Frontier mental health research: psychedelics & drug studies

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21 papers

The Worldwide Prevalence of ADHD: A Systematic Review and Metaregression Analysis

Guilherme V. Polanczyk, Maurício Silva de Lima, Bernardo Lessa Horta, Joseph Biederman, Luís Augusto Rohde
American Journal of Psychiatry Summary & key facts 2007 5,230 citations

Our findings suggest that geographic location plays a limited role in the reasons for the large variability of ADHD/HD prevalence estimates worldwide. Instead, this variability seems to be explained primarily by the methodological characteristics of studies.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Cognitive Abilities and Testing

Effectiveness of physical activity interventions for improving depression, anxiety and distress: an overview of systematic reviews

Ben Singh, Tim Olds, Rachel Curtis, Dorothea Dumuid, Rosa Virgara, Amanda Watson, et al.
PubMed Summary & key facts 2023 784 citations

This umbrella review pooled evidence from 97 systematic reviews (1,039 randomized trials, 128,119 participants) to examine whether physical activity affects symptoms of depression, anxiety and psychological distress in adults. Overall, physical activity produced medium-sized reductions in symptoms (median effect size for depression = -0.43, for anxiety = -0.42; distress effect…

Behavioral Health and Interventions Eating Disorders and Behaviors Physical Activity and Health

The global prevalence of ADHD in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Nader Salari, Hooman Ghasemi, Nasrin Abdoli, Adibeh Rahmani, Mohammad Hossain Shiri, Amir Hossein Hashemian, et al.

The authors pooled results from 61 cross-sectional studies to estimate how common ADHD is in children and adolescents worldwide. They found a pooled prevalence of 7.6% (95% CI 6.1–9.4%) in children aged 3–12 (from 96,907 children) and 5.6% (95% CI 4.8–7%) in adolescents aged 12–18. Prevalence estimates varied by age…

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Children's Physical and Motor Development

Medicinal cannabis for psychiatric disorders: a clinically-focused systematic review

Jerome Sarris, Justin Sinclair, Diana Karamacoska, Margaret Davidson, Joseph Firth
BMC Psychiatry Summary & key facts 2020 243 citations

This 2019 systematic review looked at human studies of medicinal cannabis and cannabis-derived isolates for major psychiatric disorders. The authors found that the evidence is very new and limited, so it is too early to recommend cannabis medicines for psychiatric conditions. Some small or isolated studies suggest benefits for a…

Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research Infant Health and Development Sleep and Wakefulness Research

Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) 2023 Update on Clinical Guidelines for Management of Major Depressive Disorder in Adults: Réseau canadien pour les traitements de l’humeur et de l’anxiété (CANMAT) 2023 : Mise à jour des lignes directrices cliniques pour la prise en charge du trouble dépressif majeur chez les adultes

Raymond W. Lam, Sidney H. Kennedy, G. Camelia Adams, Anees Bahji, Serge Beaulieu, Venkat Bhat, et al.

The CANMAT 2023 update gives doctors clear, up-to-date advice for treating adults with major depressive disorder. It puts evidence into a practical, clinician-friendly format. The update says treatment should be a team effort between patients and clinicians, be tailored to each person, and follow a planned, systematic process with regular…

Mental Health Research Topics Treatment of Major Depression Tryptophan and brain disorders

Ketamine for the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders: comprehensive systematic review

Zach Walsh, Özden Merve Mollaahmetoğlu, Joseph M. Rootman, Shannon Golsof, Johanna Louise Keeler, Beth Marsh, et al.
BJPsych Open Summary & key facts 2021 168 citations

This systematic review looked at 83 published reports on ketamine for mental health and substance use disorders. It found strong evidence that ketamine can produce rapid antidepressant and anti‑suicidal effects, but these benefits tend to be short‑lived. Evidence for other conditions was weaker but often showed similar short-term effects. Many…

Mental Health Research Topics Treatment of Major Depression Tryptophan and brain disorders Ketamine

Miss. Diagnosis: A Systematic Review of ADHD in Adult Women

Darby E. Attoe, Emma A. Climie
Journal of Attention Disorders Summary & key facts 2023 118 citations

This systematic review looked at what happens when women live with undiagnosed ADHD and what changes after they get diagnosed as adults. The authors searched three databases and kept eight studies. They used thematic analysis and found four main themes: harms to social and emotional wellbeing, hard or strained relationships,…

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorder Research Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Absolute and relative outcomes of psychotherapies for eight mental disorders: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Pim Cuijpers, Clara Miguel, Marketa Ciharova, Mathias Harrer, Djordje Basic, Ioana A Cristea, et al.
PubMed Central (PMC) Summary & key facts 2024 107 citations

This large review combined 441 randomized trials with 33,881 patients to measure how many people show a clear response to psychotherapy across eight mental disorders. Response was defined as at least a 50% reduction in symptoms from before to after treatment. Pooled response rates were modest (for example, about 42%…

Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments Treatment of Major Depression

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy: A Systematic Narrative Review of the Literature

Sandra J Drozdz, Akash Goel, Matthew W McGarr, Joel Katz, Paul Ritvo, Gabriella Mattina, et al.
PubMed Summary & key facts 2022 92 citations

This systematic review looked at 17 studies with a total of 603 participants on ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP). The reviewed reports say KAP can, in some cases, start and lengthen meaningful reductions in pain, anxiety, and depression, and help with rapport, treatment engagement, and abstinence for people with substance problems. However,…

Mental Health Research Topics Treatment of Major Depression Tryptophan and brain disorders

Somatic experiencing – effectiveness and key factors of a body-oriented trauma therapy: a scoping literature review

Marie Kuhfuß, Tobias Maldei, Andreas Hetmanek, Nicola Baumann

The results concerning effectiveness and method-specific key factors of SE are promising; yet, require more support from unbiased RCT-research. Future research should focus on filling this gap.

Art Therapy and Mental Health Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications

Plant-derived nootropics and human cognition: A systematic review

Cristina Lorca, María Mulet, Catalina Arévalo‐Caro, Marco A. Piña Sánchez, Ainhoa Perez, María Perrino, et al.

This systematic review examined human studies of plant-derived nootropics across six cognitive domains. It included 256 papers published from January 2000 to November 2021 found via PubMed, Cochrane and Scopus. The review reports that Ginkgo biloba was most relevant for perceptual and motor functions, Bacopa monnieri improved language, learning and…

Medicinal Plants and Neuroprotection Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
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