7 million referrals for therapy in 2022-23, more than 1 million people dropped out before starting or during their therapy. This represents a dropout rate of over 60%.

7 Aug 2025

Lifelong learning helps older adults build mental resilience

In a pair of new studies, researchers found that older adults who challenge themselves to learn new things are less likely to experience loneliness or depression, even during times of major upheaval.

6 Aug 2025

AI app Ovum gives Australian women the power to advocate for their own health

Ovum is an Australian-first AI-powered app designed to empower women to track symptoms, gain personalised health insights, and advocate for better healthcare outcomes. Developed with clinical trials and user feedback, Ovum aims to address the longstanding dismissal of women’s health concerns by the medical system.

6 Aug 2025

Does your morning coffee or tea really boost your mood? Here’s what science says

Caffeine consumption is linked to increased positive mood in daily life, especially within 2.5 hours after waking. This effect is influenced by tiredness and social context, with no consistent impact on negative emotions.

6 Aug 2025

Innovative VR therapy helps ease anxiety in cardiovascular disease

Living with cardiovascular disease often takes a serious emotional toll - and with stress known to worsen heart health, there's growing interest in low-risk, innovative ways to help patients cope.

6 Aug 2025

NHS Active 10 app leads to lasting increases in brisk walking

Users of the NHS Active 10 app, designed to encourage people to become more active, immediately increased their amount of brisk and non-brisk walking upon using the app, according to researchers from the University of Cambridge.

6 Aug 2025

As California’s behavioral health workforce buckles, help is years away

This spring, the Good News Rescue Mission, which runs the only emergency homeless shelter in Shasta County, received a game-changing $17.8 million state grant to build a 75-bed residential treatment facility in a region where thousands struggle with drug and alcohol addiction.

6 Aug 2025

Researchers question the historical basis of ancient psychedelic rituals

A new article in the peer-reviewed journal Psychedelic Medicine takes aim at one of the most influential, and controversial, narratives in comparative psychedelic culture: the idea that ancient Greek mystery rites at Eleusis were fueled by psychedelic drugs.

5 Aug 2025

Solastalgia identified as key concept linking climate change to mental health

'Solastalgia' might help explain the negative effects of climate change on mental health, suggests a review of the available research, published in the open access journal BMJ Mental Health.

5 Aug 2025

Childhood verbal abuse has lasting mental health effects similar to physical abuse

Experiencing childhood verbal abuse shows a similar impact to adult mental health as physical abuse, suggests a large intergenerational study, published in the open access journal BMJ Open.

5 Aug 2025

Vagus nerve stimulation enhances the effects of compassion meditation training

Stimulating the vagus nerve with a device attached to the outer ear can help make compassion meditation training more effective at boosting people's capacity for self-kindness and mindfulness, finds a new study led by University College London (UCL) researchers.

5 Aug 2025