Psychology

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.

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 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.

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.

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?

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 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).

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.