#bipolardisorder — Public Fediverse posts

https://www.europesays.com/news/84189/ Nurse convicted of murder in fatal high-speed South L.A. car wreck #alonzo #AntonellaNistorescu #AshereyRyan #BiPolarDisorder #fetus #FieryCrash #Headlines #hour #linton #mile #Murder #News #nurse #people #prosecutor #seizure #TopStories #wreck

Remake review – Ross McElwee’s magnificent and moving tribute to a tragic loss and the art it inspired
By Leslie Felperin

Sherman’s March director McElwee revisits footage of his late son for this magnificently affecting film and meditation on making art

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/sep/23/remake-review-ross-mcelwees-magnificent-and-moving-tribute-to-a-tragic-loss-and-the-art-it-inspired

#Film #Documentaryfilms #Family #Bipolardisorder #Culture #Lifeandstyle #Society #TheGuardian #LeslieFelperin

The Careful Season

https://carolineprice.com/the-careful-season/

DATE: September 16, 2026 at 10:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: Large genetic study links GLP-1 receptor activation to improved mental well-being

URL: https://www.psypost.org/large-genetic-study-links-glp-1-receptor-activation-to-improved-mental-well-being/

A new study provides evidence that activating the GLP-1 receptor, the biological target of popular weight-loss and diabetes medications, is associated with better mental health and a lower risk of conditions like depression and bipolar disorder. The research also suggests a potential protective effect against substance use disorders, hinting at psychiatric benefits that go beyond simple weight loss. These findings were published in Translational Psychiatry.

The glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor is a protein found on the surface of cells in various parts of the body, including the pancreas and the brain. When activated, it helps regulate blood sugar and sends fullness signals to the brain, reducing appetite. Medications that activate this receptor, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, have become widely used for managing type 2 diabetes and obesity. Because these drugs act on the central nervous system, scientists have been investigating whether they might also influence mental health.

Early clinical research hinted at potential psychiatric benefits. For instance, an early 2016 clinical study found that the GLP-1 medication liraglutide improved cognitive problems in patients with mood disorders. Following up on that, a 2017 experimental study showed that GLP-1 treatment produced physical changes in brain areas that regulate mood in people with mood disorders. More recently, a 2023 review of clinical trials showed that GLP-1 drugs can reliably reduce symptoms of depression.

These observations prompted researchers to ask whether activating the GLP-1 receptor genuinely protects against psychiatric and substance use disorders, or if the mood improvements were simply a side effect of patients feeling better about losing weight. To answer this, a research team led by Guoyi Yang conducted a large-scale genetic study to isolate the biological effects of GLP-1 receptor activation.

“GLP-1R agonists, such as semaglutide, have transformed how we treat obesity and type 2 diabetes,” said Yang, a postdoctoral researcher at the Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Department of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. “Concerns were raised about the risk of suicidal ideation and self-injury in people using GLP-1R agonists. In contrast, clinical trials suggested that these medications reduced depressive symptoms. To better understand the psychiatric effects of GLP-1R agonists, we used genetic variants as proxies for GLP-1R activation, the intended target of these drugs, to evaluate whether activating this receptor influences mental health outcomes,” he told PsyPost.

The researchers used a technique called Mendelian randomization. This method acts like a natural clinical trial by looking at genetic variations that people are born with. Because genes are assigned randomly at birth and are not influenced by lifestyle choices or environmental factors, they can help establish whether a specific biological mechanism directly influences an outcome. The team focused on specific genetic variants near the GLP1R gene that mimic the effects of taking a GLP-1 drug.

This approach uses genetics to predict what happens when you intervene on a specific biological target. “Our research uses genetics as a tool to predict the impact of GLP-1R activation – we aren’t saying that GLP-1R activation is only relevant to people with a certain genetic background,” Yang explained. “We hypothesize that the genetic variants that we consider in this paper affect the same mechanism that the drug affects – and so the genetic variants tell us what happens if you intervene on this target using the drug.”

Yang and colleagues identified two sets of these natural genetic proxies. The first set lowers body mass index, which is a common measure of body fat based on a person’s height and weight. The second set lowers glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), which is a measure of average blood sugar levels over several months. They analyzed data from massive genetic databases, including the UK Biobank, which contained information from hundreds of thousands of people of European ancestry. The researchers examined how these GLP-1-activating genetic variants related to a broad spectrum of mental health outcomes.

The mental health outcomes included general well-being, comprising life satisfaction, positive affect, neuroticism, and depressive symptoms. The researchers also looked at diagnosed mental health disorders like major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Finally, they examined the risk of substance use disorders, such as alcohol dependence and cannabis use disorder. To ensure their results were robust, they compared the effects of the specific GLP-1 variants against general genetic variants from across the entire genome that simply lower body weight or blood sugar.

The findings indicate that genetically predicted GLP-1 receptor activation through the body mass index pathway is associated with widespread mental health benefits. Specifically, for every 1-kilogram per square meter decrease in body mass index driven by GLP-1 receptor activation, individuals experienced a 0.06 standard deviation improvement in overall mental well-being. This included higher life satisfaction and lower levels of neuroticism and depressive symptoms.

The researchers also found a reduced risk for severe psychiatric conditions. A 1-kilogram per square meter decrease in body mass index via the GLP-1 pathway was associated with an odds ratio of 0.82 for major depressive disorder, meaning a roughly 18% lower risk. The association with bipolar disorder was even stronger, showing an odds ratio of 0.61, or a 39% reduction in risk. There was also suggestive evidence that this specific biological pathway lowers the risk of ADHD and postpartum depression.

“We were surprised by just how broadly GLP-1R activation seems to benefit mental health, extending to depression, bipolar disorder, and potentially substance use disorders,” Yang said. “The effect on bipolar disorder was striking, showing almost a 40% lower risk (odds ratio of 0.61). These results highlight GLP-1R agonists as promising candidates for future psychiatric therapies.”

Notably, these mental health benefits were much stronger than the effects seen from general, genome-wide genetic variants that just lower body mass index. This suggests that the psychiatric advantages of GLP-1 receptor activation are not entirely explained by weight loss alone. The receptor’s direct activity in the brain, potentially regulating stress responses and neuroinflammation, likely plays an independent role in improving mood. Interestingly, genetic variants that mimicked the blood-sugar-lowering effects of GLP-1 activation did not show these same broad mental health benefits.

The study also provided suggestive evidence that GLP-1 receptor activation is associated with a lower risk of substance use disorders and fewer reported alcohol problems. These findings are in line with research covered by PsyPost in 2025, which examined actual prescription records and hospitalizations rather than genetic proxies, and similarly found evidence linking GLP-1 pathway activity to a lower risk of substance use disorders.

The new results are also consistent with another study covered by PsyPost in 2026. That study, which also used Mendelian randomization to analyze genetic proxies for GLP-1 receptor activation, found no evidence of increased risk for major psychiatric conditions like depression and bipolar disorder, alleviating early concerns that the medications might provoke psychiatric distress.

As with all research, there are a few things to keep in mind when interpreting the results. The Mendelian randomization approach relies on the assumption that the selected genetic variants only affect the outcomes through the GLP-1 receptor. It is possible that these specific genes also influence neighboring biological pathways, which could independently affect mental health. The researchers used statistical tests to check for this, but the possibility cannot be completely ruled out.

“A key limitation of this method (Mendelian randomization) is that it relies on rigorous assumptions that cannot be verified,” Yang pointed out. “While we carefully selected genetic variants in or near GLP1R to mimic the drug target, we cannot rule out the possibility that nearby genes might also play a role. Clinical trials are needed to determine whether these psychiatric benefits directly translate to patients.”

Additionally, looking at genetic variants measures the effect of lifelong exposure to slightly altered GLP-1 receptor activity. This is quite different from an adult taking a concentrated, high-dose medication over a few months or years. While the genetic data suggests that activating this pathway is safe and potentially beneficial for mental health over a lifetime, clinical trials are needed to confirm whether GLP-1 medications produce these exact psychiatric benefits in real-world patients.

“The effect size reflects the lifelong genetic effect of GLP-1R activation in the general population,” Yang noted. “In contrast, patients in the real world usually take GLP-1R agonists for shorter periods. Therefore, our numbers should not be viewed as the exact risk reduction patients will experience when taking these medications.”

Looking ahead, the research team aims to dive deeper into how these medications work in the body. “Our immediate next step is to understand the biological mechanisms underlying these psychiatric effects of GLP-1R activation,” Yang said. “In the long term, our goal is to define the multifaceted effects of GLP-1R agonists across organs and to identify novel, genetically validated drug targets for cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic diseases.”

You can follow Yang’s work on X (formerly Twitter) at @yanggy_hku.

The study, “Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor activation and mental health: a drug-target Mendelian randomization study,” was authored by Guoyi Yang, Stephen Burgess, and C. Mary Schooling.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/large-genetic-study-links-glp-1-receptor-activation-to-improved-mental-well-being/

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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #GLP1R #MentalHealth #Depression #BipolarDisorder #SubstanceUseDisorders #GLP1Receptor #WeightLossDrugs #MentalWellbeing #Pharmacogenetics #MendelianRandomization

He tried ending his life twice in his 40s. Now, he is helping others on their mental health journey, Lifestyle News

At 51, Allan Lee is the chief operating officer at private education provider CSM Academy International and a…
#NewsBeep #News #Mentalhealth #bipolardisorder #Health #mentalhealthadvocacy #MentalHealth #recovery #Suicideprevention #UK #UnitedKingdom
https://www.newsbeep.com/uk/767512/

DATE: September 9, 2026 at 01:48PM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORG

TITLE: Ozempic and Wegovy May Have an Unexpected Mental Health Benefit

URL: http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=191329&url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201601.htm

Source: Science Daily - Top Health

Semaglutide, the drug behind Ozempic and Wegovy, may have benefits that extend well beyond weight loss and diabetes. In a large Swedish study of nearly 15,000 people with bipolar disorder, its use was linked to a 21% lower risk of psychiatric hospitalization. Researchers think effects on inflammation and brain-related biological pathways could help stabilize mood, though other GLP-1 drugs did not show the same association.

URL: http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=191329&url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201601.htm

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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #Ozempic #Wegovy #Semaglutide #MentalHealth #BipolarDisorder #Inflammation #MoodStability #GLP1 #PsychiatricResearch #WeightLossAndBeyond

DATE: September 8, 2026 at 08:59AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHIATIRY FEED

TITLE: Ozempic and Wegovy may have an unexpected mental health benefit

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201601.htm

Semaglutide, the drug behind Ozempic and Wegovy, may have benefits that extend well beyond weight loss and diabetes. In a large Swedish study of nearly 15,000 people with bipolar disorder, its use was linked to a 21% lower risk of psychiatric hospitalization. Researchers think effects on inflammation and brain-related biological pathways could help stabilize mood, though other GLP-1 drugs did not show the same association.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201601.htm

-------------------------------------------------

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Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #Ozempic #Wegovy #Semaglutide #BipolarDisorder #MentalHealthMatters #GLP1 #MoodStability #PsychiatricHealth #Inflammation #DiabetesAndWeightLoss

DATE: September 8, 2026 at 08:59AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Ozempic and Wegovy may have an unexpected mental health benefit

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201601.htm

Semaglutide, the drug behind Ozempic and Wegovy, may have benefits that extend well beyond weight loss and diabetes. In a large Swedish study of nearly 15,000 people with bipolar disorder, its use was linked to a 21% lower risk of psychiatric hospitalization. Researchers think effects on inflammation and brain-related biological pathways could help stabilize mood, though other GLP-1 drugs did not show the same association.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201601.htm

-------------------------------------------------

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #Ozempic #Wegovy #Semaglutide #BipolarDisorder #MentalHealthBenefits #Glp1 #MoodStabilization #Inflammation #PsychiatricHospitalization #DiabetesAndWeightLoss

Ozempic may help people with serious mental health condition

It’s proving to be way more than just a skinny jab. With millions of people of GLP-1 drugs…
#NewsBeep #News #Medication #ADHD #AU #Australia #bipolardisorder #depression #GLP-1 #Health #Mentalhealth #Ozempic #studysays
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/869420/

Ozempic may help people with serious mental health condition

It’s proving to be way more than just a skinny jab. With millions of people of GLP-1 drugs…
#NewsBeep #News #Medication #ADHD #bipolardisorder #CA #Canada #depression #glp-1 #Health #Mentalhealth #Ozempic #studysays
https://www.newsbeep.com/ca/872476/

Ozempic may help people with serious mental health condition

It’s proving to be way more than just a skinny jab. With millions of people of GLP-1 drugs…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Medication #ADHD #bipolardisorder #depression #GLP-1 #Health #Mentalhealth #Ozempic #studysays
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/826758/

https://www.europesays.com/ie/657906/ Ozempic may help people with serious mental health condition #ADHD #BipolarDisorder #Depression #Éire #GLP1 #Health #IE #Ireland #Medication #MentalHealth #ozempic #StudySays

https://www.europesays.com/uk/1170754/ Ozempic may help people with serious mental health condition #ADHD #BipolarDisorder #Depression #GLP1 #Health #Medication #MentalHealth #Ozempic #StudySays #UK #UnitedKingdom

Warum es wichtig ist, alle ernst zu nehmen:

Eine Person in meinem Umfeld vermutete seit längerem, sie könnte ASS oder AuDHD ​:rosahaj_autism:​ haben. Das Umfeld nahm diese Vermutung nie ernst. Deswegen liess sie es nie abklären.

Vor einiger Zeit vertraute sie sich mir an, weil ich selbst ADHS habe. Aus meiner Sicht zeigten sich einige passende Symptome und Verhaltensweisen, andererseits fand ich, dass irgendwie auch etwas nicht ganz passte. Aber ich bin ja keine Fachperson.

Da die Person aber so oder so mit irgendwas zu kämpfen hatte, empfahl ich ihr, es professionell abzuklären. Ich gab ihr die Kontaktdaten meiner Psychiaterin, eine der wenigen, die neue Patientys aufnimmt und zeitnah Termine anbieten.

Nun habe ich gestern erfahren, dass eine Diagnose gestellt wurde: bipolare affektive Störung (BAS)

Was lernen wir daraus? Nehmt bitte alle ernst! 🫂
Vielleicht ist es nicht genau das, was vermutet wird. Aber wie in meiner Geschichte zeigt sich: Hilfe zu bieten ist trotzdem wertvoll, auch wenn es nicht die ursprüngliche Vermutung bestätigt ❤️

#Neurodivergent #ADHS #mentalhealth #bipolardisorder #support #audhd #autismus #adhd

https://www.europesays.com/ie/655830/ Study finds distinct patterns of innate immune activity in mental disorders #Bacterial #BipolarDisorder #blood #Brain #Depression #Éire #Health #IE #ImmuneResponse #ImmuneSystem #immunity #Ireland #MentalHealth #Psychiatry #Receptor #Research #RNA #Schizophrenia #Stress

https://www.europesays.com/ie/654412/ Lindsay Clancy has bipolar disorder, psychologist says #AvramMack #BipolarDisorder #Crime #Depression #DomesticNews #Éire #forensics #GeneralNews #Health #IE #Ireland #KirkHeilbrun #LindsayClancy #Massachusetts #MentalHealth #MentalHealth #RhodeIsland #SleepDisorders #trials #USNews #Violence

https://www.europesays.com/uk/1167201/ Lindsay Clancy has bipolar disorder, psychologist says #AvramMack #BipolarDisorder #Crime #Depression #DomesticNews #forensics #GeneralNews #Health #KirkHeilbrun #LindsayClancy #Massachusetts #MentalHealth #RhodeIsland #SleepDisorders #trials #USNews #UK #UnitedKingdom #Violence

Kehlani reveals how she manages Bipolar Disorder and BPD: “Its not an option” |

Kehlani has always been open about the messier parts of life, and this week she reminded everyone why…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Mentalhealth #bipolardisorder #borderlinepersonalitydisorder #Health #Kehlanimentalhealth #Mentalhealthawareness #MentalHealth #musicindustrymentalhealth
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/824499/

Kehlani reveals how she manages Bipolar Disorder and BPD: “Its not an option” |

Kehlani has always been open about the messier parts of life, and this week she reminded everyone why…
#NewsBeep #News #Mentalhealth #AU #Australia #bipolardisorder #borderlinepersonalitydisorder #Health #Kehlanimentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #MentalHealth #musicindustrymentalhealth
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/866981/

https://www.europesays.com/ie/654076/ Kehlani reveals how she manages Bipolar Disorder and BPD: “Its not an option” | #BipolarDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Éire #Health #IE #Ireland #KehlaniMentalHealth #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealth #MusicIndustryMentalHealth

Kehlani reveals how she manages Bipolar Disorder and BPD: “Its not an option” |

Kehlani has always been open about the messier parts of life, and this week she reminded everyone why…
#NewsBeep #News #Mentalhealth #bipolardisorder #borderlinepersonalitydisorder #CA #Canada #Health #Kehlanimentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #MentalHealth #musicindustrymentalhealth
https://www.newsbeep.com/ca/869833/

Kehlani discusses importance of her routine to manage bipolar disorder

Kehlani says that her wellness practices are “not an option” when it comes to staying on top of…
#NewsBeep #News #Mentalhealth #AU #Australia #bipolardisorder #Health #Kehlani #MentalHealth
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/863983/

Kehlani discusses importance of her routine to manage bipolar disorder

Kehlani says that her wellness practices are “not an option” when it comes to staying on top of…
#NewsBeep #News #Mentalhealth #bipolardisorder #Health #Kehlani #MentalHealth #UK #UnitedKingdom
https://www.newsbeep.com/uk/745655/

https://www.europesays.com/uk/1162180/ Kehlani discusses importance of her routine to manage bipolar disorder #BipolarDisorder #Health #Kehlani #MentalHealth #UK #UnitedKingdom

Kehlani discusses importance of her routine to manage bipolar disorder

Kehlani says that her wellness practices are “not an option” when it comes to staying on top of…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Mentalhealth #bipolardisorder #Health #Kehlani #MentalHealth
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/821352/

https://www.europesays.com/ie/649187/ Kehlani discusses importance of her routine to manage bipolar disorder #BipolarDisorder #Éire #Health #IE #Ireland #Kehlani #MentalHealth #MentalHealth

https://www.europesays.com/ie/644732/ Severe mental illness may accelerate dementia and stroke vulnerability #BipolarDisorder #Brain #dementia #Depression #Éire #Health #HealthCare #Healthcare #hospital #IE #Ireland #IschemicStroke #MentalHealth #Neuropsychopharmacology #Research #Schizophrenia #Stroke

https://www.europesays.com/de/1238915/ Genetische Daten zeigen unterschiedliche metabolische Pfade je nach psychischer Störung #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #biomarker #BipolarDisorder #Depression #Deutschland #EstonianBiobank #Genetik #Germany #Gesundheit #health+ #Kardiometabolisch #KI #KünstlicheIntelligenz #MendelscheRandomisierung #Metabolomik #Schizophrenie #Stoffwechsel #UkBiobank

https://www.europesays.com/at/335965/ Genetische Daten zeigen unterschiedliche metabolische Pfade je nach psychischer Störung #AI #ARTIFICIALINTELLIGENCE #AT #Austria #Biomarker #BipolarDisorder #Depression #EstonianBiobank #genetik #Gesundheit #Health #Kardiometabolisch #KI #KünstlicheIntelligenz #MendelscheRandomisierung #Metabolomik #Österreich #Schizophrenie #Stoffwechsel #UKBiobank

https://www.europesays.com/news/65534/ Lindsay Clancy trial throws spotlight on Seroquel use for sleep #BipolarDisorder #Headlines #lifestyle #LindsayClancy #News #PostpartumDepression #TopStories #Trials

https://www.europesays.com/news/65164/ Lindsay Clancy’s phone shows search history before she killed her kids #BipolarDisorder #Depression #Forensics #GeneralNews #Headlines #Health #Homicide #Indictments #LegalProceedings #LindsayClancy #Massachusetts #Medication #MentalHealth #News #Parenting #PregnancyAndChildbirth #RhodeIsland #suicide #TopStories #Trials #USNews #Violence

Focus turns to medications prescribed to Lindsay Clancy before murders

Lindsay Clancy messaged one of her caregivers less than two months before she killed her three young children…
#NewsBeep #News #Medication #AU #Australia #bipolardisorder #Generalnews #Health #Indictments #Legalproceedings #LindsayClancy #Massachusetts #Pregnancyandchildbirth #RebeccaJollotta #rhodeisland #trials #U.S.news #Violence
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/852008/

Focus turns to medications prescribed to Lindsay Clancy before murders

Lindsay Clancy messaged one of her caregivers less than two months before she killed her three young children…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Medication #bipolardisorder #Generalnews #Health #Indictments #Legalproceedings #LindsayClancy #Massachusetts #Pregnancyandchildbirth #RebeccaJollotta #RhodeIsland #Trials #U.S.news #Violence
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/810575/

DATE: July 16, 2026 at 02:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: Genetic risk for cannabis use disorder linked to brain differences in youth

URL: https://www.psypost.org/genetic-risk-for-cannabis-use-disorder-linked-to-brain-differences-in-youth/

A person’s genetic risk for developing a cannabis addiction is associated with structural brain differences during adolescence, even in individuals who have never struggled with substance abuse. The finding indicates that some brain variations previously attributed to marijuana use might partly originate from an inherited biological predisposition. The study was published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

Bipolar disorder is a severe mental health condition characterized by dramatic shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. People with the condition experience intense emotional states known as mood episodes, which can include periods of extreme elation or irritability, known as mania, and periods of deep sadness, known as depression. The condition often emerges during the teenage years and is a leading cause of functional disability among youth globally.

Teenagers with bipolar disorder frequently face additional psychiatric challenges throughout their schooling and home lives. Research shows that about 30 percent of youth diagnosed with bipolar disorder also have a co-occurring substance use disorder. Cannabis use disorder ranks as the most common addiction in this specific clinical group. Youth with bipolar disorder use cannabis at higher rates than the general population and face an elevated risk of developing a long-term dependency on the drug.

Heavy cannabis use has been repeatedly linked to worse outcomes for individuals with bipolar disorder. These negative impacts include a higher risk of suicide, a delayed recovery process, and an increased likelihood of experiencing psychosis. Past brain imaging studies have also noted structural differences in the brains of teenagers who regularly consume cannabis, both with and without mood disorders. The exact nature of these differences has varied across different observational reports.

Some research points to larger gray matter volume in certain brain regions among users, while other reports document smaller volumes in those same areas. Because most of these studies observe people at a single point in time, it is difficult to determine whether cannabis changes the brain or if people with preexisting brain differences are simply more likely to use the drug. To separate cause from effect in these brain measurements, scientists sometimes examine genetics. Addiction involves inherited physical traits, and modern genetic testing allows researchers to measure a person’s underlying vulnerability to an addiction before it ever develops.

Scientists do this using an advanced mathematical tool called a polygenic risk score. Unlike older tests that look for a single faulty gene, a polygenic risk score tallies up thousands of tiny genetic variations across a person’s entire DNA sequence. By comparing these variations against data from people who have a condition, researchers can calculate a customized score that estimates an individual’s overall genetic likelihood of developing that specific problem. Alysha Sultan, a researcher at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, recognized an opportunity to apply this genetics tool to brain imaging.

Sultan and her colleagues set out to discover if a high polygenic risk score for cannabis use disorder correlated with brain structure in youths, regardless of their developmental history of drug use. The researchers recruited 114 teenagers and young adults between the ages of 13 and 20. The sample included 67 youths who had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder at a specialty psychiatric clinic. The remaining 47 participants were healthy controls randomly recruited from the community who had no personal or family history of major psychiatric disorders.

The team asked all participants to provide a saliva sample. From this saliva, the scientists extracted DNA and scanned the genetic sequences to calculate a specific polygenic risk score for cannabis use disorder for every participant. To create the scoring baseline, they relied on data from a preexisting study of adults that mapped the genetic profiles of tens of thousands of people with a diagnosed cannabis dependency.

After collecting the genetic data, the researchers brought the participants in for brain imaging. They used a magnetic resonance imaging machine, commonly known as an MRI, to capture high-resolution pictures of the participants’ brains. The team focused on the cerebral cortex, the folded outer layer of the brain that manages complex thought, memory, and perception.

The researchers measured three specific physical traits of the cerebral cortex: volume, surface area, and thickness. Volume refers to the total amount of space a specific brain region takes up, while surface area measures the expanse of the folded outer layer. Thickness gauges the physical depth of the gray matter on that layer. The scientists wrote statistical models to compare these structural measurements against the participants’ genetic risk scores, accounting for variables like age, sex, and overall head size.

The neuroimaging data revealed a consistent physical pattern. Across the entire group of youths, a higher genetic risk score for cannabis use disorder matched up with localized reductions in brain size. The researchers observed lower total volume and lower surface area in a brain region called the right superior frontal gyrus. Located near the very top and front of the brain, the superior frontal gyrus is involved in higher cognitive functions such as spatial processing and working memory, which is the ability to hold and manipulate information in the mind over short periods.

The researchers also noticed a smaller surface area in a region called the left paracentral lobule. This area rests near the top center of the brain and helps process sensory information from the body. These results were evident regardless of whether the youths had bipolar disorder or whether they had ever tried cannabis. The researchers ran specialized tests that completely excluded the participants who currently or previously had a cannabis use disorder, and the structural differences remained.

When the team split the participants by diagnosis, they found similar patterns among the healthy volunteers. Healthy teenagers with a higher genetic risk for the addiction exhibited lower brain volume and surface area in both the left and the right superior frontal gyrus.

The results among the participants diagnosed with bipolar disorder were not statistically significant when analyzed on their own. The researchers suspect this outcome relates to the vast biological complexities associated with bipolar disorder itself. The youths with the condition had high rates of anxiety and attention difficulties, took various psychiatric medications, and reported different medical histories. These competing factors may alter brain structure in their own localized ways, creating statistical noise in the data that masks the subtler differences linked strictly to the cannabis risk genes.

Sultan and her colleagues pointed out a few constraints to their investigation. Addiction involves similar genetic pathways across different types of substances, meaning people with a genetic liability for cannabis use disorder often share a generalized genetic vulnerability to alcohol or nicotine. The risk scores used in the study might reflect a broader tendency toward behavioral disinhibition rather than a strict vulnerability to cannabis alone. The genetic baselines used in the study also relied on data from individuals of European ancestry, meaning the relationships might differ for people of other ethnic backgrounds.

The initial findings offer a new way to interpret past neuroimaging research. Because a genetic predisposition alone corresponds with smaller frontal brain regions, some of the brain differences previously blamed on teen marijuana use might have existed before the drug use began. The scientists suggest that longer studies following the same teenagers into adulthood could help explain how inherited vulnerabilities shape the growing brain over time.

The study, “Association of polygenic risk for cannabis use disorder with brain structure among youth with and without bipolar disorder,” was authored by Alysha A. Sultan, Clement C. Zai, Kody G. Kennedy, L. Trevor Young, Bradley J. MacIntosh, and Benjamin I. Goldstein.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/genetic-risk-for-cannabis-use-disorder-linked-to-brain-differences-in-youth/

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Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #CannabisUseDisorder #GeneticRisk #BrainStructure #AdolescentBrain #PolygenicRiskScore #BipolarDisorder #Neuroimaging #FrontalGyrus #CerebralCortex #YouthMentalHealth

Bipolar Disorder (Oxford American Psychiatry Library) (2014) by Stephen Strakowski
Author: Bipolar Disorder
File Type: PDF
Download at https://unitedvrg.com/2023/12/26/pdf-bipolar-disorder-oxford-american-psychiatry-library-2014-by-stephen-strakowski/
#Psychiatry, #BipolarDisorder

I’m Happy Being Bipolar

I’m happy being bipolar

But I am not sure others are

I drive them crazy with my moods

And I don’t have to try that hard

If you get what I mean

Everyone is zany in their own way

All they need is a trigger

And I am happy to be their trigger

Life you know is more interesting

When the world is filled

With crazy blokes like me

Else what is there to life

Except boring work

And desperate pleasure.

That Time I Thought All Would Be Right With The World

https://carolineprice.com/2026/06/25/that-time-i-thought-all-would-be-right-with-the-world/

Lil Nas X shares update after getting mental health care: ‘There’s less fear in my heart’ https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/17/lil-nas-x-mental-health-instagram-video #UsNews #LilNasX #MentalHealth #LosAngeles #Atlanta #Music #Culture #BipolarDisorder

The carousel, often a symbol of joy, takes on a different meaning for those who struggle with bipolar disorder. We invite you to witness the raw truth behind the smiles.

https://youtube.com/shorts/01JHdCajxTU

#MentalHealth #BiPolarDisorder #SuicideAwareness #BASICStudios

Bonjour, aujourd'hui je ne serai pas présent•e sur Mastodon. Des choses que j'ai lues, adressées à ma personne ou non, m'ont soulé•e. Je souffre de problèmes de santé psychique, j'en parle souvent, alors je n'ai aucune obligation de vous répondre. Désolé•e pour celleux qui attendaient des réponses, mais aujourd'hui peut-être même demain, je me centre sur moi-même.

Je suis actuellement en hôpital, pour un programme de 10 semaines, je sors jeudi prochain, en attendant cela me demande AUSSI du temps et de l'énergie.

Et je dois me concentrer dessus. Ça me demande déjà assez d'énergie et de concentration.

#TDAH #ADHD #Bipolarité #BipolarDisorder #TAG #GAD

Living with bipolar disorder: What real-life episodes look like and why awareness matters https://english.mathrubhumi.com/lifestyle/world-bipolar-day-2026-myths-facts-awareness-mental-health-aiog34wy?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #WorldBipolarDay #MentalHealth #BipolarDisorder #Awareness #EndStigma

“Lancet 373, 234-239.doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60072-6.”

https://www.acamh.org/research-digest/progressive-cortical-thinning-might-identify-children-at-risk-of-developing-psychotic-spectrum-symptoms
#MentalHealthResearch #Psychosis #BipolarDisorder

“Meanwhile, MDD onset was predicted by earlier anxiety disorders.”

https://www.acamh.org/research-digest/which-disorders-precede-the-development-of-mood-disorders-in-young-people
#MentalHealthResearch #EvidenceBased #Anxiety #BipolarDisorder

@thibaultamartin

If I am not mistaken, I had ever read or watched somewhere that exposure to sunrise is a great method to reduce bipolar disorder symptoms.

I remember it has something to do with circadian rhythm.

#BipolarDisorder

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco Handle Her Mental Health Together

Selena Gomez revealed in 2020 that she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Since then, the singer and…
#NewsBeep #News #Mentalhealth #AU #Australia #bipolar #bipolardisorder #digital_syndication #Health #MentalHealth #motherhood #SelenaGomez
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/532046/

Robert Carradine's Cause of Death: Bipolar Disorder and Suicide

Actor Robert Carradine, known for Lizzie McGuire, died by suicide at 71 after struggling with bipolar disorder. His family confirmed the news on February 23rd.

#RobertCarradine, #BipolarDisorder, #SuicideAwareness, #LizzieMcGuire, #MentalHealth

https://newsletter.tf/robert-carradine-dies-by-suicide-at-71/

Actor Robert Carradine, famous for his roles in Lizzie McGuire and Revenge of the Nerds, has passed away at 71. His family shared that he died by suicide after a long battle with bipolar disorder.

#RobertCarradine, #BipolarDisorder, #SuicideAwareness, #LizzieMcGuire, #MentalHealth

https://newsletter.tf/robert-carradine-dies-by-suicide-at-71/

Completely unbeknownst to me, #RobertCarradine, whom I mentioned yesterday, took his own life a couple of weeks ago after battling #bipolardisorder for decades.

I only knew him from #RevengeOfTheNerds, where he played alongside people like #CurtisArmstrong, but looking at some of the tribute wheels, we seemed to be a pretty awesome guy.

Take care of yourselves, folks. #MentalHealth is serious. And in the words of Curtis Armstrong as Booger in #BetterOffDead: Suicide is never the answer, little trooper.

https://deadline.com/gallery/robert-carradines-career-from-nerds-to-coming-home-to-lizzie-mcguire/revenge-of-the-nerds-anthony-edwards-robert-carradine-1984/

Robert Carradine's Cause of Death: Bipolar Disorder and Suicide

Actor Robert Carradine, known for Lizzie McGuire, died by suicide at 71 after struggling with bipolar disorder. His family confirmed the news on February 23rd.

#RobertCarradine, #BipolarDisorder, #SuicideAwareness, #LizzieMcGuire, #MentalHealth

https://newsletter.tf/robert-carradine-dies-by-suicide-at-71/

https://theconversation.com/the-worse-your-mental-health-problem-the-less-sympathy-you-get-why-274651

🅘🅖🅝🅞🅡🅐🅝🅒🅔 is our enemy.

Care, tolerance and understanding are what we seek, and deserve.

#Autism
#ADHD
#AuDHD
#neurodiversity
#neurodivergence
#BPD #schizophrenia #BipolarDisorder #Psychosis ...

Robert Carradine, Revenge of the Nerds and Lizzie McGuire actor, dies aged 71 https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/feb/24/robert-carradine-dies-aged-71-death-revenge-of-the-nerds-actor #Film #UsNews #Culture #Television #TelevisionRadio #MentalHealth #BipolarDisorder #Depression

I'm an ARTIST (w/ Bipolar Disorder) from Canada & I create all Original Black and White Art of my CRaZY & bEAUtiFUL WORLd. ♡ Here's one of my POETRY PAINTINGS on Canvas.

WatERMeLoN SMiLe - 16" X 20"

ART SHOP: https://www.lyndablack.ca/
ALL Orders have FREE SHIPPING within Canada ♡

#Art #Painting #Paintings #OriginalArt #Poem #Poetry #PoetryonMastodon #Bipolar #BipolarDisorder #Mania #Manic #BlackandWhite #Monochrome #MastoArt #MastodonArt #Artist #ArtistsonMastodon #Calgary #Alberta #Canada #YYC

‘Lifelong friendships were tarnished by my horrible statements’: Kanye West elaborates on apology for antisemitism https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/jan/27/kanye-west-elaborates-on-apology-for-antisemitism-ye #KanyeWest #Music #Culture #UsNews #Antisemitism #BipolarDisorder #MentalHealth

Hi! I'm a Canadian ARTIST & I create all Original Black and White Art of my ' CRaZY & bEAUtiFUL WORLd '. ♡ Here's one of my POETRY PAINTINGS on Canvas.

hER tEARs WeRE RAiNbOW & MAdE fLOWeRS gROW. - 15" X 30"

ART SHOP: https://www.lyndablack.ca/
ALL Orders have FREE SHIPPING within Canada ♡

#Art #Painting #Paintings #Canvas #OriginalArt #Original #Poem #Poetry #PoetryOnMastodon #Bipolar #BipolarDisorder #Mania #Manic #Rainbow #MastoArt #MastodonArt #Artist #Artists #BlackandWhite #Calgary #Canada

Hi! =) I'm an ARTIST from Calgary, Alberta who creates all Original Black and White Art - such as Face Paintings, Abstract Paintings & Poetry Paintings on Canvas as well as One-of-a-Kind Handmade Plush Art Dolls. ♡ Here's some of my Original ABSTRACT PAINTINGS on Canvas available for purchase on my Website + Art Shop at: https://www.lyndablack.ca/
----> All orders have FREE SHIPPING within Canada ♡

#Art #Painting #Paintings #BlackandWhite #minimalism #Minimalist #Canvas #OriginalArt #Abstract #AbstractArt #AbstractPainting #Artist #Artists #Canada #ArtShop #ArtForSale #MastoArt #MastodonArt #Handmade #HomeDecor #Calgary #CanadianArtist #Monochrome #ModernArt #TraditionalArt #YYC #bipolar #BipolarDisorder

Scientists Discover Neural Basis of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder -SciTechDaily.com

Health

Scientists Discover Neural Basis of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

By Roberto Molar Candanosa, Johns Hopkins University, December 20, 2025, 8 Comments,
5 Mins Read

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Telegram, Share

Using lab-grown brain tissue, researchers uncovered complex patterns of neural signaling that differ subtly between healthy brains and those linked to severe psychiatric disorders.

For the first time, scientists have used pea-sized brain organoids grown in the laboratory to uncover how neurons may malfunction in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. These psychiatric conditions affect millions of people around the world, yet they remain difficult to diagnose because researchers still lack a clear understanding of their underlying molecular mechanisms.

The results could eventually help clinicians reduce diagnostic uncertainty when treating these and other mental health conditions. At present, such disorders are typically identified through clinical judgment alone, and treatment often relies on lengthy trial-and-error approaches to medication.

A detailed account of the findings was published in the journal APL Bioengineering.

“Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are very hard to diagnose because no particular part of the brain goes off. No specific enzymes are going off like in Parkinson’s, another neurological disease where doctors can diagnose and treat based on dopamine levels even though it still doesn’t have a proper cure,” said Annie Kathuria, a Johns Hopkins University biomedical engineer who led the research. “Our hope is that in the future we can not only confirm a patient is schizophrenic or bipolar from brain organoids, but that we can also start testing drugs on the organoids to find out what drug concentrations might help them get to a healthy state.”

Machine learning decodes disease specific signals

Kathuria’s team created the organoids, simplified versions of brain tissue, by reprogramming blood and skin cells from people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and from healthy volunteers into stem cells capable of forming brain-like structures. They then applied machine learning tools to analyze the electrical activity of the organoids’ cells, allowing them to identify neural firing patterns associated with healthy and diseased states. In the human brain, neurons communicate through small electrical signals.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Scientists Discover Neural Basis of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

Mania Insights: AI Listens For Mood Swings In The Voices Of Those With Bipolar Disorder. “A new study from China suggests that artificial intelligence may one day help doctors spot mood swings in people with bipolar disorder just by listening to how they talk. The experimental system correctly identified manic, depressed, and stable states in Mandarin-speaking patients with around 86% […]

https://rbfirehose.com/2025/12/09/mania-insights-ai-listens-for-mood-swings-in-the-voices-of-those-with-bipolar-disorder/