TOPIC

Mental health research

Everything we have read on mental health. Each paper is summarised from the full article rather than its abstract, so the limitations are in there too, and the funding wherever the paper declares it.

2,018 PAPERS · PAGE 37 OF 41 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPCohort2025Criterion Validity, Scalability and Stability of Scoring on the Bayley-III in Children With Angelman Syndrome.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRThe Bayley-III works well for tracking groups of children with Angelman syndrome but is unstable for individual patients. Scores often fluctuate due to attention and motor issues, meaning a single test result may not reflect true ability or change.
• OTQualitative2026Codesigning a Neurocognitive Assessment Protocol for Hyperphagia: Perspectives From Stakeholders in Prader-Willi Syndrome.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRCaregivers and professionals helped adapt a food attention eye-tracking test for Prader-Willi syndrome. Predictable mealtime routines and flexible scheduling made the adapted test appear feasible in a small group, but eye-tracking data quality was variable.
• OTSLPSurvey2026Cultural influences on camouflaging and autistic burnout: Examining the experiences of Latino autistic young adults.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIn 56 Latino autistic young adults, higher camouflaging was associated with higher adaptive functioning scores but also higher depression and anxiety symptoms. Autistic burnout did not significantly predict most outcomes.
• OTSLPPilot2026The Schools Unified in Neurodiversity Collaborative: Co-designing a program to enhance educator knowledge and efficacy supporting children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIn one U.S. district, 192 educators reported higher neurodiversity knowledge and confidence after a 6-hour co-designed training. They also found the tools feasible. No child outcomes were measured.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2025Autism and the Menopause Transition: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review.Autism in adulthoodAutistic people assigned female at birth described menopause as harder to understand and manage, with sensory overload, fatigue, sleep problems, thinking and memory changes, and work strain. Online peer support helped, while healthcare often felt dismissive or unsafe.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Inclusive Housing Environments for People With Intellectual Disabilities: Systematic Review of Characteristics and Influencing Factors.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDA systematic review of 73 studies identifies five environmental dimensions for inclusive housing: physical, social, natural, symbolic, and supportive. It highlights that structural accessibility alone is insufficient, emphasizing the need for social inclusion, personal autonomy, and meaningful community connections.
• PTOTCohort2026Participation, environment, and quality of life in children with cerebral palsy and physical disabilities.Developmental medicine and child neurologyCommunity support, not just physical ability, strongly predicted quality of life in children with cerebral palsy. Parents reported significant barriers and a high desire for change. Clinicians should prioritize community integration and resource navigation alongside physical therapy.
• PTOTOther2026Feasibility of Early Assessment of Cognitive Deficits in Patients With Ventilation Sepsis: A Cross-Sectional Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAmong 28 ICU patients after sepsis and ventilation, reaction-speed tests showed severe attention deficits. Early testing was inconsistent; 27 of 28 could be tested by 14 days after awakening.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Social Determinants of Health and Life Satisfaction of Children With Disabilities.Child: care, health and developmentFor school-attending children with disabilities, life satisfaction is strongly linked to the child's own subjective health and self-esteem, alongside parental depression and family strength. Social determinants like healthcare costs and school accommodations also play a role, though accommodations are associated with lower satisfaction, possibly due to stigma.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Trajectories and Predictors of Activity Participation Among People with Parkinson Disease: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationParticipation levels in people with Parkinson disease remained stable over three years, but depressive symptoms predicted immediate drops in activity. Patients with milder symptoms still lost participation over time, so monitor mood and social support in all patients, not just those with severe depression.
• OTSLPCohort2026Traumatic Experiences, Psychological Distress and Suicide-Related Behaviors in Autistic Adults.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic adults were more likely to report self-harm, suicide plans, and attempts than non-autistic adults, even after accounting for trauma and other conditions. Higher lifetime trauma was associated with these outcomes in both groups. Childhood victimization and lack of support were frequent co-occurring factors.
• OTSLPSurvey2026Exploring Alexithymia, Uncertainty, Anxious Arousal, and Social Anxiety as Mediators of the Relationship Between Sensory Processing Differences and Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors in Autistic Adults.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchIn autistic adults, sensory differences link to repetitive motor behaviors through anxious arousal and to insistence on sameness through intolerance of uncertainty. Social anxiety was not a mediator. Clinicians should assess these specific anxiety facets rather than assuming general social anxiety drives repetitive behaviors.
• OTSLPCohort2025Exclusion and Truancy of Autistic Adolescents in a UK Population Representative Sample.Child: care, health and developmentIn this UK sample, 25% of autistic 14-year-olds had been excluded from school and 15% reported truanting. Higher externalising behaviour scores were strongly linked to both exclusion and truancy, while other factors showed weaker or unexpected associations.
• OTCohort2026Towards an understanding of disturbed sleep phenotypes after traumatic spinal cord injury.Journal of rehabilitation medicineIn Veterans with traumatic spinal cord injury, sleep problems were common but often not recorded. Sleep apnoea clustered with heart and metabolic conditions; insomnia clustered with anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
• OTSurvey2025Self-harm and suicidality experiences of autistic and non-autistic adults in midlife and old age.Molecular autismMiddle-aged and older autistic adults self-reported far higher rates of suicidal thoughts and self-harm than non-autistic peers. Autistic women and those aged 65+ reported the highest risks, even after accounting for depression symptoms.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2025Effects of meeting exercise guidelines on depression and anxiety in multiple sclerosis - a systematic review and meta-analysis.Physiotherapy theory and practiceExercise meeting MS guidelines reduced depression scores by 4.46 points, exceeding the threshold for noticeable improvement. However, the effect on anxiety was not significant. The evidence is weak due to high risk of bias in most included trials.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Antipsychotic Use Among Intellectually Disabled Individuals With Rare Genetic Variants That Confer Risk for Schizophrenia.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRIn 11 patients with rare genetic variants and psychosis, most responded to standard atypical antipsychotics. Side effects were frequent, with extrapyramidal symptoms affecting five individuals. This small chart review offers preliminary safety data but cannot confirm efficacy or guide dosing.
• OTCohort2026Young People With and Without Intellectual Disability Accessing Mental Health Services: Evaluating Psychosocial Functioning Outcomes Using Electronic Health Records.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRYoung people with intellectual disability in mental health services often remained impaired at discharge: 80% were still impaired, versus 45% of matched peers. Their lower starting functioning and comorbidities were linked to outcomes.
• OTSLPSurvey2026Understanding autistic identity contingencies: The chain mediation effect of autism acceptance and loneliness in ableist microaggressions and social camouflage.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults in Japan who experienced more ableist microaggressions reported more camouflaging. Lower external acceptance and higher loneliness were associated with assimilation.
• PTOTCohort2025Prevalence of non-communicable diseases, multimorbidity, and their impact on activity limitations among adults with chronic back pain: a national population-based study in a middle-income country.Brazilian journal of physical therapyMost adults with chronic back pain have other conditions. Those with arthritis, lung disease, depression, heart disease, or diabetes report more severe activity limitations than those with back pain alone. Screen for these comorbidities to anticipate greater disability.
• OTSurvey2026Knowledge and Understanding of Menstrual Health in Women With Intellectual Disabilities: A Brief Report.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRAmong 22 women with intellectual disabilities, 9 had low menstrual knowledge, and 15 rated pad use as fully independent while 12 rated tampon use as never independent. The biggest gaps were how often to change products and menopause.
• OTRCT2026Feasibility Study of a Novel App-Based Anxiety Intervention for Autistic People.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic adults found the Molehill Mountain app feasible and acceptable. Anxiety scores fell on average after 13 weeks, but the study had no control group, so it cannot show the app caused improvement.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2026Exploring the autism and functional neurological disorder association: Considerations from biopsychosocial, neuropsychological and computational models.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceThis theoretical review links autism and functional neurological disorder through shared traits like sensory overload and difficulty identifying emotions. It suggests clinicians should screen for autism in FND patients to avoid misdiagnosis, but offers no tested interventions or outcome data.
• OTOther2025The Effects of a SWELE Program on Mental Wellbeing Among Children and Adolescents With Special Educational Needs and Disabilities: A Quasi-Experimental Study.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDChildren and adolescents with special educational needs had higher mood, lower anxiety, better self-regulation, social skills and playfulness after a school-based outdoor free play and mindfulness program. Without a control group, this cannot prove the program caused the changes.
• OTSLPQualitative2026Traumatic brain injury-related stigma among intimate partner violence survivors.Brain injuryWomen with intimate partner violence histories and TBI described stigma across healthcare, courts, work, school, and relationships. Participants linked clinicians dismissing symptoms and invisible deficits to shame and delayed care, and said TBI education could validate symptoms and reduce stigma.
• PTOTOther2025Validation of the Brazilian Version of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) for Women After Breast Cancer Surgery.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyThe Brazilian WHODAS 2.0 reliably measures disability in women after breast cancer surgery. Total scores are stable over time and correlate strongly with quality of life. Use it to track function, but note that sexual activity items are often left unanswered.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Developmental coordination disorder and executive function deficits: Implications for emotional, mental, and overall well-being.Brazilian journal of physical therapyHalf of adults with Developmental Coordination Disorder also have executive function deficits. Those with these co-occurring deficits reported significantly lower self-esteem, higher distress, and lower life satisfaction than those with motor difficulties alone.
• PTOTQualitative2026A Social Justice Approach to Assistive Technology and Well-Being of People With Visual Disabilities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Qualitative Narrative Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesParticipants valued assistive technology for autonomy but often avoided it due to safety fears and stigma. They desired devices that were discreet and aesthetically pleasing to avoid drawing unwanted attention in violent urban settings.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Understanding Disease Aetiology and Related Needs Knowledge of Parents of Children With Spina Bifida.Child: care, health and developmentParents most often cited walking and toilet issues as primary concerns. Mothers linked spina bifida to folic acid deficiency, while many fathers were unsure of the cause. Both parents reported significant gaps in understanding the condition's origins.
• PTOTCohort2025Depressive Symptoms and Physical Activity Mediate the Adverse Effect of Pain on Functional Dependence in Patients With Arthritis: Evidence From the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.Physical therapyIn people with arthritis, pain was linked to more dependence in daily tasks years later. Part of that link ran through depressive symptoms and lower physical activity. This is an observational association, not proof that treating depression or increasing activity prevents decline.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Profiles of parent-teacher discrepancy on autistic children's adaptive functioning.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParent and teacher ratings of autistic children's adaptive functioning often disagree. Teachers rated children with higher IQ and better executive function as more capable at school than parents did. Children with lower incomes showed the largest gaps, with parents reporting higher skills than teachers.
• PTOTOther2026Community-Based Interventions Improve the Quality of Life for Children Living With Disabilities, Zambia.Child: care, health and developmentFamilies in Lusaka reported better quality of life after joining a community support programme. Physiotherapy and disability registration linked to physical well-being, while play groups and home visits helped emotional support. No control group means we cannot confirm the programme caused these changes.
• OTSLPQualitative2026Digital Pathways to Family Bonds: Exploring WhatsApp Video Calls Adoption by Older Adults With Intellectual Disability in Out-of-Home Residence.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDOlder adults with intellectual disability valued seeing family on video, but most could not use the tablet freely because staff stored it away. Those who gained independence in calling also faced distress when family did not answer, showing access and emotional support are essential.
• PTOTSLPOther2026What Matters Most? Developing a Core Patient Reported Outcome Set for Individuals With Genetic Intellectual Disabilities: An International Delphi Study.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRA Delphi consensus with 61 people identified 19 patient-reported outcomes that matter most in genetic intellectual disabilities. These cover fatigue, sleep, pain, mental health, and communication, providing a standard framework for clinicians and researchers to track what actually affects patients' lives.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2025Physiological and psychological therapeutic effects of telerehabilitation treatment on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of physical therapy scienceTelerehabilitation for COPD is slightly worse than face-to-face rehab for walking distance but better for anxiety and depression. Use it when travel is a barrier, but expect smaller gains in physical endurance compared to clinic-based programs.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Changing Patterns of Psychotropics Use Among Older Adults With Intellectual Disability Over a Decade, With a Focus on Designated Mental Health Conditions.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDPsychotropic use remained high in older adults with intellectual disability over a decade. Antipsychotic and sedative use dropped, while antidepressant use rose. Many people taking these drugs had no diagnosed mental health condition, but did have behaviours of concern.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Progressive relaxation exercises: association with dyspnea, anxiety, and oxygen saturation among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn 60 patients with mild to moderate COPD, one month of daily progressive relaxation exercises was associated with a shift from severe to mild dyspnea and moderate to mild anxiety. These changes persisted at three months. Without a control group, these shifts may reflect natural fluctuation rather than the exercises themselves.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Psychosocial outcomes of medical specialty camps for children with physical disabilities.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineAcross 33 studies, medical specialty camps for children with physical disabilities consistently improved self-esteem, social connection, and belonging. Qualitative data showed campers felt safe and accepted, though long-term effects often faded without follow-up programs or local resources.
• OTPilot2026Understanding the impact of perceived app usability on the efficacy of mobile health intervention for traumatic brain injury caregivers.Rehabilitation psychologyPush notifications reduced depression scores only in caregivers who found the app easy to use. For those who found it difficult, messages slightly worsened depression scores. Usability, not just the content, determines whether these tools help or harm.
• OTSLPMeta-Analysis2026Examining the Relationship Between Social Motivation and Internalizing Symptoms in Autistic People: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAcross 15 studies, autistic people with lower social motivation reported significantly higher anxiety and depression. The link was strongest for social anxiety. Because the data is cross-sectional, this shows an association, not that low motivation causes mental health difficulties.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Describing the communication of autistic people during experiences of distress: A scoping review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic people often lose verbal capacity or withdraw when distressed, relying on behaviour or non-verbal cues instead. Proxy reports frequently miss these communicative attempts, interpreting them as aggression rather than distress signals. First-person accounts reveal a bidirectional cycle where communication failure worsens distress.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2026Feasibility of transcranial magnetic stimulation adjuvant therapy for chronic respiratory diseases: a narrative review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesTMS is a safe, non-invasive tool for assessing diaphragm nerve pathways and is being explored as an add-on therapy for breathlessness in chronic lung disease. Current evidence is mechanistic and preclinical, with no large clinical trials yet proving it improves respiratory outcomes in these patients.
• OTSLPCohort2026Does Depressed Mood Affect Accuracy of Perceptions of Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis? The Role of Momentary Depressive Symptoms in the Correspondence Between Subjective and Objective Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationPeople with MS could judge their thinking speed moment to moment, but not their working memory. Depressed mood was linked to more cognitive complaints overall, yet did not weaken how closely complaints tracked objective speed.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Long-term neurological and psychiatric outcomes after paediatric arterial ischaemic stroke and cerebral sinovenous thrombosis.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with first-time stroke face much higher long-term risks of paralysis, epilepsy, vision problems, and mental disorders than peers. Most survivors had at least one neurological or psychiatric diagnosis. This requires sustained multidisciplinary follow-up.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Love and People With Intellectual Disabilities: A Meta-Ethnography of Qualitative Research in the United Kingdom.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDAdults with intellectual disabilities clearly articulated love as companionship and mutual support. They faced barriers like staff control, lack of privacy, and stigma that hindered relationships. Services must actively protect romantic autonomy rather than ignoring it.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2025Postoperative education for patients after hip/knee arthroplasty: a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Archives of physiotherapyPostoperative education after hip or knee replacement showed no meaningful benefit over usual care for pain, function, or quality of life. It may slightly reduce anxiety and depression, but evidence is low certainty. Do not rely on it alone to improve physical recovery.
• OTSurvey2026Examining the Predictors of Life Satisfaction in College Students With Intellectual Disability.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRStudents with intellectual disability in college reported high anxiety and depression. A stronger sense of belonging predicted higher life satisfaction, even after accounting for mental health symptoms. Living independently also linked to greater satisfaction, while access to campus mental health services linked to lower anxiety.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2026Priorities for change for autistic people across Europe.Molecular autismEducation, public awareness, funding, and employment were the top priorities for change across all groups. Autistic people ranked bullying and financial hardship higher than parents or professionals did, while parents prioritised daily living support and early intervention.
• OTSLPOther2026Developmental stuttering with common and complex phenotypes.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMost people who stutter present with a common phenotype. A distinct 10% subgroup has a complex presentation marked by severe stuttering, high rates of neurodevelopmental disorders, lower non-verbal intelligence, and greater negative impact. This group requires multidisciplinary support.
• OTSurvey2026Associations between self-reported depression and functioning across ICF domains: a Danish population-based study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdults with self-reported depression reported poor sleep, stress, loneliness, needing help with daily tasks, difficulty engaging with healthcare, and reduced work, education, and community participation more often, even after adjustment.