Psychology

A new study found over 60 percent of subjects felt some kind of psychedelic effect from a placebo

Science

Testing psychedelic placebos: Study watches people trip on fake drugs

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.

The researchers suggest the new EEG diagnostic tool could be available to clinicians within five years

Medical

Simple EEG brain scan can tell if antidepressant drugs work for you

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.

The study found personality traits such as sociability could be linked to certain gut bacteria species

Health & Wellbeing

Oxford study explores links between personality and the gut microbiome

Is there a link between personality traits and gut microbiome composition? While new research does not claim gut bacteria determines a personality, it does reveal a bi-directional association between behavior and the microbiome.

A new study examined the persisting effects of one psilocybin dose in patients with life-threatening cancer, up to five years later

Science

Psychedelic therapy benefits persist five years after treatment

A new study is offering the first long-term insights into the efficacy of a single dose of psilocybin, in conjunction with psychotherapy, in treating depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer.

The Expanded Access program allows approved clinics to commence treating patients before Phase 3 trials are complete

Health & Wellbeing

MDMA for PTSD granted Expanded Access by FDA, patient treatments begin

Marking an impressive milestone in the development of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD, the FDA has approved the treatment for Expanded Access, allowing certain patients access to the therapy before full market approval is granted.

Science

The future of psychedelic science: What the next decade holds

New Atlas spoke to several leading psychedelic researchers to get their thoughts on three big future-forward questions. Where will psychedelic science be in 2030, what hurdles do researchers face, and what research topic is yet to be answered?

New research suggests a neural pathway linked to overeating regulates our ability to control impulsive behavior

Health & Wellbeing

Brain circuit linked to impulsive overeating discovered

A study is suggesting a neural circuit implicated in overeating may be more broadly linked to impulse control. The research hypothesizes behavioral disorders, from drug addiction to excessive gambling, could be treated by regulating this pathway.

The FDA has awarded another Breakthrough Therapy designation for psilocybin, this time focusing on research into the effect of a single dose on patients suffering from major depressive disorder

Science

Psilocybin for major depression granted Breakthrough Therapy by FDA

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted psilocybin therapy a Breakthrough Therapy designation for the second time in a year, this time with a view on accelerating trials testing its efficacy treating major depressive disorder (MDD).

Two newly published studies reflect the different scientific perspectives over the link between inflammation and depression

Health & Wellbeing

New research divided over links between inflammation and depression

A new metastudy is suggesting anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce symptoms of depression, affirming the long-suspected link between neuroinflammation and depression. However, another study is claiming there is no causal link between the two factors.

In a new study, social media use and television viewing were associated with increased rates of teen depression but playing video games did not show the same correlation

Health & Wellbeing

Teen depression linked to social media screen time, but video games are fine

A study has followed thousands of teenagers tracking associations between screen time and depression. The research separated types of screen time, and found TV and social media activity correlated with increased symptoms of depression, but video game and computer use had little negative effect.

Landmark research has uncovered eight genes associated with anorexia, some of which are directly related to metabolic processes

Medical

Global genetic study links anorexia to metabolism, not just the mind

A global study into the genetic origins of anorexia suggests the illness is not just a psychiatric condition but also a metabolic disorder. The research revealed metabolic genetic variants unique to those suffering from this chronic eating disorder, and not seen in other psychiatric conditions.

A new study involving MRI scans of hundreds of brains of convicted prisoners suggests notable differences in the brains of someone who has committed a murder compared to other violent but non-homicidal inmates

Biology

Inside the head of a killer: Imaging study uncovers unique brain abnormalities in murderers

For decades scientists have been exploring the minds of criminals and a new study is taking this research further than anyone has before, suggesting the brains of individuals that have committed murder are notably different from other criminals, both violent and non-violent.