Author: admin

Posted on

Mobile Application-Based Interventions for Cannabis Use in Young Adults With First Episode Psychosis

Conditions: First Episode Psychosis (FEP); Psychosis; Schizophreni-form Disorder; Dependence Addictive

Interventions: Other: CHAMPS; Other: I Can Change

Sponsors: Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM); Integrated University Health and Social Services Center of the Capitale-Nationale; Nova Scotia Health Authority; Centre Intégré de Santé et de Services Sociaux de la Montérégie-Centre; Centre Integre Universitaire de Sante et Services Sociaux du Nord de l’ile de Montreal; Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Not yet recruiting
Posted on

Facing Fears From Home: Development, Feasibility and Maximization of FobiApp

Conditions: Specific Phobia

Interventions: Behavioral: FobiApp AR Exposure therapy, Self-administered augmented reality exposure for cockroach phobia; Behavioral: FobiApp AR Exposure therapy + ABM, Self- administered augmented reality exposure combined with attentional bias modification training for cockroach phobia.

Sponsors: Universitat Jaume I; Generalitat Valenciana

Not yet recruiting
Posted on

Nonlinear associations of BMI and body dissatisfaction with depression and an exploratory decomposition of the indirect association: a cross-sectional study of Chinese university students

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the non-linear associations of body mass index (BMI) and body dissatisfaction with depressive symptoms among Chinese university students, and to explore how the indirect association between BMI and depressive symptoms through body dissatisfaction varies across the BMI range.MethodsA cross-sectional design was used, and 7,928 full-time students were recruited from eight universities in China. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS); body dissatisfaction was operationalised as the absolute difference between measured BMI and self-reported ideal BMI. Analyses comprised restricted cubic spline (RCS) models, an exploratory non-linear decomposition of the indirect association, generalised additive models (GAM) as a sensitivity analysis, a supplementary receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, and k-means clustering. Because measured BMI enters the calculation of body dissatisfaction, the exposure and the proposed mediator are not mathematically independent; all decomposition results are therefore reported as exploratory.ResultsBoth BMI and body dissatisfaction were non-linearly associated with depressive symptoms (both P < 0.01). In the exploratory decomposition, the estimated indirect association between BMI and depressive symptoms through body dissatisfaction attenuated progressively as BMI increased. In the supplementary ROC analysis, the BMI value maximising the Youden index was 23.11 kg/m² (AUC = 0.768); this is a sample-specific, internally derived discrimination point rather than a screening threshold. A five-stratum descriptive matrix combining BMI groups with body-dissatisfaction clusters was constructed, and the observed prevalence of depressive symptoms ranged from 14.4% to 100.0% across strata.ConclusionBMI and body dissatisfaction were non-linearly associated with depressive symptoms in this sample, and the magnitude of the indirect association through body dissatisfaction varied across the BMI range. Because the body-dissatisfaction indicator is mathematically derived from measured BMI and the design was cross-sectional, these results describe statistical associations and should not be read as evidence of a causal mediating mechanism. The risk-stratification matrix was developed and evaluated in the same dataset without internal or external validation; it is therefore exploratory and requires independent validation before any screening application.
Posted on

Building on Success: HEADSTRONG and The Inquiring Mind Transition to Jack.org

Ottawa, ON, September 9, 2026 – The Mental Health Commission of Canada is excited to announce that, effective September 8th, Jack.org will take over HEADSTRONG and The Inquiring Mind (TIM) to further increase the impact and growth of these programs and help more young people facing barriers to mental health.

Developed through the Commission’s Opening Minds initiative, HEADSTRONG and TIM have supported youth, educators, schools, and communities for more than a decade. As Canada’s largest network of young people supporting young people, with strong connections across the education sector, Jack.org is well-positioned to expand the programs’ reach and impact for decades to come.

“HEADSTRONG and The Inquiring Mind are powerful examples of what can happen when we identify a need, build an effective solution, and work with partners to maximize impact,” said Lili-Anna Pereša, President and CEO of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. “We’re proud of what these programs have achieved and confident that Jack.org is the right organization to help them reach even more young people across Canada.”

“We’re honoured to welcome HEADSTRONG and The Inquiring Mind to Jack.org,” said Michael Braithwaite, President and CEO of Jack.org. “These programs have already made a meaningful difference in the lives of young people, and we look forward to building on that success and expanding their reach in schools and communities across Canada. The transition reflects a shared commitment to ensuring proven youth mental health programs continue to grow and evolve to meet increasing demand.

Jack.org has been working diligently with the Commission to ensure that there will be no disruption to existing programming or services during the transition.

About the Mental Health Commission of Canada

The Mental Health Commission of Canada is a not-for-profit, pan-Canadian mental health organization that connects evidence, knowledge, and lived experience to provide actionable insights and solutions that advance mental health to improve lives.

About Jack.org

Jack.org is a national charity that empowers young people to take care of their mental health, supports youth leadership, and works to strengthen mental health literacy and connections among young people across Canada.

Media Contacts

Mental Health Commission of Canada
Debra Yearwood
Director, Marketing and Communications

Jack.org
Danielle Kinahan
Director, Communications and Media

The post Building on Success: HEADSTRONG and The Inquiring Mind Transition to Jack.org appeared first on Mental Health Commission of Canada.

Posted on

Virtual Care Expansion and Physician Follow-Up Among Youth With First Mental Health Contact Through a Hospital: Population-Based Repeated Cross-Sectional Study

<strong>Background:</strong> Timely follow-up is crucial for youth whose first mental health contact is through a hospital; virtual care could facilitate this. <strong>Objective:</strong> This study aimed to examine the association between the significant expansion of virtual care in Ontario, Canada, and follow-up mental health care rates for these youths. <strong>Methods:</strong> We conducted a population-based repeated cross-sectional study using linked health administrative databases. We identified first-contact emergency department (ED) visits or hospital admissions for self-harm, mood disorders, or psychosis from March 1, 2009, to February 29, 2024, among Ontario youth (aged 10-24 years). Virtual care was expanded in March 2020; we examined 2 expansion stages (temporary and permanent). Autoregressive integrated moving average analyses estimated level and slope changes (vs before virtual care) in age- and sex-standardized monthly rates of 7-day mental health follow-up. Subgroup analyses examined rurality and socioeconomic status. <strong>Results:</strong> We identified 42,208 first-contact ED visits and 17,701 first-contact hospital admissions. Pre–virtual care mean follow-up rates were 17.64 (SD 2.97) per 100 first-contact ED visits and 21.90 (SD 5.05) per 100 first-contact hospital admissions. Temporary expansion was associated with immediate increases in follow-up that declined (level changes: 4.81, 95% CI 2.82-6.81 for ED visits and 7.51, 95% CI 4.41-10.60 for hospital admissions; slope changes: −0.31, 95% CI −0.42 to −0.21 for ED visits and −0.32, 95% CI −0.48 to −0.15 for hospital admissions). Permanent expansion was associated only with an immediate decrease in ED visit follow-up (level change: −3.81, 95% CI −6.70 to −0.92) that was significant in rural (−1.06, 95% CI −1.93 to −0.184) but not urban (0.44, 95% CI −0.179 to 1.06) areas; results were otherwise similar between subgroups. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> Virtual care was not associated with sustained changes or equity improvements in mental health follow-up for high-acuity youth, representing a missed opportunity to extend physician reach and address barriers. Further research and quality improvement are needed. <strong>Trial Registration:</strong>
Posted on

Video and App-Based Games for Youth Emotion Regulation: Scoping Review

<strong>Background:</strong> Emotion regulation (ER) is a transdiagnostic construct encompassing distinct strategies that can be used to encourage adaptive coping skills in support of youth’s (ages 10 to 24 years) mental health. ER is responsive to training and intervention, such as via video and app-based games. Previous literature shows that video and app-based games impact the psychological well-being of youth and may be an accessible way to help youth learn about and implement emotional regulation strategies in their lives. <strong>Objective:</strong> Previous reviews have not focused on video and app-based games that support ER and how they may be beneficial to youth with and without a mental health diagnosis. This scoping review sought to collect, review, and understand the scope of research on the effects of video and app-based games on ER outcomes in youth, and areas in need of further investigation. <strong>Methods:</strong> We conducted a scoping search of MEDLINE, Embase, and APA PsycInfo from the beginning of the database up to and including December 2025. Studies were included if they were in English, included youth with a mean age between 10 and 24 years, and that evaluated an intervention or an intervention adjunct to help improve their ER skills using a video or app-based game. We extracted population characteristics (for the video game or app), the effectiveness of the intervention, and ER strategies addressed. <strong>Results:</strong> Following the screening of 14,456 studies, we identified 33 studies for inclusion in the final review. Four recurrent outcomes emerged: change in overall ER skills, mood modification, mental health symptom management, and emotion identification. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> While most studies reported improvements in these areas, some studies reported areas of continued difficulty. The results suggest that video and app-based games could serve as beneficial, easy-to-access tools to support youth ER through various strategies, with areas for future research to address mixed results and recommendations for addressing digital health improvement.
Posted on

Autistic traits in unaffected first-degree relatives of individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: implications for shared familial neurodevelopmental vulnerability

BackgroundAutistic traits have increasingly been linked to schizophrenia (SCH) and bipolar disorder (BD) within a shared neurodevelopmental framework. However, whether these traits are similarly expressed in unaffected first-degree relatives of individuals with SCH and BD remains poorly understood.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 135 participants: first-degree relatives of individuals with schizophrenia (SCH-FDR, n=45), first-degree relatives of individuals with bipolar disorder (BD-FDR, n=45), and healthy controls (HCs, n=45). Autistic traits were assessed using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ). Participants also underwent clinical psychiatric evaluation, including structured diagnostic assessment, to exclude psychiatric disorders and autism spectrum disorder.ResultsSignificant group differences were observed for AQ total score (p=0.002), Communication (p=0.004), and Imagination (p<0.001) subscales. Communication scores were significantly higher in SCH-FDR than in HCs (p=0.003). Imagination scores were higher in both BD-FDR (p=0.016) and SCH-FDR (p<0.001) groups compared with HCs. Total AQ scores were also higher in both relative groups than in HCs (BD-FDR: p=0.015; SCH-FDR: p=0.003). The proportion of participants with AQ scores ≥26 was higher in SCH-FDR (17.8%) and BD-FDR (13.3%) than in HCs (2.2%; p=0.045).ConclusionsAutistic traits were more pronounced in SCH-FDR and BD-FDR than in healthy controls. Differences were most evident in total AQ scores and the Imagination subscale across both relative groups, whereas communication difficulties were specifically elevated in schizophrenia relatives. These findings are consistent with the concept of shared familial neurodevelopmental vulnerability across schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Posted on

Ketogenic therapy as a potential novel treatment approach for PTSD: an integrative review and proposed mechanistic model

BackgroundBrain and body metabolic disruptions have been suggested in several studies as a mechanism underlying posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therapies targeting metabolic pathways might provide new treatment options. This review explores the potential of ketogenic therapies, such as the ketogenic diet and ketone supplementation, as novel metabolic treatments for PTSD.MethodsAn integrative review was conducted. We searched PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, PsycArticles, PSYNDEX, MEDLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and EU Clinical Trials Register for clinical, preclinical, observational, mechanistic, and review studies that reported outcomes or mechanisms on the intersection of ketogenic therapy and PTSD. Methodological quality of included studies was assessed independently by two reviewers based on predefined criteria.ResultsSixteen articles (9 human, 4 animal studies, 3 reviews) were eligible and included in the present review. Several metabolic and signaling pathways through which ketogenic therapies could impact PTSD pathophysiology were identified. Preclinical data suggestive of potential efficacy were identified, while only minimal reliable information is available from human studies.DiscussionImportantly, the absence of larger clinical trials and the reliance on low-level evidence substantially limit current interpretations. High-quality randomized and adequately powered clinical trials are required to examine the potential role of ketogenic therapies in treating PTSD.