Heritage art practices, such as fiber arts and traditional painting styles, have been shown to improve mood and reduce anxiety. The study collected data from participants in the US, Japan, and India, who engaged in activities like creating temporary body art or mizuhiki, tying decorative knots with thin paper strings.
A new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health found an increase in use of only psychotherapy, from 11.5% to 15.4%, and a decline in patients taking medication only, from 68% to 62%. The shift may be attributed to various factors beyond the COVID pandemic.
A new precision treatment approach for depression gives patients personalized recommendations based on multiple characteristics such as age and gender. The study, published in PLOS One, examined the outcomes of clinical trials involving over 10,000 patients to develop a clinical decision support tool.
A new study reveals promising progress toward predicting how patients with major depressive disorder will respond to antidepressant medications. Brain connectivity patterns were found to significantly improve predictions of treatment response across two large, independent clinical trials.
A new potential treatment for chronic PTSD combines ketamine with written exposure therapy, according to research by Dr. Adriana Feder. The pilot trial found promising results in reducing symptoms of PTSD.
The latest APA journal issues explore treatment and risk factors for schizophrenia, as well as medical mistrust and bias. Research also examines the management of borderline personality disorder, including good psychiatric practice and its effectiveness.
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum discovered that the rubber hand illusion reduces perceived pain intensity when a heat stimulus is applied to one hand while simultaneously illuminating a rubber hand. This phenomenon, known as visual analgesia, could potentially be used in treating complex regional pain syndrome.
A new analysis by UCLA Health finds that psychological prehabilitation can significantly enhance recovery after surgery, reducing hospital stays and pain. The study also found that psychotherapy-based interventions can lower anxiety and depression levels after surgery.
The university plans to recruit an outstanding researcher for a professorship focused on psychoanalytical approaches, combining psychology and social sciences. This will enable exploration of new research fields and innovative combinations of expertise between Goethe University's Faculty of Psychology and Sports Sciences and Sigmund Fr...
A large psychotherapy trial has demonstrated that trained nurses, midwives, and doulas can deliver effective talk therapy, significantly improving symptoms of depression and anxiety in pregnant and postpartum individuals. The study also found that online therapy is equally beneficial to in-person sessions.
Studies show that AI chatbots, when exposed to traumatic content, exhibit increased anxiety levels. However, researchers at the University of Zurich have found that therapeutic prompts can significantly reduce these elevated anxiety levels in language models like ChatGPT.
A new study found that people seeking emergency care for hallucinogen use were at a 2.6-fold higher risk of death within 5 years compared to the general population. The increased risk was highest among individuals with medical comorbidities and those from low-income neighborhoods.
A new clinical trial will use MDMA in combination with Prolonged Exposure therapy to enhance treatment outcomes for individuals with PTSD. Researchers believe MDMA shows potential in improving PTSD symptoms by increasing neuroplasticity and processing traumatic memories.
A study found that emergency clinician prescribing of buprenorphine increased in California, leading to more patients starting treatment for opioid use disorder. The efforts were successful in getting patients started, with at least one in three filling a second prescription within 40 days.
A study published in PLOS Mental Health found that ChatGPT's responses were generally rated higher than those written by therapists, particularly in terms of core psychotherapy guiding principles. The AI model was also found to contextualize more extensively, leading respondents to rate its responses higher on common therapy components.
Researchers discovered that depressed people tend to prefer carbohydrate-rich foods, even when they have a lower appetite. The study suggests that carbohydrate cravings are more related to the severity of depression and anxiety symptoms.
The study found a significant decrease in antidepressant use during pregnancy without an accompanying increase in psychotherapy. This suggests that pregnant women with depression or anxiety may be able to effectively manage their symptoms with medication alone.
The PEARLDIVER project aims to develop a Europe-wide research infrastructure to accelerate the discovery of effective treatments for depression. By building a shared platform, researchers can quickly assess the safety and efficacy of new and existing medications, allowing clinicians to make informed decisions about treatment options.
Two studies suggest that psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy can improve mental health outcomes for patients with cancer and alcohol use disorder, reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and obsessive thoughts, while also promoting lasting personality changes.
A new study published in Psychedelics found that psychedelic therapy facilitators express optimism about benefits while maintaining awareness of potential risks. The research highlights the need for robust safety protocols while maintaining optimism about therapeutic potential.
Experts warn Disney princesses are at risk of various health problems, including cardiovascular disease, depression, anxiety, and early death. The authors call on Disney to implement strategies such as mindfulness, personal protection measures, and psychotherapy to improve the princesses' wellbeing.
A systematic review of 45 studies found inconsistent descriptions of psychotherapy sessions, making it difficult to replicate studies and compromise patient well-being. Researchers call for improved reporting standards to enhance the replicability, safety, and potential effectiveness of these therapies.
A study found that psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy significantly reduced depression among clinicians providing front-line COVID-19 care. The treatment was more effective than a placebo, with participants experiencing greater reductions in symptoms over time.
A recent study found a substantial increase in psychotherapy use among US adults with mild to moderate distress since 2018. However, the benefits of this growth have not been equally distributed, with privately insured individuals and those with higher family incomes experiencing greater gains.
The study highlights growing disparities in teletherapy access among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. Outpatient psychotherapy use has increased significantly among several socioeconomically advantaged groups.
Research reveals a strong correlation between psychotic-like experiences and depressive symptoms in adolescents, highlighting the need for systematic surveying and consideration of individual factors. The study's findings suggest that brief cognitive psychotherapy can help alleviate symptoms and improve mental health outcomes.
A review paper explores how robots can aid in understanding the human sense of self, including simulating mind and brain processes and testing social capacities. Researchers aim to transfer some features of human self-awareness to robots, which could provide insights into its development and potential applications.
A new professorship in suicide studies and prevention has been established at Goethe University Frankfurt, led by Dr. Ute Lewitzka. The goal is to develop effective preventive measures through systematic tracking and analysis of suicide attempts and suicides.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University found that a special protocol of hyperbaric oxygen therapy can improve the condition of PTSD sufferers, reducing typical symptoms such as flashbacks, hypervigilance, and irritability. The study showed improvements in brain connectivity and clinical symptoms, offering new hope for millions of PTSD suff...
Researchers tested a model of depression care in Malawi using the country's existing HIV delivery system, involving clinical officers and community personnel. The intervention showed improvements not only in depression but also in other chronic health conditions and household members' wellbeing.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a promising intervention for addressing medical non-adherence in pediatric patients with chronic illnesses. CBT successfully integrates principles of learning theory and cognitive science to address behavioral and emotional challenges that affect health outcomes.
The latest APA journal issues explore schizophrenia spectrum disorders, PTSD treatment, and college mental health. Research highlights include new approaches to psychosis treatment and findings on mental health in higher education.
A trial published in The BMJ found that remote video consultations between patients and mental health specialists showed a small but significant reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety. Compared to usual care, the PROVIDE model led to improvements in depressive and anxiety symptoms at six months and sustained effects at 12 months.
The Mount Sinai Health System has expanded its psychedelic psychotherapy research center with a new facility in upper Manhattan. The Center will support rigorous clinical trials for well-known compounds like MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine, which have shown potential in alleviating symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other stress...
A new study from UCSF finds that child-parent psychotherapy can reduce biological age acceleration in children who have experienced trauma. The treatment group showed significantly less age-related change than the comparison group, with potential implications for long-term health outcomes.
After two major health policy shifts, pregnant and postpartum women with depression and anxiety received slightly more psychotherapy and paid less out-of-pocket costs. Despite the positive trends, only about 10% of women with private insurance received psychotherapy in 2019 to 2020.
Researchers found that reactivating therapeutically-altered memories during sleep leads to more brain activity related to memory processing, associated with a reduction in PTSD symptoms. Targeted memory reactivation (TMR) also reduced the inclination to avoid traumatic memories in patients.
A recent study identified a novel biomarker to predict clinical status in individuals with treatment-resistant OCD undergoing deep brain stimulation therapy. The biomarker targets pathological avoidance behaviors and has shown promising results in improving symptom management.
The July issues of APA journals feature new research on pharmacogenomics, ADHD medication use and associations between mental health and cardiometabolic complications later in life. The studies highlight the importance of personalized medicine and effective treatment strategies for psychiatric disorders.
Researchers found individuals with schizophrenia struggle to discriminate between reward levels, leading to apathy and motivation deficits. The study suggests potential treatments, including brain stimulation and targeted psychotherapy.
A study published in Trends in Urology and Men's Health found that several treatments have been effective in treating delayed ejaculation, including vibration stimulation therapy and psychotherapy. The research highlights the need for health professionals to be aware of a patient's full medical and sexual history and offers hope for mi...
Researchers have identified three new variants of MDMA as promising alternatives for controlled psychotherapeutic use, retaining therapeutic potential while reducing side effects. The new compounds show a similar effect on clinical target structures in the brain and are broken down more favorably, resulting in fewer toxic products.
A collaborative study published in Lancet's eClinical Medicine found that prenatal maternal depression is a link to early birth, while intervention can reduce risk of early birth and newborn morbidity and mortality. Enhanced psychotherapy during routine prenatal care appointments led to reduced depression and longer gestation.
A study led by UCLA Health found that emotional awareness and expression therapy (EAET) significantly reduces chronic pain among older adults compared to cognitive behavioral therapy. EAET helps patients confront and release traumatic emotions, leading to a clinically significant reduction in pain symptoms.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that one in three people reports symptoms after discontinuing antidepressant treatment. The nocebo effect, where negative expectations contribute to symptoms, is estimated to be responsible for half of these effects.
A holistic approach to mental health management involves integrating medication with lifestyle changes, social support, and community engagement. This approach recognizes the interconnectedness of physical and mental factors affecting mental health, emphasizing individual rights and dignity.
Certain combinations of medication or psychotherapy with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) are supported by clinical studies for major depressive disorder (MDD) treatment. Researchers recommend more sophisticated trial designs to move the field forward.
A review of clinical studies suggests that combining TMS or tDCS with certain types of psychotherapy or medication can lead to greater symptom reduction in patients with major depressive disorder. However, the research has limitations and more sophisticated trial designs are needed to move the field forward.
Psilocybin has shown promise in reducing symptoms of depression after one or two doses with few side effects and no current evidence of causing addiction. The study found a large effect size favouring psilocybin, but further research is needed to clarify the factors that maximise its treatment potential.
Research found that low to moderate intensity exercise reduces depression risk by 23% and anxiety by 26%, while high-intensity exercise showed weaker effects. Moderate activities like gardening and walking were particularly effective in reducing depression risk.
A study suggests that a strong therapeutic alliance is key to successful psychedelic-assisted therapy in reducing depression. Participants who had stronger relationships with their therapists experienced lower depression scores one year later.
The latest issues of APA journals focus on treatment options for youth with irritability, exploring collaborative psychopharmacology approaches. Additionally, the studies examine disparities in the use of restraint among psychiatric patients.
A recent study found that mimicking participants' actions or words increased feelings of guilt, contradicting the assumption that it fosters social bonding and reduces negative emotions. The researchers suggest that therapists carefully consider the potential benefits and drawbacks of using mimicry in therapy.
A trio of studies show increased diagnosis and treatment of anxiety, depression, and PTSD in pregnant and new mothers with private insurance, but disparities persist. The findings suggest that policy changes and increased awareness have contributed to the rise in diagnoses and treatments.
Research highlights treating anxiety and depression in people with heart disease can significantly reduce emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and even death. The study found that talk therapy and antidepressant medications improved heart outcomes among those with blocked arteries or heart failure.
A new study from Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found that treating anxiety and depression significantly improves heart disease outcomes, with a 75% reduction in hospitalizations or emergency room visits. The study suggests a collaborative care model is essential for managing cardiovascular and mental health.
A new study combines virtual reality exposure with transcranial direct current stimulation to treat post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans. The innovative approach shows significant reductions in PTSD symptom severity and accelerates psychological adjustment, offering hope for an effective treatment.
Researchers found that specific auricular acupuncture improved the recovery rate for depression to 58%, compared to 43% for non-specific treatment. The study also showed no severe adverse effects, with most participants reporting mild pain at the needle application site.
A systematic review found large reductions in depression for dance and moderate reductions for walking, jogging, and strength training. Exercise combined with SSRIs or psychotherapy showed added benefits. Vigorous exercise had greater effects than low-intensity activities.
A recent study at the University of Eastern Finland gathered information on psychotherapy-associated adverse events, their content and scope. The researchers found no significant negative outcomes in included studies, but highlighted the need for standardised methods to assess adverse effects.