OCD affects approximately 1-3% of the population and often begins in childhood or adolescence. While OCD was previously considered untreatable, advances in the past few decades have led to effective evidence-based treatments. Key Facts: Glutamatergic medications like memantine, ketamine, and N-acetylcysteine have shown preliminary evidence of efficacy in small trials, but larger studies have been …
Epilepsy affects over 50 million people worldwide, making it one of the most common neurological disorders globally. For many living with epilepsy, achieving reliable seizure control remains a significant challenge, underscoring the need for continued innovation in treatment approaches. Exciting new developments in the field are providing clinicians with an expanding array of therapeutic options …
A new systematic review examining studies on vegetarian and vegan diets and depression risk has found conflicting evidence, with the quality of studies and reverse causality effects complicating interpretation of the data. Key Facts: 11 of 25 study outcomes linked vegetarian/vegan diets to higher depression risk. 7 of 25 outcomes found lower depression risk with …
A recent study has shed new light on the mental health implications of hormonal contraceptives, particularly focusing on the period known as the ‘pill pause.’ Research indicates that temporarily stopping synthetic hormone intake during this break can lead to increased negative emotions and anxiety among long-term contraceptive pill users. This finding challenges the conventional approach …
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a significant global health concern, affecting over 280 million people worldwide. While numerous pharmacological options exist, challenges remain in achieving timely, robust, and sustained antidepressant response. Dextromethorphan-bupropion is a novel oral antidepressant recently approved by the FDA for MDD in adults that may address some of these unmet needs. Key …
Remnant cholesterol (RC), also known as triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, has been gaining increasing attention in recent years due to evidence linking it to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and other conditions. A new study suggests that elevated levels of remnant cholesterol in the blood may be associated with an increased risk of depression. Key Facts: …
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) aims to modify the gut microbiome and holds promise as a new treatment approach for major depressive disorder (MDD). Early case studies report improvements in depressive symptoms following fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), but larger controlled trials are needed to substantiate its efficacy. Key Facts: Two patients with long-standing major depression received …