Scientists have discovered a potential new use for a widely prescribed antibiotic: reducing the risk of schizophrenia in adolescents receiving mental health care. A recent study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry analyzed health records from more than 56,000 young psychiatric patients in Finland and found that those treated with doxycycline were 30-35% less likely to develop schizophrenia later in life compared to peers given other antibiotics.

Schizophrenia is a severe mental health disorder that most commonly emerges in early adulthood and is marked by hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking. Preventing its onset has been a key goal for mental health research, especially in adolescents attending psychiatric services who are at elevated risk.

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