As the therapeutic potential of psychedelics is becoming more established, a wider range of compounds are beginning to be investigated for their antidepressant properties. 5-Methoxy- N , N -dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is one such example; its unusual properties may make it a more cost-effective and practical choice for health care providers. However, the same distinctive features may mean...
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been associated with depression and inadequate response to antidepressants. While ketamine has demonstrated efficacy in treating depression, its impact on pre-existing liver injury and depression remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ketamine treatment in a murine model of depression and liver damage, considering age-related...
ABSTRACT Our study investigated the effects of guided group meditation sessions on the psychological parameters of depression, stress, anxiety and anger. The present study of 212 participants followed a mixed methods approach. Data was collected using standardized psychological scales and qualitative interview pre- and post-group meditation. Findings revealed a statistically significant...
Psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound, has garnered renewed scientific interest for its potential in treating psychiatric and neurological disorders. This review systematically examines the latest research on psilocybin’s pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, clinical efficacy, and safety profile. Emerging evidence supports its efficacy in conditions such as major depressive...
In this case report, we present a patient with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and comorbid generalized anxiety disorder, eating disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and borderline personality disorder. Over a 10-year period, our case transitioned from adolescence to adulthood and received antidepressant monotherapy, adjunctive therapy with antipsychotics, lithium, or lamotrigine,...
Current NeuropharmacologyApril 7, 2025Marika Alborghetti, Luana Lionetto, Ginevra Lombardozzi et al.1 citation
Esketamine is administered intranasally in combination with at least another antidepressant in patients with treatment-resistant depression. Some of these antidepressants might affect ketamine's pharmacokinetic profile by inhibiting cytochrome-P450 (CYP450) isoforms. Our aim was to establish how different types of combined antidepressants affect serum and salivary levels of esketamine at the...
The postpartum period has witnessed increasing rates of depression and anxiety, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, with these conditions often co-occurring and being exacerbated by the lingering effects of long COVID. Traditional interventions, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and yoga, have demonstrated effectiveness in alleviating these symptoms. However,...
Depression remains a leading cause of disability worldwide, with up to 40% of patients failing to achieve adequate response with conventional treatments. This paper introduces the Mindfulness-Acupuncture (MA) protocol, a pioneering 12-week intervention that systematically integrates acupuncture and mindfulness practices to address the multifaceted nature of depression. The theoretical framework...
Introduction: Depression, affecting 350 million people globally, is a leading cause of disability. Common symptoms include low mood, sadness, guilt, anxiety, and suicidalthoughts. Current treatments, mostly monoamine-based antidepressants, have limitations such as delayed effects and low efficacy, with over 60% of patients not achieving lasting remission. Ketamine, an NMDA antagonist, has shown...
Ketamine is a rapid-acting treatment for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), though mechanisms related to ketamine's effects remain unclear. Blood-based neurotrophic and inflammatory factors (NIFs; e.g., brain-derived neurotrophic factor, interleukin-6) have emerged as markers potentially linked to ketamine and ketamine treatment response. In this secondary analysis of a randomized controlled...
The need for psychological treatment in the community, specifically in times of crisis and for those in isolation, calls for finding suitable interventions, especially for older adults. The present study examined the effect of a short mindfulness-based intervention emphasizing a 'decentering' component and an equivalent guided-imagery intervention on cognitive and emotional measures in seniors...
Case Report Esketamine in Geriatric Depression and Pseudodementia: A Case Study Filippo Mazzoni 1,2, Giovanni Carnevale Miacca 1,2, Alessandro Guffanti 1,2, Vassilis Martiadis 3, Benardo Maria Dell’Osso 4,5,6,7, Natascia Brondino 1,2 and Miriam Olivola 1,4 1 Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy 2 Department of Mental Health and Addiction, ASST...
Psilocybin, a classic psychedelic, has therapeutic potential for psychiatric disorders. A specific brain circuit and receptor have now been found to be required for psilocybin’s long-term effects on neural plasticity and depression-related behaviour. The psychedelic psilocybin’s beneficial behavioural action depends on the activation of pyramidal-tract neurons in the frontal cortex.
Evidence suggests the crucial role of dysfunctional default mode (DMN), salience and frontoparietal (FPN) networks, collectively termed the triple network model, in the pathophysiology of treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Using the graph theory- and seed-based functional connectivity analyses, we attempted to elucidate the role of low-dose ketamine in the triple networks, namely the DMN,...
Depression, a pervasive mental health condition, has increasingly been linked to neuroinflammation, as evidenced by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory markers such as TNF-α and IL-1β observed in patients, which underscores the role of inflammation in its pathophysiology. This study investigates the differential effects of S-ketamine (S-KET) and R-ketamine (R-KET) on inflammation-induced...
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) remains a critical challenge in psychiatry, with limited effective options. Esketamine, a rapid-acting antidepressant, is usually combined with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), but comparative evidence of these combinations' effectiveness in real-world settings is sparse. To determine...
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) remains a challenge, necessitating novel interventions that address associated cognitive deficits. The glutamatergic modulator ketamine exerts rapid antidepressant effects, prompting investigators to assess its impact on cognitive function, specifically working memory. This study explored ketamine's influence on working memory and magnetoencephalography...
Introduction Depression is a heterogeneous disorder with diverse clinical presentations and etiological underpinnings, necessitating the identification of distinct subtypes to enhance targeted interventions. Dissociative symptoms, commonly observed in major depressive disorder (MDD) and linked to early life trauma, may represent a unique clinical dimension associated with specific...
Introduction Nightmares have been linked to childhood trauma and an increased risk for mental health problems, such as depression. Meanwhile, there is a high comrobdity of nightmares and insomnia. Yet relatively few studies have compared the clinical presentations of nightmares in different clinical groups. Additionally, considering the close association between childhood trauma, insomnia, and...
Scientific ReportsApril 1, 2025Mahboobeh Soleymani Moghadam, A. Parvizifard, Aliakbar Foroughi et al.
Breast cancer causes numerous physical complications and mental stress that negatively impact patients’ performance and quality of life. This study examined the effects of mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy (MICBT) on depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep quality in women with breast cancer. A clinical trial design with pre-tests and post-tests and a two-month follow-up were...