hit counter

VR-CBT for Paranoia May Fit High-Avolition Schizophrenia Patients

MHD featured image for VR-CBT paranoia treatment modifiers in schizophrenia.

A 254-person FaceYourFears moderator analysis found that people with schizophrenia-spectrum paranoia and higher avolition or moderate-to-high delusion severity may improve more with virtual-reality CBT than with standard CBT for psychosis.1 The result is useful as a treatment-matching hypothesis, not as a rule that assigns patients to a headset. Research Highlights 254 participants were analyzed: 128 …

Read more

Social Anxiety: Prefrontal Connectivity Differs but Amygdala-PFC Doesn’t

Stylized fMRI connectivity map showing prefrontal and amygdala circuits during emotion regulation in social anxiety disorder.

The textbook story of social anxiety disorder is broken amygdala-prefrontal regulation — an overactive threat system the prefrontal cortex can’t calm down. A 2026 effective-connectivity study of 102 adults found something different: amygdala-prefrontal connectivity didn’t differ between social anxiety patients and controls, but connectivity between prefrontal regions did, particularly involving the pre-supplementary motor area.1 Research …

Read more

Ultrasound-Guided Acupotomy Reduced Chronic Spinal Pain in 32 RCTs

MHD featured image for ultrasound-guided acupotomy chronic spinal pain meta-analysis.

A 2026 meta-analysis of 32 randomized trials involving 2,669 participants found that ultrasound-guided acupotomy reduced chronic spinal musculoskeletal pain, with pain intensity improving by SMD = −0.80 and disability by SMD = −0.99 on NDI/ODI measures.1 The direction is favorable, but all trials came from China and evidence certainty stayed moderate for pain and low …

Read more

Workplace Mental Health Apps Split Outcomes: Anxiety Down, Wellbeing Up

MHD featured image for workplace mental health apps and executive-function training.

A 228-person randomized trial found a split result for workplace mental-health apps: executive-function training reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms at 12-week follow-up, while a self-guided CBT app improved workplace wellbeing without reducing symptoms.1 The mechanism claim was weaker than the outcome claim because measured executive-function change did not explain the improvements. Research Highlights 228 adults …

Read more

Exercise Before CBT Raised Depression Remission to 69% in Pilot Trial

MHD featured image for exercise priming before CBT in major depression.

A 40-person pilot trial found depression remission in 69% of adults who did 30 minutes of moderate exercise before individual CBT, compared with 33% of adults who did a calming pre-CBT activity.1 Compared with a broad “exercise boosts therapy” claim, acute exercise is a plausible priming step; the alliance and activation mechanisms still need a …

Read more

Arts Prescription Helped Young Adults Build Routine but Caused Stress

MHD featured image for arts on prescription and young-adult mental health.

A 2026 qualitative study of a 10-week Danish Arts on Prescription program found that young adults aged 18 to 30 often described more stable daily routine, confidence, and belonging, but some activities also caused stress, fatigue, or discomfort.1 The useful interpretation is structured creative groups may help some disconnected young adults rebuild daily life when …

Read more

Smartphone Music Pulmonary Rehab Improved COPD Anxiety by 2.31 HADS Points

MHD featured image for smartphone music pulmonary rehab and COPD anxiety.

A 70-person COPD trial found that 12 weeks of app-based rhythm-guided walking plus singing improved shuttle-walk distance by 56.35 m and lowered HADS-anxiety by 2.31 points vs. usual care; rhythm-guided walking without singing did not clearly separate from usual care.1 Research Highlights Combined training beat usual care: the multimodule group improved incremental shuttle walking test …

Read more