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Psychology News

These research articles involve many aspects of psychology such as cognitive psychology, depression studies, mental health, stress, happiness and neuropsychology, Scroll below for more specific categories.

This shows a fuzzy head and a cigarette.

Combining Cannabis and Tobacco Triples Psychosis Risk

Does combining cannabis and tobacco accelerate the onset of schizophrenia? A multi-site study reveals that the co-use of cannabis and tobacco triggers a nearly threefold increased risk of developing psychotic disorders in individuals already at clinical high risk.

This shows a child on their phone and a brain.

Why Young Teens Are Vulnerable to Conversational AI

Are highly empathetic AI chatbots safe for developing minds? A national study reveals that 47.1% of American teens have experienced digital or emotional harm while using conversational AI.

Harsh Parenting Biologically Distorts Child Stress Regulation

A new study utilizes Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA) monitoring to provide rare biological evidence of parent-child "co-regulation." While less-harsh mothers naturally exit the regulatory driver's seat as their preschoolers age into independent self-regulation, aggressive parenting upends this evolutionary pipeline.

This shows the wearable stress polygraph.

Wearable Polygraph Tracks Deep-Body Stress Signals

A new ultra-lightweight device provides a multi-dimensional, real-time view of biophysical stress without needing access to bodily fluids.

Single Psilocybin Dose Sparks Rapid Depression Remission

Can a single dose of psilocybin replace daily antidepressants? A new randomized clinical trial shows that a 25 mg dose of the psychedelic compound delivers rapid, clinically meaningful symptom reductions for common depression in just 48 hours.

Review of 60+ Alcohol-Caused Diseases Details Reversibility

A new study confirms that alcohol is a major cause of over 60 entirely attributable diseases and injuries, ranging from liver cirrhosis to dementia. By temporarily crippling the immune system and altering neurological judgment, alcohol increases susceptibility to both chronic diseases and acute infections. While long-term abstinence allows for the partial recovery of brain damage and rapid cardiovascular improvements, researchers conclude that alcohol's systematic harms decisively outweigh its debated cardiac benefits.

Childhood Adversity Blunts the Social Benefits of Intelligence

We often assume that a higher IQ leads to better social outcomes, like being more trusting and cooperative. But new research suggests that your childhood environment might be the "volume knob" for that advantage.

This shows a woman with a digital contact lense on her eye.

Brain-Stimulating Contact Lenses Match Prozac in Depression Study

Researchers have created transparent, flexible contact lenses that treat depression using "temporal interference" electrical stimulation. In a landmark study, the lenses restored brain connectivity and boosted serotonin by 47%, matching the performance of leading antidepressants.

Brain Immune Cells Drive Compulsive Behavior

Is anxiety an immune response? New research reveals that Hoxb8 microglia, specialized immune cells in the brain, use calcium signaling to switch anxiety and grooming behaviors on and off.

Genetic Pathways Link Cannabis Use to Psychosis Risk

Researchers have identified three distinct genetic pathways that explain how Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) leads to psychosis. By analyzing over 500 genetic markers and the role of the glutamate system, which is heavily impacted by THC, the team has laid the groundwork for precision models to identify high-risk users and develop targeted treatments for cannabis-related mental health disorders.

This shows the outline of a head and DNA.

Genetic Risk for Schizophrenia Diverges Brain Growth in Teens

A longitudinal study of over 6,000 children has found that those with high genetic risk for schizophrenia experience a decrease in frontal brain surface area during early adolescence, while their peers experience growth. This unique, dynamic divergence provides a new neuroimaging marker for schizophrenia that appears years before clinical symptoms, offering a vital clue for early intervention.

Neurofeedback Trains Brain to Stop Depressive Rumination

Researchers are using real-time fMRI neurofeedback to transform brain training into a video game that targets rumination. By teaching patients to regulate the coupling between the brain's self-referential and goal-directed centers, this precision psychiatry approach successfully reduced depressive symptoms. This study marks a major step toward a future where patients receive personalized, portable brain-training headsets to treat their specific mental health needs.