There is growing interest in incorporating MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) into structured, evidence-based cognitive-behavioral treatment protocols for post-traumatic stress disorder. Yet this risks overlooking the distinctive qualities of MDMA-assisted therapy, which has already demonstrated strong clinical effects, high response rates, and low dropout using a principle-guided,...
Introduction: Evolutionary threat simulation theories posit that dreams and nightmares recreate risk scenarios that activate cognitive systems with potential clinical implications. Having a scale to assess these scenarios—or “oneiric settings”—could help to understand and test these theories, while also proving useful for the assessment of dreams and nightmares. Objectives: To examine the...
Stress and HealthMarch 5, 2026A. G. Little, Matthew J. Stainer, Alex Sandy MacQuarrie et al.1 citation
Paramedicine students experience disproportionately high rates of anxiety, depression, stress, and insomnia compared to the general population, placing them at risk of post-traumatic stress disorder and long-term psychological distress. Breathwork has emerged as a promising self-regulation intervention that may enhance resilience and wellbeing while reducing symptoms of mental illness. This...
PsychopharmacologyMarch 4, 2026Ava M. Mac, Srinivasu Kallakuri, Alixandria T. Mascarin et al.
MDMA (3–4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine) assisted psychotherapy has gained considerable attention as a potential adjuvant therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Reports of the nonmedical use of MDMA suggest its adverse effects may include anxiety and anhedonia. However, the time course of these signs and symptoms and the potential alterations in neurotransmitter levels that may...
In psychiatry, the term flashback is widely recognized in relation to post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as in the characterization of post‐psychedelic experiences. Although it is now most commonly associated with PTSD, the term was originally introduced in the context of psychedelics. While it broadly denotes specific forms of re‐experiencing in both fields, its precise meaning...
BackgroundCannabis use has increased in recent years, often perceived as therapeutic for psychiatric symptoms including those of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the relationship between pre-trauma tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) use and development of PTSD symptoms after injury remains poorly defined. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between THC use and...
Greater mindfulness is thought to give rise to more positive psychological health through more adaptive emotion regulation. While there is extensive evidence linking higher average mindfulness to lower average emotion regulation difficulties, less is known about the momentary-level patterns that occur within individuals. Additionally, it is unclear if the relationship between mindfulness and...
Past research has identified links between experiences of trauma and the content of hallucinations. There has not been an investigation of differences between those with trauma who do and do not have hallucinations with trauma-related content. This study explored the phenomenology and clinical correlates of hallucinations that contain matching sensory-perceptual elements to trauma. 64 young...
Classical psychedelic drugs show promise as a treatment for major depressive disorder and related psychiatric disorders. This therapeutic efficacy stems from long-lasting psychedelic-induced neuroplasticity onto prefrontal cortical neurons and is thought to require the postsynaptic expression of serotonin 2A receptors (5-HT_2AR). However, other cortical regions such as the granular...
The rapid expansion of psychedelic research has opened significant pathways of opportunity in treating mental health disorders. Participants in recent clinical trials consistently report mystical-type experiences during dosing sessions, and some scholars posit that such experiences themselves help mediate clinical improvements in depression, PTSD, anxiety, and substance use disorders. These...