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.

97 PAPERS · PAGE 1 OF 2 · NEWEST FIRST

• RNCohort2026Obesity Prevalence and Associated Factors Among Users of Specialized Community Mental Health Services: An Observational Study.International journal of mental health nursing32.1% of 358 adults using specialized mental health services in Brazil had obesity and 65.6% had increased waist-circumference risk. Obesity was more common among women, people identifying as Black, and those with hypertension. 9.2% had never had a health professional measure weight and height.
• RNQualitative2026Healthcare Experiences and Expectations of Atheists, Deists and Agnostics in Türkiye: A Qualitative Study of Mental Well-Being.Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursingNon-religious patients in Türkiye described hiding their beliefs to avoid judgment. Unsolicited religious advice, like being told to pray, broke trust and led some to skip appointments. They wanted clinicians to focus on the illness, not their identity, and to keep personal beliefs out of care.
• RNQualitative2026The Overwhelming Challenge of Losing One's Sense of Wholeness: A Grounded Theory Study on Women's Experiential Process of Birth Trauma.The journal of nursing research : JNRWomen described birth trauma as losing their sense of wholeness: unbearable pain, loss of dignity, ignored emotions, exposed privacy, and endless waiting. They also described never wanting another birth.
• PTOTRNOther2026Health Outcomes Following the Health-Promoting "Reflective STRENGTH-Giving Dialogue" Intervention Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesParticipants reported lower impact of health problems on daily life and higher well-being after each dialogue on average. Over 14 weeks, no significant within-group changes were found.
• RNSurvey2026Mental Health Outcome Trends in a Nationally Representative Sample of Canadian Migrant Adolescents From 2014 to 2022.The Journal of school healthAdolescent self-reported mental health worsened over time, especially for girls. Gaps between migrant and nonmigrant youth mostly stayed similar; migrant girls reported fewer health complaints and higher confidence than nonmigrant girls.
• RNCohort2026Racial Differences in Prenatal Cannabis Screening Among Women at Elevated Risk for Substance Use and Sexually Transmitted Infections.Journal of midwifery & women's healthMost pregnant women at increased risk reported no clinician discussion about cannabis use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Black women were more likely than White women to report being asked or talked to.
• RNCohort2026Depressive symptoms and perceived stress in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing intensity-modulated radiation therapy: A longitudinal study.European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing SocietyDepressive symptoms rose to end of IMRT and stayed near baseline after treatment. Perceived stress did not rise at end but fell at 6 and 12 months. Unmarried status and PEG tube use marked higher risk.
• RNSurvey2026Adolescent Online Gaming in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study on Habits and Health Perceptions Through the Health Belief Model.Journal of child and adolescent psychiatric nursing : official publication of the Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nurses, IncJordanian adolescents averaged 3.1 gaming hours daily. More daily hours and older age were linked with lower self-rated physical and mental health. 28.8% said gaming was not physically harmful. 36.7% had never received counseling about gaming harms.
• RNSurvey2026The Relationship Between Health Literacy and Spiritual Well-Being With Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety in Pregnant Women: A Descriptive-Analytical Research.Nursing openIn 200 Iranian pregnant women, higher health literacy and spiritual well-being were linked to fewer depression and anxiety symptoms. These are associations, not proof that improving either helps mental health.
• RNCohort2026Post-COVID-19 social determinants of health and quality of life: a longitudinal study.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PAfter confirmed infection, quality of life improved over follow-up, but recovery varied by age, sex, race, lifestyle, housing, income, and social support. This was not a uniform recovery.
• RNQualitative2026Access to public healthcare services for transgender people: experiences in Brazil's capital.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PTransgender adults in Brasília described access as blocked by misrecognition, discrimination, and long referral delays, but some felt safe when staff listened, used chosen names, and supported medication care.
• RNSystematic Review2026Interventions to Reduce Loneliness in Informal Caregivers of People With Dementia: A Systematic Review.Journal of clinical nursingMost psychosocial interventions for informal dementia caregivers did not show clear loneliness improvement. One engaged coaching study reported improvement and some stress results were positive, but evidence is small and mixed.
• RNOther2026Leveraging Natural Language Processing for Symptom Identification in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Using Clinical Notes from Electronic Health Records.Cancer nursingA tool that reads AML inpatient notes found symptom terms in most encounters, including GI (97.26%), pain (95.88%), myelosuppression symptoms (95.73%), and cardiovascular symptoms (92.85%). It was not tested to improve care.
• RNSurvey2026Factors Predicting Depression Among Thai Adolescents During the Transition From the COVID-19 Pandemic to the Endemic Phase.Journal of child and adolescent psychiatric nursing : official publication of the Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nurses, IncIn 605 Thai high school students, perceived stress was most strongly linked with depressive symptoms, and avoidance coping also mattered. Approach coping and social support did not add separate information after stress and avoidance were considered.
• RNSurvey2026Investigating the Relationship Between Psychological Well-Being and Social Appearance Anxiety in Adolescents in Türkiye: A Cross-Sectional Study.Nursing openAdolescents with higher social appearance anxiety reported significantly lower psychological well-being. Those who participated in regular social and physical activities, or attended school, had higher well-being and lower anxiety scores. These associations were independent of age, gender, or socioeconomic status.
• RNSystematic Review2026Stigma and Borderline Personality Disorder: An Umbrella Scoping Review of Existing Reviews.International journal of mental health nursingAcross 15 reviews, clinicians consistently held negative attitudes toward people with BPD, viewing them as manipulative and untreatable. Nurses showed more stigma than other staff. Educational interventions had mixed results, and structural barriers persisted.
• RNSystematic Review2026Comparative efficacy of group versus individual reminiscence therapy for depression in older adults: A network meta-analysis stratified by severity.International journal of nursing sciencesIndividual and group reminiscence therapy work equally well for reducing depression in older adults overall. Group therapy ranked highest for mild cases, while individual therapy ranked higher for moderate-to-severe cases and showed greater benefits for anxiety and cognition.
• RNOther2026How Does Artificial Intelligence Align With Person-Centred Principles in Mental Health Nursing? A Scoping Review.International journal of mental health nursingAI may support mental health nursing by expanding access, monitoring symptoms and safety checks, but it cannot replace empathy, trust and shared decisions. Nurses must keep oversight and co-design.
• RNCohort2026Psychometric Validation of the PHQ-9 in Ostomy Patients and Their Informal Caregivers: Evidence From A European Multicenter Study.Nursing openThe PHQ-9 was supported as a brief depression screen in ostomy patients and their informal caregivers, and scores can be compared between the two groups. Use the total score for screening; physical and mental symptom groups are not separate clinical scales.
• RNQualitative2026'A Moment for Me': The Role of Respite in Sustaining Mental Health Carers.International journal of mental health nursingCarers of adults with mental illness said respite was only restful when the person they cared for came home safe, happy and well supported. Guilt, cost, poor access and untrained staff kept them mentally on duty.
• RNSystematic Review2026Allyship in Psychiatric and Mental Health Services: A Scoping Review and Thematic Analysis.Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursingAllyship in mental health services meant listening more than speaking, acknowledging systemic injustice, and supporting patients to speak for themselves. This review mapped those ideas; it did not show that allyship improves patient outcomes.
• RNCohort2026Intelligent mobile health management for the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding in anticoagulated patients with cardiovascular disease.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PAnticoagulated cardiovascular patients with gastrointestinal bleeding who received a nurse-supported mobile health bundle had better hemostasis, lower rebleeding-risk score, more knowledge, less anxiety and depression, and higher satisfaction than routine nursing care.
• RNOther2026Overburden of informal caregivers of older adults with Post-COVID Syndrome.Revista brasileira de enfermagemMost caregivers of older adults with post-COVID syndrome reported burden. Burden was linked to frailty or depression in the older adult and depressive symptoms in the caregiver. These were associations in 75 pairs, not proof of cause.
• RNSurvey2026Posttraumatic Stress in Caregivers of Burn-Injured Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.The American journal of nursing48.33% of caregivers of children with burn injuries reached the score threshold for posttraumatic stress symptoms. Witnessing the burn had a greater influence among factors tested. The finding points to caregiver distress, not only child injury.
• RNCase Report2026Conversion Practices in Eating Disorder Treatment: A Lived Experience Narrative.Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursingA trans man's account describes eating disorder inpatient care that pathologised his gender distress, withheld gender-affirming medical care, and used coercion. He reports lasting trauma and delayed access to care. Nurses can assess gender dysphoria and protect autonomy.
• RNQualitative2026When Care Becomes Digital: Shared Experiences in Psychiatric Nursing-A Phenomenological Study.Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursingNurses and patients in Turkish psychiatric units described routine digital documentation as eroding the human connection of care. Nurses felt reduced to data clerks, while patients perceived them as distant and feared their private mental health records would be seen by others, weakening trust.
• RNSystematic Review2026Recovery-Oriented Conversations in Psychiatric Care: An Integrated Systematic Review.International journal of mental health nursingPatients and mental health professionals described recovery-oriented conversations as everyday listening, shared goals and emotional presence. Nurses should time talk to readiness, avoid medication-only exchanges, and raise staffing or handover barriers that make care feel rushed.
• RNOther2026Correlation between physical symptoms and overall comfort in hospitalized cancer patients in palliative care.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PHigher symptom scores were linked to lower comfort in hospitalized cancer patients receiving palliative care. Pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, appetite and well-being all tracked inversely; breathlessness did not.
• RNRCT2026Effects of Compassion Meditation on Psychological Status in Patients With Diabetes: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.Western journal of nursing researchPatients with diabetes randomly assigned to four short virtual compassion meditation sessions reported lower diabetes distress and higher confidence in managing diabetes than controls. In the meditation group, depressive symptoms, resilience and self-esteem did not improve. This pilot analysed 46 people.
• RNSystematic Review2026Experiences of Care in Intensive Care Units After a Suicide Attempt From the Perspectives of Patients, Family Members and Healthcare Personnel-A Scoping Review.Nursing in critical careAfter ICU care for a suicide attempt, patients wanted emotional support, families needed private communication, and staff reported mixed empathy and irritation. The included studies were old, so this maps accounts, not proof.
• RNOther2026Perspectives and Experiences of People Receiving Care on a De-escalation Intervention to Reduce Restrictive Practices in Acute Mental Health Units.International journal of mental health nursingStandardised measures of empowerment, dehumanisation and staff actions showed no significant change after implementing a nurse-led de-escalation framework. Patients described how clear communication, gentle care and meaningful activities supported safety, while coercion and system strain harmed recovery.
• RNOther2026Trajectories of Medication Use Prior to Death in US Nursing Home Residents With Dementia.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationMost deprescribing happened in the last three months of life. Hospice enrollment and severe functional decline predicted stopping medications. However, chronic drugs like anticoagulants and diuretics were rarely stopped, while symptom relief drugs like anxiolytics and antibiotics were often started.
• PTOTRNRCT2026A secondary analysis of how changes in pain interference relate to changes in health-related quality of life and physical function in heart failure.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careIn adults with heart failure, worsening pain interference tended to track with worsening physical function and quality of life over time. The links were modest and observational, so they do not prove pain treatment improves either outcome.
• RNSystematic Review2026Rules and Limit-Setting in Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatric Wards: A Systematic Narrative Review.Journal of child and adolescent psychiatric nursing : official publication of the Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nurses, IncNo agreed standard for adolescent psychiatric ward rules emerged, but reviewed wards mostly set limits on aggression, sexual activity, participation and schedules. Young people said rules felt fairer when staff explained why they existed and applied them consistently.
• RNQualitative2026Intensive Home Treatment in Mental Health: A Qualitative Exploration of Carers' Experiences.International journal of mental health nursingFamily carers during intensive home mental health treatment described exhaustion, disrupted routines and anxiety, but also closer relationships. They wanted private time with professionals without the patient present to express doubts and distress.
• RNSurvey2026Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Chinese version of the Maternal Adaptation Scale: a methodological study.Women's health nursing (Seoul, Korea)The adapted Chinese maternal adaptation scale can help nurses identify postpartum mothers with poorer adaptation, especially those with depressive symptoms and less spousal help.
• RNCohort2026Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Depressive and Behavioral Symptoms in US Nursing Home Residents.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationLockdown did not produce clinically meaningful worsening in nursing home residents’ overall depression or behavior scores. Some residents with mild depression were more likely to worsen, and those with severe behavior symptoms were more likely to improve.
• RNQualitative2026Perspectives and support needs for a spouse-inclusive digital intervention for perinatal depression and anxiety: a qualitative study.Women's health nursing (Seoul, Korea)Women and spouses described perinatal distress as emotional, cognitive, and social. They suggested a spouse-inclusive app with symptom information, communication and role guidance, and trusted professional content.
• RNSurvey2026Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in ICU Survivors After COVID-19.Nursing in critical care106 ICU survivors had high symptom burden: 56.6% reported anxiety symptoms and 53.8% depression symptoms. Female sex and memory problems were linked to anxiety; pain, memory problems and lower quality of life to depression.
• RNOther2026Effects of a nurse-led navigation program for first-time pregnant Korean women on maternal anxiety and childbirth confidence: a quasi-experimental study.Women's health nursing (Seoul, Korea)First-time pregnant women at 35+ weeks who received a 3-week nurse-led navigation program reported lower anxiety and higher childbirth confidence than women receiving usual education. Baseline childbirth confidence differed between groups, so the confidence result is less certain.
• RNSurvey2026Association of Fatalism and Diabetes-Related Stigma With Self-Care in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study.Nursing openHigher fatalism and stigma scores were linked to lower diabetes self-care in 150 adults. Fatalism had the stronger association. Screening for these beliefs during nurse-led education may help identify patients at risk of poor self-management.
• RNOther2026Delirium-Related Distress of Hospitalised Older Adults Within the Framework of the Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms: A Scoping Review of Qualitative Literature.International journal of mental health nursingHospitalised older adults recalled delirium as frightening, lonely and confusing, with fear, shame and distrust. Family presence, calm validation and hand holding were described as easing distress, while rushed or critical staff communication was linked to more distress.
• RNSurvey2026Key Strategies for Improving Psychiatric Home-Based Care in Spain: A Modified Delphi Study.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesStakeholders prioritized five feasible improvements for psychiatric home care: training on referral criteria, standardized discharge protocols, feedback to referring professionals, better visit scheduling, and updated capacity information. Staffing increases were rated important but not immediately achievable.
• RNMeta-Analysis2026The Prevalence of Anxiety in Patients With Beta-Thalassaemia Major: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Nursing openAbout one third of patients with beta thalassaemia major screened positive for anxiety symptoms, but the estimate varied widely across studies and settings. A positive screen means possible anxiety needing assessment, not a confirmed disorder.
• RNCohort2026Individual and Interactive Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Household Income on Adolescent Depression and Anxiety Symptoms.Research in nursing & healthParental mental illness, substance use, incarceration, or intimate partner violence in early childhood was associated with more adolescent depression and anxiety. Maltreatment experiences were not. Low household income was associated with depression, not anxiety.
• RNQualitative2026Social determinants of health that permeate adolescent students' mental distress.Revista brasileira de enfermagemAdolescents in Brazilian state high schools described mental distress as connected to pressure about future jobs and studies, family conflict, bullying, unsafe streets, poor self-image, self-harm, and family illness. They also described family and peer support as protective.
• RNQualitative2026Experiences and Views of African Australian Consumers on the Role of Spirituality, Religion and Culture on Mental Health.International journal of mental health nursingAfrican Australian consumers described distress from migration, lost community and stigma. They valued care that understood faith and culture, saw medication-only as disconnected, and wanted trusted community or faith figures involved.
• RNRCT2026Effect of a Stoma Care Training Belt on Stoma Care Skills, Adjustment, Anxiety and Satisfaction in Intestinal Stoma Patients: Randomized Controlled Study.Nursing openIn intestinal stoma patients, preoperative nurse training with a wearable belt raised skill and adjustment scores, lowered anxiety after discharge, and improved education satisfaction versus standard care.
• RNOther2026The Barriers and Enablers to the Use of Alternative Approaches to Restrictive Practices: A Scoping Review and Causal Loop Diagram.Nursing openMental health staff and service users described factors they said mattered for reducing restraint and seclusion: better communication, rapport, peer support, trauma-informed care, de-escalation training, adequate staffing and ward environments. This maps barriers and enablers, not tested effectiveness.
• RNSystematic Review2026Effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for older adults with dementia: An umbrella review.International journal of nursing sciencesNon-drug dementia care approaches produced small, consistent reductions in agitation, depression and anxiety, with modest cognitive gains. Quality of life did not show a clear improvement, so choose interventions for specific symptoms rather than overall wellbeing.