Psychiatry Research最新文献

{"title":"Mental health of adolescents during times of war","authors":"Lena Lipskaya-Velikovsky,&nbsp;Reut Komemi,&nbsp;Yafit Gilboa,&nbsp;Mor Nahum","doi":"10.1016/j.psychres.2026.116957","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychres.2026.116957","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>War-related prolonged stress is associated with poorer adolescent mental health. This cross-sectional study aimed to characterize the mental health of adolescents in Israel during an ongoing war situation and to examine how emotional, cognitive, and occupational factors were associated with their mental health during this period.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Data from 973 Israeli adolescents (ages 13–18, 65.8% female) were collected remotely eight months after the October 7th, 2023, attack and the subsequent war. Participants completed validated self-report questionnaires assessing their mental health, dispositional resilience, subjective executive functions (EFs), sense of coherence, and war-related changes in their daily-life participation.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Overall, 40.2% of adolescents scored within the abnormal range for mental health symptoms, exceeding the expected normative 10%. Female and older participants reported worse emotional status. Adolescents reported reduced participation across all occupational domains, with notable individual variability. A regression model explained over 50% of the variance in mental health scores, with greater executive dysfunction and lower resilience showing the strongest associations with poorer mental health. Decision tree analysis indicated that adolescents with better inhibitory control and more stable participation were more likely to report better mental health. Among adolescents with EF difficulties, lower arousal symptoms were associated with better mental health.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These findings indicate a substantial and concerning mental health burden among adolescents living under prolonged war-related stress and highlight individual differences linked to internal resources and participation. EFs, patterns of daily-life participation, and arousal symptoms were associated with adolescents’ capacity to cope with war-related stress. Addressing them as potential intervention targets may help mitigate the long-term negative consequences of prolonged conflict-related stress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20819,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Research","volume":"357 ","pages":"Article 116957"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"“Home is where my toothbrush is”: An occupational therapy perspective of trauma and PTSD following October 7th and the Iron Swords War","authors":"Moran Shaham Levy,&nbsp;Dorit Loew Goldberg","doi":"10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116918","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116918","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This article explores the contribution of occupational therapy (OT) to trauma care in the aftermath of the October 7th attacks and the Iron Swords War, with a focus on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It examines how traumatic experiences disrupt occupational identity, daily routines, and overall functioning. Drawing on trauma-informed care principles, the paper outlines OT-based interventions that promote recovery by facilitating engagement in meaningful activities that restore agency, coherence, and purpose. Clinical case examples illustrate the therapeutic role of occupation in stabilizing individuals and supporting identity reconstruction. The findings underscore OT’s integrative approach - linking person, environment, and occupation - as a vital component in interdisciplinary trauma recovery and posttraumatic growth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20819,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Research","volume":"357 ","pages":"Article 116918"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145846765","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Agitation and anxiety features define a more severe phenotype in unipolar depression","authors":"Maria Luca ,&nbsp;Antonina Luca ,&nbsp;Stefano Barlati ,&nbsp;Lisa Buson ,&nbsp;Valentina Menesello ,&nbsp;Anna Magistrali ,&nbsp;Rosana Carvalho Silva ,&nbsp;Giulia Perusi ,&nbsp;Gabriele Nibbio ,&nbsp;Stefano Bignotti ,&nbsp;Giovanni Battista Tura ,&nbsp;Raffaele Ferri ,&nbsp;Massimo Gennarelli ,&nbsp;Antonio Vita ,&nbsp;Daniel Souery ,&nbsp;Siegfried Kasper ,&nbsp;Joseph Zohar ,&nbsp;Stuart Montgomery ,&nbsp;Panagiotis Ferentinos ,&nbsp;Dan Rujescu ,&nbsp;Edoardo Spina","doi":"10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116928","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116928","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Agitated depression, conventionally associated with bipolar disorder, may also constitute a clinically significant subtype within unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD). Nevertheless, the interrelationship between agitation and anxiety symptoms and their clinical implications in unipolar depression remain largely unexamined.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We examined three large, independent cohorts of patients with MDD from the GSRD (<em>n</em> = 1588), STAR*D (<em>n</em> = 1532), and PANDORA (<em>n</em> = 244) studies. A composite agitation–anxiety score was computed by summing relevant items of the retrospective Montgomery-Äsberg depression rating scale (rMADRS) in GSRD, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 17-items (HAM-D) in PANDORA and the 30-item Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology, Clinician-rated (IDS-C₃₀) in STAR*D. Patients were then stratified into patients with agitation-anxiety (AA+) and without agitation-anxiety (AA-) based on the median scores of each cluster. Associations between agitation–anxiety features and depression severity, suicidal ideation, disease duration, treatment response, and family history of bipolar disorder were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 3364 participants were analyzed. AA+ patients showed significantly greater baseline depression severity (independent from agitation–anxiety items) across all datasets. Moreover, agitation–anxiety features correlated with higher rates of suicidal ideation (STAR*D, GSRD), longer disease duration (GSRD), and lower treatment response (STAR*D), independent of age and sex. No significant associations with family history of bipolar disorder were found.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Features of agitated depression define a more severe depressive phenotype within depressive episodes and may represent a clinically relevant dimension in unipolar MDD. A transdiagnostic approach may enhance future research and treatment strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20819,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Research","volume":"357 ","pages":"Article 116928"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145886058","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of combat intensity and deployment stressors on veteran post-traumatic stress","authors":"Nimrod Hertz-Palmor ,&nbsp;Naama de la Fontaine ,&nbsp;Eden Maharat ,&nbsp;Yael Carmel ,&nbsp;Or Atar ,&nbsp;Nevo Perez ,&nbsp;Anna Bevan ,&nbsp;Tim Dalgleish ,&nbsp;Amit Lazarov ,&nbsp;Roi Sar-El","doi":"10.1016/j.psychres.2026.116944","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychres.2026.116944","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Veteran trauma is central to trauma research. Combat exposure, perceived threat, and concerns about disruptions to life and family are key predictors of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in veterans. This study examines how various deployment stressors relate to PTSS and other psychological outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Eighty-six Israeli combat veterans (active duty=60; reserve duty=26) with intense combat exposure reported their combat experiences and deployment-related concerns and completed mental health measures. A cluster analysis identified clusters of co-occurring deployment stressors. Bayesian Graphical Gaussian Models (BGGM) mapped the interrelationships between combat stressors, PTSS, and other psychological outcomes. A subsample of 66 completed a two-month follow-up, enabling analysis of symptom change trajectories.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Active-duty soldiers reported more combat exposures, whereas reservists expressed greater concerns about disruptions to life and family. The strongest correlate of PTSS and anxiety was concern over a partner during deployment. Urban operations were also linked to PTSS and specific symptom clusters and vivid trauma memory. Sustaining an injury was associated with more vivid traumatic memories. Longitudinal analyses revealed three symptom trajectories: stable, improvement, and exacerbation, but these were unrelated to sociodemographic factors and unaffected by post-deployment support, unit cohesion, or family functioning.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Deployment-related stressors differentially affect veteran mental health. Chronic concerns over partner and family, as well as stressors and exposures involving uncertainty and threat, warrant special attention in clinical and research settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20819,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Research","volume":"357 ","pages":"Article 116944"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145978759","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical correlates of individuals with and without misophonia in the U.S.: Results from a population-based study","authors":"Alexandra Freshley ,&nbsp;Heather L. Clark ,&nbsp;Mary J. Schadegg ,&nbsp;Laura J. Dixon","doi":"10.1016/j.psychres.2026.116941","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychres.2026.116941","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Misophonia is a disorder characterized by strong negative affective, physiological, cognitive, and behavioral reactions to specific sounds (e.g., chewing, swallowing). Studies have begun to investigate co-occurring psychological and audiological disorders with misophonia, but are limited by methodology and generalizability. This study investigated the rate of comorbid disorders in a sample of individuals with and without misophonia using a nationally representative sample in the United States. Data were collected through Ipsos KnowledgePanel—a large, probability-based web panel that is representative of the United States. Participants were invited to complete a brief self-report survey of previous and current psychological and auditory-sensory symptoms and diagnoses. Over half (62.5%) of the misophonia sample reported they had received at least one psychological disorder diagnosis, wherein depression (48.9%) and anxiety disorders (46.7%) were the most commonly reported. Separate hierarchical multivariate binary logistic regression results demonstrate individuals with misophonia (<em>n</em> = 185) are more likely to report current mental health and auditory-sensory symptoms compared to individuals without misophonia (<em>n</em> = 1644) regardless of demographic factors. Further, hierarchical multivariate binary logistic results show individuals with misophonia are more likely to report lifetime diagnoses of all psychological, auditory-sensory, and communication disorders except hyperacusis, autism spectrum disorders, and certain behavior disorders compared to individuals without misophonia. Comorbidity rates were higher in the misophonia sample, and misophonia status was significantly associated with the presence of other clinical syndromes. Findings advance characterization of misophonia by highlighting the elevated co-occurrence rates of psychological and auditory-sensory disorders compared to individuals without misophonia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20819,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Research","volume":"357 ","pages":"Article 116941"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145927662","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical and neurobiological effects of real-life and virtual animal-assisted interventions for patients with depression","authors":"Julien Willms,&nbsp;Alice Sader,&nbsp;Georg Juckel,&nbsp;Paraskevi Mavrogiorgou","doi":"10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116917","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116917","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) have been shown to exert beneficial effects on various mental disorders. However, organizational, hygienic, and ethical challenges often limit their implementation. As a result, virtual alternatives are gaining increasing relevance. Initial findings suggest that digital interactions with animals may also elicit affective and physiological responses, although systematic, controlled studies are lacking. This study aimed to systematically compare the effects of real and virtual AAIs on depressive symptoms and peripheral oxytocin concentrations in patients with depression and healthy controls.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In a mixed factorial design (<em>N</em> = 66), patients with depression and healthy controls each underwent three conditions in randomized order: interaction with a live therapy dog, a virtual therapy dog, and a virtual reality (VR)-based fantastical creature. Depressive symptoms (per the DASS) and salivary oxytocin concentrations were assessed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>All interventions significantly reduced depressive symptoms in patients, with the strongest effects observed for the live therapy dog and the VR-based fantastical creature. Oxytocin levels increased significantly across all conditions, regardless of participant group.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Virtual animal interactions can evoke psychophysiological effects comparable to real-life AAIs. They appear promising as accessible, technology-supported interventions for psychiatric populations, particularly when access to live animals is limited.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20819,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Research","volume":"357 ","pages":"Article 116917"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145857552","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation effectively and rapidly reduces suicidal ideation in depression patients: A randomized, sham-controlled study","authors":"Li-Fen Chen ,&nbsp;Wei-Chou Chang ,&nbsp;Chi-Hsiang Chung ,&nbsp;Alexander T. Sack ,&nbsp;Ching-En Lin ,&nbsp;Hsin-An Chang","doi":"10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116926","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116926","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Suicidal ideation is common among patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), underscoring the need for rapid and safe therapeutic options.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study examined whether accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) can rapidly reduce suicidal ideation in TRD inpatients while maintaining pharmacological stability and cognitive safety.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 100 TRD inpatients with suicidal ideation received either active or sham accelerated iTBS over two weeks. The primary outcome was change in Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS) scores; secondary outcomes included depressive symptoms and cognitive performance.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Active accelerated iTBS produced significantly greater reductions in suicidal ideation than sham beginning at week 2 (mean ± SD: 10.0 ± 7.4 vs. 13.2 ± 8.8, <em>p</em> = 0.036), with effects sustained through week 6. Response rates on the BSS were also higher in the active group at week 2 (50% vs. 18%, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). Antidepressant effects emerged as early as week 1. Importantly, these clinical improvements occurred without changes in concomitant medications and without any adverse effects on cognitive function, supporting the specificity and safety of the intervention.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Accelerated iTBS is a rapid-acting, safe, and cognitively neutral treatment for reducing suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms in TRD inpatients, highlighting its potential utility in acute psychiatric care.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20819,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Research","volume":"357 ","pages":"Article 116926"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145878567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Categories, symptom characteristics and factors influencing depression and anxiety in pregnant women: latent profile analysis and network analysis","authors":"Haiyan Liu ,&nbsp;Youjing Kong ,&nbsp;Xiuyun Cao ,&nbsp;Jingjing Liu ,&nbsp;Rufang Zhou ,&nbsp;Qianzhi Lin ,&nbsp;Wenting Liu ,&nbsp;Yu Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116912","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116912","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Comorbid prenatal depression and anxiety are prevalent among pregnant women and pose significant risks to maternal and infant health. Previous research has focused on linear associations between depression and anxiety among pregnant women, with limited exploration of subgroup characteristics and symptom heterogeneity. This study examines the categories, symptom characteristics and factors influencing depression and anxiety in pregnant women via latent profile analysis and network analysis. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from June 2021 to August 2023 at hospital obstetric clinics in Guangzhou and Zhongshan, Guangdong Province. A total of 1683 pregnant women completed the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale, the seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire-Fusion, the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire and the General Function of Family Assessment Device. Subgroups of patients with depression and anxiety symptoms were identified through latent profile analysis. Multiple regression and network analyses were used to reveal subgroup characteristics. The participants were divided into three subgroups: low depression and anxiety symptom groups (n = 809, 48.07%), medium depression and anxiety symptom groups (n = 756, 44.92%), and high depression and anxiety symptom groups (n = 118, 7.01%). There were significant differences among these three subgroups in terms of age, positive coping, negative coping, cognitive fusion, and family function. The core symptoms of the low and moderate depression and anxiety symptom groups were \"sad or miserable\" and \"anxious or worried\", whereas those of the high depression and anxiety symptom group were \"crying\" and \"uncontrollable worry\". Our study highlights the need for stratified interventions tailored to symptom severity and subgroup characteristics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20819,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Research","volume":"356 ","pages":"Article 116912"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145805259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cross-sectional analysis of ongoing clinical trials involving lamotrigine for mental disorders: Insights from ClinicalTrials.gov and the EU clinical trials","authors":"Damian Swieczkowski ,&nbsp;Aleksander Kwaśny ,&nbsp;Wiesław Jerzy Cubała","doi":"10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116878","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116878","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aims to evaluate whether ongoing clinical trials address existing knowledge gaps regarding the safety and efficacy of lamotrigine, which is widely used in psychiatry, including off-label, for the treatment of various mental disorders. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using ClinicalTrials.gov and EU Clinical Trials (with a cut-off date of March 1, 2025) to identify interventional trials involving lamotrigine for disorders classified under DSM-5/ICD-11. Filters for study type and recruitment status were applied, and eligible records were manually reviewed. A supplementary search (cut-off July 4, 2025) screened observational studies. Nine records were identified, of which five ongoing interventional trials met the inclusion criteria; all involved bipolar disorder. Although one trial also enrolled participants with schizophrenia and major depressive disorder, lamotrigine was used only in the bipolar depression arm. NCT06184581 is a phase IV RCT comparing lamotrigine and lithium in bipolar II disorder. NCT04230421 investigates smartphone mood tracking in bipolar patients. NCT04229875 examines the Clinical Academic Group model for bipolar disorder, focusing on hospitalization risk and psychosocial outcomes. NCT05603104 and NCT05973786 examine early intensified pharmacotherapy versus usual care in bipolar depression, measuring MADRS scores, and adverse events. All identified trials were non-commercials. Supplementary screening found six observational studies, mainly addressing epilepsy or pharmacokinetics, which partially address the gaps in knowledge regarding safety during pregnancy and cardiac risk. Other indications and safety aspects, including pregnancy and cardiac risk, remain under-researched. Despite widespread clinical use, further studies are needed to support evidence-based practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20819,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Research","volume":"356 ","pages":"Article 116878"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145769012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Disconnection from care among adolescents with psychotic experiences","authors":"Nicole R. DeTore ,&nbsp;Kendall B. Roberts ,&nbsp;Jasmeen Kaur ,&nbsp;Randi M. Schuster","doi":"10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116886","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116886","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>To better understand preventative service connection, this study describes the proportion of adolescents with psychotic experiences, a known transdiagnostic risk factor, who have spoken with healthcare providers about their mental health in the past year.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>A brief mental health survey was administered to 38,569 students across 28 middle and 38 high schools in Massachusetts in the years 2020–2022. The 13,458 middle school students had a mean age of 12, 47 % were biologically male, 59 % were White, and 23 % were Hispanic/Latino. The 25,111 high school students had a mean age of 16, 46 % were biologically male, 71 % were White, and 16 % were Hispanic/Latino. Seven psychotic experiences were assessed along with one question asking whether the student had spoken with any health provider in the past year about their emotional wellbeing.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Across the three years, 27 % of middle school students, and 16 % of high school students endorsed at least one psychotic experience. Only 34 % of middle school students and 23 % of high school students with a psychotic experience had spoken with a provider in the past year about their mental health. Males and middle school students with psychotic experiences were significantly less likely to speak with a provider across all three years than females and high school students (<em>p</em>s&lt;0.01).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These findings further highlight the need for improved mental health education for adolescents, family members, and educators, including specific information about psychiatric risk factors and pathways to mental health support for young people to encourage more help-seeking behaviors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20819,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Research","volume":"356 ","pages":"Article 116886"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145737596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}