New research analysing thousands of therapy cases across England suggests many autistic adults see little improvement from standard treatments, highlighting the need for more tailored mental health care. A study published in Nature Mental Health suggests that autistic adults experience mixed outcomes when receiving standard psychological therapies for depression and anxiety. While some individuals improve, many see little change in their symptoms and a smaller group experience worsening mental health.

A large review published in JAMA Pediatrics suggests that heavier use of digital media, particularly social media, is consistently associated with poorer developmental outcomes in children and teenagers. While video games may offer a small boost to certain mental skills, the overall pattern in the data links greater digital media use with higher levels of depression, behavioural problems, and substance use.

The IDEA project uses biological and sociological factors to give a risk score for depressions. Zuzanna Zajkowska, a Research Associate for the project, explains more.

As more people turn to tools like ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs) for mental health advice, new research suggests these systems may not yet be ready to safely fill that role. A study by researchers at Brown University found that AI chatbots often fail to meet the ethical standards expected in professional psychotherapy, even when they are prompted to follow
established therapeutic approaches.

MQ researchers have developed a test that combines biological markers with lifestyle factors to predict which adolescents will go on to develop depression. 

A study led by MQ Founding Trustee Professor Emily Holmes has shown that a digital intervention, that includes gameplay, can dramatically reduce intrusive memories of trauma

Four men will row and cycle from the South to the North of the UK in order to bring the youth's lived experience into the research process.

A new study published in European Psychiatry suggests that spending less time watching television and reallocating that time to other activities could reduce the risk of major depressive disorder, particularly in middle-aged adults. Researchers found that replacing TV time with activities such as exercise or sleep was associated with meaningful mental health benefits, with the strongest effects seen during midlife.

A large-scale analysis has confirmed that physical activity is an effective treatment for depression and anxiety, with benefits comparable to psychotherapy and medication. Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the findings suggest that different types of exercise can be tailored to maximise mental health benefits for specific groups and conditions.