Women with bipolar disorder and regular cycles report worse premenstrual symptoms
Preliminary research presented at the 2026 ECNP Congress in Munich surveyed 267 women of reproductive age with bipolar disorder and found that those with regular menstrual cycles were more likely to report severe premenstrual symptoms — including irritability, anger, and interference with work and relationships — than those with irregular cycles. The researchers also noted that women with regular cycles were more likely to have stopped hormonal contraceptives due to side effects. The lead researcher emphasized that premenstrual symptoms in women with bipolar disorder need to be taken more seriously in clinical care, and cautioned the findings are preliminary and not yet peer-reviewed.
Source: News-Medical Study examines long-term mental health and alcohol use trajectories following disasters
A nine-year study published in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research followed 941 people in the U.S. Gulf Coast after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a series of catastrophic hurricanes, and the COVID-19 pandemic, tracing how drinking patterns and mental health evolved together. Elevated and increasing alcohol use were linked to worsening depression, while exposure to less predictable, isolating disasters (the oil spill and COVID disruptions) was more strongly tied to changes in drinking than hurricanes, after which communities often rally together. The authors say post-disaster alcohol interventions should be tailored to individual drinking trajectories and mental health profiles.
Source: Medical Xpress Study links environment and youth mental health
A University of Canterbury-led study tracking nearly one million New Zealanders aged 10 to 24 found that the overall mix of neighborhood features — not just any single factor — was associated with young people's mental health. Areas with more health-constraining features like fast-food and alcohol outlets were linked to higher odds of emotional disorders and more substance-use and self-harm hospitalizations, while access to green and blue spaces was associated with better outcomes. The researchers say the results support planning neighborhoods that make healthy choices easier, even after accounting for deprivation and access to care.
Source: Phys.org
Preliminary research presented at the 2026 ECNP Congress in Munich surveyed 267 women of reproductive age with bipolar disorder and found that those with regular menstrual cycles were more likely to report severe premenstrual symptoms — including irritability, anger, and interference with work and relationships — than those with irregular cycles. The researchers also noted that women with regular cycles were more likely to have stopped hormonal contraceptives due to side effects. The lead researcher emphasized that premenstrual symptoms in women with bipolar disorder need to be taken more seriously in clinical care, and cautioned the findings are preliminary and not yet peer-reviewed.
Source: News-Medical Study examines long-term mental health and alcohol use trajectories following disasters
A nine-year study published in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research followed 941 people in the U.S. Gulf Coast after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a series of catastrophic hurricanes, and the COVID-19 pandemic, tracing how drinking patterns and mental health evolved together. Elevated and increasing alcohol use were linked to worsening depression, while exposure to less predictable, isolating disasters (the oil spill and COVID disruptions) was more strongly tied to changes in drinking than hurricanes, after which communities often rally together. The authors say post-disaster alcohol interventions should be tailored to individual drinking trajectories and mental health profiles.
Source: Medical Xpress Study links environment and youth mental health
A University of Canterbury-led study tracking nearly one million New Zealanders aged 10 to 24 found that the overall mix of neighborhood features — not just any single factor — was associated with young people's mental health. Areas with more health-constraining features like fast-food and alcohol outlets were linked to higher odds of emotional disorders and more substance-use and self-harm hospitalizations, while access to green and blue spaces was associated with better outcomes. The researchers say the results support planning neighborhoods that make healthy choices easier, even after accounting for deprivation and access to care.
Source: Phys.org