<![CDATA[Psychiatrists unpack parental leave anxiety, FMLA gaps, and how smarter time-off planning can reduce postpartum depression and support working families.]]>
Memory-focused therapy: an integrated intervention to reduce trauma symptoms, maladaptive cognitive processes, and emotional distress in Afghan youth
BackgroundAfghan youth continue to face chronic war-related trauma, terrorist violence, and severe disruptions to education and social support systems, resulting in high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and hopelessness. There is a critical need for culturally responsive, low-intensity, and feasible psychological interventions that can be delivered in low-resource and unstable settings.ObjectiveThis study conducted a preliminary evaluation of the efficacy, acceptability, and mechanisms of change associated with Memory-Focused Therapy (MFT), an integrative intervention targeting autobiographical memory processing, acceptance-based regulation, and future self-construction among youth affected by the Kaaj Education Center attack in Kabul, Afghanistan.MethodsA single-group repeated-measures design was used with 26 participants assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and three-month follow-up. Standardized measures of PTSD, depression, anxiety, stress, cognitive avoidance, cognitive fusion, resilience, and posttraumatic growth were administered. MFT was delivered in 12 structured group sessions. Additionally, qualitative data from semi-structured interviews and therapist field notes were analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultsQuantitative analyses showed significant reductions in PTSD symptoms, depression, anxiety, stress, cognitive avoidance, and cognitive fusion from baseline to post-intervention, alongside significant increases in posttraumatic growth. Several of these improvements were maintained at follow-up. Qualitative findings reflected four overarching themes: (1) facilitator experiences and implementation challenges in high-risk contexts, (2) improvements in cognitive and emotional processing, (3) growth in meaning, relationships, values, and future orientation, and (4) exposure to traumatic memories and reduced avoidance.ConclusionFindings provide preliminary evidence that MFT is a feasible, acceptable, and potentially effective intervention for trauma-affected Afghan youth. By integrating trauma memory processing, present-moment emotional regulation, and future-oriented meaning-making, MFT appears to support improvements in psychological coherence, self-continuity, and resilience. Further controlled and longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these effects and examine underlying mechanisms.
STAT+: Compass says depression drug has long-lasting benefits
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Vertex makes its largest-ever deal
Vertex said yesterday it will spend $10 billion to acquire Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, a biotech developing drugs for rare endocrine disorders.
<![CDATA[Phase 3 data show COMP360 psilocybin delivers rapid, lasting relief in treatment-resistant depression; FDA filing advances toward 2027 launch.]]>
A dual-branch network with brain region-constrained attention for EEG emotion recognition
IntroductionElectroencephalography (EEG)-based emotion recognition provides an objective avenue for affective computing. However, the complexity of EEG signals across temporal, frequency, and spatial domains makes any single dimension inadequate.MethodsTo overcome these limitations, we propose the Brain Region-Constrained Attention Dual-Branch Network (BRAD-Net). This network adopts a parallel Spatio-Temporal and Spectral-Spatial dual-branch architecture to achieve synergistic multi-domain EEG feature learning. Within the spatio-temporal branch, we introduce a novel Brain Region-Constrained Attention mechanism, which strictly confines self-attention computation to channels belonging to the same brain region. This design not only suppresses irrelevant cross-region interference but also incorporates neuroanatomical priors of brain parcellation, thereby enabling effective and interpretable representation learning.ResultsIn subject-dependent experiments using 10-fold cross-validation on DEAP and DREAMER datasets, BRAD-Net achieves high accuracies of 97.44%, 97.70%, and 97.97% for valence, arousal, and dominance on DEAP, and 99.66%, 99.78%, and 99.80% on DREAMER, respectively. Leave-one-subject-out validation on DREAMER dataset achieves accuracies of 72.80% and 75.66% for arousal and dominance, respectively. Additionally, the BRAD-Net demonstrates strong cross-paradigm adaptability, achieving 98.21% accuracy on a depression classification dataset.ConclusionsThese findings confirm that integrating neuroanatomical priors into a dual-branch multi-dimensional learning framework effectively extracts robust and interpretable neural representations. BRAD-Net not only advances high-performance EEG emotion recognition but also provides a novel, biologically-constrained design paradigm for developing more interpretable brain-computer interface models. By demonstrating that restricting attention to within-brain-region interactions suffices for accurate emotion recognition, our work offers a new theoretical perspective on the application of brain parcellation knowledge in classification models.
Hair cortisol as psychotherapy process parameter – an inpatient pediatric psychosomatic study
IntroductionPediatric-psychosomatic inpatient therapy is an essential part of the German health care system for the treatment of mental disorders in children and adolescents. However, empirical research in this field remains scarce and limited to psychological parameters. This longitudinal naturalistic study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and sustainability of inpatient psychosomatic therapy in children and adolescents by examining both psychological outcomes and biological markers.MethodsA total of 58 patients were assessed at seven time points before, during, and after treatment. Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) was measured as a neuroendocrine parameter of long-term stress regulation. Psychometric data were collected using five validated questionnaires.ResultsFindings indicated significant improvements in perceived stress, depressive and anxiety symptoms, family functioning and internalizing symptoms in the course of inpatient treatment. Overall, these effects remained stable at three- and six-month follow-ups, with only transient increases in depressive symptoms and family problems. HCC showed a significant decrease from admission to discharge and remained stable across follow-ups.DiscussionThese results support the efficacy of inpatient pediatric psychosomatic interventions on both psychological outcomes and neuroendocrine stress regulation and highlight the value of integrating biological markers into psychotherapy research.
Technology-Enhanced Peer Support for Depression in Older Adults: Single-Arm Mixed Methods Feasibility Study
<strong>Background:</strong> Depression in late life is often compounded by social isolation and barriers to care. There is limited study of technology-enhanced peer support for depression among older adults. <strong>Objective:</strong> This study aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a technology-enhanced peer support intervention to decrease depression among older adults. <strong>Methods:</strong> We used a mixed methods pilot study among adults aged 50 years and older with depression who received a peer support intervention called Peers+. The intervention consisted of 8 weekly video chats and unidirectional texts focused on increasing depression self-care and coping. Data obtained from screening, baseline, postintervention, and 3-month follow-up were used in the analysis to assess preliminary outcomes of the intervention. Mixed effects longitudinal models were used to assess change in depression, and qualitative data were collected and analyzed to identify key themes related to participant experiences. <strong>Results:</strong> A total of 34 older adults with a mean age of 67 (SD 9.57) years participated in the study, and 82.4% (28/34) of participants finished all 8 intervention meetings. Depressive symptoms declined over the course of the study of 35 weeks (<i>F</i><sub>1, 88.8</sub>=26.0; <i>β</i>=–.14, 95% CI –0.20 to 0.09; <i>P</i><.001). Emotional well-being (<i>β</i>=.48, 95% CI 0.26-0.70; <i>P</i><.001), social functioning (<i>β</i>=.71, 95% CI 0.33-1.09; <i>P</i><.001), self-efficacy (<i>β</i>=2.29, 95% CI 0.83-3.75; <i>P</i><.001), and coping (<i>β</i>=2.90, 95% CI 0.24-5.55; <i>P</i><.001) improved throughout the study period. Participants perceived supportive texts as reinforcing trust between peer coaches, using coping strategies, increasing social connection, and providing accountability for improving self-care. Peer coaches and older adults needed technology support for participation in the study. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> This study demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of a peer support intervention enhanced by video chats and texts, delivered by older adult peer coaches to an ethnically diverse group of older adults with depression. Study findings indicate that ongoing and accessible technology support contributed to older adult participation and engagement.
Biomarkers Could Help in Antidepressant Choice
Antidepression treatment based on a person’s individual biomarkers could help determine which of the world’s most popular medications to use, a clinical trial suggests.
The SMART Trial to Predict Anhedonia Response to Antidepressant Treatment results suggest that behavioral, brain, and clinical data could together determine the optimal antidepressant to choose before a person starts treatment.
There were no significant primary endpoint differences in depression outcomes between participants who received bupropion or sertraline based on biomarkers identified in the prior Establishing Moderators and Biosignatures of Antidepressant Response in Clinical Care (EMBARC) study.
But people negative for biomarkers with both drugs had significantly worse depression symptom trajectories than those who had at least one positive biomarker, regardless of the drug they received.
Response rates among participants with both biomarkers were almost double that of those without any biomarkers, with those who had at least one biomarker having an intermediate response.
“Our results suggest that we could boost response rate by using two sets of biomarkers previously identified in the EMBARC study, making an important contribution to advancing the goals of precision psychiatry,” reported Peter Zhukovsky, PhD, from Harvard Medical School, and co-workers in Nature Mental Health.
“Ultimately, we strongly hope these advances will enable personalized treatment guidance to accelerate and boost antidepressant benefits.”
Treatment for depression is often still trial and error, with symptoms improving in only half the people taking an antidepressant. This could be due to treatments not being chosen based on people’s individual characteristics.
Finding markers that predict response to different antidepressants could therefore provide patients and clinicians with valuable information to guide treatment choice.
The trial was among the first to investigate how treatment could be guided using clinical information such as responses to questionnaires, behavioral information such as performance in computerized tasks, and brain data such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
It was carried out as part of the Wellcome Leap Multi-Channel Psych Program effort to double the number of people who respond to the first treatment they try for depression via the integration of multimodal biomarkers.
Firstly, the researchers investigated biomarker models that predicted response to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) sertraline or the norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor bupropion using the EMBARC study.
The treatment-assignment algorithm that was developed generated two marker-based indications for each patient—one for bupropion and sertraline—with the predictive model achieving a cross-validated area under the curve of 0.86 and 0.66, respectively.
The team then examined whether antidepressant response could be boosted using their created biomarker combination of a functional MRI imaging marker, reward learning and sensitivity, cognitive control, the clinical variables of depression severity and neuroticism, and the demographic variable of employment status.
After analyzing these biomarkers among participants, who had major depressive disorder, the group was randomly assigned to receive a full 8-week course of an SSRI or non-SSRI.
The primary outcome was the change in depression severity from pretreatment baseline to eight weeks after the start of treatment, with no significant differences in treatment outcomes for those assigned a drug consistent versus inconsistent with their biomarkers.
This, the researchers say was possibly due to the limited power to detect moderate effects.
However, significant differences emerged in symptom reduction trajectories for those with positive markers for both medications, with a response rate of 71.4% compared with 65.4% for those with a positive biomarker for either drug and 42.9% for those with two negative markers.
The authors concluded: “We found that, relative to patients with two negative markers, those with one or two markers were characterized by significantly larger reduction in depressive symptoms, showing that biomarker-guided treatment selection can boost efficacy for two of the most widely prescribed antidepressants around the world.”
The post Biomarkers Could Help in Antidepressant Choice appeared first on Inside Precision Medicine.
Email-Delivered Digital Positive Affect Intervention for Young Adults in Zimbabwe
Conditions: Depression Symptoms
Interventions: Behavioral: Email-Delivered Positive Affect Intervention; Behavioral: Psychoeducational Control
Sponsors: Vilnius University; University of Zimbabwe
Not yet recruiting
Interventions: Behavioral: Email-Delivered Positive Affect Intervention; Behavioral: Psychoeducational Control
Sponsors: Vilnius University; University of Zimbabwe
Not yet recruiting
Virtual Reality–Based Relaxation Training and Symptom Improvement Among Inpatients With Depressive Disorders: Retrospective Nonrandomized Comparative Study
Background: Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly used for adjunctive relaxation training in psychiatric care. However, evidence remains limited among hospitalized patients with depressive disorders, particularly in routine inpatient settings in China, and little is known about whether improvement varies by session frequency. Objective: This retrospective study examined whether adjunctive VR-based relaxation training was associated with changes in depressive and anxiety symptoms among inpatients with depressive disorders and whether improvement differed by session frequency. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, nonrandomized natural-group comparison using complete anonymized medical records from patients hospitalized in Lishui Second People’s Hospital between January 1 and December 31, 2022. Patients met () diagnostic criteria for depressive episodes or recurrent depressive disorders and were screened using predefined criteria. The analytic sample included 133 inpatients: 63 (47.4%) received adjunctive VR-based relaxation training plus usual care and 70 (52.6%) received usual care only. Usual care included pharmacotherapy and physiotherapy. The VR intervention consisted of 25-minute immersive relaxation sessions delivered approximately 3 times per week. Symptoms were assessed at admission and discharge using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. Response was defined as a reduction of 50% or more from baseline, and remission was defined as a total score of 7 or less. Baseline characteristics, outcome scores, response and remission rates, and exploratory session-frequency subgroups were compared. All analyzed variables were checked against complete medical records; no missing values were identified, and no imputation was performed. Results: The VR and control groups did not differ significantly in baseline depressive or anxiety scores. At discharge, adjunctive VR-based relaxation training was associated with lower depressive and anxiety symptom scores than usual care alone. The VR group also showed higher response rates for both depressive and anxiety symptoms and a higher anxiety remission rate, whereas depression remission was similar. Exploratory session-frequency analyses suggested that anxiety improvement may be more consistently associated with VR exposure than depression remission; however, the pattern was not strictly linear and should be interpreted cautiously because treatment frequency was linked to hospitalization duration and routine care factors. Conclusions: This study is innovative in evaluating structured VR-based relaxation training as an adjunct to routine inpatient depression care and in providing preliminary observations on session-frequency patterns in a real-world Chinese psychiatric setting. Unlike many previous VR studies conducted in noninpatient, nonclinical, or short-term experimental contexts, this study reflects everyday clinical practice among hospitalized patients with depressive disorders. The findings contribute practical evidence for integrating immersive relaxation into comprehensive inpatient care, particularly when additional anxiety relief is desired. Because the study was retrospective and nonrandomized, the findings indicate associations rather than causal effects and should be confirmed in prospective randomized controlled trials.
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