Discover mental health最新文献

{"title":"When medical knowledge is not enough: medication adherence and self-treatment among physicians with chronic illness in Upper Egypt.","authors":"Mahmoud Ahmed Bekiet, Ahmed Jado Nabih Ali","doi":"10.1007/s44192-026-00510-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-026-00510-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Medication adherence in chronic illness is influenced by behavioral, psychological, and contextual factors. Whether physicians-despite high medical literacy-demonstrate superior adherence compared with non-physician patients remains unclear. This study compared medication adherence between physicians with chronic illness and matched non-physician controls and examined psychological and behavioral correlates, including self-treatment practices.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 250 physicians and 250 age-, sex-, and disease-category-matched non-physician adults receiving long-term pharmacotherapy at university outpatient clinics in Upper Egypt. Self-reported adherence was assessed using the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) as the primary adherence measure. Self-treatment behavior, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and burnout were evaluated using validated instruments. In a consenting subset, objective adherence was estimated using pharmacy refill data (proportion of days covered [PDC]) and documented pill-count records. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine factors associated with adequate adherence.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of adequate self-reported adherence did not differ significantly between physicians and controls (28.4% vs. 31.2%, p = 0.557). Among participants who consented to pharmacy linkage (36% physicians; 43% controls), median PDC and the proportion achieving PDC ≥ 0.80 were comparable between groups. Agreement between self-reported and objective adherence was poor in both cohorts. In adjusted analyses, physician status was not independently associated with adequate adherence. A higher number of prescribed medications and greater engagement in self-treatment behaviors were independently associated with higher odds of adequate self-reported adherence.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Physicians with chronic illness demonstrated adherence patterns comparable to matched non-physician patients. Professional training and medical knowledge were not independently associated with better adherence. Behavioral engagement and treatment-related factors appeared more strongly associated with adherence than occupational status. The limited concordance between self-reported and objective adherence highlights the importance of multimethod assessment in adherence research.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13373143/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148450879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Eating disorders and associated mental symptoms in Swedish elite athletes and a comparison group.","authors":"Frida Ejderstedt, Mathilda Karlsson, Klara Edlund, Madeleine Ahlgren, Haris Pojskic, Anna Katarina Melin","doi":"10.1007/s44192-026-00547-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-026-00547-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>This cross-sectional two-step study aimed to investigate the prevalence of eating disorder (ED) symptoms and associated mental health difficulties among elite athletes and an age-and sex matched comparison group.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>National team athletes were recruited through national sport federations, while participants in the comparison group were recruited via social media. A total of 408 participants (athletes n = 256; comparison group n = 152) (72.1% female), completed an anonymous online survey comprising validated psychometric measures of ED symptoms, exercise addiction, depression and psychological flexibility. Participants who screened positive for ED symptoms and providing contact details were invited to undergo a clinical assessment using the ED Examination Interview (EDE 17.0D).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 25.0% (n = 102) reported ED symptoms, with a higher prevalence in the comparison group than among athletes (37.5% vs. 17.6%, p < 0.001). Interviews were completed by 78.0% (n = 18) of athletes and 47.0% (n = 16) of comparison group participants who screened positive for ED symptoms, confirming an ED diagnosis in all but one athlete. Furthermore, 18.6% (n = 76) reported clinically relevant symptoms of depression, and 22.8% (n = 93) of exercise addiction. Associations were observed between ED symptoms and symptoms of exercise addiction, depression, and psychological inflexibility in the total sample, among athletes and in the comparison group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>ED symptoms were common among athletes and the comparison group and were associated with depressive symptoms, problematic exercise behaviour, and psychological inflexibility. To safeguard athlete health and optimise performance, national sports organisations should implement systematic preventive strategies, promote early identification, establish clear referral pathways, and ensure access to coordinated multidisciplinary care.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13365095/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148431672","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards mental health amongst adults in Jigawa State, northwest Nigeria.","authors":"Nuruddeen Muhammad, Fawaz Babandi, Umar Also, Usman Muhammad Ibrahim","doi":"10.1007/s44192-026-00536-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-026-00536-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders affect an estimated 150 million people across Africa, yet services remain grossly under-resourced and largely inaccessible. In many settings, including Nigeria, limited awareness, stigmatizing attitudes, and suboptimal mental health practices further compound the burden. This study assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward mental health among adults in northwest Nigeria.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study in Jigawa State, northwest Nigeria, guided by the classical Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) framework. A total of 398 adults were recruited using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected through a combination of online surveys and interviewer-administered questionnaires. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS version 22.0, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants had a mean age of 34.5 ± 8.2 years (range: 18-65), with 83.9% aged 25-45 years. Although 70.9% demonstrated adequate mental health knowledge, attitudes and practices were considerably poorer. Less than half expressed willingness to interact comfortably with individuals living with mental illness (43.2%), believed they could lead productive lives (44.2%), or had ever sought professional help for mental or emotional concerns (43.7%). Only 34.7% rejected the notion that individuals with mental illness are inherently dangerous, and just 20.4% would permit their children to interact with someone experiencing mental illness. Overall, 48.5% exhibited positive attitudes, and 46.7% reported satisfactory practices. Female sex independently predicted both knowledge and attitudes. Females were twice as likely as males to have adequate knowledge (aOR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.1-3.6) and nearly twice as likely to demonstrate positive attitudes (aOR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1-3.5). Prior hospitalization and known family history of mental illness were significantly associated with more favorable attitudes. Residence in the southwest senatorial zone independently predicted satisfactory practices (aOR = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2-0.9), while absence of prior mental illness was associated with lower odds of appropriate practices (aOR = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2-0.9). Knowledge scores demonstrated moderate positive correlations with both attitudes (r = 0.4, p < 0.001) and practices (r = 0.4, p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Despite relatively adequate levels of knowledge, attitudes and practices toward mental health remain suboptimal among adults in northwest Nigeria. Consistent with the classical KAP framework, knowledge was positively associated with both attitudes and practices. Strengthening community-level mental health literacy, reducing stigma, and expanding accessible services are urgently needed to translate knowledge gains into improved behavioral outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13642886/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148431758","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A qualitative pilot study on how young adolescents perceive an arts-based existential intervention for grappling with the subject of death.","authors":"Zachary Fry, Adrianna Mendrek, Maxime Gilbert, Terra Léger-Goodes, David Lefrançois, Jonathan Smith, Nathalie Maltais, Marie-Claude Geoffroy, Marc-André Éthier, Catherine Malboeuf-Hurtubise","doi":"10.1007/s44192-026-00531-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-026-00531-3","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objectives: &lt;/strong&gt;This pilot study sought to explore the perceived value of Arts-Based Existential Interventions to support young adolescents regarding death. We were guided by the following research question: What are the perceptions that young adolescents have toward an arts-based existential intervention to navigate questions, feelings, and concerns pertaining to death?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Data description: &lt;/strong&gt;In conducting this study, we hoped to contribute to the existing clinical child psychology literature by qualitatively investigating how developmentally adapted, creative, and dialogical workshops benefitted-or not-a group of young adolescents (i.e., 10-12 year olds) exploring existential concerns related to death. Our findings indicated that although some participants expressed initial apprehension towards the workshops, most participants reported feeling positively impacted by receiving the opportunity to constructively explore, reflect on, and openly discuss the topic of death. With participants disclosing that they appreciated this opportunity, arts-based existential interventions could provide a meaningfully constructive method for supporting young adolescents in navigating the subject of death.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;INTRODUCTION : Introduction: Discussing the topic of death is not easy for most, especially young adolescents. While adults may fear that talking about death with them leads to distress, research suggests they are naturally curious to explore it more [61]. Furthermore, adults report feeling uncomfortable and unqualified to lead these discussions (McGovern & Barry, 2000), thus leaving young adolescents without supportive spaces to openly explore this topic. One method that could potentially support them is through Arts-Based Existential Interventions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Study aims: &lt;/strong&gt;This qualitative pilot study sought to explore the perceived value of Arts-Based Existential Interventions to support young adolescents regarding death.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methodology: &lt;/strong&gt;A 10-week workshop was conducted with two sixth-grade classrooms (n = 21; Mage 11.5) using an interpretative qualitative design. Two of these ten workshops-focused on personal mortality and bereavement, respectively-formed the core of this study. Each workshop included an artistic creation activity, followed by philosophical inquiry. Data was collected through observation grids, as well as audio recordings of focus groups and semi-structured interviews. Themes were constructed through reflexive thematic analysis, as outlined by [10, 13]. No clinical changes were measured, and the findings reflect post-intervention perceptions from participants rather than being an assessment of psychological outcomes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The analysis: &lt;/strong&gt;Despite expressing some initial negative emotional reactions, participants reported valuing the workshops as a tool for fostering emotional expression, conveying empathy, and positively refining","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13680325/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148426990","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A bibliometric analysis of global research trends and emerging hotspots on suicide and depression among children and adolescents.","authors":"Ziming Liu, Shumin Zhu, Yulan Geng","doi":"10.1007/s44192-026-00538-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-026-00538-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Suicide and depression among children and adolescents represent critical global public health challenges. Despite a rapidly growing body of literature, the overall knowledge structure, research trends, and emerging directions in this field remain insufficiently synthesized.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to perform a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research on suicide and depression among children and adolescents, with a focus on thematic evolution, global research trends, and emerging areas to guide future research directions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database to identify relevant publications from 2005 to April 6, 2026. Original articles and review papers were included. Data were analyzed using Bibliometrix (R package), VOSviewer, and InCites to evaluate publication trends, contributing countries, institutions, journals, collaboration networks, and keyword co-occurrence patterns.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 8454 publications were included, demonstrating a steady increase in annual output, particularly after 2018, with a strong concentration in high-impact (Q1) journals. The United States and China were the leading contributors in terms of productivity, citations, and international collaboration. Core research themes included depression, suicide, and adolescent mental health, while five major thematic clusters were identified: clinical comorbidity, self-harm behaviors, social determinants and prevention, psychological mechanisms, and artificial intelligence-driven applications. Over time, research focus has shifted from traditional clinical and epidemiological approaches to integrative, data-driven frameworks. Emerging hotspots include machine learning, prediction models, ecological momentary assessment, and digital phenotyping.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Research on suicide and depression in children and adolescents has expanded substantially and is evolving toward interdisciplinary and precision-oriented paradigms. Advances in artificial intelligence and data analytics are reshaping early detection and prevention strategies. However, disparities in global research contributions and challenges in translating technological innovations into clinical practice persist. Future efforts should emphasize equitable collaboration, longitudinal data integration, and real-world implementation to enhance mental health outcomes in youth.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13631214/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148413806","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Parkinson's disease focused multimodal wearable vision based gait monitoring system with real time feedback to support mobility and caregiver well-being.","authors":"Anusha M U, Uma Rani K, Puneeth N, Kishor M, Nemichandra S C, Deepak Dharrao, Anupkumar M Bongale","doi":"10.1007/s44192-026-00539-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-026-00539-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A chronic and progressive neurological disorder, Parkinson's disease (PD) has a significant influence on patients and their caregivers. Motor symptoms such as postural instability, tremors, and gait dysfunction lead to increased dependency, high caregiver vigilance, and chronic psychological distress in terms of stress, anxiety, and reduced quality of life. Caregivers of patients with PD experience chronic emotional and cognitive distress due to the uncertainty and unpredictability of motor symptoms in daily life, which are not effectively managed by traditional episodic clinical evaluations. To address this gap, we propose a multimodal gait analysis and feedback system that objectively evaluates motor dysfunction and provides remote supervision capabilities that may potentially support caregiver monitoring and reduce the need for constant physical vigilance. The system combines wearable sensors IMUs and flex sensors with a vision-based pose estimation algorithm to continuously monitor tremors and gait dysfunction in a home setting. When deviation exceeds clinically defined thresholds, real-time haptic, visual, and auditory feedback is provided, and wireless data synchronization enables remote monitoring by caregivers and clinicians. In a pilot trial conducted on six patients with PD (Hoehn and Yahr stages 2-3) and one healthy control, the gait classification system achieved a mean accuracy of 88.0% across PD participants and an average feedback response time of approximately 210 ms. The alignment of sensor-derived outputs with standardised clinical scales (MDS-UPDRS Part III) supports the clinical interpretability of this system in a home monitoring context. This sensor-integrated monitoring platform is designed to reduce caregiver monitoring burden and may, in future studies with formal caregiver outcome measures, demonstrate benefit to caregiver mental health and quality of life.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13672717/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148426923","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determinants of empathy, depression and loneliness in Serbian medical students.","authors":"Nevena Bursac, Viktor Pavlovic, Teodora Sladojevic, Maja Pantovic Stefanovic, Maja Ivkovic, Milan Latas, Milica Nesic","doi":"10.1007/s44192-026-00543-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-026-00543-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Medical students appear to be at risk for psychological problems. Therefore, we examined factors influencing depression and loneliness in this specific group, focusing on socio-demographic, psychological, somatic variables, and empathy as a protective factor.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We included 507 medical students at the Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade, Serbia. Each participant completed a written questionnaire comprising a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ), the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The sample was predominantly female (75.1%) with a mean age of 22.11 (SD 1.6). Higher empathy scores were observed among female students, younger participants, those with lower academic performance, and students who attended psychotherapy. Higher loneliness and depression were reported by students with psychiatric problems, those using psychiatric medication, and those with unstable socio-economic status. Loneliness was positively associated with depression and negatively associated with empathy in our regression model.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Significant differences in psychological variables exist among medical students in relation to the analyzed socio-demographic, health, and behavioral characteristics, highlighting the need for tailored interventions aimed at fostering social connection and empathy.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13627488/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148407130","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transcriptomic signatures of early- versus late-diagnosed ADHD and implications for treatment heterogeneity.","authors":"Ngo Cheung","doi":"10.1007/s44192-026-00540-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-026-00540-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is heterogeneous in the age at which symptoms first lead to clinical diagnosis. Recent genomic analyses of a large Danish population-based cohort showed that individuals diagnosed in childhood differ from those diagnosed in adulthood in polygenic risk scores, rare-variant burden, and patterns of genetic correlation with other psychiatric traits [1]. Childhood cases exhibited stronger overlap with autism and higher rates of rare protein-truncating variants in constrained genes, whereas late-diagnosed cases showed greater genetic overlap with depression. The functional transcriptomic mechanisms underlying these differences have remained unclear.We performed a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) using S-PrediXcan and GTEx v8 MASHR models from six adult brain tissues: amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, caudate, frontal cortex, hippocampus, and nucleus accumbens. Analyses were based on GWAS summary statistics from the iPSYCH study for childhood ADHD (N = 14,878) and late-diagnosed ADHD (N = 6,961). Thirteen curated gene sets were examined, spanning synaptic plasticity, immune function, glial markers, and housekeeping controls.The transcriptomic profiles of the two subgroups showed substantial overall similarity (Spearman ρ = 0.77 across 13,580 genes), with near-perfect directional concordance among nominally significant associations; because the two GWAS contrasted different case groups against the same 38,303 population controls, these similarity estimates should be interpreted as upper bounds rather than unbiased estimates of aetiological overlap. Despite this shared architecture, gene-set analyses suggested biologically interpretable divergences: late-diagnosed ADHD displayed stronger enrichment in long-term potentiation (enrichment ratio = 1.34, Mann-Whitney p = 1.42 × 10⁻⁸) and complement cascade pathways (1.22, p = 5.14 × 10⁻⁵), whereas childhood ADHD showed only nominally greater signals in microglia marker and MHC genes. Eighty-two genes differed in association strength between groups after FDR correction, although this delta-Z comparison should be read cautiously because the shared-control design violates the independence assumption of the test.These findings provide a functional explanation for previously reported genetic and comorbidity differences by age at diagnosis and identify an 82-gene differential list for follow-up. The enrichment patterns generate cautious, hypothesis-level questions regarding potential variation in stimulant response and tolerability, but no direct treatment, adherence, or pharmacogenomic data were analysed. This represents the first TWAS to dissect ADHD subtypes by age at first diagnosis and offers a bridge between statistical genetic associations and biologically interpretable pathways relevant to clinical heterogeneity.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13627621/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148400214","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A structural model of psychological vulnerability in the era of social media.","authors":"Lisfarika Napitupulu, Ateerah Abdul Razak, Didik Widiantoro, Bahril Hidayat, Wahyu Fadilla Perkasa, Syelfi Pasha Nurfadila","doi":"10.1007/s44192-026-00541-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-026-00541-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Psychological vulnerability reflects a heightened susceptibility to psychological distress when individuals encounter stressors, particularly in the absence of adequate coping resources. In the digital era, has emerged as a potential risk factor contributing to this vulnerability. Family functioning has been proposed as a protective factor; however, its moderating role in the relationship between and psychological vulnerability remains insufficiently examined.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study employed a cross-sectional quantitative design involving 284 active social media users in Pekanbaru, Indonesia, aged 18-50 years (M = 22.6, SD = 3.9), with the sample predominantly consisting of students (98.2%). Participants were recruited using a convenience sampling approach through online distribution. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with a disjoint two-stage approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results indicated that was positively associated with psychological vulnerability (β = 0.400, p < .001), while family functioning showed a significant negative association (β = - 0.174, p = .001). The interaction effect between and family functioning was statistically significant but very small in magnitude (β = 0.103, p = .009; f² = 0.016). Conditional effect analysis showed that the association between and psychological vulnerability was stronger at higher levels of family functioning, indicating a non-buffering moderation pattern.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings suggest that is an important risk factor for psychological vulnerability, whereas family functioning demonstrates a protective direct effect. However, its moderating role appears limited and does not operate in a buffering manner. Given the very small interaction effect and the use of convenience sampling with a predominantly student sample, the findings should be interpreted with caution. Future research employing longitudinal designs and more diverse samples is needed to further clarify these relationships.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13620041/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148392658","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Elevated cortisol in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and comorbid depressive symptoms is associated with poor glycemic control and reduced insulin levels.","authors":"Uzair Abbas, Rabeel Nawaz Laghari, Misha Tanveer, Usama Abdul Musawwir, Ali Ahsan Zafar, Muhib Ullah Khalid, Mohammad Hadif, Israr Baloch, Kashaf Fatima, Fizza Abid","doi":"10.1007/s44192-026-00518-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-026-00518-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Diabetes and depression are highly prevalent chronic conditions, and their comorbidity further impacts quality of life and disease outcomes. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone and a diabetogenic hormone, plays a potential role in linking these conditions. Chronic stress may lead to persistently elevated cortisol levels, which may influence metabolic activity and glycemic control. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms among patients with type 2 diabetes and to evaluate the association of cortisol levels with depressive symptom severity and glycemic control.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this case-control study, we recruited 100 individuals without diabetes and 200 diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes. Participants were screened for clinically significant depressive and anxiety symptoms using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), respectively. Morning cortisol levels were measured, and their associations with depressive symptom severity and glycemic control were evaluated in patients with type 2 diabetes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms was higher in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to individuals without diabetes (38% vs. 13%, p < 0.001). Similarly, clinically significant anxiety symptoms were more frequent in patients with type 2 diabetes (14.5% vs. 9%, p = 0.03). Mean cortisol levels were significantly higher in patients with type 2 diabetes (p < 0.001). Among patients with type 2 diabetes, those with severe depressive symptoms had higher cortisol and HbA1c levels and lower insulin levels (p < 0.05). Longer diabetes duration and exclusive insulin therapy were associated with less favorable metabolic profiles. Independent predictors of hypercortisolism included moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms, elevated HbA1c, longer disease duration, insulin therapy, and diabetic complications.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In patients with type 2 diabetes and comorbid depressive symptoms, higher cortisol levels were associated with poorer glycemic control and lower insulin levels, particularly in those with severe depressive symptoms. These findings support the importance of incorporating mental health screening into diabetes care for better disease management.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13672740/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148392701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}