Psilocybin for Depression, MDMA for PTSD: What Phase 3 Trials Show
Media coverage of psychedelics outpaces the trial evidence. MDMA-PTSD signals are large; psilocybin-depression effects shrink against active comparators.
PTSD
Trauma Reminders Increase Drug Cravings — Negative Affect Is the Link
Trauma reminders trigger substance craving — but the path runs through negative emotions, not directly. A 2026 meta-analysis quantifies the link.
Minocycline for PTSD: Inhibition of Fear Memory Retention via MMP-9 (2024 Study)
Recent research has uncovered the potential of minocycline, a tetracycline antibiotic, in modifying fear memory retention. A new study conducted by Yanfang Xia and colleagues, published in Translational Psychiatry, highlights how minocycline could play a role in treating anxiety and stress-related disorders. Highlights: Study Basis: The study was based on Pavlovian fear conditioning as a …
What is Equine Therapy? Exploring Benefits of Human-Horse Relationships
Many people find recreational horseback riding pleasurable and relaxing. However, many individuals are unaware that there’s a therapeutic form of horseback riding [often integrated with psychotherapy] called “equine assisted therapy.” In recent years equine therapy has garnered attention as a potential intervention for the treatment of PTSD, troubled youth, and even autism spectrum disorders. From …
EMDR Therapy For PTSD (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing)
In the 1980s, a literature professor named Francine Shapiro had received a diagnosis of cancer, triggering significant psychological shock. Anyone diagnosed with a life-threatening condition like cancer may be unable to cope with the stress that accompanies the diagnosis. When the stress following an event (in the case of Francine it was a diagnosis) becomes …
Repressed Memories: Causes, Mechanisms, & Coping Strategies
In some cases, individuals may experience a traumatic event that triggers such a potent stress response via the sympathetic nervous system, that memory of the event becomes repressed. The potency of the stress-response exceeds their innate ability to cope and other coping resources. Emotions associated with the traumatic event are often overpowering, leading to intense …
Bionic Brain Implants For Depression & PTSD in Development
Although most people turn to pharmaceutical medications to cope with mental illness like depression and PTSD, medications are not a person’s only option. In many cases, making healthy lifestyle changes (i.e. natural cures for depression) such as getting more exercise, reducing stress, and staying out of toxic relationships can be beneficial for a person’s mental health. Though …