Psychopharmacology

A new study finds that taking the antidepressant escitalopram in the days leading up to menstruation reduces irritability, anger, and impulsive behavioral responses in women suffering from severe premenstrual symptoms.

A new clinical trial suggests the weight-loss drug semaglutide could help treat alcohol use disorder. While it didn't eliminate laboratory-assessed cravings, the medication significantly reduced heavy drinking days and overall alcohol-related problems in treatment-seeking adults.

A new study suggests that consuming psilocin directly—rather than its precursor, psilocybin—provides a similar psychedelic experience with fewer side effects. Researchers also found that taking the drug under the tongue produced emotional breakthroughs despite milder effects.

A new study in mice indicates that caffeinated coffee prevents stress-induced memory loss and depression-like behaviors, while decaf offers no such protection. The findings suggest caffeine is the key ingredient for coffee's mood-boosting benefits.

Psilocin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, promotes the rapid growth of neural connections in laboratory settings. A new study reveals how these structural changes match the effects of established psychiatric drugs like ketamine and lithium.

Two new studies suggest psychedelic compounds could help treat cocaine addiction. A human trial found psilocybin combined with therapy reduced cocaine use, while an animal study indicated that environmental support is needed to prevent long-term relapse.

Analyzing data from over 485,000 people, researchers found that habitual consumers of four or more caffeinated drinks sleep slightly less. Surprisingly, this shorter sleep features increased depth, suggesting our bodies adapt to chronic caffeine intake.

People with alcohol use disorder experience automatic emotional reactions to alcohol-related images that disrupt their decision-making processes. New research shows the brain attempts to offset these cognitive disruptions by increasing activity in regions associated with deliberate thought.

German college students who tried psychedelics for the first time showed slight increases in openness over a year. However, researchers say these minor personality shifts may simply reflect broader novelty-seeking behavior rather than the drugs themselves.

Patients in addiction treatment are increasingly receiving prescriptions for the nerve pain drug gabapentin, despite a lack of evidence for its effectiveness. Meanwhile, unprescribed use of the drug remains high among patients testing positive for multiple substances.

A new study reveals that the psychedelic drug DMT pushes brain waves into a highly random, structureless state. This biological shift directly correlates with the intense sensation of ego dissolution, shedding light on how human consciousness is maintained.

A new study reveals that female mice experience a surge in stress hormones after ketamine anesthesia, prompting immune cells to rewire the brain. The findings highlight profound sex differences in how the brain recovers from anesthetics.

A small study in mice reveals that administering a psychedelic compound before an immune challenge can prevent severe brain inflammation. The findings suggest these drugs might prime the nervous system to resist biological stress and disease.

A new study suggests that positive emotional states, rather than profound mystical experiences, are the primary driver of symptom relief in MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. The findings highlight how MDMA heals trauma differently than classic psychedelics.

Two low doses of psilocybin helped chronically stressed rats recover their ability to experience pleasure while reducing anxiety. The psychedelic compound also promoted the birth of new neurons and normalized stress hormone levels.