Psychopharmacology News and Research

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

Paid maternity leave associated with mental and physical health benefits for mothers, children

Paid maternity leave has major mental and physical health benefits for mothers and children - including reduced rates of postpartum depression and infant mortality, according to a report in the March/April issue of Harvard Review of Psychiatry.

9 Mar 2020

Marijuana use increases false memories finds study

A new study published this week has revealed that the use of marijuana or cannabis can implant false memories. The study titled, "Cannabis increases susceptibility to false memory," was published in the latest issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

11 Feb 2020

A single dose of magic mushroom compound reduces anxiety and depression among cancer patients

Magic mushrooms are wild or cultivated mushrooms containing psilocybin, which is a naturally occurring hallucinogenic and psychoactive compound. A single dose of psilocybin provides long-term relief of anxiety and depression in cancer patients, a new study found.

29 Jan 2020

Psychedelic drug has enduring antianxiety and antidepressant effects in cancer patients

Following up on their landmark 2016 study, researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine found that a one-time, single-dose treatment of psilocybin, a compound found in psychedelic mushrooms, combined with psychotherapy appears to be associated with significant improvements in emotional and existential distress in cancer patients.

28 Jan 2020

Harnessing biology and technology to develop much-needed treatments for depression

New research into the biology of depression, along with new and evolving technologies, provides the basis for developing the next generation of treatments for major depressive disorder, according to the special January/February issue of Harvard Review of Psychiatry.

9 Jan 2020

Novel tool for assessing children's overall addiction to digital devices

A new study developed and validated a tool for assessing children's overall addiction to digital devices. The study, which found that more than 12% of children ages 9-12 years were at risk of addiction to digital devices for uses including video gaming, social media, and texting, is published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

9 Dec 2019

Giving a shot of ketamine could help heavy drinkers reduce alcohol intake

A one-off dose of ketamine could help heavy drinkers reduce their alcohol intake, finds a new UCL experimental study.

26 Nov 2019

Off-site integrated care can help provide mental health services for children, adolescents

Three models of off-site integrated care can help to meet the growing need for mental health services in children and adolescents, according to a report in the November/December issue of Harvard Review of Psychiatry.

19 Nov 2019

Relevant social stimulus may diminish the preference to drugs

Researchers of the Faculty of Psychology of the University of Malaga (UMA), specialized in addictive disorders, have demonstrated in an animal model that the presence of a relevant social stimulus reduces interest in cocaine.

15 Nov 2019

Cannabis could help in PTSD

A new study from Canada, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, suggests that many people with PTSD may be getting help with their condition from the use of cannabis. For the first time ever, this research documents how cannabis use is related both to PTSD and to mental health outcomes in the general population.

6 Nov 2019

Cannabis may help individuals cope with the effects of PTSD

Cannabis may be helping Canadians cope with the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, new research suggests.

5 Nov 2019

Is your cell phone good for your health?

Many studies have examined the health effects of smartphone abuse, but a new study looks at the sociodemographic features and health indicators of people who have a smartphone but do not use it regularly.

9 Sep 2019

New analysis quantifies how stimulant treatment reduces serious outcomes of ADHD

An analysis of three previous studies of children and young adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder quantifies for the first time the extent to which stimulant treatment reduces the development of mood disorders, school problems, conduct disorders, substance use disorders and other problems.

23 Jul 2019

Targeted treatment offers symptom relief for patients with psychosis

Treatment for individuals who experience psychosis, such as hallucinations and delusions as a result of a psychiatric illness, can be targeted to a specific structural mutation, according to a study published by researchers from McLean Hospital and other institutions in the journal Biological Psychiatry.

3 Jul 2019

Body's endocannabinoid system appears to be new target for drug development against OCD

The body's endocannabinoid system, due to the critical role it plays in regulating neurotransmitter signaling, is an enticing target for drug development against disorders associated with anxiety, stress, and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder.

3 Jun 2019

Researchers discover healthy, stress-busting fat in soil-dwelling bacteria

Thirty years after scientists coined the term "hygiene hypothesis" to suggest that increased exposure to microorganisms could benefit health, University of Colorado Boulder researchers have identified an anti-inflammatory fat in a soil-dwelling bacterium that may be responsible.

29 May 2019

Expanding scope of stimulants to better treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

A comprehensive new review of the expanding scope of stimulants available to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder serves as a valuable guide to clinicians as they choose from among the many new drug formulations and technologies available to treat this complex disorder.

22 May 2019

Psychopharmacology News and Research

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