Computer vision syndrome (CVS), a condition involving eye problems resulting from screen time with digital devices, is significantly associated with both insomnia and migraine — with stress as a central mediating factor, new research suggests. Investigators administered an online questionnaire to more than 700 adults, of whom 71% had CVS. Results showed the presence of … Read more
There is no convincing evidence that low serotonin levels are the primary cause of depression. This is the conclusion of an “exhaustive” review by UK investigators, which upends the widely held belief that depression is the result of lower levels, or reduced activity, of the chemical. Researchers say the results call antidepressant use into question. … Read more
Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) can provide relief from comorbid, persistent posttraumatic headache and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), new research suggests. Results from a randomized clinical trial of almost 200 military veterans showed that, compared with usual care, CBT for headache led to significant improvement in both headache disability and PTSD symptoms. Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) also … Read more
Triptan use during pregnancy does not increase the risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in offspring, new research suggests. Hedvig Nordeng, PhD “The findings should satisfy women who need to take this class of drugs during pregnancy,” study author Hedvig Nordeng, PhD, professor and head of the Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group at the University … Read more
This study was published as a preprint and has not yet been peer reviewed. Key Takeaway Among patients with MOH of longer duration, response to treatment was lower, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and rapid treatment for these headaches. Why This Matters MOH affects 1% to 2% of the general population. It is a … Read more
NEW ORLEANS – A single dose of a synthetic formulation of psilocybin provides rapid improvement in treatment-resistant depression, with benefits sustained for up to 12 weeks, according to results from the largest randomized controlled study of psilocybin to date. Dr Guy Goodwin “This is easily the largest study of a psychedelic drug employing modern randomized … Read more
Advocates and users of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) have received further scientific backing: a retrospective cohort study has provided further evidence that ECT can prevent suicide among severely depressed patients. The patient cohort comprised 27,231 men and 40,096 women who had been treated as inpatients. The average age was 45.1 years (range: 18-103 years), and 4982 … Read more
The use of isotretinoin to treat acne was not associated with an increase in adverse neuropsychiatric outcomes, compared with the use of oral antibiotics, in a large retrospective cohort study published in the British Journal of Dermatology. Although severe neuropsychiatric effects associated with isotretinoin therapy in patients with acne have been reported, “the evidence base…is … Read more
Editor’s note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center. Investigators have found biochemical evidence of brain injury in patients hospitalized with acute COVID-19 and in those with long COVID. Combined blood biomarker evidence of neuronal damage activation of glial cells, indicating brain inflammation, correlated with symptoms of anxiety in long … Read more