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…
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…
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…
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…
Brexanolone (brand name ZULRESSO) is an FDA-approved drug for moderate-to-severe postpartum depression. In trials it reduced depressive symptoms quickly and had mostly mild side effects, but it is given by IV in a monitored inpatient setting because it can cause heavy sleepiness and even loss of consciousness. It is not…
This study combined results from 14 research papers to see whether mindfulness programs help adults with ADHD. The pooled data covered 834 adults and came from searches of PsycINFO, PubMed, SCOPUS, and ERIC up to July 2019. Overall, the meta-analysis found that mindfulness-based interventions reduced ADHD symptoms, lowered depression, and…
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.…
This review says postpartum depression (PPD) is a common and disabling problem that has been rising in many places. It summarizes known risk factors in social and economic life, childbirth history, lifestyle, and past mental illness. The paper also reviews biological and genetic work (the serotonin transporter gene, SERT, is…
This study surveyed 278 Canadian mothers of healthy infants aged 6–12 months about sleep, mood, and anger. About 31% reported intense current anger, 26% had probable postpartum depression, and 52% said their sleep was poor. Statistical analysis found that mothers' own sleep quality and how angry they felt about their…
This study used China’s CHARLS data from 2011 and 2015 to look at people aged 45 and older. In 10,179 people at baseline, higher depressive symptom scores were linked to lower hemoglobin and to having anemia. Over 4 years (5,887 people followed), people with depressive symptoms had higher odds of…
This cross-sectional study surveyed 121 young mothers in West Sumatra who had children aged 1 to 24 months. The researchers used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and a social support scale. They found first-time mothers had higher postpartum rage than mothers with a second or third child. The paper…
