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.

1,218 PAPERS · PAGE 14 OF 25 · NEWEST FIRST

• RNOther2025Acculturation Impacts on Depressive Symptoms Among Hispanic Sexual Minority Youth and Hispanic Non-sexual Minority Youth.Issues in mental health nursingFor Hispanic adolescents, their own American and Hispanic cultural values were associated with fewer depressive symptoms over 36 months, except in sexual minority youth, where the sample was small and the associations were not clear.
• RNQualitative2025'Changing People's Hearts': The Lived Expertise Perspective of Communicating With Nursing Students at a Mental Health Clinical Placement.International journal of mental health nursingFive people with lived experience felt respected and valued when nursing students listened actively, used a friendly tone and body language, and made small inclusive gestures. Some also met dismissive students.
• RNOther2025Antipsychotic Use in Older Adults with Dementia: Community and Nursing Facility Trends in Texas, 2015-2020.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationFilled antipsychotic prescriptions for older Texans with dementia without serious psychotic illness fell from 14.5% to 10.8% between 2015 and 2020. The decline was mainly in nursing facilities; community use stayed near 10%.
• RNQualitative2025Perceptions of Mental Health Challenges and Needs of Indonesian Adolescents: A Descriptive Qualitative Study.International journal of mental health nursingIndonesian adolescents described emotional turmoil, bullying, academic pressure and family conflict, and wanted school mental health programmes with face-to-face local experts, peer support and parent involvement.
• RNOther2025Relationship Between Preoperative Fasting Duration and Anxiety Levels With Postoperative Pain, Nausea-Vomiting, and Sleep Quality in Orthopedic Surgical Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.Nursing & health sciencesLonger preoperative fasting and thirst were linked to higher anxiety. Higher anxiety was linked to more pain and early vomiting. Pain at 24 hours was linked to worse sleep. These are associations, not proof that changing fasting reduces symptoms.
• RNCohort2025Lessons Learned in Virtual Launch of an Antenatal Opioid Exposure Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Nursing research234 of 310 infants in an antenatal opioid exposure study attended the 6-month visit; control infants attended more often than opioid-exposed infants (83% vs 72%). Coordinators used plain-language MRI explanations, non-stigmatizing language, and flexible visits.
• RNOther2024Effectiveness of a theory-based tailored mHealth physical activity intervention for women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer: A quasi-experimental study.International journal of nursing sciencesWomen undergoing chemotherapy who used a theory-based app and text messages walked more and reported better physical quality of life than those receiving standard care alone. Anxiety scores were lower in the app group, but the app did not improve social or functional well-being.
• RNOther2025Beyond Survival: Unveiling Psychological and Social Adaptation After Visceral Transplantation.Journal of clinical nursingPatients after visceral transplantation described adaptation as moving between coherence, with trust and meaning, and endurance, with doubt, isolation and resignation. Fatigue, sleep problems and joint and muscle pain were the most distressing symptom domains. Anxiety scores were elevated in 6 of 17.
• RNSurvey2025Investigation of Sleep Quality and Intolerance of Uncertainty in Liver Transplant Recipients: A Cross-Sectional Study.Nursing & health sciencesLiver transplant recipients reported high uncertainty and poor sleep. Younger age was linked to more uncertainty, and complications were linked to worse sleep. Prospective anxiety was linked to poor sleep, but it did not explain poor sleep by itself.
• RNSystematic Review2025The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health Nursing Practice: An Integrative Review.International journal of mental health nursingAI tools for mental health nursing showed potential in assessment, risk detection, prediction and service efficiency, but across 78 studies most evidence was early-stage and not ready to replace nurse judgment.
• RNMeta-Analysis2025The Effects of Exergaming on the Depressive Symptoms of People With Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of clinical nursingExergaming was found to lower depressive symptom scores in people with dementia, but the evidence is very uncertain. Do not treat it as proven.
• RNRCT2025Effects of an Online Theory-Based Educational Programme for Primiparous Women on Improving Breastfeeding-Related Outcomes: A Randomised Controlled Trial.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesAt 6 months, the online breastfeeding programme did not show a clear difference in exclusive breastfeeding. At 2 months, 70.67% versus 40.85% favoured the programme, and breastfeeding confidence scores rose at both time points.
• RNOther2025Physical Health Views Among Individuals Experiencing Mental Illness: A Mixed-Methods Study of Self-Reported Health and Contributing Factors.International journal of mental health nursingPeople using mental health services reported worse physical health when they had long-term limiting conditions. Many wanted help with medication side effects, healthy eating, walking, yoga and group activities.
• RNRCT2025Ear acupuncture with laser and needles in the treatment of anxiety in university students: a randomized clinical trial.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PLaser and needle ear acupuncture produced similar anxiety reduction; neither was better than the other. Both groups improved, gains lasted seven days, and laser had fewer local symptoms.
• RNMeta-Analysis2025Supportive Nursing Care Intervention for Handling Depression and Anxiety Among Mothers of Neonates Admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): A Meta-Analysis.Nursing openSupportive nursing care in the NICU lowered mothers' depression scores. Anxiety symptoms also appeared lower, but the anxiety evidence is very low and should not be relied on alone.
• PTRNMeta-Analysis2025Effects of Cancer Rehabilitation Interventions for Women Treated for Gynaecological Cancers: A Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.Journal of clinical nursingCancer rehabilitation programmes increased physical activity in women treated for gynaecological cancers, with effects lasting up to 12 months, but did not improve healthy eating, anxiety, depression, or overall quality of life.
• RNPilot2025Developing a Mobile App to Prevent Suicide Based on a Software Development Life Cycle: Application of Ecological Momentary Assessment and Interventions.International journal of mental health nursingA suicide prevention app was tested on 23 low-risk adults. Usability scores were below average, and users found daily mood tracking cumbersome. While no adverse events occurred, the app's effectiveness for high-risk patients remains unproven.
• RNSurvey2025The Influence of Substance Use on Sleep Duration Among South Korean Adolescents by Sex: A Secondary Analysis.Journal for specialists in pediatric nursing : JSPNFor male adolescents, neither tobacco nor alcohol use was linked to sleep duration. For female adolescents, alcohol use was linked to shorter sleep, and age was the strongest factor overall.
• RNNarrative Review2025Depressive symptoms and heart rate variability in perinatal women: A narrative review.Japan journal of nursing science : JJNSIn perinatal women, heart rate variability was associated with stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in some studies, but results were inconsistent. Slow-breathing HRV biofeedback showed some reported benefit. Treat it as an adjunct, not a replacement for clinical assessment.
• RNQualitative2025Understanding the Consumers' Experiences of Safewards: A Qualitative Exploratory Study.International journal of mental health nursingPeople in Australian acute mental health units valued Safewards when it helped them connect with staff and each other. They also said locked calming equipment, unclear orientation, and busy nurses made it harder to feel safe.
• RNOther2025Cytokines and Depressive Symptoms Among Adolescents.Biological research for nursingHigher salivary IL-6 and IL-8 were linked to more depressive symptoms; IL-1β, IL-8 and TNF-α were linked to a positive depression screen. These are associations only, not a diagnostic test.
• RNSurvey2025Network of depression and anxiety symptoms in Chinese middle-aged and older people and its relationship with family health.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PAmong middle-aged and older Chinese adults, Fatigue was the most central depression and anxiety symptom, and Restlessness linked depression and anxiety clusters. Family health was negatively associated with symptoms, especially Family health resources with Suicide.
• RNRCT2025The Effect of Early-Initiated Half-Swaddling and Kangaroo Care Practices on Maternal Sleep Quality and Postpartum Depression in Term Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Nursing & health sciencesMothers using half-swaddling, kangaroo care, or both had better sleep and lower depression scores in the tables, but the results text calls them worse.
• RNQualitative2025Parents' Experiences With Couplet Care Following Caesarean Section in an Integrated Neonatal and Maternity Unit.Advances in neonatal care : official journal of the National Association of Neonatal NursesParents who stayed with their newborn after caesarean section valued not being separated, nurse availability and clear communication. They described growing more confident in caring for their newborn, while fathers often became primary caregivers and mothers struggled with pain and immobility.
• RNRCT2025The Effect of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercises Applied to Caregivers of Palliative Care Patients on Stress Coping Styles and Anxiety Levels: A Randomised Controlled Trial.Nursing openCaregivers of palliative care patients in the group that received nurse teaching, audio-guided progressive muscle relaxation, WhatsApp reminders and weekly calls reported less anxiety and more helpful coping.
• PTOTRNCohort2025Examining the Effectiveness and Acceptability of Internet-Delivered Psychological Pain Management for Regional and Rural Australians With Chronic Pain.The Australian journal of rural healthRegional and rural Australians with chronic pain who used a free internet pain course reported improved pain disability, depression and anxiety. Pain intensity also improved. There was no control group.
• RNOther2025Shared Decision-Making in Severe Aortic Stenosis: Experiences and Needs of Older Patients.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingMost older patients wanted collaborative decisions, but only 29.6% reported the highest level of shared decision-making. Nurses can ask about daily life and include caregivers before discussing treatment options.
• RNSurvey2025Self-Advocacy Among Women With Uterine Malignancies.Nursing researchWomen with uterine cancer had a mean self-advocacy score of 59.44 ± 10.14 on an 18-item scale scored 0 to 5 per item. Higher decision confidence and resilience were linked to stronger self-advocacy.
• RNCohort2025Greater Symptom Burden and Poorer Quality of Life Outcomes Are Associated With The Co-Occurrence of Anxiety and Depression During Cancer Chemotherapy.Seminars in oncology nursingAmong chemotherapy patients, higher co-occurring anxiety and depression was linked to increasingly worse fatigue, sleep, pain, thinking, and quality of life.
• RNSurvey2025The Acceptability of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Amongst Mental Health Consumers: Utilising the Theory of Planned Behaviour.International journal of mental health nursingAustralian mental health consumers were generally open to psychedelic-assisted therapy: 75% of participants wanted it and 55% preferred it over talking therapy, but many also felt concerned, fearful or worried about it.
• PTRNSystematic Review2025Effectiveness of Physical Activity Interventions on Acute Inpatient Mental Health Units on Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review.International journal of mental health nursingCompared with control groups, physical activity programmes in acute mental health wards improved mood, reduced anxiety, increased fitness or improved patient experience in some studies; others found no difference. Evidence is too mixed to choose a programme.
• RNSurvey2025Identification of subgroups of self-reported outcomes among breast cancer patients undergoing surgery and chemotherapy: A cross-sectional study.International journal of nursing sciencesAmong 640 breast cancer patients having surgery and chemotherapy, 48.4% fell into impaired-function subgroups, including a group with low physical, social, and cognitive function and a group with high physical but low cognitive function.
• RNQualitative2025Difficulties in providing nursing care to children with neurodevelopmental disorders admitted to child and adolescent psychiatric units for aggressive behavior.Japan journal of nursing science : JJNSNurses in child psychiatric wards struggle to manage aggression in children with neurodevelopmental disorders due to distrust, inconsistent staff responses, and lack of training. They rely on trial and error because evidence-based protocols for de-escalation and reflection are missing.
• RNOther2025Psychometric properties of the Chinese-version Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation System Scales among stroke survivors with depressive symptoms.International journal of nursing sciencesThe Chinese BIS/BAS scales seem usable for stroke survivors with depressive symptoms. Ten participants found the items clear, scores were stable when retested, and people with probable depression showed lower activation and higher inhibition.
• RNSurvey2025Examining Differences Among Opioid Agonist Treatment Clients in Regional and Metropolitan Settings of New South Wales, Australia.The Australian journal of rural healthRegional OAT clients were more likely to use buprenorphine and private dosing sites, and to travel by car or active transport rather than public transport. They reported less past-month heroin, but driving offences mostly did not differ.
• RNOther2025Psychometric Testing of the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire 12 in A European Population.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingThe Italian KCCQ-12 appears usable for assessing quality of life in Italian patients with heart failure. Scores can be compared across ejection fraction groups, but some items behaved differently in those groups.
• RNCohort2025Outcomes of Discontinuing Long-Term Opioid Therapy among Older Cancer Survivors in Long-Term Care Settings.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationIn older nursing home cancer survivors, stopping long-term opioids was linked with less worsening pain and fewer opioid use disorder or overdose events, without worse physical function or depression.
• RNSystematic Review2025Effects of digital health interventions in women with high-risk pregnancies: a systematic review.Women's health nursing (Seoul, Korea)Across seven trials, digital health tools for high-risk pregnancy did not improve primary blood pressure or birth outcomes. Some secondary anxiety, satisfaction, and illness-perception results were better with the tools.
• RNQualitative2025An Explorative Study on the Role of Family Members in Caring for Mental Health Care Users in South Africa.Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursingFamily caregivers of people with mental illness struggle to ensure treatment adherence and hygiene, often lacking knowledge about causes and side effects. They reported stigma and insufficient support from nurses after discharge, leaving them isolated and fearful of relapse.
• RNSurvey2025Identifying Health Services Preferences for a Community-Based HIV Status-Neutral Mobile Clinic Among Marginalized Populations in Oakland, CA: A Maximum-Difference Analysis.The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care : JANACMarginalized Oakland community members ranked housing case management, mental health counseling, and mental health screening as most important services for a mobile HIV clinic, ahead of standard medical services.
• RNCohort2025High Anticholinergic Burden of Patients Hospitalized for Hip Fracture Reveals a Target for Deprescribing.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationAmong older hip fracture patients with high anticholinergic burden, 42.6% had lower burden during post-acute nursing home care, but 47.5% had no meaningful change and 9.9% increased.
• RNQualitative2025"I don't think I have been out of fight or flight. Ever." Transgender people's experiences in inpatient psychiatric treatment.International journal of nursing studiesTransgender adults described inpatient psychiatric care as exhausting because staff misgendered them, withheld hormones, and ignored their distress. Nurses who actively corrected names and advocated for affirming care were rare but made the difference between feeling safe and feeling targeted.
• RNMeta-Analysis2025Postnatal Depression Beyond 12 Months: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.International journal of mental health nursingDepression rates did not differ between the first and second postpartum years: 16% then 15%, and 19% beyond 24 months. This suggests postnatal depression can continue or begin later.
• RNSystematic Review2025Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) With Workforce Solutions for Sustainable Care: A Follow Up to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (ML) Based Decision Support Systems in Mental Health.International journal of mental health nursingAI decision support in mental health may help clinicians personalise care and reduce workload, but the reviewed evidence is feasibility, acceptability and model performance, not proven patient outcomes. Bias and transparency remain unresolved.
• RNRCT2025Effect of psychological intervention combined with feedback-based health education on lung cancer patients.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PLung cancer patients who received routine nursing plus stage-based psychological support and feedback health education reported lower anxiety and depression, better quality of life, and fewer adverse reactions than routine nursing alone in a pilot study.
• RNMeta-Analysis2025The Effectiveness of Mind-Body Exercise on Health-Related Quality of Life and Mental Health During and After Breast Cancer Treatment: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses for Randomized Controlled Trials.Worldviews on evidence-based nursingYoga had the strongest evidence for reducing depression in breast cancer patients and survivors. Evidence for quality of life, fatigue, anxiety and sleep was weak or unclear, so do not expect broad benefits.
• RNQualitative2025May I, Will I and Why. A Shared Lifeworld in a Suicidal Trajectory-Told by Suicide Loss Survivors.International journal of mental health nursingSuicide loss survivors described an implicit negotiation with the person who died, felt as vigilance, relief, anger, or new meanings in familiar places. These accounts may help nurses assess suicide risk and involve families.
• RNOther2025Prevalence and Predictors of Caregiver Distress in Six European Communities: Data From the IBenC Study, Using interRAI-Home Care Assessments.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesAmong home care clients with informal caregivers, distress was most common in Iceland (34%) and least in Finland (9%). Client depression risk, incontinence, medical complexity, recent hospitalisation and cohabiting caregivers were linked to higher distress.
• RNMeta-Analysis2025The Effect of Nursing Interventions in Women With Gestational Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Nursing & health sciencesNursing interventions added to standard care for pregnant women with gestational hypertension lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure, anxiety and depression, and shortened hospital stay. Preeclampsia development did not change.
• RNQualitative2025When Psychiatric Services Become a Waiting Room: Situational Analysis of Involuntary Commitment and Treatment as Experienced by Patients and Nurses.Clinical nursing researchPatients and nurses described involuntary psychiatric care as waiting for crisis to pass, medication as the main treatment, little support, and rules enforced by nurses.