Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force revolutionizing various sectors, including healthcare, particularly the mental health field. However, the acceptance and integration of AI technologies in different healthcare systems can be influenced by various factors, including cultural, social, and individual aspects. Nevertheless, there is a need for a valid and reliable tool for assessing AI's perception among healthcare consumers.

To develop and validate a tool for the perception of AI among healthcare consumers and apply the tool to assess AI's perception among mental health consumers in the Jordanian healthcare system.

A cross-sectional descriptive correlational design was utilized in the study. Data was collected from a convenience sample of 431 mental health consumers visiting mental health clinics of the International Medical Corps and university hospitals in Jordan. Structured interviews were conducted using an AI Perception (AIP) questionnaire developed by the authors. The questionnaire's content validity was assessed by an expert panel. Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), the construct validity of the tool was evaluated, and its internal consistency was examined using Cronbach's alpha. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the levels of AI perception among participants.

The final AIP tool consisted of 20 items across 4 domains and has demonstrated strong internal consistency across its four domains: AI acceptance and readiness (α = 0.92), AI perceived importance (α = 0.92), AI perceived risk (α = 0.9), and AI perceived challenges (α = 0.85). The construct validity of the four-domain structure of the tool was supported by PCA. Additionally, the mean scores for each domain indicated the average level of agreement with AI perception items among participants. Specifically, the mean score for AI acceptance and readiness was [Formula: see text]). AI perceived importance was (2.18 [Formula: see text]0.83), AI perceived risk was (2.58[Formula: see text]0.92), and AI perceived challenge was (2.78 [Formula: see text] 0.87).

The findings of this study resulted in developing a valid and reliable 20-item tool to assess AI's perception among mental health consumers. The tool can be used to assess the predictors of AI's readiness among mental health consumers. Therefore, aiding policymakers and other stakeholders in understanding the AI adoption barriers from the perspective of end-users. In addition, this study developed the AIP tool that can be validated and used among other populations in future research.

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a global public health crisis that has steadily worsened despite significant efforts. Maladaptive opioid use can have significant negative impacts, yet a minority receive evidence-based treatments. Leveraging common personal technologies like smartphones and computers may help extend access to such services. The current study aims to describe the landscape of personal technology use in opioid use recovery by combining an academic scoping review with a review of commercially available smartphone apps and devices. The scoping review provides an overview of research examining feasibility and efficacy, whereas the commercial review investigates whether available technology is supported by peer-reviewed research or regulatory approval. Four databases were searched for the scoping review (i.e., PubMed, PsychINFO, EMBASE, and MEDLINE) alongside Apple and Google Play stores for the commercial review. Two independent reviewers evaluated the studies. The academic search yielded 937 articles, of which 34 were included, and the commercial review found 21 apps and devices. The included studies show good acceptance and feasibility; however, research reporting on efficacy outcomes is mixed and nascent. Of the commercially available interventions, only eight underwent peer-reviewed evaluation, and only three had received healthcare body approval at the time of the search. Thus, more research is needed to ascertain the efficacy of such interventions, especially in underrepresented groups such as women, minority groups, and insecurely housed people. Additionally, given the limited data identified and the legal and medical risks associated with OUD, further consideration of safety and privacy is warranted. Further, since commercialization has vastly outpaced peer-reviewed research, we suggest amendments to regulatory procedures that consider the risks associated with the intended population, rather than just the intended use. Lastly, we offer suggestions to guide clinical decision-making regarding the use of digital tools in their practice.

Virtual Reality (VR) is increasingly being used in mental healthcare settings. VR relaxation appears feasible, effective, and acceptable for reducing stress in patients with psychiatric problems. Understanding healthcare professionals' perspectives is essential for sustainable integration, as they play a key role in its adoption and use. This study explores the facilitators and barriers perceived by healthcare professionals in using VR relaxation (VRelax) while treating patients with psychiatric problems to support its implementation in mental healthcare, as part of a preliminary qualitative investigation informing the design of a subsequent randomized controlled trial (RCT) on its implementation and cost-effectiveness. From November to December 2021, three focus groups and three individual interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals who had used VRelax for four weeks in clinical practice. Participants were recruited via the researchers' professional network. Semi-structured interviews were analyzed thematically. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) guided data structuring and interpretation. Fifteen nurse specialists, psychologists, and psychiatrists were included. Six themes and seventeen subthemes emerged. Key barriers included the need for evidence-based information and technical and logistical challenges. Professionals' attitudes were shaped by their interest in technology and perceived technical skills, affecting their confidence in using VR. Healthcare professionals base VRelax use on patient characteristics rather than DSM-5 diagnoses. No themes emerged in the outer setting or implementation domains of the CFIR, suggesting underexplored systemic factors. Future implementation efforts should involve policymakers and implementation experts for a broader, multi-stakeholder approach to address these gaps. Structured guidance and clear workflows are recommended to support scalable and context-sensitive integration of VR relaxation in mental healthcare.

Research on gender differences in self-stigma among individuals with psychosis is limited. Gender differences have been found in factors associated with self-stigma, such as self-esteem, quality of life, and cognitive insight.

This study aimed to determine predictors of self-stigma reduction in men and women after receiving Metacognitive Training (MCT) or a combined intervention delivering MCT alongside cognitive rehabilitation.

Randomized clinical trial with two intervention branches.

Participants were randomly allocated to one of two conditions: MCT or MCT alongside cognitive rehabilitation. Assessments were carried out before and after the intervention by blinded professionals. Linear mixed models, correlation analyses, and regressions were employed to examine the effect of treatment, relationships between variables, and potential predictors of treatment response in both groups for men and women, respectively.

Self-stigma was reduced in both intervention groups, with no significant differences between them, suggesting both interventions were effective. Descriptive analyses revealed women reported higher self-stigma (n = 37, M = 63.78, SD = 14.01) than men (n = 40, M = 59.40, SD = 14.52). Regression analyses suggest that post-treatment self-stigma was predicted by different predictors according to sex. In women, self-esteem (R² = 0.25, β = -2.31, p = 0.023) was a significant predictor of post-treatment self-stigma, while in men, quality of life significantly predicted self-stigma scores post-treatment (R² = 0.37, β = -0.62, p < 0.001). Cognitive insight was not a significant predictor for either sex.

Distinct pathways of self-stigma recovery emerged for women and men, underscoring the need for gender-sensitive interventions. These findings underscore the need for tailored stigma-reduction interventions that consider gender-specific factors influencing mental health outcomes. Longitudinal research should assess durability and further clarify gender-related mechanisms.

https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06423651, Registration Number NCT06423651, 23/05/24.

Relative to younger adults, older adults describe autobiographical event memories using less episodic detail. This outcome, although robust and highly replicated, is based on studies conducted in laboratory contexts that use unfamiliar, impersonal structured interviews-a context that may place older adults at an episodic specificity disadvantage. The present preregistered study compared how young adults (N = 24) and cognitively normal older adults (N = 50) narrate autobiographical event memories in a laboratory context, and as they went about their daily lives, using a smartphone application that unobtrusively captured their natural conversations. Findings revealed a significant Context × Age Group interaction for autobiographical memory episodic specificity. Consistent with prior research, older adults recalled less episodic detail than young adults in the laboratory context. However, older adults' episodic detail was significantly higher in event memory narratives captured in their natural conversations relative to the memories they described in the laboratory-based structured interview. In fact, young and older adults did not significantly differ in how specifically they shared event memories in their natural conversations. We found a similar outcome when we zoomed out and examined overall autobiographical thought specificity in natural daily conversations. These findings, along with additional analyses examining how well laboratory measures of autobiographical and neuropsychological functioning predict everyday autobiographical thinking, suggest that even though laboratory tasks may provide some insight into how autobiographical event memories and thoughts are shared in daily conversation, they nonetheless underestimate older adults' natural episodic specificity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Child and adolescent victimization is a significant public health concern with profound effects on development and mental health. However, evidence from Mexico remains limited, particularly in hospital settings. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of past-year and lifetime victimization among children and adolescents with chronic diseases and to examine its association with mental health outcomes. In this cross-sectional study, children and adolescents aged 6-17 years attending a tertiary care center in Mexico City between February 2022 and January 2024 completed the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ), and their parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/6-18). Associations between victimization and psychopathology were examined using regression models adjusted for demographic and family characteristics. Of 496 participants (mean age = 11.2 years; 57.3% female), 65.3% reported at least one victimization in the past year. Risk factors for experiencing ≥3 victimizations included residence in highly impoverished states (OR: 2.96, 95% CI [1.06, 8.20]), maternal adolescent pregnancy (OR: 3.81, [1.06, 13.6]), and parental non-cohabitation (OR: 1.59, [1.00, 2.53]). CBCL scores in the clinical range were identified in 52.2% of participants. A consistent gradient was observed, with higher total CBCL scores corresponding to a greater number of past-year and lifetime victimization types experienced. Victimization among Mexican children and adolescents living with chronic diseases is highly prevalent and strongly associated with psychopathology. Hospitals may play a critical role in addressing this issue, underscoring the need for systematic screening and interprofessional, family-centered interventions within pediatric care.

Psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) shows promise for treating PTSD in adults but hasn't been studied in U.S. military Veterans, who face higher symptom severity and suicide risk.

This open-label pilot trial evaluated the safety and feasibility of PAT in Veterans with severe, treatment-resistant PTSD. The clinical trial was pre-registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05554094). The eligibility criteria were that participants be U.S. military Veterans aged 21-64 with a DSM 5 diagnosis of PTSD for at least six months, and a Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM 5 (CAPS-5) total severity score ≥35. PTSD was also required to be treatment-resistant. Clinical outcomes were assessed at the Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education in Columbus, OH. Twelve participants received eight hours of therapy followed by two psilocybin dosing sessions at 15 mg and 25 mg, spaced 2-3 weeks apart, of synthetic psilocybin, along with approximately eight hours of post-psilocybin therapy. Follow-up occurred at four weeks post-second dosing. The primary endpoints were safety (i.e., the type, severity, frequency of adverse events) and suicidal ideation/behavior (as measured by the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSR-S)) from baseline to 1-month post-second psilocybin administration. The secondary endpoints were PTSD symptom severity rated by a clinician and the participant. Exploratory analyses included the impact of psychotherapy and expectancy on PTSD symptom severity.

Of the 668 participants who completed the online pre-screener, 13 consented and enrolled, 1 withdrew before the first dosing session, and 12 fulfilled the study requirements. No serious adverse events occurred; non-serious adverse events included headaches, anxiety, and dizziness. There was no increase in suicidal ideation or behavior during the trial, and heart rate and blood pressure remained within safe limits during the psilocybin sessions. There was a large (d = 2.30) and significant (p < 0.001) reduction (mean difference = 27.5, 95% CI: 19.9 to 35.1) in clinician-rated PTSD symptoms from baseline through 1-month follow-up, with 75% having a treatment response and in remission from PTSD. While expectancy did not predict changes in PTSD symptoms, pre-dosing symptom change during the preparation phase of treatment did. Clinician adherence ratings were 98% across all study visits.

Findings reveal that PAT is safe, well-tolerated, and shows preliminary clinical improvement for PTSD, suggesting that PAT may offer therapeutic relief for Veterans with severe treatment-resistant PTSD.

Decades of structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have documented alterations of gray matter morphometry in psychiatric disorders, but the field has failed to identify any consensus disease phenotypes. Here we examine whether current approaches will ever converge on such phenotypes by evaluating the consistency of brain-wide maps of gray matter volume and cortical thickness differences obtained for each of 59 study sites of five psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, autism spectrum disorder, major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder), totaling 2,437 patients and 2,065 controls. We find that cross-site consistency is low (median r ≤ 0.16); markedly reduced compared to Alzheimer's disease (r = 0.54); unexplained by demographic, clinical or scanner differences; and robust to analytic choices. Using bootstrapping, we observe that consistency may improve for sample sizes ≥200 per group for schizophrenia but that other disorders may require much larger samples. Our findings indicate that current widespread practices in structural MRI are unlikely to identify robust morphometric phenotypes for psychiatric disorders.

Synaptic dysfunction is increasingly recognized as a core feature of psychiatric disorders, yet fluid biomarkers that reflect such changes in vivo are lacking. Here, we applied targeted mass spectrometry to quantify low-abundant synaptic proteins in cerebrospinal fluid from 672 individuals with anorexia nervosa, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder (BD), schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SCZ + ), and healthy controls. Synaptic protein levels were markedly reduced in SCZ + , with intermediate reductions in BD and ADHD. Using a data-driven approach to model transdiagnostic contrasts-psychotic experience, cognitive and functional impairment-a shared two-biomarker signature emerged: elevated LAMP1, a phagolysosomal marker, and reduced NPTX2, a synaptic activity marker which inhibits complement-dependent synapse elimination. Combining this ratio with polygenic scores improved diagnostic classification. Key findings were extended to an independent cohort at first-episode psychosis. These results support synaptic pathology as a measurable and transdiagnostic feature across several psychiatric disorders and highlight the potential of integrating fluid and genetic biomarkers.