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.

7 papers

Global prevalence and burden of depressive and anxiety disorders in 204 countries and territories in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 Mental Disorders Collaborators
PubMed Central (PMC) Summary & key facts 2021 5,135 citations

This study reviewed surveys and used global models to measure how the COVID-19 pandemic changed rates of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders in 2020. It found that places with higher COVID-19 infection rates and bigger drops in movement had larger increases in these disorders. The authors estimate about 53.2…

COVID-19 and Mental Health Health disparities and outcomes Long-Term Effects of COVID-19

Adoption of Digital Technologies in Health Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Systematic Review of Early Scientific Literature

Davide Golinelli, Erik Boetto, Gherardo Carullo, Andrea Giovanni Nuzzolese, Maria Paola Landini, Maria Pia Fantini

This review looks at how large disasters, including COVID-19, affect mental health and discusses digital solutions. The authors report higher rates of anxiety, depression and posttraumatic stress after disasters and give survey numbers from the COVID-19 outbreak. They say many countries have limited mental health services that could be stretched…

COVID-19 and healthcare impacts COVID-19 diagnosis using AI COVID-19 Digital Contact Tracing

The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Social Anxiety: A Systematic Review

Reuben Kindred, Glen Bates

This systematic review looked at 33 studies about social anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. The studies suggest social anxiety increased in the general population. Women and people with low incomes appeared more likely to report higher social anxiety. Other links to higher social anxiety included poor coping, weaker social support,…

Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes COVID-19 and Mental Health Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies

The association of burnout with work absenteeism and the frequency of thoughts in leaving their job in a cohort of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Cerina Lee, Thanh‐Huyen T. Vu, John A. Fuller, Melanie E. Freedman, Jacqueline Bannon, John T. Wilkins, et al.
Frontiers in Health Services Summary & key facts 2023 26 citations

Overall, this study cohort showed a positive association between burnout scores and unplanned work absenteeism (and frequency of thoughts in leaving job) during the COVID-19 pandemic. More research is needed to support healthcare worker well-being during times of stress and direct solutions to addressing unplanned absenteeism in the light of…

COVID-19 and Mental Health Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout Workplace Health and Well-being

Hand Washing: When Ritual Behavior Protects! Obsessive–Compulsive Symptoms in Young People during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review

Francesco Demaria, Maria Pontillo, Cristina Di Vincenzo, Michelangelo Di Luzio, Stefano Vicari
Journal of Clinical Medicine Summary & key facts 2022 13 citations

This narrative review looked at research up to 12 March 2022 on how the COVID-19 pandemic related to obsessive–compulsive (OC) symptoms in children and adolescents. The authors found six studies that fit their criteria (four clinical samples with OCD and two community samples). Five of those six studies reported increased…

Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders

“It’s normal to admit you’re not okay”: New York City college students shaping mental health through journaling

Kristina Baines
SSM - Mental Health Summary & key facts 2022 13 citations

This blog explains a “no rules” approach to journaling. It says putting thoughts on paper or a device can help stop repeating negative worries. The piece lists several ways journaling may help, such as lowering emotional intensity, improving self-awareness, and giving a private space to practice communication and self-compassion.

Homelessness and Social Issues Mental Health and Patient Involvement Participatory Visual Research Methods

Post-pandemic mental health: Understanding the global psychological burden and charting future research priorities

Wei Ding, Yuan Zhang, Min-Zhong Wang, Shu Wang
PubMed Central (PMC) Summary & key facts 2025 4 citations

This review says the COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread and lasting mental health problems around the world. It reports higher rates of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and substance use linked to long periods of isolation, money problems, and grief. The review also looks at who was hit hardest, what makes care…

Resilience and Mental Health
Summaries and links are for general information and education only. They are not a substitute for reading the original publication or for professional medical, legal, or other advice. Always refer to the linked source for the full study.