GLP-1RAs reduce weight and HbA1c in severe mental illness with low discontinuation rates
New drugs help people with severe mental illness lose weight safely
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in individuals with severe mental illness who h…
New weight loss drugs work well and stay safe for people with severe mental illness who struggle with obesity and high blood sugar.
Diffusion tensor imaging shows lower fractional anisotropy in bipolar disorder white matter tracts
Bipolar Brain Wiring Shows Clear Damage in Key Emotional Pathways
This systematic review and meta-analysis of diffusion tensor imaging studies compared 5,372 individuals with bipolar disorder to 6,240 healt…
Brain scans reveal consistent white matter damage in bipolar disorder, especially in tracts that regulate emotion and connect brain hemisphe…
Clozapine Use Linked to Higher SARS-CoV-2 Infection Risk in Severe Mental Disorders
Clozapine users faced higher risk of severe COVID-19 in large study
A meta-analysis of 155,945 outpatients with severe mental disorders found that clozapine users had a higher rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection com…
A massive analysis of over 155,000 people found that those taking clozapine had higher rates of infection and worse outcomes from COVID-19.
Preoperative psychological factors are associated with postoperative cognitive outcomes in older adults
Psychological factors linked to cognitive issues after surgery in older adults
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined preoperative psychological factors in older adults aged 60 years or older.
A large review links preoperative anxiety and stress to worse cognitive outcomes after surgery for older patients.
Semaglutide improves physical quality of life in schizophrenia with prediabetes
Semaglutide improves physical quality of life in adults with schizophrenia and obesity
This secondary analysis of a randomized trial in 154 adults with schizophrenia, prediabetes, and overweight or obesity found that once-weekl…
A secondary analysis of a trial found that once-weekly semaglutide improved physical quality of life in adults with schizophrenia and obesit…
Meta-analysis finds decreased GDNF levels in bipolar disorder but high heterogeneity limits conclusions
Brain chemical levels differ in bipolar disorder compared to healthy people
This meta-analysis of 825 patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and 885 healthy controls found significantly lower circulating GDNF levels in …
A large review found lower levels of a specific brain chemical in people with bipolar disorder. This difference was clear even when comparin…
Auricular Acupressure With Music Therapy Reduces Labor Pain and Postpartum Depression
Ear pressure and music may ease labor pain and lower postpartum depression risk
This randomized controlled trial in 146 parturients found that auricular acupressure combined with five-element music therapy reduced labor …
A trial of 146 women found ear acupressure plus music therapy reduced labor pain scores and postpartum depression rates compared to routine …
Systematic review finds cannabinoids reduce agitation in severe dementia but increase sedation risk
Cannabinoids Calm Agitation But Not All Dementia Symptoms
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated cannabinoids for neuropsychiatric symptoms in persons with dementia.
Cannabinoids may calm agitation in dementia patients but do not fix all behavioral problems and can make people sleepy.
Adjunctive JNJ-42165279 fails to improve depression in SSRI/SNRI inadequate responders
Early trial finds new drug did not help depression in patients already on antidepressants
This phase 2a double-blind RCT tested adjunctive JNJ-42165279 25 mg daily versus placebo in 153 adults with major depressive disorder with a…
A small early study found a new drug did not improve depression symptoms for patients already taking standard antidepressants.
Magnetic seizure therapy non-inferior to ECT for depression with better memory outcomes
Magnetic therapy matches standard shock therapy for depression but spares memory
This randomized non-inferiority trial compared magnetic seizure therapy (MST) with right unilateral ultra-brief ECT in 239 adults with major…
A new trial shows magnetic seizure therapy works as well as standard shock therapy for depression while causing far less memory loss in adul…
Meta-analysis finds VR distraction does not reduce pain during IUD insertion but may lower anxiety
Virtual reality fails to stop pain during IUD insertion but helps with anxiety
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 4 RCTs (n=440) found that immersive virtual reality distraction did not significantly reduce pos…
New research shows virtual reality helps women feel less anxious during IUD insertion but does not reduce their physical pain.
Values affirmation writing reduced anxiety in first-year minoritized STEM students compared to neutral writing in an RCT
Writing Exercise Eases Anxiety in Minority STEM Students
This randomized controlled trial enrolled 69 first-year students from minoritized racial and ethnic backgrounds in STEM fields.
A brief writing exercise helped reduce anxiety and boost belonging among first-year STEM students from minoritized backgrounds.