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.

20 papers

Adoption of Digital Technologies in Health Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Systematic Review of Early Scientific Literature

Davide Golinelli, Erik Boetto, Gherardo Carullo, Andrea Giovanni Nuzzolese, Maria Paola Landini, Maria Pia Fantini

This review looks at how large disasters, including COVID-19, affect mental health and discusses digital solutions. The authors report higher rates of anxiety, depression and posttraumatic stress after disasters and give survey numbers from the COVID-19 outbreak. They say many countries have limited mental health services that could be stretched…

COVID-19 and healthcare impacts COVID-19 diagnosis using AI COVID-19 Digital Contact Tracing

Telling Stories: The Health Benefits of Narrative

James W. Pennebaker
Literature and medicine Summary & key facts 2000 410 citations

Pennebaker reviews more than ten years of research on how telling or writing stories about traumatic or difficult experiences relates to health. He highlights studies done by him and other teams around the world. The essay focuses mainly on reported physical health benefits of writing about these experiences and summarizes…

Art Therapy and Mental Health Mental Health via Writing Pain Management and Placebo Effect

Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Diagnostic and Clinical Challenges

Eve Caligor, Kenneth N. Levy, Frank E. Yeomans
American Journal of Psychiatry Summary & key facts 2015 244 citations

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) are different but can look similar. BPD is marked by unstable moods, a shifting sense of self, fear of abandonment, and often impulsive or self-harming behavior. NPD is marked by grandiosity, a strong need for admiration, low empathy, and using others…

Personality Disorders and Psychopathology Personality Traits and Psychology Transactional Analysis in Psychotherapy

The psychedelic renaissance and the limitations of a White-dominant medical framework: A call for indigenous and ethnic minority inclusion

Jamilah R. George, Timothy I. Michaels, Jae Sevelius, Monnica T. Williams
Journal of Psychedelic Studies Summary & key facts 2019 212 citations

This paper reviews the recent comeback of psychedelic research and points out that much of that work borrows from indigenous healing traditions. The authors say Indigenous people, ethnic and racial minorities, women, and other marginalized groups are often left out of research and the mainstream story about psychedelic medicine. The…

Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques Chemical synthesis and alkaloids Psychedelics and Drug Studies MDMA Psilocybin

Ayurveda: a historical perspective and principles of the traditional healthcare system in India

L.C. Mishra, Balwant Singh, Simon Dagenais
PubMed 2001 75 citations

This paper gives a historical overview of Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of healthcare. It says Ayurveda has been used for more than 5,000 years and was well established around 2500–600 BC. The article describes core ideas of the system (doshas, dhatus, and gunas), names classic texts, and says treatments…

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies

Maternity Blues: A Narrative Review

Valentina Tosto, Margherita Ceccobelli, Emanuela Lucarini, Alfonso Tortorella, Sandro Gerli, Fabio Parazzini, et al.

Maternity blues, also called baby blues, are short-lived mood changes after childbirth that can include tearfulness, irritability, anxiety, sleep and concentration problems. A recent review reports an overall prevalence of about 39% (studies ranged from 13.7% to 76%), but definitions and measurements vary widely. Symptoms usually start in the first…

Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development Infant Development and Preterm Care Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

State of the science: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy

Ad de Jongh, Carlijn de Roos, Sharif El‐Leithy
Journal of Traumatic Stress Summary & key facts 2024 51 citations

EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) is a psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). More than 30 randomized controlled trials report it is effective for both adults and children. Most international clinical practice guidelines now list EMDR as a first-line treatment. The paper reviews the current evidence on EMDR’s effectiveness,…

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research Psychiatric care and mental health services Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments

Experiences of criticism in adults with ADHD: A qualitative study

Danielle M. Beaton, Fuschia M. Sirois, Elizabeth Milne
PLoS ONE Summary & key facts 2022 46 citations

Attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common, long‑term condition that begins in childhood. The main symptoms are trouble paying attention, having too much activity, and acting without thinking. These symptoms can cause problems at home, at school or work, and in relationships. About 8.4% of children and 2.5% of adults are…

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Behavioral and Psychological Studies Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Counselors’ attitudes toward psychedelics and their use in therapy

Benjamin Hearn, Michael D. Brubaker, George B. Richardson

Researchers surveyed counseling professionals about psychedelics and psychedelic‑assisted therapy. They found that counselors had mixed feelings overall, but were more accepting when use was medically supervised. Most counselors said these therapies show promise and that more research is needed. The study matters because drugs like MDMA and psilocybin may soon…

Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior Psychedelics and Drug Studies MDMA Psilocybin

Narcissism and Romantic Relationships

Joshua D. Foster, Amy B. Brunell
link.springer.com Summary & key facts 2018 38 citations

This book chapter reviews research about how grandiose narcissism relates to romantic relationships. It says narcissism is often linked to thoughts and actions that harm relationships, but also notes some positive or short-term advantages like first-impression charm. The authors summarize both the negative and positive findings and suggest topics and…

Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior Personality Disorders and Psychopathology Personality Traits and Psychology

Personality Assessment for Employee Development: Ivory Tower or Real World?

Penny Moyle, John Hackston

Over the last 40 years, personality tests have become much more common at work. Companies use them for things like coaching, building teams, and hiring. But most published research looks at tests only for hiring. That means reviews often use rules that fit hiring, not the different needs of helping…

Emotional Intelligence and Performance Gender Diversity and Inequality Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior

Depression: Out-of-Tune Embodiment, Loss of Bodily Resonance, and Body Work

Mette Toft Rønberg
Medical Anthropology Summary & key facts 2018 24 citations

Based on fieldwork among adults suffering from depression in Denmark, I explore depression as an out-of-tune embodiment, characterized by disturbances of bodily experiences and loss of bodily resonance. I depict my informants' efforts to attune to the rhythm of the everyday through different kinds of body work. This perspective calls…

Art Therapy and Mental Health Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies Empathy and Medical Education
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