Research News

Summaries of research findings that tell of a scientific need to "rethink psychiatry."

Review Examines Causes and Consequences of Overdiagnosis in Primary Care

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A new review in BMJ investigates overdiagnosis in primary care settings, where the majority of mental health care is provided in the U.S.

Large Increase in Poison Control Calls for Children Taking ADHD Drugs

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New data shows that calls to US poison control centers have increased significantly for children taking stimulant ADHD drugs.

Prolonged Exposure Reduces Dropout Rates and Symptoms for Individuals with Complex Trauma

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New study finds that intensive prolonged exposure is a promising treatment option for individuals with multiple trauma experiences.

SSRI Exposure in Pregnancy Alters Fetal Neurodevelopment

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Alterations in gray matter and white matter development found in infants of mothers taking SSRI antidepressants during pregnancy.

Publication Bias Inflates Perceived Efficacy of Depression Treatments, Study Finds

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Researchers report the cumulative effects of major biases on the apparent efficacy of antidepressant and psychotherapy treatments.

Can Education Level Predict Prescription Drug Misuse in Young Adults?

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A new study examines the extent to which patterns in prescription drug misuse and substance use disorder symptoms can be predicted by education level

Sociologist Questions Effectiveness and Ethics of Mental Health Services

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Medical sociologist David Pilgrim argues that mental health care is neither effective nor “kindly,” as it often relies on flawed research and ineffective treatments.

Peer Support Reduces Chances of Psychiatric Readmission

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A randomized control trial finds that receiving peer support from individuals with similar lived experiences reduces one’s risk of readmission to an acute crisis unit.

Call to Monitor Adverse Effects of Antipsychotics in Youth

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Researchers point to the risks of using antipsychotics with youth and caution against the practice.

Digital Media Use Linked to Increase in ADHD Symptoms

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Increased frequency of digital media use can increase symptoms of ADHD among adolescents, study finds.

New Study Investigates Negative Side Effects of Therapy

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Researchers find that nearly half of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) patients experience treatment side effects.

Study Shows Success With Reduced Antipsychotic Use

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People who reduced antipsychotic use by tapering were doing just as well after five years as those who continued using the drugs.

Lack of Efficacy for Current Physical Activity Interventions in Persons Diagnosed with Severe Mental...

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Review finds a need for more rigorous research to increase physical activity in people diagnosed with a severe mental illness (SMI).

Valproate Linked to Decreased Brain Volume in Children Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder

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Researchers find that valproate decreases brain volume in a region associated with emotion processing across all participants.

Study Explores Pain Assessment for Medically Complex, Nonverbal Children

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To what extent are healthcare providers equipped to assess nuance in the experiences of pain among nonverbal children?

Researchers Can’t Predict Whether Childhood ADHD Will Impact Adult Functioning

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New research has found that a childhood ADHD diagnosis is not predictive of adult functioning in boys.

Study Reduces Over-prescription of Antipsychotics in Older Adults

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New intervention shows promise in reducing over-prescription of off-label antipsychotics in older adults.

Screening Instruments Do Not Reflect Individual Experiences of Depression

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Researchers detect discrepancies between the language used to describe lived experiences of mental health and the language used in modern screening tools.

Mindfulness Improves Resiliency to Stress in University Students

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New research demonstrates the lasting effects of mindfulness training on stress and wellbeing among university students.

The Effect of Psychiatric Diagnosis on Young People’s Sense of Self and Social Identity

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A new review highlights the effects that psychiatric diagnosis has on children and adolescents’ social relationships and views of self.

Mental Health Apps May Lead to Overdiagnosis, Study Finds

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A new study finds that mental health apps promote a one-dimensional view of mental health.

What Are Best Practices For Psychosis And What Gets In The Way?

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Research investigates clinicians’ perspectives on best care practices and the complicated realities of providing care in the face of agency limitations and mechanized interventions.

Stimulant Drugs Have Adverse Effects on Cognitive Functioning in Healthy Students

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Study of students without an ADHD diagnosis finds that stimulants (Adderall) have little impact on cognitive performance.

Unsafe Use of Sleep Drug Zolpidem is Common

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Three out of four users of the sedative, zolpidem (brand name Ambien), do not follow FDA recommendations to reduce risk.

Most Psychology Research Does Not Generalize to the Individual

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A new study claims that quantitative research in psychology is “worryingly imprecise” and that generalizations may be flawed and misleading.