This study used Mendelian randomisation to test potential causal relationships between depression and 137 traits. Depression liability was linked to somatic diseases, inflammation, suicide risk, insomnia, lower cognitive function and functional impairments, though findings require validation.
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PsyRiskMR is a new database that helps researchers investigate risk factors for common psychiatric disorders using Mendelian randomization.
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Researchers pulled together evidence from more than half a million people to test a simple but important idea: if childhood maltreatment raises the risk of adult depression, could reducing maltreatment help prevent it? The answer, as always, is more complicated than it first appears.
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What happens when childhood trauma disrupts our ability to understand what others think and feel? This systematic review pulls together 29 studies across psychiatric diagnoses to explore how early neglect and abuse shape mentalisation, and what that means for prevention, assessment, and care.
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Does a first cancer diagnosis increase a person’s risk of suicide? This national study from Denmark offers rare clarity, tracking 30 cancer types across two decades to uncover patterns that clinicians and policymakers cannot afford to ignore.
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People from racialised communities face higher risks of psychosis, yet racism itself is rarely studied. A new umbrella review shows why discrimination needs to be recognised as a genuine risk factor, not just a background influence.
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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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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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Women with ADHD are up to 4 times more likely to experience severe premenstrual mood symptoms than those without ADHD, especially if they also live with depression or anxiety. This new UK study shines a light on a neglected area of research, and calls for better awareness, assessment, and support.
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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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