The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science
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Trauma-informed perinatal care for asylum-seeking and refugee women survivors of conflict-related and gender-based violence in the UK

May 8, 2026

This paper addresses the lack of trauma-informed perinatal care for asylum-seeking and refugee women in the UK who are survivors of conflict-related and gender-based violence. The authors aim to highlight the mental health needs of these women during the perinatal period, emphasizing the increased vulnerabilities they face due to their experiences.

Dynamic comorbidity trajectories spanning the diagnosis of depression: nationwide cohort study

May 8, 2026

The authors aimed to investigate the temporal sequence of comorbidity accrual in relation to the diagnosis of depression and how this trajectory differs in cases of recurrent depression. They found that certain comorbidities, such as hypertension and dorsopathies, often precede depression diagnosis, while others, like Alzheimer's disease and obesity, emerge afterward. The study highlights distinct trajectories for recurrent depression, emphasizing the need for tailored long-term surveillance strategies based on depression subtype and treatment history.

Clinicians' attitudes to evolutionary versus genetic explanations for anxiety: cluster-randomised study of stigmatisation

May 7, 2026

The authors aimed to investigate whether an educational intervention presenting evolutionary explanations for anxiety, as opposed to genetic explanations, would positively influence mental health clinicians' attitudes and reduce stigma. The study found that clinicians rated evolutionary explanations as significantly more useful, leading to increased optimism about patient recovery and greater anticipated public willingness to seek help and share diagnoses. Overall, framing anxiety through an evolutionary lens improved clinicians' attitudes regarding stigma compared to genetic explanations.

Lithium: challenges of being king

May 5, 2026

The authors explore the reasons behind the declining popularity of lithium, despite its unique efficacy as a mood stabilizer and its additional benefits, such as anti-suicidal and neuroprotective properties. They advocate for a renewed recognition of lithium's advantages and call for its broader clinical application in mental health treatment.

Understanding ADHD identity and preferred terminology for adults with ADHD in the UK: associations with medication use, well-being and mental health

May 4, 2026

The authors aimed to explore ADHD social identification and preferred terminology among adults with ADHD in the UK, investigating its relationship with self-esteem, well-being, and mental health. They found that while most participants preferred person-first terminology and ADHD identification did not correlate with self-esteem or mental health, a specific aspect of ADHD social identification—satisfaction—was indirectly linked to better mental health outcomes. The study highlights the complexity of ADHD identity and suggests the need for further research to understand these dynamics better.

From early intervention in psychosis to intensive care: correlates of restrictive psychiatric practice in a national retrospective cohort study

Apr 30, 2026

The authors aimed to investigate the associations between components of Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) care and the use of restrictive psychiatric practices, such as psychiatric intensive care unit admissions and physical restraint. Their findings revealed that certain demographic groups, particularly men and younger individuals, experienced higher rates of restrictive interventions, while specific EIP components, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and clozapine treatment, were linked to reduced hazards of these interventions. The study highlights the need for improved EIP services and addressing structural inequalities to promote less coercive mental health care.

The proportion of people with primary affective disorders presenting to early intervention services: systematic review and meta-analysis

Apr 30, 2026

The authors aimed to determine the prevalence of primary affective disorders among individuals presenting to early intervention services (EIS) for first-episode psychosis. Through a systematic review and meta-analysis of 83 studies, they found that affective psychotic disorders accounted for 18.0% of presentations, with significant variations based on geographical region and urbanicity. The findings highlight the need for improved screening and tailored treatment approaches for this subgroup within EIS.

Real-world effectiveness of mono- and combination therapies of mood stabilisers and antipsychotics in bipolar disorder: nationwide, within-individual study of 315 046 patients

Apr 30, 2026

The authors aimed to assess the effectiveness of mono- and combination therapies involving mood stabilisers and antipsychotics in preventing psychiatric hospitalisation among patients with bipolar disorder. Utilizing a large population-based cohort study of over 315,000 patients, they found that both monotherapy and combination therapy significantly reduced the risk of hospitalisation compared to non-use of these medications. The results indicate that treatment strategies can be optimized based on the varying effectiveness of these pharmacotherapies in clinical practice.

Investigating inequalities in children and young people's mental healthcare and outcomes: prospective longitudinal analysis from the STADIA trial

Apr 27, 2026

The authors aimed to investigate how sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and clinical factors influence access to mental health services and outcomes for children and young people (CYP) with emotional difficulties. Their findings indicate that older CYP and those from less deprived neighborhoods are more likely to have their referrals accepted and achieve better clinical outcomes, while younger children and those from more deprived areas face significant barriers to care. Overall, the study highlights persistent inequalities in access to mental health services and limited improvements in clinical outcomes one year post-referral.

Hyper-scanning and hyper-pursuit define eye movement biomarkers of anxiety disorders

Apr 27, 2026

The authors aim to identify and characterize eye movement profiles that could serve as objective biomarkers for differentiating anxiety disorders from depressive disorders and healthy controls. They found that patients with anxiety exhibited distinct patterns of hyper-scanning and hyper-pursuit during eye movement tasks, which were linked to increased vigilance and prediction mechanisms. These findings suggest that eye-tracking could be a valuable behavioral tool for understanding and distinguishing between affective disorders.