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This mixed-method systematic review by Reman et al. (2023) investigates the significant mental health burden associated with female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). By analyzing 14 studies published between 2010 and 2020, the researchers found that women who have undergone FGM/C experience a significantly higher prevalence of psychological disorders compared to those who have not. The primary clinical diagnoses identified include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depr

Conversion disorder—now termed Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) —has long been viewed through a pessimistic lens, particularly when symptoms persist over time. A major 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis in BMJ Neurology Open  challenges that assumption by examining whether symptom chronicity actually limits treatment response . Drawing on 63 studies (27 included in meta-analyses, 885 patients), the authors evaluated outcomes across functional motor disorders,...

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has long been recognized as a powerful tool for treatment-resistant mood disorders, but its impact on long-term survival has remained a subject of clinical debate. A comprehensive new systematic review and meta-analysis published in BMJ Mental Health  provides clear evidence that ECT is associated with a 30% reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality  among patients with severe unipolar or bipolar depression. This protective effect was found

The Hidden Risks of Dose Escalation A new nationwide register-based study from Finland offers a sobering look at how often new benzodiazepine prescriptions spiral into high-dose usage. Following nearly 50,000 adults who initiated treatment in 2006, researchers tracked their usage patterns over five years and found that dose escalation is alarmingly common. While clinical guidelines universally recommend keeping doses low and durations short, the study revealed that 25.5% of