Cost of emergency hospital admissions for mental health problems in young people almost quadruples over a decade

Growing financial strain on the NHS due to longer stays in hospital Eating disorders and self-harm most common reasons for emergency admissions The total cost of emergency admissions for mental health among children and young people in England rose from £22.5 million in 2012/13 to £87.3 million in 2021/22, finds ...

2026-05-19T17:00:21+01:0020 May 2026|BMJ Open, Press release|

Sedatives in pregnancy not linked to psychiatric disorders in children

Findings offer reassurance to clinicians and pregnant women, say researchers  A large South Korean study published by The BMJ today finds no increased risk of psychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorders, such as ADHD and autism, in children whose mothers used sedative drugs (benzodiazepines or Z-hypnotics) during pregnancy. Benzodiazepines and Z-hypnotics are used to ...

2026-04-30T11:52:38+01:0030 April 2026|Press release, The BMJ|

New brain stimulation technique improves short term social skills in children with autism

Accelerated continuous theta burst stimulation (a-cTBS) may be a “viable and scalable therapeutic option” say researchers  A new non-invasive brain stimulation technique known as accelerated continuous theta burst stimulation (a-cTBS) improves social communication at one month follow up and has a favourable safety profile in children with autism, finds a ...

2026-05-12T11:33:37+01:0030 April 2026|Press release, The BMJ|

Further evidence of developmental risks linked to epilepsy drugs in pregnancy

Study adds weight to previously reported risks and calls for monitoring of new antiseizure drugs Findings published by The BMJ today reinforce previous research linking use of the antiseizure drug valproate during pregnancy to neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD and autism in children, and indicate no substantial risk for several other antiseizure ...

2026-03-12T09:56:41+00:0012 March 2026|Press release, The BMJ|

Pollen exposure linked to poorer exam results taken at the end of secondary school

Effects strongest for subjects involving maths, including physics and chemistry Recognition needed of this and its potential impact on future prospects, say researchers Pollen exposure is linked to poorer exam results taken at the end of secondary (high) school (matriculation), with the effects especially noticeable in subjects involving maths, including ...

Pre-pregnancy parental overweight/obesity linked to next generation’s heightened fatty liver disease risk

Young adult risk more than 3 times higher if both mum and dad carrying excess weight Odds largely influenced by cumulative excess weight (BMI) in childhood Pre-pregnancy parental overweight and obesity is linked to the next generation’s heightened risk of developing fatty liver disease, a potential precursor to cirrhosis and liver ...

2026-05-12T11:35:56+01:0025 February 2026|Gut, Press release|
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