Psychology

Microglia Signals Varied Across Depression and Psychosis

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Microglia Signals Varied Across Depression and Psychosis

TL;DR: A 2026 systematic review in Molecular Psychiatry found that microglia-related findings across major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia were better explained by biological subgroups than by one uniform diagnosis-by-diagnosis inflammation pattern. Key Findings Three evidence streams: The review integrated human translocator protein positron emission tomography (TSPO-PET) imaging, cerebrospinal fluid kynurenine-pathway metabolites, and postmortem microglial …

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Lithium Followed Valproate Adverse Events in Schizophrenia Agitation Case

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Lithium Followed Valproate Adverse Events in Schizophrenia Agitation Case

TL;DR: A 2026 study in Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Reports described a treatment-resistant residual-phase schizophrenia case in which valproate helped agitation but caused hypoglycemia and pancytopenia, while lithium augmentation was followed by lower hostility and excitement scores. Key Findings 49-year-old patient: The case involved a Japanese woman with chronic treatment-resistant schizophrenia and persistent agitation, aggression, …

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First-Generation Antipsychotic Shortages Were Followed by Medication Switching

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First-Generation Antipsychotic Shortages Were Followed by Medication Switching

TL;DR: A 2026 claims analysis in Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy found that FDA-declared first-generation antipsychotic shortages were followed by medication switching in 9.13% of included patients with psychotic spectrum disorders, with especially high switching after thiothixene, trifluoperazine, and molindone shortages. Key Findings The claims cohort was large: 95,968 patients had a psychotic …

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Diffusion Model for Conflict Tasks Explains Attention in Simon, Flanker, and Stroop Tests

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Diffusion Model for Conflict Tasks Explains Attention in Simon, Flanker, and Stroop Tests

TL;DR: A 2026 review in Psychonomic Bulletin & Review explained how the Diffusion Model for Conflict tasks (DMC) models attention and cognitive control in Simon, Eriksen flanker, and Stroop tasks. Key Findings 3 classic tasks: The review focused on Simon, Eriksen flanker, and Stroop conflict tasks. 2 evidence streams: DMC combines a linear controlled stream …

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tDCS Over rTPJ and lDLPFC Changed Empathy Differently

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tDCS Over rTPJ and lDLPFC Changed Empathy Differently

TL;DR: A 2026 study in Psychological Medicine found that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a weak electrical brain-stimulation method, affected empathy differently depending on whether researchers targeted the right temporoparietal junction or the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Key Findings Two brain targets diverged: right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) stimulation strengthened cognitive empathy, while left dorsolateral prefrontal …

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Targeted PGx Testing Found Actionable Depression Drug-Gene Results

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Targeted PGx Testing Found Actionable Depression Drug-Gene Results

TL;DR: A 2026 study in The Pharmacogenomics Journal tested pharmacogenomic (PGx) depression care, meaning medication guidance based on drug-gene interactions; targeting Veterans already taking antidepressants with common PGx interactions raised the actionable-result rate to 30%, but immediate test-result access did not improve Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) depression scores over 12 weeks. Key Findings 60 Veterans …

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Most NHS Psychiatric Trusts Could Not Report Parent-Patient Data

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Most NHS Psychiatric Trusts Could Not Report Parent-Patient Data

TL;DR: A 2026 study in BJPsych Bulletin used Freedom of Information requests and found that most English NHS trusts providing in-patient psychiatric care were unable to report basic data on which patients were parents of children under 18. Key Findings 50 trusts contacted: Researchers sent Freedom of Information requests to all English NHS trusts providing …

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Human Substantia Nigra Neurons Reflected Recent Reward History

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Human Substantia Nigra Neurons Reflected Recent Reward History

TL;DR: A 2026 iScience study recorded human substantia nigra neurons during Parkinson’s surgery and found that putative dopamine-neuron firing was higher after a prior reward, while the next response was modestly faster. Key Findings Direct human recordings: Researchers recorded 27 substantia nigra neurons across 13 sessions in 11 Parkinson’s disease patients undergoing deep-brain stimulation surgery. …

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Stress Disrupted Social Behavior Through mPFC Oxytocin Circuit

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Stress Disrupted Social Behavior Through mPFC Oxytocin Circuit

TL;DR: A 2026 study in Communications Biology found that restraint stress weakened medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC, a frontal brain region that helps organize social behavior) activity during social testing, while stress-activated amygdala and hypothalamic oxytocin inputs pushed the circuit toward inhibition. Key Findings Two-hour acute restraint preserved basic sociability but disrupted social novelty preference, suggesting …

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Mental-Health Stigma Delayed Care-Seeking in Somali Regional State

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Mental-Health Stigma Delayed Care-Seeking in Somali Regional State

TL;DR: A 2026 qualitative study in BJPsych Open found that mental-health stigma in Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State shaped how people recognized illness, delayed biomedical care-seeking, and reinforced neglect of mental-health services. Key Findings Sixteen interviews anchored the study: Researchers interviewed health workers, service users, carers, and community-facing professionals in Jigjiga and Kabridahar. Mental illness was …

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