Abstract Objectives Mindfulness meditation has been linked to differences in attention and executive function, which may be related to differences in neural activity patterns. To explore this, we used an electroencephalography (EEG)-based event-related potential (ERP) paradigm to examine brain responses associated with conflict monitoring and attention in experienced meditators, compared to...
Objective: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) show promise in managing chronic pain but often require substantial time commitments, leading to high attrition and concerns about acceptability. This meta-analysis evaluated attrition rates in MBIs for chronic pain and examined moderators contributing to participant withdrawal. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched relevant...
Australia’s reclassification of psilocybin as a Schedule 8 substance for treatment-resistant depression represents a significant shift in psychiatric policy. While this regulatory change positions Australia as a global leader in psychedelic medicine, its implementation has revealed substantial challenges. This article critically examines the regulatory, ethical and operational complexities...
Abstract Objective Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) show promise in managing chronic pain but often require substantial time commitments, leading to high attrition rates and concerns about acceptability. This meta-analysis evaluated attrition rates in MBIs for chronic pain and explored factors contributing to participant withdrawal. Methods Following PRISMA guidelines, 44 studies (45...
medRxivMay 29, 2025Paul B. Fitzgerald, Sara Webb, Nigel Christopher Denning et al.2 citations
preprint
Abstract Objective Despite many decades of experimental studies and clinical trials involving a variety of psychedelic agents, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of the effects of these substances on psychological experiences. As such, we designed and conducted a study to comprehensively characterise the effects of both psilocybin and 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on a range...
Abstract Objective The dynamic impact of chronic pain on attention can lead to impairments in overall cognitive functioning. Mindfulness is a practice often adopted for pain management that includes elements of attention training. It is thought to improve the experiential acceptance of pain, thus reducing pain-sensitivity and pain-related attentional biases. The aim of this study was to examine...
Abstract Objectives Mindfulness meditation is associated with functional brain changes in regions subserving higher order cognitive processes such as attention. However, no research to date has probed these areas in meditators using combined transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalography (EEG). This study aimed to investigate whether cortical reactivity to TMS differs in a...
Introduction: Psilocybin, a classical psychedelic, has been rescheduled for use in psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for treatment-resistant depression in Australia. While evidence for its use is promising, understanding the associated risks is crucial. Accordingly, this review aims to collate adverse event data from psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy clinical trials and evaluate its definition,...
Abstract Objectives Previous research has demonstrated that mindfulness meditation is associated with a variety of benefits, including improved mental health. Researchers have suggested these benefits may be underpinned by differences in neural oscillations. However, previous studies measuring neural oscillations have not controlled for non-oscillatory neural activity, the power spectrum of...
AbstractPurpose of ReviewOn 1 July 2023, the Therapeutic Goods Administration approved 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)‐assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Accordingly, the purpose of this review is to provide an overview of MDMA and what pharmacists should know as this treatment emerges.Sources of InformationEMBASE, MEDLINE, and CINAHL...
Abstract Objective Mindfulness meditation is associated with functional brain changes in regions subserving higher order cognitive processes such as attention. However, no research to date has causally probed these areas in meditators using combined transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalography (EEG). This study aimed to investigate whether cortical reactivity to TMS...
Research exploring the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapies to treat a range of mental illnesses is flourishing, after the problematic sociopolitical history of psychedelics led to the shutdown of clinical research for almost 40 years. Encouraged by positive results, clinicians and patients are now hopeful that further interruptions to research will be avoided, so that the early promise...
Abstract Objectives Long-term meditation practice affects the brain’s ability to sustain attention. However, how this occurs is not well understood. Electroencephalography (EEG) studies have found that during dichotic oddball listening tasks, experienced meditators displayed altered attention-related neural markers including theta phase synchronisation (TPS) and event-related potentials (ERP;...