Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) shows promise for treating depression, but heterogeneous findings from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) – likely due to patient characteristics and methodological differences – limit clear conclusions about its efficacy.

This individual patient data meta-analysis (IPD-MA) aims to evaluate the efficacy of tDCS for depression and explore moderators of clinical depression improvement.

Databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library) were searched up to 1 February 2025 for RCTs comparing active versus sham tDCS in acute depressive episodes. The outcomes were Hedges’ g for continuous measures of depressive symptoms, odds ratio for response and remission rates and analyses of individual/methodological moderators of clinical improvement. Acceptability was assessed via dropout rates. Heterogeneity was quantified using the I² statistic. Publication and risk of bias were evaluated with Egger’s test and Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool, respectively.

Of 29 eligible RCTs, 18 data-sets provided IPD, totalling 1246 included in the IPD-MA (651 active, 595 sham; mean age 43.2, 63.4% female). Most studies (90%) had low risk of bias. Active tDCS showed small but statistically significant effects on depression improvement (Hedges’ d = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.11–0.35) and response rates (odds ratio 1.33, 95% CI = 1.04–1.72), with low-to-moderate heterogeneity. No significant difference in remission rates (odds ratio 1.30, 95% CI = 0.98–1.74) and dropout rates (12.7% active, 11.3% sham) were observed between groups. Only sample size significantly moderated clinical improvement, with larger trials showing smaller between-group differences.

In this IPD data-set, tDCS showed modest efficacy for depression. Future research should clarify its mechanisms, considering non-specific placebo effects.

The mental health risk factors for primary healthcare workers (PHWs) following the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic and the differences by urbanicity remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to identify key factors of anxiety and depression among PHWs in urban and rural settings in China.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in all 31 provinces in mainland China, between 1 May and 31 October 2022. A total of 3,769 PHWs, including family physicians, nurses, public health professionals, pharmacists, and other medical staff, were recruited from 44 urban community health service centers and 27 rural township hospitals. The Bayesian Additive Regression Tree model was employed to identify risk factors of anxiety and depression.

Among 3,769 PHWs, 1,006 (26.7%) worked in urban areas and 2,763 (73.3%) in rural areas. Occupational satisfaction significantly influenced anxiety in both urban and rural practitioners. For urban PHWs, living with family (odds ratio (OR): 0.42, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.28–0.62) and self-rated health (fair: OR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.23–0.42; good: OR: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.09–0.20) were key factors of anxiety. For rural PHWs, after-work exercise (rarely: OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.11–0.76; frequently: OR: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.05–0.44) played a critical role. Depression was associated with after-work exercise, self-rated health, and occupational satisfaction for all PHWs. Additionally, living with family (OR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.34–0.75) and organizational support satisfaction (satisfied: OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.19–0.42) were significant for urban practitioners.

Risk factors such as occupational satisfaction, health, and family relations significantly influence PHW mental health in China, with notable differences by urbanicity. Tailored mental health interventions are recommended to address urban–rural disparities.

Studies have demonstrated that high job strain and low job satisfaction can lead to depression. However, less focus has been recorded on the effects of a worker’s perceived challenges related to their qualifications.

We aimed to investigate the association between perceived professional under-challenge or overload and depressive symptoms (also stratified by gender), based on nationally representative longitudinal data, thereby adding methodological novelty to previous cross-sectional research approaches.

This study used longitudinal data from the nationally representative German Ageing Survey covering community-dwelling individuals aged 40–64 years. The analytic sample included 7487 observations from 4362 individuals, spanning 4 survey waves (2008–2017). Key variables were depressive symptoms (measured with the 15-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale), perceived occupational challenge (via self-report) and relevant time-varying covariates (age, marital status, net household income, self-rated health, chronic diseases). Linear fixed-effects regressions were used to analyse longitudinal associations.

Fixed-effects regressions showed that transitions towards overload were significantly associated with increased depressive symptoms (β = 1.39, P < 0.01), while transitions towards not being sufficiently challenged showed no significant associations. When stratified by gender, similar patterns were observed for men, with significant associations between overload and increased depressive symptoms (β = 2.16, P = 0.004).

Our study indicates that changes towards job overload are linked to increased depressive symptoms in middle-aged men, emphasising the importance of managing work challenges and fostering a healthy work environment for employees’ mental health.

Crime has significant impact on older victims. High rates of anxiety and depression may be associated with crimes.

This paper aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a victim improvement package (VIP) for the reduction of continued symptoms of depression or anxiety in older victims of community crime, from the societal perspective, in a three-step, parallel-group, single-blind randomised controlled trial.

Participants (N = 131) were randomised to receive either the VIP intervention in addition to treatment as usual (TAU) (n = 65), or to TAU alone (n = 66). Service resource use was collected using the Client Service Receipt Inventory and health-related quality-of-life data via the EQ-5D-5L instrument at 3 months post-crime (baseline), 6 months post-crime (post-intervention) and 9 months post-crime (follow-up).

The mean cost of the VIP intervention was estimated at £1330 per participant in the intervention arm. The mean difference in costs between the VIP and TAU arms over the 6-month trial duration was −£881 (95% CI: −£5947 to £4186). The mean difference in quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) was −0.011 (95% CI: −0.042 to 0.020).

The addition of VIP to TAU for older victims of community crime generated a lower mean point estimate for costs, and failed to improve quality of life compared with TAU alone. While this places VIP in the south-west quadrant of the cost-effectiveness plane, the magnitude and significance of the QALY difference do not justify declaring VIP cost-effective or TAU not cost-effective. Future research is needed to identify the most cost-effective intervention.

Exposure to workplace bullying is associated with an increased risk of mental health conditions, yet it is debated whether the association is causal. This study aims to address this by examining whether onset of workplace bullying is associated with initiating treatment with psychotropic medication, here used as a proxy measure for onset of common mental disorders.

We used two longitudinal datasets from Sweden and Denmark (mean age: 47.4, women: 52.8%), combined with national registry data on psychotropic medication purchases. Using a target trial approach, the study population (N = 25 309) consisted of employees free of workplace bullying and psychotropic medication use at baseline. We used Cox proportional hazards regression (adjusted for sociodemographic variables, depressive symptoms and psychosocial work characteristics) to assess the association between onset of exposure to workplace bullying and incident treatment with psychotropic medication during 2 years.

In total, 1490 individuals (5.9%) experienced onset of workplace bullying. Bullying onset was associated with incident treatment with any psychotropic medication (HR: 1.42, 95% CI 1.15–1.77, model adjusted for sociodemographic variables). This association was attenuated in the fully adjusted model (HR: 1.24, 95% CI 0.99–1.53). In analyses focusing on antidepressant treatment, the estimates were stronger (HR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.15–2.09, fully adjusted model). The results further demonstrated an exposure–response relationship, such that higher frequency of bullying exposure was associated with an increased risk of initiating any psychotropic treatment and antidepressants.

Individuals experiencing onset of workplace bullying were at higher risk of starting antidepressant treatment within 2 years. This is the first study showing that onset of workplace bullying can contribute to the development of mental health conditions requiring medical treatment. These results underline the importance of preventive interventions that reduce workplace bullying.

Substantial evidence supports the efficacy of cognitive bias modification (CBM) for attention and interpretation. However, CBM targeting memory bias (CBM-M) remains underexplored despite its clinical relevance. This study examines the effectiveness and neurobiological mechanisms of CBM-M.

Fifty-eight individuals with elevated anxious and depressive personality traits (>1 SD) were randomly assigned to either CBM-M or sham training (n = 29 per group) in a parallel, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. The intervention involved eight sessions over 1 month. CBM-M aimed to enhance positive autobiographical memory (AM) recall by focusing on positive and negative words, whereas sham training lacked this enhancement module. Anxiety and depressive traits and symptoms, explicit and implicit memory biases, and AM specificity were assessed. Additionally, intrinsic functional connectivity was measured via functional magnetic resonance imaging, and cortisol levels were assayed via saliva collected at 10 time points across 2 days before and after the intervention.

Both groups showed reduced anxiety and depressive traits from pre- to post-intervention. Compared with sham training, CBM-M specifically reduced stress vulnerability, negative explicit memory bias, and daytime cortisol levels, with a large effect size. Improvement in memory bias correlated with stress vulnerability and cortisol reductions. CBM-M also enhanced amygdala functional connectivity with the anteromedial orbitofrontal cortex in comparison with sham training from pre- to post-intervention.

CBM-M reduced stress vulnerability and elicited neural changes in amygdala–anteromedial orbitofrontal cortex interactions, which were involved in social reward and AM recall. Future research should identify the most responsive populations and elucidate underlying mechanisms.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted daily social interactions, potentially affecting mental health. Understanding the risk of depressive and anxiety symptoms is essential for guiding mental health strategies during future crises.

To explore how social networks influenced mental health outcomes during the pandemic and how these relationships changed over time.

Data from the Omtanke2020 study, a prospective cohort study of Swedish adults, were analysed using structural equation modelling (N = 10 918). Surveys at baseline and follow-up at 6 and 12 months assessed social networks, including structural components (e.g. relationship status, frequency of social contact) and perceived components (e.g. emotional support from family, feeling safe at home). Cross-lagged panel modelling was used to observe changes over time in the associations between social network indicators and depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Stronger perceived social support – specifically closeness to family, perceived warmth or love from others and increased societal cohesion – were negatively correlated with depressive and anxiety symptoms across all time points (β coefficients = −0.14 to −0.23, all P < 0.001). Social network variables consistently predicted mental health outcomes, with effect sizes remaining relatively stable over time (β coefficient = −0.17 at baseline, β coefficient = −0.21 at 1-year follow-up).

This study highlights the protective role of the social network – namely perceived social support – in combatting depressive and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interventions that strengthen close interpersonal ties and community cohesion may help mitigate mental health impacts during future public health crises.

Interest in psilocybin as a treatment for depression has risen over the past decade, fuelled by promising clinical trials and a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape. Media coverage plays a critical role in shaping public perceptions, yet little is known about how psilocybin is portrayed in global anglophone online news for the treatment of depression.

This study examines the comprehensiveness and sentiment of English-language online news articles (n = 125) discussing psilocybin as a treatment for depression from January 2000 to May 2024. Articles were sourced from the top 30 global anglophone news outlets, assessed using a 13-item instrument for comprehensiveness, and analysed for sentiment across five thematic categories. A separate sub-analysis was completed for Irish media.

Findings indicate a significant increase in coverage over time, with 43.2% of articles published between 2022 and 2024, predominantly from the USA (68%). While 90.4% of articles cited researchers, fewer addressed risks (47.2%), long-term evidence (46.4%), or patient perspectives (25%). Sentiment analysis revealed a very positive sentiment across articles which was 2.27 on a scale from −5 (most negative) to + 5 (most positive) (SD 1.33), with no significant changes over the time period. Reporting on psilocybin’s onset and duration of effects increased significantly, reflecting growing clinical evidence. However, coverage remains concentrated in prominent outlets, with limited attention to patient experiences and long-term safety.

These findings highlight the media’s role in shaping discourse on emerging treatments and suggest a need for more balanced reporting to align public understanding with scientific evidence. This study provides a foundation for future research on media portrayals of psilocybin and implications for public perception and policy.

High uncertainty in recent global health, geopolitical, and climate crises has been proposed as one important driver of the rise in youth mental health problems. This makes intolerance of uncertainty – a transdiagnostic risk factor for mental health problems – a promising target for intervention.

This study presents a novel single-session online training that took a synergistic mindset approach to promote uncertainty-as-adaptive and growth mindsets. The novel Uncertainty-Mindset Training was compared with Psychoeducation and No-Training control groups in 259 older adolescents/emerging adults (18-to-24-year-olds).

The Uncertainty-Mindset Training reduced intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety symptoms, and depression symptoms 1 month later. Importantly, the clinical gains were mediated by reductions in intolerance of uncertainty.

Given that this ultra-brief training can be delivered at scale globally and at no cost to the users, it shows promise for significant public health impacts.

Due to the high prevalence of depression and anxiety in people with epilepsy, the International League Against Epilepsy Commission on the Neuropsychiatric Aspects of Epilepsy recommends implementing routine screening for depression and anxiety symptoms. Our epilepsy group began administering three screening questionnaires to all clinic patients in 2016: the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI-E), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7).

We aim to review our experience with this screening approach.

We reviewed 2253 sets of questionnaires completed from January 2018 to March 2020 and studied the actions taken by epileptologists in response to a positive screening.

Thirty-six percent of all assessed patients screened positive on at least one questionnaire: 13.6% screened positive for depression symptoms (NDDI-E ≥ 16), 12.3% for anxiety symptoms (BAI ≥ 22) and 30.3% for GAD symptoms (GAD-7 > 7). Among patients with a positive screening, 36% received a care intervention, 59% did not and 5% declined the neurologist’s recommendation. Among patients for whom an intervention was implemented, 58% were referred to a mental health professional (generally a neuropsychiatrist), 29% had their antiseizure medication adjusted to alleviate their symptoms and 13% received another intervention.

In our clinic, an important proportion of patients screened positive for depression and/or anxiety symptoms. Fewer than half received a management option to alleviate their symptoms. We conclude that while routine screening increases the detection of depression and anxiety among epilepsy patients, it must be accompanied by effective interventions and access to mental-health professionals.

Peripartum depression (PPD) is one of the most common pregnancy complications; nevertheless, it often goes underdiagnosed. Pinpointing important correlates is crucial for early risk identification and pathophysiology understanding. We aimed to investigate the association between self-reported mood swings during oral contraceptive (OC) use and peripartum depressive symptoms (PPDS).

We used data from the Swedish longitudinal cohort study Mom2B. 3829 women who had reported previous usage of OCs were included. Self-reported mood swings during OC use were assessed through a single question, and PPDS were evaluated using established cut-offs of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).

Self-reported mood swings during OC use were associated with PPDS at gestational weeks 12–22 (OR = 1.30, 95% CI, 1.01–1.66), 24–34 (OR = 1.37, 95% CI, 1.10–1.71) and 36–42 (OR = 1.39, 95% CI, 1.05–1.82) as well as at postpartum weeks 6–13 (OR = 1.46, 95% CI, 1.12–1.92) and 24–35 (OR = 2.07, 95% CI, 1.43–2.99). Interestingly, self-reported mood swings during OC use were associated with higher odds for newly developed PPDS in early postpartum (OR for weeks 6–13 = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.19–3.08).

Women with self-reported mood swings during OC use have higher risk of experiencing depressive symptoms across the peripartum period and twice the risk of newly developed PPDS during the early postpartum, adding to current evidence of a hormonal sensitive subgroup of women and the opportunity to use this simple question in future predictive efforts.