Lurasidone is a second-generation antipsychotic with antidepressant properties, but its effect on depressive symptoms across diagnostic domains is not known.

This systematic review aims to synthesise the evidence for the transdiagnostic efficacy of lurasidone in reducing depressive symptoms.

Electronic databases were searched up to October 2024 to identify randomised controlled trials comparing the effects of lurasidone and placebo on depressive symptoms, as measured by any standardised scale, in populations with different psychiatric diagnoses. Acceptability, tolerability and safety were also measured. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess study quality, and the GRADE tool to evaluate certainty of evidence. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate standardised mean differences (SMDs, for continuous outcomes) or relative risks (for dichotomous outcomes) with 95% CI.

Fourteen trials met inclusion criteria. Pooled analysis of 5239 participants found lurasidone to be more efficacious than placebo in improving depression scores (SMD −0.26, 95% CI −0.37, −0.15) across multiple diagnoses (including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder). Secondary analyses showed better acceptability (relative risk 0.55, 95% CI 0.43, 0.71) and safety (relative risk 0.73, 95% CI 0.58, 0.91) and comparable tolerability (relative risk 0.74, 95% CI 0.54, 1.02) between lurasidone and placebo. The main limitations were the high risk of bias of several included studies and the high heterogeneity observed in our findings.

Lurasidone is a potentially efficacious and safe strategy for reducing depressive symptomatology across a range of psychiatric diagnoses. Further long-term, robust trials employing precision psychiatry methods are needed to support its broader use to target depressive symptoms transdiagnostically.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are highly comorbid. A comprehensive meta-analysis on the efficacy of PTSD-specific psychotherapies in reducing comorbid depression is lacking.

To examine the short-, mid- and long-term efficacy of PTSD-specific psychotherapies in reducing comorbid depression.

We performed a preregistered (Prospero-ID: CRD42023479224) meta-analysis and followed PRISMA guidelines. PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Web of Science and PTSDpubs were searched. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) examining psychotherapies for PTSD in samples with ≥70% PTSD diagnosis rate, mean age of sample ≥18 years, ≥10 participants per group and reporting of depression outcome data were included in the meta-analysis.

In total, 136 RCTs (N = 8868) assessed depression. Most data concerned trauma-focused cognitive behaviour therapy (TF-CBT), followed by eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing and non-trauma-focused and other trauma-focused interventions. At post-treatment, TF-CBT was associated with large reductions in depression relative to passive controls (Hedges’ g = 0.97, 95% CI 0.80–1.14, k = 46 trials) and moderate reductions relative to active controls (Hedges’ g = 0.50, 95% CI 0.35–0.65, k = 29). Effects relative to control conditions were similar across the other interventions. Response rates for comorbid depression were three times higher in psychological interventions relative to passive controls (odds ratio 3.07, 95% CI 1.18–7.94, k = 4). In head-to-head comparisons, there was evidence for TF-CBT producing higher short-, mid- and long-term reductions in depression than non-trauma-focused interventions. Results at mid- and long term were generally similar to those at treatment end-point.

PTSD-specific psychotherapies are effective in reducing depression. TF-CBT presented with the highest certainty of results. More long-term data for other interventions are needed. Results are encouraging for clinical practice.

Core premenstrual disorders (PMDs), including premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, can cause significant impairment. Despite evidence linking stress and premenstrual symptoms, a systematic synthesis is lacking.

To systematically review the literature and meta-analyse evidence on the relationship between premenstrual symptoms and stress.

Four databases (Web of Science, PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus) and Google Scholar were searched for studies indexed before 27 August 2024 (no language/year restrictions) assessing the relationship between self-reported stress and premenstrual symptoms in regularly menstruating individuals (PROSPERO: CRD42021244503). Three multilevel meta-analyses estimated (a) the correlation between stress and premenstrual symptom severity, (b) stress differences between individuals with and without core PMD across the menstrual cycle and (c) the impact of traumatic experiences on the occurrence of premenstrual symptoms. Study quality and publication bias were assessed.

We synthesised 188 effect sizes from 66 studies (N = 38 344), indicating (a) a positive correlation (r = 0.29, 95% CI 0.23–0.36); (b) higher stress levels in participants with core PMD (d = 0.79, 95% CI 0.32–1.26), particularly during the luteal phase (dlut = 1.01, 95% CI 0.46–1.57); and (c) over twofold higher odds (odds ratio 2.45, 95% CI 1.87–3.23) of PMS in individuals with a history of trauma. Heterogeneity was high (I2 = 84.64–91.38%); one meta-analysis (c) showed evidence of publication bias.

The results indicate an association between stress and premenstrual symptoms, an effect of cycle phase and trauma as a risk factor for PMS. Future research should explore underlying biopsychosocial mechanisms.

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn is a serious disease with significant morbidity and mortality. Magnesium sulphate has been proposed as a potential treatment for persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, but its efficacy remains unclear. The article aims to evaluate the effects of magnesium sulphate on persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn.

A comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library was conducted to identify relevant studies. The primary outcomes were pulmonary artery pressure and oxygenation index, while secondary outcomes included mean blood pressure, alveolar-arterial oxygen difference, arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), and arterial oxygen saturation. Statistical analysis was performed by Cochrane Review Manager 5.3.

The study analysed twelve studies involving 380 patients. Results indicated that magnesium sulphate treatment significantly reduced pulmonary artery pressure levels (MD −24.96, 95% CI −28.19 to −21.73, P < 0.0001) and mean blood pressure (MD −3.11, 95% CI −3.91 to −2.32, P < 0.0001) compared to pretreatment. Additionally, it led to a notable decrease in oxygenation index (P < 0.00001) and alveolar-arterial oxygen difference (P < 0.0001), while increasing PaO2 (P < 0.0001) and arterial oxygen saturation (P < 0.001). However, there was no significant effect on PaCO2 levels compared to pretreatment.

Magnesium sulphate is a valuable therapy for persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. It markedly reduced pulmonary artery pressure, alveolar-arterial oxygen difference, and oxygenation index, while enhancing PaO2, and arterial oxygen saturation, with no impact on PaCO2 levels. Magnesium sulphate may also reduce mean blood pressure following a 2-hour treatment. Additional studies are necessary to further clarify its efficacy and potential side effects.

This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024578092).

There has been debate about the frequency and severity of antidepressant withdrawal effects.

We set out to appraise and reanalyze an influential systematic review by Henssler and colleagues that concluded that withdrawal effects are not particularly common and rarely severe. We repeated the meta-analysis, including only studies where data were derived from systematic measures of withdrawal symptoms.

Most data in the Henssler review are derived from pharmaceutical industry–sponsored efficacy studies in which withdrawal was a minor consideration. Shortcomings of the review include the use of spontaneously reported adverse events to estimate withdrawal symptoms, potential misclassification of withdrawal symptoms as relapse, inclusion of data from retrospective case-note studies, short duration of prior antidepressant use, short observation periods, the overlooking of differences between placebo and drug withdrawal effects, and the use of questionable proxies for severe withdrawal. There were also discrepancies and uncertainties in some figures used. In our reanalysis, we included only the five studies that used a systematic and relevant method to assess the incidence of any withdrawal symptom. Prior treatment was short-term (12 weeks or less) in all but one of these. The pooled percentage was 55% (95% confidence interval, CI, 31% to 81%; N = 601) without subtracting nocebo effects, with high heterogeneity.

Henssler’s review is based on unreliable data and does not provide an adequate basis for the evaluation of antidepressant withdrawal effects. Further good-quality research on antidepressant withdrawal is required.

As cancer incidence and survival rates rise, caregivers responsible for providing diverse support face increased burden and reduced quality of life (QoL). Although research on web-based interventions for this group is expanding, the impact of these interventions on caregiver burden and QoL remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of web-based interventions on the caregiver burden and QoL of caregivers of patients with cancer.

Searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Embase, and PsycINFO from database inception to 10 June 2024. Two reviewers independently assessed each study and extracted data. The risk-of-bias in the studies was evaluated using Cochrane’s Risk-of-Bias tool for randomized controlled trials. The intervention effects were calculated using R package Meta version 4.0.3, utilizing standardized mean differences (SMD; Hedge’s ĝ) to calculate pooled effect sizes with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Publication bias assessment and sensitivity analysis were conducted to ensure the robustness of the results.

We reviewed 13 randomized controlled trials; our analysis indicated a small effect size of web-based interventions on caregiver burden (SMD = −0.19, 95% CI: −0.36 to −0.01). However, sensitivity analysis concluded that the effect was very small or nearly absent. Additionally, there was no statistically significant effect on QoL (SMD = 0.15, 95% CI: −0.05 to 0.36).

Web-based interventions did not significantly reduce caregiver burden or improve caregivers’ QoL. To improve caregiver burden and QoL in the future, comprehensive and tailored web-based interventions for this population are needed.

Mood disorders are among the leading causes of disease burden worldwide, with 20–70% of affected individuals experiencing comorbid premenstrual disorders. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the comorbidity of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) or premenstrual syndrome (PMS) with non-reproductive mood disorders.

We aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of PMDD/PMS with adult mood disorders, assess the impact of comorbidity on clinical course and summarise the associated neurobiological findings.

Eligible studies were identified through Embase, MEDLINE and APA PsycINFO from inception to 22 January 2024 (PROSPERO, no. CRD42021246796). Studies on women (‘females‘) with diagnoses of PMDD/PMS and mood disorders were included. Risk of bias was assessed using National Institutes of Health quality assessment tools. A random-effects, pooled-prevalence meta-analysis was conducted using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software, categorising diagnostic sampling strategies as follows: mood disorders diagnosed first, PMDD/PMS diagnosed first or concurrent diagnoses. A narrative synthesis explored secondary outcomes, including illness course and biomarkers.

A total of 39 studies were included, with 36 of these (n = 3646) contributing to the meta-analysis. Seven studies focused on bipolar disorders, 18 on unipolar depressive disorders and 14 on mixed samples of bipolar and unipolar disorders. Random-effects pooled-prevalence meta-analyses showed consistently high comorbidity rates between PMDD/PMS and mood disorders, ranging from 42% (95% CI: 30%, 55%) to 49% (95% CI: 38%, 60%) across sampling strategies. Risk of bias varied, with methodological heterogeneity noted.

This review underscores high comorbidity rates between PMDD/PMS and mood disorders, regardless of sampling strategy, and highlights the need for research into clinical and neurobiological characteristics specific to this comorbidity. Limitations include study heterogeneity, reliance on cross-sectional designs and provisional PMDD/PMS diagnoses. Future research should address these gaps to inform diagnostic and therapeutic advancements tailored to this population.

Previous meta-analysis of the efficacy of mobile phone applications (mHealth apps) for depression has several limitations, including high risk of bias and heterogeneity in effect sizes across studies, and gaps in understanding of variability in treatment outcomes. We aimed to provide more reliable and clinically relevant findings by conducting a systematic literature search on PubMed, Embase and PsycInfo, focusing on newer studies with minimal risk of bias.

Analysing 17 randomised controlled trials (n = 2821) published between 2020 and 2025, we found a pooled standardised mean difference (s.m.d.) of –0.46 (95% CI –0.64 to –0.28; P < 0.001) relative to the control groups, which indicates a significant reduction in depressive symptoms. Subgroup analyses confirmed efficacy in both adolescents (s.m.d. = –0.42) and adults (s.m.d. = –0.49). Despite evidence of publication bias, 70% of the studies had a low risk of bias, supporting the robustness and reliability of these findings.

The results underscore the clinical relevance of mHealth apps as scalable and accessible tools for bridging gaps in mental healthcare. Their effectiveness across age groups highlights their potential for broad implementation, with future research needed to refine personalisation, engagement strategies and methodological rigour.