DATE: August 13, 2025 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: Female killers in Sweden show low psychopathy, primarily reactive motives

URL: https://www.psypost.org/female-killers-in-sweden-show-low-psychopathy-primarily-reactive-motives/

A new study published in the International Journal of Forensic Mental Health offers one of the most comprehensive investigations to date of women in Sweden who have committed lethal or attempted lethal violence. The findings suggest that most of these female offenders show low levels of psychopathic traits and tend to act out of reactive, emotionally driven motives rather than calculated, goal-oriented aggression. However, the presence of a severe mental disorder was linked to a more complex mix of both reactive and instrumental features, indicating that the motivations behind lethal violence in women may be more multifaceted than previously thought.

While most studies on homicide and severe violence focus on men, researchers know comparatively little about women who commit such crimes. Understanding the psychological and behavioral characteristics of this subgroup is important for developing more effective methods of prevention, assessment, and rehabilitation.

Prior research has indicated that women tend to commit violent acts in the context of self-defense, emotional distress, or interpersonal conflict rather than for material gain or premeditated goals. Still, there has been limited investigation into how traits such as psychopathy and the presence of a severe mental disorder intersect with the type of violence committed by female offenders.

This study was designed to examine how levels of psychopathy and the nature of the violent act—whether reactive (emotionally driven) or instrumental (planned and goal-directed)—relate to the presence or absence of a severe mental disorder. The research aimed to shed light on patterns that might inform both clinical understanding and criminal justice responses.

“The main motivation for me to pursue this research was that we know less about females who commit lethal and severe violence compared to their male counterparts. Thus, there is a knowledge gap concerning this offender group with implications for our ability to detect potential offenders and victims before crimes are committed,” said study author Karin Trägårdh, a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg and a psychologist specialized in clinical forensic psychology, who works at the Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Rågården.

The researchers analyzed forensic psychiatric records of all women in Sweden who were charged with lethal or attempted lethal violence and underwent a court-ordered forensic psychiatric investigation between 2000 and 2014. This included offenses such as murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, infanticide, and related crimes. The final sample included 175 women, which represents the vast majority of such cases during that period.

Each case was assessed using two key instruments. The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) was used to measure levels of psychopathic traits across four facets: interpersonal, affective, lifestyle, and antisocial. The Violent Incident Coding Sheet (VICS) was used to classify the violent act as primarily reactive or instrumental, and to assess related characteristics such as planning, provocation, emotional arousal, and goal-directedness.

The researchers divided the sample into two groups: women who were found to have been suffering from a severe mental disorder at the time of the offense, and those who were not. This classification is a legal construct in Sweden and typically applies to individuals with conditions like schizophrenia or severe depression, particularly when symptoms impair reality testing or impulse control.

Across the entire sample, most women scored low on the PCL-R, suggesting that psychopathic traits were generally not prominent in this population. The average total score was about 11 out of a possible 40, which is considered well below the threshold typically used to indicate psychopathy. Women with a severe mental disorder had even lower scores, especially on the interpersonal facet, which includes traits like manipulation and superficial charm.

When the researchers examined the nature of the violent acts, they found that nearly all were classified as reactive rather than instrumental. This means the violence was typically a response to a perceived threat or provocation and was carried out in an emotionally charged state, rather than being premeditated or carried out for gain. Most incidents lacked clear planning, and emotional arousal was high.

Interestingly, the women with severe mental disorders showed a somewhat more complex pattern. Although they still tended to act in reactive ways, women with severe mental disorders were more likely to have engaged in some form of short-term planning and experienced very high emotional arousal. At the same time, they were less likely to report immediate provocation, which might indicate a buildup of emotional distress or a perceived sense of threat that was not tied to a specific triggering event.

“The finding that female offenders assessed as having a severe mental disorder exhibited slightly more planning, albeit short-term, compared to those without such a disorder, was somewhat surprising,” Trägårdh told PsyPost. “Coupled with other research indicating that female offenders of lethal violence have sought support (e.g., within health and social services, and the police) prior to the crime more often than male offenders, this suggests we may be able to identify these women more effectively before they commit acts of violence by asking the right questions.”

When the researchers analyzed the relationship between psychopathy and type of violence, they found modest associations. Higher levels of psychopathy were somewhat linked to more instrumental features, such as planning and goal-directedness, but these associations were not strong. Among women without a severe mental disorder, psychopathy scores were more likely to align with clear instrumental motives. Among women with severe mental disorders, the associations were more scattered, suggesting a more nuanced relationship between traits and behavior.

The results indicate that female offenders of lethal violence in Sweden tend to be emotionally reactive rather than coldly calculating, and most do not show high levels of psychopathy. This challenges common stereotypes about violent offenders and suggests that interventions focusing on emotional regulation and social support may be more appropriate for many women in this group than traditional punitive approaches.

“The key point is that the lethal or attempted lethal violence committed by these females was mainly driven by reactive features, such as high arousal, experienced provocation, low instrumental goal-directedness, and low levels of planning,” Trägårdh said. “Additionally, the female offenders of the lethal or attempted lethal violence were characterised by relatively low levels of psychopathic traits. This has implications for both preventive and treatment measures.”

The researchers caution against interpreting any single factor—such as planning or psychopathy score—in isolation. Female lethal violence appears to be driven by a blend of emotional, situational, and psychological factors, and these influences may manifest differently depending on whether the woman is experiencing a severe mental illness at the time.

“I would emphasize the importance of keeping the complexity in mind,” Trägårdh explained. “For example, even if we observe characteristics common to most of these female offenders, we must also recognize individual differences and be open to the possibility that some offenders do not conform to the typical pattern but instead behave in more atypical ways.”

While the findings are based on a robust national dataset, the researchers note that generalizing the results to other countries should be done with caution, given differences in legal systems and cultural contexts. The results are also limited to women who underwent forensic psychiatric evaluations, which may not capture every case of female-perpetrated lethal violence.

The authors hope that future research will explore how these patterns hold up across different populations and settings. They also suggest that prevention strategies could benefit from greater awareness of the warning signs in women who are at risk of committing lethal violence—particularly those who engage with social or health services and exhibit signs of emotional overwhelm or unprocessed trauma.

“I hope this research will contribute to increased knowledge in society regarding lethal or attempted lethal violence committed by females,” Trägårdh said. “If we learn more, I believe we are more likely to discuss these issues in an informed manner, and hopefully raise questions and investigate this further before crimes are committed. In that way, we could prevent such violence altogether and also improve risk management to reduce the chances of reoffending when crimes have been committed.”

The study, “Links Between Psychopathy, Type of Violence, and Severe Mental Disorder among Female Offenders of Lethal Violence in Sweden,” was authored by Karin Trägårdh, Malin Hildebrand Karlén, Peter Andiné, and Thomas Nilsson.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/female-killers-in-sweden-show-low-psychopathy-primarily-reactive-motives/

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

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

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

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

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist

DATE: August 13, 2025 at 12:00PM
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: Depressed individuals have heightened C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio

URL: https://www.psypost.org/depressed-individuals-have-heightened-c-reactive-protein-to-albumin-ratio/

An analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that individuals with depression tend to have a higher C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio compared to those without depression. This finding remained consistent across different subgroups, including individuals with a history of metabolic diseases. The paper was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

Depression is a common mental health disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness that last for weeks or longer. An important symptom of depression is anhedonia — a loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed. People with depression may also experience changes in appetite and weight, either gaining or losing significantly. Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia or hypersomnia, are also common.

If left untreated, depression can severely impair daily functioning and increase the risk of self-harm or suicide. Unfortunately, current treatments are not effective for everyone, and many cases are classified as treatment-resistant. In addition, many individuals do not seek treatment, and among those who do, a large proportion fail to receive adequate care. Some estimates suggest that fewer than 20% of individuals with depression receive treatment that leads to full remission. This is why identifying new and more accurate methods for diagnosing depression remains a major focus of scientific research.

Study author Jing Lin and his colleagues sought to investigate whether the C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio in blood might be associated with the risk of depression. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a substance produced by the liver in response to inflammation. Its levels rise quickly during infection or tissue injury. Albumin, also produced by the liver, is the most abundant protein in blood plasma. It helps maintain fluid balance and transports hormones, vitamins, and medications.

The C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) is calculated by dividing the CRP concentration by the albumin level in the blood. It reflects both acute inflammation (via CRP) and chronic or nutritional status (via albumin). Higher CAR values have been associated with worse outcomes in various health conditions, including infections, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

The authors analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a large, ongoing study designed to assess the health of a representative sample of non-institutionalized U.S. residents. For this analysis, data were drawn from 13,159 participants. The average age was 49 years, 49% were men, and 8% met criteria for depression.

Depression symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), while CRP and albumin levels were measured from blood samples.

The researchers found that individuals with depression had significantly higher CAR values. This association was also observed across multiple subgroups, including those with pre-existing metabolic disorders.

“Our research findings demonstrated that an elevated CAR [C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio] level was positively associated with depression. However, given the complexity of the underlying mechanisms and the need for broader generalizability, well-designed, large-scale prospective studies are imperative to further validate and solidify our current observations,” the study authors concluded.

The study results indicate that C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio could potentially be used as a biomarker of depression. However, the design of the study does not allow any causal inferences to be derived from the results. Therefore, it remains unknown whether a high C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio contributes to depressive symptoms or whether depression leads to increased C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio. Other options for explaining this association also remain open.

The paper, “C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio is associated with increased depression: An exploratory cross-sectional analysis,” was authored by Jing Lin, Xiang Yang, Zhiqiang Wu, Jiecong Lu, and Ming Zhang.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/depressed-individuals-have-heightened-c-reactive-protein-to-albumin-ratio/

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

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

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

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

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist

DATE: August 13, 2025 at 10:00AM
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 link found between suicide risk and brain structure in large-scale study

URL: https://www.psypost.org/genetic-link-found-between-suicide-risk-and-brain-structure-in-large-scale-study/

People with a higher genetic predisposition to attempting suicide tend to show differences in brain structure, according to a new study published in the journal Human Brain Mapping. The researchers found that specific genetic markers associated with suicide attempt risk also overlap with those related to brain volume, particularly in subcortical regions involved in emotion, reward, and cognitive control.

The findings point to a small but statistically meaningful genetic correlation between suicide attempts and total brain volume, and suggest that shared genetic influences may be expressed in distinct ways across development. While previous studies have independently tied suicidal behavior and brain structure to genetic factors, this new research indicates that they may be more intertwined than previously understood.

Suicide attempt is one of the strongest predictors of suicide death and remains a pressing global health concern. Although environmental stressors, psychiatric conditions, and trauma history contribute to risk, there is growing recognition that suicide also has biological underpinnings. Large-scale genetic studies have identified heritable components of suicidal behavior, and structural brain changes have been reported in individuals with a history of suicide attempts.

However, researchers have yet to fully determine whether these biological features share a common genetic basis. If suicide risk and variations in brain morphology stem from overlapping genetic pathways, identifying those regions and gene sets could help reveal new targets for intervention or prediction. The new study aimed to clarify the degree to which the genetic architecture of suicide attempt overlaps with regional brain volume in both adults and adolescents.

“My colleagues and I were specifically interested in determining whether genetic risk for suicide behaviors could be reflected in neurodevelopmental differences early in life. Suicide behavior is very difficult to predict, and understanding risk factors for suicidal behavior early in development prior to the emergence of these behaviors could be one avenue towards prevention,” said study author Jill A. Rabinowitz, an assistant professor at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Rutgers University.

The research team used data from two of the largest genome-wide association studies available: one on suicide attempts, including nearly one million individuals, and one on brain imaging, which included structural MRI data from approximately 75,000 participants. The suicide attempt dataset included both people who had made nonfatal attempts and those who had died by suicide. The brain imaging data included measurements of total brain volume and nine subcortical regions, such as the caudate, putamen, amygdala, hippocampus, and thalamus.

To examine shared genetic factors, the researchers first applied a statistical technique known as linkage disequilibrium score regression, which estimates genome-wide genetic correlations between traits. Then, to look for specific areas of the genome influencing both suicide attempts and brain volumes, they used GWAS-pairwise analysis, which examines smaller segments of the genome to detect local genetic overlap. These segments were then mapped to genes using functional annotation tools.

To explore how these genetic relationships might emerge during adolescence, the researchers also examined data from over 5,000 European-ancestry participants in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Using polygenic scores for suicide attempt—scores that summarize the cumulative effect of thousands of genetic variants—they tested whether higher genetic risk was associated with differences in brain volume in this younger cohort.

The strongest genome-wide genetic correlation emerged between suicide attempt risk and intracranial volume. The correlation was modest (r = -0.10) but statistically significant, suggesting that genetic factors associated with a higher likelihood of suicide attempt are also linked to smaller overall brain volume. This aligns with earlier neuroimaging research indicating that individuals with a history of suicide attempt tend to have smaller intracranial volume.

Zooming in on specific brain regions, the researchers identified ten genomic segments that appeared to influence both suicide attempt risk and at least one subcortical brain structure. Seven of these were associated with the thalamus, two with the putamen, and one with the caudate nucleus. These areas are involved in various cognitive, emotional, and motor processes, and have been implicated in psychiatric conditions such as depression and schizophrenia.

Several genes were mapped to these overlapping genomic segments. One of the most prominent was DCC, a gene involved in axonal guidance and synaptic development, which was associated with both suicide risk and volume of the caudate and putamen. Other implicated genes, including members of the histone cluster (e.g., HIST1H2BN and HIST1H4L), were located in a highly complex region of the genome known as the major histocompatibility complex, which is involved in immune function and has also been linked to psychiatric disorders.

In conditional analyses, the researchers found that associations between suicide risk and thalamic volume within this region were likely due to separate genetic signals rather than a single shared variant. This suggests that while the same region of the genome may influence both traits, it may do so through distinct genetic mechanisms.

In the adolescent sample from the ABCD study, higher polygenic risk for suicide attempt was significantly associated with smaller volume of the right nucleus accumbens, a brain region involved in reward sensitivity and motivation. This association remained significant even after correcting for multiple comparisons. Notably, the nucleus accumbens did not show overlap in the adult genomic segment analyses, suggesting that different brain regions may reflect genetic vulnerability at different stages of development.

“We found that people with higher genetic risk for suicide attempt tend to have smaller overall brain volume and differences in specific brain regions like the thalamus and caudate nucleus,” Rabinowitz told PsyPost. “In adolescents, a higher genetic risk for suicide attempt was also associated with a smaller volume in the nucleus accumbens, a region involved in reward and motivation. These findings suggest that certain brain structures may help explain how genetic risk for suicide is expressed in the brain early in life, offering insight for future prevention efforts.”

There are some limitations to consider. The genetic analyses were based exclusively on individuals of European ancestry, which means the results may not generalize to other populations. Future studies should aim to replicate these findings in more diverse samples.

Additionally, while the study identifies genetic overlap, it cannot determine whether these shared genetic factors causally influence both suicide risk and brain structure. It’s possible that genes influence one trait, which in turn affects the other. Future research using causal inference methods like Mendelian randomization could help clarify the direction of these relationships.

“It is important to note that findings are not causal; that is, we did not find that genetic risk causes brain structure differences, but rather that an association exists between genetic liability for suicide attempt and neurodevelopment,” Rabinowitz explained. “It will be important to consider third variables in future research, such as environmental exposures, that may be potential pathways through which genetic propensity for suicidal behavior is linked to brain structure differences. I look forward to continuing to conduct research that incorporates genetic and novel biobehavioral and neural phenotypes that may be associated with suicidal behavior across the lifespan.”

The study, “Genetic Links Between Subcortical Brain Morphometry and Suicide Attempt Risk in Children and Adults,” was authored by Zuriel Ceja, Luis M. García-Marín, I-Tzu Hung, Sarah E. Medland, Alexis C. Edwards, Miguel E. Rentería, and Jill A. Rabinowitz.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/genetic-link-found-between-suicide-risk-and-brain-structure-in-large-scale-study/

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

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

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

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

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist

DATE: August 13, 2025 at 08:00AM
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: His psychosis was a mystery—until doctors learned about ChatGPT’s health advice

URL: https://www.psypost.org/his-psychosis-was-a-mystery-until-doctors-learned-about-chatgpts-health-advice/

A 60-year-old man arrived at a Seattle hospital convinced his neighbor was poisoning him. Though medically stable at first, he soon developed hallucinations and paranoia. The cause turned out to be bromide toxicity—triggered by a health experiment he began after consulting ChatGPT. The case, published in Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases, highlights a rare but reversible form of psychosis that may have been influenced by generative artificial intelligence.

Psychosis is a mental state characterized by a disconnection from reality. It often involves hallucinations, where people hear, see, or feel things that are not there, or delusions, which are fixed beliefs that persist despite clear evidence to the contrary. People experiencing psychosis may have difficulty distinguishing between real and imagined experiences, and may behave in ways that seem irrational or confusing to others.

Psychosis is not a diagnosis in itself, but a symptom that can appear in a variety of medical and psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression. It can also be triggered by brain injuries, infections, or toxic substances.

The man’s initial presentation was unusual but not dramatic. He came to the emergency department reporting that his neighbor was trying to poison him. His vital signs and physical examination were mostly normal. Routine laboratory tests, however, revealed some striking abnormalities: extremely high chloride levels, a highly negative anion gap, and severe phosphate deficiency. Despite this, he denied using any medications or supplements.

As doctors searched for answers, his mental state worsened. Within a day, he was hallucinating and behaving erratically. He had to be placed on a psychiatric hold and was started on risperidone to manage his symptoms. But a deeper look at his bloodwork suggested a rare toxic condition: bromism.

Bromism occurs when bromide—a chemical similar to chloride—builds up in the body to toxic levels. Historically, bromide was used in sedatives and other medications, but it was phased out in the United States by the late 1980s. It is still used in some industrial and cleaning applications. In cases of bromism, bromide can interfere with chloride tests and cause neurological and psychiatric symptoms ranging from confusion to full-blown psychosis.

The man’s doctors consulted with Poison Control and eventually confirmed that bromism was the likely cause of his symptoms. After being stabilized with fluids and nutritional support, the man revealed a key detail: for the past three months, he had been replacing regular table salt with sodium bromide. His motivation was nutritional—he wanted to eliminate chloride from his diet, based on what he believed were harmful effects of sodium chloride.

This belief was strengthened, he explained, by information he had received from ChatGPT. While experimenting with ways to improve his health, he asked the chatbot whether chloride could be replaced. The model reportedly offered bromide as an alternative, without flagging any health risks or asking why the substitution was being considered. Encouraged by what he interpreted as scientific endorsement, he purchased sodium bromide online and began consuming it regularly.

Medical tests confirmed that his blood bromide level had reached 1700 mg/L—well above the normal range of 0.9 to 7.3 mg/L. After stopping the supplement and receiving supportive treatment, his psychiatric symptoms gradually subsided. He was weaned off risperidone before discharge and remained stable in follow-up appointments.

This unusual incident carries several caveats. A single case report cannot establish causation. There may have been multiple factors contributing to the man’s psychosis, and his exact interaction with ChatGPT remains unverified. The medical team does not have access to the chatbot conversation logs and cannot confirm the exact wording or sequence of messages that led to the decision to consume bromide.

Case reports, by nature, describe only one patient’s experience. They are not designed to test hypotheses or rule out alternative explanations. In some cases, rare outcomes may simply be coincidental or misunderstood. Without controlled studies or broader surveillance, it is difficult to know how common—or uncommon—such incidents truly are.

Despite their limitations, case reports often serve as early warning signs in medicine. They tend to highlight novel presentations, unexpected side effects, or emerging risks that are not yet widely recognized. Many medical breakthroughs and safety reforms have started with a single unusual case. In this instance, the authors argue that the use of AI-powered chatbots should be considered when evaluating unusual psychiatric presentations, especially when patients are known to seek health advice online.

The case also raises broader concerns about the growing role of generative AI in personal health decisions. Chatbots like ChatGPT are trained to provide fluent, human-like responses. But they do not understand context, cannot assess user intent, and are not equipped to evaluate medical risk. In this case, the bot may have listed bromide as a chemical analogue to chloride without realizing that a user might interpret that information as a dietary recommendation.

The idea that chatbots could contribute to psychosis once seemed speculative. But recent editorials and anecdotal reports suggest that this may be a real, if rare, phenomenon—especially among individuals with underlying vulnerability. Danish psychiatrist Søren Dinesen Østergaard was among the first to raise the alarm. In 2023, he published a warning in Schizophrenia Bulletin, suggesting that the cognitive dissonance of interacting with a seemingly intelligent but ultimately mechanical system could destabilize users who already struggle with reality-testing.

Since then, multiple stories have emerged of individuals who experienced dramatic changes in thinking and behavior after prolonged chatbot use. Some became convinced that they had divine missions, while others believed they were communicating with sentient beings. In one reported case, a man believed he had been chosen by ChatGPT to “break” a simulated reality. In another, a user’s romantic partner came to believe that the chatbot was a spiritual guide and began withdrawing from human relationships.

These stories tend to follow a pattern: intense engagement with the chatbot, increasingly eccentric beliefs, and a lack of pushback from the system itself. Critics point out that language models are trained to reward user satisfaction, which can mean agreeing with or amplifying the user’s worldview—even when it is distorted or delusional. That dynamic may mimic what psychiatrists call confirmation bias, a known contributor to psychotic thinking.

Some developers are exploring ways to detect when a conversation appears to touch on delusional thinking—such as references to secret messages or supernatural identity—and redirect users to professional help. But such systems are still in their infancy, and the commercial incentives for chatbot companies tend to prioritize engagement over safety.

The case of the Seattle man is a sobering reminder of how even a seemingly minor substitution—replacing salt with a chemical cousin—can spiral into a medical and psychiatric emergency when guided by decontextualized information. While AI chatbots have potential to support healthcare in structured settings, this report suggests they may also present hidden risks, especially for users who take their advice literally.

The study, “A Case of Bromism Influenced by Use of Artificial Intelligence,” was authored by Audrey Eichenberger, Stephen Thielke, and Adam Van Buskirk.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/his-psychosis-was-a-mystery-until-doctors-learned-about-chatgpts-health-advice/

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

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

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

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

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist

DATE:
August 13, 2025 at 08:01AM

CHANNEL: Good News

TITLE:
These 10 Inspiring Stories Prove Anything Is Possible

URL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyaBnkwz-0s

DESCRIPTION:
For more Fantastic News make sure to subscribe to Good News!

0:00 These Inspiring Stories Prove Anything Is Possible
0:39 Shea Foster's Road to the Paralympics
2:28 The Ironman with Down Syndrome
3:52 From Volunteer to Victory
5:06 Maya Merhige's Swim Across the Cook Strait
6:26 First Disabled Astronaut Cleared for an ISS Mission
7:38 The First Private Spacewalk in History
8:57 LeBron James Makes History
10:00 Rugby Player Turned Mountain Climber
11:10 A Dad, A Mountain, and 5,000 Kids
12:16 Tech Millionaire Builds Village for the Homeless

Support us & become a Good News member:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdG5p24FH9cmpjQZeFsLpBg/join

Our sources for this episode:
https://good-news.notion.site/These-10-Inspiring-Stories-Prove-Anything-Is-Possible-24e60ebea8a380189557e7338fd6f270?source=copy_link

#news #goodnews #inspiration
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
► More Good News!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/good_news.io/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
► OUR OTHER CHANNELS:

MegaBuilds: @MegaBuildsYT
Freddy: @Freddy-Again
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We Are Hiring:
https://megabuilds.io/

Contact us:
good-news[at]megabuilds.io

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyaBnkwz-0s


This robot is not affiliated with the channel.

#psychology #depression #goodnews #goodnewsthread #happy #happynews
#SpreadJoy #PositiveVibes #CommunityLove #SpreadLight #YourWeeklyDoseofGoodNews #Good__News #positivescience #science @goodnews

DATE: August 13, 2025 at 06:00AM
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: Drug-using teens show distinct patterns of brain development tied to dopamine regulation

URL: https://www.psypost.org/drug-using-teens-show-distinct-patterns-of-brain-development-tied-to-dopamine-regulation/

A new study published in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience provides initial evidence that differences in brain chemistry during adolescence may help explain why some teens are more likely to experiment with drugs or alcohol—and why others appear to require stronger incentives to maintain cognitive focus. The findings suggest that slower developmental increases in a brain chemistry marker linked to dopamine functioning may be associated with both substance use and a greater dependence on rewards to perform well on cognitive tasks.

Adolescence is a period marked by novelty-seeking, heightened sensitivity to rewards, and risk-taking behaviors—including substance use. About 60% of teens will try alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs before adulthood, and those who begin during adolescence face a greater risk of developing a substance use disorder later in life.

Previous research has connected long-term substance use to changes in dopamine-related brain activity. For example, adults with substance use disorders tend to show lower availability of dopamine receptors and transporters in a brain region called the basal ganglia, which is involved in reward processing and cognitive control. However, much less is known about whether early changes in dopamine-linked neurodevelopment could help explain why some adolescents begin using substances in the first place.

Directly measuring dopamine in the brain is difficult, especially in younger participants. But scientists have identified a promising proxy: brain tissue iron. Iron is essential for dopamine synthesis and storage, and it tends to accumulate in dopamine-rich areas of the brain during adolescence. In this study, the researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to track tissue iron in the basal ganglia over time as a way to indirectly assess changes in dopamine-related brain development.

“We were interested in applying a new method for estimating functioning within a key neurotransmitter system. This functioning is typically difficult to measure in younger participants, but is thought to be critical for answering important questions about the propensity for early substance use,” explained Jessica S. Flannery, an assistant professor at the University of Georgia.

The research team followed 168 adolescents from sixth through eleventh grade, collecting brain scans at up to four timepoints between the ages of roughly 12 and 18. In total, they gathered 469 functional MRI sessions from participants in a socioeconomically and ethnically diverse community in the southeastern United States. Each year, participants self-reported their substance use and completed cognitive tasks while undergoing brain scans.

At the final timepoint, a subset of 76 participants also completed an incentive-boosted Go/No-Go task called the “Planets Task.” This task assessed cognitive control by asking participants to either press a button in response to certain visual stimuli or withhold a response to others. Performance was measured under three different reward conditions: no monetary reward, a small reward, and a large reward. This design allowed the researchers to examine how performance changed based on the incentive level.

To estimate brain iron, the researchers analyzed T2*-weighted MRI signals from four subregions of the basal ganglia: the caudate, putamen, pallidum, and nucleus accumbens. Lower T2* signal corresponds to higher iron concentration, which has been associated with more robust dopamine activity.

As expected, the researchers observed that tissue iron levels tended to increase across adolescence, consistent with normal neurodevelopment. However, adolescents who reported using substances—ranging from alcohol and marijuana to vaping or other drugs—showed a slower rate of increase in iron levels, especially in the nucleus accumbens. This region is thought to be involved in assigning motivational value to rewards and has been previously linked to substance use risk.

Teens who had never used substances showed a steeper age-related increase in nucleus accumbens iron than those who had. The difference was not explained by other demographic factors such as income, race, sex, or ADHD diagnosis. While it remains unclear whether lower iron accumulation reflects a cause or consequence of substance use, the findings align with the idea that teens with less dopamine-related activity may be more drawn to substances as a way to compensate for reduced sensitivity to natural rewards.

The study also explored how tissue iron levels were linked to performance on the incentivized cognitive control task. Although all participants improved their performance when rewards were introduced, some improved dramatically, while others showed little or no change. Teens who relied more on the incentives to boost their cognitive control—dubbed “incentive-dependent”—tended to have lower iron accumulation in the putamen, a part of the basal ganglia involved in motor control and task execution.

In contrast, teens whose performance was relatively stable across all reward conditions—“incentive-independent” individuals—showed stronger age-related increases in putamen tissue iron. These findings suggest that adolescents with lower dopamine-related activity in this region may need stronger external motivation to perform at the same level as their peers.

Interestingly, while incentive-related performance was linked to brain activity during the task, tissue iron levels were not directly associated with changes in incentive-related brain activation. This indicates that while both factors relate to motivation and behavior, they may operate through distinct processes.

The key takeaway? “Differences in how teens’ brains develop might help explain why some adolescents are more likely to engage in certain health-related behaviors than others,” Flannery told PsyPost.

Although the findings point to a possible neurodevelopmental pattern that relates to both early substance use and incentive-dependent cognitive control, the study does not prove causation. Because the researchers could not disentangle preexisting differences from the effects of substance use over time, it is still unclear whether reduced iron accumulation leads to substance use, or whether even mild early use might affect brain development.

The researchers also note that incentive-boosted cognitive control and brain activity were only measured at the final timepoint, limiting their ability to track developmental changes in task performance. In addition, while tissue iron is a useful proxy for dopamine-related physiology, it is not a direct measure of dopamine function. More research is needed to clarify how iron levels reflect changes in the broader dopamine system.

“It is important to note that this study did not directly assess brain tissue iron but instead relied on a magnetic resonance-based estimation,” Flannery added. “Further, while brain iron levels are associated with parts of the dopamine system such as dopamine transporters, receptors, and the enzymes that help produce dopamine, iron levels do not directly measure how much dopamine is available or exactly how it is functioning. Scientists are still working to understand how brain iron and dopamine activity are connected, as they reflect distinct but associated aspects of brain chemistry.”

The study, “Developmental changes in dopamine-related neurophysiology and associations with adolescent substance use and incentive-boosted cognitive control,” Jessica S. Flannery, Ashley C. Parr, Kristen A. Lindquist, and Eva H. Telzer.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/drug-using-teens-show-distinct-patterns-of-brain-development-tied-to-dopamine-regulation/

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

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

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

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

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist