PTSD’s genetic component validated in new study
A new genetic study of more than 1.2 million people has pinpointed 95 loci, or locations in the genome, linked with risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in which exposure to trauma can harm a person’s quality…
Researchers discover associations among PTSD, diet, and the gut microbiome
A new study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Chan School investigated the relationship between PTSD, diet, and the gut microbiome, and found that participants who adhered to a Mediterranean diet experienced decreased PTSD symptoms.
A call for reducing deaths among people with mental illness
A new paper lays out an action plan for reducing the growing mortality rates among people with mental illness and mental distress.
Intimate partner violence early in pandemic linked with worse mental and overall health in women
Women who experienced intimate partner violence during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to suffer worse mental health and other adverse health effects, according to a new study led by Harvard Chan School.
The mental health toll of cascading collective trauma
A troubling new form of trauma is on the rise. It occurs when people are directly impacted by mass tragedies, such as a mass shooting or a wildfire, either at the same time or in quick succession.
Homicide leading cause of death for pregnant women in U.S.
Women in the U.S. who are pregnant or who have recently given birth are more likely to be murdered than to die from obstetric causes—and these homicides are linked to a deadly mix of intimate partner violence and…
Psychological distress before COVID-19 infection may increase risk of long COVID
Psychological distress before COVID-19 infection was associated with an increased risk of long COVID, according to a new Harvard Chan School study.
Pandemic accelerated youth mental health crisis
The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically accelerated a decline in youth mental health in the U.S.
PTSD linked with accelerated cognitive decline in middle-aged women
Middle-aged women with symptoms of PTSD may face faster cognitive decline than women without such symptoms, according to a study from Harvard Chan School.
Helping kids cope with pandemic-driven mental health issues
Experts, including Harvard Chan School's Karestan Koenen, discussed the significant mental health challenges facing young people during the pandemic, as well as ways parents can help.
