Depression

An extraordinary new study is reporting the first direct demonstration of a psilocybin dose inducing neural plasticity in a mammalian brain. The researchers hypothesize this mechanism playing a role in the drug’s antidepressant qualities.

A Phase 2 clinical trial has found a single treatment session with nitrous oxide can deliver significant and rapid improvements in patients with treatment-resistant depression, and the research indicates these benefits can last for at least two weeks.

Researchers have catalogued 178 gene variants associated with major depression in one of the biggest genome-wide association studies ever conducted. The study encompassed several million people in the hope of developing a genetic test to detect those most at risk.

A technique is allowing researchers to measure endogenous lithium concentrations in the human brain for the very first time. Researchers found natural lithium levels in white matter were lower in suicidal subjects than healthy controls.

Research has found new evidence of a link between inflammation and depression. The large-scale study identified higher levels of an inflammatory biomarker in depressed subjects compared to non-depressed subjects, but not all experts are convinced.

A new meta-analysis has reviewed over 400 clinical trials investigating the efficacy of various psychological interventions on mental well-being in an attempt to empirically categorize the most effective tactics to improve one’s well-being.

A first-of-its-kind trial has pitted a common antidepressant against psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms. The results are mixed but suggest the drug is at least as effective as common antidepressants in treating depression.

Researchers are closer to an objective blood test for mood disorders, with a new study describing a panel of blood-based biomarkers that can distinguish between depression and bipolar disorder, and measure the future risk of developing these conditions.

More than one in 10 adults suffer from chronic rhinosinusitis, an inflammatory sinus condition. A new brain imaging study suggests the disease is linked with functional brain connectivity changes that could explain cognitive problems such as brain fog.

For some people a small irritation can wreck their day, while others can shake off minor problems and move on. A new study is suggesting persistent activity in the amygdala could be why some are unable to move on from momentary negative experiences.

New research has demonstrated how odors evoke memories in the brain, in ways stronger than other senses. Using neuroimaging and intracranial electrophysiology the research shows how olfactory pathways communicate directly with the hippocampus.

A study published in Nature Communications indicates a possible genetic association between stomach ulcers and depression. The research found a genetic link between a susceptibility for peptic ulcer disease and psychiatric disorders such as major depression.