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From promoting relaxation to improving sleep quality, cannabis is increasingly explored as a natural option for managing stress and anxiety...
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If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available.
Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. To learn how to get support for mental health, drug or alcohol conditions, visit FindSupport.gov. If you are ready to locate a treatment facility or provider, visit FindTreatment.gov or call 800-662-HELP (4357).
U.S. veterans or service members in crisis can call 988 then press "1" for the Veterans Crisis Line, text 838255, or chat online.
The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has a Spanish language line at 1-888-628-9454 (toll-free).
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The diagnosis comes, and the inbox fills up. Therapy acronyms. Insurance forms. Well-meaning relatives forwarding articles. Somewhere in the noise, three letters keep appearing: ABA. Your pediatrician mentions it. Your insurance company asks about it. The waitlist conversations are all built around it.
What nobody quite explains, in the first dizzy weeks after a diagnosis, is what ABA actually is — what it does, what it doesn't do, and how to tell a quality program from a low-quality one.
Across the United States, the demand for behavioral health providers continues to climb, with communities feeling that strain in very real ways. You can see it in long waitlists for counseling services, and you can hear it in conversations about burnout among clinicians who carry heavy caseloads. Social workers stand at the center of this growing need, as they deliver therapy, connect clients with resources, and advocate for systemic change across healthcare, education, and public service systems.
Workforce shortages persist, with many organizations struggling to recruit and retain qualified professionals. Federal projections estimate a shortage of up to 31,000 mental health and substance use social workers by 2030, highlighting how quickly demand continues to outpace supply. Graduate education is key to addressing this gap, serving as the primary pathway into licensed clinical positions. As demand rises, universities have expanded flexible options that attract a broader range of students — reflecting a larger shift in how professional training reaches people who want to make a difference.
In 2026, the path to becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) has advanced significantly, with both the curriculum and clinical training reflecting a broader, more advanced approach to care. If you're considering an MSN to FNP program online, you might be wondering what exactly has changed and how it impacts your educational journey. With the increasing demand for highly skilled nurse practitioners, programs are being designed to prepare practitioners for a healthcare terrain that's more dynamic, diverse, and technology-driven than previously.
When looking at MSN to FNP programs online today, the curriculum has expanded to include more comprehensive and integrated coursework than in previous years. The focus now encompasses a broader view of patient care that incorporates population health, digital health technologies, and advanced clinical reasoning — alongside pathophysiology, pharmacology, systems thinking, leadership, and evidence-based practice.
Behavioral health demand across the United States has reached a level that is forcing structural reconsideration across the healthcare workforce, with federal estimates indicating that more than 120 million Americans live in areas with insufficient mental health services. This places sustained pressure on access, continuity of care, and patient outcomes. The consequences are visible through extended wait times, higher patient acuity at intake, and growing reliance on emergency departments for psychiatric crises — together signaling a system operating beyond comfortable capacity.
Graduate nursing education sits directly within this pressure point, as psychiatric training pathways carry responsibility for expanding workforce supply, maintaining clinical depth, and preparing clinicians for increasingly complex presentations. Programs in 2026 face scrutiny tied to how effectively they prepare practitioners for real clinical demands, so curriculum design, accreditation expectations, and clinical partnerships continue to adapt in response to sustained national need.
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Editor's note: Cannabis and THCA/Hemp CBD products should have an active ingredient list on the container and a Certificate of Analysis (COA). Discuss your use of THC, cannabis, or CBD products with your health care provider. Dosing of cannabis products is variable, especially since they are not FDA regulated. Cannabis/CBD may interfere with other medications and should not be used in individuals with certain health conditions, including liver issues. CBD skin care products can be absorbed through the skin and have similar effects. Do not use cannabis products including edibles, drinks, and CBD if you are pregnant, nursing, or may become pregnant. Do not use cannabis products if driving or operating difficult or dangerous machinery. Children should not be exposed to cannabis or CBD products.
A question that comes up constantly in cannabis research is one that patients have been asking for years: why does CBD ease anxiety in one person and make another feel worse? For a long time, the honest answer was that nobody fully knew. A landmark study out of McGill University changedthat, and the findings reveal something that most consumer guides on CBD have never properly explained.
The answer is not about product quality, dosage form, or brand. It comes down to how cannabis interacts with serotonin — and specifically why that interaction is not the same at every dose.
Our findings suggest that cannabis prevention efforts should prioritize youth and adolescents, education campaigns should emphasize age-related risks, and policy...
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Two people can take the same antidepressant at the same dose and have very different experiences. One may improve within weeks, while another may develop side effects or feel little benefit. This variation is well documented and is one reason clinicians increasingly look at biology, not just symptoms, when treatment is not going as expected. Large treatment studies have also shown that only about one-third of patients achieve remission after a first antidepressant trial — which helps explain why medication selection often involves careful adjustment rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
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The physiological benefits of mindful movement have transitioned from holistic theory to empirical science. Medical researchers and clinical practitioners increasingly view structured physical recovery programmes as essential interventions for mitigating chronic stress. For decades, the medical community evaluated these practices based on subjective patient reports. Today, clinical evaluations measure highly specific biomarkers, such as salivary cortisol and pro-inflammatory cytokines, to determine exactly how short-term immersive practices affect the human body. Understanding the precise biological mechanisms behind active recovery has never been more relevant.
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Without a doubt, living with a long-term health condition can affect so much more than just the body. For instance, a chronic illness can impact emotions, thoughts, and everyday habits. It is quite self-explanatory why many people dealing with chronic illnesses experience low mood, worry, and stress, which can make it even harder for them to manage their health.
This is exactly where the importance of cognitive behavioral therapy comes in.
In simple terms, CBT is a structured approach that focuses on the link between feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Essentially, CBT helps people understand how their thoughts influence their actions and general well-being.
Jakob Norgren, Ph.D.[/caption]
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Jakob Norgren | PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher
Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS) | Karolinska Institutet
Division of Clinical Geriatrics | Center for Alzheimer Research
Huddinge, Sweden
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: This study tested the hypothesis that people with APOE 3/4 and 4/4 would have a reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia with higher meat intake, based on the fact that APOE4 is the evolutionarily oldest variant of the APOE gene and may have arisen during a period when our evolutionary ancestors ate a more animal-based diet.
Francis J. Gesel[/caption]
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Francis J. Gesel
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Scranton, Pennsylvania
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Conflicts of interest (COIs) in psychiatric research represent a longstanding ethical challenge, given the close relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and psychiatry. Journals require authors to disclose these relationships, while the U.S. Open Payments database, created under the Sunshine Act, provides a record of payments from manufacturers to physicians. However, whether physician-authors in psychiatry’s most influential journals consistently disclose these relationships had not been systematically assessed. We focused on the American Journal of Psychiatry (AJP) and JAMA Psychiatry (JAMA-PSY), two of the highest-impact journals in the field, to evaluate the prevalence and magnitude of undisclosed financial COIs.
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Dr. Cutttler, Ph.D.[/caption]
Carrie Cuttler, Ph.D.
The Health & Cognition (THC) Lab
Associate Professor
Director, Experimental Psychology Doctoral Program
Co-Director, Cannabis Research Center (CRC)
Department of Psychology
Washington State University
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: One of the most well-documented effects of acute cannabis intoxication is impairment in memory. However, memory is not a single process. It is a complex system made up of multiple distinct subsystems that rely on different neural mechanisms and support different types of remembering.
Most prior research examining the acute effects of cannabis in humans has focused on a relatively narrow set of memory tests—primarily verbal memory tasks, which involve recalling lists of words, and working memory tasks, which require temporarily holding and manipulating information in consciousness.
Far fewer studies have examined how cannabis affects other types of memory that are more relevant to everyday life. These include temporal order memory (remembering the order in which events occurred), prospective memory (remembering to perform tasks in the future), source memory (remembering where information came from), false memory (recalling information that was never presented), and episodic content memory (recalling personally experienced events).
To address this gap, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examining the acute effects of cannabis across multiple memory domains. In total, 120 participants were randomly assigned to vaporize either a placebo, a moderate dose of cannabis (20 mg THC), or a high dose of cannabis (40 mg THC).
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Life can sometimes throw challenges that feel insurmountable. Whether it is the loss of a loved one, a period of severe illness, a financial setback, or struggles with addiction, these difficult times can leave people feeling lost, overwhelmed, and uncertain about the future. However, many individuals find ways to rebuild their lives, often emerging stronger and more resilient than before. Understanding the steps people take to recover and grow can offer hope and guidance to those navigating their own hardships.
Acknowledging the Pain
The first step in rebuilding life after a difficult period is acknowledging the pain. Denying or minimizing struggles can prolong the healing process. By confronting emotions head-on, people begin to understand the impact of their experiences and take ownership of their healing journey. This can involve seeking support from friends, family, or professional counsellors who can offer a safe space to express feelings without judgment. Journaling, art, or other forms of creative expression can also provide an outlet for processing complex emotions.
[caption id="attachment_72613" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Unsplash image[/caption] Music has always held a quiet power over the human mind. Long before modern medicine,...
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Acute trauma has long been associated with visible physical damage. However, the invisible neurological consequences often shape long-term recovery just as strongly.
Cognitive symptoms such as memory lapses, reduced attention span, slower processing speed, and emotional instability emerge after traumatic events. Growing research suggests that neuroinflammation plays a central role in determining the impact on cognitive function.
For instance, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) can be affected by injury-induced inflammation. Studies have linked BBB disruption to cognitive decline. Some of the most associated factors are inflammation, metabolic imbalance, cellular aging, oxidative and nitrosative stress, and excitotoxicity.
Studies also suggest that altering BBB permeability can produce either protective or harmful neurological effects, depending on the context.
Understanding how inflammatory pathways respond to trauma offers insight into why some individuals regain their previous level of functioning while others don’t.
Dr. Young-Wolff[/caption]
Kelly Young-Wolff, PhD, MPH
Licensed clinical psychologist and Research Scientist
Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research
Associate Professor, Psychiatry
School of Medicine
UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Cannabis is widely used by adolescents, and it’s often first used during the same developmental window when many psychiatric disorders begin to emerge. At the same time, cannabis has become more accessible and more socially accepted. While prior studies have linked adolescent cannabis use to mental health symptoms, fewer large studies have examined whether it’s associated with later clinically diagnosed psychiatric disorders. We wanted to address that gap.
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Many people wonder whether a diagnosed social anxiety disorder makes them disabled. The simple answer is most likely yes, it is when a person's daily life and work are affected by social anxiety that it can be considered a disability. Many people are actually unable to function normally in social interactions, a direct result of this condition.
If someone is unable to work, form personal relationships, or even perform daily tasks due to social anxiety, it is a sign that the disorder has become disabling.
Federal laws recognize mental health problems as disabilities. Social anxiety disorder is listed on the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Social Security Administration's list of disabilities. These laws, on the same level, recognize that mental disorders can be as limiting as physical injuries.
Social Anxiety as a Disability
Social anxiety disorder is a common condition that affects millions of people. Most people with severe social anxiety remain stuck in patterns of fear and avoidance. They are eager to work and become functioning fellows of society, but mental barriers get in their way. Even simple tasks like answering phone messages, attending meetings, or dealing with customers become almost impossible obstacles for people with this disorder.
However, social anxiety disorder affects different people differently. While some people sweat, tremble, or feel nauseous when faced with social situations, others are so afraid that they literally run away from people they have to meet. It is most disabling when it interferes with:
Prof. Chu Chen[/caption]
Chu Chen, PhD
Professor and Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Chair in Neural Physiology
Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology
Center for Biomedical Neuroscience
Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine
University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center
San Antonio, TX 78229
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly, yet no effective therapies currently exist to prevent, treat, or halt its progression. Cannabis has been used for thousands of years for both recreational and medicinal purposes; however, its therapeutic application has been limited by undesirable neurocognitive side effects, particularly impairments in learning and memory. Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the primary psychoactive component of cannabis, has been shown to reduce amyloid-β (Aβ) pathology in animal models of AD, but at high doses (>5.0 mg/kg) it also disrupts synaptic function and impairs cognition.
Research from our laboratory and others has demonstrated that Δ9-THC-induced deficits in long-term synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory are associated with the induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an inducible enzyme that converts arachidonic acid into pro-inflammatory prostaglandins. Notably, pharmacological inhibition or genetic deletion of COX-2 attenuates Δ9-THC-induced synaptic and cognitive impairments. Based on these findings, we proposed a combination (“cocktail”) therapy consisting of low-dose Δ9-THC and the anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, as a potential therapeutic strategy for AD. This approach is designed to preserve the beneficial effects of Δ9-THC while minimizing its adverse neurocognitive effects and COX-2-mediated inflammatory responses.
Dr. Fyfe[/caption]
Dr. Caroline Fyfe PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Life Long Health and Wellbeing Theme
University of Edinburgh
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Autism (ASD) has traditionally been seen as a condition that disproportionately affects males. This study quantifies the sex bias across birth cohorts, ages, and calendar time, using the Swedish national population registers to follow ~ 2.7 million individual born between 1985 and 2020 throughout their lives. Among children under ten years old the male-to-female diagnosis ratio remained relatively stable at about 3:1.
In contrast, a rapid increase in diagnoses of ASD among females during adolescence, produced a “female catch-up effect” that resulted in near parity of ASD prevalence between males and females by adulthood.
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Mental and behavioral health care is often discussed in terms of access, affordability, and availability. Yet one of the most influential factors in treatment success receives far less public attention: continuity of care. Across diagnoses, age groups, and treatment settings, research consistently shows that how long a person remains engaged in care, and how well that care is coordinated over time, plays a critical role in long-term outcomes. Understanding the relationship between treatment length, care setting, and recovery is essential for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers alike.
Rather than viewing mental health care as a single episode, modern research increasingly frames it as a continuum. Individuals may move between outpatient therapy, intensive programs, and residential treatment depending on symptom severity, life stability, and response to intervention. Examining how these settings interact helps clarify why treatment duration and setting should be considered strategic clinical decisions rather than logistical ones.
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Specialized mental health care continues to gain attention as more people seek support for complex emotional and psychological needs. Nurses hold a vital place in this landscape because they understand how mental health affects every aspect of a person’s life. Their work involves careful assessment, compassionate communication, and steady guidance through moments that often feel overwhelming for patients.
Their presence helps create stability, structure, and safety at times when individuals may feel disconnected or uncertain about the future. Their involvement strengthens the entire care process since they provide consistent support throughout every stage of treatment.
Dr. Gaynor[/caption]
Leslie S. Gaynor, PhD
Clinical Neuropsychologist & Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of Geriatric Medicine
Department of Medicine
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN 37203
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: The US population is rapidly aging, and the oldest members of our population are also the most vulnerable to developing clinical dementia. We are interested in studying older adults ages 80+ who display cognitive resilience despite this increased risk of dementia and actually display exceptional memory performance compared to their same-aged, typically performing peers. These “SuperAgers,”—i.e., 80+-year-old adults with memory performance that is comparable to or surpasses that of adults 20 to 30 years their junior—may hold the key to uncovering genetic factors that predict exceptionally healthy longevity.