MDMA-assisted therapy for depression: a promising but early first step

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A small proof-of-principle trial suggests MDMA-assisted therapy may be feasible and effective for depression, but open-label design and a highly pre-treated sample urge caution.

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In the Land of the Unblind: are psychedelics really better than antidepressants?

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Psychedelic therapy looks impressive in trials, but when you account for the placebo effect, how does it really compare to antidepressants?

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When the treatment doesn’t work: what predicts difficult-to-treat postpartum depression?

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Swedish nationwide study of 58,618 women found 6% experienced treatment-resistant postpartum depression. Risk factors included lower socioeconomic status, smoking, pre-existing health conditions, caesarean or preterm birth.

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Stopping antidepressants safely: network meta-analysis compares deprescribing strategies

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This network meta-analysis of 76 trials found that slow tapering (over 4 weeks) combined with psychological support was most effective for preventing relapse when stopping antidepressants. Abrupt discontinuation and fast tapering substantially increased relapse risk and should be avoided.

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Weighing the risks: new review ranks antidepressants by their physical health side effects

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Antidepressants can help millions of people recover from depression and anxiety, but how do they affect physical health? Out today, a review in The Lancet compared 30 antidepressants to see which ones are most (and least) likely to increase our risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes etc.

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Treating ADHD in psychosis: What does the evidence say about safety?

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How safe is it to treat ADHD in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders? New long-term data offers pragmatic reassurance, but also some warnings.

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Prescribing in borderline personality disorder: Evidence, relationships, and the realities of practice

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No drugs are officially approved for borderline personality disorder, yet prescribing is widespread. This systematic review explores why clinicians prescribe, the pressures they face, and what it means for patient care.

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Pragmatic prescribing: why GPs offer beta-blockers for anxiety, despite guideline gaps

GPs’ perceived benefits of beta-blockers for anxiety underscore a need for further research and updated clinical guidance to align practice with evidence.

Beta-blockers like propranolol are being prescribed more often for anxiety in UK primary care, even though they don’t appear in national guidelines. This new qualitative study explores why GPs turn to them, and what that says about evidence, safety, and patient choice.

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Apples and oranges? Rethinking the evidence behind young people’s depression treatments

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What works better for young people with depression: therapy or medication? This new analysis shows why the trials may be too different to compare, and why value-based decisions matter more than ever.

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Antidepressants and suicide – it’s complicated…

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Rina Dutta and Alina Cuhraja summarise a network meta-analysis on antidepressants, suicidal ideation and suicidal behaviours, which suggests that SSRIs may reduce suicidal ideation in the short-term, but this is not sustained even to week 8 of treatment.

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