J Psychiatr Res [JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Cannabis use patterns and psychotic-like experiences: a cross-sectional study of heavy users, occasional users, and non-users.
Ricci V, Sarni A, Remondino L … +7 more , Barresi M, De Berardis D, Cavallotto C, Di Cesare A, Martiadis V, Martinotti G, Maina G
J Psychiatr Res · 2026 Jul · PMID 42401121 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: The relationship between cannabis use and psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) remains a crucial area of investigation, particularly regarding different consumption patterns. METHODS: This cross-sectional study...
BACKGROUND: The relationship between cannabis use and psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) remains a crucial area of investigation, particularly regarding different consumption patterns. METHODS: This cross-sectional study examined 150 participants divided into three groups: heavy cannabis users (n = 43), occasional users (n = 47), and non-users (n = 60). Participants were classified using CUDIT-R scores combined with self-reported frequency of use. Assessments included the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) scale, Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scales. Cannabis use patterns, age of onset, and duration were documented. RESULTS: Heavy users (mean age 23.6 ± 4.9 years) showed significantly higher scores on positive symptoms (38.4 ± 6.2) compared to occasional users (28.6 ± 5.4) and non-users (18.2 ± 4.2; p < 0.01; ηp = 0.24). Depressive symptoms were also elevated in heavy users (18.6 ± 3.8) versus occasional users (15.4 ± 3.2) and non-users (12.2 ± 2.8; p < 0.01; ηp = 0.19). No significant differences were found in negative symptoms across groups (p = 0.24; ηp = 0.02). Earlier age of onset (<16.4 years) correlated with increased PLEs (r = 0.27, p < 0.05) and poorer functioning. Heavy users demonstrated strong correlations between cannabis use frequency and both positive symptoms (r = 0.58, p < 0.01) and depressive symptoms (r = 0.52, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest a frequency-related association between cannabis use and PLEs, particularly for positive and depressive symptoms. Early onset of use appears to be a significant risk factor for developing psychotic-like experiences, while negative symptoms remain largely unaffected. These results highlight the importance of considering consumption patterns when assessing the psychological impact of cannabis use.
Psychiatric or psychological treatment of depression in older adults and subsequent risk of dementia: Health and Retirement Study2012-2020.
Wei J, Kim Y, Zhang Y … +4 more , Tang VL, Lohman MC, Merchant AT, Crump C
J Psychiatr Res · 2026 Jun · PMID 42398315 · Publisher ↗
Depression is an established risk factor for dementia. However, it is unclear whether initiating psychiatric/psychological treatment of depression, particularly early initiation of such treatment, may reduce risk of deme...
Depression is an established risk factor for dementia. However, it is unclear whether initiating psychiatric/psychological treatment of depression, particularly early initiation of such treatment, may reduce risk of dementia. We examined associations between initiation and immediate initiation of psychiatric/psychological treatment and subsequent risk of dementia in older adults. Participants aged ≥60 years from the Health and Retirement Study from 2012 to 2018 with self-reported newly diagnosed depression but no history of dementia were included and followed up through 2020. Two sets of analyses were performed to examine initiation and immediate initiation of psychiatric/psychological treatment in relation to subsequent risk of dementia. Logistic regression models with stabilized inverse probability of treatment and censoring weights were used to estimate cumulative incidence and risk ratios (RRs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using 500 sets of bootstrapping. In analyses of 2269 non-unique participants with self-reported newly diagnosed depression, initiation of psychiatric/psychological treatment anytime after diagnosis showed no risk reduction of dementia. However, in other analyses of 1257 unique participants with self-reported newly diagnosed depression, immediate initiation of psychiatric/psychological treatment was associated with a lower risk of dementia across 8 years of follow-up (RR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.37, 0.96). Therefore, timely initiation of psychiatric/psychological treatment may reduce the risk of subsequent dementia among older adults with newly diagnosed depression. These findings further emphasize the importance of early treatment in managing late-life depression.
Analysis of the association between outdoor artificial light exposure and depressive symptoms in patients with different subtypes of depression.
Huang S, Chen B, Lan X … +5 more , Qin S, Wu S, Lan L, Gong Z, Liang L
J Psychiatr Res · 2026 Jun · PMID 42398314 · Publisher ↗
Outdoor artificial light, an increasingly prevalent form of environmental pollution, has been progressively linked to mental health outcomes. However, its association with depressive symptoms among individuals already di...
Outdoor artificial light, an increasingly prevalent form of environmental pollution, has been progressively linked to mental health outcomes. However, its association with depressive symptoms among individuals already diagnosed with depression remains unconfirmed. This study used a large sample of patients with depression (n = 3072), employing satellite imagery to estimate outdoor artificial light at night (ALAN) exposure at patients' residential locations and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale to assess depressive symptoms. First, latent profile analysis was conducted to categorize depression patients, with each category named based on its characteristics. Then, using the low-depression group as a reference, the association between high-depression groups and outdoor ALAN exposure was examined. After adjusting for all potential variables, the odds ratios remained statistically significant. Patients in the depressive-stagnation despair subtype showed a 2.394-fold increase in depressive symptoms (95% CI: 1.059-5.413), while those in the high-depression-low-weight subtype showed a 2.155-fold increase (95% CI:1.196-3.882). These findings suggest that outdoor ALAN exposure is significantly associated with depressive symptoms in patients with depression, indicating it may represent an environmental factor contributing to the severity of depressive symptoms in this population.
Linking socioeconomic context to functional brain network abnormalities and clinical severity in children with Tourette syndrome.
Liu Z, Lei T, Wang X … +7 more , Zhang W, Wang J, Zhang A, Men W, Zhang G, Hong X, Cui Y
J Psychiatr Res · 2026 Jul · PMID 42391732 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Tourette syndrome (TS) shows substantial clinical heterogeneity, but the factors contributing to this variability remain unclear. Socioeconomic status (SES) may influence brain functional connectivity (FC) an...
BACKGROUND: Tourette syndrome (TS) shows substantial clinical heterogeneity, but the factors contributing to this variability remain unclear. Socioeconomic status (SES) may influence brain functional connectivity (FC) and symptom expression, yet its role in pediatric TS is still not well understood. OBJECTIVE: To clarify the role of SES in modulating brain-behavior relationships in TS. METHODS: Resting-state fMRI data were acquired from 67 children and adolescents with TS and 49 matched controls. FC was computed within and between seven predefined brain networks. We identified group differences in FC, examined associations between SES and clinical measures, and tested whether SES indicators (family income, parental education, and residential location) moderated FC-symptom relationships. RESULTS: Compared with controls, children with TS showed significant alterations in FC, mainly characterized by increased connectivity involving somatomotor, frontoparietal control, default mode, attention, and limbic networks, and decreased connectivity within the right frontoparietal control network. Within the TS group, higher parental education was associated with greater premonitory urge severity. Moderation analyses showed that family income, parental education, and residential location moderated FC-premonitory urge associations; higher family income and parental education strengthened these associations, whereas rural residence weakened them. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic context may contribute to variability in brain-symptom relationships in pediatric TS, particularly for premonitory urges rather than clinician-rated tic severity. These findings highlight the importance of considering socioeconomic context when interpreting neuroclinical heterogeneity in TS and may inform more context-sensitive clinical assessment and interpretation.
Development and validation of the 5-item intimate partner violence scale (IPVS-5): Psychometric properties in a large-scale Chinese study.
Zhong R, Zhang X, Lin S … +1 more , Wu Y
J Psychiatr Res · 2026 Jun · PMID 42391731 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) poses serious threats to both physical and mental health and is increasingly recognized as a major public health concern. Despite its prevalence in China, culturally sensitive...
BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) poses serious threats to both physical and mental health and is increasingly recognized as a major public health concern. Despite its prevalence in China, culturally sensitive and psychometrically robust Intimate partner violence scales remain scarce. This study aimed to develop and validate a brief scale for IPV. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Psychology and Behavior Investigation of Chinese Residents (PBICR, 2023), which included 23,469 participants. The scale development process involved a literature review and expert consultations. Psychometric evaluation included item analysis, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, internal consistency assessment, and tests of convergent validity with depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and stress (PSS-4). Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted to examine heterogeneity in IPV severity. RESULTS: The IPVS-5 demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.947), a clear unidimensional factor structure, and good convergent validity with the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and PSS-4 (r = 0.45-0.47). Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) identified three distinct subgroups representing relatively low, moderate, and high IPV severity. Participants in the higher-severity profiles reported significantly greater anxiety and depressive symptoms than those in the lower-severity profiles. CONCLUSION: The IPVS-5 is a valid, reliable, and efficient scale for identifying IPV. Its strong psychometric properties support its use in population-based research and assessment.
Sleep health profiles of young adult college students: A latent profile analysis.
Brombach RK, Sy JRT, Leete JJ … +8 more , Kim KN, Taylor DJ, Huskey A, Olson EA, Pauck K, Emert SE, Bottrill K, Dietch JR
J Psychiatr Res · 2026 Jun · PMID 42391730 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Poor sleep health is strongly associated with depression, anxiety, and stress among college students. This study used latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify sleep profiles and examine their associations wi...
BACKGROUND: Poor sleep health is strongly associated with depression, anxiety, and stress among college students. This study used latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify sleep profiles and examine their associations with mental health. METHODS: College students (N = 276) from two U.S. universities completed 14 days of sleep diaries between March and December 2022. Six sleep health dimensions (regularity, satisfaction, alertness, timing, efficiency, and duration) were derived. Depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed daily. LPA was performed in R, and one-way ANOVAs tested differences in mental health across profiles. RESULTS: Five sleep profiles emerged: exhausted (n = 17), irregular (n = 13), inefficient (n = 27), typical (n = 162), and good sleepers (n = 57). ANOVAs revealed significant group differences for depression (F[4271] = 31.81, p < 0.001, η = 0.32), anxiety (F[4271] = 17.30, p < 0.001, η = 0.20), and stress (F[4271] = 14.83, p < 0.001, η = 0.18) severities. Exhausted sleepers had the highest mean levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, while good sleepers reported the lowest. There were also significant profile differences in variability of depression (F[4271] = 12.14, p < 0.001, η = 0.15) and anxiety (F[4271] = 11.82, p < 0.001, η = 0.15) but not stress (F[4271] = 2.15, p = 0.08, η = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Distinct sleep profiles are associated with both average and day-to-day variability in mental health among college students. Fatigue and irregularity appear particularly detrimental, highlighting the importance of screening for problematic sleep patterns and implementing targeted interventions to support student well-being.
Sexual orientation and clinical outcome trajectories over 24 months of treatment in first-episode schizophrenia.
Luckhoff HK, Del Re EC, Smit R … +4 more , Kilian S, Phahladira L, Emsley R, Asmal L
J Psychiatr Res · 2026 Jul · PMID 42385295 · Publisher ↗
Sexual minorities (SM) are at increased risk for psychosis, partly due to social adversities and downstream interpersonal vulnerabilities such as childhood trauma and substance use. This study examined the associations b...
Sexual minorities (SM) are at increased risk for psychosis, partly due to social adversities and downstream interpersonal vulnerabilities such as childhood trauma and substance use. This study examined the associations between self-reported sexual orientation and clinical outcome trajectories over 24 months of antipsychotic treatment in patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FES) (n = 77). Self-identified sexual orientation was assessed using the Sexual Orientation Identity Scale. Psychopathology was measured 3-monthly using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Childhood trauma was assessed via the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Urine toxicology screening was performed at regular intervals. We found that higher lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) sexual orientation scores were associated with greater dropout, treatment non-responsiveness, non-remission, and increased relapse risk. Although we observed similar initial symptom reductions across the cohort, higher LGB sexual orientation scores correlated with attenuated improvement, leading to more severe global psychopathology and positive symptoms at later follow-up. Exploratory analyses suggested that more severe childhood emotional abuse and higher rates of substance use amplified these associations. Higher LGB sexual orientation were therefore linked to less favourable clinical outcome trajectories in FES. These results do not pathologize SM identities or imply direct biological vulnerability to psychosis. Rather, they highlight that individuals with higher LGB orientation are disproportionately exposed to social adversities that are known to worsen prognosis in FES. Future studies should investigate additional social factors (e.g., stigma, discrimination, bullying, and social support) as potential moderators to guide targeted interventions aimed at reducing disparities in psychosis outcomes among SM.
Psychedelics and autism spectrum disorder: Mechanistic insights, translational evidence and ethical challenges.
Claudino Dos Santos JC, Bolan SJ, Lodetti G … +3 more , Viana GL, Rico EP, Gonçalves CL
J Psychiatr Res · 2026 Jun · PMID 42385294 · Publisher ↗
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction, restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, and sensory pro...
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction, restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, and sensory processing alterations, frequently accompanied by anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and other psychiatric comorbidities. Despite advances in behavioral and pharmacological interventions, effective treatments for core ASD symptoms remain limited. Psychedelic compounds have recently emerged as potential therapeutic agents in psychiatry because of their ability to modulate serotonergic and glutamatergic signaling, enhance neuroplasticity, reorganize large-scale brain networks, and influence neurobiological pathways implicated in ASD. In this narrative review, we examine the mechanistic rationale supporting psychedelic-based approaches in ASD, including 5-HT2A receptor activation, oxytocin-serotonin interactions, excitation-inhibition dynamics, functional connectivity, and glutamatergic modulation associated with ketamine and related compounds. We also summarize current clinical and preclinical evidence involving substances such as psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and ketamine. Particular attention is given to the distinction between core ASD symptoms and associated symptom domains. Current evidence does not support the direct treatment of core social communication deficits or restricted and repetitive behaviors; however, psychedelics may hold greater potential for dimensions such as social anxiety, emotional dysregulation, cognitive rigidity, and co-occurring mood symptoms. Ethical, regulatory, and developmental safety considerations are also discussed, particularly regarding neurodivergent populations and the absence of robust pediatric evidence. Although direct clinical studies in ASD remain scarce, psychedelic-assisted interventions represent a promising translational avenue that warrants further rigorous investigation through carefully designed clinical trials.
The impact of affective symptoms and mood instability on sexual desire and sexual distress in newly diagnosed bipolar disorder: a longitudinal study.
Krogh HB, Bruun CF, Zarp J … +4 more , Faurholt-Jepsen M, Kessing LV, Giraldi A, Vinberg M
J Psychiatr Res · 2026 Jun · PMID 42385293 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Fluctuations in mood and energy are clinically acknowledged to impact sexual functioning in bipolar disorder (BD), however, research is limited, with no longitudinal studies. This study investigates the impac...
BACKGROUND: Fluctuations in mood and energy are clinically acknowledged to impact sexual functioning in bipolar disorder (BD), however, research is limited, with no longitudinal studies. This study investigates the impact of affective symptoms on sexual desire and sexual distress over six months. METHODS: Affective symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), and daily smartphone-based mood ratings. Sexual outcomes comprised sexual desire measured by the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ-14) and sexual distress measured by the Sexual Distress Scale (SDS). Linear mixed models examined associations of affective symptoms and mood instability with sexual function and distress. RESULTS: A total of 236 individuals aged 18 to 68 years with newly diagnosed BD were included. Higher HDRS-17 scores were significantly associated with decreased sexual desire (β=-0.06, 95% CI = [-0.10, -0.02], p=0.004) and increased sexual distress (β=0.31, 95% CI = [0.22, 0.40], p < 0.001). Higher YMRS scores were significantly associated with increased sexual desire (β=0.07, 95% CI [-0.02, -0.13], p=0.011), and increased mood instability with increased sexual distress (β=1.87, 95% CI [-0.30, 03.44], p=0.020). Intraclass correlation coefficients showed that 63-67% of the variance in sexual desire and distress was due to inter-individual differences. CONCLUSIONS: In individuals with newly diagnosed BD observed over time, sexual desire was associated with depressive and manic symptoms, while sexual distress was associated with depressive symptoms and mood instability. Association with mood instability and inter-individual variability in sexual outcomes highlights the need to address sexuality both during and between episodes.
Dysfunctional large-scale networks linking PTSD and cognitive impairment.
Arjmand P, Dagher R, Stevens DA … +8 more , Wintermark M, Mei J, Carvalho AF, Alves GS, Sair HI, Yedavalli V, Luna LP, Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
J Psychiatr Res · 2026 Jun · PMID 42379073 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment (CI), but how large-scale network disruption relates to this vulnerability remains unclear. We exami...
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment (CI), but how large-scale network disruption relates to this vulnerability remains unclear. We examined whether PTSD and cognitive status interact to shape brain network organization. METHODS: Resting-state fMRI from 178 age-matched male participants (ADNI-DOD and ADNI cohorts) was analyzed within a 2 × 2 factorial design defined by PTSD status and cognitive status. Cognitive status was classified using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), with CI defined by a MoCA score of 18-26 and cognitively normal (CN) status by a MoCA score >26, yielding four groups; PTSD status was established using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), requiring a score ≥40 for the PTSD group and ≤30 for non-PTSD (NPTSD) controls. These criteria yielded four groups: PTSD-CI (n = 46), PTSD-CN (n = 14), NPTSD-CI (n = 55), and NPTSD-CN (n = 63). Functional connectivity matrices (32 regions, Harvard-Oxford atlas) underwent graph-theoretical analysis. General linear models tested main effects and the PTSD × cognitive status interaction for global efficiency, eigenvector centrality, clustering coefficient, local efficiency, degree, and betweenness centrality, adjusting for age, education, APOE ε4 status, and depressive symptoms (FDR-corrected). RESULTS: A significant PTSD × cognitive status interaction was observed across all four dorsal attention network (DAN) nodes-bilateral frontal eye fields and intraparietal sulci-for global efficiency, eigenvector centrality, cost, and degree. These effects were driven exclusively by PTSD-CI versus PTSD-CN differences and were absent in non-PTSD groups, reflecting a reversal of the normally right-lateralized DAN organization. Further interaction effects emerged in the right supramarginal gyrus (salience network) and medial visual network. A PTSD main effect reduced language-network hub function (left inferior frontal gyrus, left posterior superior temporal gyrus), and a cognitive-status main effect involved the left supramarginal gyrus. CONCLUSIONS: PTSD and cognitive impairment interact, rather than summate, to produce a distinct network signature characterized by DAN lateralization reversal, identifying PTSD-CI as a neurobiologically distinct phenotype and highlighting the DAN, salience, and language networks as targets.
Body dissatisfaction and adolescence suicidality - results from the Danish national birth cohort.
Ørstavik EK, Strandberg-Larsen K, Nordentoft M … +2 more , Karstoft KI, Madsen T
J Psychiatr Res · 2026 Jun · PMID 42379072 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Body Dissatisfaction (BD) has been associated with poorer mental health. We investigated associations between BD in early adolescence and suicidality in teenage years. METHODS: Data included 24,569 adolescent...
BACKGROUND: Body Dissatisfaction (BD) has been associated with poorer mental health. We investigated associations between BD in early adolescence and suicidality in teenage years. METHODS: Data included 24,569 adolescents (59.1% females) from the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC). Self-reported BD was assessed at age 11 years, while suicidal ideation and attempts was retrieved at age 18. Levels of BD, the desire to be bigger or smaller, and BD within different body mass index (BMI) strata were examined. Sex, parental socio-demographics and -psychiatric history was adjusted for in multinomial logistic regression and used in weighting procedures to account for selection bias. RESULTS: Compared to individuals who were satisfied with their own body, those not satisfied had increased risk for suicidal ideation (adjusted relative risk ratio(aRRR) = 1.31, 95% CI:1.23-1.39) and suicide attempts (aRRR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.53-2.07). Associations were similar for boys and girls. Corresponding aRRR estimates of suicide ideation and attempt were found for both those with a desire of being bigger and smaller, respectively. Higher levels of dissatisfaction were associated with higher risk of suicide ideation and -attempt. Using individuals reporting body satisfaction and normal-range BMI as the reference, the risk of suicide attempt was increased in individuals reporting BD and normal BMI (RRR = 1.82, 95% CI:1.52-2.18) or high BMI (RRR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.48-2.40), respectively. CONCLUSION: BD in early adolescence, irrespectively of a wish to be bigger or smaller or level of dissatisfaction, was associated with elevated risks of suicidality, highlighting the need for targeted interventions at this critical developmental stage.
The efficacy of Boswellic acid on behavioral dysfunctions and dopamine transporter (DAT) expression and protein levels in the prefrontal cortex of both sexes of rats exposed to social isolation.
Vaseghi S, Manooki K, Gharibian S … +3 more , Jalalian-Javadpour M, Rafiei Bakhsh O, Javid R
J Psychiatr Res · 2026 Jun · PMID 42379071 · Publisher ↗
Social isolation is an environmental stress model that leads to a wide range of deleterious effects on behavioral functions and cognition. It seems that social isolation can affect the dopaminergic signaling, although ev...
Social isolation is an environmental stress model that leads to a wide range of deleterious effects on behavioral functions and cognition. It seems that social isolation can affect the dopaminergic signaling, although evidence is limited. On the other hand, Boswellia, commonly also called frankincense, and boswellic acids (the most important bioactive constituents in Boswellia) can induce antidepressant and pro-cognitive effects. The present study evaluated the efficacy of boswellic acid on behavioral deficits and dopamine transporter (DAT) expression and protein levels in the prefrontal cortex of both sexes of socially isolated rats. Social isolation was initiated at postnatal day 21 (PND21) and continued for 50 consecutive days (PND21-70). Locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, and grooming (in the open field test), marbles buried (OCD-like behavior), depressive-like behavior (sniffing/grooming rate in the sucrose splash test), novel object recognition memory performance, and DAT gene and protein expression levels were evaluated. Boswellic acid was intraperitoneally injected at the dose of 40 mg/kg (dissolved in DMSO) for 5 consecutive days (PND65-69). The results showed social isolation induces significant behavioral and molecular alterations, while these effects were accompanied by clear sex-dependent differences. Social isolation markedly increased locomotor activity, OCD-like behavior (increased marbles buried), and depressive-like behavior, as well as decreased DAT mRNA and protein levels, while it reduced anxiety-like behaviors and impaired novel object recognition memory. Notably, treatment with boswellic acid effectively attenuated and reversed most of the effects induced by social isolation. These findings suggest that boswellic acid may modulate dopaminergic signaling pathways underlying stress-induced neurobehavioral alterations.
Developing a novel coding tool for therapeutic alliance and exploring online engagement in a digital mental health intervention for youth with major depressive disorder.
Sarkar S, Zagata M, Piantella S … +3 more , Alvarez-Jimenez M, Mangelsdorf SN, Gleeson J
J Psychiatr Res · 2026 Jun · PMID 42379070 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Increased prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in youth and limitations in effective and accessible treatments requires treatment innovations such as digital mental health interventions (DMHI) using...
BACKGROUND: Increased prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in youth and limitations in effective and accessible treatments requires treatment innovations such as digital mental health interventions (DMHI) using peer support. This study developed and assessed the interrater reliability of a novel coding protocol to detect spontaneous expression of therapeutic alliance (TA) in participants' posts with peers in a DMHI for youth with depression entitled Rebound. Contingent on good reliability, the relationships between expressed peer-to-peer TA, gender and online engagement with therapy content were assessed. METHOD: Youth aged 15-25 (M = 20.5, SD = 3.0) in remission from MDD were recruited for the Rebound trial. Data was collated from 109 participants (61% female). RESULTS: Cohen's Kappa for the coding protocol ranged from .63 to .78 for bond and task elements of TA but did not meet the a-priori cut-off for shared goals (κ = .60). A moderate and significant positive correlation was identified between Peer TA and engagement. Hierarchical regression analyses found that Peer TA significantly predicted online engagement, with this relationship not being moderated by gender. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrated the feasibility and reliability of a novel coding protocol for detecting spontaneous TA expression and highlighted the unique positive relationship between Peer TA and online engagement with therapy content on Rebound. Gender was not a significant moderator of this relationship. Findings indicate that peer-to-peer interactions in DMHIs may encourage engagement with online therapy content. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ANZCTR, ACTRN12619001412123.
Diurnal variation in antipsychotic-associated acute dystonia: A retrospective cohort study.
Hamers PJ, Bakker B, Dries L … +3 more , Dieleman S, Bouter DC, Grootendorst-van Mil NH
J Psychiatr Res · 2026 Jun · PMID 42379069 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Acute dystonia is a distressing adverse effect of antipsychotics. A circadian pattern has been suggested, but evidence is limited. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether antipsychotic-induced acute dystonia shows...
BACKGROUND: Acute dystonia is a distressing adverse effect of antipsychotics. A circadian pattern has been suggested, but evidence is limited. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether antipsychotic-induced acute dystonia shows a time-of-day distribution. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients admitted to a first-episode psychosis ward (2017-2025). The timing of dystonia onset was extracted from clinical records. Temporal clustering was assessed using circular statistics (Rayleigh test) and Chi-square analyses of predefined time blocks. RESULTS: Thirty-five cases of acute dystonia were identified (mean age 22.4 years, SD 4.1; 71.4% male). Events clustered in the afternoon and early evening (mean time 5:12 p.m.; Rayleigh R = 0.71, p < 0.001). Chi-square tests confirmed deviation from uniformity (p < 0.001). Sensitivity analyses showed that results were independent of antipsychotic dosing time, time to reaction, and antipsychotic dose. CONCLUSION: Acute dystonia onset appeared to cluster in the late afternoon and early evening, warranting further investigation of time-of-day effects in monitoring antipsychotic-related motor effects.
Cumulative depressive burden, functional impairment, depressive symptomatology and treatment response in Major Depressive Disorder: results from the STAR∗D and GSRD studies.
Luca M, Olgiati P, Luca A … +13 more , Kasper S, Zohar J, Souery D, Montgomery S, Ferentinos P, Rujescu D, Zanardi R, Benedetti F, Rosalind Eccles FJ, Perez Algorta G, Ferri R, Mendlewicz J, Serretti A
J Psychiatr Res · 2026 Jun · PMID 42379068 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a frequently recurrent condition that substantially impairs functioning; however, the contribution of illness course to functional impairment remains less well understood. T...
BACKGROUND: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a frequently recurrent condition that substantially impairs functioning; however, the contribution of illness course to functional impairment remains less well understood. This study investigated the association between Cumulative Depressive Burden-CDB (a composite measure incorporating lifetime disease duration, number of depressive episodes and duration of current episode) and functioning, depressive symptomatology and treatment response in MDD. Associations with the individual components of CDB were also examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected in the context of the "Group for the Study of Resistant Depression" (GSRD) and "Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression" (STAR∗D) trials. Functioning was assessed using the Work and Social Adjustment Scale in STAR∗D and the Sheehan Disability Scale in GSRD. Depressive symptoms were assessed real-time in the STAR∗D (through the 30-item Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology) and retrospectively in the GSRD (through the retrospective Montgomery-Äsberg depression rating scale). Linear or logistic regression models were used to investigate the associations between CDB, depressive symptoms, functioning and treatment response. RESULTS: The individual CDB components showed different patterns of association across the two cohorts, while higher CDB was consistently associated with worse functioning. Associations with depressive symptom dimensions were less consistent between datasets. Higher CDB was strongly associated with poorer treatment response in the GSRD sample. CONCLUSIONS: CDB may represent a clinically meaningful operational construct reflecting longitudinal illness load in MDD. Its association with functional impairment and treatment response supports a more comprehensive conceptualization of illness course in MDD.
The effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on sleep in individuals with substance use disorders: A systematic review.
Mouzenian A, Felsky D, Ahmed T … +7 more , Sloan ME, Mehta DD, Lim A, Bhat V, Pereira CF, Kloiber S, Tang VM
J Psychiatr Res · 2026 Jun · PMID 42372632 · Publisher ↗
INTRODUCTION: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are associated with significant sleep disturbances, which contribute to increased relapse risk and poorer treatment outcomes. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTM...
INTRODUCTION: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are associated with significant sleep disturbances, which contribute to increased relapse risk and poorer treatment outcomes. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has emerged as a promising intervention for SUDs and has been shown to improve sleep in other clinical populations. However, its influence on sleep in individuals with SUDs has not been systematically examined. Understanding this relationship is critical, as improving sleep could enhance treatment outcomes and reduce relapse risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed on PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, and PsycINFO for primary research. Keywords included "transcranial magnetic stimulation," "substance use disorders," and "sleep". Eligible studies included adults diagnosed with any SUD according to standardized criteria, rTMS as an addiction treatment, and sleep outcomes using either self-reported or objective measures. RESULTS: Twelve studies met inclusion criteria. Ten reported statistically significant sleep improvements following rTMS, with common parameters among these positive studies including stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and protocols delivering ≥10 sessions. All studies used subjective measures for the sleep outcomes, and most focused on individuals with methamphetamine or cocaine use disorder. CONCLUSION: Understanding the effects of rTMS on sleep in SUDs is crucial for improving treatment strategies. Findings suggest that rTMS may improve sleep in this population, but further studies using objective sleep measures, more diverse samples, and longer-term follow-up are needed. If validated, rTMS could be a multifaceted tool to improve both substance use and sleep outcomes.
Cognitive effects of transcranial random noise stimulation in schizophrenia: A triple-blind randomized placebo-controlled pilot study.
Körber K, Dax J, von Luxburg S … +8 more , Papazova I, Strube W, Padberg F, Pross B, Schneider-Axmann T, Falkai P, Karch S, Hasan A
J Psychiatr Res · 2026 Jun · PMID 42365849 · Publisher ↗
Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) has shown promising effects on working memory, attention, and learning in healthy individuals and other clinical populations. However, evidence for cognitive benefits in schiz...
Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) has shown promising effects on working memory, attention, and learning in healthy individuals and other clinical populations. However, evidence for cognitive benefits in schizophrenia remains limited, despite the high prevalence and clinical relevance of cognitive impairments in this group. This triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study (DRKS00005200) investigated the effects of tRNS on cognitive and clinical outcomes in 30 individuals with schizophrenia. Patients received either active or sham tRNS, with the anodal electrode placed over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (F3 according to the international 10-20 EEG system). Stimulation consisted of a high-frequency current oscillating between 1 mA and 2 mA, applied for 20 min daily over two weeks, alongside stable antipsychotic treatment. Across primary outcomes (cognition and psychopathology), no clear evidence for robust between-group differences was observed. Effect sizes were consistently small with overlapping confidence intervals. Both groups showed comparable improvements in working memory (n-back), verbal learning (VLMT-A), attention (d2), and clinical symptoms over time. Secondary analyses indicated a small-to-moderate effect in attentional processing speed, although estimates were imprecise. Exploratory analyses further suggested a potential moderation effect in SANS anhedonia, indicating differential associations between baseline severity and follow-up outcomes across groups. Overall, the pattern of findings does not provide evidence for specific cognitive or clinical benefits of tRNS in this sample. Observed within-group improvements may reflect non-specific effects such as practice-related gains and study participation, although these cannot be isolated within the present design. Future studies should address inter-individual variability by targeting specific cognitive domains and symptom clusters, incorporating longer follow-ups, more sensitive and parallelized assessments, and optimized stimulation protocols, potentially combined with cognitive training, to clarify conditions under which tRNS may yield clinically meaningful effects in schizophrenia.
Anxiety and the immune system: IL-6 and its ties to broad, but not specific anxiety symptoms.
Renna ME, Wilbourne FN
J Psychiatr Res · 2026 Jun · PMID 42365848 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Emerging evidence supports interleukin-6 (IL-6) as particularly sensitive to anxiety-specific processes. This study examined the relationship between basal inflammation and both broad and speci...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Emerging evidence supports interleukin-6 (IL-6) as particularly sensitive to anxiety-specific processes. This study examined the relationship between basal inflammation and both broad and specific self-report measures of anxiety to clarify immune correlates of anxiety-related pathology. METHODS: Adult participants (N = 137) had a finger stick to measure IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and c-reactive protein (CRP) collected via dried blood spots. They also completed self-report measures of general and specific dimensions of anxiety. RESULTS: Results indicated a small but significant association between IL-6 and broad measures of anxiety-related symptoms (r range = .19 - 30, p range = .001 - .04). In contrast, Il-6 was not associated with any of the specific dimensions of anxiety (p range = .10 - .65). There were no significant associations between broad or specific aspects of anxiety and TNF-α, IL-10, or CRP (p range = .10 - .94). CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that IL-6 is a robust biomarker of broad anxiety symptomology rather than specific anxiety subtypes. This pattern aligns with emerging translational work indicating that IL-6 may be more reflective of cumulative anxiety burden and chronic stress exposure. Future studies should explore longitudinal associations and contextual moderators such as comorbid depression and early life stress.
Region-specific dysregulation of proline metabolic enzymes underlying mitochondrial dysfunction in the postmortem brains of patients with schizophrenia.
Nagaoka A, Hino M, Shishido R … +7 more , Hatano M, Hosogai Y, Kano A, Hamasaki H, Kakita A, Tomita H, Kunii Y
J Psychiatr Res · 2026 Jun · PMID 42365847 · Publisher ↗
Proline metabolism has been associated with schizophrenia pathophysiology; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. This study aimed to investigate the changes in the entire proline metabolic pathway...
Proline metabolism has been associated with schizophrenia pathophysiology; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. This study aimed to investigate the changes in the entire proline metabolic pathway in postmortem brains of patients with schizophrenia. Herein, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to determine the protein levels of proline metabolism-associated key enzymes (prolidase [PEPD], proline dehydrogenase [PRODH], pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase [ALDH18A1], ornithine aminotransferase [OAT], and pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 1 [PYCR1]). Additionally, amino acids metabolized through the proline pathway, including proline, ornithine, and glutamic acid, were quantitatively analyzed through liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The alterations in the expression of proline metabolism-associated enzymes and associated amino acid levels were analyzed in the postmortem brains of individuals with schizophrenia, and their associations with premortem clinical symptom scores were examined. Notably, in patients with schizophrenia, PRODH and PYCR1 expression significantly decreased in the superior temporal gyrus and prefrontal cortex, respectively, whereas amino acid levels showed no significant differences. Overall, the findings of this study show that dysregulation in proline metabolism may contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction owing to its close association with energy production and redox regulation. These results suggest the underlying pathophysiology of schizophrenia and provide insights for developing novel therapeutic strategies for managing schizophrenia.
Developmental trajectories, heterogeneous subgroups, and predictors of subgroup membership of PTSD among healthcare workers: An 18-month longitudinal study.
Chen Z, Zou L, Cai R … +6 more , Yan S, Liu Y, Fei Y, Wen J, Wang Y, Fu W
J Psychiatr Res · 2026 Jun · PMID 42365846 · Publisher ↗
INTRODUCTION: Healthcare workers are at high risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when exposed to public health emergencies. The latent developmental trajectories of PTSD differ among individuals, even...
INTRODUCTION: Healthcare workers are at high risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when exposed to public health emergencies. The latent developmental trajectories of PTSD differ among individuals, even if they are exposed to similar environment. This study aimed to explore the longitudinal trajectories of PTSD among healthcare workers and to identify factors associated with different trajectory subgroups. METHODS: This study conducted four surveys over an 18-month. In total, 2867 healthcare workers were included at baseline, and ultimately, 2422 individuals who participated in all four surveys were included in analysis, with a follow-up response rate of 84.48%. The developmental trajectory of PTSD and the heterogeneity of trajectory were identified using latent growth curve model and latent growth mixture model, respectively. Risk factors for the trajectories were analysed using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: PTSD symptoms among healthcare workers decreased gradually from T1 to T3 yet increased slightly at T4. In addition, three PTSD symptom severity trajectories were identified: 'low symptom' (66.80%), 'moderate symptom' (27.25%), and 'high symptom' (5.95%). Compared with the low symptom trajectory, the main risk factors for the moderate symptom and high symptom trajectories were longer work seniority (OR = 1.897∼3.776), insufficient sleep duration (OR = 1.915∼2.522), exposure to traumatic life events (OR = 1.489∼1.882), and negative coping strategies (OR = 2.933∼7.543). CONCLUSION: A considerable proportion of healthcare workers continued to experience moderate or high levels of PTSD symptoms during the mid-to-late stage of the public health emergency, which requires sustained attention from managers. Identified risk factors can inform references for prevention, early detection and intervention in individuals at risk of developing adverse PTSD.
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