Drugs & Medications

Prucalopride 2 mg Improved Word Learning and Working-Memory Speed in Remitted Depression

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Prucalopride 2 mg Improved Word Learning and Working-Memory Speed in Remitted Depression

TL;DR: A 2026 randomized study in Psychological Medicine reported that 7–10 days of prucalopride improved word-learning recall and working-memory response speed versus placebo in adults with remitted recurrent depression, but the 49-person analysis did not test durability, daily functioning, or relapse prevention. Key Findings Short randomized exposure: Researchers analyzed 49 adults ages 18–40 after 7–10 …

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10 mg Emestedastat Did Not Improve Cognition in Major Depression

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10 mg Emestedastat Did Not Improve Cognition in Major Depression

TL;DR: A 2026 Phase 2 trial in The British Journal of Psychiatry found that 10 mg emestedastat did not improve attention and working memory after six weeks in adults with major depressive disorder and objectively measured cognitive impairment. A nominal depression-score difference appeared four weeks after treatment ended, but it was secondary, unadjusted for multiple …

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Adolescent THC Reduced Reelin-Positive Cells in Female Mice in a Dual-Hit Schizophrenia Model

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Adolescent THC Reduced Reelin-Positive Cells in Female Mice in a Dual-Hit Schizophrenia Model

TL;DR: A 2026 mouse study in Translational Psychiatry reported that six days of adolescent THC exposure reduced Reelin-positive cell density in the female prefrontal cortex and cortical thickness across sexes. Prenatal immune activation did not consistently magnify the effects, and the short-term animal experiment does not show that cannabis causes schizophrenia in people. Key Findings …

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Web Pregnancy Program Did Not Beat Control for Substance Use or STI Risk

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Web Pregnancy Program Did Not Beat Control for Substance Use or STI Risk

TL;DR: A 2026 randomized trial in Journal of Medical Internet Research tested the web-based Health Check-Up for Expectant Moms program in 176 pregnant women at risk for substance use or sexually transmitted infection risk, but reductions in alcohol, cannabis, and condomless sex did not differ clearly from an attention-matched control condition. Key Findings 176 pregnant …

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Esketamine Stellate Ganglion Block Reduced Postoperative Sleep Disturbance

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Esketamine Stellate Ganglion Block Reduced Postoperative Sleep Disturbance

TL;DR: A 2026 randomized trial in BMC Anesthesiology found that adding an esketamine-adjuvanted stellate ganglion block to intraoperative esketamine plus dexmedetomidine reduced early postoperative sleep disturbance after gynecological laparoscopic surgery. Key Findings Sleep disturbance fell on day 1: Postoperative sleep disturbance affected 62.9% of patients in the stellate ganglion block group versus 83.2% in controls. …

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Syringe Service Buprenorphine Improved Access but Needed Withdrawal Support

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Syringe Service Buprenorphine Improved Access but Needed Withdrawal Support

TL;DR: A 2026 qualitative study in the Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment found that syringe service programs helped people receive buprenorphine quickly, but participants said precipitated withdrawal and limited at-home initiation guidance made treatment harder to start and continue. Key Findings 12 exit interviews: Researchers interviewed people after a randomized trial of buprenorphine …

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Psilocybin Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa Improved EDE Symptoms in Pilot Study

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Psilocybin Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa Improved EDE Symptoms in Pilot Study

TL;DR: A 2026 pilot study in The British Journal of Psychiatry tested psilocybin-assisted therapy in 21 adult females with anorexia nervosa and found lower Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) symptom scores through 6 months, with large individual variation and no placebo-controlled comparison. Key Findings Single-arm pilot study: Researchers enrolled 21 adult females with anorexia nervosa and …

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Metformin and Semaglutide Metabolic Clinic Reduced Weight in Severe Mental Illness

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Metformin and Semaglutide Metabolic Clinic Reduced Weight in Severe Mental Illness

TL;DR: A 2026 retrospective chart review in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica found that a psychiatrist-led metabolic clinic helped 132 of 378 patients with severe mental illness lose at least 5% of baseline body weight over 12 months. Key Findings Clinic outcomes were tracked: Researchers analyzed 378 people treated at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health …

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Oxytocin Plus Mindfulness Group Therapy Reduced Schizophrenia Negative Symptoms

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Oxytocin Plus Mindfulness Group Therapy Reduced Schizophrenia Negative Symptoms

TL;DR: A 2026 preprint on medRxiv found that adding 24 IU intranasal oxytocin before 4 mindfulness-based group therapy sessions was linked to larger clinician-rated negative-symptom improvements in a small schizophrenia spectrum disorder pilot trial. Key Findings Oxytocin arm showed the main signal: The OXYMIND pilot assigned 26 outpatients to oxytocin plus mindfulness-based group therapy and …

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Creatine Monohydrate Showed Mixed Depression Trial Results

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Creatine Monohydrate Showed Mixed Depression Trial Results

TL;DR: A 2026 review in Brain Medicine found mixed randomized-trial evidence for creatine monohydrate as an add-on depression treatment: 2 of 5 trials showed symptom benefits, while 3 did not find a clear advantage. Key Findings Five randomized trials were reviewed: The review summarized 238 baseline participants across trials of creatine monohydrate for mood disorders. …

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