Cannabis use in adolescents and risk of depression and suicidality

2019-08-30

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug among adolescents, and it has been reported to be associated with some negative consequences. In a metaanalysis of 11 prospective longitudinal studies (more than 23,000 adolescents) examining the association between adolescent cannabis use and the risk of developing a mood disorder or suicidality as a young adult, there was a significant association between cannabis use and increased risks of depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt (but not anxiety) [1]. Additional research evaluating the potential adverse effects of cannabis use in adolescents is needed

THE CONCEPT OF SCHIZOPHRENIA IS COMING TO AN END – HERE’S WHY

2019-08-30

The concept of schizophrenia is dying. Harried for decades by psychology, it now appears to have been fatally wounded by psychiatry, the very profession that once sustained it. Its passing will not be mourned. Today, having a diagnosis of schizophrenia is associated with a life-expectancy reduction of nearly two decades. By some criteria, only one in seven people recover. Despite heralded advances in treatments, staggeringly, the proportion of people who recover hasn’t increased over time. Something is profoundly wrong.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy and suicide attempts

2019-10-31

Patients at risk for suicide typically receive psychotherapy, and the most widely studied treatment is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Multiple studies indicate that CBT can reduce suicide attempts, but evidence for a reduction in suicides is lacking. In a recent systematic review of randomized trials evaluating treatment of patients who survived a suicide attempt, CBT compared with usual care reduced the risk of subsequent attempts; however, subsequent suicides were comparable in the two groups. It is more difficult to demonstrate that an intervention can reduce suicides because they occur less frequently than suicide attempts.

Psychedelics in Neurology: Potential for Improving Neuroplasticity

2019-10-31

Back in the 1950s, research was proving that psychedelic agents could be effective in the treatment of various neuropsychiatric disorders. Unfortunately, just as science was exploring their beneficial effects, the counterculture was exploring and embracing their effects. Slowly but surely, psychedelics were associated with rebellious youth and the tumultuous anti-war movement. As a result, the government shut down most of the research. The 1990s saw renewed interest in psychedelic compounds as a means to address neuropsychiatric disorders. Research explored the benefits of MDMA and ketamine to treat mood disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder. Now, a new study sheds even more light on the promise these agents might provide.