Frontier mental health research: psychedelics & drug studies

Each month our editorial team sifts through hundreds of papers and curates notable findings—for practitioners and informed readers who want to stay current with the evidence. Subscribe to the monthly Research Digest for expert analysis and concise summaries of key papers.

3 papers

The effects of physical activity on cortisol and sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Len De Nys, Kerry Anderson, Esther Frema Ofosu, Gemma C. Ryde, Jenni Connelly, Anna C. Whittaker
Psychoneuroendocrinology Summary & key facts 2022 227 citations

This review combined results from 10 intervention studies to see if physical activity programs change cortisol (a stress hormone) and sleep in adults. The pooled results found lower cortisol after activity programs and some improvement in sleep quality. The authors say the evidence is moderate for cortisol and low for…

Circadian rhythm and melatonin Physical Activity and Health Sleep and related disorders

Sleep and Alcohol Use Patterns During Federal Holidays and Daylight Saving Time Transitions in the United States

Heacock, Rachel M., Capodilupo, Emily R., Czeisler, Mark É., et al.
www.frontiersin.org Summary & key facts 2022 25 citations

This study used data from 24,250 U.S. users of the WHOOP wearable (74.5% male, mean age 37.6 years) collected from May 1, 2020 to May 1, 2021. Compared to typical days, most U.S. public holidays, holiday eves, and Daylight Saving Time transitions showed clear changes: people tended to sleep longer,…

Impact of Light on Environment and Health Sleep and related disorders Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue

Restlessness in Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Using Actigraphy to Measure Physiological Reactions to Threat

Anna R. Franklin, Danielle C. Mathersul, Adrian Raine, Ayelet Meron Ruscio
Behavior Therapy Summary & key facts 2020 20 citations

Researchers tested 102 adults with and without generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) to see if a wrist-and-ankle movement monitor (actigraphy) could measure restlessness during a lab threat task. People with GAD said they felt more restless than people without GAD. The actigraphy readings rose as the threat got closer, and people…

Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes Mental Health Research Topics Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
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