Sex and gender differences in mental health are real; the mechanisms are under-explored. This review pulls together evidence on sex-steroids, brain development, neuroinflammation, and the social world to show where practice and policy must catch up.
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People with severe mental illness often face years of poor health before diagnosis. A new study uses machine learning and clinical notes to map the early warning networks of symptoms that could help us intervene earlier.
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A big new study suggests that certain genetic traits—like insomnia risk and neuroticism—may make depression harder to treat, while protective traits include education and cognitive ability.
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With dementia rates rising fast, prevention is critical. But do countries’ plans reflect that urgency? This new paper analyses 16 national dementia strategies—and finds good intentions often aren’t backed by clear actions.
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Referrals to CAMHS have skyrocketed, but are we getting any better at diagnosing youth mental health problems? Could standardised diagnostic tools like the DAWBA help? A new RCT suggests the answer is more complicated than expected.
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Emotional abuse in childhood was linked to a more than 3.5x greater chance of developing psychosis later in life. This comprehensive new meta-analysis explores the role of early trauma, sex differences, and symptom onset timing in psychosis risk.
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KCL MSc student Rachel Rowan Olive considers the best ways to screen for mental health problems in refugees, exploring a recent Swedish paper evaluating the Refugee Health Screener-13 tool.
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KCL MSc student Geetika Sharma reviews a study that looks at the contribution of cannabis use to the increased psychosis risk among minority ethnic groups in Europe.
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Amy Ferguson discusses the latest research exploring the role of our circadian rhythms on our health, looking at different variants in the BMAL1 gene.
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Kirsten Lawson reviews a pair of papers looking at the interplay between developmental trauma, dissociation and psychosis, which suggest that dissociation may act as a mediator between developmental trauma and psychosis.
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