Author Archives: samweiss

This study examined how young adults at elevated risk for psychosis are using generative AI chatbots and found that they were more likely to engage in intensive, emotionally oriented use, including treating chatbots as companions, friends, or therapists. The findings also suggest that potentially delusion-related interactions with AI are relatively...

This paper argues that ethical frameworks for AI in mental health should go beyond narrow concerns about safety or accuracy and instead help society navigate real-world tradeoffs as AI systems rapidly evolve. The authors outline a set of guiding principles focused on reducing harm, protecting vulnerable users, clarifying when AI...

This study looked at the relationship between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which commonly co-occurs with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Results found significant association with OCD symptoms and ARFID dimension, and that symptoms varied by sex.

This paper looked at genetic and environmental factors contributing to loss of control (LOC) in eating, BMI, and cigarettes per day (CPD) in same-sex twins. Analysis found that genetics accounted for 62% of variance in BMI, and nonshared environmental factors accounted for 76% of LOC in females and 71% of...

This study assessed the influence of food odors compared to food pictures on the reward dimensions of “wanting” and “liking” when hungry or sated. Results found that hungry states increased food wanting, and that food pictures had a stronger impact on increased wanting as opposed to food odors.

This study tested whether simpler methods—a 7-day hormone challenge and assessment of menstrual-related mood symptoms—can identify women sensitive to ovarian hormone changes, a factor linked to perinatal depression. The brief hormone challenge successfully replicated prior classifications of hormone sensitivity, suggesting it could be a feasible, less invasive tool, though findings...