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Tag: Psichikos sveikata

  • PTSD and Relationship Conflict: Study Links Fear of Emotions to Poorer Couple Communication

    People experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms may struggle to communicate effectively with romantic partners, and a new study suggests fear of emotions could be a key reason. Researchers found that worries about the consequences of feeling strong emotions were tied to more destructive conflict patterns.

    The research, led by Penn State’s Steffany Fredman, analyzed data from 64 opposite-sex couples in which both partners had lived through a traumatic event. Participants reported their PTSD symptoms, their beliefs about emotions, and the communication styles they and their partners used during relationship disagreements.

    How fear of emotions shows up

    Those with higher PTSD symptom levels were more likely to fear their emotions, the study found. That fear was associated with less constructive communication, such as reduced listening, collaborative problem solving, and willingness to compromise.

    Higher fear of emotions was also linked to demand-withdraw dynamics, where one partner presses or criticizes and the other retreats or avoids the discussion. This pattern can intensify conflict, leave problems unresolved, and make future conversations feel even more threatening.

    Why PTSD can strain relationships

    Researchers noted that PTSD often involves mistrust, anger, emotional numbing, avoidance, and withdrawal, which can erode closeness over time. Because romantic relationships naturally trigger strong feelings, emotionally charged moments may resemble trauma reminders for some people with PTSD symptoms.

    In that context, people may try to neutralize distress by shutting down, pulling away, or becoming reactive, responses that can further damage communication. The study describes this as a cycle in which relationship discord can sustain PTSD symptoms unless interrupted.

    Implications for couples and therapy

    Fredman, who has co-developed couple-based PTSD treatments, said addressing PTSD symptoms and fear of emotions together may be important for improving relationship functioning. Prior research by the team has also suggested that couple therapy can reduce PTSD symptoms while improving communication, including in brief intensive formats.

    The authors argue the new findings add detail to why some couples struggle: PTSD symptoms may fuel catastrophic expectations about emotions, which then shapes how partners talk and react. They recommend that interventions help couples build safer ways to experience and express emotion while working through conflict.

  • Why US Midlife Is Getting Harder: Rising Loneliness, Memory Decline, and a Weaker Safety Net

    Why US Midlife Is Getting Harder: Rising Loneliness, Memory Decline, and a Weaker Safety Net

    Middle age is increasingly emerging as a pressure point in the United States, with Americans born in the 1960s and early 1970s reporting more loneliness and depression than earlier generations. Researchers also see declines in episodic memory and physical strength that appear more pronounced than in many other high-income countries.

    The pattern was outlined in cross-national research led by Arizona State University psychologist Frank J. Infurna, which compared survey data across 17 countries. The analysis suggests the US is diverging from peers where midlife health and well-being have generally improved over recent decades.

    Why the US stands out

    A key difference identified by the researchers is the level of public support for families. Many European countries expanded family benefits since the early 2000s, while US spending on comparable supports has been far more limited.

    That gap matters during midlife, when many people are simultaneously managing full-time work, raising children, and helping aging parents. In countries with stronger benefits, midlife loneliness tended to be lower and rose more slowly over time.

    Healthcare costs and financial strain

    Healthcare affordability also appears to play a central role in the US midlife squeeze. Even as the United States spends more per person on healthcare than other wealthy nations, individuals often face higher out-of-pocket costs and more financial exposure.

    The research links these pressures to delayed or skipped care, reduced preventive visits, and higher stress from medical bills and debt. Those dynamics can compound other midlife burdens, including work instability and caregiving responsibilities.

    When education protects less

    Income inequality was another factor associated with worse midlife outcomes, aligning with broader evidence that inequality can weaken health and social ties. The researchers noted that inequality has risen in the United States since the early 2000s, while it has been steadier in much of Europe.

    One of the more striking findings is cognitive: despite higher educational attainment over time, US middle-aged adults showed declines in episodic memory not widely seen in peer countries. The authors suggest chronic stress, financial insecurity, and cardiovascular risk factors may be eroding the protective effect education once provided.

    The study argues these trends are not inevitable, pointing to personal buffers such as stronger social connections and a sense of control over daily life. But it also concludes that policy choices, including paid leave, childcare support and more affordable access to care, are closely tied to how well midlife populations fare.

  • Penn State wearable sticker pairs biosensors and AI to spot genuine emotions, even behind a calm face

    Researchers at Penn State say they have developed a stretchable, rechargeable sticker designed to detect genuine emotions by combining facial movement data with physiological signals such as skin temperature and heart rate.

    The team argues the approach could help clinicians understand what patients feel in real time, especially when facial expressions alone are misleading or emotions are intentionally concealed.

    In a study published in Nano Letters, the researchers describe a BandAid-sized patch that measures several body signals linked to emotional states, including temperature, humidity, heart rate and blood oxygen levels.

    The device is built from thin, flexible layers of metals such as platinum and gold, shaped to remain sensitive even when bent, pulled or twisted during natural facial movement.

    How the emotion-tracking patch works

    To reduce measurement errors, the sensors are arranged so they operate independently, with protective layers intended to prevent stretching or moisture from distorting readings from neighboring components.

    Alongside the biosignals, facial strain sensors capture subtle changes in expression, and the system fuses those inputs to separate acted emotions from those tied to physiological responses.

    AI training and early accuracy results

    The researchers trained an AI model using repeated facial-expression performances across six categories: happiness, surprise, fear, sadness, anger and disgust.

    In the reported tests, the model classified performed facial expressions with 96.28% accuracy, based on data collected while participants repeatedly displayed each expression.

    To probe real emotions, participants watched video clips intended to elicit feelings while the patch tracked physiological changes associated with emotional arousal.

    The system identified emotions with 88.83% accuracy in those tests, with sensor readings aligning with known links between emotions and changes in metrics such as skin temperature and heart rate.

    Potential uses in telemedicine care

    The patch wirelessly transmits measurements to mobile devices and cloud systems, which the researchers say could support remote monitoring in telemedicine settings.

    The team also says the device is designed to avoid collecting personal information beyond sensor signals, aiming to reduce privacy risks while still enabling clinical interpretation.

    While the work remains at a research stage, the authors suggest the platform could eventually support broader health applications, including monitoring non-verbal patients and tracking conditions where behavioral signals are difficult to assess.

    The project was supported by funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the U.S. National Science Foundation, according to the researchers.

  • Precision Treatment for Depression: A New Data-Driven Model Aims to Match Patients With the Therapy Most Likely to Work

    Researchers are moving beyond trial-and-error care for depression with a precision approach designed to better match patients to treatments based on individual characteristics. The effort reflects growing evidence that depression symptoms and recovery paths vary widely from person to person.

    The project, led by psychologists at the University of Arizona and Radboud University, draws on patient-level data from randomized clinical trials across the world. Their protocol, published in PLOS One, outlines how they plan to build a clinical decision support tool for adult depression treatment selection.

    Why first-line care often fails

    Standard care frequently begins with a first-line medication or therapy and then shifts if symptoms persist, a process that can take months. The researchers point to prior findings that roughly half of patients do not respond to an initial treatment, highlighting the need for better targeting.

    Instead of offering broad guidelines, the planned tool would generate a single recommendation by weighing multiple factors at once. These include demographic information such as age and gender, along with clinical features like anxiety symptoms or personality-related difficulties.

    What data the model will use

    The team aggregated outcomes from more than 60 clinical trials involving nearly 10 000 patients, covering several widely used interventions. The treatments include antidepressant medications and multiple psychotherapy approaches, such as cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy and short-term psychodynamic therapy.

    By combining many trials, the researchers aim to overcome limits that can affect prediction models built from single studies with smaller samples. They say the work required years of data cleaning and harmonization before analysis could begin.

    When it could reach clinics

    The next step is to develop the algorithm and then test it in a clinical trial to see whether tool-guided care improves outcomes compared with usual practice. If the results hold up, the system could be deployed as a simple software or web-based application used during routine assessments.

    The researchers argue that the inputs are intentionally practical, relying on information that can be collected through standard questionnaires and basic clinical intake. Their longer-term goal is to help clinicians and patients reach effective treatment faster while using existing mental health resources more efficiently.

  • Teen Diet and Depression Risk: A Major Review Points to Whole Foods Over Supplements

    Teen Diet and Depression Risk: A Major Review Points to Whole Foods Over Supplements

    A major review led by Swansea University researchers suggests teenagers’ overall diet quality may be linked to mental health, with healthier eating patterns more often associated with fewer depressive symptoms. The findings add to growing interest in nutrition as a modifiable factor that could support adolescent wellbeing.

    Published in the journal Nutrients, the paper assessed evidence from 19 earlier studies examining diet and mental health in adolescents. Across the studies, lower-quality diets were more frequently connected with higher psychological distress, though results varied by design and population.

    Whole-diet patterns stand out

    The review included six randomized controlled trials and 13 prospective cohort studies, allowing the authors to compare different types of evidence. While some studies hinted that specific supplements such as vitamin D might reduce depressive symptoms, the overall picture for individual nutrients was inconsistent.

    By contrast, broader dietary patterns showed clearer and more repeatable signals. The authors argue that focusing on overall balance and quality may be more useful than targeting single nutrients, particularly when translating research into school, family, and public health settings.

    Why adolescence is a key window

    Researchers highlighted adolescence as a critical period for brain development and emotional regulation, when depression symptoms can emerge and become entrenched. Because diet is part of daily life and can be shaped at scale, they see it as a practical area for prevention and early support.

    At the same time, the review notes that diet and mental health do not exist in isolation. Socioeconomic factors and sex differences may influence both what teens eat and how mental health outcomes present, complicating cause-and-effect interpretation.

    What the evidence still misses

    The authors flagged major gaps, including a heavy focus on depression compared with other outcomes such as anxiety, stress, self-esteem, externalizing behavior, and aggression. They also emphasized the need for more standardized methods and improved reporting so results can be compared across studies.

    To strengthen future conclusions, the team proposed a research roadmap that includes exposure-based designs, biological markers, and open science practices. In a statement, corresponding author Hayley Young said, “Overall, our findings suggest that public health and clinical strategies should prioritise whole-diet approaches over isolated supplementation when considering adolescent mental health.”

    The researchers cautioned that more high-quality studies are needed to determine which dietary patterns work best, and for whom. Even so, the review suggests that everyday food choices may play a bigger role in teen mental health than many families and clinicians have assumed.

  • Exercise emerges as a leading option for depression and anxiety, with group programs showing the biggest gains

    Exercise emerges as a leading option for depression and anxiety, with group programs showing the biggest gains

    A major evidence review in the British Journal of Sports Medicine reports that structured exercise can meaningfully reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, often performing as well as established treatments. The authors assessed a large body of randomized trial data to compare different exercise types, intensities and settings.

    The umbrella review combined results from dozens of prior meta-analyses, covering hundreds of individual trials and tens of thousands of participants across a wide age range. Overall, the synthesis found a medium-sized improvement in depression symptoms and a small-to-medium improvement in anxiety.

    Which workouts seemed most effective

    Aerobic exercise such as running, swimming and dance stood out for depression, particularly when sessions were supervised or done in groups. For anxiety, shorter programs lasting up to about 8 weeks and using lower-intensity activity appeared to deliver the most consistent benefits.

    Researchers also found improvements across resistance training and mind-body approaches such as yoga, tai chi and qigong, as well as mixed programs that combine formats. Effects were observed regardless of sex, suggesting exercise can be broadly useful, even if the best “fit” varies by person.

    Who benefited most in the data

    The strongest reductions were reported among young adults ages 18 to 30 and among women after giving birth, groups that also face elevated risks of mood and anxiety symptoms. The authors note that social and practical factors, including support and accountability, may help explain why group formats performed well.

    While the results were generally comparable to medication or talking therapies, the study does not argue that exercise should replace clinical care for everyone. Instead, it points to exercise as a credible first-line or add-on option, especially where access to therapy or medication is limited or where people prefer non-drug approaches.

    Limits and what comes next

    The authors caution that definitions of intensity, frequency and program length differed across studies, making precise prescriptions harder to standardize. Some age groups and exercise formats were also represented by less pooled data than others.

    Even with those caveats, the review strengthens the case for tailoring exercise to individual needs, including supervision, setting and duration. Clinicians increasingly emphasize that the most effective program is one a person can start safely and sustain, while tracking symptoms and overall wellbeing.

  • Study links sugary drinks to teen anxiety, and researchers say the trend may be harder to reverse than parents think

    Study links sugary drinks to teen anxiety, and researchers say the trend may be harder to reverse than parents think

    A new research review has found a consistent association between high consumption of sugary drinks and increased anxiety symptoms among teenagers. The analysis, led by researchers working with Bournemouth University, was published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.

    The team examined results from multiple earlier studies to see whether patterns held across different adolescent groups. Across the evidence base reviewed, higher intake of sugar-sweetened beverages repeatedly aligned with higher self-reported anxiety symptoms.

    Why drinks are under scrutiny

    Public health efforts have long focused on the physical harms of high-sugar diets, including obesity and type 2 diabetes. The authors argue that mental health outcomes linked to energy-dense, low-nutrient drinks have received comparatively less attention.

    The review covers a wide range of sweetened beverages commonly consumed by teens, including sodas, energy drinks, sweetened juices, and sweetened tea or coffee drinks. Many of these products can deliver large amounts of added sugar quickly, without offering lasting satiety.

    Correlation, not proven causation

    The researchers emphasize that the findings do not prove sugary drinks cause anxiety. Because the review synthesizes mainly observational, survey-based studies, it cannot determine whether sugary beverages lead to anxiety or whether anxious teens are more likely to consume them.

    They also note that shared factors could influence both outcomes, such as sleep problems, family stress, or broader lifestyle patterns. The authors say future research designed to test cause-and-effect is needed before drawing firm conclusions.

    What this could mean for families

    Even without proof of causality, the authors say the repeated link is concerning at a time when youth mental health problems are widely reported to be rising. They suggest sugary drink intake is a modifiable habit that could be considered alongside other daily factors like sleep, physical activity, and overall diet quality.

    The review’s lead author, Dr. Karim Khaled, previously completed doctoral work at Bournemouth University and now works at Lebanese American University in Beirut. Co-author Dr. Chloe Casey said mental health effects of diet deserve closer consideration in adolescent nutrition strategies.

  • New Swedish study flags delayed paternal depression surge around baby’s first year

    New Swedish study flags delayed paternal depression surge around baby’s first year

    Fathers in Sweden are less likely to receive a psychiatric diagnosis during their partner’s pregnancy and in the months right after their child is born. But this pattern reverses over time. A new study published in JAMA Network Open reports that diagnoses of depression and stress-related conditions rise about a year after childbirth. The research was led by scientists at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and Sichuan University in China.

    “The transition to fatherhood often involves both positive experiences and a range of new stresses,” says Jing Zhou, PhD student at the Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, and co-first author of the paper. “Many cherish the intimate moments with their child, whilst at the same time the relationship with their partner may be affected and sleep quality may deteriorate, which can contribute to an increased risk of mental ill-health.”

    Study Tracks Over 1 Million Fathers Across Sweden

    The researchers analyzed data from more than one million fathers whose children were born in Sweden between 2003 and 2021. Using linked national registers, they followed when men received new psychiatric diagnoses, beginning one year before pregnancy and continuing until the child reached one year of age.

    Depression and Stress Diagnoses Increase After One Year

    The findings show that psychiatric diagnoses became less common during pregnancy and in the early months after birth compared with the year before pregnancy. By one year after birth, diagnoses related to anxiety and substance use had returned to levels seen before pregnancy. In contrast, depression and stress-related disorders showed a clear increase. These diagnoses rose by more than 30 percent compared with rates before pregnancy.

    “The delayed increase in depression was unexpected and underscores the need to pay attention to warning signs of mental ill-health in fathers long after the birth of their child,” says Donghao Lu, senior lecturer and associate professor at the Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, and the paper’s corresponding author.

    Timing Support for Fathers’ Mental Health

    The researchers note that their results are based on clinical diagnoses, meaning men who did not seek care may not be included. Even so, the study highlights when fathers may be most vulnerable during early parenthood.

    “By identifying periods of increased vulnerability, healthcare providers and other stakeholders can more easily offer support,” says Jing Zhou. “Postnatal depression is often discussed for new mothers, but fathers’ well-being is also important, both for themselves and for the whole family.”

    The study was conducted in collaboration with Sichuan University in China and Uppsala University in Sweden. It was funded by Karolinska Institutet’s strategic research area in epidemiology and biostatistics, the Swedish Research Council and the European Research Council. The researchers report no conflicts of interest.

  • A simple blood test could spot depression risk early by tracking immune cell aging

    A simple blood test could spot depression risk early by tracking immune cell aging

    Researchers are testing whether a routine blood sample could help flag depression earlier, using measures of biological aging in specific immune cells. The work adds to a growing push for objective biomarkers that could complement symptom-based mental health screening.

    The study, published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, examined epigenetic changes that act like molecular timestamps on DNA. These so-called epigenetic clocks estimate biological age, which can advance faster than chronological age under stress, illness, or other factors.

    Why depression has been hard to test

    Depression is typically diagnosed through clinical interviews and questionnaires, not lab confirmation, partly because the condition can look very different across patients. Some people primarily experience somatic symptoms such as sleep and appetite changes, while others struggle most with mood and cognition, including hopelessness and loss of pleasure.

    That variability can complicate detection, especially when physical symptoms overlap with other chronic conditions. Clinicians may order bloodwork to rule out medical causes, but there is still no widely accepted biological test that can confirm depression on its own.

    Monocytes emerge as a key signal

    The research analyzed data from 440 women, including 261 living with HIV and 179 without HIV, drawing on the long-running Women’s Interagency HIV Study. Depression symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, a 20-item tool that captures both somatic and non-somatic features.

    Blood samples were used to calculate epigenetic aging in two ways: a broad measure across multiple cell types and a monocyte-focused clock. Monocytes are white blood cells involved in immune responses and inflammation, processes increasingly studied for their links to mental health.

    The monocyte-specific aging measure tracked most strongly with non-somatic depression symptoms such as anhedonia, hopelessness, and a sense of failure, in women with and without HIV. By contrast, the broader multi-tissue aging measure did not show the same relationship, suggesting the signal may be cell-type specific.

    What this could change in care

    The authors caution that the findings are not yet ready for clinical use and do not mean a single blood draw can diagnose depression today. Larger studies, replication in different populations, and clearer thresholds would be needed before a test could be validated for real-world screening.

    Still, the results point to a possible path toward earlier, more precise detection, particularly for people whose physical symptoms might be attributed to other illnesses. If confirmed, immune-cell epigenetic measures could also support more personalized care by helping researchers distinguish depression subtypes and refine treatment matching.

  • Mokslininkai įvardijo emociją, kuri gali reikšmingai keisti psichikos sveikatą: ją patiriame dažniau nei manome

    Mokslininkai įvardijo emociją, kuri gali reikšmingai keisti psichikos sveikatą: ją patiriame dažniau nei manome

    Psichologai ir neuromokslininkai vis daugiau dėmesio skiria sudėtingai emocijai, kurią lietuviškai dažnai apibūdiname kaip nuostabą ir susižavėjimą ar net pagarbų „didingumo“ jausmą. Ji kyla tada, kai patiriamas vaizdas, mintis ar įvykis atrodo per didelis, kad tilptų į įprastą supratimą, ir trumpam pakeičia tai, kaip vertiname save bei aplinkinį pasaulį.

    Tokią būseną žmonės sieja su gamta, menu, muzika ar bendruomeniniais įvykiais, o astronautai ją aprašo žvelgdami į Žemę iš kosmoso. Tyrimai rodo, kad teigiama šios emocijos forma gali būti susijusi su geresne savijauta, mažesniu stresu ir didesniu gyvenimo prasmingumo jausmu, nors efektas nėra vienodas visiems.

    Ta pati emocija gali ir raminti, ir gąsdinti

    Specialistai pabrėžia, kad ši emocija turi dvi puses. Teigiama patirtis dažniau siejama su grožiu, harmonija ir saugumu, kai žmogus jaučia malonų susižavėjimą ir vidinę ramybę, pavyzdžiui, kalnuose ar stebėdamas įspūdingą saulėlydį.

    Tačiau panašus didingumo jausmas gali atsirasti ir grėsmės situacijose, kai kartu kyla baimė ir kontrolės praradimo pojūtis, pavyzdžiui, per stichines nelaimes. Kūno reakcijos abiem atvejais gali būti panašios, tačiau emocinę „etiketę“ dažnai nulemia kontekstas ir tai, ar žmogus jaučiasi saugus.

    Kas vyksta smegenyse

    Neuromoksliniai darbai sieja šią patirtį su dėmesio persitvarkymu: sumažėja aktyvumas smegenų tinkluose, kurie dažnai dalyvauja savirefleksijoje ir nuolatiniame galvojime apie save. Dėl to žmogus gali jausti, kad jo rūpesčiai trumpam „susitraukia“, o dėmesys persikelia į išorinį pasaulį.

    Skirtingos šios emocijos formos, kaip rodo tyrimai, gali skirtis ir fiziologiškai. Teigiama patirtis dažniau siejama su organizmo „nuraminimo“ mechanizmais, o neigiama gali labiau suaktyvinti kovok arba bėk reakciją, ypač jei situacija vertinama kaip pavojinga.

    Kodėl tai gali būti naudinga psichikos sveikatai

    Psichologijos literatūroje ši emocija siejama su keliais galimais mechanizmais: mažesniu savęs sureikšminimu, didesniu ryšio su kitais žmonėmis jausmu ir didesne prasme. Kai kuriuose tyrimuose pastebėta, kad žmonės po tokios patirties būna labiau linkę padėti kitiems ir lengviau atsitraukia nuo įkyrių minčių.

    Vis dėlto mokslininkai pabrėžia ribas: ne visi patyrimai automatiškai virsta ilgalaike nauda, o neigiama šios emocijos forma gali sustiprinti nerimą. Todėl svarbus saugumo faktorius ir individualūs skirtumai, pavyzdžiui, polinkis į nerimą ar jautrumas stipriems dirgikliams.

    Praktikoje daug dėmesio sulaukia vadinamieji sąmoningi pasivaikščiojimai, kai einama su tikslu pastebėti grožį, mastą ir netikėtumą. Specialistai taip pat mini meną, muziką, mokymąsi ir bendras patirtis kaip paprastesnius būdus sukelti teigiamą nuostabos ir susižavėjimo būseną kasdienybėje.