Research News

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

Study Finds Mistreatment and Psychological Distress Among LGBT Prisoners in the US

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The rate of incarceration for lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals is roughly three times that of the general population and they experience significantly higher rates of victimization and mistreatment in prison.

Half of First-Episode Patients Respond to Antipsychotics

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No placebo controlled trials provide evidence of antipsychotics in first-episode psychosis.

Brief Trauma-Focused Psychotherapies Effective for Children with PTSD

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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Writing Therapy both reduce PTSD symptoms in children who experienced a single traumatic event.

New Study Examines User Experience of Discontinuing Psychiatric Medications

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Researchers find that support and self-care were helpful for users during discontinuation, but that mental health professionals were not very helpful.

Providers Fail to Report Information on Suicide Prevention Services

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Researchers investigate services related to suicide prevention across mental health providers in England.

Study Finds Hearing Voices Groups Improve Social and Emotional Wellbeing

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Hearing Voices Network self-help groups are an important resource for coping with voice hearing, study finds.

Researchers Identify Patterns in Antidepressant and Long-Term Benzodiazepine Use

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The researchers found that, of those who were initially prescribed both antidepressants and benzodiazepines, approximately 12% went on to engage in long-term benzodiazepine use.

Over 1,000 Antidepressant Users Describe how Their Personal Life has Been Affected

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Survey examines adverse personal and interpersonal effects of antidepressants and the impact of polypharmacy

Large Study Confirms Elevated Risk of Diabetes When Prescribed Antipsychotics

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A large longitudinal study finds once more that being prescribed antipsychotics significantly increases the risk of diabetes.

Researchers Discuss the Strengths of Children who Face Adversity

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Experiencing adversity may result in the development of unique strengths and abilities that are often overlooked.

When Switching Antipsychotics, No Difference Between Immediate and Gradual Discontinuation

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Review study compares outcomes of gradual vs. immediate antipsychotic discontinuation when switching from one drug to another.

Researchers Find Brief Intervention for Preventing Self-Harm Ineffective

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“These interventions also have the potential to increase rumination and negative affect, and potentially self-harm repetition, by serving as unhelpful reminders of negative experiences in the lead-up to the index self-harm event or during hospital treatment.”

What Transgender Actors can Teach Medical Residents

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A new training program teaches medical residents how to provide appropriate care and services to transgender clients.

Study Shows Clozapine Can Result in Serious Gastrointestinal Complications

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A large observational study published in CNS Drugs sheds light on serious adverse effects of the ‘gold standard’ antipsychotic Clozapine.

African American and Hispanic Youth Discontinue ADHD Treatment at Higher Rates than White Youth

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Study examines racial and ethnic disparities in the quality of care for Medicaid-enrolled children starting ADHD medication.

Unanswered Questions in New Mental Health Screening Program for Children

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An article presents new screening tools for pediatric depression and anxiety—but fails to answer its own questions about efficacy.

Psychological Research Fails to Capture Human Diversity, Researchers Call for Action

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Data demonstrate an overreliance of non-representative and non-diverse sampling biases in psychological research.

Study Explores Correlates of Low-Level Physical Activity and Psychosis

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A study examines the variables correlated with low levels of physical activity in persons diagnosed with psychosis in low and middle-income countries

Barriers to Engaging in Self-Help CBT for Voice Hearing

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Individuals with lived experience and clinicians share about barriers and facilitators to guided self-help CBT for voice hearing.

Researchers Question the Utility of an ADHD Diagnosis

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A new article examines the usefulness of the ADHD diagnosis and suggests alternatives

How Helpers Empathize may Affect Their Personal Well-being

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Researchers distinguish between two different forms of perspective taking and examine their impact on helpers’ wellbeing.

Study Investigates Physicians’ Beliefs About Placebo and Nocebo Effects of Antidepressants

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Surveyed doctors overestimate pharmacological effects of antidepressants and underestimate placebo effects.

New Data on the Adverse Effects of Meditation and Mindfulness

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Study reports on the less-examined findings of difficult and painful meditation-related experiences.

Research Finds Ketamine Does Not Reduce Delirium or Pain After Surgery

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Contrary to widely-held belief, a new rigorous trial finds that ketamine is ineffective for delirium and pain associated with surgery, and the drug carries harmful side effects.

United Nations Report Calls for Revolution in Mental Health Care

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In a new report, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Dr. Dainius Pūras, calls for a move away from the biomedical model and “excessive use of psychotropic medicines.”