The influence of the menopause in first onset of mental illness

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Katie Marwick on a new UK Biobank study which suggests that the two years either side of the final menstrual period represent a time of small increased risk for new onset bipolar and major depressive disorder.

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The great unknown? Assessing suicide risk in trials of psychological interventions for depression

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Derek de Beurs explores a meta-analysis which finds that randomised controlled trials of psychological interventions for depression rarely report assessments of suicide.

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Social media, smoking and young people: is there any link?

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Ian Hamilton summarises a longitudinal survey study of UK youth, which suggests there is an association between social media exposure and use of e-cigarettes and smoking.

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Preconception depression in first-time Fathers is a risk factor for depression and suicidality after birth

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Francesca Kingston summarises an Australian longitudinal study of perinatal mental health and suicidality in first-time Fathers, which finds that postnatal depression and and suicidal thinking are common in new Dads.

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Cause of death in people with bipolar disorder: how can we prevent premature mortality and reduce the mortality gap?

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A group of UCL MSc students summarise a cohort study in BMJ Mental Health, which suggests that we have previously underestimated the contribution of external causes of death such as accidents or suicides.

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Cannabis use disorder associated with increased risk of both psychotic and nonpsychotic unipolar depression and bipolar disorder

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Jack Wilson critiques a recent Danish longitudinal study published in JAMA Psychiatry, which suggests that cannabis use disorder is independently associated with bipolar disorder and unipolar depression.

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Inflammation and depression: new insights into sex differences in adolescents

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Sophie Fairweather explores a recent paper which suggests that the inflammatory cytokines IL-2 and IL-6 are associated with both the risk of developing depression, and with depression severity, although this relationship is modified by sex.

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Mental illness is linked to being a victim and/or perpetrator of violence: time to face up to some inconvenient truths?

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Anabelle Paulino and Maya Ogonah summarise a recent Danish longitudinal study on the risk of violent victimisation and perpetration following the onset of mental illness.

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Shorter sleep and depression: what role do our genes play?

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Nick Donnelly discusses how one’s genetic predisposition to shorter sleep is associated with the onset of depression in older adults.

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Keep on movin’… Even small doses of physical activity can lower our risk of depression

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Elli Kypraiou considers a systematic review published in JAMA Psychiatry, which suggests that relatively small doses of physical activity were associated with substantially lower risks of depression.

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