​Laureate Institute for Brain Research analysis of more than 10,000 adolescents shows symptoms didn't just spike during COVID-19 — they kept climbing, hitting genetically at-risk girls hardest.

Tulsa, OK — A new study from researchers at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research (LIBR) finds that adolescent mental health did not simply dip and recover during the COVID-19 pandemic. For many teens — especially those with a genetic predisposition to psychiatric conditions — symptoms rose sharply in the pandemic's early months and continued climbing for years afterward. 

The study, published in the journal Translational Psychiatry, was led by Chun Chieh Fan, Ph.D., of LIBR's Center for Population Neuroscience and Genetics, together with co-lead author Lucy Shao of the University of California San Diego. The team analyzed data from more than 10,000 adolescents in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, a long-running national project tracking child development in the United States, following participants from before the pandemic through early 2022.

Symptom levels rose 4 to 14 percent during the pandemic's early months compared to pre-pandemic levels, the researchers found — and rather than easing, they climbed even further, landing 6 to 24 percent higher still during the later pandemic period. Teens with a higher genetic risk for conditions such as depression, anxiety, and neurodevelopmental disorders experienced a steeper toll: each step up in genetic risk corresponded to as much as a 21 percent increase in symptoms.

The pandemic's impact also diverged sharply by sex. Boys' symptoms tended to level off or even improve as the pandemic wore on, while girls' challenges kept building — particularly among those with higher genetic risk. 

"We are particularly interested in the impact of social isolation on adolescents' health," said Dr. Fan. "While there were many studies reporting the crisis among youth, there was limited discussion on who is most susceptible." 

The findings suggest that recovery from pandemic-era stress was not automatic, especially for teens most biologically primed to be affected by it. Researchers say the results could help identify which young people may need the most support during future public health crises.

The full study, "Contributions of Genetic Liability and the COVID-19 Pandemic to Rising Psychopathology Among Youth in the United States," is available in Translational Psychiatry.

Read the full study:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-026-04184-2

About the Laureate Institute for Brain Research
The Laureate Institute for Brain Research (LIBR) is a Tulsa, Oklahoma-based nonprofit research institute dedicated to understanding the biological basis of mental health and developing more effective, personalized treatments for psychiatric conditions. ​

Dr. Pim Cuijpers - November 3rd, 2026

"The Future of Psychotherapy Research: Current Innovations"

William K. Warren, Jr.  Frontiers in Neuroscience Lecture 
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm     Program in the LPCH auditorium  

Dr. Pim Cuijpers is Professor emeritus of Clinical Psychology at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands and director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions in Amsterdam. He is specialised in conducting randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses on prevention and psychological treatments of common mental disorders across the life span. Much of his work is aimed at prevention of mental disorders, psychological treatments of depression and anxiety disorders, Internet-delivered treatments and global mental health. Pim Cuijpers has published almost 1,400 peer-reviewed papers, chapters, reports and professional publications, including almost 1,200 papers in international peer-reviewed scientific journals. He is on the Clarivate Web of Science lists of the ‘highly cited researchers’ since the first edition of this list in 2014 (http://highlycited.com/). Pim Cuijpers is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology and received the 2024 APA Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Applied Research. He is currently Chair of the Depression Guideline Update Panel of the American Psychological Association.

Learning objectives:  

1. Understand the effects of psychotherapies for mental disorders from randomized trials.
2. Understand the areas of innovations of psychotherapies that are currently examined in research.
3. Understand the limits of potential innovations.

For Physicians: Saint Francis Health System is accredited by the Oklahoma State Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Saint Francis Health System designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 
For Psychologists: The Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists recognizes AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Saint Francis Health System is accredited by the OSMA.
 
For Social Workers: Saint Francis Health System is an approved CE Provider for the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers.  This event if approved for 1 hours, Category 1 Clinical.  (CEP Number - 20260007)

For CADCs and LADCs Saint Francis Health System is accredited as a provider of continuing education programs for CADCs and LADCs through the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors.      (1 hour) (Provider Number - 20270008)
 
The LPC/LMFT Saint Francis Health System is a Board approved CE Provider for the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL). This course is approved for 1 hour of CE.

For questions, email:  Ally Deatherage at [email protected]

Dr. Thomas Valente - September 15th, 2026 

"Network Interventions:  Using Social Networks to Improve Health"

William K. Warren, Jr.  Frontiers in Neuroscience Lecture 
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm     Program in the LPCH auditorium  

Thomas W. Valente, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, at USC. He is the author of four books and over 275 articles and chapters on social networks, behavior change, program evaluation, and health behavior change. Valente directs the USC Center for Applied Network Analysis. He has received numerous national and international awards as well as teaching and mentoring ones. Valente earned his BS in Mathematics from the University of Mary Washington, his MS in Mass Communication from SDSU, and his PhD from the Annenberg School for Communication at USC.

  Learning objectives:  

1. Understand how social networks can be mobilized to improve health
2. Learn how networks structure the flow of ideas and behaviors        
3. Learn the network frameworks for program implementation and intervention.

For Physicians: Saint Francis Health System is accredited by the Oklahoma State Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Saint Francis Health System designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 
For Psychologists: The Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists recognizes AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Saint Francis Health System is accredited by the OSMA.
 
For Social Workers: Saint Francis Health System is an approved CE Provider for the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers.  This event if approved for 1 hours, Category 1 Clinical.  (CEP Number - 20260007)

For CADCs and LADCs Saint Francis Health System is accredited as a provider of continuing education programs for CADCs and LADCs through the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors.      (1 hour) (Provider Number - 20270008)
 
The LPC/LMFT Saint Francis Health System is a Board approved CE Provider for the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL). This course is approved for 1 hour of CE.

For questions, email:  Ally Deatherage at [email protected]