Depression

A first-of-its-kind study has found adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities may experience improvements to symptoms of anxiety and depression after using specially designed virtual reality sensory rooms.

Two new studies offer some of the strongest evidence to date for a relationship between depression and gut bacteria. The studies do not claim causality but do suggest a strong correlation that could inform novel diagnostic biomarkers for depression.

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers pitted mindfulness meditation against a common antidepressant in a trial on patients with anxiety. The findings reveal an eight-week mindfulness program was as effective at reducing anxiety as drug treatment.

The world's first Phase 3 human trial for psilocybin-assisted therapy set to commence by the end of the year. The trial, run by Compass Pathways, will enroll close to 1,000 subjects and the company is looking to FDA approvals by the end of 2025.

New research presents the most comprehensive study to date into the long-term neurological problems associated with COVID-19. Tracking 150,000 COVID patients for a year the research found COVID led to a 42% increase in risk of several brain disorders.

New research has approached the relationship between exercise and brain health with a long-term view, tapping into a year’s worth of Fitbit data to gauge the impacts of different types of physical activity, and turned up some interesting results.

People subjected to irregular sleeping and eating habits through shift work are known to have higher risk of a wide range of health problems, and a new study has drilled into the impacts of this lifestyle on mental health.

Associating positive or negative emotions to specific memories is core to survival. Researchers have identified a specific molecule that seems to drive the assignment of emotions to memories, which could lead to new treatments for anxiety and depression.

New research has explored the relationship between eating habits and mental health in young men suffering from clinical depression, and shown that switching to a healthier Mediterranean diet can bring about significant reductions in symptoms.

Researchers have shown in mice how a heightened sense of alert among immune cells may drive some of the long-term consequences to cognitive function after concussion, and opened up new possibilities around therapies for human sufferers.

New research has delved into the relationship between exercise and depression and turned up some early but valuable insights, suggesting that a single workout before a weekly therapy session can amplify its positive effects.

A new study offers the first investigation into mental health issues in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients up to 16 months after initial infection. The findings reveal COVID-19 led to a higher risk of long-term depression depending on initial severity.