Marijuana Doesn’t Help Mental Health Conditions, Analyses Find
Two new reviews published Monday in the Lancet Psychiatry journal looked at data from 54 randomized controlled trials and found no evidence that any form of cannabis is effective in treating anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. About 27% of people between 16 and 65 in the U.S. and Canada have used marijuana for medical purposes, with about half being for mental health purposes.
CNN:
Scientists Say Marijuana Doesn’t Ease Anxiety Or Other Mental Health Conditions
Using medical or recreational marijuana to ease symptoms of numerous mental health conditions doesn’t work, according to two new analyses of existing gold-standard research. (LaMotte, 3/16)
More about depression, stress, anxiety, dementia, and more —
AP:
Oregon QB Moore Says He Battled Depression And Asks Governor To Protect Mental Health Services
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore has revealed he struggled with mental health issues associated with the pressures of major college football. Moore shared with The Oregonian/OregonLive in a story published Monday a letter he wrote to Gov. Tina Kotek this month in which he disclosed his struggles with depression. In the letter, he asked the Oregon governor for support for mental health services in the state. (3/16)
The Wall Street Journal:
She Hoped Ketamine Would Rewire Her Brain. She Didn’t Live To See It Work.
Tricia Anne Dewey struggled for many years with domestic violence and a subsequent painkiller addiction. As she emerged from that harrowing period by age 41, the Pound Ridge, N.Y., paralegal thought she’d found a way to repair some of the damage—a drug that internet ads and marketing on social media said would rewire her brain. (Ramachandran and McKay, 3/16)
AP:
Group Screams Offer A Unique Outlet To Relieve Stress, Frustration Or Grief
With a gut-wrenching wail that rippled from her body, Amber Walcker joined about a dozen screaming people in West Seattle who let their frustrations float away over the Puget Sound. It was just the start. The two group screams that followed, each one longer and more intense, released the pain from Walcker’s recent job loss. Her added stress from raising two young children dissolved as it blended with the sound of lapping water, and a deep sense of calm descended upon her. (Stumm, 3/17)
Medical Xpress:
A New Digital Imagery Program Can Help Students Reduce Anxiety Levels
The way it works is that students identify a specific goal that anxiety usually prevents them from reaching. They then imagine completing the task successfully, using all their senses to make it feel as real as possible. To ensure this becomes a habit, they are encouraged to journal and link their imagery practice to daily cues, such as boiling a kettle or having a coffee. Instead of visiting a therapist, students access a digital program called FIKA (Functional Imagery for Keeping Anxiety low), which uses pre-recorded videos and audio to coach students through their imagery exercises. (Arnold, 3/16)
KFF Health News:
Psychiatrists’ Use Of Biomarkers Could Open A New Window Into Mental Health Diagnoses
Amanda Miller was 30 and pregnant with her second child in Hershey, Pennsylvania, when she developed depression. After she gave birth, her depression worsened. It was joined by a slew of unexplained health problems. Miller, a neuroscientist, said she saw several psychiatrists and got prescriptions for drug after drug. Over two years, she tried four antidepressants and two antipsychotics. None of that helped — until her primary care doctor noticed high levels of an autoimmune marker in her blood. (Ducharme, 3/17)
Stat:
Experimental Brain Implant Lets People Type With Their Mind
A brain implant could help people type — using just their minds. Two people with paralysis were able to type strokes on a virtual keyboard using an implant that decodes attempted finger movement, with one patient typing up to 80% as quickly as an able-bodied person, according to a new study. (Broderick, 3/16)
Stat:
A New Coalition Of Scientists Wants To Tackle Science's 'Reproducibility Crisis'
Even after decades of study, scientists are still divided on what drives diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Why? Turns out, the literature is littered with different hypotheses, some pointing in different directions. How do we decide which ones are worth believing? (Trang, 3/17)
