1 Psilocybin Dose for Depression; Add-On Schizophrenia Success; Genetic Suicidality

Just one moderate dose of psilocybin (0.215 mg/kg body weight) — commonly known as magic mushrooms — was associated with a 13-point drop in depressive symptom severity versus placebo, lasting at least 2 weeks. (eClinicalMedicine)

Parental leave from work for postpartum mothers, especially paid leave for a minimum of 2 to 3 months, was protective against poor mental health. (Lancet Public Health)

Participants taking investigational evenamide as add-on therapy to an antipsychotic for treatment-resistant schizophrenia continued to see improvement over 6 months compared with 6-week results, developer Newron Pharmaceuticals announced.

Filled prescriptions for opioids and benzodiazepines declined among pregnant Medicaid beneficiaries from 2015 to 2019, although there was a modest uptick in prescription stimulant fills. (JAMA Pediatrics)

Over a third of beneficiaries of the U.S. military healthcare system live in psychiatrist-scarce areas, while 6% don’t have any available psychiatrists even within a 30-minute drive. (JAMA Network Open)

Meanwhile, a genome-wide association study of U.S. military veterans found a genetic basis for risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. (JAMA Psychiatry)

Some patients say misleading ads from mental health telehealth companies led to abuse of controlled substances like ketamine and drugs for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. (Wall Street Journal)

Even so, more and more ketamine clinics are popping up around the country. (NBC News)