Midomafetamine

A WA clinic trials MDMA-assisted therapy for treatment-resistant PTSD, with patients undergoing the therapy for 3-4 months in a safe, controlled environment. MDMA calms the brain's fear centre, enabling patients to work through traumas.

Psilocybin, the active ingredient in 'magic mushrooms,' is compared to the antidepressant escitalopram in a six-month trial for depression. Psilocybin showed greater flexibility in brain states and higher well-being scores, but both treatments had comparable depressive symptom improvements. Critics argue for more extensive trials and addressing issues like cost and patient selection before widespread use.

In Singapore, harsh drug laws lead to forced rehab in austere conditions for users like Kim, who faces trafficking charges. The Drug Rehabilitation Centre, run by the Prison Service, houses inmates in concrete cells for at least six months, aiming to deter drug use through strict rehabilitation programs. Critics argue the system is inhumane, focusing on shame rather than addressing root causes of addiction.

FDA issued a Complete Response Letter to Lykos Therapeutics for midomafetamine capsules (MDMA) for PTSD, citing insufficient data. Despite concerns about efficacy and safety, experts remain hopeful for future approval. The FDA also released draft guidelines for psychedelic drug research, emphasizing proper study design and safety assessments.

MindMed plans pivotal LSD study for generalized anxiety disorder, aiming to innovate stagnant anxiety treatment landscape with MM-120, a pharmacologically optimized form of LSD, which showed promising Phase 2b results. The company envisions a treatment model similar to Spravato but with potentially fewer restrictions, targeting a growing network of interventional psychiatry clinics.

Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) merges psychotherapy with psychedelic states, facilitated by substances like LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA, showing potential in treating PTSD, TRD, MDD, and other conditions. Despite being classified as Schedule I drugs, their therapeutic potential is increasingly recognized, leading to FDA Breakthrough Therapy designations for MDMA and psilocybin. Recent research suggests these substances reopen a 'critical period' in the brain, enhancing social reward learning and brain plasticity. Methodologically rigorous clinical research indicates substantial long-term symptom alleviation, with single sessions leading to significant symptom reduction and remission lasting up to twelve months. Despite regulatory challenges, ongoing research and clinical trials continue to explore and validate the therapeutic benefits of PAT.

SPN-820, an intracellular modulator of mTORC1, showed safety and efficacy in a phase IIa study for major depressive disorder. A Danish study found a 4.5-fold higher risk of sudden cardiac death in schizophrenic patients. The FDA expanded approval of sodium oxybate (Lumryz) for narcolepsy in children aged 7 and up. A cohort study identified eight forms of traumatic and adverse childhood experiences that affect psychiatric risk and cognitive ability differently. Mental illness may increase COVID-19 severity. GIP and/or GLP-1 receptor agonists reduced opioid overdose and alcohol intoxication rates in adults with opioid or alcohol use disorder. Lykos Therapeutics plans an additional phase III trial for MDMA-assisted PTSD therapy after FDA rejection. A psychiatrist recommends dementia tests for Donald Trump. Maternal prenatal cannabis use was not linked to child autism spectrum disorder. Over 2,400 Kaiser Permanente mental health workers went on strike in Southern California. Home-based transcranial direct current stimulation improved depression scores in a phase II trial. A Lancet Psychiatry Commission aims to limit harms of problematic internet usage. The FCC voted to route 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline calls by geolocation.

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) is increasingly recognized as a breakthrough treatment for mental health issues, but lack of certification creates roadblocks for patients in Quebec. Only Alberta requires psychiatric training for PAP prescribers, while independent organizations offer training not recognized by Health Canada or INSPQ. Health Canada's Special Access Program allows access to psilocybin and MDMA for serious conditions, but the application process is invasive and confusing. The absence of official PAP certification raises concerns about the qualifications of those reviewing applications, potentially delaying or denying access to life-altering treatments.