While cannabis users reported more psychotic experiences than non-users generally, the effect was more pronounced in those with a genetic risk factor for schizophrenia. Read More
Mouse study reveals elevated dopamine levels preceded hallucination-like events, and artificially boosting dopamine levels induced more hallucination-like events. The behavioral effects could be blocked by administering haloperidol, an antipsychotic which blocks dopamine. The study sheds light on potential new treatments for psychotic disorders marked by hallucinations. Read More
Study identifies genes that become activated in the brain prior to the initiation of severe repetitive behaviors associated with addiction, ASD, and schizophrenia. Read More
Research has long revealed an association between belief in conspiracy theories and mental health disorders. A new study reports followers of the radical QAnon group are significantly more likely to suffer from mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia, than the general population. Read More
DHA supplements have long been recommended for pregnant women to assist in healthy fetal development. A new study finds DHA supplements can also reverse the impact of early prenatal stress on developing male babies. Read More
Researchers found that while there are genetic overlaps between the sexes in relation to mental health disorders, there are also sex-specific differences in how genes related to the immune system, central nervous system, and blood vessels affect people with mental health problems. Read More
Study reveals personality disorders and schizophrenia are the most debilitating mental illnesses to live with. Read More
Between 60-90% of people with schizophrenia smoke, compared to between 15-24% of the general population. A new study found 40% of those with schizophrenia stopped smoking traditional cigarettes after 12 weeks of switching to e-cigarettes. Researchers also reported a significant number of participants sustained their reduction in smoking or completely stopped smoking at the end of the 12-week study. Read More
Somatic gene mutations in brain cells could account for some of the pathology of schizophrenia. Read More
Fenofibrate, a drug developed to control cholesterol, alleviated brain and behavioral abnormalities in mouse models of schizophrenia. Read More
People with depression and anxiety may be at greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease earlier than those without the conditions. On average, people with depression developed Alzheimer's symptoms two years earlier, and those with anxiety three years earlier, than those who did not suffer from the mental health disorders. Read More
Neurons from brain tissue samples of people with schizophrenia showed greater deviation, both from neurons from samples of people without the condition and from others with schizophrenia. Researchers say the structure of the neurons is unique to each individual with schizophrenia. Read More
