New research finds smoking significantly increases the risk of a person developing schizophrenia or depression.
Researchers have identified an autoantibody that appears to cause schizophrenia in some individuals. The findings add to the growing body of evidence that schizophrenia could have an autoimmune component.
Researchers have identified a mechanism shared by mutations in the SHANK3 and ADNP genes. The genes have been associated with the development of ASD and schizophrenia.
Cognitive abnormalities associated with schizophrenia may be traced to altered activity in the thalamus during adolescence.
Amotivation and anhedonia rather than expressive dysfunction play a critical role in determining social functioning in those with schizophrenia.
People with severe mental health conditions have a higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and other cardiovascular events than those without mental health disorders. Researchers say the association between mental illness and cardiovascular-related death has become stronger over recent decades.
Lower gray matter volume in the brain is indicative of a higher risk of developing mental health disorders including depression and psychosis. However, those with slightly greater gray matter volume were more likely to recover from their disorders. Researchers believe reduced gray matter volume may be linked to higher levels of inflammation, reduced concentration, and other cognitive impairments associated with disorders like schizophrenia.
Researchers say 80% of people taking antipsychotics to manage schizophrenia or bipolar disorder experience considerable weight gain. Some patients report up to 33kg of weight gain following taking antipsychotic medications. A new study aims to explore ways of managing weight gain for patients taking antipsychotics.
Vaccinated people with a history of mental health disorders including bipolar disorder, psychosis, and anxiety, have a 24% increased risk of contracting COVID-19, a new study reports.
Researchers identified a genetic correlation between blood biomarkers and a range of mental health disorders. The study provides evidence some substance measures within the blood may be involved in the cause of mental illnesses. For example, immune system proteins may be involved in the development of depression, schizophrenia, and anorexia.
Rare variants of the AKAP11 gene raise the risk of developing bipolar disorder several-fold, making it the strongest risk factor gene for bipolar identified to date.
A landmark new study identified ten genes with rare protein disrupting mutations that significantly increase the risk of a person developing schizophrenia.
