mental health

Starting cannabis use before the age of 15 may set the stage for future health struggles, according to a new study linking early cannabis use to higher odds of both mental and physical health problems in young adulthood.

Even brief, friendly interactions can lift the emotional weight of dementia caregiving, with new research showing that connections, especially casual ones, offer powerful protection against loneliness and isolation.

For decades, scientists have suspected that the voices heard by people with schizophrenia might be their own inner speech gone awry. Now, researchers have found brainwave evidence showing exactly how this self-monitoring glitch occurs.

New research challenges fears about stopping long-term prescription opioid use, uncovering no associated rise in suicide risk and a sharp drop in overdose death. The findings offer reassurance for clinicians and patients managing chronic pain.

Training a service dog doesn’t just change the life of another veteran; it may help heal the trainer, too. A new study finds that volunteering with dogs could slow biological aging in female veterans with PTSD while easing stress and anxiety.

A new review reveals finasteride users face higher risks of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Concerns about the drug's underreported mental health side effects prompt calls for stricter regulation.

A one-week, clinician-supported online therapy program significantly reduced anxiety and improved daily functioning for adults with social anxiety disorder, according to a new study. It’s a promising step toward more flexible, accessible treatments.

A first-of-its-kind study has found that recognizing – and using – personal strengths is linked with better physical and psychological wellbeing and fewer mental-health challenges in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Chronic stress can rewire the brain, leading to a host of mental health issues. Now, scientists believe that one small sugar-adding process may act as a switch for depression, providing new insights into mood disorders – and a new target to treat them.

Retirement can boost mental health, but not for everyone. A new study shows that income, gender, and job type influence whose well-being flourishes and who struggles once the 9-to-5 workdays are ended.

A simple haircut may reveal more than just split ends. By testing for the stress hormone cortisol, which is stored in hair, researchers can identify kids with chronic illness who face the greatest risk of anxiety, depression, or behavioral struggles.

A study has found people living with chronic pain tend to be more perfectionistic, less self-compassionate and – depending on the measure – less confident in their ability to cope. These traits may intensify suffering, but also point to new avenues for relief.