PTSD and major depressive disorder co-occur in roughly half of patients with either diagnosis, and the comorbid presentation is more severe than either alone. The mechanistic question has been whether comorbidity reflects synergistic biology or simple symptom additivity. A 2026 rat-model study by Jiang and colleagues tests this directly, finding that PTSD-MDD comorbid rats show …
Media coverage of psychedelics outpaces the trial evidence. MDMA-PTSD signals are large; psilocybin-depression effects shrink against active comparators.
Trauma reminders trigger substance craving — but the path runs through negative emotions, not directly. A 2026 meta-analysis quantifies the link.
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …