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<td><span style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:20px;font-weight:bold;">PsyPost – Psychology News</span></td>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/psychiatrists-document-extremely-rare-case-of-menstrual-psychosis/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Psychiatrists document extremely rare case of menstrual psychosis</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Oct 26th 2025, 10:00</div>
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<p><p>Researchers in Japan have documented the case of a teenager whose psychotic symptoms consistently appeared before her menstrual period and resolved immediately after. A case report published in <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/pcn5.70217" target="_blank">Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Reports</a></em> indicates that a medication typically used to treat seizures and bipolar disorder was effective after standard antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs failed to provide relief. This account offers a detailed look at a rare and often misunderstood condition.</p>
<p>The condition is known as <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1414712/" target="_blank">menstrual psychosis</a>, which is characterized by the sudden onset of psychotic symptoms in an individual who is otherwise mentally well. These episodes are typically brief and occur in a cyclical pattern that aligns with the menstrual cycle. The presence of symptoms like delusions or hallucinations distinguishes menstrual psychosis from more common conditions such as premenstrual syndrome or premenstrual dysphoric disorder, which primarily involve mood-related changes. Menstrual psychosis is considered exceptionally rare, with fewer than 100 cases identified in the medical literature.</p>
<p>The new report, authored by Atsuo Morisaki and colleagues at the Tokyo Metropolitan Children’s Medical Center, details the experience of a 17-year-old Japanese girl who sought medical help after about two years of recurring psychological distress. Her initial symptoms included intense anxiety, a feeling of being watched, and auditory hallucinations where she heard a classmate’s voice. She also developed the belief that conversations around her were about herself. She had no prior psychiatric history or family history of mental illness.</p>
<p>Initially, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia and prescribed antipsychotic medication, which did not appear to alleviate her symptoms. Upon being transferred to a new medical center, her treatment was changed, but her condition persisted. While hospitalized, her medical team observed a distinct pattern. In the days leading up to her first menstrual period at the hospital, she experienced a depressive mood and restlessness. This escalated to include delusional thoughts and the feeling that “voices and sounds were entering my mind.” These symptoms disappeared completely four days later, once her period ended.</p>
<p>This cycle repeated itself the following month. About twelve days before her second menstruation, she again became restless. Nine days before, she reported the sensation that her thoughts were “leaking out” during phone calls. She also experienced auditory hallucinations and believed her thoughts were being broadcast to others. Her antipsychotic dosage was increased, but the symptoms continued until her menstruation ended, at which point they once again resolved completely.</p>
<p>A similar pattern emerged before her third period during hospitalization. Fourteen days prior, she developed a fearful, delusional mood. She reported that “gazes and voices are entering my head” and her diary entries showed signs of disorganized thinking. An increase in her medication dosage seemed to have no effect. As her period began, the symptoms started to fade, and they were gone by the time it was over. This consistent, cyclical nature of her psychosis, which did not respond to conventional treatments, led her doctors to consider an alternative diagnosis and treatment plan.</p>
<p>Observing this clear link between her symptoms and her menstrual cycle, the medical team initiated treatment with carbamazepine. This medication is an anticonvulsant commonly used to manage seizures and is also prescribed as a mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder. The dosage was started low and gradually increased. Following the administration of carbamazepine, her psychotic symptoms resolved entirely. She was eventually able to discontinue the antipsychotic and antidepressant medications. During follow-up appointments as an outpatient, her symptoms had not returned.</p>
<p>The exact biological mechanisms behind menstrual psychosis are not well understood. Some scientific theories suggest a link to the sharp drop in estrogen that occurs during the late phase of the menstrual cycle. Estrogen influences several brain chemicals, including dopamine, and a significant reduction in estrogen might lead to a state where the brain has too much dopamine activity, which has been associated with psychosis. However, since psychotic episodes can occur at various points in the menstrual cycle, fluctuating estrogen levels alone do not seem to fully explain the condition.</p>
<p>The choice of carbamazepine was partly guided by the patient’s age and the potential long-term side effects of other mood stabilizers. The authors of the report note that carbamazepine may work by modulating the activity of various channels and chemical messengers in the brain, helping to stabilize neuronal excitability. While there are no previous reports of carbamazepine being used specifically for menstrual psychosis, it has shown some effectiveness in other cyclical psychiatric conditions, suggesting it may influence the underlying mechanisms that produce symptoms tied to biological cycles.</p>
<p>It is important to understand the nature of a case report. Findings from a single patient cannot be generalized to a larger population. This report does not establish that carbamazepine is a definitive treatment for all individuals with menstrual psychosis. The positive outcome observed in this one person could be unique to her specific biology and circumstances.</p>
<p>However, case reports like this one serve a significant function in medical science, especially for uncommon conditions. They can highlight patterns that might otherwise be missed and introduce potential new avenues for treatment that warrant further investigation. By documenting this experience, the authors provide information that may help other clinicians recognize this rare disorder and consider a wider range of therapeutic options. This account provides a foundation for future, more systematic research into the causes of menstrual psychosis and the potential effectiveness of medications like carbamazepine.</p>
<p>The report, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/pcn5.70217" target="_blank">Menstrual psychosis with a marked response to carbamazepine</a>,” was authored by Atsuo Morisaki, Ken Ebishima, Akira Uezono, and Takashi Nagasawa.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/short-exercise-intervention-helps-teens-with-adhd-manage-stress/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Short exercise intervention helps teens with ADHD manage stress</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Oct 26th 2025, 08:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study published in the <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.120285" target="_blank">Journal of Affective Disorders</a></em> provides evidence that a brief but structured physical exercise program can help reduce stress levels in adolescents diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The researchers found that after just three weeks of moderate to vigorous physical activity, participants reported lower levels of stress and showed a measurable increase in salivary cortisol, a hormone linked to the body’s stress response.</p>
<p>Adolescence is widely recognized as a time of dramatic psychological and biological development. For teens with ADHD, this period often comes with heightened emotional challenges. In addition to the typical symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity, many adolescents with the condition also struggle with internal feelings such as anxiety and depression. These emotional difficulties can interfere with daily functioning at school and at home, placing them at greater risk for long-term mental health problems.</p>
<p>Although stimulant medications are commonly used to manage symptoms, they often cause side effects such as sleep problems and mood shifts. Due to these complications, many families and young people stop using medication or seek alternative approaches. One such approach gaining traction is physical exercise. Prior research suggests that structured activity may benefit brain function and emotional regulation. However, most studies have focused on children rather than adolescents, and few have examined whether exercise influences cortisol, a stress hormone thought to be dysregulated in young people with ADHD.</p>
<p>Cortisol plays an important role in how the body manages stress. Low levels of cortisol in the morning have been found in children and adolescents with ADHD, and this pattern has been associated with fatigue, anxiety, and greater symptom severity. The researchers behind the new study wanted to know whether a short physical exercise intervention could influence both subjective stress levels and objective stress markers like cortisol in teens with ADHD.</p>
<p>“Adolescents with ADHD face stress-related challenges and appear to display atypical cortisol patterns, yet most exercise studies focus on younger children and rarely include biological stress markers,” explained study author <a href="https://www.spe.cuhk.edu.hk/eng/people.asp?pageid=15" target="_blank">Cindy Sit</a>, a professor of sports science and physical education at The Chinese University of Hong Kong.</p>
<p>“We wanted to test a practical, low-risk intervention that schools and families could feasibly implement and to examine both perceived stress and a physiological marker (salivary cortisol) within a randomized controlled trial design. In short, we aimed to examine whether a brief, feasible program could help regulate stress in this under-researched group through non-pharmacological methods.”</p>
<p>The researchers recruited 82 adolescents, aged 12 to 17, who had been diagnosed with ADHD. Some of the participants also had a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, which often co-occurs with ADHD. The teens were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group participated in a structured physical exercise program lasting three weeks. The other group served as a control and continued with their normal routines.</p>
<p>The exercise group attended two 90-minute sessions each week, totaling 540 minutes over the course of the program. These sessions included a variety of activities designed not only to improve physical fitness but also to engage cognitive functions such as memory, reaction time, and problem-solving. Exercises included circuit training as well as games that required strategic thinking and teamwork. Participants were guided to maintain moderate to vigorous intensity throughout much of the sessions, and their heart rates were monitored to ensure appropriate effort.</p>
<p>To measure outcomes, the researchers used both self-report questionnaires and biological samples. Stress, depression, and anxiety levels were assessed through a validated scale. Cortisol was measured using saliva samples collected in the afternoon before and after the intervention, as well as three months later.</p>
<p>The findings showed that immediately following the exercise program, participants in the exercise group reported lower levels of stress compared to their baseline scores. At the same time, their cortisol levels increased. </p>
<p>The increase in cortisol following exercise was interpreted not as a sign of increased stress but as a reflection of more typical hormonal activity. The researchers noted that this pattern aligns with the idea of exercise as a “positive stressor” that helps train the body to respond more effectively to real-life challenges. Importantly, the teens felt less stressed, even as their cortisol levels rose.</p>
<p>“The combination of lower perceived stress alongside an immediate rise in cortisol was striking,” Sit told PsyPost. “It supports the idea that exercise can feel stress-relieving while still producing a normal physiological stress response that may help calibrate the HPA axis. We also noted a baseline positive association between anxiety and cortisol in the control group only, which warrants further investigation.”</p>
<p>However, by the three-month follow-up, the improvements in self-reported stress had faded, and cortisol levels had returned to their initial levels. There were no significant changes in self-reported depression or anxiety in either group at any point.</p>
<p>“A short, three-week exercise program (90-minute sessions twice a week at moderate to vigorous intensity) reduced perceived stress in adolescents with ADHD immediately after the program,” Sit said. “Cortisol levels increased right after the intervention, consistent with a healthy, short-term activation of the stress system during exertion (often called ‘good stress’). The positive effects on perceived stress did not last for three months without continued physical exercise, and we did not observe short-term changes in depression or anxiety. This suggests that ongoing participation is necessary to sustain these benefits.”</p>
<p>Although the results suggest benefits from the short-term exercise program, there are some limitations to consider. Most of the participants were male, and this gender imbalance could affect how the findings apply to a broader group of adolescents. The study also relied on self-report questionnaires to assess stress, anxiety, and depression, which can be affected by personal bias. Additionally, there was no “active” control group, meaning the control participants were not given an alternate activity that involved social interaction or structure, which might have helped isolate the effects of the exercise itself.</p>
<p>Future studies might benefit from longer intervention periods to examine whether extended participation can produce lasting changes. Collecting saliva samples multiple times during the day could also help map out how cortisol behaves in response to both daily routines and interventions. Incorporating interviews or observer-based assessments could provide a more complete understanding of emotional changes, especially in teens who have difficulty expressing their feelings through questionnaires.</p>
<p>“Our team is currently conducting a large randomized controlled trial testing physical‑activity interventions for people with intellectual disability, with co‑primary outcomes of mood and physical strength,” Sit explained. “The broader aim is to develop scalable, low‑cost programs that can be implemented in schools, day services, and community settings. Ultimately, we aim to increase access for underserved populations so that structured movement becomes a feasible part of everyday care and improves their quality of life.”</p>
<p>“We see exercise as a useful adjunct, not a replacement, for standard ADHD care,” she added. “In practice, that involves incorporating structured movement alongside evidence-based treatments (e.g., medication, psychoeducation, behavioural supports) and working with families, schools, and healthcare providers. Exercise is accessible and generally has low risk; it can assist with stress regulation, sleep, attention, and fitness. However, it should be individualized and monitored, especially for individuals with special needs like ADHD, to support rather than replace routine care.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.120285" target="_blank">Efficacy of a short-term physical exercise intervention on stress biomarkers and mental health in adolescents with ADHD: A randomized controlled trial</a>,” was authored by Sima Dastamooz, Stephen H.S. Wong, Yijian Yang, Kelly Arbour-Nicitopoulos, Rainbow T.H. Ho, Jason C.S. Yam, Clement C.Y. Tham, Liu Chang, and Cindy H.P. Sit.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/masculinity-and-sexual-attraction-appear-to-shape-how-people-respond-to-infidelity/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Masculinity and sexual attraction appear to shape how people respond to infidelity</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Oct 26th 2025, 06:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study in the <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-025-03225-z" target="_blank">Archives of Sexual Behavior</a></em> suggests that how people react to sexual versus emotional infidelity is shaped by more than just biological sex. While heterosexual men were more distressed by sexual betrayal and women by emotional betrayal, the findings indicate that traits like masculinity, femininity, and sexual attraction also influence these responses in flexible ways.</p>
<p>For several decades, psychologists have observed that men and women tend to react differently to infidelity. Men are more likely to be disturbed by sexual infidelity, while women are more upset by emotional cheating. Evolutionary psychologists have suggested that this might reflect reproductive pressures. For men, the risk of raising another man’s child might have favored the development of stronger reactions to sexual betrayal. For women, the loss of a partner’s emotional commitment could mean fewer resources and support for offspring, making emotional infidelity more threatening.</p>
<p>But this difference is not universal. Studies have shown that it becomes much less pronounced among sexual minorities. Gay men and lesbian women often report similar levels of distress over emotional and sexual infidelity, rather than showing a clear difference based on biological sex. This has raised the question of whether the difference between men and women is really just about being male or female—or whether other psychological traits might be involved.</p>
<p>The researchers behind the current study wanted to examine this question in more detail. They were interested in whether traits often associated with masculinity or femininity might influence how people respond to infidelity. They also wanted to test whether sexual orientation, measured not just as a label but as a continuum of attraction to men and women, could account for some of the variation in jealousy responses.</p>
<p>“We have for many years found robust sex difference in jealousy, but we have also been interested in any factors that could influence this pattern. Other researchers discovered that sexual orientation might influence that pattern. We also were influence by David Schmitt’s ideas on sexual dials vs. switches — how masculinization/feminization might be much better described as dimensional than categorical, including sexual orientation and jealousy triggers,” said study author Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair, a professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.</p>
<p>For their study, the researchers collected data from 4,465 adults in Norway, ranging in age from 16 to 80. The sample included people who identified as heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and pansexual. Participants were recruited through social media advertisements and LGBTQ+ websites. Each person completed a survey about their responses to hypothetical infidelity scenarios, along with questions about their childhood behavior, personality traits, sexual attraction, and self-perceived masculinity or femininity.</p>
<p>To measure jealousy, the participants were asked to imagine different types of infidelity. In one example, they were asked whether it would be more upsetting if their partner had sex with someone else, or if their partner developed a deep emotional connection with another person. Their answers were used to calculate a jealousy score that reflected how much more distressing they found sexual versus emotional betrayal.</p>
<p>The results supported some long-standing findings. Heterosexual men were much more likely than heterosexual women to be disturbed by sexual infidelity. In fact, nearly 59 percent of heterosexual men said sexual betrayal was more upsetting, compared to only 31 percent of heterosexual women. This pattern was consistent with past research.</p>
<p>But among sexual minorities, the sex difference mostly disappeared. Gay men and lesbian women responded in ways that were more alike, with both groups tending to be more upset by emotional infidelity. Bisexual men and women also reported similar responses. This suggests that sexual orientation plays a key role in how people experience jealousy.</p>
<p>The researchers then examined sexual attraction as a continuous variable. Rather than looking only at how people labeled themselves, they measured how strongly participants were attracted to men and to women. Among men, those who were exclusively attracted to women showed the highest levels of sexual jealousy. Men who had even a small degree of attraction to other men reported less distress about sexual infidelity.</p>
<p>The researchers also measured four different psychological traits related to masculinity and femininity. These included whether participants preferred system-oriented thinking or empathizing, whether they had gender-typical interests as children, whether they preferred male- or female-dominated occupations, and how masculine or feminine they saw themselves. These traits were used to create a broader measure of psychological gender.</p>
<p>In men, higher levels of psychological masculinity were linked to both a stronger attraction to women and a greater tendency to be disturbed by sexual infidelity. But the connection between masculinity and jealousy seemed to depend on whether the man was attracted to women. Masculinity influenced jealousy only when it was also linked to strong gynephilic attraction—that is, attraction to women.</p>
<p>Among women, masculinity was related to sexual orientation, but not to jealousy responses. This suggests that masculinity and femininity may play different roles in shaping sexual psychology for men and women.</p>
<p>Kennair told PsyPost that these findings suggest “that sexual orientation might be best measured dimensionally (as involving both gynephilia and androphilia), that sexual orientation influences sex differences (in this case, jealousy triggers), and that gendering and sex differences are not primarily categorical processes but dimensional processes that are largely influenced by biological sex, but absolutely not categorically determined in an either/or switch pattern. Rather, they function more like interconnected dimensional dials.”</p>
<p>A surprising finding came from a smaller group: bisexual men who were partnered with women. “In the current study, we found that bisexual men with a female partner were still more triggered by emotional than sexual infidelity,” Kennair explained. “Bisexual men should also be concerned about who the father of their partner’s children really is, from an evolutionary perspective, but it seems that only the highly gynephilic men are primarily triggered by sexual infidelity. This needs further investigation and theorizing.”</p>
<p>But the study, like all research, has some caveats. The participants were recruited online, which means the sample might not fully represent the broader population. In addition, the jealousy scenarios were hypothetical, and people’s real-life reactions might differ from what they imagine.</p>
<p>The study raises some new and unresolved questions. One puzzle is why sexual jealousy in men seems to drop off so steeply with even a small degree of androphilic attraction. From an evolutionary standpoint, any man who invested in raising a child would have faced reproductive costs if his partner had been unfaithful, regardless of his own sexual orientation. Yet the findings suggest that the mechanism for sexual jealousy may be tightly linked to sexual attraction to women, rather than simply being male or being partnered with a woman.</p>
<p>It also remains unclear why women’s jealousy responses are less influenced by sexual orientation or masculinity. The results suggest that emotional jealousy is a more stable pattern among women, while sexual jealousy in men appears more sensitive to individual differences in orientation and psychological traits.</p>
<p>“I think this is a first empirical establishment of the dials approach,” Kennair said. “I think it might be helpful to investigate this approach with other phenomena. Also, the research cannot address the developmental and biological processes underlying the psychological level we addressed in the paper. The causal pathways therefore need further investigation. And theorizing.”</p>
<p>He hopes that “maybe in the current polarized discussion of identity and sex/gender, people will find the dimensional and empirical approach of this paper a tool to communicate better than the categorical approaches let us do.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-025-03225-z" target="_blank">Male Sex, Masculinization, Sexual Orientation, and Gynephilia Synergistically Predict Increased Sexual Jealousy</a>,” was authored by Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair, Mons Bendixen, and David P. Schmitt. </p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/feeling-moved-by-a-film-may-prompt-people-to-reflect-and-engage-politically/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Feeling moved by a film may prompt people to reflect and engage politically</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Oct 25th 2025, 16:00</div>
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<p><p>Watching a powerful movie may do more than stir emotions. According to a study published in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/00936502251339691" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Communication Research</a></em>, emotionally moving films that explore political or moral issues may encourage viewers to think more deeply about those topics and even engage politically. The researchers found that German television theme nights combining fictional drama with related factual programs were associated with higher levels of information seeking, perceived knowledge, and consideration of political actions related to the issues portrayed.</p>
<p>There is a longstanding debate about whether entertainment harms or helps democracy. Some scholars worry that media such as movies and reality shows distract citizens from more serious political content. But recent research has begun to suggest that certain types of entertainment might actually contribute to political awareness and engagement.</p>
<p>“We were curious about effects of entertainment media on political interest and engagement. Can watching a movie and walking in the shoes of people affected by a political issue raise viewers’ awareness about the issue and motivate them to take action to address the issue?” explained study author Anne Bartsch, a professor at Leipzig University.</p>
<p>“From about a decade of experimental research, we know that moving and thought-provoking media experiences can stimulate empathy and prosocial behavior, including political engagement. In this study, we used television theme nights as an opportunity to replicate these findings ‘in the wild.’ Theme nights are a popular media format in Germany that combines entertainment and information programs about a political issue and attracts a large enough viewership to conduct representative survey research. This opportunity to study political effects of naturally occurring media use was quite unique.”</p>
<p>The researchers conducted three studies around two German television theme nights. The first theme night focused on the arms trade, while the second dealt with physician-assisted suicide. Each theme night included a full-length fictional film followed by an informational program. Across the three studies, more than 2,800 people took part through telephone and online surveys.</p>
<p>In the first study, researchers surveyed a nationally representative sample of 905 German adults by phone after the arms trade theme night. Participants were asked whether they watched the movie, the documentary, or both. They were also asked about their emotional reactions, whether they had thought deeply about the issue, and what actions they had taken afterward.</p>
<p>People who had seen the movie reported feeling more emotionally moved and were more likely to report having reflected on the issue. These viewers also reported greater interest in seeking more information, higher levels of both perceived and factual knowledge, and more willingness to engage in political actions related to arms trade, such as signing petitions or considering the issue when voting.</p>
<p>Statistical analysis indicated that the emotional experience of feeling moved led to deeper reflection, which then predicted greater knowledge and political engagement. However, there was no significant difference in how often viewers talked about the issue with others, compared to non-viewers. Surprisingly, emotional reactions did not appear to encourage discussion on social media, and may have slightly reduced it.</p>
<p>In the second study, the researchers repeated the survey online with a different sample of 877 participants following the same theme night. The results were largely consistent. Again, those who watched the movie felt more moved, thought more about the issue, and were more engaged. In this study, feeling moved was also linked to more frequent interpersonal discussion.</p>
<p>The third study examined the theme night about physician-assisted suicide. Over 1,000 people took part in the online survey. As with the earlier studies, viewers who watched the movie reported being emotionally affected and more reflective. These experiences were linked to higher interest in the topic, greater perceived knowledge, and a higher likelihood of discussing the issue or participating politically. Watching the movie also predicted stronger interest in the subsequent political talk show.</p>
<p>Across all three studies, the researchers found that emotional and reflective experiences were key pathways leading from entertainment to political engagement. People who felt moved by the movies were more likely to think about the issues they portrayed. These thoughts were, in turn, connected to learning more about the issue, talking with others, and taking or considering political action.</p>
<p>The findings suggest that serious entertainment can function as a catalyst, helping viewers process complex social issues and motivating them to become more engaged citizens.</p>
<p>“We found that moving and thought-provoking entertainment can have politically mobilizing effects, including issue interest, political participation, information seeking, learning, and discussing the issue with others,” Bartsch told PsyPost. “This is interesting because entertainment often gets a bad rap, as superficial, escapist pastime. Our findings suggest that it depends on the type of entertainment and the thoughts and feelings it provokes. Some forms of entertainment, it seems, can make a valuable complementary contribution to political discourse, in particular for audiences that rarely consume traditional news.”</p>
<p>Although the findings were consistent across different samples and topics, the authors note some limitations. Most importantly, the studies were correlational, meaning they cannot establish that the movies directly caused people to seek information or take political action. It is possible that people who are already interested in politics are more likely to watch such films and respond emotionally to them.</p>
<p>The researchers also caution that while theme nights seem to offer an effective combination of entertainment and information, these findings might not easily transfer to other types of media or digital platforms. Watching a movie on television with millions of others at the same time may create a shared cultural moment that is less common in today’s fragmented media landscape.</p>
<p>“Our findings cannot be generalized to all forms of entertainment, of course,” Bartsch noted. “Many entertainment formats are apolitical ‘feel-good’ content – which is needed for mood management as well. What is more concerning is that entertainment can also be instrumentalized to spread misinformation, hate and discrimination.”</p>
<p>Future studies could use experimental methods to better isolate cause and effect, and could also explore how similar effects might occur with streaming platforms or social media. Researchers might also investigate how hedonic, or lighter, forms of entertainment interact with political content, and how emotional reactions unfold over time after watching a movie.</p>
<p>“Our study underscores the value of ‘old school’ media formats like television theme nights that can attract large audiences and provide input for shared media experiences and discussions,” Bartsch said. “With the digital transformation of media, however, it is important to explore how entertainment changes in the digital age. For example, we are currently studying parasocial opinion leadership on social media and AI generated content.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/00936502251339691" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eudaimonic Entertainment Experiences of TV Theme Nights and Their Relationships With Political Information Processing and Engagement</a>,” was authored by Frank M. Schneider, Anne Bartsch, Larissa Leonhard, and Anea Meinert.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/new-study-challenges-a-leading-theory-on-how-noise-affects-adhd-traits/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">New study challenges a leading theory on how noise affects ADHD traits</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Oct 25th 2025, 14:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study challenges a leading explanation for why auditory stimulation, such as pink noise, can improve cognitive performance in people with traits of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The research found that both random noise and a non-random pure tone had similar effects on a brain activity measure linked to neural noise, which contradicts key assumptions of the prominent moderate brain arousal model. These findings were published in the <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/10870547251357074" target="_blank">Journal of Attention Disorders</a></em>.</p>
<p>For years, scientists have observed that listening to random auditory noise, like white or pink noise, can benefit cognitive functioning in individuals with ADHD or elevated traits of the condition. The moderate brain arousal model was proposed to explain this phenomenon. This model is built on two primary assumptions. First, it suggests that ADHD is associated with lower-than-optimal levels of internal neural noise.</p>
<p>Second, it proposes that external random noise boosts this internal neural noise through a mechanism called stochastic resonance, improving the brain’s ability to process signals. However, these foundational ideas had not been sufficiently tested, particularly because most studies lacked a direct measure of neural noise or a proper non-random sound condition to isolate the effects of stochastic resonance.</p>
<p>Joske Rijmen and her colleagues at Ghent University aimed to directly test these two core assumptions of the moderate brain arousal model. They designed an experiment to measure neural noise directly while participants listened to different types of sound. The researchers wanted to see if ADHD traits were indeed linked to lower neural noise at baseline. They also sought to determine if the effects of sound on brain activity were specific to random noise, as the theory of stochastic resonance would predict.</p>
<p>To conduct their investigation, the researchers recruited 69 neurotypical adults. Participants first completed the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, a questionnaire used to assess the number and frequency of symptoms associated with the condition. This allowed the scientists to examine ADHD as a spectrum of traits rather than a simple diagnostic category.</p>
<p>Each participant then underwent a resting-state electroencephalogram, a non-invasive procedure that records the brain’s electrical activity. While their brain activity was monitored, participants sat with their eyes closed for three distinct two-minute periods: one in silence, one while listening to continuous pink noise (a random signal), and one while listening to a continuous 100 Hz pure tone (a non-random signal).</p>
<p>The research team analyzed the electroencephalogram data by focusing on a specific feature known as the aperiodic slope of the power spectral density. This measure reflects background brain activity that is not part of rhythmic brain waves and is considered a direct index of neural noise. A steeper slope in this measurement corresponds to less neural noise, while a flatter slope indicates more neural noise. By examining how this slope changed across the different sound conditions and in relation to participants’ ADHD traits, the scientists could test the predictions of the moderate brain arousal model.</p>
<p>The study’s findings presented a direct challenge to the model’s first assumption. During the silent condition, the researchers found a relationship between ADHD traits and the aperiodic slope. Individuals who reported more traits of ADHD tended to have a flatter slope. This finding suggests that they had more background neural noise, not less. The result is the opposite of what the moderate brain arousal model predicted and aligns with other recent studies that have also found evidence for increased neural noise in older children and adolescents with ADHD.</p>
<p>The results also contradicted the model’s second assumption regarding the mechanism of stochastic resonance. When participants with elevated ADHD traits listened to pink noise, their aperiodic slope became steeper. This change signifies a reduction in their neural noise. This outcome is contrary to the model’s suggestion that random noise should increase neural noise in this group.</p>
<p>Most significantly, the researchers found that the non-random pure tone had a virtually identical effect on brain activity as the pink noise. Listening to the 100 Hz tone also led to a steeper aperiodic slope, or a decrease in neural noise, in participants with higher levels of ADHD traits. The fact that a non-random sound produced the same effect as a random sound strongly questions the idea that stochastic resonance, which requires a random signal, is the necessary mechanism behind the benefits of auditory stimulation. If stochastic resonance were the driving force, only the pink noise should have produced this effect.</p>
<p>The authors propose that an alternative explanation may be needed. Rather than relying on stochastic resonance, both types of sound might have a more general effect on brain arousal. This idea is more consistent with the state regulation deficit account of ADHD, which suggests that individuals with the condition have difficulty regulating their arousal levels to match situational demands.</p>
<p>According to this view, any form of additional stimulation, not just random noise, could help modulate arousal to a more optimal state. The researchers also noted the puzzling observation that stimulation appeared to decrease brain arousal in individuals with higher ADHD traits. They speculate this might relate to difficulties these individuals have in achieving a truly restful state, and the continuous sound may have helped them to calm or regulate their brain activity.</p>
<p>The study has some limitations that the authors acknowledge. The research was conducted with neurotypical adults who varied in their traits of ADHD, so the findings need to be replicated in a group of individuals with a formal clinical diagnosis. Another point is that the brain activity was measured during a resting state, not while participants were engaged in a cognitive task where the benefits of noise are typically observed.</p>
<p>Future research should explore whether these same brain activity patterns occur during tasks that require attention and focus. Investigating these effects in a clinical sample of people with diagnosed ADHD will be an important next step to confirm these conclusions.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/10870547251357074" target="_blank">Pink Noise and a Pure Tone Both Reduce 1/f Neural Noise in Adults With Elevated ADHD Traits: A Critical Appraisal of the Moderate Brain Arousal Model</a>,” was authored by Joske Rijmen, Mehdi Senoussi, and Jan R. Wiersema.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/heatwaves-and-air-pollution-linked-to-heightened-depression-risks/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Heatwaves and air pollution linked to heightened depression risks</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Oct 25th 2025, 12:00</div>
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<p><p>An analysis of data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study combined with weather and air pollution information showed that exposure to heatwaves, air pollution, and lack of access to blue spaces are all associated with an increased risk of depression. The increase in depression risk was even higher in individuals simultaneously exposed to these factors. The paper was published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102684"><em>Journal of Environmental Psychology</em></a>.</p>
<p>Climate change refers to long-term alterations in global temperatures, weather patterns, and ecosystems. It is understood that currently observed climate changes are mainly driven by human activities such as burning fossil fuels, industrial emissions, and deforestation. These processes release large amounts of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, trapping heat in the atmosphere and disrupting natural climate systems. As a result, the planet experiences more frequent heat waves, droughts, floods, and wildfires.</p>
<p>Air pollution, which often comes from the same sources that cause climate change, adds another layer of harm by degrading air quality and contributing to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Fine particulate matter and toxic pollutants can adversely affect brain health as well. Extreme weather events linked to climate change can create massive devastation, triggering physical and psychological trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and long-lasting psychological distress for those affected.</p>
<p>Chronic exposure to uncertainty about the environment fuels eco-anxiety, a growing concern especially among young people. Communities facing displacement or loss of livelihoods due to environmental degradation may suffer from grief and helplessness. The psychological burden is particularly heavy on farmers, children, and low-income populations with limited access to healthcare.</p>
<p>The study’s authors, Weiqi Wang and his colleagues, wanted to investigate the individual and joint impacts of heatwaves, air pollutants, and access to blue and green spaces on depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older Chinese populations.</p>
<p>They analyzed data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). CHARLS is a national survey in China focused on the issue of population aging, encompassing data from individuals aged 45 and older. It was started with a survey in 2011 and included four additional surveys conducted up to 2020. In each of these follow-up surveys, the study recruited a small number of additional participants.</p>
<p>The data analyzed in this study came from 12,316 participants across 124 cities in 28 of 31 provinces of China. The number of participants per city ranged between 51 and 211. Participants’ average age was approximately 58 years. About 53% were men, and 58% lived in rural areas.</p>
<p>This study used data on depressive symptoms from the CHARLS dataset (assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale), and air pollution data (concentrations of ground-level pollutants CO, SO<sub>2</sub>, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, and PM<sub>10</sub> derived from the China High Air Pollutants (CHAP) dataset), data on heatwave exposure (based on maximum daily temperature data during the warm season from monitoring stations across China, provided by the United States Air Force Weather Agency), and exposure to green and blue spaces (based on the degree of vegetation cover and the proportion of open water bodies in a city).</p>
<p>Green spaces are areas of land covered with vegetation such as parks, gardens, forests, and grasslands that provide natural environments within urban or rural settings. Blue spaces are natural or artificial water environments like rivers, lakes, seas, and fountains.</p>
<p>Results indicated that exposure to heatwaves was associated with a 4-14% increase in the odds of depression. Likewise, exposure to air pollution was also associated with depression risk. The authors reported that for every 10 μg/m<sup>3</sup> increase in ambient concentrations of PM<sub>2.5</sub> particles, the odds of depression increased by 25%. The increase was 13% per the same unit increase in PM<sub>10</sub> particle concentrations, 1% for CO, while the odds increased 55% for every 10 μg/m<sup>3</sup> increase in SO<sub>2</sub> concentrations.</p>
<p>The risk of depression was also heightened in areas where access to blue spaces was lower. The study found a synergistic effect: individuals simultaneously exposed to both heatwaves and high air pollution, or to heatwaves combined with a lack of green and blue spaces, had a significantly higher increase in depression risk than would be expected from adding the individual risks together.</p>
<p>“The findings indicate that heatwaves, air pollution, and lack of blue spaces each independently have a detrimental impact on depressive symptoms. Furthermore, the interactive effects of air contaminants, insufficient blue and green spaces, and heatwaves exposure significantly affect depressive symptoms, both on multiplicative and additive scales. Our results emphasize the necessity of developing public health strategies to curb air pollution, and preserve blue and green spaces, especially during periods of heatwaves,” study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study contributes to the scientific understanding of the links between climate and mental health. However, it should be noted that the design of this study does not allow any definitive causal inferences to be derived from the results.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102684">Individual and combined effects of heatwaves, air pollution, green spaces, and blue spaces on depressive symptoms incidence,</a>” was authored by Weiqi Wang, Yuqing Hao, Meiyu Peng, Jin Yan, Longzhu Xu, Haiyang Yu, Zhugen Yang, and Fanyu Meng.</p></p>
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<p><strong>Forwarded by:<br />
Michael Reeder LCPC<br />
Baltimore, MD</strong></p>
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