BackgroundElevated post-stroke depressive symptoms are common among acute ischemic stroke (AIS) survivors and are associated with poor functional recovery. However, readily available biomarkers reflecting lipid–inflammation status remain limited. The ratio of non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (NHHR) may integrate atherogenic burden and inflammatory status and thus be associated with depressive symptom burden after stroke.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 518 Chinese AIS patients. Admission NHHR was calculated from routine lipid panels. Depressive symptoms at 90 days were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), and elevated post-stroke depressive symptoms were defined according to the prespecified HAMD threshold. Multivariable logistic regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, and subgroup analyses were conducted to examine the association between NHHR and elevated depressive symptoms.ResultsAmong the 518 patients, 179 exhibited elevated post-stroke depressive symptoms at 90 days. Higher NHHR levels were independently associated with increased odds of elevated depressive symptoms after adjustment for demographics, stroke severity, cognitive function, inflammatory markers, and coagulation parameters (OR = 1.35, P = 0.029). Dose–response trends were observed, and RCS analysis suggested a linear relationship without significant nonlinearity. No significant interactions were found across sex, smoking, alcohol use, hypertension, or diabetes subgroups.ConclusionsElevated NHHR at admission was independently associated with elevated post-stroke depressive symptoms at 90 days in Chinese AIS patients. As a simple, cost-effective, and readily obtainable biomarker, NHHR may facilitate early risk stratification and guide individualized interventions.
Young Adults’ Perspectives on an Ecological Momentary Intervention for Drinking to Cope: Qualitative Study
<strong>Background:</strong> Young adults have high rates of mental health problems, such as mood or anxiety symptoms, and high rates of problematic drinking. Many young adults who undergo psychiatric hospitalization to address depression and anxiety symptoms also engage in risky drinking and tend to drink to cope with negative emotions. However, in many cases, treatment programs focusing on mood and anxiety symptoms often fail to adequately address problematic alcohol use in young adults. <strong>Objective:</strong> This study aimed to address this treatment gap by investigating patient perspectives on a potential ecological momentary intervention mobile app. Researchers used qualitative methods to gather perspectives of young adults hospitalized for psychiatric care on their use of drinking to cope with negative emotions and their feedback for a prospective app designed to suggest healthy coping strategies when participants report low mood and cravings to drink. <strong>Methods:</strong> We recruited a total of 12 young adults admitted to a partial hospitalization program to participate in a qualitative interview. To be eligible, participants needed to be aged 18-25 years and report drinking at least once weekly, binge drinking at least once monthly, drinking to cope with negative emotions, and depression and/or anxiety symptoms. <strong>Results:</strong> Qualitative analysis of our data resulted in 4 major themes. These included (1) motivations to use substances, (2) healthy coping, (3) general reactions to the proposed app, and (4) suggestions for the app. Participants generally had insight about their use of alcohol to cope and were able to identify several motivations for drinking; the most frequent motivations were to alleviate anxiety and depression, although many participants noted drinking to cope with other emotions, such as guilt or loneliness. Participants overall had positive responses to the prospective intervention and reported that they would appreciate the portability of a digital intervention in helping them “step down” from higher levels of psychiatric care. Participants also made several valuable suggestions about content, features, and usability, such as suggesting ways to “gamify” the app to increase use. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> This feedback will be crucial in designing and testing an ecological momentary intervention designed to reduce drinking to cope in young adults hospitalized for psychiatric care.
<![CDATA[Phase 3 data show adjunctive seltorexant eases depression and insomnia with lessened weight gain and somnolence.]]>
Social Prescribing for a Mindful Lifestyle
Conditions: Depression and/or Anxiety in the Mild-to-moderate Range; Loneliness; Social Isolation
Interventions: Behavioral: Mindfulness Lifestyle Social Prescribing Program
Sponsors: Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital
Not yet recruiting
Interventions: Behavioral: Mindfulness Lifestyle Social Prescribing Program
Sponsors: Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital
Not yet recruiting
Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA) in Peru: Mechanisms of Individual and Intergenerational Change
Conditions: Violence; Parenting; Poverty; Depression; Mental Health; Posttraumatic Stress; Economic Factors; Child Psychology
Interventions: Behavioral: Common Elements Treatment Approach; Behavioral: Enhanced Case Managment
Sponsors: University of Notre Dame; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Recruiting
Interventions: Behavioral: Common Elements Treatment Approach; Behavioral: Enhanced Case Managment
Sponsors: University of Notre Dame; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Recruiting
Probiotics for Depressive Symptomatology and Neural Activity.
Conditions: Mild-to-moderate Depression; Neural Activity; Executive Function (Cognition)
Interventions: Dietary Supplement: Ecologic® Barrier; Dietary Supplement: Placebo powder
Sponsors: University of Reading; Winclove Probiotics B.V.
Not yet recruiting
Interventions: Dietary Supplement: Ecologic® Barrier; Dietary Supplement: Placebo powder
Sponsors: University of Reading; Winclove Probiotics B.V.
Not yet recruiting
Multidimensional Determinants of Functional Health In Women Aged 45-60
Conditions: Healthy; Perimenopausal Depression; Menopausal Complaints; Bone Mineral Density; Sarcopenia; Sleep Quality; Quality of Life
Sponsors: Kartal City Hospital
Not yet recruiting
Sponsors: Kartal City Hospital
Not yet recruiting
Supporting Student Mental Health With the Safespace Generative AI Chatbot: Mixed Methods Feasibility Study
Background: Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) chatbots have the potential to provide personalized mental health support to individuals at scale. Objective: This study evaluates the feasibility and usage patterns of the Safespace GenAI chatbot, an artificial intelligence (AI)–driven smartphone app that offers a large language model–powered interactive chatbot to support mental health. Methods: Using a mixed methods approach, we explored baseline attitudes toward GenAI chatbots and chatbot usage patterns, conducted a qualitative content analysis of participants’ experiences, and descriptively assessed patterns related to preintervention depressive symptoms. The study included an initial sample of 42 university students, 20 of whom actively used the chatbot over 2 to 4 weeks, generating 286 user-chatbot interactions. Results: Preintervention surveys indicated that the majority of participants anticipated that the chatbot would be helpful (27/42, 64%) and that they trusted its privacy safeguards (39/42, 93%). Usage patterns suggested that the highest levels of interaction occurred early in the morning and late at night, when peer and professional support may be inaccessible. The qualitative analysis indicated that participants appreciated using the chatbot for reflection as a blended-care tool between their counseling sessions, while also naming technical barriers and specific design needs required to sustain engagement. In addition, our exploratory analyses descriptively showed that participants with elevated depression scores engaged in emotional disclosure during 99% (38 sessions with 8 participants) of their sessions, compared to 84% (26 sessions of 12 participants) of those with low symptoms. Due to the small sample size, future adequately powered studies are needed to inferentially examine these observed patterns. Conclusions: These findings provide initial insights into the usage and engagement dynamics of the Safespace GenAI chatbot and highlight directions for future research to optimize GenAI-driven mental health interventions. Trial Registration: AEA Registry AEARCTR-0013291; https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.13291-1.0
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First-in-Human Stem Cell Therapy Trial for Huntington’s Disease Begins at UCI Health
The world’s first in-human embryonic stem cell-derived clinical trial for Huntington’s disease has launched at UCI Health, the clinical arm of the University of California, Irvine. The Phase Ib/IIa trial will evaluate the safety of hNSC-01 neural stem cells derived from embryonic stem cells delivered to the brain by a specialized neurological mapping and targeting stereotactic system.
Huntington’s disease is a fatal, progressive genetic disorder that gradually destroys brain cells. It usually begins between the ages of 35 and 50 with symptoms that include involuntary movements, difficulty thinking and planning daily tasks, and mood changes such as depression. If successful, this therapy could prolong independent living and significantly reduce long-term care costs.
“This clinical trial highlights the important role that an interdisciplinary academic and clinical team together with the HD families, plays in advancing medicine,” said Leslie M. Thompson, PhD, professor of psychiatry and human behavior at UC Irvine. “We are grateful to our patients and their incredible families for their bravery to provide hope for others with very few options.”
The first patient received the intervention at UCI Health Irvine (home to Orange County’s first adult bone marrow/stem cell transplant and cellular therapy program) in May. A second patient is scheduled to receive the intervention in July.
“The first patient intervention went very well. To date, they haven’t reported any serious adverse events,” said Ravi Rajmohan, MD, UCI Health neurologist. “This trial may help us move one step closer to a future with available treatments that could potentially slow the progression of Huntington’s disease.”
The therapy, hNSC-01, uses pluripotent neural stem cells derived from embryonic stem cells, which were manufactured through the UC Davis GMP facility. In animal studies, the cells have been shown to protect existing brain cells, replace lost cells, rebuild impaired brain circuits, release helpful proteins, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and reduce harmful protein accumulations that damage brain cells. The stem cells were also shown to be safe over long periods in mice.
The clinical trial will enroll 21 people ages 18 to 65 with early-stage Huntington’s disease. Twelve participants will be enrolled into a Phase Ib dose-escalation group and nine in a Phase IIa expansion group.
The stem cells are implanted during a roughly six-hour surgical procedure done under general anesthesia. While lying face down in an MRI scanner, the patient receives stem cells implanted directly into the striatum deep in the brain, using a purchased proprietary therapy-enabling platform for navigation and surgical delivery. Damage to the striatum, which is responsible for motor control, decision-making, motivation and more, causes Huntington’s disease symptoms. Subjects will be closely monitored for safety as well as preliminary signs of potential benefit.
The clinical trial is made possible by a $12 million grant from the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), and the trial is coordinated through the UC Irvine Alpha Clinic.
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Global research landscape, knowledge structure, and emerging trends in adverse childhood experiences and personality disorders: a bibliometric analysis
BackgroundThe relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and personality disorders (PDs) has attracted sustained attention in psychiatry, psychology, and public health. Existing studies have mainly examined epidemiological associations, specific PDs diagnoses, or mechanisms, whereas bibliometric evidence mapping the field’s knowledge structure and thematic evolution remains limited. This study aimed to characterize trends, contributors, collaboration networks, core themes, and frontiers in ACEs–PDs research.MethodsEnglish-language publications on ACEs and PDs were retrieved from Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and PubMed from inception to December 31, 2025. After year screening, document-type filtering, and deduplication, 5,084 records were included. Bibliometric analyses were performed using R, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace. The merged dataset was used to examine annual trends, countries/regions, institutions, authors, journals, and keyword co-occurrence, while WoSCC records were used for co-citation analysis, keyword clustering, and burst detection.ResultsACEs–PDs research showed sustained growth, with a marked increase after 2000. The United States occupied a central position in publication output, citation impact, and international collaboration, while the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, and Australia also showed strong influence. Harvard University, the University of London, and Ruprecht Karls University Heidelberg were leading institutions; Zanarini M, Fonagy P, Schmahl C, Paris J, and Kleindienst N were key contributors. Influential journals mainly covered psychiatry, personality disorders, child maltreatment, trauma, and developmental psychopathology. Keyword analyses identified childhood adversity, personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, depression, childhood sexual abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder as core themes. VOSviewer and CiteSpace analyses indicated that hotspots have expanded from childhood abuse, PDs diagnosis, and psychiatric comorbidity to emotion dysregulation, non-suicidal self-injury, social support, functional connectivity, early intervention, and mechanism validation. Highly cited publications revealed a knowledge base centered on childhood abuse/trauma, borderline personality disorder, psychiatric comorbidity, emotion regulation, and neurobiological mechanisms.ConclusionThis study maps development and knowledge structure of ACEs–PDs research. Findings suggest a shift from exposure–outcome association studies toward comorbidity, intermediate phenotypes, neurobiological mechanisms, and clinical translation. Future research should strengthen longitudinal and cross-cultural designs, consider ACE type, timing, duration, and severity, and integrate neuroimaging, inflammatory, epigenetic, and clinical-course phenotypes.