Selected contributions to global health neurology and psychiatry from JoGH group journals in 2023

The 2023 output of the JoGH group of journals in neurology and psychiatry demonstrates a field that is expanding both in scope and conceptual sophistication, with a particularly strong emphasis on integration across biological, social, behavioural, and technological domains. Compared to earlier years, the collection reflects a clearer consolidation of brain and mental health as one of the central pillars of global health, while also showcasing methodological innovation and increasing engagement with large-scale data and complex systems thinking.

A dominant theme was the quantification of the global and regional burden of neurological and mental disorders. Several studies contributed to this agenda, including analyses of the global burden of neurological disorders across 204 countries, the burden of stroke in China in relation to socio-demographic index (SDI) gradients, and large-scale epidemiological assessments of sleep disturbances. These studies reinforced the magnitude and uneven distribution of neurological conditions worldwide, highlighting persistent inequalities between and within countries. Importantly, they also positioned neurological disorders, which are traditionally underrepresented in global health discourse, as major contributors to disability and health system demand.

A second major theme was the increasing recognition of interconnected risk systems that link mental health with physical health, social determinants, and behavioural patterns. The study exploring the interplay between sleep patterns, oxidative balance, and cardiovascular risk exemplified a growing interest in shared pathways between neurological, psychiatric, and cardiometabolic conditions. Similarly, longitudinal analyses of chronic disease and depressive symptoms, as well as studies on sensory impairments and cognition, demonstrated how mental health outcomes are shaped by functional limitations, social participation, and broader health trajectories. The “multidimensional social risk atlas” of depression and anxiety further advanced this perspective by integrating environmental and genomic data, pointing toward a future in which mental health epidemiology becomes increasingly data-rich and systems-oriented.

A third prominent theme was ageing and cognitive decline, which emerged as a central concern in several studies. This included work on cognitive function gaps between men and women, the impact of sensory impairments on cognition, and multiple studies evaluating cognitive training interventions for older adults with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Both randomised trials and meta-analyses suggested that multi-domain cognitive interventions and innovative approaches such as exergames may offer measurable benefits. These findings align with global demographic trends and underscore the urgency of developing scalable interventions to preserve cognitive health in ageing populations.

Closely related to this was a broader focus on interventions and innovation in mental and neurological care. The range of approaches explored in 2023 was particularly notable. Traditional mind-body exercises were evaluated for chronic fatigue syndrome, probiotics were investigated for their impact on anxiety and depression in maternal populations, and virtual reality therapy was highlighted as a potential tool for chronic pain management in the context of the opioid crisis. In parallel, cluster-randomised trials demonstrated the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of group-based interventions to support social-emotional development in children living in poverty. Together, these studies illustrate a field that is actively experimenting with diverse, often low-cost or scalable interventions that extend beyond conventional pharmacological models.

Another strong theme was the continued exploration of the mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, but with a shift toward more nuanced and population-specific analyses. Studies examined anxiety and depression among university students, psychosocial support interventions in West Africa, and the experiences of families and individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions across countries. Rather than simply documenting elevated distress, these papers began to assess responses, resilience, and intervention strategies, suggesting a transition from crisis description to recovery and adaptation.

Importantly, 2023 also included critical reflections on the evidence base itself. The bibliometric analysis highlighting the scarcity of research using validated psychiatric measures in low- and middle-income countries stands out as a meta-scientific contribution. It draws attention to a fundamental limitation in the field: the uneven distribution not only of mental health burden, but also of the tools and data needed to measure it reliably. This self-reflective strand is essential for guiding future research priorities and improving methodological rigor.

Finally, the life-course perspective remained evident, with studies addressing early childhood development, orthorexia nervosa, neurodevelopmental conditions, and maternal mental health. These contributions reinforce the idea that mental and neurological health are shaped from early life through to old age, and that interventions at different stages can have long-lasting effects.

The 2023 output demonstrates the value of combining large-scale epidemiological analyses with experimental and interventional research, while also integrating biological, social, and technological perspectives. It highlights the importance of addressing ageing populations, complex comorbidities, and emerging interventions. Furthermore, it shows quite clearly that the future of global neurology and psychiatry lies in embracing complexity, linking systems, data sources, and disciplines, while remaining grounded in the realities of inequity and access that continue to define global health. Below, we present our selection of these contributions, listed in reverse chronological order of publication:

• Mi Y, Huai L, Yin Y, Yuan J, Liu Y, Huang J, Li W. Burden of stroke in China and the different SDI regions over the world. J Glob Health. 2023 Dec 22;13:04169.

• Chen X, Wang C, Dong Z, Luo H, Ye C, Li L, Wang E. Interplay of sleep patterns and oxidative balance score on total cardiovascular disease risk: Insights from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2018. J Glob Health. 2023 Dec 13;13:04170.

• Pan C, Liu L, Cheng S, Yang X, Meng P, Zhang N, He D, Chen Y, Li C, Zhang H, Zhang J, Zhang Z, Cheng B, Wen Y, Jia Y, Liu H, Zhang F. A multidimensional social risk atlas of depression and anxiety: An observational and genome-wide environmental interaction study. J Glob Health. 2023 Dec 8;13:04146.

• Yang Y, Wang K, Liu S, Liu H, Zhang T, Luo J. Exergames improve cognitive function in older adults and their possible mechanisms: A systematic review. J Glob Health. 2023 Dec 1;13:04177.

• Huang Y, Li Y, Pan H, Han L. Global, regional, and national burden of neurological disorders in 204 countries and territories worldwide. J Glob Health. 2023 Nov 29;13:04160.

• Kong L, Ren J, Fang S, Li Y, Wu Z, Zhou X, Hao Q, Fang M, Zhang YQ. Effects of traditional Chinese mind-body exercises for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Glob Health. 2023 Nov 24;13:04157.

• Cao N, Zeng X, Wang P. Decomposing the change in the cognitive function gap between older men and women over time in China: The Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. J Glob Health. 2023 Nov 22;13:04143.

• López-Gil JF, Tárraga-López PJ, Soledad Hershey M, López-Bueno R, Gutiérrez-Espinoza H, Soler-Marín A, Fernández-Montero A, Victoria-Montesinos D. Overall proportion of orthorexia nervosa symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis including 30 476 individuals from 18 countries. J Glob Health. 2023 Nov 3;13:04087.

• Rudan D, Marčinko D, Degmečić D, Jakšić N. Scarcity of research on psychological or psychiatric states using validated questionnaires in low- and middle-income countries: A ChatGPT-assisted bibliometric analysis and national case study on some psychometric properties. J Glob Health. 2023 Oct 2;13:04102.

• Huang D, Wang J, Fang H, Fu Y, Lou J. Longitudinal association of chronic diseases with depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults in China: Mediation by functional limitations, social interaction, and life satisfaction. J Glob Health. 2023 Sep 29;13:04119.

• Lee B, Krishan P, Goodwin L, Iduye D, de Los Godos EF, Fryer J, Gallagher K, Hair K, O’Connell E, Ogarrio K, King T, Sarica S, Scott E, Li X, Song P, Dozier M, McSwiggan E, Stojanovski K, Theodoratou E, McQuillan R; UNCOVER group. Impact of COVID-19 mitigations on anxiety and depression amongst university students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Glob Health. 2023 Sep 1;13:06035.

• Wang J, Wu J, Liu J, Meng Y, Li J, Zhou P, Xu M, Yan Q, Li Q, Yin X, Gong Y. Prevalence of sleep disturbances and associated factors among Chinese residents: A web-based empirical survey of 2019. J Glob Health. 2023 Aug 4;13:04071.

• Sideropoulos V, Van Herwegen J, Meuleman B, Alessandri M, Alnemary FM, Rad JA, Lavenex PAB, Bolshakov N, Bölte S, Buffle P, Cai RY, Campos R, Chirita-Emandi A, Costa AP, Costanzo F, Des Portes V, Dukes D, Faivre L, Famelart N, Fisher MH, Gamaiunova L, Giannadou A, Gupta R, Hardan AY, Houdayer-Robert F, Hrncirova L, Iaochite RT, Jariabkova K, Klein-Tasman BP, Lavenex P, Malik S, Mari F, Martinez-Castilla P, Menghini D, Nuske HJ, Palikara O, Papon A, Pegg RS, Pouretemad H, Poustka L, Prosetzky I, Renieri A, Rhodes SM, Riby DM, Rossi M, Sadeghi S, Su X, Tai C, Tran M, Tynan F, Uljarević M, Van Hecke AV, Veiga G, Verloes A, Vicari S, Werneck-Rohrer SG, Zander E, Samson AC. Zhou X, Wu H. The impact of sensory impairments and eye diseases on cognitive function in elderly Chinese: The mediating effects of social participation. J Glob Health. 2023 Jul 28;13:04068. Anxiety, concerns and COVID-19: Cross-country perspectives from families and individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions. J Glob Health. 2023 Jul 28;13:04081.

• Garriott A, Phan X, Le Roch K, Bintu FM, Darciba SP, Koleti P, Murray SM. Mental health and psychosocial support in response to onset of the COVID-19 pandemic: Emotional and Stress Management Intervention in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast. J Glob Health. 2023 Jul 14;13:06010.

• Sung CM, Lee TY, Chu H, Liu D, Lin HC, Pien LC, Jen HJ, Lai YJ, Kang XL, Chou KR. Efficacy of multi-domain cognitive function training on cognitive function, working memory, attention, and coordination in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia: A one-year prospective randomised controlled trial. J Glob Health. 2023 Jun 30;13:04069.

• Sung CM, Jen HJ, Liu D, Kustanti CY, Chu H, Chen R, Lin HC, Chang CY, Chou KR. The effect of cognitive training on domains of attention in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. J Glob Health. 2023 Jun 30;13:04078.

• Ahmed H, Mushahid H, Shuja MH. Virtual reality therapy: A promising solution to chronic pain management amidst an opioid crisis. J Glob Health. 2023 Jun 23;13:03033.

• Halemani K, Shetty AP, Thimmappa L, Issac A, Dhiraaj S, Radha K, Mishra P, Mathias EG. Impact of probiotic on anxiety and depression symptoms in pregnant and lactating women and microbiota of infants: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Glob Health. 2023 May 12;13:04038.

• Xu M, Zhang H, Liu A, Zhao C, Huang X, Berman S, Fang H, Guan H. Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a group-based intervention to improve social-emotional development of young children in poverty-stricken areas: A cluster randomized controlled trial. J Glob Health. 2023 Feb 3;13:04017.

We trust that the readers of the Journal of Global Health Neurology and Psychiatry will find these studies valuable for informing research, policy, and practice across diverse global contexts.