Frontier mental health research: psychedelics & drug studies

Each month our editorial team sifts through hundreds of papers and curates notable findings—for practitioners and informed readers who want to stay current with the evidence. Subscribe to the monthly Research Digest for expert analysis and concise summaries of key papers.

33 papers

Longitudinal evidence that fatherhood decreases testosterone in human males

Lee T. Gettler, Thomas W. McDade, Alan B. Feranil, Christopher W. Kuzawa

Postpartum depression can affect fathers too. Research summarized in this article says about 10% of men experience clinical paternal postpartum depression, often during pregnancy or in the first year after birth (with the highest risk in the first 3–6 months). The article lists common symptoms, risk factors like a partner’s…

Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior Reproductive Health and Technologies

Life-Span Exposure to Low Doses of Aspartame Beginning during Prenatal Life Increases Cancer Effects in Rats

Morando Soffritti, Fiorella Belpoggi, Eva Tibaldi, Davide Degli Esposti, Michelina Lauriola

This is the Modern Slavery Statement for The Scott Trust, The Scott Trust Endowment Limited (STEL) and Guardian Media Group (GMG) for the year ending 31 March 2025. It explains the group structure, the main supply-chain areas, the policies and checks they use to reduce modern slavery risks, and actions…

Birth, Development, and Health Fatty Acid Research and Health Nutritional Studies and Diet

Postpartum stress and infant outcome: A review of current literature

Aderonke Oyetunji, Prakash Chandra
Psychiatry Research Summary & key facts 2020 196 citations

This paper is a systematic review of 74 English-language studies from 1995–2019 that looked at how postpartum stress, including depressive and anxiety symptoms in mothers, is linked to infant outcomes. The review found consistent associations between higher postpartum stress and worse infant growth, development, feeding, attachment and sleep. The authors…

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

So far away from one’s partner, yet so close to romantic alternatives: Avoidant attachment, interest in alternatives, and infidelity.

C. Nathan DeWall, Nathaniel M. Lambert, Erica B. Slotter, Richard S. Pond, Timothy Deckman, Eli J. Finkel, et al.

Researchers ran eight studies to test whether people with an avoidant attachment style (people who feel uncomfortable with closeness) are more likely to be interested in other romantic partners and to be unfaithful. Across the studies, people high in avoidant attachment had more permissive attitudes about infidelity, paid more attention…

Attachment and Relationship Dynamics Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior Marriage and Sexual Relationships

Depression and Mania in Bipolar Disorder

Leonardo Tondo, Gustavo H Vázquez, Ross J Baldessarini
PubMed Central (PMC) Summary & key facts 2017 167 citations

Researchers reviewed records from 1,130 people with bipolar disorder seen at a mood-disorders center. They found that depressive episodes lasted much longer than manic episodes, and that episode length was similar across bipolar subtypes (BD-I, BD-II, mixed, or with psychosis). The authors say this pattern — more and longer depressions…

Bipolar Disorder and Treatment Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development Schizophrenia research and treatment

Treatment of post-partum depression: a review of clinical, psychological and pharmacological options

Kristin Leight, Elizabeth Fitelson, Sarah Kim, Allison S. Baker

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common problem after childbirth. Most studies find rates around 10%–15% in high-income countries, and rates can be much higher in poorer settings. Untreated PPD is linked with problems in mother–baby bonding and with worse child development. Screening in routine obstetric, pediatric, or primary care visits…

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

Socially-induced brain ‘fertilization’: play promotes brain derived neurotrophic factor transcription in the amygdala and dorsolateral frontal cortex in juvenile rats

Nakia S. Gordon, Sharon Burke, Huda Akil, Stanley J. Watson, Jaak Panksepp
Neuroscience Letters Summary & key facts 2003 108 citations

Researchers studied 32-day-old juvenile rats that were allowed 30 minutes of rough-and-tumble play. Right after play, the rats showed higher levels of BDNF messenger RNA in the amygdala and dorsolateral frontal cortex, measured with in situ hybridization. The authors suggested this could mean play helps shape brain areas tied to…

Autism Spectrum Disorder Research Child Development and Digital Technology Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior

Maternity Blues: A Narrative Review

Valentina Tosto, Margherita Ceccobelli, Emanuela Lucarini, Alfonso Tortorella, Sandro Gerli, Fabio Parazzini, et al.

Maternity blues, also called baby blues, are short-lived mood changes after childbirth that can include tearfulness, irritability, anxiety, sleep and concentration problems. A recent review reports an overall prevalence of about 39% (studies ranged from 13.7% to 76%), but definitions and measurements vary widely. Symptoms usually start in the first…

Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development Infant Development and Preterm Care Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Influence of Short-Term Consumption of Hericium erinaceus on Serum Biochemical Markers and the Changes of the Gut Microbiota: A Pilot Study

Xie Xiao-qian, Yan Geng, Qijie Guan, Yilin Ren, Lin Guo, Qiqi Lv, et al.
Nutrients Summary & key facts 2021 50 citations

Researchers had 13 healthy adults take Hericium erinaceus powder every day for seven days. They tested blood with routine blood and serum chemistry tests and checked gut bacteria using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. After the week, the gut bacterial community showed higher within-sample diversity and higher levels of several bacteria…

Fungal Biology and Applications Ginseng Biological Effects and Applications Gut microbiota and health

Psychological Aspects of Congenital Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism

Andrew Dwyer, Neil Smith, Richard Quinton
Frontiers in Endocrinology Summary & key facts 2019 47 citations

Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism/Kallmann syndrome (CHH/KS) is a rare genetic condition that causes absent or incomplete puberty and infertility but can be treated with hormone therapy. People with CHH/KS often suffer strong psychological and social problems—such as shame, isolation, poor body image, and lasting sexual and emotional effects—often made worse by…

Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones Ovarian function and disorders

Prevalence of depressive symptoms in late pregnancy and postpartum

Ann Josefsson, Göran Berg, Conny Nordin, Gunilla Sydsjö

Many people have mood or anxiety problems during pregnancy and in the year after birth. About a quarter of people develop a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder, and these can include postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and, rarely, psychosis. These conditions are often not diagnosed, but studies and clinical guidance…

Adolescent and Pediatric Healthcare Family Support in Illness Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
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