Military May Be Turning to Meditation for PTSD
With its emphasis on developing tranquility, meditation may seem an odd fit for the military. But recent studies have shown that mindfulness meditation is extremely effective in lowering symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and increasing focus.
Meditation seems to produce its effects though a variety of mechanisms, according to the researchers. They found that mindfulness increases levels of insulin-like growth factor 1, a hormone that repairs cellular damage caused by stress. It also lowers levels of cortisol and neuropeptide Y, stress-related chemicals that, over time, can damage tissues. PsychCentral
Military and mindfulness meditation in PubMed.
Military and mindfulness meditation in Google Scholar.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Friday, March 1, 2013
Long-lasting anxiolytic effect of psilocybin
Single treatments that have lasting effects: some thoughts on the antidepressant effects of ketamine and botulinum toxin and the anxiolytic effect of psilocybin.
Recent clinical trials suggest that 3 single biological treatments have effects that persist. Based on research showing that the muscles involved in facial expressions can feed back to influence mood, a single trial diminishing glabella frown lines with botulinum toxin demonstrated a significant antidepressant effect for 16 weeks. Based primarily on research with animal models of depression suggesting that glutamate may be involved in depression, the N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist ketamine has been tested in several trials. A single dose decreased depression for up to a week. The reported effects of the use of mushrooms containing psilocybin by a number of cultures around the world has stimulated several trials showing beneficial effects of a single dose of psilocybin for over a year in healthy people, and for up to 3 months in patients with anxiety disorders who have advanced cancer. This article discusses these studies, their rationale, their possible mechanisms of action, the future clinical research required to establish these therapies and the basic research required to optimize single treatments that have lasting effects.
Young SN. J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2013 Mar;38(2):78-83.
PMID: 23171696
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Cited by (Google Scholar)
Recent clinical trials suggest that 3 single biological treatments have effects that persist. Based on research showing that the muscles involved in facial expressions can feed back to influence mood, a single trial diminishing glabella frown lines with botulinum toxin demonstrated a significant antidepressant effect for 16 weeks. Based primarily on research with animal models of depression suggesting that glutamate may be involved in depression, the N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist ketamine has been tested in several trials. A single dose decreased depression for up to a week. The reported effects of the use of mushrooms containing psilocybin by a number of cultures around the world has stimulated several trials showing beneficial effects of a single dose of psilocybin for over a year in healthy people, and for up to 3 months in patients with anxiety disorders who have advanced cancer. This article discusses these studies, their rationale, their possible mechanisms of action, the future clinical research required to establish these therapies and the basic research required to optimize single treatments that have lasting effects.
Young SN. J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2013 Mar;38(2):78-83.
PMID: 23171696
Cited by (Google Scholar)
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