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.
In a community study of 3,021 adolescents and young adults followed for 4–5 years, researchers used structured interviews (DSM‑IV CIDI) and found that most anxiety disorders (except panic disorder) began before depression and were linked to a higher chance of later major depression. Rates of people having both anxiety and…
This study reexamined gender differences in adult ADHD by comparing 219 adults with ADHD to 215 control subjects matched for age and gender. The researchers found no evidence that gender changed how ADHD related to other psychiatric disorders. Adults with ADHD showed cognitive deficits and higher rates of major depression,…
This article proposes a new hypothesis: women report mild-to-moderate depression more often, while men report more severe depression and more suicide. The authors point to possible reasons such as hormone links, men’s tendency to hide feelings or avoid help, and different symptom patterns in men. They say this could mean…
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…
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…
This paper looks at whether 'mixed anxiety and depressive disorder' should be an official diagnosis. That label describes people who have both anxiety and depression symptoms that are real and limiting, but not strong enough to count as a full disorder on their own. The authors review studies that support…
Researchers interviewed 34 teenagers (aged 13–18) who had diagnosed depression or high depressive symptoms. Using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, they found four main experiences linked to anhedonia: loss of joy and flattened emotion; problems with motivation and taking part in activities; loss of connection and belonging; and questioning identity,…
Researchers asked people with major depression and people without psychiatric disorders to write open, free descriptions of themselves and of other people. Compared with the control group, the depressed group named fewer positive traits and more negative traits for themselves and for parents and close others. A clustering analysis also…
The researchers repeatedly measured early-morning cortisol and self-reported depressive symptoms in a population of adolescents. Using a statistical method to find subgroups, they identified a high-risk group (17% of the sample) with both high depressive symptoms and elevated morning cortisol. Membership in this group was linked to worse autobiographical memory…
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…
This meta-analysis combined 121 studies (from 4,927 articles found) about young people aged 6–24 (pooled mean age ≈ 17.7 years). It found that perfectionistic concerns (worry about making mistakes, fear of negative evaluation) were moderately linked to more symptoms of anxiety (r = .37–.41), OCD (r = .42), and depression…
A University of British Columbia review published in Birth found that anger often occurs alongside postnatal depression. The review says anger can be aimed at the self, the baby, or family members and can harm relationships. It links anger to feeling powerless, unmet expectations about motherhood, and lack of support.…
