MentalHealthDaily

Stop-Signal Task Links Cannabis Use to Decision Efficiency, Not Inhibition

by GLOOM

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A 2026 IMAGEN stop-signal task analysis found that evidence accumulation, response caution, and go-failure probability predicted cigarette-plus-cannabis use at ages 19 and 23, while inhibition parameters showed no apparent substance-use association.1 The calibrated reading is direct: conventional “poor inhibition” language may be too crude when the cigarette-plus-cannabis signal sits in general decision-making efficiency instead. Research …

Aripiprazole Oculogyric Crisis in Tourette Tics: 2 Cases at 20-30 mg

by GLOOM

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A 2026 Neurological Sciences brief communication added 2 Tourette syndrome cases of aripiprazole-related oculogyric crisis — sustained, involuntary upward eye deviation from extraocular-muscle dystonia — after titration to 20 mg and 30 mg daily, with remission after dose reduction.1 Research Highlights 2 new Tourette cases: Cavanna et al. reported oculogyric crisis in females aged 16 …

Levetiracetam Range in Children: 2.82-24.37 mcg/mL TDM

by GLOOM

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A 2026 real-world study involving 1,174 children with epilepsy proposed a levetiracetam therapeutic drug monitoring range of 2.82-24.37 mcg/mL, much lower than commonly cited adult-style ranges, but the same data also warned against treating a drug level as a stand-alone seizure-control predictor. Research Highlights Lower pediatric range: Sun et al. proposed an observational levetiracetam range …

Masitinib for ALS: AB10015 Reports 42.3% 5-Year Survival

by GLOOM

MHD featured image for masitinib, ALS survival, and AB10015 long-term follow-up.

A 2026 AB10015 post-hoc preprint reported 42.3% 5-year survival from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis symptom onset among patients originally assigned to masitinib 4.5 mg/kg/day with riluzole. The number is large for ALS, but the long-term comparison is historical and modeled rather than randomized placebo follow-up.1 Research Highlights 42.3% reached 5 years from onset: Ludolph et al. …

Gabapentin Plus Hegu Embedding: 92% Postherpetic Neuralgia Response

by GLOOM

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A 210-person randomized assessor-blinded trial found that adding weekly Hegu-point catgut embedding to gabapentin improved 4-week postherpetic-neuralgia response from 80.00% to 92.38%; compared with gabapentin alone, the add-on arm also ended with lower sleep-problem scores and fewer adverse events.[1] This 2026 trial supports an add-on signal that still needs sham-controlled confirmation because follow-up lasted only …

Levetiracetam After Stroke: 9 Fewer Deaths in Older Adults

by GLOOM

MHD featured image for levetiracetam continuation, post-stroke seizure prevention, and 90-day survival in older adults.

A 2026 Medicare target-trial emulation found continued levetiracetam after acute ischemic stroke was associated with 53 vs. 62 deaths per 1,000 over 90 days, a risk difference of −9 deaths per 1,000 favoring continuation. Research Highlights Survival signal: continued levetiracetam after an initial month of post-stroke use was linked to 53 deaths per 1,000 vs. …

Medical Cannabis for Chronic Pain: Stress and Sleep Drove Satisfaction

by GLOOM

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A 2026 mixed-methods study of 32 chronic non-cancer pain patients found the strongest satisfaction signal when prescribed cannabis-based medicines affected stress, sleep, coping, anxiety, appetite, and daily function — not pain intensity alone.1 Research Highlights 32 patients were interviewed: Pombeiro Stein et al. studied adults from a German pain clinic who had used physician-prescribed cannabis-based …