BackgroundFolate receptor alpha autoantibodies (FRAA) are reported to be associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are found more frequently in mothers of children with ASD. However, the relationship between maternal FRAA during pregnancy, folate status, and ASD risk in offspring remains unclear.ObjectiveIn this exploratory pilot study, we compared maternal serum binding FRAA measured during pregnancy between high-folate ASD cases and childbirth-time–matched mothers of typically developing children.MethodsFRAA were retrospectively analyzed in serum samples collected between gestational weeks 7 and 18 from women whose children were later diagnosed with ASD (case subgroup, n = 10) and mothers of neurotypical children (control subgroup, n = 10). Case samples were selected based on previously measured elevated folate levels, while controls were selected to minimize differences in biobank storage duration.ResultsFRAA were detected in 2 of 10 samples in each group, corresponding to a prevalence of 20%. Although based on limited statistical power, no significant difference in FRAA prevalence was observed.ConclusionIn this exploratory pilot study, no difference in binding FRAA prevalence was found between mothers of children with ASD, who were selected for elevated maternal folate levels, and mothers of neurotypical children. While this finding does not support a link between FRAA and elevated maternal folate levels, the small sample size and selection criteria limit interpretation.LimitationsThe study was limited by the small sample size, differences in subgroup selection, uncertainty in gestational age at sampling, and the inability to assess blocking FRAA.
Low-burden speech-based screening of depressive symptoms using ultra-short speech samples
BackgroundSpeech holds promise for depressive symptom screening, but practical applications require clearer guidance on effective segmentation, optimal speech tasks, minimum duration, and feature-model matching.ObjectiveTo enable low-burden screening for depressive symptoms, this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of short speech samples and systematically investigate how to identify the optimal practical combination of different speech tasks, time-window lengths, and the matching between features and models.MethodsUsing the HMU-DDAC-24 dataset of 143 participants aged 18–22 years, we evaluated 10 segmentation lengths (0.1–15 s), 5 models (Random Forest, Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Transformer, Extended Long Short-Term Memory (xLSTM)), and 3 feature types (frame-level, statistical, fused). We also assessed 19 window lengths (1–35 s) across four speech tasks and their combinations. In addition, supplementary cross-dataset validation analysis was performed using the external Emotional Audio-Textual Depression (EATD) dataset.ResultsFrame-level features performed best with sequence models and short windows (0.1–2 s; Transformer accuracy: 0.731 at 2 s). Statistical features paired best with tree models and short windows (Random Forest accuracy: 0.698 at 1 s). Fused features improved tree models (Random Forest accuracy: 0.703 at 4 s) but introduced noise into sequence models. Task 4 (positive recall) achieved the best overall performance (Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC) = 0.860), outperforming all single and combined tasks, showing no multi-task synergy. A 1-s segment performed comparably to full-length speech (3.14% relative performance loss). Kullback-Leibler divergence analysis showed short segments closely approximated the full recording’s distribution (Task 4 KL = 9.56 at 1 s).ConclusionsWhen combined with appropriate speech tasks and feature-model matching, short speech samples can facilitate low-burden screening for depressive symptoms. Supplementary analysis on the EATD dataset supported these trends, though absolute performance depended on feature representation. We recommend positive recall with 2-s truncation, frame-level features, and Transformer for accuracy-oriented settings; and 1-s truncation, statistical features, and Random Forest for resource-limited settings. These findings may inform rapid, remote speech-based screening for depressive symptoms, especially in resource-limited primary-care settings.
Opinion: Mentally ill women deserve more support to have children
A friend once told me approvingly that someone she knew had talked his schizophrenic adult son into having a vasectomy. Though I read “talked into” as “coerced,” I didn’t say anything.
Oh my god, I thought instead, maybe I shouldn’t be a mother. I’d had a break with reality after stopping my antipsychotic 10 years before, frustrated with weight gain. I had returned to taking medication and my mental health had stabilized long before this conversation. But I was now pursuing pregnancy.
Novel Approaches to Supporting Students With ADHD in Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
Conditions: Attention Deficit Hyerpactivity Disorder
Interventions: Behavioral: Academic Competency Enhancement (ACE) classroom; Behavioral: School as Usual Classroom Supports
Sponsors: Florida International University
Not yet recruiting
Interventions: Behavioral: Academic Competency Enhancement (ACE) classroom; Behavioral: School as Usual Classroom Supports
Sponsors: Florida International University
Not yet recruiting
Predicting the Outcome of ADHD in White Matter Injure Neonates With Multi-modality MRI
Conditions: White Matter Abnormalities, Nonspecific; ADHD; Neurodevelopment Outcome
Sponsors: First Affiliated Hospital Xi’an Jiaotong University
Completed
Sponsors: First Affiliated Hospital Xi’an Jiaotong University
Completed
Irreconcilable differences?: epistemic injustice and the integration of mental healthcare for LGBTQ+ young people
BackgroundIntegrated youth mental healthcare is an approach that has evolved in response to the global escalation of young people’s poor mental health, and the failure of current mental health systems and models to improve this situation. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) young people have disproportionately high rates of poor mental health compared with their cisgender, heterosexual peers, but there is a dearth of research examining how best to integrate mental healthcare for LGBTQ+ youth.AimTo identify differences in the discursive construction of LGBTQ+ identity, youth, and mental health between LGBTQ+-specific youth mental health services and mainstream services and how these differences may facilitate or limit the integration of mental healthcare.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative secondary analysis using Foucauldian discourse analysis, a method that centralises power and knowledge, to examine the discourses used to construct LGBTQ+ identity, youth, and mental health across four different mental health services. Using epistemic injustice as a theoretical framework, we analysed interviews with LGBTQ+ young people and staff (n = 30).ResultsMainstream discourses of LGBTQ+ youth mental health concentrate on risks, trauma, and harm, and reinforce a passive, pathologised, and patronised subject position for LGBTQ+ youth. In contrast, we identified three counter-discourses in LGBTQ+-specific mental health services: Knowing and telling, Resisting pathology, and Capability. These counter-discourses allowed for wider, transformative possibilities for LGBTQ+ youth subjectivities and mental wellbeing.DiscussionExisting models of integrated youth mental healthcare privilege a clinical, developmental, and universal approach that does not consider justice or the oppressive power systems implicated in LGBTQ+ young people’s mental healthcare. Without addressing in/justice, there will remain fundamental irreconcilable differences that will forfeit effective and inclusive systems of mental healthcare for LGBTQ+ young people.
In Vivo Characterization of Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A [11C]CURB Positron Emission Tomography Study
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with impaired fear extinction and dysfunction in amygdala-centered circuits, for which treatments remain insufficient. The endocannabinoid system, particularly anandamide signaling regulated by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), has been implicated in stress and fear regulation. Preclinical studies suggest increased FAAH is linked to heightened stress responsivity, but FAAH status in PTSD remains unclear. We used [11C]CURB positron emission tomography (PET) to characterize FAAH levels in the amygdala and in corticolimbic regions in PTSD and examine associations with clinical symptoms.
Effectiveness and Usability of Digital Slow Breathing and Detached Mindfulness Interventions in Late Adolescents: Mixed Methods Study
Background: Many adolescents experience elevated stress and anxiety; yet, access to effective psychological support is limited. Brief digital mental health interventions, such as slow breathing (SB) and detached mindfulness (DM), offer a potentially scalable approach to promoting emotion regulation in daily life. Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether 1 week of daily practice with a SB or DM intervention reduced stress, anxiety, and negative metacognitive beliefs in youth, and explored participants’ experiences to inform the development of accessible, youth-tailored digital interventions. Methods: A mixed method approach was used, including quantitative and qualitative data. A total of 147 university students between 16 and 19 years old were randomly allocated to the DM (n=49), SB (n=49), or passive control group (n=49). Participants who were allocated to DM or SB practiced the intervention for 1 week. Stress, anxiety, and negative metacognitive beliefs were assessed at pre- and postintervention using self-report questionnaires. The quantitative data were analyzed with linear mixed-effects models, and we explored daily changes in intervention effect. After posttest, participants were invited to focus groups to evaluate their experience with the interventions (n=37). The qualitative data were analyzed with a content analysis. Results: Our results showed that a week-long DM intervention significantly reduced stress compared with the control condition. No other differences emerged for the main outcomes on pre- and postmeasurements. However, in the SB group, higher perceived usability was associated with greater reductions in stress. Qualitative findings showed that both interventions were viewed as calming, easy to use, and acceptable, while also highlighting challenges such as maintaining motivation and integrating the exercises into daily routines. Conclusions: This study provides early formative evidence that brief digital interventions such as SB and DM are feasible and usable, with preliminary indication that DM intervention may support short-term stress reduction. Future research should focus on enhancing motivation and sustained engagement to maximize the effectiveness of digital mental health tools for late adolescents. Trial Registration: OSF Registries osf.io/vu56y; https://osf.io/vu56y/overview
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Bone Density Linked with Brain Function
Lower bone density in the spine is linked with poorer cognitive function, in research findings that could be of particular importance for postmenopausal women.
The study, in Radiology, suggests that chest computed tomography (CT) scans could help identify people with accelerated brain aging who might be at risk of dementia.
The deep-learning analysis found that bone density in the thoracic vertebrae of the spine was associated with both functional and imaging measures of age-related brain degeneration at a later stage.
Nonetheless, the researchers caution that their results do not mean osteoporosis causes dementia.
“This study is not about cause and effect, but rather the observation of a metabolic syndrome that may cause both bone and brain degeneration,” said researcher Shadpour Demehri, MD, from Johns Hopkins university in Baltimore, Maryland.
“The co-occurrence observed in the study may reflect shared metabolic drivers of aging, including insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and menopausal change, rather than a direct bone-to-brain effect.”
The study is the first longitudinal secondary analysis linking baseline vertebral bone mineral density to changes in white matter structure, white matter hyperintensity progression, and cognition.
It included 715 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) who underwent noncontrast chest CT scans together with MRI and cognitive besting.
Longitudinal data on white matter hyperintensities and fractional anisotropy were available for 408 and 405 of these individuals, respectively.
Imaging and clinical assessments revealed that lower baseline thoracic vertebral volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) was associated with white matter injury and faster decline in global cognition, particularly among people with diabetes.
Lower baseline vBMD was associated with a faster decline in global cognitive performance, with this link seen in specific brain regions.
Specifically, lower vBMD was associated with faster accumulation of white matter hyperintensities in the corpus callosum, which is associated with executive functioning, working memory, and attention.
It also correlated with faster fractional anisotropy decline in the anterior limb of the internal capsule, which is involved in executive function as well.
“Identifying individuals, particularly postmenopausal women, with low vBMD may help flag those at risk for parallel skeletal and neurologic decline, allowing earlier screening and shared risk-factor management,” reported lead researcher Sara Momtazmanesh, MD, also from Johns Hopkins, and co-workers.
They summarized: “These findings support the potential value of deep learning–enabled opportunistic vBMD assessment on chest CT for risk stratification beyond skeletal outcomes.”
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The Importance of Intergenerational Dialogue
By Ananya Meenakshi, 2026 Youth Mental Health Academy Intern, Child Mind Institute
How the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Global Center’s second annual Global Summit on Youth Mental Health is advancing opportunities for young people and experts to exchange perspectives and shape priorities together.
Intergenerational dialogue is an excellent way for different generations to learn from each other’s experience; each generation can share their knowledge to develop helpful solutions.
Around the world, instances of conflict and political instability have often led to serious consequences. The potential for peace is more likely to be achieved if there is a higher level of collaboration and understanding between generations. Intergenerational dialogue, therefore, can be an effective way to address trauma and foster resilience.
To ensure intergenerational dialogue is beneficial, it is important to be respectful, mindful of everyone’s roles, adapt to changing needs, and set mutual expectations. The SNF Global Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the Child Mind Institute’s Global Youth Advisory Council (GYAC) members are excited to further engage in shared learning and brainstorming during the second annual Global Summit on Youth Mental Health in New York, September 21-24.
“Young people’s lives are structured much more differently than Greece’s older generations, who may have had their path laid out for them,” explains Faidra Kaberidi, a GYAC member from Greece. “The biggest challenge today is that the unlimited opportunities available to us can be overstimulating, and older generations might not understand the difficulty of having to choose.”
These unlimited opportunities, she adds, include lifestyle choices like style, sexuality, gender, personality, and so forth.
“Though being given these opportunities is not negative, it can be challenging for young people to explore and discover themselves in a sea of endless opportunities,” says Kaberidi.
As we pull back the curtain, the summit is multigenerational exchange in action — giving youth an open space to discuss issues, develop their skills, and create solutions.
The event will take place at the Child Mind Institute’s New York headquarters under the theme, “Redefining Mental Health Care: Youth Perspectives in a Changing World.” It will feature three diverse sessions including panel discussions, breakout sessions, and a youth-moderated Q&A with global experts. The sessions will cover three categories:
- “Meeting Young People Where They Are” will focus on topics such as school systems and digital spaces.
- “What Do Young People Care About” is set to expand into climate change, economic instability, and political polarization.
- “Setting Young People Up for the Future” looks at preparing young people to take care of their mental health in our modern world.
To ensure challenges are being solved efficiently, intergenerational dialogue must therefore be established. Both parties have valuable knowledge to contribute to the bettering of our society. The youth summit successfully implements these progressive values and facilitates the inclusion of cross-generational conversations.
By laying the path for both groups to speak and listen to each other, we are supporting the advancement towards a desired, exceptional future.
Learn more about the inaugural Global Summit on Youth Mental Heath
Learn more about the Youth Mental Health Academy at the Child Mind Institute
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