Psychological Trauma & Adversity May Accelerate Biological Aging (2024 Analysis)

Adversity accelerates biological aging through health-compromising behaviors like smoking and possibly social disconnection, and future research needs to focus on causal methodologies to better understand these processes and develop effective interventions. Highlights: Mechanisms of Accelerated Aging: Recent studies suggest that adversity accelerates biological aging, with health-compromising behaviors, especially smoking, playing a significant role in this …

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Ayahuasca: A Potential Treatment for Addiction & Psychiatric Disorders?

Ayahuasca is a traditional psychedelic brew from the Amazon that has been used for centuries in shamanic healing rituals. Research is now exploring its potential therapeutic benefits for mental health and addiction. Key Facts: Ayahuasca contains DMT, a hallucinogenic compound, along with MAOIs from the vine Banisteriopsis caapi. The MAOIs allow the DMT to be …

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Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) for Car Accident PTSD: A Promising Intervention

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a traumatic event like a car accident can be extremely debilitating. New research suggests that virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) may be an effective treatment option. Key Facts VRET is a form of exposure therapy that uses virtual reality to simulate the traumatic experience in a controlled setting. Two case …

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Purified CBD: Cannabidiol Medical Uses for Psychiatric Conditions?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is emerging as a promising therapeutic for a variety of health conditions, but research is still in early stages. Here are some key facts on purified CBD: Purified CBD is showing positive results in clinical trials for anxiety, psychosis, schizophrenia, PTSD and substance abuse. Evidence is strongest in these neurological and psychiatric conditions. …

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New PTSD Treatments: Drugs in Development & Pharmacological Targets

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) continues to afflict millions worldwide, necessitating more effective therapeutic options. Key Facts: PTSD involves dysfunctional fear processing and altered threat perception. Current treatments fail to comprehensively address its complex symptoms. Research implicates dysregulation in brain systems like the HPA axis and glutamate, presenting novel drug targets. Medications modulating oxytocin, cannabinoids, opioids …

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MDMA Assisted Therapy for Alcohol Abuse & PTSD

A new study provides preliminary evidence that MDMA-assisted therapy may help reduce alcohol use in people with severe PTSD. Key facts: MDMA-assisted therapy was tested in a phase 3 clinical trial for treating severe PTSD. Participants were allowed to have mild alcohol or cannabis use disorder. Compared to placebo therapy, MDMA therapy led to greater …

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