The Challenge of VR for voices in psychosis

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We’ve been talking about VR for voices for more than a decade. Are the results finally catching up with the hype? A new multi-site RCT from Denmark tests a refined, immersive version of AVATAR therapy for people with schizophrenia who continue to hear distressing voices despite medication.

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Mind the age gap: Young adults may benefit less from NHS psychological therapies

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If NHS Talking Therapies work so well, why are recovery rates lower for young adults? Saunders and colleagues analysed data from 1.5 million people to find out, and the results show an urgent need to rethink how we support young people in distress.

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Bundle of joy, bundle of nerves: What do we really know about postpartum anxiety?

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Postpartum anxiety affects more than 1 in 10 new mothers worldwide, yet researchers still can’t agree on how to define or measure it. This new review in The Lancet Psychiatry takes stock of what we know so far and why the field urgently needs consensus.

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Doubling of respiratory deaths in people with severe mental illness

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People with severe mental illness are more than twice as likely to die from respiratory disease than those without. This new systematic review highlights the scale of the problem and why action on public health and social inequality is just as vital as stop-smoking advice.

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Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy proves cost-effective for hard-to-treat depression

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What happens when talking therapies or antidepressants don’t work? This new RCT tested whether mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), delivered via Zoom, could help people with hard-to-treat depression, and whether it’s worth the cost. The results will interest NHS decision-makers.

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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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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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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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“We see you”: What transgender and gender diverse people need from post-violence health services

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Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people face shockingly high rates of violence, but often don’t receive the care they deserve after those experiences. This new systematic review brings together the views of TGD individuals and providers to ask: what should post-violence health care look like?

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Does harsh parenting increase the risk of self-harm and suicide in young people?

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This brand new Lancet Psychiatry paper looks across 38 longitudinal cohort studies to uncover how parenting and family dysfunction predict later self-harm or suicidality. The findings may surprise you.

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