The New York State Psychiatric Institute

Former Columbia Psychiatrist Found Guilty of Research Misconduct in Depression Studies

7 months ago

• Bret Rutherford, formerly of Columbia University, was found to have committed research misconduct by falsely reporting subject eligibility in late-life depression studies. • Rutherford inaccurately reported that participants met inclusion criteria, including medication wash-out periods, affecting the validity of five published papers. • The Office of Research Integrity (ORI) has imposed a three-year ban on U.S. government funding for Rutherford, followed by a three-year supervision period. • The misconduct involved clinical trials of levodopa for depression and led to multiple retractions and corrections of published articles.

Psilocybin Shows Promise in Reducing Symptoms of Body Dysmorphic Disorder

8 months ago

• A pilot study indicates that psilocybin significantly reduced symptoms in individuals with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). • Brain scans revealed that psilocybin treatment increased connectivity between brain regions related to emotional processing and cognitive activity. • The improvement in BDD symptoms correlated with the strengthening of connections within brain networks, suggesting enhanced brain flexibility. • Further research with larger groups is necessary to confirm the effectiveness and long-term effects of psilocybin for treating BDD.