Genes, brains and self-harm: New study links adolescent risk to biology and disadvantage

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Self-harm is common among adolescents and a strong predictor of suicide risk. A major new cohort study in the British Journal of Psychiatry explores how genetic risk and brain differences might explain who’s most at risk, and why.

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Painting prevention: How the arts promote health and tackle non-communicable diseases

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Non-communicable diseases cause 74% of global deaths. Could singing, dancing or storytelling really make a difference? This new review explores how arts-based interventions can boost public health worldwide.

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Dirty air, ageing brains: How midlife pollution exposure may accelerate cognitive decline

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Could years of commuting through city smog be leaving lasting marks on our brains? A major UK birth cohort study suggests that midlife exposure to nitrogen dioxide and other pollutants may lead to smaller hippocampal volumes and slower cognitive processing in later life, even after accounting for social and educational factors.

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Silencing the voices? Landmark German study finds rTMS modestly effective for auditory hallucinations

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A large multicentre trial from Germany found that repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) significantly reduced auditory hallucinations compared to sham treatment. Could this safe and well-tolerated therapy finally offer new hope for people with persistent voices?

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suPAR step forward? Teenage trauma linked to chronic inflammation in new study

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Not all childhood trauma has the same biological impact. A new study finds that adversity in late childhood is most strongly linked to immune dysregulation at age 24.

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Circle of Security under scrutiny: NHS trial finds no added benefit for perinatal mental health

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A large NHS trial found that the Circle of Security parenting programme did not outperform treatment-as-usual for parents experiencing perinatal mental health difficulties. But does this mean we should stop offering it?

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Adolescent versus adult depression: Is risk of recurrence the same?

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Is teenage depression more likely to come back later in life? A new population study challenges assumptions and finds similar recurrence risks in both adolescents and adults.

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Treating ADHD in psychosis: What does the evidence say about safety?

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How safe is it to treat ADHD in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders? New long-term data offers pragmatic reassurance, but also some warnings.

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Clozapine and infection risk: new evidence from Hong Kong’s 20-year cohort study

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Clozapine is described as the gold standard treatment for schizophrenia but a new cohort study suggests it is associated with an increased risk of infections, particularly in older patients, further solidifying the case for holistic care.

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