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Grand RoundsWeekly Evidence Brief

Psychiatry

Edition

30-Second Takeaway

  • Pharmacogenomic testing in psychiatric inpatients was associated with faster symptom improvement across SCZ, MDD, and BD.
  • NIBS added to psychotherapy produced greater symptom reductions for anxiety disorders (moderate effect).

Week ending May 30, 2026

Selected recent evidence affecting psychiatric inpatient care, cancer-related mental health, emotion regulation, QoL measurement, and NIBS-plus-psychotherapy.

PGx testing linked to faster symptom improvement in hospitalized SCZ, MDD, and BD patients.

BMC PSYCHIATRYMay 24, 2026

In a retrospective cohort of 3,942 psychiatric inpatients, PGx-tested patients improved faster on disorder-specific scales than usual care. Linear mixed models showed significant negative PGx-by-time interactions for PANSS, HAMD/HAMA, and YMRS/HAMD scores. PGx patients had more severe baseline symptoms and higher hospital costs, and MDD patients had longer stays. As an observational real-world study, results suggest PGx may speed symptomatic response but cannot prove causality.

Umbrella review: MBSR favored for anxiety in lung cancer but overall evidence very low.

PSYCHIATRY RESEARCHMay 26, 2026

Across 82 meta-analyses (113 estimates), most outcomes in cancer patients had very low GRADE certainty. Mindfulness-based stress reduction outperformed standard treatment for anxiety in lung cancer (Hedges'g = -1.46). Psychotherapy after mastectomy often performed worse than waiting list for anxiety related to body image. Overall, evidence is limited; MBSR is a reasonable option when available, but stronger trials are needed.

QoL and PROMs in Saudi psychiatric pharmacotherapy are heterogeneously measured.

ANNALS OF GENERAL PSYCHIATRYMay 24, 2026

The systematic review included 10 studies and 3,773 patients using 15 different QoL/PROM instruments. One-third of studies used the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale and reported low-to-moderate adherence. Heterogeneous measures limit comparability and signal the need for standardized PROMs and adherence-focused interventions. Clinicians should prioritize validated, consistent QoL tools and interventions to improve medication adherence reporting.

References

Numbered in order of appearance. Click any reference to view details.

Additional Reads

Optional additional studies from this edition.

Edition context

Clinical signal

  • Consider PGx testing for hospitalized SCZ, MDD, or BD patients when rapid treatment optimization is needed, but interpret observational results cautiously.
  • For cancer patients with anxiety, prioritize mindfulness-based stress reduction when available, acknowledging low overall evidence certainty.
  • Screen and target emotion regulation deficits across diagnoses; consider transdiagnostic ER interventions.