Kris Deering considers a 2-year prospective observational study published in the Lancet Psychiatry which found strong links between stressful life events and relapse in first-episode psychosis.
[read the full story...]Sitting in the waiting room: what happens when anxiety disorders are left untreated?
In her debut blog, Beth Hindhaugh summarises a systematic review and meta-analysis of 173 studies examining the untreated course of anxiety disorders, which finds that for some people, anxiety disorders can improve without treatment.
[read the full story...]The burden of perinatal mental illness in migrant women: new evidence on prevalence and risk factors
In her debut Mental Elf blog, Gilda Spaducci explores the global prevalence of perinatal mental disorders among migrant women; summarising a recent review which finds that “one in four experience perinatal depression, one in five perinatal anxiety, and one in eleven perinatal PTSD”.
[read the full story...]Sharpening the focus: viewing self-harm images online – harmful and protective?
Jo Lockwood, Camilla Babbage and Ellen Townsend consider a systematic review exploring the impact of viewing self-harm images online, which finds that images can trigger powerful emotions and may relate to a change in cognition, affect and behaviour.
[read the full story...]Is persistent anxiety and depression in childhood a one-way road to adverse outcomes in adulthood?
In her latest blog, Laura Hankey summarises a longitudinal study using ALSPAC data that explored associations between anxiety, depression, and comorbid anxiety/depression in childhood and adverse outcomes in young adulthood.
[read the full story...]Genetic risk for schizophrenia is associated with changes in heart structure and function
Nadine Parker and Ole Andreassen summarise a recent UK population-based cohort study, which looks at the impact of polygenic risk for schizophrenia on cardiac structure and function in over 32,000 people.
[read the full story...]South Asia’s silent struggle: people with severe mental illness suffer high burden of physical illness
An international group of experts from the University of York CADA Implementation Science Summer School summarise a recent study on the prevalence of physical health conditions and health risk behaviours in people with severe mental illness in South Asia (Bangladesh, India and Pakistan).
[read the full story...]Step-by-Step: promising digital app for Syrian refugees with depression
Dafni Katsampa critiques a recent randomised controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of Step-by-Step, a WHO-guided digital intervention for Syrian refugees with depression in Lebanon.
[read the full story...]Be kind to your mind and exercise: can exercise buffer the effects of stressful life events?
In his debut blog, Justin Chapman reviews a longitudinal study which finds that exercising can buffer against depression after stressful life events.
Justin is live blogging for The Mental Elf at #EquallyWellAu23 this week, alongside Elf Coordinator Laura Hemming who is on live tweeting duties.
[read the full story...]Smoking and bipolar disorder: the physical and mental health impact of tobacco cessation
Hannah Walsh explores the clinical and research implications of this French cohort study on bipolar disorder and smoking status, and how risks differ for current, former and never smokers.
[read the full story...]