FDA clears Motivista for schizophrenia negative symptoms; records review ties chatbot use to worsened psychosis in 28 patients; suicide screening

• FDA Oct 5, 2026
  FDA clears Motivista, described as the first authorized treatment for negative symptoms of schizophrenia
  Click Therapeutics announced on Oct. 5 that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted 510(k) clearance to Motivista, a smartphone-delivered prescription digital therapeutic that combines elements of evidence-based psychosocial therapies with digital methods, Psychiatric Times reported. It is indicated as an adjunct to clinician-managed outpatient care for adults whose positive symptoms are clinically stable. In the phase 3 CONVOKE trial, CAINS-MAP scores improved 6.8 points with Motivista versus 4.2 points with a digital control at 16 weeks (P = .0003), according to the report.
  Source: Psychiatric Times
• AI Oct 7, 2026
  Vanderbilt records review classified 28 patients as having psychosis worsened by chatbot use, most in a first episode
  A review of behavioral health records at Vanderbilt University Medical Center from Dec. 1, 2022, to April 15, 2026, published Oct. 7 in JAMA Psychiatry, classified 28 patients, 0.013% of those receiving mental health care, as having psychosis worsened by chatbot use. Seventeen of them (60.7%) were in a first psychotic episode, significantly more than in comparison groups, and ChatGPT was the documented product in 15 cases. The authors said routine assessment of AI use during psychiatric encounters appears warranted.
  Source: JAMA Psychiatry
• Research Oct 6, 2026
  Universal suicide risk screening raised identification from 0.7% to 3.5% of encounters in a safety-net health system
  In 5,219,858 encounters at a safety-net health system from 2010 to 2020, suicide risk was identified in 0.7% of encounters before universal screening began and 3.5% after (adjusted odds ratio 5.8, 95% CI 5.7 to 5.9), according to a retrospective study published Oct. 6 in Psychiatric Services. Relative increases were greatest for encounters involving older adults, charity or self-pay status and Black patients, and in outpatient settings. The authors said the findings support universal screening as a scalable strategy for equitable detection.
  Source: Psychiatric Services
• AI Oct 6, 2026
  Large language model chatbots reached 0.84 to 0.93 sensitivity for depression and anxiety screening in an 18-study review
  A systematic review of 18 studies from 2021 to 2025, published Oct. 6 in JMIR Mental Health, found that chatbots built on large language models achieved sensitivities of 0.84 to 0.93 and specificities of 0.80 to 0.96 for depression and anxiety screening in adults, and that rule-based chatbots showed high reliability. Methodological quality was heterogeneous, with a moderate risk of bias in critical dimensions. The authors said safe use requires clinical protocols and professional supervision, and that the tools should complement rather than replace clinical judgment.
  Source: JMIR Mental Health
• Payment Oct 8, 2026
  CMS telehealth FAQ says Medicare behavioral health telehealth at home continues, with in-person visit rules after Dec. 31, 2027
  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated its Medicare telehealth FAQ on Oct. 8, saying current flexibilities run through Dec. 31, 2027. It says beneficiaries can receive behavioral health telehealth services in their homes, and that the statutory requirement for an in-person, non-telehealth visit for mental health telehealth applies after Dec. 31, 2027. From Jan. 1, 2028, clinicians may use audio-only technology for behavioral health services when they can use video but the patient cannot or does not consent to it, the FAQ says.
  Source: CMS
• Research Oct 5, 2026
  Suicidal ideation changed faster and more in step during brief CBT than present-centered therapy, trial analysis finds
  An analysis of data from a randomized trial comparing Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT) with present-centered therapy among high-risk U.S. military personnel and veterans, published Oct. 5 in Behaviour Research and Therapy, tracked five dimensions of suicidal ideation at every scheduled session. The dimensions changed faster and in greater synchrony during BCBT. The authors said BCBT is more effective than present-centered therapy for preventing suicide attempts, although the two have similar efficacy for reducing the severity of suicidal ideation.
  Source: Behaviour Research and Therapy

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