Exploring Psychological and Biological mediators between Childhood Adversity and Psychosis: An updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Revisiting the link between childhood adversity and stress-sensitive brain regions in psychosis and bipolar disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis

CA was not consistently associated with hippocampal or amygdala volume alterations in PD and BD, and more consistent evidence emerged for reduced GMV in prefrontal regions, suggesting that neurobiological impact of CA may be more robustly captured at the cortical level.

Childhood emotional maltreatment and trauma-related outcomes: a systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis

These findings underscore the importance of CEM in trauma-related symptomatology and support the need for its systematic assessment in clinical and research settings, particularly by highlighting differences between emotional abuse and emotional neglect.

Psychological factors mediating/moderating the association between adverse childhood experiences and suicidal ideation in young people: a systematic review.

Role of psychological resilience and social support in perinatal depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Perinatal Depression (PND) is a prevalent mental health disorder with adverse effects on both maternal and infant outcomes. Although psychological resilience and social support are widely considered protective factors against PND, the existing evidence is quite inconsistent. Consequently, this meta-analysis aimed to systematically assess and quantify the associations among PND, psychological resilience, and social support. METHODS This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Six electronic databases, grey literature, and reference lists were searched up to March 18, 2025. Studies were eligible if they investigated the association between perinatal depression and resilience or social support. The study quality was assessed using the AHRQ checklist for cross-sectional studies and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort designs. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted in R to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS Twenty-nine studies (N = 18,213) were included. The overall meta-analysis showed no significant association between the combined protective factors of resilience and social support with perinatal depression (OR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.66-1.05). In subgroup analyses based on exposure levels, studies that compared women with higher resilience to those with lower levels showed a reduced risk of postpartum depression (OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.62-0.87), while studies that used low resilience as the exposure group reported increased odds (OR = 3.54, 95% CI: 2.34-5.34). A similar pattern was observed for social support: studies using greater support as the exposure found a protective effect (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.50-0.84), whereas those using minimal support as the exposure reported higher odds (OR = 3.90, 95% CI: 2.46-6.18). These contrasting directions reflect differences in how primary studies defined the reference group, and the pooled estimates were therefore derived from distinct study sets rather than from the same data. Effect sizes also varied by maternal age and study design. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the findings, and no evidence of publication bias was detected. CONCLUSION High resilience and strong social support are associated with reduced risk of PND, whereas low resilience and minimal support are linked to increased risk. Although the overall pooled association was not statistically significant, subgroup findings underscore the importance of considering study context and reference group definitions. These results highlight the value of integrating resilience-building and social support interventions into perinatal mental health strategies.

Mentalization-based treatment for eating disorders: a systematic review and narrative synthesis

Mentalization-based treatment (MBT) targets difficulties in reflective functioning, emotion regulation and interpersonal relationships, which may contribute to the development and maintenance of eating disorders (EDs). This systematic review synthesised the available quantitative evidence on the outcomes of MBT or MBT-informed interventions for people with EDs. A protocol was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024421136) and the review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Bibliographic databases, trial registries, grey-literature sources and Google Scholar were searched from inception to 1 July 2026. Forward and backward citation chaining was conducted. Eligible studies included quantitative, longitudinal studies reporting outcomes of MBT or MBT-informed treatment in children, adolescents, or adults with a diagnosed ED. Two reviewers independently conducted each stage of study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. Findings were synthesised narratively because clinical and methodological heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis. Seven reports described 326 reported enrolments of participants with EDs; two reports may have included overlapping clinical samples. The evidence comprised three randomised controlled trials, two quasi-experimental studies, and two prospective observational studies. Samples were small and diagnostically heterogeneous, and interventions varied in format and duration. Although within-group improvements in ED symptoms and broader psychological functioning were frequently reported, comparative studies did not demonstrate consistent superiority of MBT over comparator interventions. All randomised studies raised some concerns about risk of bias, and all non-randomised studies were judged to have a critical risk of bias overall. Evidence for MBT and MBT-informed interventions in EDs remains preliminary and is insufficient to establish comparative effectiveness or sustained benefit. Future research should use adequately powered, methodologically rigorous studies to clarify which people are most likely to benefit from MBT, in which clinical contexts, and through which mechanisms. CRD42024421136

Art therapy and mental health outcomes: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Mental disorders remain a global health challenge, and conventional treatments often fall short. Art therapy (AT) shows promise as a complementary approach, yet evidence beyond depression and anxiety, such as loneliness, well-being, and cognition, remains limited. OBJECTIVE This updated systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the associations between AT and five outcomes: loneliness, psychological well-being, depression, anxiety, and cognitive function. METHODS Following PRISMA guidelines, five major databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL, and Medline) were searched for randomized controlled and quasi-experimental studies published from 2010 to 2024. Eligible studies assessed AT interventions for mental health outcomes. Data were pooled to estimate mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS Twenty-nine studies (11 RCTs and 18 quasi-experimental studies) involving 2,077 participants aged 13-90 years were included. AT was associated with improvements in psychological well-being (MD = 5.33), depression (MD =  -3.67), anxiety (MD =  -4.96), and cognitive function (MD = 1.50; all p < 0.001). Loneliness demonstrated a non-significant but potentially favorable trend (MD =  -3.97, p = 0.06), particularly in socially embedded formats. CONCLUSIONS AT demonstrates potential relevance as a complementary intervention within mental health care, particularly among aging populations experiencing increasing psychological and cognitive health challenges.