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 …
Anxiety disorders (ADs) are a complex set of mental health conditions affecting millions globally. Recent research has made significant strides in understanding the genetic underpinnings of these disorders, linking them to specific brain regions and developmental stages. Highlights: Two Distinct Gene Clusters Identified: Researchers identified two gene clusters with distinct spatial expression profiles in the …
Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB), a medical procedure originally designed for pain management, is emerging as a potential treatment for anxiety disorders. This approach leverages its ability to modulate the sympathetic nervous system, which plays a significant role in anxiety symptoms. Highlights: SGB Procedure & Technicality: SGB involves injecting a local anesthetic near the stellate ganglion …
In recent years, gamification has risen as a groundbreaking strategy to enhance mental health treatments and boost patient engagement. Gamification’s roots date back to games like Dance Dance Revolution in 1998, which intertwined physical activity with gaming fun. Today, an array of games and apps like Nike+ and SuperBetter are designed not just for physical …
Cannabidiol (CBD) is just one of over 85 scientifically-identified cannabinoids (or chemical compounds) derived from the flowering plant cannabis. Each of the cannabinoids within cannabis elicit unique neurophysiological effects. Most people are well-aware of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the predominant cannabinoid within cannabis that is ingested by upwards of 230 million people per year as a psychoactive …
Propranolol is a beta blocker originally synthesized in the 1960s by James W. Black, a British scientist. It is a derivative of older beta-adrenergic antagonists dichloroisoprenaline and pronethalol, each of which lacked safety and efficacy to warrant medicinal usage. Chemically, propranolol is formed upon insertion of an oxymethylene group into the aryl ethanolamine structure of …
Hydroxyzine (brand names Vistaril, Atarax) is a first-generation antihistamine of the diphenylmethane and piperazine class. It was initially synthesized in 1956 and thereafter marketed in the U.S. by the pharmaceutical juggernaut, Pfizer. Although a relatively ancient medication by today’s standards, hydroxyzine is still commonly prescribed: as a preoperative anesthetic, analgesic, and anxiolytic adjunct; as an …