Tag: Academic research

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Child Mind Institute Study Finds Strong Link Between Teen Belonging and Mental Health

National survey of teens finds that meaningful relationships can serve as a powerful protective factor against anxiety and depression

New York, NY – A new study from the Child Mind Institute found that nearly half the teens surveyed reported experiencing moderate to severe loneliness, despite being the most digitally connected generation. The study was funded by the Morgan Stanley Alliance for Children’s Mental Health.

Released in recognition of World Mental Health Day on October 10, Building Bridges: Teen Loneliness and Connection asked 1,000 U.S. teens aged 14-17 what connection means to them, where they feel most connected, and who they turn to when they need support. The survey examined connectedness across five domains — family, peers, school, self, and digital environments. The results underscore the importance of feeling a sense of connection during adolescence, finding that teens who experience a stronger sense of belonging report better mental health outcomes.

Key Findings

  • Loneliness is widespread: 47% of teens reported moderate to severe loneliness, while 23% screened positive for anxiety and 21% for depression.
  • Connection matters: 80% of teens reported connectedness as highly important to their lives, with a sense of belonging or community (24%), emotional closeness (21%), and mutual understanding (14%) as the core components.
  • Relationship systems are essential: 88% of teens said in-person time is essential for feeling connected, citing home and family, friendships, and school as primary sources. · Connection may offer protection: Teens reporting higher overall connectedness experienced lower loneliness and fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression.
  • AI companions warrant attention: 29% reported using AI as a source of connection; teens who reported using AI this way were more likely to screen positive for depression (44% vs. 25%).

“We’re currently experiencing a loneliness epidemic that has become an urgent concern, especially among young people,” said Angela Moyer, PsyD, a psychologist in School and Community Programs at the Child Mind Institute. “This study centers teens’ voices, helping us to move beyond identifying the problem and more toward understanding which forms of connection matter most and where families, schools, communities, and policymakers can invest to strengthen teen mental health.”

While past research has examined family, friendships, and school belonging in silos, Building Bridges: Teen Loneliness and Connection was designed to understand how these domains together affect teens’ mental health and pinpoint meaningful opportunities for impact. The findings offer important insights for parents, educators, and communities seeking to strengthen support for young people’s emotional well-being and how to foster in-person experiences.

To read the full Building Bridges: Teen Loneliness and Connection report, click here, and visit childmind.org to learn more.

About Child Mind Institute

The Child Mind Institute is the leading nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families experiencing mental health and learning disorders. Since its founding in 2009, the Child Mind Institute has become a global institution reaching millions of families each year through excellence in evidence-based clinical care, renowned educational resources and training, and science to advance the next generation of treatment. 

Visit the Child Mind Institute on social media: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn 

For press questions, contact us at childmindinstitute@ssmandl.com or mediaoffice@childmind.org.

The post Child Mind Institute Study Finds Strong Link Between Teen Belonging and Mental Health appeared first on Child Mind Institute.

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Nicotine and tobacco smoke reshape neuronal signaling networks from a single-nucleus transcriptomic perspective

Nicotine and cigarette smoke exposure significantly impact brain function, yet their distinct cellular and molecular mechanisms remain unclear. To address this, we conducted comprehensive single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) analysis on whole-brain samples and specifically on the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of adult C57BL/6 mice following nicotine or smoke exposure. Our study identified 18 major transcriptionally distinct cell populations across the whole brain and 27 distinct clusters within the VTA, covering major neuronal and glial cell types. Differential gene expression and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses revealed distinct transcriptional responses: nicotine exposure was associated with enrichment of synaptic and addiction-related transcriptional pathways in neuronal populations, including dopaminergic and glutamatergic pathways, whereas smoke exposure was associated with broader enrichment of metabolic-, immune-, and endocrine-related pathways. CellChat predicted condition-associated communication differences, including higher inferred NRXN communication from excitatory neurons to oligodendrocytes and other excitatory neurons under nicotine exposure. Smoke exposure also increased oligodendrocyte PISD expression, a transcriptomic change potentially associated with mitochondrial phospholipid metabolism. Collectively, these data define cell-type-specific transcriptional and predicted communication signatures of nicotine and smoke exposure that require functional validation.
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Comparative efficacy of naltrexone-accelerated versus sublingual buprenorphine in opioid withdrawal management and initiating injectable naltrexone treatment: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundExtended-release injectable naltrexone (XR-NTX), a long-acting opioid antagonist, is an effective relapse prevention strategy in the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). However, standard XR-NTX initiation requires completion of opioid withdrawal management and a 1–2 week opioid-free period. This interval is associated with heightened vulnerability to lapse and relapse, and many patients fail to initiate XR-NTX treatment successfully. Therefore, alternative strategies that enable rapid XR-NTX initiation are needed. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of naltrexone-accelerated (NA) versus sublingual buprenorphine (SB) withdrawal management in facilitating XR-NTX initiation among patients with OUD.MethodsThis single-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial uses a parallel-group design. Eligible patients aged 18–60 years with moderate to severe OUD who are actively using opioids and are not receiving regular maintenance treatment with methadone or buprenorphine are randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) NA withdrawal management, comprising one day of adjunctive non-opioid medications, one day of buprenorphine administration, one day of washout, and four days of gradual oral naltrexone titration (1, 3, 12, and 25 mg/day); or (2) SB withdrawal management, comprising one day of adjunctive non-opioid medications, six days of buprenorphine tapering (up to 8 mg on Day 2, 6 mg on Day 3, 4 mg on Days 4–5, 2 mg on Day 6, and 1 mg on Day 7), and a seven-day washout period. Adjunctive non-opioid medications in both groups comprised clonidine, clonazepam, gabapentin, and trazodone. The primary outcomes are the proportions of participants who (1) achieve a negative urine drug test for the assessed opioids and (2) receive XR-NTX at the end of the withdrawal management period. Secondary outcomes include severity of withdrawal symptoms, opioid craving intensity, and adverse effects. All analyses are conducted according to the intention-to-treat principle.DiscussionThe findings of this trial may provide clinically relevant evidence to support rapid initiation of XR-NTX treatment in patients with OUD and inform clinical practice.Clinical trial registrationhttps://en.irct.ir/trial/81525, Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20250123064499N1.
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The dynamic features of long-term habituation of negative emotions: evidence from eye-tracking and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis research

ObjectivesNegative emotional habituation (NEH) plays a crucial role in individuals’ survival and adaptation. However, systematic research on long-term negative emotional habituation remains limited. This study aimed to explore the dynamics of the habituation process during prolonged repeated exposure to negative stimuli, from the perspectives of eye-tracking and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis responses.MethodsEmploying a 2 × 7 mixed factorial design, we enrolled 50 healthy male undergraduates and randomly assigned them to moderate- or high-intensity negative-image groups. Negative stimulus intensity served as the between-subject factor, and repeated exposure across seven consecutive daily testing sessions served as the within-subject factor. A single-blind procedure was adopted. Baseline trait anxiety and resilience were assessed. On each testing day, we concurrently obtained subjective ratings (valence, arousal), eye-tracking indices [mean fixation duration (MFD), pupil size], and salivary cortisol samples.ResultsOver the seven-day repetition, valence increased over time while arousal decreased. MFD increased significantly while pupil size decreased significantly, with both indices differing by stimulus intensity. Daily changes in salivary cortisol exhibited a significant downward trend, with a steeper decline under high-intensity negative stimulation. Cross-system coupling varied by intensity: under moderate intensity, valence and cortisol habituation were positively correlated, whereas under high intensity, this association was not significant. Additionally, trait anxiety was significantly negatively correlated with pupil habituation, and resilience moderated the relationship between trait anxiety and valence habituation at a marginally significant level.ConclusionThese findings indicate that NEH is not a unitary pathway but a dynamic process jointly realized by multiple systems with distinct sensitivities and convergence rhythms. The results reveal nonlinear cross-level coupling in NEH and may inform methodological bases for timing, dose optimization, and process evaluation in exposure-based therapies.
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A comparison of recovery benefits associated with participation in SMART Recovery, AA, both SMART and AA, or neither, following a new alcohol use disorder recovery attempt

BackgroundSelf-Management and Recovery Training (SMART Recovery or “SMART”) is an internationally known “second-wave” addiction recovery mutual-help organization that has grown over several decades. Despite this, little is known empirically about who uses SMART and how they fare on important alcohol-specific outcomes over time relative to individuals using more established options such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), or indeed those who utilize both SMART and AA, or neither. Greater knowledge could deepen understanding of the clinical and public utility of SMART in its own right and inform clinical referral options.MethodsA naturalistic, longitudinal cohort study (N = 361) of individuals recruited between February 2019 and February 2022 who were initiating a new alcohol use disorder (AUD) recovery attempt and self-selected into one of four groups at study entry: (1) SMART Recovery; (2) AA; (3) SMART + AA; and (4) neither SMART nor AA. Assessments were conducted at intake, 3 months, and 6 months and measured a variety of alcohol/drug-related and functioning outcomes.ResultsCompared to the AA and Both groups, SMART Recovery pathway participants exhibited a pattern of less severe clinical pathology and legal system involvement histories, along with higher psychosocial stability and recovery capital. In terms of meeting attendance frequency, the SMART group did not attend as many meetings as the AA or Both groups, but nevertheless was able to achieve levels of improvement in alcohol indicators (i.e., fewer drinking days, fewer heavy drinking days, and fewer alcohol-related consequences) and rates of early AUD remission similar to those of the AA and Both groups.ConclusionsSMART Recovery may provide a valuable alternative source of recovery-specific support that may be a good fit, particularly for certain individuals with AUD. As such, it serves as a valuable addition to the menu of available community-based recovery-support service options.
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Sex differences in sleep architecture among patients with severe mental disorders: a polysomnographic study

BackgroundSleep disturbances are common in severe mental illness, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. Yet sex-specific sleep patterns across schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder remain poorly characterized.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we compared overnight polysomnography between 372 first-episode patients (aged 18-45) (93 schizophrenia, 181 major depressive disorder, 98 bipolar disorder). All participants underwent a single-night 10-channel polysomnography.ResultsAfter controlling for age, illness duration, BMI, and medications, women achieved significantly longer total sleep time (median 449.3 vs 420.3 min; p <0.001), time in bed (543.0 vs 525.5 min; p = 0.03), and higher sleep efficiency (83.3% vs 82.3%; p = 0.004) than men. Exploratory post-hoc analyses revealed potential sex-related differences in major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder (all p < 0.05, uncorrected for multiple comparisons). However, these findings did not survive correction for multiple comparisons, indicating that the observed differences should be interpreted with caution as preliminary.ConclusionsThis study found that biological sex modulated sleep macro-architecture in severe mental illness, with women exhibiting longer sleep duration and higher sleep efficiency relative to men. Although the cross-diagnosis comparison revealed only a marginally significant sex-by-diagnosis interaction that did not persist after multiple testing correction, these exploratory subgroup findings suggest potential nuanced variations in sleep architecture. Consequently, future studies with larger cohorts are warranted to evaluate whether sex-stratified approaches could refine clinical sleep interventions across psychiatric conditions.
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Compulsive sexual behavior disorder and paraphilic disorders in a large Brazilian community sample: an online investigation

BackgroundThe International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11) includes Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) among impulse control disorders, aiming to standardize diagnostic criteria and improve the understanding of problematic sexual behaviors across cultures. However, few large-scale studies have investigated CSBD and its association with Paraphilic Disorders (PD) in Latin American populations.ObjectiveTo investigate the occurrence of high-risk CSBD in a large Brazilian community sample, examine its association with paraphilic interests and disorders, and evaluate associated sociodemographic and clinical factors.MethodsThis cross-sectional online study included 5,227 Brazilian adults recruited through convenience sampling between September 2022 and April 2023. Participants completed sociodemographic questionnaires, a Brazilian Portuguese version of the CSBD-19, and a translated inventory assessing paraphilic interests and disorders based on DSM-5-TR criteria. Descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests, linear discriminant analysis, and multivariate backward stepwise logistic regression were performed.ResultsThe prevalence of high-risk CSBD (CSBD-19 > 50) was 5.4% (n = 282). The mean CSBD-19 score was 30.4 (SD = 9.7), increasing to 56.4 (SD = 6.1) among individuals classified as high risk. Male sex was strongly associated with high-risk CSBD (OR = 3.32, 95%CI: 2.45–4.50, p < 0.001). Significant associations were also identified for sexual sadism disorder (OR = 2.69, 95%CI: 1.79–4.07), paraphilic disorder involving specific body characteristics (OR = 2.46, 95%CI: 1.49–4.04), zoophilic interest (OR = 2.39, 95%CI: 1.70–3.37), partialism disorder (OR = 2.00, 95%CI: 1.17–3.42), and paraphilia-related distress (OR = 1.94, 95%CI: 1.44–2.61). Linear discriminant analysis demonstrated that the Negative Consequences domain showed the strongest discriminative contribution for high-risk CSBD classification (ω = 1.23).ConclusionsThis study contributes to more inclusive research on compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD) by investigating a large Brazilian sample, including individuals with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Using the ICD-11 framework, the estimated prevalence of high-risk CSBD was 5.4%, a rate comparable to those reported for other common mental health conditions. The study also supports the psychometric applicability of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the CSBD-19 for future epidemiological and cross-cultural research in Latin American populations. Further longitudinal and nationally representative studies are needed to clarify causal pathways, psychiatric comorbidities, minority stress influences, and the neurobiological and psychosocial mechanisms underlying the relationship between CSBD and paraphilic disorders.
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Reliability of Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition, Assessments Using Telepsychiatry for Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Their Caregivers: Randomized Feasibility Study

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the demand for telepsychiatry in neurodevelopmental assessment; however, few studies have examined the interrater reliability of clinician-rated autism scales, such as the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition (CARS2), when used remotely. Although the feasibility and validity of telehealth assessments have been explored previously, the consistency between remote and in person CARS2 ratings by different clinicians remains underinvestigated. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate agreement between CARS2 total scores obtained by different evaluators using telepsychiatry and face-to-face assessments in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: In this randomized feasibility study, 75 children aged 6 to 17 years with diagnoses of ASD, ADHD, or both were enrolled at 5 medical institutions in Japan; 73 of 75 were included in the final analysis. Each participant underwent 2 independent CARS2 evaluations, one face-to-face and the other via telepsychiatry, conducted by different evaluators who were blinded to each other’s ratings. Remote assessments were conducted using a secure video platform with caregiver facilitation. Agreement was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for the overall sample and subgroups defined by primary diagnosis, sex, and age. Results: The overall ICC for CARS2 total scores between face-to-face and telepsychiatry assessments was 0.582 (95% CI 0.407‐0.717), indicating moderate agreement. The ICC was 0.546 among participants with ASD as the primary diagnosis and 0.495 among those with ADHD as the primary diagnosis. Point estimates were higher among girls than boys (0.666 vs 0.495) and among children aged 11 years or older than among those aged 10 years or younger (0.676 vs 0.419). In a sensitivity analysis including all participants with an ASD diagnosis, the ICC was 0.580. Conclusions: CARS2 total scores obtained through telepsychiatry showed moderate agreement with scores obtained through face-to-face assessment when the assessments were conducted by different evaluators in different settings. Higher point estimates were observed among older children and girls, although these subgroup findings should be interpreted cautiously. Telepsychiatry-based CARS2 assessment may be considered a complementary approach rather than a replacement for comprehensive face-to-face evaluation. Larger studies using more standardized assessment protocols are needed.
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Australian Digital Mental Health Services for Anxiety and Depression: Meta-Analysis and Comparison Study

Background: Mental Health Online, MindSpot, and THIS WAY UP are 3 Australian Government–funded digital mental health services (DMHSs). These services are free for consumers and deliver a range of (depression and anxiety disorder) psychological assessments and interventions using the internet, with or without clinician support. Objective: This study examines the uptake and effectiveness of these services. Methods: We used 3 data sources to examine the performance of the three DMHSs: (1) aggregated routinely collected service data to describe uptake of the services from January 2013 to December 2021, (2) peer-reviewed and gray literature reporting treatment outcomes, and (3) treatment outcome data from one evaluation conducted by Mental Health Online. The second and third data sources were used to analyze the effectiveness of the DMHSs compared to other mental health treatment programs (Australian primary, public, and low-intensity mental health care; UK stepped psychological care). We generated pooled mental health symptom (Cohen ) effect sizes for each service’s clinician-supported and self-directed treatments and compared those with effect sizes we calculated for the alternative treatment programs. Results: The 3 DMHSs offered care to more than 282,000 consumers and therefore contributed to improving overall access to mental health care in Australia. Clinician-supported online treatment significantly improved the mental health of consumers who use these services (Mental Health Online, Cohen =0.95; MindSpot, Cohen =1.42; and THIS WAY UP, Cohen =1.04), and self-directed treatment by Mental Health Online produced a moderate reduction (Cohen =0.59) in anxiety disorder severity ratings. Clinician-supported treatments produced improvements in mental health symptoms that are close or equivalent to most (face-to-face, phone, and stepped or symptom severity–matched mental health care) comparison treatments examined. Conclusions: Mental Health Online, MindSpot, and THIS WAY UP are producing clinically significant improvement for consumers experiencing psychological distress and anxiety and depression symptoms. The magnitude of improvement produced by clinician-supported treatment is comparable with more resource-intensive face-to-face treatment options. Heterogeneity in the magnitude of improvements produced by the 3 DMHSs (and comparator interventions across levels of clinical need) indicates that findings should be interpreted with caution, particularly in relation to the populations for whom DMHSs may be most appropriate.
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Effectiveness of Chatbots in Mental Health Screening and Assessment: Systematic Review

Background: Mental health disorders affect 970 million people globally; yet, over 50% do not access timely evaluation due to structural barriers and professional shortages. Chatbots and AI-based conversational agents have emerged as promising tools for mental health screening and assessment. Objective: This study systematically evaluated the effectiveness, accuracy, reliability, and acceptability of chatbots and AI-based conversational agents for mental health screening and assessment in adults. Methods: Systematic search conducted in May 2025 across PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science (2019‐2025), following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2020 guidelines. Eligible studies evaluated chatbots or AI for mental health screening/assessment in adults (≥18 y). Risk of bias was assessed using appropriate tools (Risk of Bias 2, Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2, Joanna Briggs Institute checklists, and Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool). This systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews; CRD420251072392). Results: Eighteen studies (2021‐2025) were included, with samples ranging from 20 to 3902 participants. Rule-based chatbots demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach α >0.85) and good acceptability (Acceptability of Intervention Measure >19/25). Generative models (large language models) achieved sensitivities of 0.84 to 0.93 and specificities of 0.80 to 0.96 for depression and anxiety, with correlations up to =0.96 with expert clinicians in suicide risk assessment. Hybrid approaches combining large language models with machine learning achieved exceptional performance for cognitive impairment (-score of 92.1%, specificity of 99.6%). Most studies reported high user satisfaction (≥70%), although barriers existed among older populations. Methodological quality was heterogeneous with a moderate risk of bias in critical dimensions. Conclusions: Chatbots and AI conversational agents demonstrate clinically relevant performance in mental health screening and assessment. However, safe implementation requires clear clinical protocols, professional supervision, integration with electronic health records, and active mitigation of algorithmic bias. These technologies should complement rather than replace clinical judgment. Trial Registration: PROSPERO CRD420251072392; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251072392