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Health - Psychology - 27.03.2023 
Analysis: People with a history of poor mental health likelier to face hardships during the pandemic
Dr Vanessa Moulton (UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies) and Professor George Ploubidis (UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies) highlight in The Conversation their findings that adults with long-term psychological difficulties were disproportionally affected by the pandemic. More than a million people in England are waiting for mental health support due to soaring demand exacerbated by the pandemic.
Psychology - Social Sciences - 23.03.2023
Psychology - Health - 28.02.2023
Life Sciences - Psychology - 22.02.2023
Psychology - Life Sciences - 10.02.2023
Psychology - Social Sciences - 09.02.2023 
New AI tool identifies factors that predict the reproducibility of research
The replication success of scientific research is linked to research methods, citation impact and social media coverage - but not university prestige or citation numbers - according to a new study involving UCL researchers. Published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ( PNAS ), the study explores the ability of a validated text-based machine learning model to predict the likelihood of successful replication for more than 14,100 psychology research articles published since 2000 across six top-tier journals.
Pharmacology - Psychology - 08.02.2023
Psychology - Health - 08.02.2023
Health - Psychology - 06.02.2023
Health - Psychology - 01.02.2023 
Link between talking therapy and lower rates of dementia assessed
Using talking therapies to effectively treat depression in adults over the age of 65 may be clinically linked with slightly reduced rates of future dementia diagnosis, finds a new analysis of health data led by UCL researchers. In this first-of-its-kind study, published in Psychological Medicine and funded by the Alzheimer's Society, researchers assessed whether psychological therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), used to treat depression could play a role in dementia risk reduction.
Psychology - 01.02.2023
Health - Psychology - 24.01.2023 
Generational inequalities in mental health accelerated during Covid-19 pandemic
Core symptoms of anxiety and depression were more common among younger generations compared to older age groups during the COVID-19 outbreak - with the gap between young and old widening further during the pandemic, according to a new study by UCL and King's College London. Published today in Psychological Medicine, the study explores data from 26,772 people living in the UK across five different birth cohort studies - following those born in 1946, 1958, 1970, 1989-90 and 2000-02.
Pharmacology - Psychology - 23.01.2023 
Scientists explain emotional ’blunting’ caused by common antidepressants
Scientists have worked out why common anti-depressants cause around a half of users to feel emotionally -blunted-. In a study published today, they show that the drugs affect reinforcement learning, an important behavioural process that allows us to learn from our environment. According to the NHS, more than 8.3 million patients in England received an antidepressant drug in 2021/22.
Pharmacology - Psychology - 17.01.2023
Psychology - Health - 16.01.2023 
The link between mental health and ADHD is strong - so why aren’t we paying attention?
Adults with high levels of ADHD symptoms are more likely to have anxiety and depression than adults with high levels of autistic traits, new research finds. Adults with high levels of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are more likely to experience anxiety and depression than adults with high levels of autistic traits, according to new research led by psychologists at the University of Bath.
Psychology - Health - 11.01.2023
Psychology
Results 1 - 16 of 16.
Dr Vanessa Moulton (UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies) and Professor George Ploubidis (UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies) highlight in The Conversation their findings that adults with long-term psychological difficulties were disproportionally affected by the pandemic. More than a million people in England are waiting for mental health support due to soaring demand exacerbated by the pandemic.
What’s your sound barrier? New study finds nearly one in five people in the UK find everyday sounds intolerable
Researchers from King's College London and University of Oxford have shown that 18.4 per cent of the general UK population report that certain sounds, such as loud chewing, and repetitive sniffing, cause a significant problem in their lives. The condition is known as misophonia. Misophonia is a strong negative reaction to common sounds, which are usually made by other people, and include breathing, yawning, or chewing.
Researchers from King's College London and University of Oxford have shown that 18.4 per cent of the general UK population report that certain sounds, such as loud chewing, and repetitive sniffing, cause a significant problem in their lives. The condition is known as misophonia. Misophonia is a strong negative reaction to common sounds, which are usually made by other people, and include breathing, yawning, or chewing.
Loneliness is central to perinatal depression
Loneliness can often contribute to depression in expectant and new mothers, finds a new review of evidence led by UCL researchers. The researchers say people working with expectant mothers, such as in antenatal classes or consultations, should be aware of the importance of loneliness and the value of encouraging new mothers to develop and maintain good social connections.
Loneliness can often contribute to depression in expectant and new mothers, finds a new review of evidence led by UCL researchers. The researchers say people working with expectant mothers, such as in antenatal classes or consultations, should be aware of the importance of loneliness and the value of encouraging new mothers to develop and maintain good social connections.
Genomic region for impaired memory function and anxiety in Down syndrome identified
A UCL-led research team has, for the first time, identified a specific region of chromosome 21, which causes issues with memory function and anxiety in a mouse that models Down syndrome, a finding that provides valuable new insight into the condition in people. Most people have 46 chromosomes in each cell, divided into 23 pairs: people with Down syndrome (DS) have an extra copy of chromosome 21, which carries over 200 genes.
A UCL-led research team has, for the first time, identified a specific region of chromosome 21, which causes issues with memory function and anxiety in a mouse that models Down syndrome, a finding that provides valuable new insight into the condition in people. Most people have 46 chromosomes in each cell, divided into 23 pairs: people with Down syndrome (DS) have an extra copy of chromosome 21, which carries over 200 genes.
Reading facial expressions may be partly subjective
Does someone look angry or sad? You can probably offer an answer to that question based on the information you can see just by looking at their face. That's because facial expressions - or a combination of different small facial movements - can be read by other humans to help understand what a person might be feeling at that exact moment.
Does someone look angry or sad? You can probably offer an answer to that question based on the information you can see just by looking at their face. That's because facial expressions - or a combination of different small facial movements - can be read by other humans to help understand what a person might be feeling at that exact moment.
The replication success of scientific research is linked to research methods, citation impact and social media coverage - but not university prestige or citation numbers - according to a new study involving UCL researchers. Published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ( PNAS ), the study explores the ability of a validated text-based machine learning model to predict the likelihood of successful replication for more than 14,100 psychology research articles published since 2000 across six top-tier journals.
Cannabis has same effect on adolescents and adults, and CBD doesn’t dampen effects
The short-term effects of vaporised cannabis do not differ between adolescents and adults, while cannabidiol (CBD) does not dampen the effects of the drug, finds a new study led by UCL and King's College London researchers. For the experimental study published in Addiction , the researchers measured how regular cannabis users of different ages responded to inhaling cannabis with differing levels of CBD.
The short-term effects of vaporised cannabis do not differ between adolescents and adults, while cannabidiol (CBD) does not dampen the effects of the drug, finds a new study led by UCL and King's College London researchers. For the experimental study published in Addiction , the researchers measured how regular cannabis users of different ages responded to inhaling cannabis with differing levels of CBD.
Childhood mental health problems resulting from early-life adversity drive poorer cognitive performance in adolescence
Childhood mental health problems resulting from early-life adversity drive poorer cognitive performance in adolescence, study suggests Early-life adversity has long-term effects on children's mental health, which in turn affects cognitive functioning as teenagers, say researchers. However, if mental health improves over time this outcome can be alleviated.
Childhood mental health problems resulting from early-life adversity drive poorer cognitive performance in adolescence, study suggests Early-life adversity has long-term effects on children's mental health, which in turn affects cognitive functioning as teenagers, say researchers. However, if mental health improves over time this outcome can be alleviated.
New home-based self-help psychological therapy reduces anxiety and depression in people with heart disease
A study led by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) and the University of Manchester (UoM), and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has found that a psychological therapy called Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress in heart disease patients when delivered in a self-help format.
A study led by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) and the University of Manchester (UoM), and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has found that a psychological therapy called Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress in heart disease patients when delivered in a self-help format.
Using talking therapies to effectively treat depression in adults over the age of 65 may be clinically linked with slightly reduced rates of future dementia diagnosis, finds a new analysis of health data led by UCL researchers. In this first-of-its-kind study, published in Psychological Medicine and funded by the Alzheimer's Society, researchers assessed whether psychological therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), used to treat depression could play a role in dementia risk reduction.
Moderate alcohol intoxication does not impair recall of sexual assault
Women are able to recall details of sexual assault and rape with accuracy, even if they have drunk - or expected to drink - moderate amounts of alcohol. A study conducted at the University of Birmingham demonstrated that women who had drunk alcohol up to the legal limit for driving were able to recall details of an assault in a hypothetical scenario, including details of activities to which they had, and had not, consented.
Women are able to recall details of sexual assault and rape with accuracy, even if they have drunk - or expected to drink - moderate amounts of alcohol. A study conducted at the University of Birmingham demonstrated that women who had drunk alcohol up to the legal limit for driving were able to recall details of an assault in a hypothetical scenario, including details of activities to which they had, and had not, consented.
Core symptoms of anxiety and depression were more common among younger generations compared to older age groups during the COVID-19 outbreak - with the gap between young and old widening further during the pandemic, according to a new study by UCL and King's College London. Published today in Psychological Medicine, the study explores data from 26,772 people living in the UK across five different birth cohort studies - following those born in 1946, 1958, 1970, 1989-90 and 2000-02.
Scientists have worked out why common anti-depressants cause around a half of users to feel emotionally -blunted-. In a study published today, they show that the drugs affect reinforcement learning, an important behavioural process that allows us to learn from our environment. According to the NHS, more than 8.3 million patients in England received an antidepressant drug in 2021/22.
New study tests impact of coming off antidepressants on mood and thinking patterns
University psychologists aiming to improve help for people withdrawing from antidepressants want volunteers to come forward to participate in the new study. New research being led by a team of psychologists at the University of Bath hopes to provide evidence to improve the clinical care of people in the process of withdrawing from antidepressants.
University psychologists aiming to improve help for people withdrawing from antidepressants want volunteers to come forward to participate in the new study. New research being led by a team of psychologists at the University of Bath hopes to provide evidence to improve the clinical care of people in the process of withdrawing from antidepressants.
Adults with high levels of ADHD symptoms are more likely to have anxiety and depression than adults with high levels of autistic traits, new research finds. Adults with high levels of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are more likely to experience anxiety and depression than adults with high levels of autistic traits, according to new research led by psychologists at the University of Bath.
Childhood maltreatment linked with multiple mental health problems
Experiencing abuse or neglect as a child can cause multiple mental health problems, finds a new study led by UCL researchers. The research, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry , seeks to examine the causal effects of childhood maltreatment on mental health by accounting for other genetic and environmental risk factors, such as a family history of mental illness and socioeconomic disadvantage.
Experiencing abuse or neglect as a child can cause multiple mental health problems, finds a new study led by UCL researchers. The research, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry , seeks to examine the causal effects of childhood maltreatment on mental health by accounting for other genetic and environmental risk factors, such as a family history of mental illness and socioeconomic disadvantage.
