Psychology

For the first time in decades, a pilot study has explored the effects of MDMA therapy in couples within the framework of a robust clinical trial. Following on from ongoing research into MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, the results are promising.

Some people find their symptoms of OCD dramatically drop after smoking cannabis, according to a new study. The improvements may only be beneficial in the short-term however, and more research is needed to understand the long-term effect of cannabis use on OCD.

An international team of researchers has used machine learning to produce a novel blood test that can predict a young person’s risk of developing a psychotic disorder, such as schizophrenia, years before the condition develops.

A novel clinical trial is set to explore the subjective effects of combining LSD and MDMA. The primary goal is to investigate whether MDMA can reduce some negative mood effects seen with LSD and improve outcomes for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

A new systematic review of more than a dozen studies from around the world has confirmed an association between geographical areas with naturally high levels of lithium in the water supply and low rates of suicide.

A systemic review has concluded cognitive behavioral therapy does not need to be conducted in person to be effective. The study found the therapy was as effective when administered using video conferencing and email tools, as face-to-face sessions.

A study, conducted over the past few months in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, has found fans of apocalyptic and horror films are reporting less distress and greater resilience during this time compared to those who don’t like such genres.

Four years after it was announced, the results of a controversial clinical trial have been published, finding a testosterone-reducing drug, originally developed for prostate cancer, lowered sexual interest in children for men with pedophilic disorder.

A study is demonstrating the potential of a computer model using electronic health records to predict an individual’s risk of suicide . The proof-of-concept suggests the machine learning model may predict suicidal behavior up to two years in advance.

A new study has described the discovery of a novel protein that may be associated with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The discovery points to the possibility of a future antibody treatment for a variety of mental health disorders.

A new study has gone to extraordinary lengths to investigate how strong the placebo effect may be in psychedelic research. The experiment staged a fake party to explore exactly how much of a psychedelic experience can be generated with a placebo.

Following on from prior research finding brain wave patterns can signal whether antidepressant medication will be effective, a study is reporting the development of an algorithm that can predict patient response to antidepressants based on EEG data.