PLOS Mental Health Press Recap

As we have sped past the half-way point of 2025 and also past the one year anniversary of our content launch, we would like to take a moment to reflect on some of our publications, which received a high level of coverage and interest. It is great to see such a variety of publications from the journal reaching a wide audience and the communities that they intend to serve. Author service does not finish once the paper is published. We believe that journals should continue to promote publications  – not just to help drive progress in the field – but as an act of appreciation for authors who have trusted PLOS Mental Health with their work.

Thank you not only to our authors, editors and reviewers, but also our amazing press team who work hard behind the scenes to bridge the gap between authors and the world’s press. At PLOS Mental Health specifically, our press releases are sensitively handled by Bethany Baker and Charlotte Bhaskar

June 2024 

Functional connectivity changes in the brain of adolescents with internet addiction: A systematic literature review of imaging studies

• Corresponding author: Irene O. Lee, UCL

• Covered in 110 news stories, altmetric score of 1046 and cited 16 times to date

• Handling Editor: Dr Kizito Omona, Uganda Martyrs University

This Systematic Review explores the effects of internet addiction on the brains of young people. Studies, which have obtained fMRI data, predominantly from young people in Asia, indicate that internet addiction causes changes in functional connectivity (activity of parts of the brain that reflect how they work together). The regions that see changes in functional connectivity indicate that there is likely to be an impact on emotional processing and decision making. 

It is time for more holistic practices in mental health

Corresponding author: Professor Sidarta Ribeiro, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

• Cited 5 times to date and covered by 9 news outlets

August 2024

Effects of diagnostic labels on perceptions of marginal cases of mental ill-health

• Corresponding author: Professor Nick Haslam, University of Melbourne

• Covered by 14 news outlets, downloaded nearly 2000 times

• Handling Editor: Dr Geoffrey Maina, University of Saskatchewan

Some people feel that having a diagnosis or ‘label’ is beneficial. Others do not. This study from Professor Nick Haslam and colleagues at University of Melbourne, finds evidence to suggest that whilst diagnostic labelling appears to increase empathy, support and general perception that people experiencing ‘marginal’ problems require professional treatment, it also appears to reduce the control people are perceived to have over their mental health and the likelihood of recovery. This expands our appreciation of the mixed outcomes of putting a name to a mental health struggle.

January 2025:

The association of diminished quality of life of Afghan adults’ psychosocial wellbeing, in the era of the Taliban 2.0 Government

• Corresponding author: Dr Jessi Hanson-DeFuscho, Lawrence Technological University

• Covered by 11 news outlets 

Dr Jessi Hanson-DeFusco and colleagues at Lawrence Technological University, University of Texas at Dallas, University of Pittsburgh and Afghanistan Technical Vocational Institute explore changes in well-being among Afghan adults during the turbulent political shift in Afghanistan. Their study aims to inform how international communities could consider supporting affected communities and not forget ongoing suffering

September 2024:

Seasonality in mood disorders: Probing association of accelerometer-derived physical activity with daylength and solar insolation

• Corresponding author: Dr Sandra Rosenthal, Vanderbilt University

• Covered by 18 news outlets, altmetric score 145

• Handling Editor: Dr Rachel Dale, University for Continuing Education Krems

Dr Oleg Kovtun and Dr Sandra Rosenthal at Vanderbilt University present a digital biomarker for examining the interplay between sunlight exposure, physical activity and mental health. Their work helps to set us on a path towards more personalized mental health care.

Feb 2025: 

When ELIZA Meets Therapists: A Turing Test for the Heart and Mind

• Corresponding author: Dr Dorian Hatch, The Ohio State University

• Over 41,000 views, 109 news stories and 17 citations in 5 months

• Handling Editor: Dr Brian Bauer, University of Georgia

A multi-center collaboration (Ohio State University, Hatch Data and Mental Health , UC San Diego,  Universite de Lausanne, Brigham Young University, University of Denver, University of Miami, Utah Valley University, Sam Houston State University, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, The Marriage and Family Clinic, Emory University, NYCBT, and University of Denver) compares therapeutic responses written by qualified therapists with those written by ChatGPT.  The study provides an early indication that ChatGPT has psychotherapeutic value and could be developed to complement interventions as well as increase accessibility.

Muscle-Building Supplement Use is Associated with Muscle Dysmorphia Symptomatology among Canadian Adolescents and Young Adults

• Corresponding author: Dr Kyle T. Ganson, University of Toronto

• Covered by 68 news outlets upon publication

• Handling Editor: Dr Craig Nicholas Cumming, University of Western Australia

Dr Kyle Ganson at University of Toronto and colleagues at Northeastern University, UTHSC,  University of California Los Angeles, and University of California San Francisco study the relationship between the use of muscle-building supplements and  muscle dysmorphia symptomatology among Canadian adolescents and young adults. They find that all muscle-building supplements used by the study population were associated with a higher risk of muscle dysmorphia. Considering the use of supplements is becoming increasingly normalized, the authors call for further investigations to inform interventions

April 2025

A New Insight into Ayahuasca’s Adverse Effects: Reanalysis and Perspectives on Its Mediating Role in Mental Health from the Global Ayahuasca Survey (GAS).

• Corresponding author: Dr Jose Carlos Bouso, University of Rovira I Virgili

• Covered by 13 news outlets

Dr José Carlos Bouso and colleagues at International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research Sherpas, Mieres (Olot), Western Sydney University, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health University of Campinas, Swinburne University, and Psychae Institute, Melbourne explore the relationships between mental health history and the experience of adverse mental states after ayahuasca use, along with their relation to mental health. They find that people with previous depressive disorders may be more prone to experiencing post-ayahuasca use adverse mental states. However, they also report that such states, traditionally considered problematic, may actually be associated with improved mental health of individuals who experience them

July 2025

Co-involvement of stimulants with opioids in North America: A ‘silent epidemic’

• Corresponding author: Dr Bo Cao, University of Alberta

• Covered by 7 news outlets

• Handling Editor: Dr Craig Nicholas Cumming, University of Western Australia

Dr Bo Cao and colleagues at University of Alberta and University of Calgary shed light on a ‘silent epidemic’ alongside the opioid epidemic, including co-ingestion of stimulants (e.g.methamphetamine and cocaine) as well as public awareness of this crisis. Their study indicates that public interest has not been increasing despite the increase in drug-related deaths. This potential lack of awareness could help to explain why the epidemic continues to rip through communities.

Mental health outcomes associated with electronic cigarette use, combustible tobacco use, and dual use among U.S. adolescents: Insights from the National Youth Tobacco Survey

• Corresponding author: Dr Noor Abdulhay, West Virginia University

• Altmetric score: 347, covered by 41 news outlets in one week.

• Handling Editor: Dr Renjulal Yesodharan, Manipal Academy of Higher Education,

We are very proud of all of our content and how it has been stimulating discussion and helping to drive progress in mental health globally. All of the metrics referred to above are correct on the date that this blog was posted. We hope that their messages will continue to spread and that PLOS Mental Health will continue to publish a diverse and important collection of studies and perspectives. You can take a look at all of our content here.