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Science News

An image depicting the RDoC Framework.
Revolutionizing the Study of Mental Disorders

75th Anniversary

The Research Domain Criteria Initiative (RDoC) represented a new way to conceptualize the study of mental illnesses. In celebration of NIMH's 75th Anniversary, we reflect on the beginning and progress of this initiative.

Retro video game arcade screens saying You win! and You lose.
Study Reveals Potential Neural Marker for Social Impairment in Psychotic Disorders

Research funded by NIMH found a link between a low level of social interest among people with psychotic disorders and brain regions in the social motivation system.

Image showing brain activation taken from Figure 1 from Norman LJ et al. “Subcortico-Cortical Dysconnectivity in ADHD: A Voxel-Wise Mega-Analysis Across Multiple Cohorts” (Am J Psychiatry; doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20230026). Copyright © 2024 American Psychiatric Association.
NIH Researchers Identify Brain Connections Associated With ADHD in Youth

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have discovered that symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are tied to atypical interactions between the brain’s frontal cortex and information processing centers deep in the brain.

A photo of Ray Lay.
Life with Schizoaffective Disorder

75th Anniversary

In this lived experience feature story, Ray Lay describes the challenges of living with schizoaffective disorder and his later success in life.

A headshot of Dr. Joshua Gordon.
Dr. Joshua Gordon to Step Down as Director of the National Institute of Mental Health

On February 29, 2024, Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., announced his decision to end his tenure as the director of the National Institute of Mental Health.

Outline of a head filled with blue and green watercolor paint.
Intervention Reduces Likelihood of Developing Postpartum Anxiety and Depression by More Than 70%

Results from a large clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health show that an intervention for anxiety provided to pregnant women living in Pakistan significantly reduced the likelihood of the women developing moderate-to-severe anxiety, depression, or both six weeks after birth.

Swarm of human immunodeficiency virus. Credit: istock/fpm.
Decades of Dedication and Collaboration: Unraveling the HIV Mystery

75th Anniversary

In celebration of NIMHs 75th anniversary, we reflect on decades of work by the institute to understand and eradicate HIV.

Photo from the back of a child holding tightly to and leaning on a parent's arm.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Alters Brain Activity in Children With Anxiety

Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health found that unmedicated children with anxiety disorders show widespread overactivation in brain functioning and that treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy led to a clinically significant drop in anxiety symptoms and improved brain functioning.

Illustration of an X chromosome cut open to expose a piece of the DNA strand.
Researchers Expand Understanding of Genetic Mechanisms Underlying Fragile X Syndrome

An NIMH-supported study of the 3D genome revealed widespread silencing of genes with important roles in brain function in fragile X syndrome and related disorders.

NIMH leadership and presenters posing for a group photo at NIMH's inaugural 75th Anniversary symposium.
NIMH Hosts 75th Anniversary Symposium

75th Anniversary

The National Institute of Mental Health recently hosted a symposium to kick off its 75th Anniversary celebrations.