A pilot trial of a 7-week mindfulness-based intervention for adults with atopic dermatitis found improvements in disease severity, itch perception, and stress with small to medium effect sizes, but psychological distress—particularly depression—increased significantly after treatment. All nine participants completed the intervention and rated it as highly acceptable. The authors conclude that the intervention is feasible and may serve as a useful adjunct therapy for atopic dermatitis, though they note that larger controlled studies are needed.
Suicidal behavior is a growing public health problem. Existing treatments have limited efficacy for people who have already attempted suicide, so new approaches are needed. Research on the neurobiology of social pain—a risk factor for suicide—has identified promising pharmacological targets. This paper reviews and critically evaluates evidence for these targets, examining how social pain relates to the anti-suicidal properties of recently approved treatments like ketamine and psilocybin. These strategies may reduce suicidal ideation and behavior in the short term, especially when social pain is a contributing factor, and may work regardless of psychiatric diagnosis, though careful evaluation is required.
Pairing strategically timed trauma- and attachment-informed psychotherapy with precision-calibrated doses of ketamine may improve the quality and duration of ketamine's therapeutic effects for treatment-resistant depression. Ketamine, a rapid antidepressant, stimulates synaptogenesis, normalizes neural connectivity, enhances neuroplasticity, reduces inflammation, and induces high-entropy brain states with subjective psychedelic experiences. Developmental trauma and attachment injuries are primary factors in treatment resistance. Psychotherapy sessions timed 24–48 hours after ketamine induction take advantage of peak dendritic spine growth and normalized network connectivity, while exploiting high-entropy states to disrupt maladaptive thoughts and behaviors, and supporting integration of positive experiences.