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Problems with our sleep and internal body clock can trigger or worsen a range of psychiatric disorders, according to a new review of recent research evidence. The review, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) , suggests gaining a better understanding of the relationship between sleep, circadian rhythms and mental health could unlock new holistic treatments to alleviate mental health problems.

Psychological distress increased among people with Black Caribbean heritage in the UK, relative to the White population, following the 2014 Immigration Act and the Windrush scandal, finds a new study led by UCL researchers. The researchers say their findings, published in The Lancet Psychiatry , suggest a causal link between government policies and a subsequent decline in mental health.

Study finds childhood bullying linked to distrust and mental health problems in adolescence Teens who experience bullying and develop distrust of others are 3.5 times more likely to experience clinically significant mental health issues by age 17. A new study, co-led by UCLA Health and the University of Glasgow, found that young teenagers who develop a strong distrust of other people as a result of childhood bullying are substantially more likely to have significant mental health problems as they enter adulthood compared to those who do not develop interpersonal trust issues.

A new study has found that an on-line rehabilitation programme improves quality of life for adults with long covid. This is the first randomised trial to show a benefit from rehabilitation for people with long covid, and the first high quality evidence confirming the sustained clinical benefit and lack of harm with rehabilitation programmes for long covid.

Around 1.6% of women and girls have symptomatic Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), according to a new review of global studies published in the Journal of Affective Disorders . Researchers led by Dr Thomas Reilly at the University of Oxford's Department of Psychiatry looked at studies from across the world to work out how many women and girls met the strict diagnostic criteria for the condition.

People experience more health and wellbeing issues when they feel overwhelmed by stressful situations rather than seeing them as a challenge, study finds. Published on Monday 29 January 2024 Last updated on Monday 29 January 2024 People who tend to view stressful situations as a threat are more likely to experience health and wellbeing problems, both mental and physical, than those who see them as a challenge, according to new research from the University of Bath.

New research from the Dept of Psychology looked at physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms experienced by people taking antidepressants. Published on Tuesday 16 January 2024 Last updated on Tuesday 16 January 2024 Coming off antidepressants is known to trigger physical symptoms, such as restlessness, fatigue and excessive sweating, but new research suggests people can also experience emotional and social difficulties, and changes in their thinking patterns when they stop taking antidepressants like Prozac.

Children whose irritability does not reduce between three and seven years are at higher risk of depression and self-harm as teenagers, finds a new study led by UCL researchers. The new findings, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry ( JAACAP ), suggest that interventions helping parents and caregivers to support children with high irritability could help to reduce the future risk of mental illness.

More than 200 genes linked to depression have been newly identified in a worldwide study led by UCL researchers. The research, published in Nature Genetics , found more than 50 new genetic loci (a locus is a specific position on a chromosome) and 205 novel genes that are associated with depression, in the first large-scale global study of the genetics of major depression in participants of diverse ancestry groups.

A new study looking at the mental health of young male prisoners has found that more than 85% had a current mental health condition, however less than 3% had received a clinical assessment (i.e. a comprehensive assessment of mental health and neurodevelopment) while in prison A new study looking at the mental health of young male prisoners has found that more than 85% had a current mental health condition, however less than 3% had received a clinical assessment (i.e.

Increases in symptoms of depression are associated with a subsequent increase in bodyweight when measured one month later, new research from the University of Cambridge has found. The study, published today in PLOS ONE , found that the increase was only seen among people with overweight or obesity, but found no link between generally having greater symptoms of depression and higher bodyweight.

Dr. Angela Aristidou (UCL School of Management) highlights the mental health impact of the pandemic on PhD students and the coping mechanisms that can help in The Conversation. A pre-pandemic study  on PhD students' mental health showed that they often struggle with such issues. Financial insecurity and  feelings of isolation  can be among the factors affecting students' wellbeing.

New research shows how combining mindfulness with exercise boosts people's mental health and wellbeing and could help change exercise habits. Published on Tuesday 2 January 2024 Last updated on Wednesday 3 January 2024 For people looking to start 2024 with a new routine to feel fitter and happier, a new study from the University of Bath suggests that combining mindfulness with exercise could be your key to success.

There was a substantial increase in emotional problems among young people in Wales in the years immediately before the pandemic, research from Cardiff University shows. Published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, academics studied data collected from more than 200,000 young people aged 11-16 in Wales.

Body dissatisfaction at age 11 is linked to increased risk of depression by age 14, finds a new longitudinal study led by UCL researchers. The findings, published in The Lancet Psychiatry , show that body image concerns explain a large proportion of an association between body mass index (BMI) and depression in children, particularly in girls.

Being amazed by powerful graphics is not enough for a person to feel fully engaged in a VR world - even more important is a strong emotional response. Published on Monday 11 December 2023 Last updated on Monday 11 December 2023 Being wowed by powerful graphics is not enough for a person to feel fully immersed in a virtual-reality (VR) world - a strong emotional response to the simulated environment is essential too, according to a new study from the University of Bath.

Study of two million individuals' psychological well-being from 2005 to 2022 in 168 countries, in relation to country-level internet-use and mobile broadband statistics Negative and positive experiences had increased on average, but little to no evidence suggesting (mobile) internet use was associated with these changes Links between internet adoption and psychological well-being are small at most, despite popular assumptions about the negative

Susceptibility to misinformation and disinformation likely to have played a part in the Leave vote. Published on Wednesday 22 November 2023 Last updated on Thursday 23 November 2023 New research from the University of Bath's School of Management finds that higher cognitive ability was strongly linked to voting to Remain in the 2016 UK referendum on European Union Membership.

Autistic adults have poorer access to appropriate mental healthcare, despite being more likely to experience anxiety or depression than the general population, finds a new study by UCL researchers. It is estimated that up to 27% of autistic people experience anxiety and 23% develop depression, compared to 5.9% and 3.3% in the wider population.

Becoming an unpaid carer for family and friends negatively affects the mental health of people of all ages and genders, finds a new study by researchers at UCL and St George's, University of London. The research, published in The Lancet Public Health , used data from more than 17,000 people in the UK Household Longitudinal Study between 2009 and 2020 to investigate mental and physical health changes around the transition to becoming a caregiver for the first time in adults aged 16 and older.