Psychopharmacology News and Research

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Psychopharmacology is the study of drug-induced changes in mood, sensation, thinking, and behavior.

Could Vitamin B6 Reduce Anxiety and Depression?

In this interview, we speak to Dr. David Field about his latest research into anxiety and depression and whether vitamin B6 supplements could help to reduce it.

19 Jul 2022

Highest medicinal dose of cannabidiol is driver-safe, study confirms

Millions of consumers and patients around the world will be heartened by the results of the latest study on cannabis and driving.

30 May 2022

Treating pediatric psychiatric disorders with psychotropic drugs reduces later substance use disorder risk

One half of psychiatric and substance use disorders start by the age of 18; three-quarters by age 24. While these are concerning statistics, a new study from Massachusetts General Hospital finds that treating psychiatric disorders with psychotropic medications in children and adolescents does not increase the risk of developing substance use, misuse, or substance use disorder (SUD).

19 May 2022

Neuroimaging advances show promise in helping transcranial electrical stimulation to effectively treat visual hallucinations

A literature review in Harvard Review of Psychiatry indicates that, while transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) has rarely been used in treating visual hallucinations (VH) among patients with psychiatric disorders, recent advances in neuroimaging technology show promise in helping tES to more effectively treat VH in psychiatric disorders where VH are a core symptom.

13 May 2022

Two doses of psilocybin may ease depression symptoms for up to 12 months

Previous studies by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers showed that psychedelic treatment with psilocybin relieved major depressive disorder symptoms in adults for up to a month.

15 Feb 2022

One in five young adults with substance use disorder may have undiagnosed autistic traits

One in five teens and young adults who seek treatment for alcohol or drug use may have traits characteristic of a previously unrecognized autism spectrum disorder (ASD), researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) report.

25 Jan 2022

Study offers new evidence on how childhood immunometabolic risk factors may lead to depression, psychosis

A growing body of research suggests that early-life infection, inflammation, and metabolic changes could contribute to psychiatric disorders – perhaps via effects during critical periods of brain development.

11 Jan 2022

Research demonstrates the safety, feasibility of psilocybin administered at doses of 10mg or 25mg

New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London, in partnership with COMPASS Pathways, has established that psilocybin can be safely administered at doses of either 10mg or 25mg to up to six participants simultaneously.

4 Jan 2022

Antipsychotic drugs associated with increase in risk of breast cancer

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that many commonly prescribed antipsychotic medications are associated with a significant increase in risk of breast cancer.

6 Dec 2021

Caffeine increases alertness and detection accuracy for moving targets

In the first study of its kind to explore caffeine's effects on dynamic visual skills, researchers concluded that caffeine increases alertness and detection accuracy for moving targets. Caffeine also improved participants' reaction times.

1 Dec 2021

Treating depression with an app

News-Medical talks to Dr. Mann and Dr. Shah about the Columbia Psychiatry Pathways app and its purpose of improving the treatment of depression.

11 Nov 2021

Psychedelic drug changes the emotional state of people listening to music

Scientists have found that the psychedelic drug psilocybin, in development as an anti-depressive treatment, changes the emotional state of people listening to music.

4 Oct 2021

Study finds decrease in Canadian suicide rates during the pandemic despite increase in unemployment

The results of research into suicide rates in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic show that rates fell despite a simultaneous increase in unemployment.

23 Sep 2021

'Spice' users likely to experience more severe withdrawal symptoms, study finds

Research published today by psychologists at the University of Bath suggests that 'Spice' – which contains synthetic drugs originally designed to mimic the effects of cannabis – is more harmful than cannabis and that users are likely to experience more severe withdrawal symptoms when attempting to quit.

18 Sep 2021

Study finds cognitive safety of ketamine and esketamine for patients with treatment-resistant depression

Used for the treatment of depression that does not respond to standard antidepressant medications, the anesthesia drug ketamine – and the related drug esketamine, recently approved for depression treatment – has no important adverse effects on memory, attention, or other cognitive processes, concludes a systematic review of medical research in the September/October issue of Harvard Review of Psychiatry.

12 Aug 2021

Study opens the door to improved treatment for psychosis sufferers

University of Otago scientists have opened the door to improved treatment of brain dysfunction which causes psychosis.

15 Jul 2021

Flavoring can change how the brain responds to nicotine e-cigarettes

Flavoring can change how the brain responds to e-cigarette aerosols that contain nicotine, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.

23 Jun 2021

Mediterranean diet combined with a daily bout of exercise can stave off dementia

It's been named the world's best diet for weight loss, but now researchers at the University of South Australia are confident that the Mediterranean Diet - combined with a daily bout of exercise - can also stave off dementia, slowing the decline in brain function that is commonly associated with older age.

22 Jun 2021

More research needed to clarify effects of cannabis on brain development of young adults with ADHD

At least so far, the currently limited research base does not establish that cannabis has additional adverse effects on brain development or functioning in adolescents or young adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), concludes a review in the July/August issue of Harvard Review of Psychiatry. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

21 Jun 2021

New pan-European survey explores the effect of COVID-19 restrictions on physical, mental health

A new pan-European survey funded by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee exploring the impact of COVID-19 Lockdowns and associated restrictions (in those countries where there has been no Lockdown), has found that nearly two thirds of adults (61%) expressed concern about their worsening mood; two times higher than those concerned about physical inactivity (24%).

20 May 2021