mental health

Individualised dosing of a synthetic inhalable formulation of mebufotenine, a psychedelic substance, led to improvements in depressive symptoms compared with placebo and was well tolerated. These are the results of a phase 2 clinical trial published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, which includes Spanish participation. According to the authors, this supports its potential as a novel, fast-acting treatment for treatment-resistant depression.

The study of psychedelic drugs in pharmacological treatments had its eureka moment with chemist Albert Hofmann's famous bike ride under the influence of LSD in 1938 and then developed over decades, but with Richard Nixon it was shelved. In recent years, it has resurfaced in hospitals and laboratories around the world. Last week, the Congress of Deputies hosted a conference on these substances. We explain what they are, what they are used for, the current state of research, and their risks, with the help of expert sources.

Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is responsible for the psychedelic effects of ayahuasca. According to the results of a phase IIa clinical trial published in Nature Medicine, this molecule improved depressive symptoms in adults with depression after one dose. The trial included 34 people, 17 of whom received intravenous DMT. This second group showed greater improvements in depressive symptoms than the control group. After two weeks, in the second part of the trial, DMT was administered to all participants and the antidepressant effects lasted for three months. Adverse effects were mainly pain at the injection site, nausea and transient anxiety.

The American Psychiatric Association has unveiled the new features of the forthcoming Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in five articles published in The American Journal of Psychiatry. Among the highlights are the proposed change of name — it will become the Diagnostic and Scientific Manual — and the intention for it to be more dynamic, incorporating biomarkers for diagnosis and integrating the socioeconomic, cultural and environmental determinants of health. According to the authors, the aim is to enable a more personalised and inclusive clinical practice, aligned with scientific rigour. The most recent update was published in 2022 with the DSM-5-TR, and specialists are currently unaware of the date of the next edition, as they reported during a briefing with journalists.

The collision between two high-speed trains in Adamuz (Córdoba) on Sunday afternoon has left at least 39 people dead and more than a hundred injured. The emotional impact of the accident affects the families of the victims, as well as the crash survivors and other train users.

The journal Science has published a review of the emerging use of artificial intelligence (AI) in mental health treatment, with examples such as conversational bots for reducing depressive symptoms. The authors defend the usefulness of this technology in the different stages of psychological care, provided that the human factor, both on the part of the clinician and the patient, is the leading factor in the approach. In this regard, they emphasise that AI cannot replace clinical judgement. The distinctive characteristics of psychological care, such as the disclosure of personal information by vulnerable individuals, also necessitate regulatory frameworks that ensure ‘the ethical and effective implementation of AI technologies’.

Physical exercise of any kind shows similar benefits to psychological therapy for the treatment of depression in adults. This is one of the conclusions of a new systematic review by the Cochrane Collaboration based on data from almost 5,000 people, which is the latest update of a review first published in 2008. With regard to antidepressants, the research shows a similar effect, but the evidence is somewhat more limited. The authors point to the lack of robustness in terms of long-term treatment with physical exercise. 

One in five people in Spain suffers from unwanted loneliness, but what exactly is it? What consequences can it have and who suffers from it most? Is it appropriate and realistic to talk about an epidemic of loneliness? What are the causes and possible solutions? What role do social networks play? We answer these and other questions about a central problem in our societies.

A study published in the journal Scientific Reports reveals an increase in simplicity, negativity, and stress-related words in pop song lyrics in the United States over the last few decades. The authors also conclude that this phenomenon was attenuated in times of social crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which ‘highlights the role of music in both shaping and reflecting moods.’ The data included more than 20,000 songs from the US charts between 1973 and 2023. 

A meta-analysis published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal concludes that the most effective way to discontinue antidepressant treatment in people with remitting depression is to gradually reduce the dose in combination with psychological therapy. Furthermore, this strategy proved to be just as effective in preventing relapses into depression as continuing medication. The study was based on data from more than 17,000 adults with depression and anxiety in remission, although the evidence for the latter disorder was not as robust.