Psychology · Clinical Psychology
A study in mice found that a peptide targeting the memory-related protein CPEB3 reduced the persistence of traumatic memories and anhedonia, a loss of pleasure. The findings are an early genetic preclinical test of a possible approach for PTSD, not evidence of a treatment in people.
A living systematic review of six randomized trials involving 286 people found that MDMA-assisted therapy produced greater short-term reductions in PTSD symptoms than control conditions. The researchers rated the overall certainty of the evidence as low because standard bias assessments may miss problems such as expectancy and functional unblinding.
Interactive engagement with trauma-related online content was associated with more depressive, anxiety and posttraumatic stress symptoms after a community trauma. Passive viewing of graphic material was not associated with higher distress and was linked to lower symptom prevalence.
A study of male active-duty service members found that higher levels of natural antibodies targeting a brain receptor were associated with fewer depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms after traumatic brain injury. The antibodies were not associated with lower anxiety symptoms, and the findings do not show that they prevent psychiatric symptoms.
A qualitative study of 28 parents in Türkiye found that children with autism and intellectual disability experienced anxiety, sleep problems and behavioral regression after the February 2023 earthquakes. Parents linked the distress not only to the shaking itself, but also to shelters and response systems that did not meet their children’s needs.
A narrative review in Discover Public Health examines how crisis media exposure affects older adults’ thinking, emotions, and disaster preparedness. The authors report that trusted, step-by-step information can support planning, while repeated graphic coverage and misinformation can increase stress and promote more viewing despite distress.
A new report in European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry describes how webinar training helped build child mental-health skills during the war in Ukraine. The ESCAP-Ukraine initiative reached 10,489 unique participants across the country, including frontline areas, and supported broader efforts to integrate child psychiatry into care and community services.
