Frontier mental health research: psychedelics & drug studies

Effectiveness of physical activity interventions for improving depression, anxiety and distress: an overview of systematic reviews

Ben Singh, Tim Olds, Rachel Curtis, Dorothea Dumuid, Rosa Virgara, Amanda Watson, et al.

PubMed • Summary & key facts • 2023 • 784 citations

This umbrella review pooled evidence from 97 systematic reviews (1,039 randomized trials, 128,119 participants) to examine whether physical activity affects symptoms of depression, anxiety and psychological distress in adults. Overall, physical activity produced medium-sized reductions in symptoms (median effect size for depression = -0.43, for anxiety = -0.42; distress effect…

Behavioral Health and Interventions Eating Disorders and Behaviors Physical Activity and Health

Females with ADHD: An expert consensus statement taking a lifespan approach providing guidance for the identification and treatment of attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder in girls and women

Susan Young, Nicoletta Adamo, Bryndís Björk Ásgeirsdóttir, Polly Branney, Michelle Beckett, William Colley, et al.

BMC Psychiatry • Summary & key facts • 2020 • 431 citations

This ADDA article explains ADHD masking — when people hide or copy others to appear "normal." Masking can help someone function but often uses a lot of mental and emotional energy. The article says masking can delay diagnosis, cause burnout or mood problems, and may help explain why women are…

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorder Research Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Exercise for Mental Health

Ashish Sharma

The Primary Care Companion For CNS Disorders • Summary & key facts • 2006 • 250 citations

This article reviews evidence that regular physical activity can help mental health. Studies suggest aerobic exercise (like walking, swimming, or cycling) can lessen anxiety and depression and improve mood, self-esteem, sleep, and thinking. A 3-month exercise program showed benefits for people with schizophrenia, and the authors say short, moderate workouts…

Diet and metabolism studies Eating Disorders and Behaviors Physical Activity and Health

Ketamine for the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders: comprehensive systematic review

Zach Walsh, Özden Merve Mollaahmetoğlu, Joseph M. Rootman, Shannon Golsof, Johanna Louise Keeler, Beth Marsh, et al.

BJPsych Open • Summary & key facts • 2021 • 168 citations

This systematic review looked at 83 published reports on ketamine for mental health and substance use disorders. It found strong evidence that ketamine can produce rapid antidepressant and anti‑suicidal effects, but these benefits tend to be short‑lived. Evidence for other conditions was weaker but often showed similar short-term effects. Many…

Mental Health Research Topics Treatment of Major Depression Tryptophan and brain disorders Ketamine

Effect of breathwork on stress and mental health: A meta-analysis of randomised-controlled trials

Guy W. Fincham, Clara Strauss, Jesús Montero‐Marín, Kate Cavanagh

Scientific Reports • Summary & key facts • 2023 • 158 citations

This meta-analysis looked at randomized trials to see if deliberate breathing practices (breathwork) reduce self-reported stress. Across 12 trials with 785 adults, breathwork was linked with a small-to-medium drop in stress compared with non-breathwork controls (g = -0.35). Similar small-to-medium effects were seen for anxiety and depression. Most included studies…

Health and Wellbeing Research Health, psychology, and well-being Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control

Physical activity and mental health: a systematic review and best-evidence synthesis of mediation and moderation studies

Rhiannon White, Stewart A. Vella, Stuart Biddle, Jordan Sutcliffe, Justin M. Guagliano, Riaz Uddin, et al.

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity • Summary & key facts • 2024 • 126 citations

This paper reviewed studies that tested how and when physical activity (PA) relates to mental health. The authors searched four databases up to July 2024 and kept 247 studies. They found strong evidence that 12 specific factors help explain the PA–mental health link (for example, mood, self-esteem, and social support).…

Behavioral Health and Interventions Physical Activity and Health Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction

Prevalence and course of somatic symptoms in patients with stress-related exhaustion: does sex or age matter

Kristina Glise, Gunnar Ahlborg, Ingibjörg H. Jónsdóttir

BMC Psychiatry • Summary & key facts • 2014 • 119 citations

This study followed 228 patients diagnosed with stress-related Exhaustion Disorder (mean age 43, 69% women). Almost all patients (98%) reported at least one physical symptom and 45% reported six or more. The most common symptoms were nausea/gas/indigestion (67%), headaches (65%) and dizziness (57%). Over 18 months of individualized treatment for…

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments Workplace Health and Well-being

Absolute and relative outcomes of psychotherapies for eight mental disorders: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Pim Cuijpers, Clara Miguel, Marketa Ciharova, Mathias Harrer, Djordje Basic, Ioana A Cristea, et al.

PubMed Central (PMC) • Summary & key facts • 2024 • 107 citations

This large review combined 441 randomized trials with 33,881 patients to measure how many people show a clear response to psychotherapy across eight mental disorders. Response was defined as at least a 50% reduction in symptoms from before to after treatment. Pooled response rates were modest (for example, about 42%…

Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments Treatment of Major Depression

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy: A Systematic Narrative Review of the Literature

Sandra J Drozdz, Akash Goel, Matthew W McGarr, Joel Katz, Paul Ritvo, Gabriella Mattina, et al.

PubMed • Summary & key facts • 2022 • 92 citations

This systematic review looked at 17 studies with a total of 603 participants on ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP). The reviewed reports say KAP can, in some cases, start and lengthen meaningful reductions in pain, anxiety, and depression, and help with rapport, treatment engagement, and abstinence for people with substance problems. However,…

Mental Health Research Topics Treatment of Major Depression Tryptophan and brain disorders

A Comprehensive Review of Motherhood and Mental Health: Postpartum Mood Disorders in Focus

Anushree Modak, Vaishnavi Ronghe, Kavita Gomase, Manjusha Mahakalkar, Vaishali Taksande

Cureus • Summary & key facts • 2023 • 46 citations

This review examines mental health problems that can happen after childbirth, called postpartum mood disorders. It explains the main types, how they are identified, the limits of current diagnosis, common treatments, and how culture and stigma can stop people from getting help. The authors urge more awareness, better support, and…

Breastfeeding Practices and Influences Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

A Multi-Level Analysis of Biological, Social, and Psychological Determinants of Substance Use Disorder and Co-Occurring Mental Health Outcomes

Cecilia Ilaria Belfiore, Valeria Galofaro, Deborah Cotroneo, Alessia Lopis, Isabella Tringali, Valeria Denaro, et al.

Psychoactives • Summary & key facts • 2024 • 40 citations

Researchers looked at sixty studies to see how biology, social life, and psychology mix together to affect substance use problems and mental health. They found that brain systems, genes, childhood experiences, parenting, personality, and existing mood or anxiety problems all interact. This makes addiction and related psychiatric symptoms complicated, especially…

Bipolar Disorder and Treatment Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development Cannabis Other

How rates of perinatal mental health screening in Australia have changed over time and which women are missing out

Katrina M. Moss, Nicole Reilly, Annette J. Dobson, Deborah Loxton, Leigh Tooth, Gita D. Mishra

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health • Summary & key facts • 2020 • 40 citations

Many women have mood problems during pregnancy and after birth. In the U.S., about 1 in 8 women report postpartum depression symptoms (about 460,000 women a year), and some states report rates as high as 1 in 5. In Australia, up to 1 in 5 mothers report perinatal depression or…

Breastfeeding Practices and Influences Infant Development and Preterm Care Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum