Mental Health Literature Review Topics

Campus counseling waitlists keep stretching, and journal output on depression, anxiety, trauma, and well-being grows every month. As academic researchers at TopicSuggestions, we know a strong literature review starts with a precise, doable topic, clear boundaries, and credible sources.

Today we will come up with ideas you can actually finish: focused, current, and scoped for semester timelines. Our thesis is simple: students succeed when topics are framed by population, setting, intervention, and outcome.

Best Literature Review Topics on Mental Health

Below, we map options across themes—clinical conditions, student life, digital tools, cultural and equity perspectives, measurement, and policy—with a brief angle and scope note for each so you know where to start, what to include, and how to keep it manageable.

1. We engineer circadian-synchronized sensory environments for postoperative rooms

– We ask how a nurse-controlled, patient-personalized light-sound-temperature protocol influences delirium incidence, opioid requirements, and sleep architecture after major abdominal surgery.
– We ask whether workflow-integrated circadian dashboards change nurses’ rounding patterns and reduce nighttime interruptions without compromising safety.
– We ask what contextual factors (room orientation, comorbidities) moderate benefits in a mixed surgical unit.

2. We implement nurse-led, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) fluid stewardship on a medical-surgical floor

– We ask whether daily nurse-performed IVC and lung ultrasound assessments reduce postoperative acute kidney injury and pulmonary edema compared with standard assessment.
– We ask how POCUS-guided fluid titration affects length of stay, rapid response activations, and diuretic use in older orthopedic surgery patients.
– We ask what training dosage and competency checks sustain high diagnostic agreement with physician ultrasonography.

3. We dose “ambulation-as-medicine” using real-time wearable feedback and bedside coaching

– We ask whether nurse-delivered mobility prescriptions based on step cadence and stride variability shorten ileus duration and DVT incidence after colorectal surgery.
– We ask how adherence differs by BMI, pain phenotype, and time of day, and which nurse coaching scripts optimize adherence.
– We ask what minimum effective “dose” of early ambulation produces measurable gains in discharge readiness scores.

4. We lead a 48-hour bedside “antibiotic time-out” huddle for surgical inpatients

– We ask if nurse-facilitated, checklist-driven time-outs decrease broad-spectrum days of therapy and C. difficile rates in general surgery units.
– We ask whether inclusion of microbiology snapshots and wound status photos alters de-escalation decisions more than standard notes.
– We ask what barriers nurses report and how huddle timing influences surgeon acceptance.

5. We use a patient-specific “digital twin” of lines, drains, and pressure zones to choreograph turns

– We ask whether nurse-guided positioning plans generated from a bedside digital twin reduce device dislodgement and hospital-acquired pressure injury after thoracic surgery.
– We ask how twin-informed turn schedules affect nursing time, teamwork, and patient-reported comfort.
– We ask what fidelity (sensor density, update frequency) is necessary for clinical benefit without alarm fatigue.

6. We deploy privacy-preserving, nurse-operated wound imaging at the bedside

– We ask if on-device (edge) analysis of surgical wounds improves early detection of dehiscence and infection while reducing documentation time.
– We ask how patient privacy perceptions and consent rates compare to standard photography stored in the EHR.
– We ask which nurse-driven imaging protocols (lighting, angle, timing) yield the most reliable trend detection.

7. We co-train family caregivers as ERAS micro-therapists via bedside microlearning

– We ask whether nurse-delivered 3-minute modules for family on feeding, mobilization, and incentive spirometry reduce postoperative complications and readmissions.
– We ask how caregiver role clarity and confidence mediate adherence to ERAS components across language and literacy levels.
– We ask what content sequencing optimizes retention without increasing nurse workload.

8. We de-implement unnecessary NPO orders through a nurse-triggered verification pathway

– We ask whether a nurse-initiated NPO review algorithm reduces time off oral intake and hypoglycemia in postoperative patients.
– We ask how this pathway impacts aspiration events, procedure delays, and patient satisfaction.
– We ask which order patterns predict inappropriate NPO continuation and how nurses can interrupt them safely.

9. We protect sleep with nocturnal vital surveillance using passive thermal imaging

– We ask if nurse-monitored thermal cameras and contactless respiration proxies enable fewer nighttime awakenings without missed clinical deterioration.
– We ask how sleep preservation affects pain scores, delirium risk, and opioid use after joint replacement.
– We ask what thresholds and escalation rules nurses trust and adopt in routine practice.

10. We guide breathing and coughing exercises with patient-held haptic cueing

– We ask whether nurse-titrated haptic patterns synchronized to incentive spirometry improve pulmonary toilet and reduce atelectasis after upper abdominal surgery.
– We ask how haptic-assisted coaching compares to verbal-only instruction for adherence and patient anxiety.
– We ask which patient traits (hearing impairment, language barriers) benefit most from haptic support.

11. Adaptive smart‑home scent modulation and sleep‑related anxiety in night‑shift workers

We propose the topic: Adaptive smart‑home scent modulation and sleep‑related anxiety in night‑shift workers.
We ask: Does timed, adaptive olfactory stimulation during daytime sleep reduce physiological and subjective anxiety in night‑shift workers compared with neutral scent or no scent?; Do individual scent profiles and circadian phase moderate effects?; What are the mechanisms (sleep architecture, cortisol, heart‑rate variability)?
We will work on this by designing a randomized crossover trial using programmable scent diffusers, actigraphy and polysomnography subsamples, salivary cortisol, and semi‑structured interviews to build individualized scent profiles.

12. “Status storms”: ephemeral social media cascades and acute panic episodes in adolescents

We propose the topic: “Status storms”: ephemeral social media cascades and acute panic episodes in adolescents.
We ask: Are rapid, high‑visibility ephemeral posting events (“status storms”) temporally associated with increases in panic attacks and physiological arousal among adolescents?; Which features of these storms (frequency, social density, valence) predict symptom spikes?
We will work on this by deploying ecological momentary assessment, passive smartphone metadata capture (with consent), wearable heart‑rate monitors, and time‑series analysis linking storm metrics to real‑time anxiety measures.

13. Urban green‑noise versus engineered silence: differential effects on OCD symptom habituation

We propose the topic: Urban green‑noise versus engineered silence: differential effects on OCD symptom habituation.
We ask: Does exposure to natural urban soundscapes (birdsong, water) versus engineered low‑noise environments differentially facilitate habituation and response inhibition in obsessive‑compulsive symptoms?; How do sensory context and attention mediate changes?
We will work on this using within‑subject crossover experiments in real and simulated environments, clinician‑rated and self‑report OCD measures, behavioral inhibition tasks, and EEG markers of attention.

14. AI‑adaptive journaling prompts to reduce peripartum rumination and depressive onset

We propose the topic: AI‑adaptive journaling prompts to reduce peripartum rumination and depressive onset.
We ask: Can an AI model that personalizes journaling prompts in real time reduce rumination trajectories and lower postpartum depression incidence versus standard journaling?; Which linguistic features predict treatment response?
We will work on this through a randomized trial integrating NLP‑driven prompt adaptation, frequent self‑report rumination scales, automated linguistic analysis, and follow‑up clinical interviews.

15. Microdosing digital content: short‑form video exposure patterns and reward sensitization in young adult depression

We propose the topic: Microdosing digital content: short‑form video exposure patterns and reward sensitization in young adult depression.
We ask: Do temporal patterns (microdosing vs binge) of short‑form video consumption alter reward learning and depressive symptom trajectories?; Does microdosing maintain or blunt reward responsivity compared with longer viewing sessions?
We will work on this by combining smartphone screen‑time parsing, reinforcement‑learning tasks, ecological sampling of mood, and longitudinal symptom tracking with mixed‑effects modeling.

16. Intergenerational linguistic echoes: family‑specific metaphors and transgenerational trauma in immigrant families

We propose the topic: Intergenerational linguistic echoes: family‑specific metaphors and transgenerational trauma in immigrant families.
We ask: How do recurrent family metaphors and idioms transmit traumatic meaning across generations and shape help‑seeking and coping narratives?; Can targeted narrative reframing reduce maladaptive transmission?
We will work on this using qualitative discourse analysis, life‑history interviews across generations, coded metaphor mapping, and pilot narrative interventions with pre/post measures of symptomatology and help‑seeking.

17. Home thermal autonomy and recovery trajectories from depressive episodes

We propose the topic: Home thermal autonomy and recovery trajectories from depressive episodes.
We ask: Does perceived and actual control over home temperature influence mood regulation, activity engagement, and recovery speed in individuals with major depressive episodes?; Do effects vary by socioeconomic status and climate?
We will work on this with a field experiment providing thermostat autonomy interventions, ecological momentary mood and activity sampling, sleep measures, and subgroup analyses by housing conditions.

18. Subliminal olfactory cue pairing with remote cognitive bias modification for social anxiety

We propose the topic: Subliminal olfactory cue pairing with remote cognitive bias modification for social anxiety.
We ask: Can pairing masked olfactory cues with online cognitive bias modification enhance implicit approach tendencies and reduce social anxiety more than cognitive training alone?; What dose and timing optimize learning?
We will work on this via remote randomized trials using low‑concentration odor delivery devices, implicit association and approach‑avoidance tasks, self‑report social anxiety measures, and retention testing.

19. Temporal‑seasonal VR environments for treating seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

We propose the topic: Temporal‑seasonal VR environments for treating seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
We ask: Do immersive VR environments that simulate progressive seasonal light and social patterns accelerate remission in SAD compared with standard light therapy?; Which sensory elements (light spectrum, social avatars, nature cues) drive effects?
We will work on this with an RCT comparing VR‑based temporal simulation to light therapy, objective activity and sleep measures, mood scales, and mechanistic fMRI substudies where feasible.

20. Algorithmic fairness audits of suicide‑risk models and their effect on help‑seeking across cultural groups

We propose the topic: Algorithmic fairness audits of suicide‑risk models and their effect on help‑seeking across cultural groups.
We ask: How do biases in suicide‑risk prediction algorithms influence help‑seeking behavior and trust among marginalized cultural groups?; Can transparent fairness interventions increase engagement with recommended resources?
We will work on this by conducting fairness audits of existing models, simulated user studies presenting algorithm outputs to diverse participants, measuring trust and help‑seeking intentions, and piloting redesigned explanations and mitigation strategies.

21. Urban microclimate acoustic signatures and adolescent mood regulation

We ask: How do specific acoustic signatures of urban microclimates (combination of traffic, construction, green-space rustle, HVAC hum) affect momentary mood regulation and emotion-coping behaviors in adolescents? We ask: Can wearable audio sensors plus ecological momentary assessment (EMA) predict mood dysregulation episodes better than self-report alone? We will work on this by deploying small cohorts of adolescents with wearable audio-loggers, passive location sensing, EMA mood prompts, and time-synced cortisol or heart-rate variability sampling; we will combine signal-processing to classify microclimate audio signatures with multilevel models to link signature exposure to within-person mood variance and coping choices.

22. Password fatigue and longitudinal adherence to digital mental health interventions

We ask: Does cognitive friction from frequent password resets, multi-factor authentication, and cross-platform login requirements predict dropout and reduced therapeutic engagement in digital mental health interventions? We ask: Which authentication designs minimize adherence loss without compromising privacy? We will work on this with A/B trials embedded in an app-based intervention, log data analysis of authentication events, qualitative interviews about perceived friction, and survival analysis of adherence curves, plus cost-benefit modeling of security versus engagement.

23. Algorithmically generated family histories and diagnostic priming in psychiatric assessment

We ask: How does presenting clinicians with AI-generated, synthetic family psychiatric histories influence diagnostic impressions, blame attributions, and treatment recommendations? We ask: Do inaccuracies in generated histories systematically bias clinicians toward biological, psychosocial, or pharmacologic paths? We will work on this using randomized vignettes where clinicians receive true, AI-expanded, or AI-summarized family histories, measuring diagnostic choices, reasoning protocols (think-aloud), and downstream prescription/therapy plans, plus machine-audit of generated-history features that most strongly shift decisions.

24. Cross-modal metaphoric language in psychotherapy and measurable outcome changes

We ask: Do therapists’ use of cross-modal metaphors (e.g., describing emotions in tactile or gustatory terms) measurably change clients’ emotional granularity, neural activation patterns, or therapy outcomes? We ask: Are certain sensory metaphors more effective for specific disorders? We will work on this via coding therapy transcripts for cross-modal metaphor density, correlating with session-level emotional clarity measures, conducting small-scale fMRI studies exposing participants to metaphor variants, and running pilot RCTs training therapists in targeted metaphor use.

25. Circadian social jetlag among remote gig-economy workers and mood disorders

We ask: How does variability between biological circadian preference and gig-schedule-driven activity (social jetlag) contribute to development or exacerbation of depressive/anxiety symptoms in remote gig workers? We ask: Can schedule-stabilization interventions delivered through platform nudges reduce symptom burden? We will work on this by recruiting remote gig workers, using actigraphy and smartphone timestamp logs to quantify social jetlag, administering validated mood scales longitudinally, and deploying platform-randomized nudges that encourage schedule regularity with subsequent impact assessment.

26. Intergenerational meme exposure and identity-related anxiety in diaspora youth

We ask: How does exposure to meme cultures that reference ancestral trauma or identity-coded humor influence identity-related anxiety and coping among diaspora adolescents and young adults? We ask: Do certain meme framings facilitate resilience versus exacerbating anxiety? We will work on this by combining digital ethnography of meme communities, content sentiment and framing analysis, EMA of identity-threat responses in youth exposed to selected meme types, and focus groups to interpret mechanisms linking humor, memory, and anxiety.

27. Epigenetic correlates of climate-anxiety therapy responsiveness

We ask: Are there short-term epigenetic marker changes (e.g., DNA methylation at stress-related loci) that correlate with clinical response to psychotherapeutic interventions specifically targeting climate-related anxiety? We ask: Can epigenetic signals predict who benefits most from cognitive and action-oriented therapies? We will work on this with a longitudinal pre/post intervention design collecting peripheral blood or saliva for epigenetic assays, standardized climate-anxiety scales, and mechanistic mediation analyses to test whether biological changes align with symptom change.

28. Algorithmic recommendation of “helpful” self-harm content and downstream psychological effects

We ask: How do platform recommendation systems that label or promote user-generated coping content as “helpful” influence help-seeking behavior, contagion risk, and recovery trajectories among vulnerable users? We ask: Which framing/metadata reduce harm while supporting help-seeking? We will work on this by simulating recommendation outputs, conducting experimental exposure studies with safe research materials and ethical oversight, analyzing platform logs where available, and interviewing users to map perceived usefulness versus harm, informing recommendation policy interventions.

29. Micro-rituals of telemedicine etiquette and their effects on therapeutic alliance

We ask: Do small, codified telemedicine rituals (camera framing rituals, pre-session 60-second grounding prompts, standardized screen background cues) measurably influence therapeutic alliance, trust, and session outcomes compared with unstructured tele-sessions? We ask: Which rituals are culturally translatable? We will work on this by randomizing tele-therapy sessions to ritualized versus usual care conditions, measuring alliance scales, session impact reports, and conducting therapist/client qualitative interviews to refine scalable ritual toolkits.

30. Olfactory-triggered memory reconsolidation using synchronized VR scent delivery in PTSD treatment

We ask: Can precisely timed olfactory cues delivered inside immersive VR during memory reactivation windows enhance reconsolidation-based reductions in PTSD symptom severity? We ask: What safety and dosing parameters optimize symptom reduction without retraumatization? We will work on this with a controlled lab protocol pairing VR trauma-cue exposure with micro-dosed scent presentation during defined reconsolidation windows, psychophysiological monitoring, symptom follow-up, and dose-response modeling to derive clinical protocols.

31. Sentiment-Tagged Olfactory Cues as Adjuncts for Anxiety Regulation in Virtual Teletherapy

We pose research questions: Can real-time delivery of personalized scent blends, tagged to a patient’s self-reported affect, measurably reduce physiological and subjective anxiety during teletherapy sessions; does scent-conditioning enhance retention of learned emotion-regulation skills over 6 months? We will work on this by designing a within-subjects trial pairing teletherapy modules with a compact scent-diffusion device, collecting continuous heart-rate variability, session-level self-report, and follow-up ecological momentary assessments; we will analyze interactions between scent profile, prior olfactory memory, and outcomes using mixed-effects models and thematic interviews.

32. Microbiome-Profiled Social Support Interventions for Adolescents with Self-Harm Histories

We pose research questions: Does tailoring peer-support group content to adolescents’ gut microbiome–inferred inflammatory profiles improve reduction in self-harm frequency compared with standard support groups; what are the psychosocial mechanisms mediating any effect? We will work on this by recruiting adolescents with prior self-harm, obtaining stool samples for microbiome and inflammatory marker assays, randomizing to microbiome-informed versus standard psychoeducational peer supports, and measuring behavioral outcomes, inflammatory mediators, and social-cognition changes over 12 months.

33. Typing Dynamics in Minority Languages as Early Digital Phenotypes for Psychosis Relapse

We pose research questions: Can fine-grained keystroke timing and error-pattern features in text composed in minority languages predict imminent psychosis relapse better than language-agnostic models; which syntactic or orthographic markers are most predictive? We will work on this by implementing passive smartphone keyboards that capture non-content typing metadata in multiple minority-language cohorts, training language-specific machine-learning models with time-to-event survival outcomes, and validating models across clinical sites while ensuring strict privacy-preserving analytic pipelines.

34. Spectral Composition of Urban Night Lighting and Circadian Mood Disorders

We pose research questions: Do variations in night-time urban light spectra (e.g., short-wavelength rich vs warm-spectrum) correlate with prevalence or severity of seasonal and non-seasonal mood disorders in adjacent neighborhoods; can targeted modifications reduce depressive symptom burden? We will work on this by mapping local light spectra using mobile spectrometers, linking spectral exposure to electronic health record–derived mood disorder metrics and sleep-tracking data, and piloting community light-spectrum interventions with pre-post mood and sleep assessments.

35. Intergenerational Epigenetic Signals of Parental Social Media Bereavement and Offspring Depression Risk

We pose research questions: Are distinct DNA methylation or small RNA signatures detectable in offspring whose parents experienced high-intensity social media–mediated bereavement (e.g., public grieving) that associate with early-life internalizing symptoms; what psychosocial buffers modulate those signals? We will work on this by conducting a case-comparison cohort study combining parental social-media-bereavement exposure metrics, offspring epigenetic profiling from buccal or blood samples, longitudinal child mental-health assessments, and moderation analyses by family cohesion and community support.

36. Built-Environment Co-Living Design Elements and Trajectories of Loneliness and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults

We pose research questions: Which specific co-living architectural and programming features (e.g., semi-private thresholds, communal micro-kitchens, scheduled shared activities) most strongly predict reductions in loneliness and slowed cognitive decline over 3 years? We will work on this by embedding standardized built-environment audits into a multi-site longitudinal study of older adults entering co-living settings, collecting repeated cognitive batteries, loneliness scales, sensor-based social interaction metrics, and using causal inference methods to estimate feature-specific effects.

37. Dyadic Virtual-Reality Presence to Preserve Relational Identity When One Partner Has Dementia

We pose research questions: Can synchronous, co-created VR experiences that preserve shared relational narratives reduce identity loss, caregiver burden, and behavioral disturbances more than reminiscence therapy alone; what ethical safeguards do participants require? We will work on this by co-designing short VR scenarios with couples, running randomized feasibility trials comparing VR-dyadic sessions versus standard dyadic engagement, measuring relational identity scales, caregiver stress, and neuropsychiatric symptom frequency, and conducting participatory ethics workshops.

38. Psycholinguistic Markers of Therapeutic Alliance Across Multilingual Psychotherapy Sessions

We pose research questions: Which cross-linguistic psycholinguistic features (turn-taking latency, metaphoric density, pronoun shifts) best index therapeutic alliance development across therapy delivered in different languages; do alliance markers predict dropout differently by language and interpreter use? We will work on this by collecting recorded and transcribed therapy sessions in multiple languages with alliance and outcome measures, extracting language-universal and language-specific features using computational linguistics, and applying longitudinal prediction models and qualitative follow-up to interpret linguistic signatures.

39. Community Mental-Health Effects of Climate-Insurance Collapse after Consecutive Extreme Weather Events

We pose research questions: How does loss of insurance coverage following repeated climate disasters influence community-level trajectories of anxiety, depression, and substance use; which local policy responses mitigate mental-health harms most effectively? We will work on this by combining administrative insurance-claims data, regional mental-health service utilization, community surveys, and difference-in-differences analyses across jurisdictions that experienced insurance market withdrawal versus those with mitigation policies, supplemented by stakeholder interviews.

40. Pharmacogenomic Predictors of Treatment Response in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for Treatment-Resistant PTSD

We pose research questions: Which genetic variants in serotoninergic, glutamatergic, and neuroplasticity-related pathways predict clinical response and adverse-event profiles to standardized psychedelic-assisted therapy protocols for treatment-resistant PTSD; can a polygenic score improve patient selection? We will work on this by embedding genomic sampling in multisite randomized controlled trials of psychedelic-assisted therapy, conducting genome-wide association and pathway analyses linked to standardized clinical endpoints, and modeling utility of predictive scores for stratified treatment allocation while ensuring rigorous consent and post-trial follow-up.

41. Ambient urban microbiome exposure and adolescent anxiety: are variations in city microbial ecology linked to onset and trajectories of anxiety disorders?

We ask: How do neighborhood-level airborne and surface microbiome profiles correlate with incidence and severity of adolescent anxiety over time? We ask: Does early-life exposure to specific urban microbial communities modulate stress reactivity or neuroinflammation markers associated with anxiety? We ask: Can community-level interventions that modify environmental microbiomes (green corridors, soil exposure) reduce anxiety symptoms at the population scale? We outline: We will carry out a longitudinal cohort study combining repeated residential environmental microbiome sampling, salivary cortisol and inflammatory biomarker panels, standardized anxiety assessments, and geospatial modelling. We will integrate multilevel regressions and causal inference tools to link microbial feature sets with mental health trajectories and pilot targeted ecological interventions in matched neighborhoods.

42. Microdosing psychedelics and social cognition in autistic adults: can sub-perceptual dosing improve theory-of-mind and social reciprocity without increasing sensory overload?

We ask: Does a rigorously controlled microdosing regimen of psilocybin analogs enhance performance on objective social cognition tasks in autistic adults compared with placebo? We ask: What are the short- and medium-term effects on sensory processing, social anxiety, and quality-of-life measures? We outline: We will design a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial with neurocognitive batteries (theory-of-mind, emotion recognition), ecological momentary assessment of social interactions, sensory reactivity questionnaires, and fMRI connectivity before and after dosing periods. We will include safety monitoring adapted for autistic participants and stakeholder co-design for tolerability.

43. Digital voice assistant reliance and late-life depression: does habitual conversationalizing with AI agents alter loneliness, cognitive engagement, and depressive symptoms in older adults?

We ask: How does frequency and nature of interactions with voice assistants (e.g., companion talk vs. task queries) relate to trajectories of loneliness and depressive symptoms in people aged 65+? We ask: Can structured “socially engaging” VA interventions reduce depressive symptoms compared with purely task-focused VA use? We outline: We will conduct an observational cohort using device-logged interaction metadata linked to clinical assessments, followed by an RCT assigning older adults to enhanced social-response VA scripting vs. control. We will use mixed methods, combining passive interaction analytics, validated mental health scales, and qualitative interviews to probe perceived social support and cognitive stimulation.

44. Workplace circadian lighting, thermal comfort variability, and employee mental health: do indoor microclimate design patterns influence distress, burnout, and sleep?

We ask: What are the independent and interactive effects of personalized circadian lighting and thermal comfort variability on employee stress, mood, and sleep quality? We ask: Can dynamic microclimate adjustments in open-plan offices reduce burnout incidence over 12 months? We outline: We will implement a cluster-randomized trial across offices comparing standard HVAC/lighting to personalized circadian-tuned lighting and micro-thermal controls. We will collect ecological momentary mood reports, actigraphy-derived sleep, physiological stress markers (HRV), and organizational outcomes (absenteeism, productivity). We will perform mediation analyses to determine pathways.

45. Virtual grief rituals and mental health outcomes for bereaved individuals whose loved ones maintain active social media profiles after death

We ask: How do participation in online memorialization practices (commenting, posting, virtual anniversaries) affect grief processing, prolonged grief disorder risk, and meaning-making? We ask: What design features of digital post-mortem presence (algorithms resurfacing content, auto-generated memories) exacerbate or alleviate complicated grief? We outline: We will use a mixed-methods design including longitudinal surveys of bereaved individuals, content analysis of bereavement-related social media interactions, experimental exposure paradigms (controlled resurfacing vs. suppression), and in-depth interviews. We will develop recommendations for platform policies informed by mental health outcomes.

46. Deepfake family messages and grief processing: what are the psychological consequences of AI-generated voice/video messages from deceased relatives?

We ask: Does exposure to AI-generated “messages” in the voice or image of a deceased relative facilitate adaptive grief resolution or increase risk of prolonged pathological grief and false memories? We ask: Which individual difference factors (attachment style, grief stage, cultural beliefs) moderate these effects? We outline: We will conduct ethically governed experimental studies offering optional, consented deepfake messages to bereaved participants with robust safeguards, comparing outcomes to control conditions (text-only memories, therapist-facilitated letters). We will measure grief severity trajectories, bereavement-related cognitions, memory accuracy, and acceptability; and convene ethics panels to develop practice guidelines.

47. Paternal caregiving leave, sperm microRNA changes, and intergenerational mental health risk: can early paternal caregiving induce epigenetic signals linked to offspring stress regulation?

We ask: Do fathers who take extended caregiving leave exhibit alterations in sperm-borne small RNAs that predict offspring stress-response phenotypes and later mental health outcomes? We ask: Are caregiving-related epigenetic changes reversible and do they mediate intergenerational transmission of resilience? We outline: We will recruit expectant fathers into a quasi-experimental design comparing those who take prolonged leave to matched controls, collect longitudinal sperm samples pre- and post-leave for small RNA sequencing, and follow offspring for early-life stress physiology (cortisol reactivity), neurodevelopmental assessments, and behavioral measures. We will use mediation models and animal-model parallel studies to probe causality.

48. Competitive e-sports pressure, live scoreboard exposure, and gamer mental health: does real-time public performance feedback uniquely drive acute anxiety and depressive symptoms?

We ask: How does exposure to live public scoreboard metrics (live rankings, viewer chat toxicity) during competitive gaming correlate with acute stress responses, sleep disturbances, and longer-term depressive symptoms among professional and semiprofessional gamers? We ask: Can interventions that modify feedback visibility or implement real-time cognitive-behavioral prompts reduce harm? We outline: We will perform laboratory-based simulated competition with controlled feedback visibility, measuring physiological stress (cortisol, HRV), cognitive appraisal, and mood; and an ecological field study using wearable sensors and passive telemetry during tournaments. We will pilot digital interventions (feedback buffering, in-game CBT nudges) and assess outcomes.

49. Horticultural rooftop farming as a community mental health intervention in high-density cities: can structured urban agriculture programs reduce population-level anxiety and social isolation?

We ask: Does participation in structured rooftop farming programs improve anxiety, depressive symptoms, social connectedness, and cognitive restoration compared with standard green-space access? We ask: What program components (workshops, shared produce markets, intergenerational mentoring) maximize mental health benefits? We outline: We will conduct a community-based cluster RCT assigning apartment blocks to rooftop farming programs vs. passive green-space access, measuring mental health scales, ecological momentary restoration, biometrics (sleep, BP), and social network analyses. We will include process evaluation to identify scalable elements for urban planning.

50. Haptic-feedback wearable–augmented DBT for refugee women with trauma histories: can tactilely mediated skills training improve emotional regulation and cultural acceptability?

We ask: Does delivering dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) prompts via culturally adapted haptic wearables (vibratory cues for breathing, grounding) enhance adherence and emotion-regulation outcomes among refugee women compared with standard group DBT? We ask: What haptic patterns and co-design features improve acceptability across different cultural backgrounds? We outline: We will co-design haptic protocols with refugee community stakeholders, then run a randomized pilot comparing wearable-augmented DBT to typical group DBT, using physiological markers (skin conductance), ecological momentary assessments of distress, clinician-rated symptom scales, and qualitative acceptability interviews. We will iterate design for cultural tailoring and scale-up potential.