Anorexia recovery looks different for professionals and people with lived experience

yurii-khomitskyi-L_ynLvbZe2w-unsplash

Qualitative study reveals gap between how lived experience individuals and professionals conceptualise anorexia recovery; particularly around weight restoration and residual symptoms.

[read the full story...]

Waiting for CAMHS: worsening symptoms and strained families

Woman,Is,Showing,Clock.,Time,Out,Concept.,Colorful,Vector,Illustration

Qualitative study reveals young people on CAMHS waiting lists feel alone and dismissed, with mental health deteriorating while they wait. Communication and interim support urgently needed.

[read the full story...]

Identity, place and belonging: The new cornerstone of school-based approaches to student wellbeing?

myles-tan-WNAO036c6FM-unsplash

The Connected Belonging model argues that schools should support young people’s relationships to their community, culture and peers, rather than focusing on individual skills like “grit” and resilience. Should centre identity and relationships in our work with young people?

[read the full story...]

When CBT doesn’t work for OCD: could mindfulness help?

Chaos and order business concept flat style design vector illustration isolated on white background. Tangled disorder turns into spiral order line, find solution. Coaching, mentoring or psychotherapy.

Meta-analysis of 46 studies found mindfulness and acceptance programmes significantly reduced OCD symptoms, performing as well as CBT but with more research needed on long-term effects.

[read the full story...]

Supporting student mental health after natural disasters: What role can schools play?

jonathan-ford-6ZgTEtvD16I-unsplash

Meta-analysis of 13 studies found school-based interventions reduced PTSD, depression and anxiety after natural disasters, with effects strongest immediately post-intervention.

[read the full story...]

Mental health admissions to medical wards: 65% increase in a decade for young people

mpho-mojapelo-s6Vv9u2qZyc-unsplash

Mental health admissions to acute medical wards rose 65% for young people in England (2012-2022), with eating disorder admissions up 515% and anxiety admissions doubling in 10 years. Self-harm admissions accounted for more than half of the total. Adolescent girls by far the biggest group affected.

[read the full story...]

What lies beneath hair-pulling and skin-picking behaviours? The role of early maladaptive schemas

julian-bialowas-jKuuHoPaOWQ-unsplash

Are hair-pulling and skin-picking disorders linked to deeper beliefs formed in childhood? This study found that early maladaptive schemas were common across trichotillomania, skin-picking and OCD, with stronger associations to focused (emotionally-driven) behaviours.

[read the full story...]

Body dissatisfaction in adolescence: does it cause eating disorders and depression later?

Within-twin analyses supported the causal effects of body dissatisfaction during adolescence on eating disorder and depressive symptoms in young adulthood.

This twin study of nearly 14,000 UK adolescents found that body dissatisfaction at age 16 was linked to eating disorder symptoms at 21 and depression at 26. Comparing twins helped researchers show these were likely causal relationships, not just correlations, though genetics also played a substantial role.

[read the full story...]

Stopping antidepressants safely: network meta-analysis compares deprescribing strategies

elsa-olofsson-QwFyqPKyyY0-unsplash

This network meta-analysis of 76 trials found that slow tapering (over 4 weeks) combined with psychological support was most effective for preventing relapse when stopping antidepressants. Abrupt discontinuation and fast tapering substantially increased relapse risk and should be avoided.

[read the full story...]

Inside the urge: Interoception, affective touch, and the emerging science of skin-picking disorder

kateryna-hliznitsova-VMaOifZe-gQ-unsplash

A growing body of research suggests that disrupted interoception and affective touch might play a role in skin-picking disorder. This blog critically examines the first systematic review to map this emerging field.

[read the full story...]