Top psychiatry stories of 2019

As 2019 draws to a close, Healio Psychiatry has compiled a list of the top stories of the year for psychiatrists and other mental health professionals.

New evidence supporting physical activity’s protective effect against depression, research into the loneliness epidemic among older adults and a study highlighting the benefits of diet changes among young adults for reducing depression were just some of the most-read stories on Healio Psychiatry this past year.

Which story resonated with you most this year? Leave a comment or write to us on Twitter @HealioPsych.

Physical activity protects against depression

Robust evidence supports a protective relationship between objectively-assessed physical activity and major depression risk, according to findings from a two-sample mendelian randomization study. Read more.

Child mental health status may be closely linked to father's

Children whose fathers have poor mental health are more than twice as likely also to have poor mental health, according to findings published in Health Equity. Read more.

Studies provide insight into 'loneliness epidemic' among older adults

A pair of studies published in Psychology and Aging found that among older Americans, claims of a “loneliness epidemic” reflect the overall increase in the aging population. However, researchers noted that today’s older generations are likely not any lonelier than their counterparts from previous generations. Read more.

Deep sleep may reduce anxiety

Sleep deprivation for one night can result in a 30% rise in anxiety levels, which can be mitigated by deep sleep, according to results published in Nature Human Behaviour. Read more.

Diet changes in young adults may quickly reduce depression symptoms

Short-term diet changes for young adults may significantly reduce depression symptoms, according to results from an Australian randomized controlled trial published in PLoS One. Read more.