News & Headlines

A multidisciplinary approach to studying and treating brain disorders is shedding light on the physiological mechanisms that may be behind psychological distress.

A new study from scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego could be a gamechanger for researchers looking to better treatments for pain-based neurological disorders like post-traumatic stress and anxiety.

Currently, the first-choice treatment for PTSD is exposure-based psychotherapy, where therapists help rewire the emotions associated with the traumatic memory in the patient’s brain, shifting from fear and arousal to a more neutral response. However, up to 50% of patients fail to respond well to this treatment. In a new study published on August 7 in the Cell Press journal Current Biology, scientists showed for the first time that reactivating therapeutically-altered memories during sleep leads to more brain activity related to memory processing, which is associated with a reduction in PTSD symptoms.

In a show of bipartisanship, 80 members of Congress from both sides of the aisle have united in letters urging President Joe Biden and the US Food and Drug Administration to further consider studies on MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder — an effort that aims to expedite access to a treatment they hope could help veterans. The coordinated effort is a call for action from the highest levels of government to provide relief to millions of people experiencing PTSD amid a dramatic rise in veteran suicides.

Brad Marchand, the Boston Bruins captain, suffered a concussion during a playoff game after colliding with an opponent. Despite showing signs of a head injury, Marchand continued to play until the medical staff pulled him out of the game. He later admitted to not being upfront about his condition. The current concussion evaluation protocol in the NHL relies on subjective observations and symptom reporting by players. These methods are not always accurate and can be influenced by various factors, leading to potential misdiagnoses. Traditional diagnostic tools like the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT5) have limitations in detecting concussions.

The Food and Drug Administration is expected to decide in early August whether MDMA should be approved for treating post-traumatic stress disorder. The decision has garnered a huge amount of attention and lobbying by people who want the treatment to get the green light. If approved, MDMA would represent a milestone in the efforts to bring psychedelics into the mainstream. However, the drug company behind the treatment has been mired in controversy, fending off criticism that the clinical trials weren't sound. That has raised the possibility that the FDA reject the drug.

Four internet-based therapies developed by experts at the University of Oxford's Department of Experimental Psychology and Department of Psychiatry are proving helpful for patients with social anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorders and for children with anxiety disorders. Urgent treatment solutions are needed for children, adolescents and adults with mental health conditions. Despite the government committing to spending 8.9% of all NHS funding on mental health treatment last year, the pipeline to build new facilities and train new staff will take years and, on their own, are insufficient to meet demand.

It was a landmark moment for the psychedelic movement: The Department of Veteran Affairs’ top doctor stood on stage, praising advocates who have spent decades promoting the healing potential of mind-altering drugs. In an unannounced appearance at a New York psychedelic conference, the VA’s Dr. Shereef Elnahal said his agency was ready to start rolling out MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder as soon as regulators approved it.

Long COVID defines a long-term condition that occurs after a person has had the COVID-19 infection and still has symptoms after a period of at least 3 months. The condition can present a wide range of symptoms that may vary in severity and can affect both physical and mental health. This article discusses the link between long COVID and anxiety, including whether long COVID can cause panic attacks, how it affects the brain, treatment options, and more.

An internal investigation by the U.S. Army found multiple communication and procedural failures allowed one of its reservists to evade psychiatric treatment after he was released from a private psychiatric hospital less than three months before he committed the worst mass shooting in Maine history last October.

In a recent study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, researchers assess differences in specific biomarkers associated with neurodegenerative diseases between United Kingdom-based retired rugby players with a history of concussions and a non-contact sports group.