Coverage of department activities and its faculty in the general media.

2023

November

Wisconsin lawmakers introduce bipartisan psilocybin research bill - Forbes
Studies conducted by Johns Hopkins and other researchers have shown that psilocybin has the potential to be an effective treatment for several serious mental health conditions, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety and substance misuse disorders.

Why it’s important to monitor your blood pressure when you take meds for ADHD (study) - Everyday Health
The risks found [in the study] are informative, but shouldn’t be overblown or scare patients into not taking their ADHD medications as directed, says David Goodman, MD, an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore. “The message here is that patients and prescribers need to be aware of the risk so that it can be monitored and managed,” says Dr. Goodman, who was not involved in the study.

Gul Dolen wants to harness psychedelics for healing - Vox
You may have heard that psychedelics can help treat depression and PTSD. They’ve shown promise, but if neuroscientist Gul Dolen is correct, they can do a whole lot more than that. They might just be the master key that unlocks a whole array of other conditions, from stroke and autism to deafness and blindness. Together with her colleagues at Johns Hopkins University, Dolen has shown in groundbreaking research published this year that all psychedelics have something special in common: the ability to reopen the “critical period” for social reward learning.

ADHD meds linked to increased heart disease risk - Newsmax
Dr. David Goodman, a leading expert on ADHD and related disorders, says that the increased risk of cardiovascular disease is “relatively insignificant in ordinary healthy adults.” Goodman, an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, adds: “You need to measure the benefit of the treatment against the relatively small risks, and patients will say the benefits are tremendous and I wouldn’t want to give them up.”

'Magic mushroom' drug eased depression in study by Fitchburg institute - Wisconsin State Journal
Promega CEO Bill Linton co-founded nonprofit Usona in 2014 after a friend with late-stage cancer found relief from depression after taking psilocybin in a study at Johns Hopkins University.

People taking ADHD medications should closely monitor their heart health, study suggests - CNN
“When we get into clinical practice, these changes are relatively insignificant in ordinarily healthy adults,” said Dr. David Goodman, an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. “You need to measure the benefit of the treatment against the relatively small risks, and patients will say benefits are tremendous and I wouldn’t want to give this up.”

Loosening restrictions on marijuana may not be boon for reform - Washington Post
“[Some federal restrictions on marijuana research are] incredibly excessive and totally unnecessary,” said Ryan Vandrey, a cannabis researcher at Johns Hopkins Medicine. “I can run an entire study with an amount of cannabis that’s less than $100 in street value and bought by an adult in the state of Maryland at any of the different dispensaries.”

The majority of US gun deaths are suicides. Here’s how to prevent them - The Guardian (U.K.)
Experts say stigma and misinformation are still getting in the way of preventing more of these deaths. Paul Nestadt, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University, spoke to the Guardian about the country’s rising number of suicides, the role of guns and mental health – and what works to save lives.

As Americans accept marijuana, use of LSD and other psychedelic drugs as medicine could also grow - Plain Dealer (Cleveland)
A growing number of researchers at the Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, the University of California and beyond think psychedelic drugs could be a potential game changer for psychiatry.

For some, psilocybin may truly be ‘magic mushrooms’ - The Republic (Columbus, Ind.)
A study by Johns Hopkins School of Medicine published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology is representative of studies demonstrating psilocybin’s durable efficacy for treatment-resistant depression.

Psychedelics have ‘potential to be transformative’ in saving health care system millions - Healio
“[Psychedelics] are illegal drugs, but they are regulated,” Sandeep Nayak, MD, assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, noted. “If you have a legitimate scientific reason to investigate, you get approvals from various governmental bodies ... then you can actually study illegal drugs, legally.”

Maryland man’s death linked to kratom; herbal substance center of heated debate (video) - WMAR-TV
“[Kratom] is absolutely not approved as a drug by the FDA, nor is it approved as a dietary supplement. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration considers kratom to be an unregulated, new dietary ingredient, and they have warned consumers not to take it,” said Kirsten Smith, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Smith has been studying kratom since 2017.

Are psychedelics the future of eating disorder treatment? - Smithsonian magazine
[A]s mental health concerns and opioid misuse have grown in recent years, scientists have taken a renewed interest in the drugs. In 2000, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine became the first to receive regulatory approval to restart psychedelics research in the U.S., and they’ve since found that psilocybin can help longtime smokers quit, reduce cancer-related anxiety and ease major depression.

This is the worst week for seasonal affective disorder — how to survive - New York Post
Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that the body produces more melatonin when days are shorter and darker. The sleep-related hormone has been linked to SAD.... Johns Hopkins stated that late fall is typically when most SAD symptoms emerge.... Hopkins recommends spending time in the sunlight, either outside or near a window

Bruce Willis’ wife finding new hope and joy in the ‘small things’ - CNN
According to Johns Hopkins, “Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a common cause of dementia, is a group of disorders that occur when nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain are lost. This causes the lobes to shrink. FTD can affect behavior, personality, language, and movement.”

Massachusetts governor unveils veterans psychedelics research bill - High Times
Research has shown that psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy can have a positive effect on many mental health conditions commonly experienced by the nation’s military veterans. Studies conducted by Johns Hopkins and other researchers have shown that psilocybin has the potential to be an effective treatment for several serious mental health conditions, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety and substance misuse disorders.

Quebec therapists conduct first legal psilocybin group therapy session - Forbes
Studies conducted by Johns Hopkins and other researchers have shown that psilocybin has the potential to be an effective treatment for several serious mental health conditions, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety and substance misuse disorders.

Adolescent brains exposed to THC are at higher risk of psychiatric disorders - ZME Science
“Recreational and medical marijuana use is rapidly expanding in the United States and abroad, and teens are especially vulnerable to long-term negative effects of THC,” says Atsushi Kamiya, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “We know THC is psychoactive, and its concentration in marijuana plants has increased four times in the last 20 years, posing a particular danger for adolescents who are genetically predisposed to psychoactive disorders including schizophrenia.”

Funding for research on psychedelics is on the rise, along with scientists' hopes for using them - Scientific American
As interest and support for psychedelic research grows, scientists share their hopes for the future. [Johns Hopkins neuroscientist] Gül Dölen: I remember when I first applied to the NIH, my program officer was like, “No, nobody will ever give psychedelics as a therapy. You’re barking up the wrong tree. You should be studying why these things are bad for the brain.” ... I didn’t get the grant, and I didn’t get many, many, many other ones after that.... There’s definitely been a sea change in terms of the attitudes toward funding psychedelics.

Who will care for older adults? We’ve plenty of know-how but too few specialists - KFF News
New dementia care models. This summer, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced plans to test a new model of care for people with dementia. It builds on programs developed over the past several decades by geriatricians at UCLA, Indiana University, Johns Hopkins University, and UCSF.

Alaska pilot speaks from jail: I thought ‘I would wake up’ after trying to shut off engines mid-flight, he tells the NYT - CNN
Johns Hopkins professor Matt Johnson, who studies psychedelics among other drugs, told CNN last month it is unlikely psilocybin would have remained in the pilot’s system 48 hours after he took the drug sometimes referred to as “magic mushrooms.” Psilocybin’s lingering effects, sleep deprivation and existing depression could’ve created “a perfect storm,” Johnson said, in which [Joseph] Emerson was experiencing behavioral changes or derealization,

First-Ever Congressional hearing on psychedelic-assisted mental health care for veterans will be held Tuesday - Marijuana Moment
[Those] set to speak next week include three Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) officials, a veteran who participated in a clinical trial of MDMA that successfully treated his PTSD ... a psychology professor at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research and the co-director of the RAND Corporation’s RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute.

‘Diet weed’: What it is, and why experts say it can be dangerous - Fox 59 (Indianapolis) via Nexstar
Should we be wary of “diet weed”? Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-8-THC) is one of many cannabinoids found in the cannabis sativa plant, though it isn’t naturally produced at the same rate or potency as Delta-9-THC, the compound largely responsible for marijuana’s psychoactive effects. “Chemically, they’re almost identical. But that one little difference in that chemical structure results in a different way that it interacts with your body … with your [cannabinoid] receptors,” explains Ryan Vandrey, Ph.D., a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine who specializes in the behavior pharmacology of cannabis.

Some older adults are taking CBD oil for joint pain — but does it work? - AARP
Like with anything, “no one thing works for everybody all the time,” says Ryan Vandrey, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition, with CBD products sometimes being sold using unsubstantiated claims, “it’s a little bit of a trial-and-error type of scenario in the current retail market.”

Do you need to 'trip' for psychedelics to work as medicine? (audio) - Scientific American
Gül Dölen, a neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University, says she hates the term psychoplastogen because of what she says it wrongly implies about how psychedelics work. Gül Dölen: It suggests that what psychedelics are doing is just inducing plasticity and ... that’s their therapeutic action. And the fact is, is that there are drugs like that—psychoactive plastogens — and all of the ones that we know that do that are addictive drugs like cocaine, heroin, amphetamine, alcohol, nicotine. These are all robust inducers of plasticity.

This psychedelics researcher approached his death with calm and curiosity – NPR
A [Johns Hopkins] scientist named Roland Griffiths … and I talked back in April as one of the first conversations in this series. Griffiths had spent the later stage of his career exploring the ways that psychedelic drugs, specifically psilocybin, could help patients with depression, addiction issues and even terminal cancer. Then two years ago, he himself was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. The doctor was now the patient, and Griffiths was facing his own mortality.

Who is using AI chatbot therapists? Here's what to know - NBC New York
[D]espite its possible ability to increase bandwidth for care, therapists acknowledge mental health care can still be unaffordable and inaccessible for many, according to Dr. Paul Nestadt, an associate professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. This reality is leading some people to invest in an oftentimes free or very inexpensive tool that is available on their phone: AI chatbot therapy apps.

Should anorexia ever be called ‘terminal’? - Washington Post
Angela S. Guarda, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, concurred [that health-care providers have not come up with a unified definition of recovery or agreed on what the criteria for recovery are]. “Anorexia is a very unusual disorder because it’s so tied up with identity,” she said. “A lot of times it’s really hard to imagine life without the disorder. When you’re in the depths of it, it’s just so difficult to imagine that things can get better.

October

Do you actually need 8 hours of sleep every night? - Today
Among adults, the distribution of sleep needs will look like a bell-shaped curve, with the vast majority of people falling somewhere between seven to nine hours, says [Dr. Molly Atwood, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine]. However, there are people on either side of the median and total outliers. “It really does depend on the person," says Atwood.

If we care about veterans, we will decriminalize psychedelics (opinion) - Gazette Journal (Reno, Nev.)
I wasn’t near cutting-edge clinical trials. I didn’t know how to connect to underground psychedelic therapy or ancestral ceremonies.... So, paired with years of experience and skills from therapy, I tried an experiment. What if I treated psychedelics as a medicine and followed similar procedures used in the psychedelic research coming out of Johns Hopkins? I enrolled in an online ketamine therapy program to get me started in the right direction.

I took part in a ketamine clinic hoping it would ease my 'treatment-resistant' depression - ABC (Australia)
Sometimes [the experience] was more abstract, planes of pitch black and vivid colour. I could ride the music — a Johns Hopkins University-created playlist for psychedelic treatment — like a rollercoaster. The chorale music especially (embarrassingly, for a devout atheist) felt like a portal to a brilliant-white divinity where I could see the face of God.

Off-duty pilot accused of trying to shut off airliner’s engines mid-flight said he took ‘magic mushrooms’ 48 hours before the incident, court documents say - CNN
It’s highly unlikely that psilocybin – sometimes called “magic mushrooms” – would still be in the pilot’s system 48 hours after use, but it’s possible he could have been feeling the lingering effects of the drug, said Matt Johnson, a Johns Hopkins professor who studies psychedelics and other drugs. Johnson likened mushroom use to drinking alcohol – while a person is no longer drunk the day after drinking, the hangover caused by alcohol could impair their behavior or ability to function.

What do magic mushrooms do to your brain? A midflight crisis raises questions. - Washington Post
“Even two of the same type of mushrooms grown next to each other can have wildly different amounts of psilocybin,” said Fred Barrett, center director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. “Nobody should be seeking out mushrooms to treat themselves.”

Teen girls lead the way in ER psych visits, CDC report finds - Washington Times
“Girls are more likely to disclose suicidal thinking than boys, and more likely to attempt suicide in adolescence, even though boys are more likely to die by suicide because they choose more violent methods,” Dr. John V. Campo, director of child and adolescent psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, told The Times. While anxiety and depression are “equally prevalent” in boys and girls before puberty, they become more common in girls during adolescence, he added.

Eureka, CA decriminalizes psychedelic plant medicines - High Times
[O]ne of recently deceased Johns Hopkins professor Roland Griffiths’ first studies on psilocybin in 2006 was on psilocybin’s ability to induce mystical and spiritual experiences in the user. Much of Griffiths’ later work at Johns Hopkins has been referenced in similar legislative discussions surrounding the legality of psychedelics.

Pilot who disrupted flight said he had taken psychedelic mushrooms, complaint says - New York Times
An off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot who tried to shut off the engines during a flight on Sunday told investigators that he had been sleepless and dehydrated since he consumed psychedelic mushrooms about 48 hours before boarding.... Bob Jesse, an adviser to the U.C. Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics and the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research, said that psilocybin would be long gone from the body [48 hours after consumption].

Why serious players are dosing psychedelics like mushrooms and ayahuasca - Golf Digest
[R]esearchers at universities such as Johns Hopkins, UCLA, Stanford and Harvard are working on expanding the available scientific literature for psilocybin and psychedelics at large.... [Golf Digest Professional Adviser Dr. Ara] Suppiah says he can’t recommend any amateur golfer use it. “I do think a psychedelic like psilocybin can be used as a therapeutic drug to treat severe depression,” he says. “There’s very strong evidence from Stanford, Harvard and Johns Hopkins to support this. They all show that this is actually better than antidepressants, long-term.”

Does cannabis actually help with sleep? Experts say it isn’t risk-free - Inverse
Ryan Vandrey, a behavioral pharmacologist at Johns Hopkins University, adds that forgoing weed after building a tolerance might also lead to unusually intense, vivid dreams.... What ends up happening is as you develop tolerance to it and use it on a daily basis for an extended period of time,” Vandrey says, “then stopping use can result in withdrawal effects.”

Roland Griffiths, pioneer of Johns Hopkins psilocybin studies dead at 77 - High Times
A Johns Hopkins professor who championed groundbreaking new research into psychedelic substances passed away Monday from colon cancer at the age of 77. Dr. Roland Redmond Griffiths, according to a New York Times obituary, helped usher in a new era of psychedelic research during his time at Johns Hopkins by leading several studies regarding the ways in which psychedelic substances may help combat a myriad of mental health disorders.

‘Olfactory training’ during sleep could help your memory (study) - Scientific American
Previous successful attempts to boost memory with odors typically relied on complicated interventions with multiple exposures a day. If the nighttime treatment proves successful in larger trials, it promises to be a less intrusive way to achieve similar effects, says Vidya Kamath, a neuropsychologist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who was not involved in the recent study.

Congress postpones first-ever hearing on psychedelics and veterans mental health care - Marijuana Moment
Among those set to testify from outside the government was Frederick Barrett, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. In written comments, Barrett said that studies from his institution and others “are building a growing record of information demonstrating both the relative safety and potential efficacy of psychedelic therapies in a wide range of psychiatric indications.”

Roland Griffiths is dead at 77; led a renaissance in psychedelics research - New York Times
Roland Griffiths, a professor of behavioral science and psychiatry whose pioneering work in the study of psychedelics helped usher in a new era of research into those once banned substances — and reintroduced the mystical into scientific discourse about them — died on Monday at his home in Baltimore. He was 77.... Dr. Griffiths, a distinguished psychopharmacologist and professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, spent decades studying the mechanisms of dependence on mood-altering drugs.
Also reported by: Baltimore Banner

Can you survive on 4 hours of sleep? What to know about getting enough nighttime rest - Today
The minimum amount of sleep recommended for adults by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine is seven hours. These recommendations are based on large-scale population studies looking at how much sleep people need, Molly Atwood, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, tells Today.com. "Somewhere between seven to nine hours seems to be the sweet spot, but it really does depend on the person," says Atwood.

After veto by Newsom, psychedelics advocates in San Mateo are staying engaged - San Mateo Daily Journal (California)
[Ketamine is] not the only psychedelic shown to alleviate symptoms for certain conditions. Johns Hopkins School of Medicine has conducted research confirming the potential benefits of substances such as MDMA and psilocybin for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, respectively. 

Bipolar disorder is little researched, but doctors at Johns Hopkins aim to change that - Baltimore Sun
Researchers and clinicians at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, however, hope that [the misdiagnosis of the disease] will soon change. They’re recruiting people with the diagnosis for a longitudinal study, in which researchers will follow participants for at least five years with the aim of better understanding the disease and how to treat it. Hopkins is one of six research institutions around the country that were recruited for the project by BD², a Washington, D.C.-based organization launched last year to bring more resources to studying bipolar disorder.

Can we prevent Alzheimer's? Scientists say new tests and treatments are "a game changer" - Newsweek
Not everybody shares their optimism. Some worry that the field is moving too fast. Madhav Thambisetty, a senior investigator in the NIH's Intramural Research on Aging and a practicing neurologist who treats dementia patients at the Johns Hopkins Memory and Alzheimer's treatment center, says he has urged caution when referring interested patients in the early stages of the disease for trials. He calls the clinical benefits "small to modest," and "marginal at best," but said they are "very exciting" for researchers because it's the first time the field has drugs that can precisely target one of the pathological features of the disease.

God, magic mushrooms, and me - Esquire
In January 2016, Hunt Priest flew to Baltimore, where he met Bill Richards, a psychologist at Johns Hopkins with a small frame, a white beard, and a warm smile.... For three decades, Richards could not pursue his life’s calling until, in 2000, he and his Hopkins colleague Roland Griffiths helped persuade the FDA to allow research on psychedelics to resume. As Priest positioned himself on a sofa, Richards asked, “How do you feel?” 

New study examines management of agitation with Alzheimer's disease - Spectrum News
[Dr. Anton] Porsteinsson and University of Rochester researchers are working with Johns Hopkins to study the potential benefits of Escitalopram, a medication commonly used to treat mood disorders and anxiety, in helping Alzheimer’s patients overcome the agitation that often accompanies the disease.

Raising awareness and reducing stigma about ADHD - Afro
Dr. Aditya Pawar, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore, Md., told the AFRO that ADHD doesn’t present suddenly. Its onset is in early childhood, as early as age 4 but is usually diagnosed sometime between ages 6 and 12…. “In children it presents with a lot of hyperactivity where a kid is doing a lot of jumping and climbing or constantly running as if driven by a motor, often putting them at risk for injury,” said Pawar.

Magic mushroom retreat centers can offer healing — but their lack of regulation can carry risks - Salon
In 2019, the Johns Hopkins Psychedelic Research Unit was created to conduct pivotal research testing in the field, and revitalizing a body of research stretching back to the 1950s showing psychedelics can improve depression, PTSD and heavy drinking.

September

Mushroom Drug May Prove Magical in Treating Depression - Psychology Today
The JAMA study findings, derived from a collaboration among 34 researchers representing 18 institutions, are especially remarkable because they confirm the results of prior investigations of psilocybin, including a year-long study published in early 2022 in the Journal of Psychopharmacology by Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists. The discoveries also are likely to open what an accompanying JAMA editorial suggests is a “novel way of approaching mental health treatment that may benefit many people…Inquiries into the mechanisms of action of psychedelics will open new windows of understanding regarding neuronal plasticity and brain functioning.”

Psychedelics reform is on the agenda in St. Louis this October - Riverfront Times (St. Louis)
A bill that would authorize psilocybin therapy was endorsed by two committees in the House of Representatives and was approved in an initial perfection vote in the House. Another bill sought to clear the way for studies on the efficacy of psilocybin, ketamine and MDMA as alternative therapies. Studies from Johns Hopkins University have shown that consuming psychedelics such as psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in “magic mushrooms,” has relieved depression in adults.

‘Magic’ mushrooms are powerful aids in therapeutic settings. Pa. is part of the fight to decriminalize them. - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“These drugs can produce psychological dependence, and people can and do abuse them,” said Albert Garcia-Romeu, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a guest researcher at the National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Neuroimaging Research Branch, studying psilocybin, in an August webinar on psychedelic drug therapies. That’s why academics stress the crucial role of “set and setting.”

Gisele Bundchen says she hasn't drunk alcohol in 2 years. What are the health benefits of cutting back on drinking? - Yahoo Life
Dr. Sarah Andrews, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, previously told Yahoo Life that abstaining from alcohol for even a month can highlight the benefits of sobriety, which can include "weight loss, more energy and improvement in mood and anxiety."

Possible new treatment for agitation in Alzheimer's patients (video) - WMAR-TV
Dr. Paul Rosenberg and Dr. Constantine Lyketsos say the most important part of [their] study is giving people hope. The Johns Hopkins professors are looking into a possible new treatment for an Alzheimer's symptom that affects 25 to 50 percent of patients.

The firms hoping to take psychedelic drugs mainstream - BBC
Gül Dölen, an associate professor of neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University, studies how psychedelics work. Her research shows they open a window of time - a so called "critical period" - in the brain where it is more sensitive to the environment, and has an enhanced ability to learn and form lasting memories (psilocybin's critical period, for example, lasts two weeks). And the longer the trip, the longer the critical period. The companies trying to shorten trip duration or remove the hallucinogenic component "are probably going to interfere with the therapeutic effect" says Prof Dölen.

MDMA therapy inches closer to approval - New York Times
The diversity of participants [in one new study] is “certainly an improvement over prior studies,” said Albert Garcia-Romeu, a psychopharmacologist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who was not involved in the research. But he added that “it will be critical to see more Black and Indigenous folks enrolled, considering the substantial health disparities these groups face.”

Atypical antipsychotics no safer than haloperidol for post-op delirium: study - Medscape
Esther Oh, MD, PhD, an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in Baltimore, said that caring for patients who experience acute changes in mental status or behaviors during hospitalization can be difficult.... Second-generation antipsychotic medications often are thought to be safer than haloperidol in terms of side effects, Oh said, but the new findings challenge that assumption."

Fewer Howard students are being restrained, but most are Black and in elementary school, official says - Howard County Times via Baltimore Sun
Jeannie-Marie Leoutsakos, an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University affiliated with the Department of Mental Health, said restraint is likely to cause injury to students, and although it may be acceptable in rare cases, more than 100 annual restraint incidents is not acceptable. She urged stakeholders to talk to adults who were restrained as kids. “You can have this happen to you one time in your life,” Leoutsakos said with emotion. “It will stay with you forever.”

Depressed by the war on drugs? Magic mushrooms may help. - Reason magazine
A recently published study reports that, among other uses, psilocybin is a very effective treatment for depression.... By no means is this the first study to explore potential benefits from psychedelic drugs. Johns Hopkins Medicine is looking at psilocybin mushrooms for treating tobacco addiction.

'A lit match': Medical experts worry about domestic-violence, firearms case - National Journal
The threat of suicide is also a concern if a firearm is present in a house with intimate-partner violence, said Paul Nestadt, associate professor and core faculty member of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions. His research was referenced in the AMA’s amicus brief to the Court.
The gun is “a lit match,” Nestadt said. “If it’s in a house that’s basically a powder keg of stress and distress and violence, that gun could be used in any direction, none of which are good.”
Firearms were used in most suicide deaths in 2021. They were involved in 26,328 suicide deaths out of a total of 48,183.

California lawmakers approve psychedelics decriminalization bill - The Hill
Backers of the push to decriminalize psychedelic drugs have drawn attention to the promising mental health benefits offered by certain entheogenic plants and fungi. Preliminary data from The Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research has shown psilocybin therapy can reduce major depressive disorder symptoms for up to a year.

I cured my ARFID with psilocybin. I shouldn’t have needed to self-treat it - Stat
I learned researchers at universities like Johns Hopkins and Yale administer psilocybin-containing mushrooms to help patients cure their anxiety, depression, and eating disorders like anorexia. My eyes widened. My husband and I sat up, looked at each other, and simultaneously said: “ARFID [avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder]?”

A single dose of psilocybin leads to significant improvements in people with major depressive disorder - Everyday Health
There have been recent small studies that suggest that psilocybin improves depression symptoms quickly, and the response continues long after the drug continues to be present in the body. A Johns Hopkins study published in February 2022 in the Journal of Psychopharmacology found that two doses of psilocybin may ease depression symptoms for up to 12 months.

Is California ready to bring psychedelic therapies into the mainstream? - San Francisco Standard
[P]silocybin, found in hallucinogenic mushrooms, is being studied for treating depression. For example, early data from The Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research has shown that psilocybin therapy can reduce major depressive disorder symptoms for up to a year.

What does it mean to awaken? (commentary) - Psychology Today
I scrambled to get more information about the “landscape of awakening” and eventually interviewed the prominent researcher of psychedelics, Roland Griffiths, Ph.D., who talked with me about his ongoing work at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelics and Consciousness Research.

Nevada needs to join the psychedelic renaissance - Nevada Independent
Even beyond political circles, the legitimacy of psychedelic research is at a level that would have been unimaginable in decades past. Even Johns Hopkins Medicine has an entire center dedicated to looking at the way psilocybin can be used to help treat everything from addiction to severe depression. The center even goes beyond mere treatment research and looks at ways to “expand research in healthy volunteers with the ultimate aspiration of opening new ways to support human thriving.”

I used to run a police narcotics unit. Here’s why California should decriminalize psychedelics (opinion) - San Francisco Chronicle
In recent years, after decades of stagnation, researchers at leading universities like Johns Hopkins, New York University and UCLA have been reopening research into psychedelics as a way to help people experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction, severe depression and anxiety. These recent studies are finding remarkable results. 

August

Psychedelics have 3 paths to going mainstream in California. Here’s what you need to know - CalMatters

[P]silocybin, found in hallucinogenic mushrooms, is being studied for treating depression. For example, early data from The Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, has shown that psilocybin therapy can reduce major depressive disorder symptoms for up to a year.

Psychedelic therapies could be transformative for California’s ailing first responders (commentary) - CalMatters (California)
Renowned institutions like Johns Hopkins University, NYU and UCLA are producing high quality, peer-reviewed research demonstrating that these medicines [psychedelics like psilocybin] hold potential to effectively treat major depression, addiction, severe anxiety and other conditions.

Poor sleep and chronic pain prove pesky bedfellows - Medscape
Michael Smith, PhD, is examining the sleep-pain connection from a different angle. Smith, the director of the Behavioral Medicine Research Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, [and his team are] conducting a study known as Sleep-MOR that aims to reveal how different types of sleep disturbances influence pain and a person's response to opioids.

Ex-NHL player Kyle Quincey is building a psychedelic retreat center in Colorado for athletes, military - Denver Post
Dr. Albert Garcia-Romeu, a researcher and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said psilocybin is being studied in neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease, but that those studies aim to measure its impact on depression and quality of life associated with the disease.... The substance’s effect on TBI [traumatic brain injury] has not yet systematically been studied, Garcia-Romeu added.

Psychedelics are hot on the Hill - Politico
“The data look really promising in terms of treating depression, treating PTSD, treating addictions, and also for palliative care settings,” Albert Garcia-Romeu, a psychopharmacology researcher at Johns Hopkins University, said.

MDMA is one of the safer illegal drugs. But there are risks. - New York Times
Deaths related to MDMA do happen, although they are far rarer than those caused by a number of other legal and illegal drugs, such as alcohol or cocaine, said Matthew Johnson, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

6 reasons why a psilocybin wellness retreat may be right for you - Black Enterprise
As mentioned before, if you’re going to do a psilocybin therapy session, you should do it right. Get with the right professionals, shamans, and teams who work together to guide you on a safe and healthy magic mushroom trip. Johns Hopkins Medicine has conducted research about the importance of consuming psilocybin in regulated spaces facilitated by a medical team over a series of guided sessions.

How to ease kids “back to school” anxiety - KISS radio (Charlotte, N.C.)
“Parents or caregivers may notice their children exhibiting some nervousness about new routines, schoolwork or social interactions,” explains Johns Hopkins Children’s Center psychologist Erika Chiappini, who specializes in childhood anxiety. “Some of this is a normal part of back-to-school jitters that gradually diminish over a few weeks.”

'Magic Mushroom' drug psilocybin shows early promise in easing migraines - HealthDay
[R]ecent years have seen a new interest in the drug as medical therapy. Researchers at institutions such as Johns Hopkins University, New York University and the University of California are studying psilocybin as a treatment for conditions like depression, addiction and eating disorders. While most of the research is focused on psychiatric conditions, psilocybin has also shown hints of promise against cluster headaches and migraines.

Can the military sleep method really help you fall asleep in two minutes?- Health Digest
It's the relaxation factor that's critical to an improved night's sleep. Dr. Luis F. Buenaver, a sleep expert at Johns Hopkins University, explains that performing a calming activity is key because it helps "... by reducing the release of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline and by slowing your heart rate and breathing."

The light and dark side of melatonin - Next Avenue
"Unfortunately, there has been insufficient research to confirm the long-term safety of melatonin," says David Neubauer, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Melatonin supplementation has increased since the beginning of the pandemic when insomnia cases exploded. "While there had been a steady rise in melatonin use from about 2010 to 2019, in 2020, there was a huge sales increase of 42% over the previous year," reports Neubauer.

We’re on the cusp of another psychedelic era. But this time Washington is along for the ride - Politico
“The data look really promising in terms of treating depression, treating PTSD, treating addictions, and also for palliative care settings,” Albert Garcia-Romeu, a psychopharmacology researcher at Johns Hopkins University … said of the psychedelic research landscape. There’s already a large body of smaller studies with encouraging results, he explained, and now bigger studies are building on them.

Antipsychotic drugs can help with Alzheimer’s. But are they worth the risks? -Baltimore Banner
Geriatric doctors such as Frederick Nucifora, who is also an associate professor of adult psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, say the risks of the drugs are serious, as is the risk of overuse, but they are still needed in many cases. “It varies, but up to 50% or more of patients with Alzheimer’s disease will also have psychosis,” Nucifora said.

Psychedelic therapy for stressed workers reportedly gains traction at firms - New York Post
A series of studies from Johns Hopkins University’s psychedelics research unit found that magic mushroom-assisted therapy can reduce depression symptoms for up to a year and be effective for individuals for whom other treatments haven’t worked.

What role can psychedelics play in mental health? (audio) - Minnesota Public Radio
MPR News host Angela Davis talks with guests who have studied the use of psychedelics. [Guests include Nayak Sandeep, an assistant professor and a medical doctor. He works at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelics & Consciousness Research.]

The ‘silent’ symptom of depression you might notice while making dinner (study) - The U.S. Sun
Hyposmia, or a reduced sense of smell, has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia in the past. Researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine, US, have now discovered that poor olfaction is a sign of depression in older adults. They found the worse a person’s sense of smell gets, the worse their mental health is. Lead author and psychiatry professor Vidya Kamath said: "Smell is an important way to engage with the world around us, and this study shows it may be a warning sign for late-life depression."

Why do our minds race when we’re trying to sleep? - Los Angeles Times
“Poor sleep may create difficulties regulating emotions that, in turn, may leave you more vulnerable to depression in the future — months or even years from now,” according to Johns Hopkins sleep researcher Patrick H. Finan. “And depression itself is associated with sleep difficulties such as shortening the amount of restorative slow-wave sleep a person gets each night.”

Health care providers learn to guide dying patients through a psychedelic trip - CBC (Canada)
A Johns Hopkins University study published last year found two treatments of psilocybin, when paired with psychotherapy, can produce "substantial antidepressant effects" in patients with major depressive disorder for more than a year.

Take two shrooms and call me in the morning - Investing Daily
Research on magic mushrooms is accelerating. Notably, Johns Hopkins Psychedelic Research Center is studying the possible beneficial effects of psilocybin on Alzheimer’s patients.

Psilocybin may help some who battle anorexia - HealthDay
[R]ecent years have seen a growing interest in psilocybin as therapy. In the United States, researchers at institutions like New York University, the University of California and Johns Hopkins University are studying psilocybin-assisted therapy for psychiatric conditions like major depression and addiction.

July

Can psychedelic therapy fulfill its big promise? - Washingtonian
In 2000, after 30 years of prohibition, the federal government changed course, allowing scientists at Johns Hopkins to study the psychological effects of psilocybin in healthy volunteers. Two-thirds of participants who received the full dose rated the experience among the most spiritually significant of their lives. In the months after, subjects reported deep and enduring changes in their mood, attitude, and behavior.

iPhones have a built-in white noise feature, and I can't believe I'm just now learning about it - Buzzfeed
What do these white noise devices actually do? “The key feature of the sound devices is the constant sound in contrast to changing sounds like with music, radio, and television,” said Dr. David Neubauer, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Our brains pay attention to changing sound, but a comfortable constant sound can help lull us to sleep.”

This is why you randomly wake up at 4 a.m. (and how to fall back asleep fast) https://fortune.com/well/2023/07/30/how-to-fall-back-asleep/- Fortune
Leave the room. If all fails after 20 minutes, go to another room to read or listen to soft music. Whatever you do, just make sure it’s in another room. “[Staying awake in your bed] will lead your brain and body to associate your bed with wakefulness instead of with sleep,” Johns Hopkins sleep expert Luis F. Buenaver, Ph.D. said in a blog post. “It can be difficult leaving a warm, comfortable bed after waking up in the middle of the night. But think of this step as an investment in better sleep — if not tonight then tomorrow night and in the future.”

Growing share of teen girls visited ER for mental crises during pandemic (study) - Washington Times
According to some mental health providers not involved in the study, the findings confirm what they’ve seen in their hospitals and offices over the past three years. “The kids are very, very sick, and they’re not getting better as quickly as they used to,” said Dr. John V. Campo, director of child and adolescent psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. “I can’t tell you why. I don’t know why.” The nation’s emergency rooms were not equipped to deal with emotional breakdowns and are now overwhelmed by the surge in children on suicide watch, he added.

Psychedelic therapy may be coming to a VR headset near you - Inverse
“We don’t really know how the brain and the mind work … and then people want to ask how psychedelics do what they do,” Albert Garcia-Romeu, a research psychologist who also works at Johns Hopkins, tells Inverse. Frederick Barrett, a cognitive neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University, points to limitations in brain imaging studies; for example, researchers don’t always carefully control [study] participants’ behavior for consistency.

Most older adults don't know you can test for Alzheimer's disease (poll) - Health
The fact that so many [in the poll] had even heard about the test was surprising, said Esther Oh, MD, PhD, co-director of the Johns Hopkins Memory and Alzheimer’s Treatment Center, who was not involved in the research.... “I was shocked to see that 20% of people even knew about any kind of blood test because it’s fairly new,” said Oh.

Psychedelics might revolutionize therapy. What happens if you remove the trip? - Vox
“I just find it very implausible that you’ll see full and enduring benefits from psychedelics without the acute subjective effects [or: the trip],” David Yaden, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins who works in the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, told me earlier this year. In a 2021 paper, Yaden and his colleague Roland Griffiths contend that to get the full beneficial effects of psychedelics, the trip is necessary.

Psychedelic toads invade Arizona after monsoon season kicks in - High Times
Toad venom is scraped from the glands on the animals and dried into a paste, which is later smoked. “The experience is going to start within 10 to 30 seconds and then you’re going to be physically incapacitated for 20 to 30 minutes,” Alan Davis, a Johns Hopkins psychedelics researcher, previously explained in Johns Hopkins Magazine.

The new promise of psychedelics - Wall Street Journal
A new study in the journal Nature by the neuroscientist Gul Dolen at Johns Hopkins and colleagues tackles this question [just how do psychedelics achieve therapeutic effects?]. What psychedelics have in common, the study finds, is that they return the relatively rigid, developed adult brain to a more flexible, open state, more like the childhood brain. This may be key to their positive effects.

With new therapies that promise to slow Alzheimer’s disease, researchers race to reform how patients are diagnosed - CNN
While some of these blood tests are available to doctors now through specialized labs that analyze them, none of them has yet received FDA approval, though Dr. Constantine Lyketsos, director of the Memory and Alzheimer’s Treatment Center at Johns Hopkins, expects some will clear that hurdle within the next year.

Drug dealers openly sell mushrooms in Washington Square Park - New York Post
Albert Garcia-Romeu, a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine studying the effects of psilocybin, warned that taking shrooms randomly bought on the street is much different from ingesting the measured doses given out in research trials’ controlled settings — and could lead to serious health and safety issues. “When you’re taking the drugs in an uncontrolled setting, it’s like drinking too much and being out in a foreign city,” he said. “People can take advantage of you, you can get in an accident.”

How Psychedelics Can Heal a Broken Mind - WebMD
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University were investigating the drugs’ effects on “critical periods” for social learning, times when the brain is more open to new information that diminish as we age. Success in mice suggests that psychedelics can start a fresh period of learning.

Here’s what psychedelics are, how they work, and why you need to know about them - The Denver Post
Studies by Johns Hopkins University found psilocybin, specifically, can decrease end-of-life anxiety among cancer patients, help longtime smoker kick a nicotine addiction, and reduce depression symptoms.

I’m giving $100 million to psychedelics research (editorial) - Newsweek
Such private philanthropy has been crucial to enabling the clinical studies that have finally convinced the federal government to respond, albeit slowly. In 2021, the National Institutes of Health granted the first federal funding for psychedelics research in 50 years, when it awarded $4 million to Johns Hopkins to study how psilocybin affects tobacco addiction.

Newly approved Alzheimer’s drug may not work as well on women - Axios
Since patient gender were not a primary consideration and it’s possible that the patients were not comparable enough, “you really can’t draw conclusions from that difference,” said Constantine Lyketsos, an Alzheimer’s researcher at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Shortage of drugs to treat ADHD continues as studies indicate increase in prescriptions - Maryland Matters
By the fall of 2022, people started noticing a shortage in Adderall, one of the most-known medications to treat ADHD symptoms, according to Dr. David W. Goodman, assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

As psychiatrists, do we offer hope or do we offer death? (editorial) - Medscape
This commentary and opinion piece was written for Medscape by Dinah Miller, MD, who is an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Psychedelic research: experts react to FDA draft guidance - MedPage Today
Sandeep Nayak, MD, a psychiatrist and an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, told MedPage Today that he also found the credential and monitoring recommendation to be too broad and needlessly cumbersome."I think that's completely appropriate for psychedelic trials for psychiatric indications," Nayak said. "However, that's not the only use case of psychedelics. ... So I think it kind of takes what is very appropriate for psychiatric research, but sort of overextends the model for every possible research case of psychedelics."

FDA grants Eisai’s Leqembi full approval, opening door to wider use of Alzheimer’s drug - Healthcare Dive
Some [doctor] see [Leqembia] as the most effective option yet for slowing a devastating disease, while others believe it offers marginal benefits at best. According to Constantine Lyketsos, director of the Memory and Alzheimer’s Treatment Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine, Leqembi is “doing better than the placebo, but not much better.”

Hopkins child psychiatrist talks mental health following mass shootings (video) - WMAR-TV
"Those adverse childhood experiences can have an impact in the long-term," said Dr. Carol Vidal, a child psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins. Vidal tells WMAR children who go through trauma early in life can develop physical problems, too. "People who tend to have more adverse childhood experiences have more trouble with cardiovascular disorders, cancer diagnoses and even a shorter lifespan," said Vidal.

Depression after a brain injury is a distinct condition, study finds. That could change how it's treated. - NBC News
The findings are a step forward in understanding how depression can be treated differently in people with traumatic brain injury, or TBI, who often do not respond to psychotherapy and medication.... “This depression is being driven by something different in the brain,” said Dr. Matthew Peters, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, who was not involved with the new research.

You may have adult ADHD, but not because TikTok says so - Wall Street Journal
“This is not a disorder that develops at age 25, 37 or 42,” says Dr. David Goodman, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “It’s a neurodevelopmental disorder that starts in childhood and symptoms continue into adulthood.”

As psychedelics near approval, there’s no consensus on how they work - Stat
“There’s an awful lot of uncertainty,” said Fred Barrett, cognitive neuroscientist and director of Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. “Part of that uncertainty comes from the very small amount of data that exists.” The research to tease out the mechanisms of psychedelics is based on animals or studies of humans with small sample sizes, meaning there’s no definitive evidence yet.

As seniors' sense of smell declines, their risk for depression rises (study) - HealthDay
“We’ve seen repeatedly that a poor sense of smell can be an early warning sign of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, as well as a mortality risk. This study underscores its association with depressive symptoms,” said Vidya Kamath, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

June

What is bipolar anger? - Psycom
According to Dean Frederick MacKinnon, M.D., associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, “People who are actively in the mixed state of bipolar illness have the propensity to develop a rapid response to elevated levels of frustration. Their reaction and range of emotion is incongruous [out of proportion] with the actual level of the stressor...."

Study: ADHD Treatment Less Likely for College Students Using Campus Clinics - ADDitude
“Our work cannot differentiate between these possibilities,” [James] Aluri [from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine] told ADDitude. “However, I am concerned — based on talking to other clinicians and reviewing college ADHD policies across the country — that many campus-based clinics are overly strict with access to assessment and treatment for ADHD. Our study’s findings are consistent with this hypothesis but do not confirm it. The strictness is understandable; resources are limited, and colleges want to avoid contributing to stimulant misuse. But it also means that students with ADHD have limited access to treatment.”

“If college students are not receiving ADHD treatment, their academic and social performance is compromised. We know that students with ADHD who are not treated tend to drop out of college or take longer to complete their coursework — and this compromises their ability to move forward in life at the same pace as their peers,” [David] Goodman of [Johns Hopkins School of Medicine] told ADDitude.

ADHD Drug Shortages Spread to Adderall Alternative Vyvanse - Bloomberg News
David W. Goodman, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a psychiatrist in the Baltimore area, said that he has been prescribing Vyvanse for patients who can’t fill their Adderall prescriptions. It’s relatively easy to switch from Adderall to Vyvanse, he said, because both are amphetamine-based drugs. “That was a common clinical practice for me and my colleagues,” he said. Goodman wasn’t aware of any supply issues. “If that’s something that’s developed recently, we’ve got a new challenge,” he said.

Suicide among some youths higher in states with legalized marijuana - Healio
Using data from the 2000-2019 National Vital Statistics System Multiple Cause of Death files for those aged 12 to 13 years, 14 to 16 years, 17 to 19 years, 20 to 22 years, and 23 to 25 years, Christopher J. Hammond, MD, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, and colleagues analyzed suicide deaths in relation to cannabis law status to determine associations between medical marijuana legalization, recreational marijuana legalization and suicide rates.

Postpartum: The perfect storm - Baltimore's Child
“Postpartum depression is the most common complication of childbirth, and it has long-lasting repercussions for the mother and children,” [Jennifer L.] Payne says. At Johns Hopkins, Payne helped establish the Women’s Mood Disorder Center to study hormone-triggered mood disorders and their impact. Her expertise includes women’s mood disorders, PPD, premenstrual dysphoric disorders and perimenopausal depression.

A growing list of states are opening up to psychedelics - Westword (Denver)
In 2022, researchers at Johns Hopkins University determined that psilocybin could serve as a "substantial antidepressant" for up to a year for some patients when paired with supportive therapy.

Why are care delivery models for people with dementia developing so slowly? - Forbes
Johns Hopkins University created its version [of a care-delivery model], called Maximizing Independence at Home (MIND at Home), where a care team conducts in-home assessments and helps participants build care plans. Using a team including a non-clinical navigator, a nurse, an occupational therapist and a geriatric psychiatrist, it provides education and counseling, referrals to community resources, and training in behavior management skills

N.J. lawmakers mull legalizing hallucinogenic mushrooms to treat mental illness - New Jersey Monitor
The committee heard from five invited experts: three researchers from Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and Rutgers universities, and [two patients] whose psilocybin use cured their ailments. The researchers touted its efficacy in treating everything from Alzheimer’s to post-traumatic stress disorder to nicotine addiction.

Jaden Smith says psychedelics made him more empathetic. Here’s what the experts say. - USA Today
Dr. Matthew W. Johnson, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins, encourages the public to be both "skeptical and open" [about psychedelics]. "Follow the follow the data and (don't) get ahead of it, but at the same time, recognize it is an exciting development," Johnson previously told USA Today.

Is long COVID linked to mental illness? - Slate
As long as the idea that mental illness is somehow less “real” than physical illness persists, however, investigating that link remains a risky proposition.... “Being ‘real’ or not is a very false dichotomy,” says Tracy Vannorsdall, associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins. “And it doesn’t do our patients, or our scientific thinking, any good.”

Psychedelic drugs can unlock brain’s ability to learn new skills, scientists say - The Independent (U.K.)
A study published recently in the journal Nature, found that psychedelic drugs are linked by their common ability to reopen … critical periods. “There is a window of time when the mammalian brain is far more susceptible and open to learning from the environment. This window will close at some point, and then, the brain becomes much less open to new learning,” study co-author Gül Dölen [of Johns Hopkins University] said.

Feeling claustrophobic? The missing submersible has been triggering. - Washington Post
The fear becomes a “phobia” when someone’s concern of enclosed spaces doesn’t match the actual risk presented by the situation. A person’s concern starts to affect their daily life at home, work or school. “The fear gets in the way such that people can’t do the things that they want to do,” said Joe Bienvenu, professor of psychiatry and anxiety disorders at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. “It’s an irrational fear that interferes with a person’s life.”

‘Magic’ mushroom use by young adults has nearly doubled in three years - The Hill
Berkeley, Yale and Johns Hopkins universities all now operate centers for the scholarly study of psychedelics. Advocates hope that research will ultimately clear the way for the federal decriminalization of psilocybin, MDMA (also known as ecstasy or molly), ketamine and other mind-altering drugs for both therapeutic and recreational use.

The ADHD drug shortage is spreading as supplies of a popular alternative to Adderall run worryingly low - Fortune
David W. Goodman, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a psychiatrist in the Baltimore area, said that he has been prescribing Vyvanse for patients who can’t fill their Adderall prescriptions. It’s relatively easy to switch from Adderall to Vyvanse, he said, because both are amphetamine-based drugs.

Can antidepressants stop working if you take them for a long period? - Yahoo! via HuffPost U.K.
Psychiatrist and co-director of the Jack and Mary McGlasson Anxiety Disorders Clinic at Johns Hopkins, Paul Nestadt explained: “Usually an antidepressant that’s worked for a patient will keep working. “But sometimes, a new episode of depression might come up that’s not as responsive to that medication, or the medication might just stop working altogether.”

MDMA changes the brain — but scientists still don’t know its full potential - Inverse
Gül Dölen’s [an associate professor of neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University] findings are that it’s not just MDMA that can do this — it’s pretty much all the classic psychedelics she’s tested so far. It appears that, at their base root, all of these drugs are pretty much doing the same thing to the brain. They are reopening that critical period.

Study: Psychedelics show promise in reopening ‘critical periods’ in brain - High Times
A new study from researchers at Johns Hopkins University suggests that psychedelics could reopen “critical periods” in the brains of mammals, offering potential for the drugs as a treatment option for those suffering from a wide range of debilitating conditions “There is a window of time when the mammalian brain is far more susceptible and open to learning from the environment,” said Gül Dölen, associate professor of neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Draconian laws deter pregnant women from treating drug abuse - Scientific American
Substance use disorder treatment programs such as Firefly in Nashville and other facilities such as the Comprehensive Addiction and Pregnancy (CAP) program at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, are helping to meet [the needs of pregnant women with substance use disorders].

How a dose of MDMA transformed a white supremacist – BBC
According to research published this week in Nature by Johns Hopkins University neuroscientist Gül Dölen, MDMA and other psychedelics – including psilocybin, LSD, ketamine and ibogaine – work therapeutically by reopening a critical period in the brain.

America’s Love Affair with Adderall – The Free Press
Dr. David Goodman is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, with a clinical focus on treating adults with ADHD. He says the shortage of Adderall has created havoc for many of his patients. “If they go a few weeks without medication, there are huge changes in their lives.” He says he’s had patients who have lost jobs, whose marriages are in distress, who are so distracted they are running red lights. “People get embarrassed by their own behavior,” he said. “It’s humiliating.”
Dr. James Aluri, a fellow at the Johns Hopkins Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, takes issue with the idea proposed by some that “ADHD is a purely contemporary cultural product.” He says in eighteenth-century medical literature there are descriptions of a clinical syndrome that sound just like the criteria for today’s ADHD diagnosis. “That’s a helpful reminder that ADHD has a biological grounding, even if diagnosis can be influenced by social factors,” he said. “There’s more to the story than the criticism that ADHD pathologizes normal childhood behavior.”

Oprah talks to scientist Roland Griffiths about the power of psychedelics and the gratitude of mortality - Oprah Daily
When one of the foremost pioneers of psychedelics research in the treatment for terminally ill cancer patients was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer, the irony wasn’t lost on him. Because what some might see as Shakespearean tragedy, Roland Griffiths, PhD, a soft-spoken man of science with a seemingly irrepressible smile, sees only as the greatest of life affirmations. Griffiths has spent decades studying how the human brain responds to mood-altering drugs. He founded the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Is giving someone a second chance smart? How to determine if it's worth it – Glam
[Forgiveness] is an active process in which you make a conscious decision to let go of negative feelings whether the person deserves it or not," Karen Swartz, M.D., director of the Mood Disorders Adult Consultation Clinic at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, told Johns Hopkins Medicine. Thus, sometimes giving someone a second chance is a good choice, and other times, it isn't worth it, but when a second chance isn't on the table, don't rule out forgiveness.

Rhode Island lawmakers approve psilocybin legalization bill – Forbes
Studies conducted by Johns Hopkins and other researchers have shown that psilocybin has the potential to be an effective treatment for several serious mental health conditions, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety and substance misuse disorders.

Study: Ecstasy made octopuses hug each other - High Times
Anyone who has taken MDMA probably experienced a euphoric burst of touchy-feeliness. Turns out that octopuses do, too. A 2018 study from researchers at Johns Hopkins University, the findings of which were highlighted in a story this month in Psychedelic Spotlight, tested the “behavioral reaction to the popular mood-altering drug MDMA, or ecstasy” on the otherworldly sea creatures. The experiment turned the animals’ habitat into something resembling an underwater rave.

May

5 potential health benefits of psychedelic therapy - Everyday Health
Other than ketamine, psychedelic substances “have not met the very rigorous standards of passing multiple phase 3 trials, which is what’s needed for FDA approval,” says Matthew Johnson, PhD, the Susan Hill Ward Professor in Psychedelics and Consciousness, and a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore.

How a blend of science and art is improving neurological health (audio) - PBS NewsHour
The blend of science and art is called neuroarts or neuro-aesthetics. The new book, “Your Brain On Art: How The Arts Transform Us,” shows both the growth and importance of the field that connects the arts and our health. Jeffrey Brown visited the Johns Hopkins medical school [Dr. Meg Chisolm] in Baltimore to see the progress for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Once taboo, psychedelic drugs offer vets new PTSD treatment option - Washington Times
In 2019, Johns Hopkins University launched a major new initiative to “study the mind and identify therapies for diseases such as addiction, PTSD and Alzheimer’s,” with a focus on how psilocybin could offer new treatment breakthroughs. When it was unveiled, the university billed it as “the largest research center of its kind in the world.”

Why does day drinking feel different? - New York Times
It’s hot. Drinking while the sun is out — particularly in the summer — makes you more likely to become dehydrated, and dehydration can intensify the effects of intoxication: You may feel fatigued, lightheaded, woozy or just generally out of it, said Dr. Sarah Andrews, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Is psychedelic therapy the next-gen treatment we think? - Women's Health
[I]n a pilot study, researchers at Imperial College London’s Centre for Psychedelic Research] are investigating the role psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) could play in treating anorexia nervosa. Meanwhile, at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, US, a similar pilot study has been conducted. While analysis is pending, one researcher told WH they’re ‘cautiously optimistic’ that the therapy could be helpful for some sufferers.

I tried progressive muscle relaxation, a simple exercise to help you ‘flex’ your way to sleep - Well and Good
Essentially, progressive muscle relaxation engages both your body and mind to help address the full-body experience of stress. "If I meditate on all the things that make me stressed, that's going to increase the stress," says Luis Fernando Buevaner, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "But if I focus on something else, like fatiguing the muscles and deep-breathing to occupy those brain centers, that is going to have a different effect."

Time for a fungi fest? Convention marks psychedelic movement taking root in Maine - Portland Phoenix
The growing acceptance of psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in what are commonly called “magic mushrooms,” is reaching the state level in Maine. National scientists and researchers, too, like those from the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, backed by $17 million in funding, are working to understand the effects of the compound on the brain and studying its potential for alternative medical treatment.

Can the drug in magic mushrooms ‘essentially fix a broken brain’ in people with depression? CO clinical trial aims to find out - Colorado Times Recorder
A handful of other academic medical centers around the U.S. are conducting clinical trials related to psilocybin and other psychedelics. These centers include Johns Hopkins, Stanford, Yale and New York University, the University of Wisconsin, Madison, the University of Texas, Austin and the University of California, San Francisco.

Psilocybin offers a path to improved mental health for Nevadans and Nevada's veterans - Gazette Journal (Reno, Nev.)
Academic studies out of John Hopkins show that natural psilocybin-containing mushrooms can improve an individual's mental health. One study conducted at Johns Hopkins University found that a single dose of psilocybin can lead to long-lasting reductions in depression and anxiety in patients with cancer.

Your 5-minute read on fighting brain fog - Healthline
“ ‘Brain fog’ isn’t a scientific term itself, but rather a mild cognitive dysfunction that may be caused by many different conditions,” says Dean MacKinnon, MD, associate professor of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins. “We all have periods of not thinking as sharply as we’d like. But most of the time, the sensation is temporary,” MacKinnon adds.

Why psilocybin is becoming a prime mental health treatment option in Oregon - WKTVL-TV (Medford, Ore.)
When Johns Hopkins University was permitted by the FDA in 2000 to start studying psilocybin, people began opening their minds to the possibility of therapeutic use of mushrooms.

Exploring the rise in mental health disorders during Children's Mental Health Awareness Month (video) - Fox 5 (D.C.)
Mental health concerns are on the rise in the U.S., especially among children. Each year, 1 in 5 children experience a mental health disorder. For Children's Mental Health Awareness [Month], we want to know how family members can help and what started the surge of mental illness. Dr. Joseph McGuire from Johns Hopkins Children's Center joins Fox 5 to discuss the root causes and what parents can do to help their kids.

Psychedelic medicine is coming — but who’s going to guide your trip? - National Geographic
Administering psychedelic-assisted therapy is vastly different for professionals used to conventional mental-health treatments, says [Mary] Yaden, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins Medicine, who is working on a pilot curriculum for Hopkins, Yale, and New York University psychiatry students. “When I prescribe Lexapro, my patient picks up the prescription and I hear in a month how it’s going,” she says. But with psychedelics, the actual dispensing of the medicine along with subsequent talk therapy are required, she says.

This is the way? 'JEDI Center' uses magic mushrooms for guided 'journeys' - Fox Business
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have found that psilocybin could aid in treating afflictions such depression and smoking addiction, though [the funders of the JEDI Center] noted that psilocybin, which is a Schedule I drug in the U.S. and Schedule III in Canada, should not be treated lightly.

Does weed help with anxiety or cause it? Here’s what experts say. - Washington Post
The effects of weed can even vary with each experience and may be influenced by how anxious you are when you ingest the drug. A person could smoke or ingest the same amount of cannabis on two different occasions and have two completely different experiences, said Ryan Vandrey, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine. “A lot of it could be the baggage you’re carrying into the situation,” Vandrey said. “It’s really hard to predict.”

April

New pediatric guidelines aim to treat obesity without stigma. Critics say they’ll make bias worse. - Baltimore Sun
Colleen Schreyer, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine who serves as the director of clinical research for the Johns Hopkins Eating Disorders program, has complicated feelings about the guidelines. “I see the need for treatment of obesity,” Schreyer said. “I also think we need to be thoughtful about how we implement those treatment interventions to prevent the onset of disordered eating.”

Most melatonin gummies aren’t labeled accurately (study) - Everyday Health
While the study found that in most cases the labeled doses were not exactly the same, generally the measured amounts were within a few milligrams, says David Neubauer, MD, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and sleep expert at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, who was not involved in the study. “Fortunately, these small differences between the measured amounts and label doses are not likely to have any clinical significance,” says Dr. Neubauer.

Your connections predict your longevity better than your cholesterol levels, says study — here’s why - Woman's World
Study after study has shown the health benefits of accessing social support. “For humans, social connections are as essential as food and water,” says Johns Hopkins psychiatrist Margaret Chisolm, MD. “They are needed to sustain our lives and to perpetuate the species.”

Psychedelics may become lowest enforcement priority in Jefferson County - Peninsula Daily News (Port Angeles, Wash.)
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has been studying the use of entheogens for psychological treatment since 2000, and in 2022 the Department of Veterans Affairs announced it had conducted studies in psychedelic treatments for PTSD and depression.

Melatonin gummies may have a higher dose than what’s on the label - Washington Post
How much melatonin should someone take? David N. Neubauer, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University, said for people interested in trying melatonin, he recommends starting with 1 to 3 milligrams. “Take it prior to your bedtime because once you’re getting into bed it’s too late,” Neubauer said.

Helping veterans, battling opioid addiction driving magic mushroom legislation progress - CBS 6 (Albany, N.Y.)
Johns Hopkins University has conducted several studies on psilocybin, saying it has substantial antidepressant effects, but needs to be administered under carefully controlled conditions through trained clinicians and therapists.

It’s not just the ‘shy kids’ who get nervous in front a crowd, study shows - CNN
If your child is avoiding situations that are important or could be enjoyable for them because they are feeling nervous, it might be time to intervene, said Dr. Erika Chiappini, a child and adolescent psychologist at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore.

Pain, hope, science collide as athletes turn to magic mushrooms - ESPN
"If you don't [host mushroom therapy sessions safely], people are going to get hurt," said Matthew Johnson, a psychiatry professor and psychedelics researcher at Johns Hopkins University.... "At a high dose, about a third of people in our studies, even under these ideal conditions, can have what would be called a bad trip, some degree of substantial anxiety or fear," said Johnson.

Mental fatigue can impair physical performance - Bicycling magazine
[A] study in Frontiers in Psychology, suggests that the effects of mental fatigue can persist for at least 20 minutes…. That research helps explain a good strategy for those looking to support their performance even after mentally demanding tasks, according to Paul Nestadt, M.D., assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. “Sometimes, simply waiting for a short time, like half an hour, between mentally demanding tasks and a workout might be beneficial,” he told Bicycling.

America has no rules for treating adults with ADHD - The Atlantic
A “perfect storm” of factors — manufacturing delays, labor shortages, tight regulations — is to blame for the [Adderall] shortage, David Goodman, an ADHD expert and a psychiatry professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, told me.

Fort Bragg psychologist proposes decriminalizing psychedelics: a Q&A on 'how do we want to live?' - Mendocino Voice (California)
The foremost research on psychedelics right now is going on at the University of California, San Francisco Medical School; University of California, Los Angeles; New York University; and Johns Hopkins. Those are the four major centers, although many other schools are now researching.

Psychedelics reconsidered: Reflections on drugs and culture - Psychology Today
This commentary, written by Albert Garcia-Romeu, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, asks the question: How have we gone from the prohibitionist “just say no” mentality of the late 20th century to the current landscape of shifting public perception and growing research (including government-funded studies) on psychedelics?

70% of cannabis products have less THC than they claim (study) - Healthline
Tory Spindle, PhD, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, was not surprised by the results of the new study. In a study published last year, he and his colleagues found that only about one-quarter of CBD products they tested were accurately labeled for CBD content…. “There is a sense that products that you purchase from a dispensary would have better oversight,” said Spindle. “Clearly, this [current] study would suggest that’s not necessarily the case.”

Shrooms are the new Cali sober - Elle
"Treatment has been in a crisis for decades,” says Matthew Wayne Johnson, Ph.D., a professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins. “Lifespan is decreasing and the two big reasons for that are suicide and addiction — and when you step back and ask what areas psychedelic therapy, like psilocybin, has promising effects for early on, it’s things like depression, PTSD, alcohol, and tobacco.”

Review: 'God on Psychedelics' a deeply researched trip - San Francisco Chronicle
An Episcopalian reverend who took psilocybin during a clinical study run by Maryland’s Johns Hopkins University tells [author Don] Lattin that he “felt a force of energy blow into my body,” showing him “that spiritual healing is real.” Another reverend in the same study says that he “visited other worlds” and “had an experience of theological unity” thanks to psilocybin.

Magic mushroom pastor is willing to go to jail for his new San Francisco church - San Francisco Chronicle
People can also hurt themselves during trips, particularly on extremely large doses like the ones [Pastor Dave] Hodges recommends. Roland Griffiths, a psychopharmacologist at Johns Hopkins University, put this risk in frank terms during a panel discussion at SXSW last year. “We are going to see deaths and suicides and homicides attributed to psychedelics. That is a real thing that’s going to happen,” he said.

Roland Griffith's magical profession - Chronicle of Higher Education
Over his half-century career at the Johns Hopkins University, Roland R. Griffiths has published hundreds of papers, most of them having to do with the downsides of drugs... But he’s best known for one paper. ... The title — “Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance” — is a clue that you’re in for something different.

Doctor: Maryland needs assisted outpatient treatment so I can save my patients - Maryland Matters
This commentary, which was written by Cynthia Lewis, director of Adult Psychiatric Emergency Services at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, states, in part, "No physician believes that hopping from crisis to crisis does no harm to patients. But currently doctors have no ability to intervene in these situations outside of the hospital, and we are helpless to stop the cycle."

The Adderall Shortage Is Putting People at Risk of Serious Health Issues - Self
The bottom line, experts say, is that Adderall is crucial in helping people with ADHD excel in their day-to-day lives....Not having access to them is impactful in all aspects of a person’s life, Dr. Goodman [David Goodman, MD, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine] adds. “It’s almost like having blurred vision,” he explains. “You have to function without your glasses for the next few weeks. And your blurred vision will compromise how you function.”

Organization leaders criticize California bill seeking to legalize certain psychedelic drugs - Epoch Times
[Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), author of SB 58] has referred to research by John Hopkins University that found psilocybin to be effective when used in depression treatment. However, in a press release, Natalie Gukasyan, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, stated that the promising medical effect was “under carefully controlled conditions.”

Magic mushrooms, MDMA would be legalized under Republican’s plan - Boston Herald
The state rep’s plan may seem outlandish, but a study by Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2022 showed that even a single use of the drugs, especially when coupled with therapy, can have long-term, positive impacts on the mental health of those suffering from a variety of diseases.

Citing bias and stress, more colleges eliminate letter grades - Washington Times
[Some] experts note that ending grades won’t stop young people from comparing themselves to each other on social media. Stress can “optimize performance” and is not harmful mentally or physically at tolerable levels, said Dr. John V. Campo, a pediatric psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. “There is a risk of setting the bar too low and selling young people short,” Dr. Campo said.

Creating a suicide prevention plan to distract, cope and reach out for support can save lives (audio) - WBUR radio (NPR Boston)
Among those who have implemented [suicide-prevention] plans with their patients is Dr. Paul Nestadt, a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He joins host Robin Young to discuss the Stanley-Brown Safety Planning intervention and why it works.

Magic mushrooms, MDMA would be legalized under Republican’s plan - Boston Herald
The state rep’s plan may seem outlandish, but a study by Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2022 showed that even a single use of the drugs, especially when coupled with therapy, can have long-term, positive impacts on the mental health of those suffering from a variety of diseases.

Does weed help you sleep? - Washington Post
Ryan Vandrey, a professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, said people who use cannabis products for sleep should view them as they would any other sleep medication. Typically in sleep medicine, patients are rarely prescribed a medicine for longer than a few weeks at a time, he said.

What’s the difference between bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder? - U.S. News & World Report
“When relationships go bad, the person tends to employ psychological defenses that are the most immature and often the most destructive or self-defeating," explains Dr. Dean MacKinnon, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. "Their emotional responsiveness is significantly stronger and more rapid than the average person.”

How the billions of creatures inside your gut can boost mental health - Inverse
“Many studies support gut-brain axis impacting brain function,” says Atsushi Kamiya, a professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Thus, [a] healthy gut may positively affect our brain function and potentially keep our mental condition healthy.”

A psychedelics pioneer takes the ultimate trip - New York Times
As the founding director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, Dr. Roland Griffiths has been a pioneer in investigating the ways in which psychedelics can help treat depression, addiction and, in patients with a life-threatening cancer diagnosis, psychological distress.... Now he is learning to die.

March

Eye changes may reveal early signs of Alzheimer’s disease (study) - Everyday Health
“The idea that there’s a link between the eye and Alzheimer’s disease has been around for a while,” says Constantine Lyketsos, MD, a professor of psychiatry who specializes in dementia at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore and was not involved in this study. The connection found in this study — between Alzheimer’s disease progression (also called pathology) in the brain and biomarkers in the retinas — is interesting, but Dr. Lyketsos is skeptical that it will change how AD is diagnosed.

Underutilized antipsychotic may curb schizophrenia's 'most dreaded outcome' (study) - Medscape
"Clozapine is an important and effective antisuicide medicine and should be strongly considered for treatment-resistant psychotic disorders, especially when the patient may be at risk for suicide," study investigator Paul Nestadt, MD, associate professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, told Medscape Medical News.

Missouri House backs bill requiring state research on psychedelics to treat depression, PTSD - Fox 2 (St. Louis)
On Wednesday, [House Veterans Committee Chairman Dave Griffith, R-Jefferson City] again encouraged people to look at the “extensive” research coming out of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. “I’ve done hours and hours of research from Johns Hopkins,” he said. “The data that comes out of these studies that they’ve done is remarkable.”

Could doctors prescribe patients drugs like LSD? Minnesota bill could soon make it legal - WCCO radio (Minneapolis)
One study published by Johns Hopkins Medicine found that psychedelic drugs can help fight “major depression” in most patients for up to a year. The medical institution, like others, has been researching the effects of using psychedelic drugs for medical purposes.

When I suddenly stopped taking antidepressants, I was panicked and ashamed - Slate
“Running out of meds is really quite common, and people should try not to blame themselves,” Zachary Cordner, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, tells me. “There are really complicated situations that involve a lot of different factors.” ... To help with the cost of the prescription, Cordner tells me to look for discount coupons on Amazon RxPass and GoodRx, and to check if your medication is available on the Walmart $4 list.

Can a nap make up for a bad night of sleep? - New York Times
It’s normal to have a poor night of sleep every now and then, said Molly Atwood, a clinical psychologist and behavioral sleep medicine researcher at Johns Hopkins Medicine. But if you don’t consistently pass through [the four stages of sleep] every night, she said, that can lead to a range of health conditions.

How antidepressants can help you manage depression and find relief from persistent sadness - Fortune
“Unfortunately, we don’t have the ability to know which patients will respond best to which specific [antidepressant] treatment,” says Dr. Zachary Cordner, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine. “With persistence and sometimes trial and error, depression is almost always treatable.”

Psilocybin helps reinvent identity to overcome addiction, data suggests - Forbes
“Cognitive behavioral therapy asks us to tune into the thoughts and feelings that we experience in our day-to-day lives and how those relate to our behaviors,” stated Albert Garcia-Romeu, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University. “In turn, people often tend to build a narrative or sense of self around those cognitions and behaviors.

Marijuana has special risks for older people - Wall Street Journal
[A]dvise [your] parents to “start low and go slow,” or take a low dose at first and increase as needed, says Tory R. Spindle, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and cannabis researcher. Be aware of potential cognitive impairment and motor skills, and warn parents not to drive while impaired.

Can you measure anxiety with a blood test? (study) - Verywell Health
Zachary A. Cordner, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine who’s not affiliated with the study, said the findings are “very compelling,” but the technology needs to be further tested. “I do think that it will be important to see whether this technology produces similar results in different clinical settings. And that is just yet to be determined,” Cordner told Verywell.

Dr. Robert K. Brooner, an internationally recognized expert in addiction treatment and research, dies - Baltimore Sun
Dr. Robert K. Brooner, an internationally recognized expert in addiction treatment and research who had been head of Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center’s Addiction Treatment Services and Center for Addiction and Pregnancy, died of metastatic cancer Feb. 26 [at age 71]. “He was known internationally because of a program he built and led at Hopkins that took existing evidence and designed care that was assigned to patients in order [that] they would achieve a positive outcome,” said Dr. Kenneth Stoller, professor of clinical psychiatry and behavioral science at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who is also the director of the Johns Hopkins Broadway Center for Addiction.

US clinic offers psychedelic drug therapy to treat alcoholism - Financial Times (U.K.)
Ketamine is one of several psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin ... mescaline and ecstasy that are being studied or used “off label” to treat depression, anxiety and a range of other illnesses.... In 2021 the US National Institutes for Research awarded its first grant in half a century to directly investigate the therapeutic effects of a psychedelic: a $4mn award to Johns Hopkins Medicine to study the impact of psilocybin on tobacco addiction.

Psychedelics could revolutionize couples therapy - Time
“There’s a lot of neurobiological reasons to think that [MDMA] would be helpful for couples therapy,” says Albert Garcia-Romeu, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine who studies psychedelics. MDMA stokes the activity of feel-good neurotransmitters in the brain, while simultaneously quieting parts of the brain that respond to threats, he explains.

What on Earth is a BORG? - New York Times
“I think it really can do a lot of harm,” Dr. Sarah Andrews, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said of the trend. “It’s promoting false ideas about drinking.” She acknowledged the importance of college students’ being aware of what is in their drinks, but she said she did not believe BORGs were the answer to the problem.
"Just because you know what is in it doesn't mean that you truly understand the negative effects it would have," said Dr. Andrews, whose areas of expertise include alcohol abuse. "Even if it's mixed with electrolytes, it doesn't offset the alcohol content. It doesn't offset the dangerousness of the alcohol."

For Canadian patients, therapeutic psychedelics beset by red tape - Undark magazine
[T]here is currently no consensus on what biological mechanisms might explain [psychedelic drugs’] anxiety-relieving or mood-boosting effects. “The really quick answer,” said Albert Garcia-Romeu, an assistant professor and researcher in the psychedelics research center at Johns Hopkins: “We don’t know.”

How you can help your child amid worsening teen mental health (video) - WMAR-TV
Dr. Carol Vidal, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, tells WMAR-2 News worsening mental health is a trend experts have seen over the last two decades. "One of the potential causes could be social media and the use of smartphones," said Vidal, "and the differences in which younger people are having social interactions now."

Understanding frontotemporal dementia, the leading cause of dementia in people under age 60 - Scientific American
Postmortem examinations of the brains of people with FTD have revealed that the condition is primarily linked to abnormal accumulation of two proteins: tau and TDP-43, both of which are also believed to be involved with Alzheimer’s. Scientists have found other proteins that could be responsible for FTD, but alterations in tau and TDP-43 account for more than 90 percent of cases altogether, says Chiadi Onyike, a neuropsychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University.

‘Not my problem’: Regulators and drug makers deflect blame in ADHD medication shortage - Baltimore Banner
Though ADHD diagnoses have multiplied in recent years and public awareness about the disorder has improved, it still carries a stigma, said Dr. David Goodman, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine who specializes in ADHD. This is due to a persistent misperception that the disorder is not real or that symptoms can be overcome with individual effort, he said.

What if every business owner in America did psychedelic therapy? - Inc.
Johns Hopkins University managed to mete out its remaining supply of psychedelics and continue its research, subsisting on crumbs, until the mid-1970s, when all those ideas about leadership and creative problem-solving -- all that potential -- moved underground, plodding along beneath the topsoil, not unlike a network of fungi. Then in 2020, the university launched the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research....

To treat severe mental illness, Illinois should allow supervised use of ‘magic mushrooms’ - Chicago Sun-Times
Research from respected institutions like John Hopkins Medicine and UCLA has demonstrated that psilocybin can be effective in treating mental disorders such as depression, end-of-life anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and addictions.

Should employers and insurers cover psychedelic-assisted therapy? - MedCityNews
MDMA, also known as ecstasy, and psilocybin mushrooms are currently in the process for [FDA] approval.... With psilocybin-assisted therapy, 80% of cancer patients reported significant decreases in depressed mood and anxiety, researchers at Johns Hopkins found.

February

Psychedelics could transform cigarette addiction treatment: ‘Metamorphosis’ - New York Post
[P]sychedelics have been found to help people change their responses to certain stressors or other triggers. “This sets the stage for actually having the psilocybin experience, which can both provide novel insights and perspectives as well as serve as a marker of that identity shift like a rite of passage, signifying the change for instance from smoker to nonsmoker,” said Albert Garcia-Romeu, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University.

CBD could reduce craving for nicotine and help tobacco smokers quit, study finds - Marijuana Moment
In 2021, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) approved a grant for researchers at Johns Hopkins University, New York University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham to explore exactly how psilocybin can help people curb their addiction to cigarettes.

How to talk to children about eating disorders and get honest answers - WJLA-TV (D.C.)
Not all who suffer from an eating disorder are motivated by looking a certain way. The illness could be triggered by stressful events, relationship difficulties, physical illness or a significant life change, according to the Johns Hopkins Medicine Eating Disorders Program. It could also develop with another psychiatric illness.

Sexless marriage? How to talk with your partner about it - HealthDay
Common reasons can begin with having children, Chris Kraft, director of clinical services at the Sex and Gender Clinic at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, said about marital intimacy. “It’s natural for a couple’s sex life to decline after having a baby because of the exhaustion and lack of private time,” Kraft said. “But many couples’ sex lives don’t recover after they get out of the baby zone. Priorities shift to raising kids and juggling careers and household responsibilities.”

Proposal calls for VA to study effects of medical cannabis on vets with PTSD, chronic pain - WPXI-TV (Pittsburgh) via Cox Media Group
“I get contacted routinely by veterans from the VA who are trying to navigate this,” said Dr. Ryan Vandrey with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “They’ve tried existing treatments and they find that things that are available to them don’t work and then through the VA, there’s no mechanism for them to try medical cannabis.”

'Breakthrough therapy'? The strange trip of psychedelic research lands in Ohio - WKYC-TV (Cleveland)
A study at Johns Hopkins University looked at psilocybin for depression. It included a preparation phase of therapy where depression patients received about eight hours of therapy, then received between one and three doses of psilocybin spread over several weeks.... Results showed 58% were in remission at 12 months. While promising, it didn't work for everyone, and researchers can't say yet if the remission continued, but the results were promising enough to get federal notice.

Bruce Willis has frontotemporal dementia. These are the disease's symptoms. - NBC News
Generally, there are two subdiagnoses, according to Dr. Paul Barton Rosenberg, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. "One is a behavioral variant, where people can have a change in their personality and lose their inhibitions and social graces," Rosenberg said. "Another is primary progressive aphasia, where people have trouble finding words or expressing themselves."

Whatever happened to mescaline? - Slate
One problem is that, despite its longstanding use by humans, there’s very little existing clinical research on mescaline, said Albert Garcia-Romeu, a faculty member at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who studies the effects of psychedelics on the human body.

CBD may magnify effects of THC in edibles, Johns Hopkins study suggests - High Times
We have demonstrated that with a relatively high oral dose of CBD [640 mg] there can be significant metabolic interactions between THC and CBD, such that the THC effects are stronger, longer-lasting, and tend to reflect an increase in unwanted adverse effects,” says Ryan Vandrey, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the study’s senior author.

Parents turning to microdosing mushrooms (video) - FOX 5 (D.C.)
More parents are speaking out about taking mushrooms for their mental health. Johns Hopkins professor of psychedelics and consciousness Dr. Matthew Johnson joins Good Day DC to share the benefits and concerns.

Bruce Willis diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia – what is it? - WGN-TV (Chicago, Ill.)
FTD symptoms often arise in younger patients, between the ages of 40 and 65 according to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. “It’s not unusual that we see people in the prime of their life who are working, raising kids…and they come down with this condition that changes their personality, changes their ability to communicate and worsens relentlessly to where they become completely disabled,” Dr. Constantine Lyketsos, an Alzheimer’s researcher at Johns Hopkins, told Nexstar.

Red states join push throughout US to legalize magic mushrooms for therapy - Associated Press
A series of studies from Johns Hopkins University’s psychedelics research unit found that magic mushroom-assisted therapy can reduce depression symptoms for up to a year and be effective for individuals for whom other treatments haven’t worked.

A bill creating a psilocybin advisory board has failed - WVTF (Virginia Public Radio)
"I myself was not fully on board. I was a skeptic," [Senator Ghazala] Hashmi said. "But it's the research that is overwhelmingly compelling, and especially research that's coming out of such venerable institutions such as Johns Hopkins and the efficacy has been proven, most especially with our veterans who have very limited options for treatment."

The ‘gnarly and painful’ therapeutic potential of ‘magic mushrooms’ - Los Angeles Times
I spoke with Fred Barrett, a neuroscientist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research, about the revolutionary healing potential of psilocybin, what is not yet known about the compound’s role in treating various psychiatric disorders, the importance of the “therapy” aspect of psychedelic-assisted therapy, and the hurdles that remain to this treatment being accessible to the general public.

Study: CBD may increase THC adverse effects  - Hemp Gazette
“Our new study suggests that it’s important for folks to be aware that if they’re going to take a high-dose CBD extract, they also need to be mindful about interactions with other medications,” said Ryan Vandrey, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; who is also the study’s senior author. “Individuals should discuss with their doctor whether they should consider dose adjustments of THC and other medications if they’re also taking CBD.”

Veterans’ testimony on magic mushrooms’ health benefits not enough to sway Virginia lawmakers - Virginian Pilot via Capital News Service
State lawmakers in Iowa, Missouri, New Hampshire and Utah introduced psilocybin bills this year that would decriminalize, approve for study, or change the drug scheduling. These trends are due to new research on the effectiveness of natural medicine, including research from Johns Hopkins, according to [Sen. Ghazala] Hashmi,

Will Utah legalize medical ‘magic mushrooms’ this year? - Deseret News (Salt Lake City)
[Senate Minority Leader Luz] Escamilla noted Utah is a top-ranking state for rates of mental health illness, and she said psilocybin is a “great alternative” to opioids. She pointed to promising results from studies by Johns Hopkins University into the use of psilocybin.

New bill would legalize medical psilocybin in Utah for select groups - ABC 4 (Salt Lake City)
In a study by Johns Hopkins involving 27 patients, who had a long-term history of depression, participants showed a 75% response rate with 58% remission at 12 months of treatment and follow-up.

Lindsay Clancy left ‘flat as a board’ emotionally from drugs, depression - New York Post
Dr. Jeffrey S Janofsky, director of the Psychiatry and Law Program at Johns Hopkins Medicine, said “planning can happen along with delusions. The mere fact that they planned [killings] does not exclude an insanity plea.” Janofsky added that command hallucinations are merely a symptom and not a legal defense. “You have to figure out what the illness is,” he told the [Boston] Globe.

Pandemic compounded challenges for people struggling with eating disorders - Baltimore Sun
The eating disorders program at Johns Hopkins Hospital also saw a significant increase in patients seeking treatment during the pandemic. The waiting list for the program’s seven-bed inpatient service grew significantly longer than before the pandemic, and doctors were swamped with patients requesting outpatient consultations, said Colleen Schreyer, the program’s clinical research director.

Psychedelics may be part of U.S. medicine sooner than you think - Time
Research increasingly suggests that psychedelics can be powerful tools for treating a variety of mental-health conditions, from PTSD and depression to addiction and eating disorders. “I’ve been doing this for 11 years,” says Albert Perez Garcia-Romeu, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who studies psychedelics. “The overwhelming majority of people that I’ve worked with in this process have been helped by their experiences, and the data are remarkably consistent.”

Doctors often prescribe antidepressants for pain, but do they really work? (study) - HealthDay
There are many different means by which an antidepressant could work to help someone in chronic pain, said Dr. Glenn Treisman, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Some might directly affect the pathways that report pain to the brain, while others might reduce a person's perception of their pain or ease an emotional condition like anxiety or depression that makes someone more sensitive to pain, said Treisman, who wasn't part of the study.

Research on psychedelics and how mushrooms can help combat depression - Discover magazine
These trials build on previous research suggesting that psilocybin may have antidepressant effects, so the results weren’t particularly surprising, says Manoj Doss, postdoctoral researcher at Johns Hopkins University. “The COMPASS trial, however, did move the needle a bit more than most trials because it's the largest study to date across multiple sites, so it's unlikely that all of those sites have the same types of biases and hype as those at places like [Johns] Hopkins,” says Doss.

How to navigate the ongoing Adderall shortage - PGN
Although Adderall shortages aren’t new, the current situation stands out for how widespread it’s been and how long it’s lasted. Dr. David Goodman, a psychiatrist who specializes in ADHD treatment for adults, says the issue likely began around August 2022 and has become worse since. He blames the shortage on several factors coming together to form a “perfect storm”: an increase in ADHD diagnoses, easier access to prescriptions through new telehealth services, a jump in Adderall demand in the fall as students returned to school, and labor and manufacturing delays.

January

Many adults rely on sleeping pills and other sleep aids, CDC says (study) - Everyday Health
It’s likely that many people in the CDC study who reported regular use of sleep medicines were taking melatonin, says David Neubauer, MD, a sleep researcher and an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore who wasn’t involved in the CDC report. “Melatonin is a very popular choice, perhaps because it is assumed to be ‘natural’ and safe,” says Dr. Neubauer.

Studies on magic mushrooms and expert opinions - Montreal Times
Several studies have investigated the therapeutic potential of magic mushrooms with pretty impressive results. For example, a study by Imperial College London found that two doses of psilocybin were more effective than a commonly prescribed medicine for treatment-resistant depression. A study by the John Hopkins University School of Medicine found that a single dose of psilocybin led to a significant reduction in symptoms of anxiety and depression in cancer patients.

Psilocybin mushrooms in Utah: Can psychedelics improve our mental health? - ABC 4 (Salt Lake City)
In [a] study by Johns Hopkins involving 27 patients with a long-term history of depression, the results were substantial as the participants showed a 75% response rate with 58% remission at 12 months of treatment and follow-up.

Moving lessons on forgiveness out of religious spaces and into schools - Washington Post
Karen Swartz, the director of the Adolescent Depression Awareness Program, a project of Johns Hopkins Medicine, says that people who forgive are less anxious and angry and have lower blood pressure, improved cholesterol levels and a better quality of sleep.

Barbara Stanley, influential suicide researcher, dies at 73 - New York Times
Dr. Stanley’s work helped shift the focus of suicide research toward practical, concrete and timely interventions, said Paul Nestadt, an associate professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine who studies suicide and access to lethal weapons. “Whether someone dies of suicide comes down to [whether there is an intervention plan],” he said.

Our psychological armor helps us cope with mass shootings, but numbs us to the destruction - Los Angeles Times
“A numbing is happening,” said Dr. Paul Nestadt, a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. “The normalization of tragedy is human nature. It’s called adaptive psychology: If we allowed these deaths to live in our head, we wouldn’t be able to live ourselves.”

FDA official says there is need to regulate CBD over 'safety concerns' - United Press International
Researchers at Johns Hopkins last year found that customers buying creams, patches or lotions containing CBD to reduce pain or inflammation may get much more or much less cannabidiol than expected.... Johns Hopkins looked at 105 topical CBD products and found only about a quarter of them were labelled accurately, and some actually contained THC.

6 things you need to know about psychedelics - Oprah Daily
There are ongoing trials testing [psilocybin's] efficacy for depression treatment, including a phase III trial that is set to begin soon. The Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research is invested in this discovery and potential breakthrough, committing $17 million of funding to expand research on psychedelics for illness and wellness.

ADHD in older adults: diagnosis and treatment - AARP
Three-quarters of adults ages 18 to 44 who are found to have ADHD were never diagnosed as children; among adults 60 and older, that number is 100 percent, says David Goodman, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. That’s primarily because, half a century ago, clinicians simply didn’t know to screen for it in children. “It’s a neuropsychiatric disorder that starts in childhood and continues your whole life,” he says.

Lawmakers file legislation to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms, other plants - Boston Herald
A 2017 Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine study of 44,000 Americans found that psychedelic use was associated with a 40% reduced risk of opioid abuse. That finding was backed by a more recent study that suggested an even stronger effect of 55%.

New Alzheimer's drug slightly slows cognitive decline. Experts say it's not a silver bullet. - Live Science
The FDA approved lecanemab on the basis of a mid-stage trial, which showed the drug cleared amyloid but didn't evaluate whether it slowed cognitive decline. However, the results of a larger, late-stage trial were released in November 2022 and offer evidence that the treatment slows cognitive decline "but debatable evidence that it is clinically impactful," said Dr. Constantine Lyketsos, the Elizabeth Plank Althouse professor for Alzheimer's research at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Managing stress, anxiety, and screen time for children (video) - WBFF-TV
Child psychologist Dr. Joseph McGuire with the Johns Hopkins Children Center, joined Fox 45 News with tips for parents to help their children navigate stress and anxiety while also managing screen time.

Psilocybin use grows in popularity, increasingly seen as legitimate therapeutic tool - WJZ-TV
Researchers, including those at Johns Hopkins Medicine, have been studying psilocybin therapy for a range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety and addictions.

What is a 'soberthday'? Here's how people celebrate their alcohol-free anniversaries - Yahoo!
Dr. Kenneth Stoller, director of the Johns Hopkins Broadway Center for Addiction, says celebrating one’s “soberthday” can be important for recovery. "Recovery is hard work, and does not always provide tangible rewards in the short term,” he explains. “[I]t is important to incorporate alternative means of enjoyment and diversional activities — including recognizing one’s accomplishments in memorable, joyful and positive ways....”

Intake of psychedelics increased range of beliefs of consciousness, meaning, purpose - Healio
A single psychedelic experience increased a range of non-physicalist beliefs, such as consciousness, meaning and purpose, researchers reported in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. “Guardrails against certain belief changes in clinical use are important, but the extent to which such non-naturalistic beliefs may be therapeutic is unclear. There's much more to learn here,” Sandeep M. Nayak, MD, professor of psychology and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, said in a press release from the school.

FDA approves Alzheimer’s drug from Eisai, Biogen in closely watched decision - Healthcare Dive
Reporting from Stat News and Science has detailed how there have been at least three patient deaths that appear linked to Leqembi and the brain bleeding it causes. “Blood on the brain is not good,” Constantine Lyketsos, director of the Memory and Alzheimer’s Treatment Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine, said in an interview late last year.

OTC Hearing aids and psilocybin: Who should use them? (audio) - WYPR radio
[C]an magic mushrooms lift severe depression? We speak with Dr. Sandeep Nayak, psychiatrist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, about psilocybin and its potential for treating mood disorders.

iPhones have a built-in white noise feature that no one knows about - HuffPost
“The key feature of the sound devices is the constant sound in contrast to changing sounds like with music, radio and television,” said Dr. David Neubauer, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Our brains pay attention to changing sound, but a comfortable constant sound can help lull us to sleep.”

Scientists explore using psychedelics to treat alcohol, drug disorders - Los Angeles Times
The striking thing about psychedelics is that they have shown promise in treating addiction to a range of substances, said Matthew Johnson, a psychiatry professor at Johns Hopkins University. “It’s not simply quelling the cravings. ... It’s really allowing the person to wrestle with much deeper psychological questions at the heart of addiction.”

What are the benefits of being sober curious? Here's what experts say. - Yahoo! Life
Dr. Sarah Andrews, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, points out that the sober-curious movement works best for people who want to “better understand the ways that alcohol affects them and their relationship with alcohol.”

How to manage the post-holiday blues — and when to seek help - Health
The triggers for the post-holiday blues can vary from person to person, according to Paul Nestadt, MD, co-director of the Johns Hopkins Anxiety Disorders Clinic and assistant professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, told Health.... "There is exhaustion from hosting, travel, or any of the aspects of disrupted normalcy that the holidays bring,” said Dr. Nestadt. “These can all be hard to cope with.”

Thinking of trying Dry January? Here's what to know. - WUSA-TV (D.C.)
"It has been shown that if people are having physical effects from alcohol use, whether it's high blood pressure or liver effects, the monthlong abstinence can help decrease some of those risks," said Dr. Sarah Andrews, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

2022

December

Psychedelics weighed as treatment for medical problems (video) - News Nation
There have been new medical breakthroughs in the treatment of depression, addiction and PTSD, and this time, it is through the use of psychedelics. This week, Colorado officially decriminalized psychedelics and other states are likely to follow. Dr. Matthew Johnson, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at Johns Hopkins University, discusses the research being conducted into psychedelics as a medicine.

Have a safe trip: Oregon trains magic mushroom facilitators - Associated Press
Music is an important part of the experience and should be available, from speakers or on headphones. (Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research in Baltimore have developed a playlist that “ seeks to express the sweeping arc of the typical medium- or high-dose psilocybin session.”)

It’s not just the psychedelics, therapy matters - Psychology Today
In 1977, I was the last person in the U.S. involved in a clinical trial using psychedelics to accelerate psychotherapy — a research trajectory the federal government shut down as part of the “war on drugs.” Thankfully, in 1999, Johns Hopkins University gave psychologist Roland Griffiths and me [psychologist William Richards] a green light to resume investigations into the medical promise of psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in many mushroom species.

Holiday triggers and how to cope - WYPR radio
JHU professor and clinical psychologist Dr. Joseph McGuire talks about misophonia -- a condition in which irritating sounds, like people chewing or slurping, can trigger a strong emotional response.

The “heroic dose” of psychedelics, according to Johns Hopkins - Big Think
What makes [psychedelic drugs] so unique and powerful? That’s one of the driving questions behind the research of Matthew W. Johnson [professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins], who has conducted numerous studies on the nature of addiction, psychedelics, and other psychoactive substances.

We all need 'me time' during the holidays. Here's how to optimize it - Verywell
Joseph McGuire, PhD, MA, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, told Verywell that it’s important to be selective about how you spend time alone, especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed by work, finances, relationships, or other life circumstances. “During the holidays and really throughout the year, it’s important to take care of your mental health and physical health,” said McGuire.

What happens to your body if you don't work out over the holidays - HuffPost
Despite the fact that we’re constantly told that we should exercise to make up for what we eat to stay healthy, the very opposite is true. “It’s this very commonplace idea that we need to burn off everything we eat, and it’s just not accurate,” Colleen Schreyer, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, told HuffPost.

ADHD in women: Symptoms develop in childhood, but the signs are often missed - NBC News
“There’s been an increase in women diagnosed with ADHD over the last several years because of an increasing recognition that it’s not just the disruptive, impulsive behavior of boys that leads to a diagnosis,” said Dr. David Goodman, a psychiatrist and an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Daylight Savings Time means shorter days and, for some, seasonal depression - Afro
[Seasonal affective disorder is] thought to be related to shorter days with less exposure to sunlight triggering a chemical change in the brain, according to information released by Johns Hopkins Medicine.... “We all tend to feel a little down when there is less sunshine, but ‘winter blues’ and SAD are different in that SAD is actually a disorder and has its own pathology,” said Dr. Paul Nestadt, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Cancer patients struggle to access psilocybin before they die - Medscape
In recent months, some researchers and journalists have pushed back against the frenzy over the promise of psychedelics. In September, David Yaden, PhD, a psychedelics researcher at Johns Hopkins, spoke at the Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research in the Netherlands. He encouraged people to pay more attention to potential adverse effects of psychedelics, which could include anything from headaches to lingering dysphoria.

ER visits due to alcohol use raise the risk of death within a year (study) - Everyday Health
“These findings are particularly concerning because we know alcohol misuse has increased in the past few years, especially since the pandemic,” says Sarah Andrews, MD, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. Dr. Andrews, a specialist in alcohol dependency, was not involved in the new study.

Giving your child a screen may hinder emotional regulation, study says. Here’s what to do instead (study) - CNN
The study lines up with the current recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the World Health Organization that children ages 2 to 5 should have very limited screen time, said Dr. Joyce Harrison, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore. Harrison, who was not involved in the study, said that although there were limitations to the diversity of the participants, it was well designed and is supported by the existing research.

Maryland Peace of Mind: Reasons behind and tips on curing the 'holiday blues' (video) - WBAL-TV
For some people the holidays can trigger difficult feelings like sadness, loss and anxiety. Basically, the holiday blues. But it can turn into something more. In this Maryland Peace of Mind report on the holiday blues, we ask Dr. Paul Nestadt, the co-director of the Johns Hopkins Anxiety Disorders Clinic, about the causes and treatments for this kind of disorder.

How to fend off holiday stress, from people who should know - New York Times
When you’re in the thick of the stilted party small talk or the family bickering, pause to briefly scan your body from head to toe for incipient tension, advised Neda Gould, clinical psychologist and director of the Johns Hopkins Mindfulness Program in Baltimore. As soon as you notice signs of stress, whether it’s a rapid heart rate or tense shoulders, take a few minutes to practice mindful breathing, Dr. Gould advised.

11 simple ways to spice up a stale marriage - The List
According to Chris Kraft, Ph.D., director of clinical services at the Sex and Gender Clinic at Johns Hopkins Medicine, it's normal for couples to experience a lull in their sex lives (via Johns Hopkins Medicine). "[Over time], couples aren't as intentional about connecting with each other as they were earlier in the relationship," said Kraft.

How to get your brain to shut up: 8 tips to focus your mind - Fatherly
Noise levels affect concentration, and that actually doesn’t just mean loud noise, because some people have a hard time focusing when it’s too quiet or when the noise level fluctuates, says Dr. Joe Bienvenu, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. A space where you can control the noise and ideally close a door is what you’re looking for, and white noise makers that drown out noise from your environment can also help, he says.

7 melatonin mistakes sleep doctors want you to avoid - Everyday Health
Melatonin can lead to potentially dangerous interactions with a wide variety of medications, including drugs to manage blood pressure and diabetes.... Those side effects are based on short-term usage at low doses, says David Neubauer, MD, an associate professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. And many people today are taking higher doses over longer periods of time, he explains.

What psychedelics can’t explain - Big Think
As a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Matthew W. Johnson is one of the world’s most published scientists on the effects of psychedelics on the human brain. In this Big Think interview, Dr. Johnson explains why we should be both open and careful about the prospect of psychedelics helping us crack the hard problem of consciousness, which remains one of the world’s most puzzling questions.

The key to managing holiday anxiety, according to a neuropsychologist - The List
Dr. Neda Gould from Johns Hopkins recommends being kind to ourselves and rethinking our New Year's resolutions. She suggests starting by setting small milestones and not punishing ourselves for not achieving all of our wishes.... [Clinical psychologist] Gould also recommends accepting imperfection and not feeling guilty for not having our dream holiday celebrations.

Are edibles better for you — or at least less bad — than alcohol? - Wall Street Journal
The effects of THC edibles peak 1.5 to three hours after ingestion and last five to eight hours, depending on the dose and the person, according to studies by Tory R. Spindle, assistant professor in the behavioral-pharmacology research unit at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Psychedelic therapy is moving to the next frontier: Workplace perk - Stat
Natalie Gukasyan, a psychiatrist and post-doctoral research fellow at Johns Hopkins University who’s researching the feasibility and efficacy of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, agreed that [insurance coverage for psychedelic therapy] seems unlikely to be widely used. “Who’s going to sign up for a super specialized insurance company, apart from people who think they need a lot of psychedelic therapy?” she said.

November

What to make of Eisai and Biogen’s latest Alzheimer’s drug data - Healthcare Dive
Constantine Lyketsos, director of the Memory and Alzheimer’s Treatment Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine, notes that many Alzheimer’s experts believe a drug would need to offer at least a 1- to 2-point effect on [the rating scale known as the Clinical Dementia Rating] to be considered clinically meaningful. “I think the field has spoken,” said Lyketsos.

Take a trip during your trip: Jamaican resorts promoting magic mushroom vacations - St. Kitts Nevis Observer
Dr. Matthew Johnson, a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in an interview that he believes psilocybin may work by allowing the flow of different thoughts and emotions, which can help people get out of negative mental ruts that are linked to problems including depression and addiction.

Mindfulness as effective as a commonly prescribed antidepressant in reducing anxiety - Everyday Health
These are exciting findings, says Neda Gould, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine and associate director of the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center Anxiety Disorders Clinic, both in Baltimore. Dr. Gould was not involved in this research. “Studies like this help strengthen the role of mindfulness as an evidence-based strategy that can be used independently or in conjunction with medication in the treatment of anxiety disorders,” she says.

Shock value - Baltimore magazine
Despite its widespread use, and effectiveness at reducing symptoms for many patients, the most commonly heard refrain [about electroconvulsive therapy], says Irving Reti, director of the Brain Stimulation program at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences is, “‘You still do that?’ ” “It is a highly effective treatment and an extremely safe treatment,” says Reti, who cites an 80-to-85-percent positive response rate.
[Note: Also quoted, Dr Karen Swartz.]

While psilocybin back on ballot, Benton County moves forward - Corvallis Advocate (Oregon)
Researchers in Maryland at Johns Hopkins University, which has led psilocybin research in the U.S., have found the drug to be effective against PTSD, depression and anxiety.

Regional reactions to Colorado legalizing mushrooms - News Channel Nebraska
The Colorado initiative decriminalizes the use of certain mushrooms for people age 21 and older. It will also legalize the creation of “healing centers” where the drug can be administered under supervision. Johns Hopkins University released a report on November 4, 2022, that psilocybin can be used to treat severe depression. The small study by of adults with severe depression showed improvements after two doses of psilocybin with supportive therapy.

Why having friends of all ages is good for your health - Verywell
“As we age, we may feel a greater sense of loneliness if we don’t make an effort to stay engaged in activities and connected with people,” Neda Gould, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, told Verywell via email. When older adults, in particular, befriend someone from a younger generation, they’re more likely to learn new skills and to be more open-minded, Gould said.

Who are over-the-counter hearing aids right for? Plus, the potential of magic mushrooms to lift depression (audio) - WYPR radio
[C]an magic mushrooms to lift severe depression? We speak with Dr. Sandeep Nayak of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research about psilocybin and its potential for treating mood disorders.

Adderall users struggle amid ongoing medication shortage - CNN
Dr. David Goodman, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, said that for the past several months, his patients have had to wait several days to fill their prescriptions. Lately, they’re having to wait up to a week or two. Some were told that pharmacies might not see new supplies for months. A lack of access to Adderall, which must be taken daily, can have implications for careers, home lives and even safety, Goodman said.

Mushroom extract supplements 101: Potential benefits, known risks, and more - Everyday Health
People have been using mushrooms medicinally as far back as 450 B.C., according to the authors of a June 2020 article in Alternative and Complementary Therapies. In recent years, there has been renewed interest in psilocybin mushrooms to treat mental health disorders including depression, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Jim Harris was paralyzed. Then he ate magic mushrooms. - Outside magazine
Richard Nixon’s war on drugs brought psychedelic research to a standstill in 1970 with the Controlled Substances Act, but the field entered something of a renaissance in the early 2000s. One seminal study was led by Roland Griffiths, a psychopharmacologist and professor in the departments of psychiatry and neurosciences at Johns Hopkins University.

Thousands of Oregonians vote against psilocybin centers - Oregon Capital Chronicle
A survey earlier this year by the Oregon Health Authority found that nearly 4,200 people among about 4,400 who responded were interested in seeking [psilocybin] treatment for their well-being. Researchers in Maryland at Johns Hopkins University, which has led psilocybin research in the U.S., have found the drug to be effective against PTSD, depression and anxiety.

Experimental therapy gantenerumab fails to slow or improve Alzheimer’s memory loss in clinical trials - CNN
Dr. Constantine Lyketsos, a professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, said that if gantenerumab had removed as much beta amyloid as the company predicted it would, it might have shown a degree of benefit in line with lecanemab and Aduhelm. “In other words, a very modest but not clinically significant effect,” said Lyketsos, who was not involved in the research.

Wearables company, Johns Hopkins to study physiological reasons for addiction relapse - Becker's Hospital Review
"This research leveraging Whoop Unite insights lays the groundwork for incorporating biometric assessments into routine care and, ultimately, creating a precision medicine model for addiction treatment," said Andrew Huhn, PhD, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Medicine who is overseeing the study with Ashley Addiction Treatment patients, in a Nov. 10 news release from Whoop and Ashley.

Mental health professionals suggest more effective approach to stemming suicide - Afro
Mental health professionals say it’s time to screen more effectively to identify those at risk of committing suicide.... While declining in 2019 and 2020, the rates have soared [among] African Americans locally. “In Maryland, suicide rates during the first COVID lockdown went down among Whites, but doubled among Blacks,” said Dr. Paul Nestadt, a Johns Hopkins medical school psychiatry professor.

Be nice: Acts of rudeness are on the rise in medicine. Can a civility push lead to a healthier workplace? - Proto magazine (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Daniel Buccino, assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, describes civility as an essential part of the social contract, a “benevolent awareness, a sense of respect for oneself and others.” ... “We encourage people to report incidents of rudeness and bullying, but even today there exists a power gradient that often prevents reporting,” says Diane Colgan, a physician at Johns Hopkins Medicine-Suburban Hospital in Bethesda.

Colorado voters approve psychedelics decriminalization measure - High Times
Prior research from the nation’s top medical research universities including Johns Hopkins University, the University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine, and New York University have shown positive patient outcomes for depression and anxiety.

'Concerning' study finds Black, Hispanic patients get shorter treatment for opioid addiction - USA Today
Health experts say it's recommended those with opioid use disorders take [buprenorphine] for at least 180 days. The study, however, showed up to about a quarter of patients made it that long. “It is very concerning," said Dr. Denis Antoine, director of the addiction treatment services clinic at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. "There's a lot of literature showing that duration of treatment leads to better outcomes.”

Proposition 122, decriminalizing psilocybin mushrooms, is leading but still too close to call - Colorado Public Radio
A study from Johns Hopkins earlier this summer found “substantial antidepressant effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy may be durable” for at least a year after treatment.

The highs and lows of psychedelics - Psychology Today
[T]wo commentaries recently published in JAMA Psychiatry express important concerns regarding psychedelic therapeutics. David Yaden, James Potash, and Roland Griffiths warn that there is a “bubble” of enthusiasm about psychedelics — a bubble that could soon burst. These authors are members of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University, where important studies regarding potential therapeutic uses of psychedelics are taking place.

Psychedelic mushroom chemical may help treat depression - Smithsonian magazine
[T]he AP notes that studies of standard antidepressants have shown stronger results. And psilocybin's benefits didn’t always last in the long-term.... Still, to show such an improvement in people “who have not done well with existing treatments, and therefore are going to be much harder to treat,” is a benefit, Sandeep Nayak, a researcher at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who was not involved with the study, [told] NBC News.

Why use of stimulant drugs for ADHD rapidly increased after COVID-19 - Epoch Times
Among the adults who have ADHD, 75 percent have never had any treatment for ADHD, according to Dr. David W. Goodman, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. These untreated adults may have been driven to use online providers as their symptoms worsened during the pandemic. These companies are popular with patients, says Goodman, because they are easier to use than trying to see a provider in-person, and can be more cost-effective.

Researchers look to psychedelics to transform mental healthcare - Newsweek
Last spring, The Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins Medicine published the results of their research, highlighting that "two doses of the psychedelic substance psilocybin, given with supportive psychotherapy, produced rapid and large reductions in depressive symptoms, with most participants showing improvement and half of study participants achieving remission through the four-week follow-up."

What promise do psychedelics hold as therapeutics? (audio) - CNN
Albert Garcia-Romeu, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University, joins Dr. Sanjay Gupta to talk about how psychedelics can alleviate mental suffering and what the path forward might look like.

A very trippy trip inside the great shroom boom - GQ
A 2019 research paper by Johns Hopkins University in the US found that after a psychedelic experience with LSD or psilocybin, alcohol consumption dropped so significantly that 83 per cent of trial participants no longer met the criteria for alcohol use disorder.

What to know about perimenopause - Glam
Aside from somatic effects, sudden hormonal changes brought on by perimenopause can also put women at a higher risk for depression, says psychiatrist Jennifer Payne of Johns Hopkins Medicine.

National Park Service advises to 'refrain from licking' toxic psychedelic toads - Fox News
The psychedelic liquid is often extracted from the toad's glands and then dried into a paste that can be smoked. "The experience is going to start within 10 to 30 seconds, and then you're going to be physically incapacitated for 20 to 30 minutes," said Alan Davis, a Johns Hopkins psychedelics researcher.

Opinion: All veterans should have access to the psilocybin treatments that saved me - Denver Post
Research from the nation’s top medical universities, such as Johns Hopkins University, University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine, and New York University, have shown positive patient outcomes for depression and anxiety, and the FDA has labeled psilocybin a “breakthrough” therapy.

Psilocybin studies risk being warped by hype - Bloomberg
None of this is to say that the impact of psilocybin on depression (or in any of the other areas it is being studied, like smoking cessation or alcohol use disorder) is an illusion. Even with study limitations, “it’s remarkable that a single dose of a drug can have that treatment response,” says Natalie Gukasyan, a psychiatrist and assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University, who is part of a group studying psilocybin in another type of depression.

It’s legal to use psilocybin, or ‘magic mushrooms,’ in Oregon. But that could soon change - CNN
“One of the most interesting things we’ve learned about the classic psychedelics is that they have a dramatic effect on the way brain systems synchronize, or move and groove together,” Matthew Johnson, a professor in psychedelics and consciousness at Johns Hopkins Medicine, told CNN earlier this year.

The harms of psychedelics need to be put into context - Wired
12 patients [in a recently reported clinical trial] experienced serious adverse events.... “Is this expected in a trial like this? To some degree, yes,” says Natalie Gukasyan, assistant professor and medical director for the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research. When you’re working with a patient group as vulnerable as those with treatment-resistant depression, higher rates of suicidal ideation are to be expected.

Fitness trackers: Useful in sleep medicine? - Medscape
David Neubauer, MD, is a psychiatrist at the Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorders Center. "Sleep tracking devices are more than just toys but less than medical devices. They do have clinical utility and might show findings that warrant further medical workup," Neubauer said.

Severe depression eased by single dose of synthetic ‘magic mushroom’ (study) - CNN
Experts in the field found the study findings promising. “They clearly found a dose effect and clinically meaningful improvement in just three weeks,” said Dr. Matthew Johnson, a professor in psychedelics and consciousness at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. He was not involved in the new study.

‘Intriguing and sobering’: Enthusiasm over psilocybin’s effect on depression tempered by questions about durability (study) - Stat
The Phase 2 trial found that the drug was effective — it reduced or eliminated symptoms in the short term in more than one-third of patients who took the highest dose — but not as dazzlingly powerful as earlier smaller studies had suggested.... “It’s a big step forward for the field of psychedelic research and depression treatment,” said Jimmy Potash, the director of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins who oversees psychedelics research at the university but was not involved in the study. The durability of the response, he added, is “not as good as you’d like, but it’s still quite good.”

Could 'magic mushrooms' treat severe depression? A major study aims to find out. - NBC News
Dr. Sandeep Nayak, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, noted that while most of the people in [COMPASS Pathways’ Phase 2 trial on moderate to severe treatment-resistant depression] didn't improve from the psilocybin, the trial did show a benefit in a group of people "who have not done well with existing treatments, and therefore are going to be much harder to treat."

Getting off Adderall and reducing antidepressants (audio) - The 1A/NPR
Dr. David Goodman, assistant professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; director, the Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Center of Maryland, explains several factors that have led to the Adderall shortage and what the shortage means to patients who can't get the drug now.

Osteoporosis and mental health: What you need to know - CreakyJoints
“Evidence exists that mental health disorders (i.e., depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and PTSD) and osteoporosis have a bidirectional relationship, meaning that depressive and anxiety disorders are associated with osteoporosis and osteoporosis is associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms,” says Traci Speed, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Traffic-related pollutant tied to increased dementia risk - Medscape
Commenting for Medscape Medical News, Paul Rosenberg, MD, co-director of the Memory and Alzheimer's Treatment Center Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, said that air pollution "is the most prominent environmental risk we've found" for dementia.

Opioid-related deaths may be dropping in Maryland, but experts say larger epidemic persists - Baltimore Sun
... Dr. Ken Stoller, director of the Johns Hopkins Broadway Center for Addiction and an associate professor in the Hopkins School of Medicine’s department of psychiatry, [said] there needs to be greater access to federally approved medications, specifically buprenorphine, a type of drug to treat addiction that can be prescribed by a doctor and picked up in a pharmacy.

How to support your sober friends when everyone is drinking - Washington Post
Recognize that your sober friend isn’t cured. AUD [alcohol use disorder] is not different from other chronic medical conditions, says Jeffrey Hsu, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Graduating from a program does not mean that a person is cured,” he says. “This is no different from other people with chronic medical conditions who have to make certain behavioral/lifestyle modifications to keep their disease under control.”

October

Canadian university granted license to study psilocybin mushrooms - High Times
Psilocybin mushrooms are continuing to grow with interest among the medical community.... In mid-September, the University of Copenhagen began examining the effects of psilocybin to treat obesity. Just last week, Johns Hopkins University announced a study to analyze how psilocybin can help patients quit smoking.

Maryland Peace of Mind: The connection between overeating and mental health (video) - WBAL-TV
In our Maryland Peace of Mind segment, the connection between mental health and overeating. Joining us is Dr. Colleen Schreyer, an assistant professor with the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She has more on the struggle of over-eating and how mental health plays an issue.

Mental health headlines and trends (video) - NBC Now ("Weekly Check-in”)
Dr. Erica Richards, chair of psychiatry at Sibley Memorial Hospital and an assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Medicine, discusses the Adderall shortage, a new study that says smiling can make you feel happier, and how to respond if you believe you're being subjected to "quiet firing."

Can ‘magic’ mushrooms help smokers quit? (video) - NewsNation
The National Institutes of Health awarded a $4 million grant to scientists at Johns Hopkins University to study if psilocybin can help people quit smoking. It’s the first time in 50 years that a federal grant has been given to the study of a psychedelic drug for treatment. Matthew Johnson is a psychiatry and behavioral sciences professor at the university’s School of Medicine who is helping lead the trial, which will be done in collaboration with researchers at New York University and the University of Alabama.

Can magic mushrooms help smokers quit? Johns Hopkins is looking into it - WTOP
“There’s a number of forms of addiction, including alcoholism and tobacco addiction, that appear to be sensitive to this intervention with the psychedelic drug psilocybin,” said Matthew Johnson, a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University. Johnson, who will lead the study, said similar previous research has been promising, showing ‘high quit rates’ for smokers.

NIH to trial whether magic mushrooms can help smokers quit — in first federal study of psychedelics in 50 years - Daily Mail (U.K.)
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University, University of Alabama Birmingham, and New York University will launch the project in December and recruit 66 smokers.... The team, led by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine psychedelics researcher Dr Matthew Johnson, will enroll smokers across their three cities [Baltimore, Birmingham and New York] to diversify the pool of subjects and increase confidence in the results.
Also reported by: HealthDay

With promise of legalization, psychedelic companies joust over future profits - New York Times
[L]ike many longtime researchers, Robert Jesse, who helped start the psilocybin research division at Johns Hopkins University over two decades ago, sees potential pitfalls. To him, psychedelics are spiritual tools that belong to all of humanity, not just those wealthy enough to afford a $5,000 psychedelic retreat.

NIH-funded psychedelic trial will study whether hallucinogen can help smokers quit - NBC News
Matthew Johnson, a psychedelic researcher at Johns Hopkins Medicine who is leading the randomized controlled trial, chose to look at the effects on cigarette smoking cessation because of the lack of effective treatments available for people who want to quit…. “There’s several existing treatments, both medications and other therapies, but they all have lots of room for improvement,” Johnson said.

Benefits of magic mushrooms in Proposition 122 likely outweigh the risks (opinion) - Colorado Sun
There are … more than 50 recruiting or active [psilocybin] studies with participants according to ClinicalTrial.gov, with another 40 trials set to recruit participants and millions of dollars in research funding at prominent institutions including Johns Hopkins and the University of California Los Angeles.

Adderall shortage leaves people with ADHD scrambling (video) - CBS 42 via Nexstar (Birmingham, Ala.)
Dr. David W. Goodman, an assistant professor in psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, says there has also been an increase in awareness about ADHD among both patients and physicians. He says that’s driving up demand. “So they seek an evaluation, and more and more prescribers are comfortable enough to make a diagnosis and prescribe a medication,” Goodman said.

Genes link bipolar, schizophrenia, once thought unrelated - Associated Press
“When you look at a family, if you have one person with schizophrenia, you’re more likely to have schizophrenia yourself, but you’re also more likely to have bipolar,” said Dr. Fernando Goes, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University.

How do psychedelics work? This brain region may explain their effects - PBS (NOVA)
[W]hat actually happens in the brain during a psychedelic experience? Fred Barrett, a neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University, is one of the scientists trying to figure that out. His work suggests that “a brain region called the claustrum may be at the center of all of this,” he told NOVA.

How the Adderall shortage is affecting people who need the drug (audio) - KCUR/NPR radio (Kansas City, Kan.)
[A]s the country grapples with a national shortage, how is that affecting the growing number of people who are prescribed this medication? KCUR's Up To Date was joined by a reporter and a professor [David W. Goodman, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine] to discuss why the shortage is happening and how soon things could get back on track.

Marjorie Taylor Greene says you can get fentanyl poisoning from car doors - Newsweek
[T]he majority of evidence suggests that fentanyl cannot be absorbed into the body via unbroken skin. The only case in which fentanyl can be absorbed through the skin is with a fentanyl skin patch, which takes hours of exposure even then. "There is no empirical or clinical evidence that merely touching fentanyl would lead to an overdose or poisoning," Kelly E. Dunn, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University, told Newsweek.

Can psilocybin challenge our pharmaceutical dependence? - Vogue
[A] study from February out of Johns Hopkins found that psilocybin treatment was effective for up to a year for major depression.

F.D.A. confirms widespread shortage of Adderall - New York Times
The Food and Drug Administration has declared a nationwide shortage of Adderall, a medication used to treat A.D.H.D. that has had surging demand in recent years.... “I can understand why there are shortages, because there’s an increased demand of people who are seeking these medications,” said Dr. [David] Goodman, who is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

World Mental Health Day: If you're feeling depressed or anxious, you're not alone - 94.9 WSJM radio (St. Joseph, Mich.)
“I’ve heard the pandemic described as a disaster of uncertainty because it seems like the finish line keeps moving,” said Dr. Erica Martin Richards, chair and medical director of the department of psychiatry and behavioral health at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C. “And that makes it harder to come up with a plan [to cope].”

Health panel recommends screening all kids 8 and up for anxiety - New York Times
“There are a variety of screening options, and I think it depends on the population, it depends on the setting, and I think it depends on the amount of time clinicians have,” said Joseph McGuire, a child psychologist with the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Maryland, who is not on the task force. “We want these tools to be usable, and what’s going to work will vary across settings.”

Is it safe to drink alcohol while taking S.S.R.I.s? - New York Times
For many health care providers who treat anxiety and depression, the concern about whether it’s safe — or even advised — to drink alcohol while taking an antidepressant is a common one. “Patients tell me all the time, ‘I’m going to be drinking with friends tonight, so I skipped a dose,’” said Dr. Sarah Ramsay Andrews, a psychiatrist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Prioritize sex and don’t ‘schlep around in sweatpants every day’: Relationship therapist reveals five things ALL couples should do to make their romance last - Daily Mail (U.K.)
Chris Kraft, Ph.D., director of clinical services at the Sex and Gender Clinic in the department of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Medicine, also spoke to the significance of intimacy, calling it a 'priority.' 'People often think sex has to be a big production with intercourse and orgasms,' he said. 'When in reality, what's most important to couples, especially to many women, is to connect and be intimate.

World Mental Health Day: If you're feeling depressed or anxious, you're not alone - Good Morning America
"I've heard the pandemic described as a disaster of uncertainty because it seems like the finish line keeps moving," said Dr. Erica Martin Richards, chair and medical director of the department of psychiatry and behavioral health at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C. "And that makes it harder to come up with a plan [to cope]."

The Adderall shortage is causing mass chaos for patients, doctors and pharmacies - Vice
One misconception fueling Adderall stigma is the belief that the medication is a performance enhancing drug taken for the sole purpose of increasing focus. Dr. David W. Goodman, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, dispels this notion, saying that stimulant medication is not for the purpose of diminishing ADHD symptoms for productivity, but is much more encompassing.

Why the FDA wants to stop companies from putting CBD in everything - Slate
“As far as I know, there have not been an influx of cases of healthy adults taking retail products and having acute liver toxicity,” says Ryan Vandrey, a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins who researches the behavioral effect of cannabis. By and large, CBD as a chemical entity is relatively safe, Vandrey says. But there are some important caveats, including when it comes to liver function.

Antidepressant use during pregnancy not linked to ADHD, autism: study - Fox 13 (Tampa, Fla.)
Dr. Lauren Osborne, a women’s mood disorder specialist at Johns Hopkins Medicine who’s not affiliated with the most recent study, said untreated mental illness in pregnant women is more dangerous for a developing fetus than the medications used to treat it. "A woman who is depressed is less likely to get good prenatal care and more likely to engage in unhealthy or dangerous behaviors, like smoking and substance abuse," she said in a post on Johns Hopkins Medicine’s website.

5 common signs of ADHD in women, according to experts - Yahoo!
“Women with ADHD may be misdiagnosed with a mood or anxiety disorder,” says David Goodman, MD, LFAPA, associate professor of clinical and behavioral psychiatry at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.... ADHD can lead to different kinds of struggles in a woman’s life. “Women with undiagnosed ADHD are consistently inconsistent at completing tasks,” says Dr. Goodman.

Three years after clinical trial, ketamine provides hope for severely depressed - Los Angeles Times
Dr. Paul Nestadt, a psychiatrist with Johns Hopkins University, helped run the clinical trial that in 2019 resulted in FDA approval [of ketamine]. He had initially been skeptical about ketamine as a viable treatment for depression, but the trials, which helped determine the best application of the drug, changed his mind.

After promising data, experts say many questions remain over an experimental Alzheimer’s drug - CNN
Some independent experts have doubts that [lecanemab is] a big breakthrough, however. “I don’t think we’re seeing a clinical benefit that’s that different from aducanumab,” said Dr. Constantine Lyketsos, a psychiatrist and professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

An L.A. journalist’s suicide still confounds years later. “Can we ever understand that?” - Los Angeles Times
“Is suicide a biological or social issue?” asked Dr. Paul Nestadt, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. “That’s a false dichotomy. It is both.” ... “If you make an assumption that suicide is a mistake and recognize that it is impulsive, then you have an opportunity to help,” said Nestadt.... “The absolute agony of what leads up to the decision to kill yourself is incomprehensible for most people,” said [Johns Hopkins] psychologist Kay Redfield Jamison, whose suicide attempt informed her 1999 book “Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide.”

September

Can smartphones predict suicide? - New York Times
For psychiatrists, few tasks are more nerve-racking than caring for patients they know to be at risk for suicide while they are at home and unsupervised. Dr. Karen L. Swartz, a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University, calls it “the gray zone.”

We care about depression and anxiety. Where's the empathy when it comes to manic episodes? - USA Today
A manic episode typically lasts from a few weeks to a few months, according to Kay Redfield Jamison, a professor of psychiatry at the John Hopkins School of Medicine. Common signs can include "extreme irritability and paranoia, grandiosity and euphoria, changing in thinking (and) speaking a lot, very rapidly."

Alzheimer's drug slowed cognitive decline in clinical trial - The Hill
There are two ways to think about these results: how much of this benefit is due to chance and how good of an advantage does it give to a patient, says Constantine G. Lyketsos at the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Johns Hopkins University. These results tell us that the difference in outcomes from the drug or placebo is not due to chance, but the potential benefit of the drug to the patient is very small.... says Lyketsos.

What happens to your brain on psychedelics? Experts explain the benefits and risks - Fortune
“[The use of psychedelics has] become a big fad among certain demographics like the intelligentsia who have been reading books [like This is Your Mind on Plants] by Michael Pollan,” says Albert Garcia-Romeu PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Meghan Trainor says nurses implied her antidepressants may have caused her son’s NICU stay - Motherly
“We can say with strong confidence that antidepressants don’t cause birth defects,” says Lauren Osborne, M.D., assistant director of the Johns Hopkins Women’s Mood Disorders Center. Osborne says studies finding a physical effect on babies from antidepressants taken during pregnancy fail to account for the effects of the mother’s psychiatric illness.

Psychedelics and mental health: the potential, risks and hype (audio) - WHYY radio/NPR (Philadelphia)
Today, a conversation about psychedelics in mental health treatment, their potential, and risks. We’ll talk about how these drugs affect the brain, altered states of consciousness and the stigma still associated with them. [Our first guest is] David Yaden, assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine working in the Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness research.

Majority of teens and preteens self-conscious about appearance, poll suggests - Today
The numbers of kids with body image issues is likely higher than the study reported, said Joseph McGuire, a child psychologist and an associate professor of psychology and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Adolescents may not want to go to their parents,” he added. “They are going through a lot of bodily changes at that time in life and it may be hard for them to say they’re not comfortable about their bodies.”

What moves us ‘closer to the unfortunate finish line of getting long Covid’ (study) - CNN
Having a chronic illness is strongly associated with the development of depression and other psychological disorders. With common noninfectious disorders such as heart disease, “depression/anxiety/emotional distress do appear to play a role,” said Dr. Joseph Bienvenu, a professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, in an email. He was not involved in the study.

What does the latest science tell us about our brain, our gut and our mental health? - Los Angeles Times
One tidbit from Dr. Glenn Treisman, a professor of psychiatry and medicine at Johns Hopkins University, really stuck with me: “A happy microbiome is a diverse microbiome.”

'Magic' of psychedelics: Easing the trauma of terminal illness - Medscape
Psychologist Bill Richards, PhD, the lead therapist in [oncologist Manish] Agrawal's study and a psychologist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, has witnessed this type of realization [psilocybin-assisted therapy helping people regain a sense of agency] many times. "Psychedelics open up this inner door, and you discover there are resources in you that you never expected to find...." explains Richards.

Premenstrual mood changes impact women of all ages globally - HealthDay
Premenstrual mood changes are a persistent issue among women of reproductive age, according to a study published online Aug. 26 in the Archives of Women's Mental Health. Liisa Hantsoo, Ph.D., from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, and colleagues used a large international dataset to explore patterns in premenstrual symptom frequency with age.

Who should try ketamine therapy? What does it feel like? - Washington Post
Albert Garcia-Romeu, an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who studies psilocybin and other psychedelic drugs for mental health, describes the ketamine therapy landscape as “kind of the Wild West.” “You pay out of pocket, there’s no real standard protocol, different providers do it differently,” he said.

Psychedelics are making big strides in the academic and business world - Green Entrepreneur
A groundbreaking study performed by John Hopkins Medicine found that those ingesting psilocybin mushrooms in small quantities reported better moods and mental health.

Psilocybin as mental health therapy? Here’s what I found. - Washington Post
Matthew Johnson, a psychiatry professor at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research who has conducted numerous studies on psychedelics, [speaks] to the issue of safety. Johnson reiterated that despite public testimonials about the positive therapeutic effects of psychedelic usage, “there are dangers, and it is illegal.” Was he trying to discourage me? “I’m don’t encourage anyone to do this on their own,” he said.

What does CBD in beauty products really do? Derms weigh the benefits - Refinery 29
In a July 2022 study published by Johns Hopkins Medicine, researchers tested more than 100 topical CBD products and found significant evidence of mislabeling. Tory Spindle, Ph.D., the study’s lead author and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, says most [of the beauty products he and his team tested] were inaccurately labeled for CBD....

New drugs on horizon for opioid overdose, withdrawal - Everyday Health
Another treatment on the horizon aims to use Belsomra (suvorexant), a sleeping pill already approved by the FDA as a tool to help ease opioid withdrawal symptoms. ...Belsomra works by blocking signals to wake up, and it isn’t sedating or addictive, says Kelly Dunn, PhD, an opioid researcher at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore....

August

Psychedelic drug helped people with alcohol use disorder reduce drinking, study shows - NBC News
“It’s really in line with accumulating evidence that psilocybin and other psychedelics that work in a very similar way in the brain can be effective in treating different types of addiction,” said Matthew Johnson, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University, who wasn’t involved in the trial.

Aspen considers the value of psychedelics for mental wellness - Aspen Times
In 2006, Roland Griffiths, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University, published the first modern psilocybin research, ending a nearly 40-year-long drought of research on the subject. In recent years, the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research, New York University Langone Health and other institutions have poured more resources into conducting extensive research on the effects of psychedelics.

Does CBD help with insomnia? - New York Times
CBD may indirectly help you sleep by alleviating other conditions, said Ryan Vandrey, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and principal investigator at the university’s Cannabis Science Laboratory. For example, he said, if pain is keeping you awake at night and CBD helps lessen your discomfort, you may be able to sleep better.

Meet the derivatives mastermind now funding ’shrooms science - Bloomberg
Casey Turnbull: As a child of the ’60s I learned psychedelics are an incredible probe of mood and cognition that has no parallel. But like the rest of the world, I dropped them for decades. Then I saw Johns Hopkins University’s Roland Griffiths’s 2006 study on psilocybin and mystical experiences. I thought, “Whoa, a psychiatrist at an elite university did that.”

Here's how to boost your melatonin production for a better night's sleep - Glam
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, melatonin is responsible for promoting sleep. Produced naturally in your body, "melatonin levels rise about two hours before bedtime," according to Johns Hopkins sleep expert Luis F. Buenaver. When your body isn't producing the right amount of melatonin or it isn't producing it at the right time, you can have trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep.

Taking psychedelics could make people less afraid of dying - Time
[S]cientists have identified striking parallels between [near-death experiences and the effects of psychedelic drugs]. According to a new survey conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine ... people's attitudes about death change after both a psychedelic experience and a non-drug-related out-of-body experience.

Seattle’s jail has an ‘astronomical’ suicide rate. Little is changing. - Seattle Times
“If [inmates are] going to be housed alone, [make] sure there’s nothing they can do in that setting to take their life,” said Lanny Berman, former executive director of the American Association of Suicidology and current adjunct professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Adderall is hard to find at some pharmacies following a labor shortage at the largest U.S. supplier - NBC News
There have been shortages of ADHD stimulants before: The FDA reported a shortage from September 2019 through May 2022. [Dr. David W. Goodman, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine] advised patients who take Adderall to anticipate potential difficulty with their prescription refills and to work with their doctors and pharmacies to get alternatives if they run into issues. “It’s unpredictable. We can be sailing along fine and then we run into a shortage,” he said.

Psychedelic drugs take on depression - Nature
Despite its efficacy, ketamine is still approved for use only as an anaesthetic. People with depression can get ketamine therapy, but only “through a weird back door”, says Albert Garcia-Romeu, a psychologist at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Each clinic that offers the drug off-label has its own protocol. “Some people will give it with talk therapy, others will not. Some people will give it to you intravenously,” he says.

Dealing with back to school anxiety (video) - WBFF-TV/Fox Baltimore
There can be a lot of emotion as kids head back to school in the coming weeks, from excitement to anxiety. Doctor Joseph McGuire, a child psychologist with Johns Hopkins Children's Center, joined us live with the tips to fight those first day jitters.

Psilocybin therapy sharply reduces excessive drinking, small study shows - The New York Times
Dr. Matthew W. Johnson, a psychedelic researcher at Johns Hopkins Medicine who was not involved with the JAMA study, said he was encouraged by the results, in part because of the study’s comparatively large size and double-blind design. A previous, promising trial on psilocybin and alcoholic use disorder, he noted, had just 10 participants.

Taking psychedelics helps people face mortality like a near-death experience, study finds - Vice
“I was expecting [the groups: those taking psychedelics and those who had a near-death experience] to have some overlap, but to be much more different than they ended up being in this survey,” said Roland Griffiths, a professor of psychiatry and neurosciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the senior author of the study. “There was a huge overlap with respect to the phenomenology — that is, the qualities of the experience — as well as the enduring attributions made to that experience….” he added.
Also reported by: Inverse

Most people who have near-death experiences report the same thing after - Newsweek
Near-death experiences and psychedelic trips have a "remarkably" similar impact on people's attitudes to death, a study has found. For a paper in the open-access journal PLOS ONE, researchers from the Center for Psychedelics and Consciousness Research and Department of Neurosciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine compared how attitudes changed after the two types of experience.
Also reported by: Discover magazine

Psychedelic drug helped people with alcohol use disorder reduce drinking, study shows - NBC News
“It’s really in line with accumulating evidence that psilocybin and other psychedelics that work in a very similar way in the brain can be effective in treating different types of addiction,” said Matthew Johnson, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University, who wasn’t involved in the trial.

‘Magic mushroom’ psychedelic may help heavy drinkers quit (study) - Associated Press
The new research, published Wednesday in JAMA Psychiatry, is “the first modern, rigorous, controlled trial" of whether [psilocybin] can also help people struggling with alcohol, said Fred Barrett, a Johns Hopkins University neuroscientist who wasn't involved in the study.

How do experiences of wonder and awe affect us? (audio) - WYPR radio
[On the Record producer Melissa Gerr] talked with an astrophysicist, a naturalist, a spirituality researcher and also with David B. Yaden, Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine working in The Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. One of his experiences of awe, he said, came from thinking about vastness.

A church in N.H. offering a hallucinogenic tea has gained a following. But the pastor says his time in town is running out - WBUR radio (Boston)
While often described by its practitioners as a medicine, formal clinical study of [ayahuasca’s] potential to treat conditions, including depression, anxiety, substance misuse disorder and PTSD, remain in a “very early stage,” according to Fred Barrett, associate director for the Center of Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins University. “We don’t know yet if these drugs and therapeutic approaches can really be approved as medicines yet,” he said.

How the psychedelics industry is taking on the future - Newsweek
In a 2020 study of adults with depression, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers found that small doses of the psychedelic substance, combined with supportive psychotherapy, produced significant reductions in depressive symptoms, with most patients showing improvement, with half achieving remission through the four-week follow-up.

Baltimore company aims to develop prescription drug alternative to medical cannabis - Baltimore Business Journal
Along with anxiety and pain treatment, [Adam] Kaplin, a Johns Hopkins University adjunct professor, said the drug [MIRA1a] has a unique cognitive enhancement effect that is not seen in traditional medical cannabis. The cognitive effect could lead to MIRA1a being used as a treatment for conditions such as ADHD or Alzheimer's. Kaplin said much of the research is based on work done at Johns Hopkins University.

The psychedelic ayahuasca is easier to find even though its legality is questionable (audio) – NPR
Fred Barrett, of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins, expresses concern about claims of ayahuasca as medicine, a treatment for depression or PTSD. "The degree to which this is happening in uncontrolled settings without any oversight or accountability could be a risk," he says.

Weed drinks are a buzzy alcohol substitute. But are they safe? - New York Times
“With hard seltzer, you go to a party and drink two, three, maybe four of those things,” said Ryan Vandrey, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine who studies cannabis. “With cannabinoids, you can go from a pleasant experience to a really unpleasant, dysphoric experience really quickly as you start to double or triple or quadruple your dose.”

Harlan Band’s Descent Started with an Easy Online Adderall Prescription – WSJ
“It would be impossible to do a full work-up in 30 minutes and feel comfortable about the risk factors related to substance abuse,” said David Goodman, a psychiatrist specializing in ADHD at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Drug addicts properly diagnosed with ADHD can benefit from treatment with the stimulants, he said, but they must be closely managed.”

Psilocybin ban: Voters to decide - St. Helen's Chronicle (Oregon)
Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research is leading the way in exploring innovative treatments using psilocybin, according to the center's website. "The molecular structure of psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in 'magic mushrooms,' allows it to penetrate the central nervous system," the website states. Studies by John Hopkins University researchers and others have shown that psilocybin can help with depression.

Here’s what alcohol poisoning can do to your body - Self
At [a blood-alcohol level above 0.31%], someone’s vital functions can slow so significantly that they could slip into a coma. The main concern here is aspiration, Sarah Andrews, MD, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, tells Self. That means you run the risk of choking on your vomit and damaging your lungs or even dying.

10 positive affirmations every black woman should recite before leaving the house - News One
“There’s a feeling in a lot of Black communities that women have to be strong and stoic. Women are so busy taking care of everyone else — their partners, their elderly parents, and their children — they don’t take care of themselves,” Erica Richards, chair and medical director of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Sibley Memorial Hospital told John Hopkins Medicine. “However, women should be reminded that attending to their own needs, whether physical or emotional, doesn’t make you weak. It makes you better able to care for your loved ones in the long run.”

Do psychedelics have a future in sports? - Sports Illustrated
“Every drug has risks,” says psychologist Matthew W. Johnson, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. “But for the vast majority of people [who use classic psychedelics], lethal overdose is not one of them. Someone could take dozens or hundreds of times the intended dose, and it wouldn’t make you stop breathing. It wouldn’t kill your liver. It wouldn’t give you a heart attack — the ways that drugs typically kill people.”

Could psychedelic medicine help people living with memory loss? - Psychology Today
Albert Garcia-Romeu of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine studies the effects of psychedelics in humans with a focus on psilocybin (a natural psychedelic found in some species of mushrooms) in the treatment of addiction. He is currently leading a study using psilocybin-based therapy with people living with mild memory loss, and their carers. [Psychology Today] spoke to Dr. Garcia-Romeu about the psychedelic medicine movement and his dementia-related study.

I tripped on mushrooms (legally) at a therapy retreat in Jamaica. It may have changed my life. - Robb Report
For the two-hour journey to the trip’s culmination, wearing dark eyeshades and listening to a five-hour playlist compiled by the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research for its psilocybin patients, I cycled through a montage of my worst childhood traumas.

What not to say to someone who is struggling with anxiety - The List
Pediatric psychologist Joseph McGuire, Ph.D., says that anxiety often gets overlooked (via Johns Hopkins Medicine). "With other medical illnesses, you may be able to see physical symptoms. But with anxiety, you don't necessarily see what the person is dealing with," McGuire explains. "So it's important to be sensitive to what the person with anxiety is going through, even if it doesn't make sense to you."

CBD products often mislabeled, some containing THC: What to know (study) - Healthline
“Misleading labels can result in people using poorly regulated and expensive CBD products instead of FDA-approved products that are established as safe and effective for a given health condition,” Tory Spindle, PhD, co-author of the new study and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in a press release.

July

Beyond the hype: A sober look at psychedelics - Flatland (Kansas City, Mo.)
[While] psychedelics, when used with respect and intention, can be transformative, they don’t produce the desired results for everyone. And there are risks to be considered. While significant progress has been made in recent years, as Roland Griffiths, a veteran psychedelics researcher from Johns Hopkins, recently observed during a 2022 SXSW panel, we are still “astonishingly ignorant” about how these drugs work.

New study looks at 'magic' mushrooms as treatment for depression, without the psychedelic high - CTV (Canada)
On the subject of access to psilocybin therapy, while Johns Hopkins University scientist David Yaden agrees being able to offer the therapy without a psychedelic experience would make it accessible to more people, he worries about patients who may want or need the full experience. Yaden is an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research who has published multiple articles about the use of psilocybin as a potential treatment.

Experts: How a history of animal cruelty and school shootings are often linked - WUSA-TV (D.C.)
Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer ... cut apart animals as a child. Johns Hopkins University psychiatrist Fred Berlin interviewed Dahmer before his death. "I remember I shook his hand, and this is a guy who took a number of lives by strangling them to death," Berlin said. But Berlin cautions against drawing a straight line between what he calls Dahmer’s fascination with anatomy and dissecting animals, and his compulsion to murder humans, which he says was driven by something very different: necrophilia.

Hospital programs tackle mental health effects of long COVID - WebMD
Many long COVID care centers aim to tackle both physical and mental health symptoms, says Tracy Vannorsdall, PhD, a neuropsychologist with the Johns Hopkins Post-Acute COVID-19 Team program. One goal at Hopkins is to identify patients with psychological issues that might otherwise get overlooked, she says.

What's in your CBD product? Labels often mislead - HealthDay
Topical CBD products are gaining popularity in the United States, and the authors of a new study say the science hasn't kept up. "Overall, this study and other studies before it just kind of speak to the need for improved regulatory oversight of cannabis products generally," said researcher Tory Spindle, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in Baltimore.

Good trip? How psychiatrists got serious about using psychedelics to treat mental health - Robb Report
Any skeptics [of psilocybin and similar psychedelics] need only consider the spate of respected academic institutions that have recently founded research centers to study their efficacy, including Johns Hopkins University, New York University and Harvard University’s Massachusetts General Hospital.
 

Some CBD creams, patches don't match labels: Study - WebMD
[H]ow much can you trust what the label says, compared to what really is in CBD patches, creams, and lotions? ... People should "be wary of cannabinoid products available in retail stores. The products may not contain the amounts of CBD or THC that are advertised," says lead study author Tory R. Spindle, PhD [a researcher at the Johns Hopkins Cannabis Science Laboratory].

Cannabis gummies, Delta-8, sold in Maryland completely unregulated (video) - WBAL-TV
Dr. Ryan Vandrey is a cannabis researcher who studies the effects of cannabinoids in a lab at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore. He's currently conducting a study on Delta-8.... "The biggest problem right now in my mind is that Delta-8 is largely unregulated and it's widely available. It's a substance that has abuse potential. It can cause psychoactive drug effects, impairment of functioning and the products that are available right now, you don't really know what's in them," [Vandrey said].

Postsurgical opioid refills risky for entire household (study) - Medscape
Commenting on the findings for Medscape, Traci Speed, MD, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and director of psychiatric services, Personalized Pain Program, Johns Hopkins University, said the well-designed study provides evidence of household risks of opioid use at the population level. However, she noted that capturing opioid-related risks from data using diagnostic codes may underestimate the rates of opioid misuse and chronic opioid use.

The darkest hour is just before dawn - Psychology Today
It’s ... the time of year — spring and summer — when suicide rates are highest, according to Adam Kaplin, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins and an expert on depression and suicide. He knows that, contrary to popular belief, suicide rates spike in the light of spring, not the darkness of winter.

Fruit fly study shows psilocybin produces long-lasting antidepressant-like effect - High Times
A study published in 2020 showed that psilocybin can be an effective and quick-acting treatment for major depressive disorder.... “The magnitude of the effect we saw was about four times larger than what clinical trials have shown for traditional antidepressants on the market,” said study co-author Alan Davis of Johns Hopkins University.

Recent Johns Hopkins Medicine study analyzes mislabeled CBD products (study) - High Times
The study’s lead author, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Tory Spindle, Ph.D., explained the objective behind this analysis. “Misleading labels can result in people using poorly regulated and expensive CBD products instead of FDA approved products that are established as safe and effective for a given health condition,” said Spindle.

Restrictions on psilocybin ‘magic mushrooms’ are easing as research ramps up - Scientific American
[Oregon's psilocybin service] centers, which can apply for licenses starting next January, will not claim to treat depression but will aim to improve general well-being. “My worry is that people won't necessarily get that distinction ... and turn up with horrible, treatment-resistant depression, expecting an expert in treating that condition,” says Johns Hopkins University psychiatrist Natalie Gukasyan, who led a recent psilocybin trial.

Pennsylvania lawmaker pushes for research on psychedelic drug as treatment for depression, other disorders (video) - WGAL-TV (Lancaster, Pa.)
"A lot of these vets come back [from a psychedelic retreat] and report profound healing," Dr. Matt Johnson said. Johnson is trying to unravel that mystery. He's a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who's researching psychedelics. "So, it really is more like psychotherapy than it is like another medication," he said.

The long, strange relationship between psychedelics and telepathy - Vice
Sandeep Nayak, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, and David Yaden, an assistant professor at the center who studies the phenomenology of psychedelic experiences, are quoted in this article.

Taking the magic out of magic mushrooms (op-ed, guest essay) - The New York Times
“To get the kinds of persisting benefits that we’re seeing, which are weeks, months, even over a year later, that would seem to suggest that there’s some kind of cognitive shift or changes to one’s meaning-making that are going on,” said David Yaden, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research.

Suvorexant may ease symptoms during opioid withdrawal therapy - HealthDay
Andrew S. Huhn, Ph.D., from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, and colleagues recruited 38 participants with opioid use disorder who received buprenorphine/naloxone treatment for three days before being randomly assigned to 20 mg suvorexant, 40 mg suvorexant, or placebo (14, 12, and 12 patients, respectively).

Thailand considering chemical castration in exchange for shorter prison term: reports - FOX 5 (D.C.)
[Dr. Frederick Berlin] has concerns about a blanket criminal justice approach without evaluating the appropriateness in each case. "Speaking now as a physician, I think it’s absolutely inappropriate to use a medical treatment as a criminal sanction," says Berlin, who treats patients with sexual disorders at Johns Hopkins Hospital and at an independent clinic.

Microdosing psilocybin mushrooms improves mood and mental health after one month, new study finds - Forbes
These findings join the ranks of many peer-reviewed, legitimate academic studies that look at psilocybin as a hopeful treatment for depression. The Journal of Psychopharmacology published a follow-up earlier this year to this widely-publicized study from Johns Hopkins Medicine that found psilocybin may continue to help people with depression up to one year later

Is being ‘hangry’ real? 1st-of-its-kind study looks at how hunger affects mood - Today show (NBC)
"It's really cool that they captured [the link between hunger and anger] in real life," said Susan Carnell, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University. The findings weren't a surprise to Carnell, because "there are increasing studies in psychiatry linking the gut and brain."

Advocates push for decriminalization of psilocybin mushrooms in Boulder - Daily Camera (Boulder, Colo.)
[Del] Jolly, a Boulder County resident, has partnered with Johns Hopkins in a real-world psilocybin mushroom study through Unlimited Sciences, the psychedelic research organization he co-founded. Should Boulder choose to decriminalize psychedelic substances, it would not impact research

Zac Kamenetz, the psychedelic rebbe of Berkeley, seeks applicants for Jewish cannabis retreat - Jewish News of Northern California
A few years ago, Rabbi Zac Kamenetz of Berkeley was a novice to psychedelic substances. But after a life-changing experience as a subject in a Johns Hopkins study of psychedelic experiences in clergy, he’s now a leading voice in a growing movement to normalize the use of psychedelic substances such as psilocybin (aka magic mushrooms) in the practice of Jewish spirituality.

Moderating your alcohol by saving drinks for the weekend? A study says there may be risks. - USA Today
The [study's] results reflect the range of potential long-term health impacts of alcohol even for those who aren’t categorized as high alcohol users, said Sarah Andrews, a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University. Such a trend could point to a need for improved medical screenings that ask for more details on drinking patterns.

June

Legalize psychedelic mushrooms? Advocates say they have enough signatures to make this November’s ballot - Denver Post
“The biggest takeaway I hope people understand is that these natural medicines have been used by humans for 10,000 years and in the last 20 to 25 years there has been a significant amount of clinical research at universities like Johns Hopkins and UCLA that really demonstrate the efficacy of natural medicines,” said [Kevin] Matthews, who led Denver’s decriminalization initiative in 2019.

8 solid CBD options, bc we know you're anxious - Cosmopolitan
Some studies claim that CBD may reach receptors in the brain that regulate fear and anxious behaviors. “It shows promise as a medication that can reduce anxiety for some people, but additional studies are needed to determine which products, at which doses, are beneficial before the FDA approves it,” says Ryan Vandrey, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Mummies who mushroom: The mums using psychedelics to take the edge off modern parenthood - Harper's Bazaar Australia
Psychedelics are … largely illegal in the United States, where the federal government still classifies most of them as Schedule 1 drugs (the same category as cannabis), meaning they “have a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use in treatment” — even as researchers at Johns Hopkins, Harvard, UCLA, and some of the other biggest institutions in medical research have found benefits to using low doses of psychedelics.

How an NHL enforcer broke his body — and turned to psychedelics to heal his brain - Rolling Stone
Since [Riley] Cote began proselytizing, scientific research bolstering the case for psychedelics has accumulated. Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore established a center for psychedelic and consciousness research in 2019, and has published 50 peer-reviewed papers that indicate psychedelics help treat depression, promote psychological insight, alleviate anxiety in cancer patients, break smoking addiction, and improve overall life satisfaction.

Rabbi Ben Gorelick plans to use religious freedom against an 8-year minimum psychedelic charge - High Times
With [a visit from authorities] always looming, the [Sacred Tribe] prepared, working with psychedelics professionals to ensure compliance with Colorado and federal laws. The community has partnered with professionals from Johns Hopkins University and various psychedelic labs along the way

How to reset your caffeine habit and boost your energy levels - Women's Health (Australia)
So, why consider quitting coffee? The thing is, over time, the cells in your brain adapt and you need to consume more to get the same buzz, says Dr Lindsay Standeven, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. That’s when you may find your one-cup habit turning into multiple mugs daily. “Since caffeine appears in more than just coffee, you might not know exactly how much you’re consuming on the regular.”

‘We want to know whose brain is healing and why.’ (study) - New York Times
Dr. Jennifer Coughlin, an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the study’s lead researcher, first observed the overtime work of the reparative brain cells in a pilot of the study that began in 2015. Testing four active N.F.L. players and 10 former pros whose careers ended within 12 years, Coughlin’s team found higher levels of a biomarker that increases as microglia activity does.

An ex-police officer turned senator unwittingly took 'magic' mushrooms without realizing — now he microdoses the drug most days to ease his depression - Business Insider
Matthew Johnson, a Susan Hill Ward professor in Psychedelics and Consciousness at Johns Hopkins University, and Albert Garcia-Romeu, an assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins, are quoted in this article, speaking about possible risks of self-microdosing.

Mushrooms may help ease the elderly and terminally ill into afterlife - New York Post
A pair of studies, produced in tandem by researchers at NYU Langone Health and Johns Hopkins University, described a psilocybin trial involving 80 advanced cancer patients. Both teams found that 80% of participants had gained extended relief from the stresses of death after a “single dose” — 0.3 milligrams per kilogram — for more than six months after their psychedelic voyage. Those patients reported fewer feelings of despair, and greater satisfaction with life despite their terminal status

What to do if you hit your head - Consumer Reports
As people age, they may be more likely to fall and hit their head, says Matthew E. Peters, MD, an associate professor in the division of geriatric psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Medicine. That’s in part because your strength, balance, and reflexes may decline with age as well as with conditions such as osteoporosis and arthritis.

7 signs your mental health medication isn't working the way it should – HuffPost
“Everyone’s brain and body responds to and processes medications differently, so getting on the right medication regimen can be a frustrating process for some people,” Melissa Shepard, board-certified psychiatrist and assistant professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, told HuffPost. “The most frustrating part being we don’t always know why.”

Best online therapy for teens in 2022 - Everyday Health
Make sure the therapy your teen will be receiving is provided by a licensed therapist, says Leslie Miller, MD, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and the director of the Mood Disorders in Adolescents and Young Adults Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “I think it’s important to see the criteria of the person who [your teen is] are going to be seeking treatment with to make sure that they have the training to teach the therapy and the skills,” Dr. Miller explains.

Can supplements really help with depression or anxiety? - New York Times
“There’s not nearly as much oversight [with supplements] compared to traditional pharmaceuticals, which require pills be manufactured in a consistent way, with consistent dosing,” said Dr. Paul Nestadt, a co-director of the Johns Hopkins Anxiety Disorders Clinic and an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Stephen Asma: My father’s experience with morphine in hospice showed me the healing joy of altered states - Chicago Tribune
Research at the MIND Foundation in Berlin and the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research is revealing that psychedelics are better than many antidepressants for treating certain kinds of depression. But even healthy people can benefit from psychedelic experiences.

How psilocybin, the psychedelic in mushrooms, may rewire the brain to ease depression, anxiety and more – CNN
"One of the most interesting things we've learned about the classic psychedelics is that they have a dramatic effect on the way brain systems synchronize, or move and groove together," said Matthew Johnson, a professor in psychedelics and consciousness at Johns Hopkins Medicine. "When someone's on psilocybin, we see an overall increase in connectivity between areas of the brain that don't normally communicate well," Johnson said.

Calls to poison control about children taking too much melatonin have risen dramatically in the last decade - Everyday Health
“In the European Union, you need a prescription to get melatonin and therefore it’s highly regulated,” says David Neubauer, MD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and sleep expert at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. Because melatonin is sold as a dietary supplement in the United States, it’s not subject to the same rules as prescription drugs or over the counter medications, he says.

Pa. veterans will help study psychedelic drugs to treat trauma, prevent suicide - Penn Live (Central Pennsylvania)
Some of the research done by institutions such as Johns Hopkins have found that psychedelic drugs hold great promise for helping people overcome alcohol and smoking addictions.

Psychedelics might be the next big thing in mental health care, experts say (audio) – NPR
Fred Barrett is a psychiatry professor and psychedelics researcher at Johns Hopkins University. He says psilocybin can feel like the next big thing in mental health care, but it's only been rigorously tested on a few hundred people.

Suicides among Black People May Be Vastly Undercounted - Scientific American
“At a very basic level, this data impacts a doctor’s risk assessment in emergency rooms across the country,” says Paul Nestadt, a psychiatrist who specializes in the epidemiology of suicide at Johns Hopkins University.

Sheppard Pratt opens new psychedelic research center in Towson - Baltimore Business Journal
Baltimore has recently become a hub for psychedelics research. Johns Hopkins University has a center focusing on psychedelics research, backed by $17 million in funding. Along with studies focused on the medical uses of psychedelics, JHU is also looking at the wider effects the chemicals have on consciousness, researching the impact of the chemicals on spirituality and on the perception of music.

May

Maryland bill to fund psychedelics research and access for veterans takes effect without governor’s signature - Marijuana Moment
The Senate bill that Hogan is allowing to become law will provide “cost-free access” to psychedelics for eligible veterans. The state Department of Health will be required to “periodically” consult with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, Sheppard Pratt hospital and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

What’s the safest way to try psychedelic-assisted therapy right now? – Self
Since esketamine can cause sedation, impaired judgment, and has the potential for misuse, there are strict guidelines around its use. It must be administered under the supervision of a doctor and you may need to convince your insurance to cover the cost by providing proof that you’ve tried other medications and therapies, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Canadian senator admits he takes psilocybin for depression - High Times
Psilocybin also works differently than regular anti-depressants. Indeed, there is emerging evidence that it could be a viable alternative to existing treatments for depression. Even more excitingly, the research available so far also seems to suggest that psilocybin’s effects last long after treatment ends — which is not the case with traditional medicines. Results of a study at Johns Hopkins University even show that psilocybin treatment for major depression lasts about a year for most patients.

Texas school shooting: How to help kids get through unspeakable horror - Los Angeles Times
4. Limit exposure to the media. This is true for youth of all ages. Violent images can cause secondary trauma. For younger children, “every time they watch the news, they feel like it’s a new event as opposed to repetition of the same event. It’s important for them not to watch too much,” Carol Vidal, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University, told The Times in 2019.

Mushroom advocates arrested - The Paper (Albuquerque, N.M.)
Studies over recent years have shown psilocybin to be a potentially therapeutic drug for treating PTSD, anxiety and a number of other psychological ailments — especially for terminal patients. Earlier this year, Johns Hopkins Medicine published a study in the Journal of Psychopharmacology that found that two doses of psilocybin in conjunction with psychotherapy drastically decreased major depressive disorder symptoms for most participants.

How to plan for a schizophrenia relapse – WebMD
Work closely with your treatment team. Keep up with your doctor’s appointments while you’re feeling well. This helps you and the doctor treating your schizophrenia build a trusting relationship, says Russell Margolis, MD, clinical director of the Johns Hopkins Schizophrenia Center. It could also give your doctor a sense of when you start to feel unwell, he says.

Vicky Dulai on the growing acceptance of psychedelics for healing - OCNJ Daily (Ocean City, N.J.)
Perhaps the biggest evidence of growth in acceptance of psychedelics can be seen at Johns Hopkins Medicine. One of the country’s most revered medical institutions is home to the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research.... Among the center’s compelling findings, Vicky Dulai reports that treatments for major depression using psilocybin can be effective for up to a year for many patients.

What to do if you’re pulled over after using cannabis - Philadelphia Inquirer
If you must drive, research suggests that impairment has mostly worn off by five hours after inhalation, said Tory Spindle, a psychologist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Lucid dreaming and visions of God: How psilocybin therapy helped locals cope with depression - Bethesda magazine
A 2020 study conducted by [Johns] Hopkins’ Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research found that of 24 adult participants suffering major depression, a majority showed an improvement in symptoms after two separate doses of psilocybin along with psychotherapy.

Activists demanding psilocybin for terminally ill patients arrested outside DEA headquarters - The Hill
Studies over the past several years have shown promise in using psilocybin-assisted therapy to treat disorders like depression and anxiety. A 2016 study from Johns Hopkins University found a majority of participants suffering cancer-related anxiety or depression experienced “considerable” relief for up to six months from a single large dose of psilocybin.

Micro-dosing magic mushrooms: A growing trend among San Diego moms - CBS 8 (San Diego)
While [Matthew Johnson, Ph.D., director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research] stands behind the benefits of psilocybin, he cautions, the majority of research conducted is related to macro-dosing sparingly in controlled environments, not microdosing for long periods of time. “It’s not like we’re seeing [patients] less depressed when they continue to take psilocybin. It’s like you take psilocybin in two sessions under monitoring and you’re feeling better a week later, a month later, six months later.

Experiencing job burnout? Self-care can help, but it isn't just your problem to solve - USA Today
How do you recover from burnout? Implementing a self-care strategy can help, said Johns Hopkins University psychiatry and behavioral sciences professor Neda Gould, who also runs the university’s mindfulness program. "I think the good news is that there can be small adjustments that begin to have a meaningful impact,” Gould said.

April

We have arrived at the riskiest time of year for suicide - Irish Times
Many theories have been put forward to try to explain this time-of-year phenomenon. If we can understand it, maybe we can do something about it. Perhaps a person who has been robbed of energy by depression in the winter may gain enough motivation in the summer to take their own life. That’s what psychiatrist Dr Adam Kaplin at Johns Hopkins University in the United States says, according to an interview on the university website.

The completely correct guide to getting over jet lag - Washington Post
Technically speaking, jet lag should hit when you have traveled across at least two time zones, says David Neubauer, a clinical faculty member in the Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorders Center. So whether you’re heading from Toledo to Taipei or from LAX to JFK, the threat of jet lag is there.

Ellen W. Halle, a former therapist with the Johns Hopkins Sex and Gender Clinic who was known for her many friendships, dies - Baltimore Sun
Ellen W. Halle, a pioneering sex therapist with what became the Johns Hopkins Sex and Gender Clinic ... died of Alzheimer’s disease April 21 at the Brightwood Retirement Community in Lutherville. The former Roland Park resident was 95.... In 1966, Mrs. Halle, responded to a “Hopkins to Train Housewives as Psychotherapists” ad in The Sun.... At the time, the program, which eventually became the Johns Hopkins Sex and Gender Clinic, was known as the Johns Hopkins Sexual Behaviors Consultation Unit.

What parents need to know about antidepressants for children and teens - Baltimore's Child
“We often think that the benefit [of treating with antidepressants] is worth [the] risk [of suicidal thinking] as long as there’s close monitoring and everyone knows what to expect,” says Dr. Hal Benjamin Kronsberg, a psychiatrist for Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center’s School-based Mental Health Program and the Child Mobile Treatment team.

What is histrionic personality disorder? - The Cut
“[Such persons’] way of seeing themselves, of seeing the world, operating in the world, is very rigid, extreme to the point where it causes a great deal of trouble for them in many areas of life,” explains Francis Mondimore, director of the Mood Disorders Clinic at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

Why psychedelics like psilocybin from magic mushrooms and LSD are seeing a surge in medical interest, in treatments for depression, addiction and more - South China Morning Post
In 2018, the US Food and Drug Administration designated some psychedelic treatments as “breakthrough therapy,” which means they have significant therapeutic potential. [In 2019], private donors gave US$17 million to start the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins Medicine, part of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States.

Do antidepressants improve quality of life? (study) - Everyday Health
It would be a mistake to conclude that antidepressants don’t improve the quality of life for people with depression on the basis of this study, says Paul Nestadt, MD, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. For starters, the tool used to assess quality of life was “rough and inelegant," he says.

Is the opioid crisis masking real rates of suicides? – WebMD
An overarching focus on mental health during the pandemic may have played a role [in the 3% drop in suicides nationally]. More people were seeking treatment during mental health crises, both in person and through telehealth. While [Paul Nestadt, MD, a psychiatrist with Johns Hopkins University] agrees that these things did play a role, he thinks the numbers could also be misleading. Suicides, he says, could be hidden by the nation’s opioid crisis.

Lois H. Feinblatt, a pioneering sex therapist at the Johns Hopkins Sex and Gender Clinic, dies at 100 - Baltimore Sun
Lois H. Feinblatt, a pioneering sex therapist who practiced with the Johns Hopkins Sex and Gender Clinic for more than three decades and was also a philanthropist, died in her sleep Friday at [her home] in Guilford. She was 100 years old and a month away from celebrating her 101st birthday…. In 1970, Mrs. Feinblatt joined the staff of a new Johns Hopkins program that was known as the Johns Hopkins Sexual Behaviors Consultation Unit.

The active ingredient in ‘magic mushrooms,’ makes scientific gains - The Hill
In a testament to how powerful the mystical experience associated with the drug can be, Roland Griffiths, the professor in the Neuropsychopharmacology of Consciousness at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who received approval in 2000 to carry out the first experiments on psilocybin since the 1960s, found in a survey of early study participants that more than half regarded it as one of the most meaningful experiences of their life.

Psilocybin could be a therapeutic breakthrough for addiction – Time
[A] 2017 Johns Hopkins University pilot study, co-authored by Albert Garcia-Romeu, found that the majority of 15 participants were able to quit smoking for at least 16 months after receiving two to three moderate to high-level doses of psilocybin.

GoDaddy Billionaire Bob Parsons believes psychedelics can heal trauma — and he’s putting his money (and brain) on the line – Forbes
It wasn’t until the early 2000s when academic interest in psychedelics started to pick up again. Today, the psychedelic renaissance is underway as promising studies out of Johns Hopkins, Imperial College London, New York University, Yale and other institutions suggest that drugs such as psilocybin and MDMA possess therapeutic potential for various conditions, including depression, PTSD and addiction.

Safe, legal access to psilocybin treatment services could help many Mainers - Portland Press Herald (Maine)
Recent studies at Johns Hopkins, Yale and New York universities have demonstrated that a single dose of psilocybin, in controlled settings, produces an enduring decrease in depression symptoms.

‘Magic mushrooms’ for therapy? Veterans help sway conservatives. - Associated Press
[T]here are serious psychological risks [with the use of psychedelics], especially for people with certain forms of mental illness or a family history of conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. “Then there’s a possibility that a high-dose psychedelic experience could sort of trigger that and lead to long-lasting mental health issues,” said Albert Garcia-Romeu, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Magic mushroom psilocybin study found long-term improvement in depression - International Business Times
According to a 2020 study by Johns Hopkins Medicine on how psilocybin affects adults with major depression, “researchers report that two doses of the psychedelic substance psilocybin, given with supportive psychotherapy, produced rapid and large reductions in depressive symptoms, with most participants showing improvement and half of study participants achieving remission through the four-week follow-up.”

Mescaline, magic mushrooms and Mother Ayahuasca: Touting mental health benefits, advocates aim to decriminalize psychedelic plants in Illinois - News Tribune (Jefferson City, Mo.)
Matthew Johnson, the Susan Hill Ward professor in psychedelics and consciousness at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, said his lab has found psilocybin helps people quit smoking and recover from depression and anxiety. He said contrary to traditional psychiatric meds, psilocybin can produce enduring changes after just a few doses. The evidence suggests mystical experiences help people gain a new perspective on their issues, he said.

Mommies who mushroom - Harper’s Bazaar
It’s estimated that more than 30 million people in the United States have used psychedelics, according to Matthew W. Johnson, the Susan Hill Ward professor in psychedelics and consciousness at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research.

Permanent Daylight Saving Time isn't all sunshine – CNN
The Sunshine Protection Act? "You could just as well call it the Darkness Protection Act," Dr. David Neubauer, an expert in sleep medicine at Johns Hopkins University, told What Matters. "Nobody is creating more sunshine in this Act. It is simply stealing light from the morning, when we need it to reinforce our circadian clock, and adding it to the evening, when we really don't need it," he said.

People who used 'magic mushrooms' less likely to develop opioid use disorder, study finds - USA Today
“There’s no real good reason to think that one (psychedelic) would work better than the other,” said Albert Garcia-Romeu, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “There’s been a sort of shroom craze and, as a result, there’s been a lot more people looking into using psilocybin for medical and health reasons that you don’t see with some of the other more obscure psychedelics.”

Are young women catching ‘TikTok tics’ from social media? The answer is complex. - Boston Globe
Joseph F. McGuire, a psychologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore who has seen patients suffering from a sudden onset of tic-like symptoms, believes determining the root cause of these cases is an important task — a task he still considers incomplete. But most important for now, McGuire says, is taking patients’ distress seriously and offering whatever treatment is possible.

Just how far can psychedelics push the boundaries of how we assign consciousness? (study) - Science alert
"This study demonstrates that when beliefs change following a psychedelic experience, attributions of consciousness to various entities tend to increase," says psychiatrist Sandeep Nayak from the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research in Baltimore.

Baltimore police report more than 40 robberies over the weekend (video) - WMAR-TV
"I think when people get hopeless they abandon being civil and do terrible things,” said Dr. Glenn Triesman, a professor [of psychiatry and behavioral sciences] at Johns Hopkins…. "Very well loved surgeon [at Hopkins] was injured in a shooting [Friday] when people tried to carjack him … a person here in the city trying to help people in the city gets treated that way makes people more hopeless not less hopeless.” Triesman said.

The mystifying rise of child suicide - New Yorker
Jimmy Potash, the chair of the psychiatry department at Johns Hopkins, told me that a boy who survived a suicide attempt described the suddenness of the impulse: seeing a knife in the kitchen, he thought, I could stab myself with that, and had done so before he had time to think about it.

Psychedelic users report greater attribution of consciousness to living, nonliving things – Healio
Psychedelic drug users who reported belief-changing experiences also saw increased attribution of consciousness to various living and non-living entities, according to a study published in Frontiers of Psychology. “Psychedelic substances produce unusual and compelling changes in conscious experience, which have prompted some to propose that psychedelics may provide unique insights into the nature of consciousness itself,” Sandeep M. Nayak, MD, and Roland R. Griffiths, PhD, both of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, wrote.

March

The next big addiction treatment - New York Times
Roland Griffiths, a psychopharmacologist at Johns Hopkins, and Matthew Johnson, a Hopkins psychologist, are mentioned or quoted in this article. Therapy sessions at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research also are discussed.

Psychedelics' interaction with psych meds: more questions than answers – Medscape
Albert Garcia-Romeu, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, confirmed that there is "an evidence gap" on psilocybin's and other psychedelic drugs' interactions with other medications. "This has not been formally studied for a number of reasons, but mainly because psilocybin has primarily been considered a drug of abuse," Garcia-Romeu told Medscape Medical News.

Teen girls are still getting TikTok-related tics — and other disorders - Wall Street Journal
Joseph McGuire, an associate professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University, said the number of patients being treated for functional tics at the university has remained steady. “Fortunately, we have successfully helped many young patients and their families navigate through this challenging time,” he said.

For kids, fear of the dark is common. Here are ways to help them. - Washington Post
Limited visibility plays a part [in humans' fear of the dark]. “When we cannot see well, we feel more vulnerable,” says Joe Bienvenu, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

New research shows properties in magic mushrooms could have long-lasting benefits to treat depression (video) - CBS News
"One of the curious features about these drugs, I would say it's just the signature feature, is they produce experiences that have huge embedded personal meaning," [Johns Hopkins'] Dr. Roland Griffiths said. Psilocybin's medical potential was studied in the '60s, until concerns about abuse stopped research. Griffiths helped restart experiments and found that just two doses of psilocybin in a controlled environment, combined with therapy, reduced or even eliminated depression for most patients for up to a year after treatment.

The science, ethics, and art of disclosing a dementia diagnosis - Psychiatric Times
Among the four authors of this article on how to communicate a dementia diagnosis are Dr Robert P. Roca, a professor of clinical psychiatry and vice chair of clinical business development in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Dr Susan Lehmann, clinical director of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neuropsychiatry, and associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Foods and activities to fight SAD - U.S. News & World Report
Sometimes referred to as the winter blues or the winter doldrums, SAD can actually go much deeper than that, says Dr. Paul Nestadt, co-director of the Johns Hopkins Anxiety Disorders Clinic and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. "It's a mood disorder, much like major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder...." he says.

How 'magic mushrooms' could follow in the footsteps of cannabis – Politico
What was once the province of acid-heads in Haight-Ashbury has since emerged as a nootropic tool embraced by Silicon Valley tech bros and a potentially lucrative business opportunity for investors.... And researchers at NYU and Johns Hopkins [have been] eager to pick up where others left off, creating research and training programs focused on therapeutic uses just as there is now greater attention on mental health.

Bill would allow use of some hallucinogens for PTSD treatment - News Tribune (Jefferson City, Mo.)
Rep. Lisa Thomas, R-Lake Ozark, said there hasn't been enough research into the safety of the products. Major universities, including Johns Hopkins, New York University and Washington University in St. Louis, are already conducting studies of the products, [Rep. Tony Lovasco, R-O'Fallon] responded.

Access to psilocybin – psychedelic mushrooms – stalled, but doctors find evidence of clinical benefits - Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.)
A study from John Hopkins University found psilocybin was associated with clinically significant decreases in depression and anxiety in about 80% of participants after six months. Another study from New York University showed a similar result.

Permanent daylight saving time sounds great for Kansas and U.S., but careful what you wish for - Kansas Reflector
David Neubauer, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University, put it this way to [Washington] Post reporter Allyson Chiu: “With daylight saving time, we are perpetually out of synchronization with our internal clocks and we often achieve less nighttime sleep, both circumstances having negative health impacts.

My psychiatrist is a DJ - Neo Life
[F]or seven decades ... Western classical music remained the gold standard in most clinical studies. Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore — one of the world’s top institutions leading the “psychedelic revolution” today — has published study after rigorous study on the clinical use of psychedelics to treat depression, anxiety, and other illnesses for twenty years. Yet they still use a playlist created by psychedelic pioneer Bill Richards in 1963: Gorecki, Vivaldi, Beethoven. Even Wagner is in there, the one composer associated more with the Nazis than any musician in history.

Sleep experts say Senate has it wrong: Standard time, not daylight saving, should be permanent - Washington Post
“We have all enjoyed those summer evenings with seemingly endless dusks,” said David Neubauer, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University. But daylight saving time “does not ‘save’ evening light at all, it simply steals it from the morning when it is necessary to maintain our healthy biological rhythms.”

Denver doctor helped patients with severe anorexia obtain aid-in-dying medication, spurring national ethics debate - Colorado Sun
In an interview with The Sun, the director of the eating disorders program at Johns Hopkins said using aid-in-dying medication for anorexia patients is “alarming” and “fraught with problems.” It is in direct contradiction to treating mental illness, promoting hope for recovery and improving quality of life for our patients, said Dr. Angela Guarda, Johns Hopkins psychiatrist.

Tau buildup in brain tied to psychosis, more rapid decline in Alzheimer's disease (study) - M.D.alert via Reuters
Dr. Gwenn Smith, Director, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neuropsychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, commented on the study in an email to Reuters Health. "In vivo molecular imaging such as PET can provide unique insights into the role of proteins and neurotransmitters in the development of psychosis in AD. The results are promising."

Easier access to a better treatment — buprenorphine — is helping people with opioid use disorder turn their lives around - Seattle Times
Dr. Kenneth Stoller, who directs the Johns Hopkins Broadway Center for Addiction in Baltimore, says treatment narrowly focused on medication could sell patients short. In his program, buprenorphine and other meds are part of a comprehensive package that includes helping patients find housing, connect with psychiatric care and work on skills such as parenting.

A ketamine clinic treads the line between health care and a ‘spa day for your brain’ - New York Times
Patients [at Nushama clinic] are not required to be in ongoing therapy.... Other clinics have more stringent requirements. “All of our patients in our clinic need to have an outpatient psychiatrist and we need a referral from them as well,” said Dr. Paul Kim, who directs a clinic at Johns Hopkins Medicine that offers esketamine.

Keenan: Finding the magic in the mushrooms - Windsor Star (Canada)
While the Parker Psychedelic Research Chair is a Canadian first, prestigious Johns Hopkins University has a Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. One of its investigators, neuroscientist Frederick Barrett ... described “growing clinical evidence of the really possibly profound effects that these (psychedelic) compounds, in the right setting, may have for patients suffering from at least mood and substance use disorders.”

Americans' stress spiking over inflation, war in Ukraine, survey finds – NPR
"It's like being kicked while you're down," says Dr. Kali Cyrus, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University, who wasn't involved with the [survey]. "It might take some time, but most people are resilient and actually recover [from temporary stressors]," says Cyrus. "But I think there are others who will have to work on it to actually tap into our sources of resilience."

Inpatient hospital discharges highlight missed opportunities for HIV care in people with schizophrenia – Medscape
"[If these patients] didn't have a discharge diagnosis, then it's possible that they were not managed for their HIV or their HIV was not addressed while they were in the hospital," Sarah Andrews, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and AIDS psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, explained. Andrews, who was not involved in the study, noted that this omission is significant.

Melatonin for Sleep: Does it work, and is it safe? – AARP
[M]elatonin is a naturally occurring hormone the brain produces in response to darkness to help our bodies know when it’s time to go to sleep and when it’s time to be awake. When melatonin hits the bloodstream (typically, a few hours before bedtime), it reduces alertness and “facilitates our ability to fall asleep,” explains David Neubauer, M.D., associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Oklahoma researchers could soon study psychedelic mushrooms’ effect on mental health. The lawmakers behind the push hope it will help veterans - KGOU radio (Oklahoma City)
In the United States, one of the most well known institutions studying [psychedelics] has been Johns Hopkins medical school. Dr. Roland Griffiths has spent decades studying psilocybin and other compounds, and during that time became the founding Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research.

Thousands of Oregonians eager to undergo psilocybin treatment under state program - Oregon Capital Chronicle
Studies by Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, and others, have shown that psilocybin can help with depression. A study published by Johns Hopkins last month showed that psilocybin treatment relieved symptoms of major depressive disorder for at least a year.

Fitness titans Victor and Lynne Brick start a foundation to honor Victor’s beloved brother and change the way the world treats mental health - Baltimore magazine
Medical professionals such as James Potash, director of the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, are impressed by the Bricks’ efforts. “They have pushed us to think hard about the relationship between physical health and mental health, and that’s a valuable thing for us to keep front of mind,” he says.

'Mommy Wine Culture' is toxic. Here are better ways to deal with parenting stress – HuffPost
“Over the short term, alcohol lowers heart rate and blood pressure, reduces attention and concentration, and increases sleepiness, all of which contribute to the sense of relaxation most people like. Unfortunately, regular alcohol use primes the body to work to counteract these effects,” said Jessica Peirce, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “This means regular use can result in higher baseline heart rate and blood pressure and worsening anxiety, irritability and sleeplessness,” Peirce said.

Shroom boom: Studies show 'magic mushrooms' can relieve severe depression (video) - KARE-TV (Minneapolis)
"How psilocybin works is very different than any other treatment we currently have for depression," said Dr. Roland Griffiths, professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Johns Hopkins has been the leader in psilocybin research for 20 years, and their latest study is no exception. It looked at how two sessions of psilocybin, along with psychotherapy, affected a small group of moderately to severely depressed people. [Note: Dr. Natalie Gukasyan, medical director for Johns Hopkins University Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, also is quoted in this article.]

Magic mushrooms, psilocybin and microdosing: Growing trend draws e-vendors, scientists - CBC (Canada)
[There's still a lot to discover.] Matthew Johnson, a professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Maryland, summarizes the situation: "Scientifically, the field has not been able to confirm any of the claimed benefits in the few carefully controlled research studies conducted so far on microdosing. It could be, however, that the right type of study has not been conducted yet."

How psychedelic-assisted therapy can help ease end-of-life anxiety - Next Avenue
Subjective features of a mystical or peak experience are a sense of unity, transcendence, sacredness, ineffability, and deeply felt positive emotions. Both NYU and Johns Hopkins studies found the mystical experience to be a mediating factor and predictor in enduring changes in outcome measures, including anxiety and depressive symptoms.

What is holotropic breathwork – and what can it do for your mental health - Women’s Health
Holotropic breathwork is a breathing practice where you do fast, controlled breathing patterns, usually in a group setting, to help influence your mind and emotions, says Matthew Johnson, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, who is researching holotrophic breathwork.

February

It may be time to change your mind about psychedelics - Next Avenue
[A] landmark study from Johns Hopkins reported in Psychopharmacology showed that a single administration of psilocybin can produce large and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with a life-threatening cancer diagnosis.

More people are microdosing for mental health. But does it work? - New York Times
Joseph, an Austin-based designer ... came across research from Johns Hopkins University about psilocybin, the active ingredient in hallucinogenic, or “magic,” mushrooms. In a small study, full doses of the drug helped cancer patients cope with depression and anxiety. Then he read anecdotes of Silicon Valley influencers claiming increased energy from taking tiny doses of psychedelics. So he decided to start microdosing a few times a week....

Dr. Bronner’s, the soap company, dips into psychedelics - New York Times
The University of Texas, Johns Hopkins and Yale are among the stolid institutions that have created divisions to explore whether psychedelic compounds can advance the treatment of anxiety, depression, addiction and a range of other mental health disorders.

The twitching girls - The Atlantic
Before the pandemic, 2 to 3 percent of pediatric patients at the Johns Hopkins University Tourette’s Center, in Baltimore, had acute-onset tic-like behaviors, but that rose last year to 10 to 20 percent, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Dramatic rise in eating disorders seen during COVID-19 pandemic (video) - WBAL-TV
Dr. Angela Guarda, who runs the eating disorders program at Johns Hopkins Hospital, [said], "The pandemic seems to have drastically affected the risk for eating disorders. In fact, more so than for other psychiatric conditions.” Nearly two years into the pandemic, Guarda said cases have not leveled off, with many young people still suffering from the effects of stress, social isolation and the initial changes in eating patterns.

Colorado may be the next state to decriminalize “magic” mushrooms as new research shows potential benefits - Colorado Sun
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University … have argued for rescheduling psilocybin as a Schedule IV drug, alongside substances like prescription sleep aids, if it clears additional clinical trials. They cite studies of animals and people that suggest psilocybin has low abuse potential and there is no known overdose level, and advocate for using psilocybin in clinical settings.

Microdosing LSD: Can it help or harm mental health? – HealthDay
[M]icrodosing has been promoted as a way to improve creativity, make one smarter or sharper, improve mood and sharpen social skills, experts said. "You will find a claim of everything, probably up to and including improving your golf swing," when discussing the rumored benefits of microdosing, said Matthew Johnson, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research in Baltimore.

PTSD symptoms common in families of COVID patients (study) – Medscape
Commenting on the findings for Medscape, O. Joseph Bienvenu, MD, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, called the study "solid" and noted the lead author is "a well-recognized clinical researcher." It was "remarkable" that investigators were able to include a control group of family members of patients with ARDS [acute respiratory distress syndrome] not due to COVID, added Bienvenu, who was not involved with the research.

Heart Month (video) - NBC4 (D.C.)
Erica Richards, MD, PhD, Chair and Medical Director, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Sibley Memorial Hospital, and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, discusses heart health, including the link between heart health and psychological health.

The curious life and mind-altering death of Justin Clark - New York magazine
Matthew Johnson, a psychologist and addiction expert in the Johns Hopkins department of psychiatry who is known for his research with psychedelics, likens ketamine and its analogues to “psychedelic heroin” — harmless-seeming but potentially habit-forming. “It has that psychedelic aspect, but it has that kind of lure — you just want to stay in that reality,” he says. “Why come back to normal reality?”

The insights psychedelics give you aren’t always true – Vice
[H]ow can we tell if the insights received while under psychedelics are true? In a recent talk for the UCL Society for the Application of Psychedelics, Johns Hopkins’ cognitive neuropsychopharmacologist Manoj Doss said it’s likely that psychedelics can evoke illusory insights, or the feeling of a profound insight that is misattributed to ideas that arise during a psychedelic experience.

Magic mushroom: Psilocybin treatment eases depression symptoms up to 1 year, study finds - International Business Times
The psychedelic known as psilocybin, which can be found in magic mushrooms, can have the effect of altering a person's awareness, thoughts and feelings. However, it has also shown promise as a treatment for a range of mental health disorders, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine noted in a news release.

These four companies want to take you on a psychedelic voyage in Oregon - Willamette Week (Portland, Ore.)
As [Miles Katz, a co-founder of Netherlands-based Synthesis Institute] points out, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research have asked the participants to wear eye shades while listening to an hourslong, curated, classical music playlist — a sensory combination that can help guide the psychedelic journey and enable the study participants to reflect inward.

Psychedelic therapy effectively treats major depression for up to 12 months (study) - Health Europa
Natalie Gukasyan, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, commented: “Our findings add to evidence that, under carefully controlled conditions, this is a promising therapeutic approach that can lead to significant and durable improvements in depression. However, the results we see are in a research setting and require quite a lot of preparation and structured support from trained clinicians and therapists….”

Why your antidepressants seem to stop working — and what to do - Wall Street Journal
Some patients may need a higher dose of the same medication, while others may need to try a new drug or a new combination of drugs, doctors say.... James Potash, director of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, sometimes adds a drug such as lithium: Some studies have found that adding the drug can reduce symptoms of depression.

Understanding bipolar disorder treatment, from therapy to medications – Self
Francis Mondimore, M.D., director of the Johns Hopkins Mood Disorders Clinic and associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, tells SELF that medication is generally the foundation of treatment, but psychotherapy and psychoeducation — which is rooted in better understanding the condition and how it affects thoughts and behaviors — can help people with bipolar disorder avoid relapses and do better over time.

Psychedelic drugs win growing respect - Reason magazine
Johns Hopkins Medicine is now investigating the potential for psilocybin as a smoking-cessation treatment. The study is funded by a federal grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which is an interesting turn of events.

Masks in class -- how damaging to child development? - France 24 (via Agence France-Presse)
Carol Vidal, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University, said that she's concerned at a societal level, though parents shouldn't panic.... "I just think [masks are] not necessary at this point in the pandemic, knowing what we know about the risks for kids in terms of Covid, and knowing that we all have access to vaccinations, and that if we're concerned about our health we can wear N95s (high-caliber masks)," she tells AFP.

‘To hell and back’: Kacey Musgraves will showcase her growth as a singer-songwriter in AAC concert - Dallas Morning News
Star-Crossed is just a huge patchwork quilt of all these influences that I am inspired by … late ‘90s/early 2000s pop like the Avalanches, and then bands like America, the Eagles and Neil Young. I was also listening to a lot of Vivaldi and the Johns Hopkins Psilocybin Playlist, which is wonderful. One minute it’s classical Spanish guitar, and the next it’s Peruvian shaman chants, and India.Arie, and “Gracias a la Vida,” the song in Spanish that I made the bookend of Star-Crossed.

Research shows more Americans are trying melatonin despite potential risks - Everyday Health
Beyond documenting the increased use of melatonin, a key takeaway from this study is that a whole lot of people are having sleep problems, says David Neubauer, MD, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and a sleep expert at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, who was not involved in the study. “Consumers want to do something about their sleep, and so they’re trying melatonin to see if it does help,” he says.

Lawmakers say no to psilocybin-assisted therapy in Maine - Portland Press Herald
State lawmakers quashed a proposal that would have allowed the use of psilocybin to treat depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.... Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine are studying the use of psilocybin to help people quit smoking or drinking, relieve anxiety among cancer patients and treat depression.

Verify: Suicide rates and black health & wellness (video) - WUSA-TV (D.C.)
“We're starting to see a decrease in the general suicide rate in America for the first time in 20 years. But we're not seeing that decrease in communities of color,” said Dr. Paul Nestadt of Johns Hopkins Medicine. In fact, Dr. Nestadt said suicides among Black Marylanders doubled from previous years to 94% during the COVID lockdown between March and July 2020. His research showed white Marylanders' suicide rate dropped to 48% during that same time period.

Washington continues to explore options for legal psychedelics - Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.)
[Harvard stopped two of its researchers from experimenting with magic mushrooms in the 1950s]. Although some colleges continued to fund psychedelic research for another decade or so, it was eventually dismissed as too counterculture and ethically shaky. Today, however, psilocybin is getting new attention for its potential medical benefits. Controlled studies at schools like Johns Hopkins University and the University of Washington show promise as a possible healing tool.

A niche market mushrooms - Oregon Business
Recently, Johns Hopkins Medicine received the first federal grant in 50 years for psychedelic treatment research. It’s a $4 million study to test the effects of psilocybin on helping smokers quit. Johns Hopkins in 2020 also released a small but influential study showing that in adults with major depression, two doses of psilocybin, given with supportive psychotherapy, “produced rapid and large reductions in depressive symptoms.”

Ketamine may be emergency deterrent for people at risk of suicide (study) – HealthDay
The new findings add to evidence that ketamine can help get those patients through the crisis, said Dr. Paul Kim, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. Of course, that is not the end of the story, and people need follow-up care. Kim said that might involve changing any antidepressant therapy a patient has been taking, including the dosage.

States pull back mask mandates as cases drop (video) - CBS News
Dr. Carol Vidal, a child psychologist at Johns Hopkins, says it is time for students to take off their masks because so many have fallen behind. "Health is a lot more than just Covid," she says. "It is really hard to measure right now the effects of masking all the time. I would expect that we would find that it's going to be causing harmful effects because we are not designed to communicate with masks."

Why toxic positivity needs to go - Teen Vogue
“It’s like we have this throwback to another time of ‘you just have to fake it until you make it,’ says Carisa Parrish, Ph.D., a child psychologist and associate professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “You only show a positive, confident exterior regardless [of] if you’re stressed, upset, worried, angry, embarrassed — everything has to look fine.”

A beginner’s guide to DMT, the most mysterious psychedelic of them all – Vice
“It’s sometimes described as literally being shot off into DMT space,” said Roland Griffiths, a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University. Griffiths is the founding director of his university’s Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research who has published research on DMT. He said the drug produces “a profound shift in conscious experience.”

Jampro encourages local investment in psilocybin - Jamaica Observer
Spurred by a growing interest in the research of psilocybin mushrooms, otherwise called magic mushrooms, Jamaica Promotions Corporation (Jampro) is encouraging more locals to get involved in the fledgling industry…. University of California, Los Angeles; New York University; and Johns Hopkins University are among the research institutions in the US that have conducted studies on psilocybin.

Cheslie Kryst's death is a reminder social-media posts don't always show someone's mental health, experts say – Insider
Dr. Melissa Shepard, a board-certified psychiatrist and Assistant Professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins' University School of Medicine ... said she is not personally familiar with Kryst and did not want to speculate on the state of her mental health. [She also] said that "we shouldn't expect that everything is going to be shared online" and that someone "who dies by suicide may not know until right before that that's what they're going to do."

January

Two GOP Oklahoma lawmakers push for 'magic mushroom' research - KTUL-TV (Tulsa, Okla.)
While magic mushrooms are typically known for their hallucinogenic effects, recently they've been studied for medicinal benefits. Researchers at Johns Hopkins found that doses of psilocybin reduced depression and anxiety. With those initial results, Rep. [Logan] Phillips said his bill is aimed at helping a cause that hits home.

Looking ahead at reproductive mental health - Parents magazine
Most people recognize the importance of reproductive mental health, and doctors in training are eager to learn more about it. Lauren M. Osborne, M.D., one of the co-editors of [a new textbook on reproductive mental health] and the director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Women's Reproductive Mental Health, has piloted a new curriculum designed to educate medical trainees in the field.

Inside the growing wellness trend of psilocybin mushroom microdosing - Hollywood Reporter
Much like cannabis’ transition from stigmatized plant to decriminalized cash cow, today’s wellness industry is now embracing mushrooms as another form of nature’s medicine by putting real capital and academic research behind it. A small Johns Hopkins study, for instance, found in 2020 that psilocybin treatments helped relieve symptoms of severe depression.

Research shows psychedelic mushrooms can help treat depression. Is legalization on the horizon for Washington? - Seattle Times
In 2016, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine surveyed 2,000 people who had previously had a negative experience or "bad trip" while using psilocybin recreationally. They found that while a third of respondents described psilocybin use as one of the most meaningful experiences of their lives, 10% also shared they put themselves or others at risk for physical harm during their "worst bad trip," with an additional 2% stating they sought medical help.

Survey of Americans who attempted suicide finds many aren’t getting care - New York Times
People who survive a suicide attempt often do well afterward, said Dr. Paul Nestadt, an assistant professor of psychology at Johns Hopkins who has researched the epidemiology of suicide…. “But people have to be able to access care. When they can’t, they’re left with less choices.”

Not a morning person? A sunrise alarm clock could be the answer, experts say. - Washington Post
Unlike traditional alarms that typically jolt people awake with a burst of loud, disorienting noise, dawn simulators can “enhance the wake-up experience,” said David Neubauer, a sleep expert and associate professor at Johns Hopkins University.

Peek inside Philadelphia’s psychedelic revolution - Philadelphia Magazine
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found psilocybin—the chemical compound in magic mushrooms—helped relieve major depression in patients, while social users say they feel more creative, solution-savvy and self-reflective.

How to quit coffee: 7 steps to cutting back - Harper's Bazaar
Why is coffee addictive? Over time, the cells in your brain adapt and you need to consume more to get the same buzz – something called tolerance, says Dr Lindsay Standeven, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. That’s when you may find your habit – one cup in the morning – turning into multiple mugs throughout the day.

Could a VR “trip” offer a sober shortcut to the healing potential of psychedelics? – Mic
Sure, VR can replicate the auditory and visual aspects of a trip. But what about its intensely spiritual, ineffable profundity, which also seems important for the psychological healing that psychedelics promise? I spoke with Matthew Johnson, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, about the extent to which VR apps can mimic psychedelics — and their therapeutic potential.

Psilocybin could be next frontier for depression and anxiety treatment - Georgia Voice
A study published November 4, 2020, by Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center researchers from the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research in Baltimore found that psilocybin (more commonly known as “magic mushrooms”), when given in conjunction with psychotherapy, decreased depressive symptoms in participants.

How do psychedelic treatments work? – WebMD
The psychedelics-related work of Roland Griffiths, PhD, a psychopharmacologist, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and director of its Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research, Johns Hopkins research psychologist Matthew Johnson, PhD, and Johns Hopkins neuroscientist Gul Dolen, MD, PhD, is described in this article.

One man's psychedelic journey to confront his cancer – WebMD
One study from Johns Hopkins University tracked the effects of a single guided dose of psilocybin in terminal cancer patients with anxiety and depression. More than 80% had a "significant decrease" in symptoms -- even 6 months after treatment -- with more than 60% of the group remaining in the normal mood range.

Could psychedelics help treat dementia? - Psychology Today
Treatments are now being explored for patients with conditions such as eating disorders, migraine and cluster headaches, and opioid addiction. Some researchers, including our colleagues at Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelics and Consciousness Research, have begun exploring whether there may be benefits for people living with dementia.

A long, strange trip: Psychedelics meet mainstream medicine – WebMD
There's ... growing research on LSD, mescaline, DMT, and other psychedelics. A number of universities, including Johns Hopkins, NYU, the University of California San Diego, and Imperial College London in the U.K., are doing in-depth research on these medicines. And early results, while limited in size, have been impressive.

2021

December

Opioid agonist therapy guards against self-harm, suicide (study) – Medscape
Authors of an accompanying editorial note the study "adds weight" to the evidence that OAT is a "lifesaving" treatment. "It's critical to recognize that transitions in and out of care are vulnerable periods" when it comes to suicide, the co-author of the editorial, Paul S. Nestadt, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, told Medscape Medical News.

Ketamine may quickly ease tough-to-treat depression (review) – HealthDay
Since esketamine is FDA-approved for depression, it has become the more practical choice over ketamine, according to psychiatrists not involved in the review. “It’s much easier to get insurance coverage for esketamine,” said Dr. Paul Nestadt, co-director of the Johns Hopkins Anxiety Disorders Clinic. So while he has been involved in ketamine research, Nestadt said that in practice, he is prescribing esketamine.

‘Sober Curious?’ How to Embrace Mindful Drinking – NYT
The mindful drinking approach also draws on similar strategies to cognitive behavioral therapy, a psychological intervention used to address depression and anxiety, said Kenneth Stoller, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. By encouraging people to identify the impact of alcohol has on their thoughts, feelings and behaviors, mindful drinking can be an effective tool for people interested in reducing their alcohol consumption, he said, but not for anyone with a severe drinking problem or alcohol-use disorder.

How psychedelics alter our consciousness - IFL Science
[O]ne study found that giving people LSD caused a blurring of the perceived boundaries between themselves and others, but that this could be avoided by deactivating their 5-HT2A receptors using a compound called ketanserin. Dr Matthew Johnson, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University, told IFLScience that this sense of ego-dissolution is a hallmark of “mystical experiences,” which some researchers believe are key to the healing potential of psychedelics.

How to make a perfect tune for an acid trip - Daily Beast
This exotic brain chemistry seems to especially enhance the emotional effects of music when combined with psychedelic drugs. “We know that music can be emotionally evocative. It's an extremely powerful tool for channeling or harnessing emotion, and so the idea is that this is amplified with psychedelics,” Matthew Johnson, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University, told The Daily Beast. “They can act interactively and perhaps synergistically to create meaningful experiences.”

Beating back holiday blues during the pandemic - WTOP radio (D.C.)
“The holidays are so romanticized and I think that really can make people feel isolated and lonely — that things should be a particular way, or I should feel a particular way, and then spending time to try to create that ideal, which sometimes just isn’t feasible,” said Neda Gould, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Could magic mushrooms be the next marijuana? - Times-Union (Albany, N.Y.)
Not since the 1960s has there been so much interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics with multiple clinical studies on psilocybin indicating widespread benefits, from treating depression and drug addiction to relieving end-of-life anxiety. Johns Hopkins has an entire center now devoted to research on the natural compound.

New filing challenges Compass Pathways’ infamous patent on synthetic psilocybin – Vice
As part of its research, [Freedom to Operate] collected old samples of synthetic psilocybin to test what existed pre-Compass.... There weren’t many places that had high-quality synthetic psilocybin stored in safe conditions. One sample came from Roland Griffiths at Johns Hopkins University, stored in the Johns Hopkins University System for Controlled Substances, and was made as early as 2008.

What's the deal with functional mushrooms, and how do they work for anxiety relief? Here's what the research says - Parade magazine
At Johns Hopkins, for example, researchers have already found that psilocybin therapy can reduce existential anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer, and that along with psychotherapy, just two doses of psilocybin can reduce the symptoms of depression (which often manifests in tandem with anxiety).

Gen Z is done with the pandemic - The Atlantic
For Carisa Parrish, a child psychologist at Johns Hopkins University, it’s not strange to see young people wanting to jump back into life after such an extended period of isolation, uncertainty, and personal loss, but she also doesn’t see enough attention or acknowledgment of the smaller joys that teens and adolescents lost during the pandemic’s first year.

4 ways to cultivate resilience in 2022 - New York Times
Even if optimism doesn’t come naturally to you, it’s a skill you can nurture, said George Everly Jr., a psychologist and public health expert at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who has done research with dialysis patients and war veterans. “There is neuroscience research indicating that even if you were born a pessimist, you can become an optimist,” he said. “We must come from this and say: What are the lessons learned?”

What taking melatonin every day does to your body - Eat This, Not That!
Some melatonin supplements contain as much as 10mg of melatonin, but a higher dose isn't necessarily better. Johns Hopkins Medicine advises taking 1 to 3mg two hours before bedtime.... "If taking melatonin for sleep isn't helping after a week or two, stop using it," says Luis F. Buenaver, Ph.D., C.B.S.M., a sleep expert with Johns Hopkins.

'Magic mushroom' drug edges toward mainstream therapy – HealthDay
[John] Head, 69, took his psilocybin trip as part of a research effort at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, after doctors had told him he probably had three to five years to live. Head has appeared in the HBO dramas "The Wire" and "The Deuce," and had a small role in the 2019 movie "Joker." His psilocybin experience lasted for about seven hours, and during it he felt as though he had come into contact with a "higher power" existing in a place beyond death.

Can psychedelics meet their potential for treating mental health disorders? - Science News
[Research] studies, and the intense media coverage they received, have helped launch psychedelic medicine into the public conversation in the United States, England and elsewhere. Academic groups devoted to studying psychedelics have sprung up at Johns Hopkins, Yale, New York University Langone Health, the University of California, San Francisco and other research institutions.

November

Does seasonal affective disorder get worse with age? - Discover magazine
For the most part, research shows that SAD does not get worse with age; in fact, some data shows the opposite. "We don’t normally see new diagnoses of SAD in older individuals; it’s usually those diagnosed in younger years who continue to come in for treatment," says Paul Nestadt, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Tips for coping with the stresses of the holiday season - Islander News (Key Biscayne, Fla.)
Clinical psychologist Dr. Neda Gould, at the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Medicine in Baltimore, shared four valuable coping tips at hopkinsmedicine.org: Accept imperfection; Don’t lose sight of what really counts. Respond with kindness. Rethink your resolutions.

Maryland Peace of Mind: Holiday depression (video) - WBAL-TV
Dr. Neda Gould, of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, discusses holiday stress and depression on our Maryland Peace of Mind segment.

The rise of psychedelic retreats - New York Times
“The entire cultural conversation around psychedelics has changed,” said Ronald Griffiths, a professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and founding director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. “And that’s a concern to me, because I think we’re underestimating the risks involved,” he said. “The retreat center question is, buyer beware.”

Why schizophrenia is different for women - Discover magazine
Women are twice as likely to present with symptoms after age 40. That means a woman with late-onset schizophrenia might live most of her life without any indication that she will one day be schizophrenic. “It could be the first mental illness at the onset,” says Nicola Cascella, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.?

Music for psychedelic therapy is a trip within a trip – Jezebel
[British beatmaker Jon] Hopkins did not follow any official template for laying out his sonic trip experience. They exist [however] — for example, Johns Hopkins researchers developed a playlist “to express the sweeping arc of the typical medium- or high-dose psilocybin session.”

These health breakthroughs changed the medical landscape in 2021 – Prevention
Medical psychedelics come of age. “Just one or two doses of psychedelics in a supported setting can provide rapid and profound improvements,” says Natalie Gukasyan, M.D., medical director of the Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, who emphasized that these results apply to psilocybin when used in a therapeutic context.

Biden’s overdose prevention plan faces social, state barriers - Bloomberg Law
Differing state policies pose challenges to ... aspects of the plan, including its focus on boosting harm reduction services, or those that cut down on the consequences of drug use, treatment professionals say. Denis Antoine, director at Johns Hopkins’ addiction services clinic, said that while harm reduction has been “practiced more and more in different states,” there “probably needs to be more evidence generated to make sure it will be effective for long term substance-use related outcomes” in various locations based on each state’s rules.

Mike Tyson says he smokes toad venom as much as 3 times a day – HuffPost
Toad venom packs a heavy punch and is illegal to possess.... “It’s such an intense experience that, in most cases, doing it at a party isn’t safe,” Alan K. Davis of the Psychedelic Research Unit at Johns Hopkins University said in a 2019 Addiction Center report. “It’s not a recreational drug. If people get dosed too high, they can ‘white out’ and disassociate from their mind and body.”

'More ill, more desperate': How hospitals are responding to changing mental health trends - Becker's Hospital Review
James Potash, MD. Director of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins Hospital: Early on, the pandemic posed great challenges for us, as it did for everyone. There was a reduction in the number of people coming into the psychiatric emergency service, but for those who … needed admission, we had to set up a system to COVID test them. The people who did get admitted tended to be more psychiatrically ill than we were used to. Now the flow of psychiatric patients in the emergency department is back to normal, and the COVID processes are all ironed out.

Bill on magic mushrooms aims to make Pa. a national leader in psychedelic research - Philadelphia Inquirer
Most clinical trials of psilocybin, like those at research leader Johns Hopkins University, have been conducted using a synthetic form of the substance. The National Institutes of Health last month awarded Johns Hopkins researcher Matthew Johnson a nearly $4 million grant to lead research into whether the combination of psilocybin and talk therapy is effective in helping people quit smoking. It is the first federal funding for psilocybin research in more than 50 years, Johns Hopkins said.

U.S. government funds first therapeutic psilocybin research in 50 years - Rolling Stone
The National Institutes of Health granted Johns Hopkins Medicine, in collaboration with University of Alabama at Birmingham and New York University, $4 million to investigate if psilocybin — one of the primary psychoactive ingredients in psychedelic mushrooms — can help people quit smoking.

Mindfulness can boost your mindset after cardiac arrest (study) – HealthDay
Neda Gould, director of the mindfulness program at Johns Hopkins University and associate director of the Bayview Anxiety Disorders Clinic in Baltimore, is already sold on the potential of mindfulness. "It's not surprising that the practice of mindfulness is helpful for this patient population [cardiac arrest survivors]," said Gould, who was not part of the study.

'Magic mushrooms' get a win for depression in early trial, drugmaker says - MedPage Today
Matthew Johnson, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and psychedelics at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, told MedPage Today that the early data look encouraging. Yet without more detailed information, questions remain about the nature of the trial's AEs [adverse events], he said.

Colorado Springs could decriminalize ‘magic mushrooms’ - KRDO radio (Colorado Springs)
Researchers are currently looking at mushrooms as a natural alternative to antidepressant prescriptions, like Zoloft. “Simply two doses of psilocybin given under the supportive conditions for people who have been carefully screened, that treatment produced rapid and large reductions in major depressive symptoms,” Roland Griffiths, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, said.

Focus on women's health at JHU (audio) - WYPR radio
Johns Hopkins neurologist Dr. Michelle Johansen studies a particular kind of stroke that affects younger women, in which the heart -- for unknown reasons -- throws off a blood clot to the brain. She previews the risks she’ll describe on Saturday at Johns Hopkins’ annual seminar “A Woman’s Journey.” And psychiatrist Dr. Karen Swartz discusses how the stresses of the pandemic are piling up, and how we can support each other

Could so-called 'magic mushrooms' be a magic bullet for depression? (video) - WBAL-TV
[Em] Hanchek is one of 24 participants in a recent study at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. "For some people who have not found relief from traditional therapies that are out there, this could be lifesaving," said Dr. Natalie Gukasyan, the center's medical director. "The effects of the medication are usually evident pretty quickly, much more quickly than antidepressants."

Why people with mood disorders are now eligible for COVID vaccine boosters - WHYY radio (Philadelphia)
“The stress and frustration and the loss associated with the pandemic is going to cause people to have the almost expected anxiety and depression. Then there are many more people with these environmentally triggered problems with depression and anxiety,” said Dr. Francis Mondimore, an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who specializes in mood disorders.

Dr. Ira Allen Liebson, a retired Johns Hopkins psychiatrist who assisted patients with substance abuse, dies - Baltimore Sun
Dr. Ira Allen Liebson, a retired Johns Hopkins psychiatrist who assisted patients with substance abuse issues, died of complications from injuries he suffered in a fall Oct. 25 at his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The former Mount Washington and Riderwood resident was 91. “He was a splendid psychiatrist and a wonderful person,” said Dr. Paul R. McHugh, the distinguished service professor for psychiatry at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

‘I’m better mentally now’: Veteran shares experience of MDMA treatment for PTSD – Today
While there are forms of healing possible without drugs like MDMA, they don’t work for everyone, said Matthew Johnson, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Therapy with the drug can be “like psychological processing therapy on rocket boosters,” said Johnson.....

Detroit votes to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms - CBS News
Nobody should try mushrooms on their own, which would be risky, said the leaders of two psychedelic mushroom studies, Dr. Stephen Ross of New York University and Roland Griffiths of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Wonderland: Miami takes shape as the largest psychedelic medicine business event - High Times
The show will attract scientists from Johns Hopkins, UCSF, Imperial College London, as well as leading financiers, innovators and CEOs, discussing the fastest growing sector in medicine. With almost a thousand new psychedelic clinics in the U.S., and an explosion of investor interest across Florida, the Wonderland conference could not be more timely.

There are 4 types of bipolar disorder — here's what to know about each – Health
All forms of bipolar disorder involve mood episodes — sometimes known as mood "swings" or mood cycling. "As the name suggests, the condition involves two poles, or periods of low mood and elevated mood," James Bennett Potash, MD, MPH, a professor of psychiatry at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a psychiatrist with Hopkins Medicine, tells Health.

Defeating gambling addiction: New study looks to defy the odds with psychedelics – Forbes
[Psychiatrist David] Nutt acknowledges that he was not the first to come to [the revelation that the processes of disrupting internal thinking and depression could potentially disrupt the internal thinking in addiction as well], referencing the Bogenschutz study in New Mexico’s look into alcoholism, and the ongoing clinical trials at Johns Hopkins targeting psychedelics therapeutics for smoking cessation

Despite stress of pandemic, U.S. suicide rate dropped in 2020 - U.S. News & World Report
"Although early in 2020 sociologists were expecting a 'perfect storm' of suicide risks during the pandemic, early local data sets from the U.S. and abroad have almost universally been demonstrating a decrease in suicide rates," said Dr. Paul Nestadt, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Why the push to decriminalize psychedelics is growing in Michigan – PBS
A handful of research centers focusing on psychedelics research are housed at Ann Arbor’s University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, the University of California at Berkeley, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), and others.

Bipolar mood 'swings': What to know about manic and depressive episodes, and how long they can last – Health
[E]xperts aren't quite sure why mood cycling happens in bipolar disorder, or what exactly causes people's mood to change so drastically, James Bennett Potash, MD, MPH, a professor of psychiatry at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a psychiatrist with Hopkins Medicine, tells Health.... According to Dr. Potash, doctors often prescribe a class of medications called mood stabilizers, such as Lithium, to prevent mood cycling.

Scientists find Alzheimer’s progresses differently than previously thought (study) - Courthouse News Service
Paul Rosenberg, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and co-director of the Memory and Alzheimer’s Treatment Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine, said the study was “pretty persuasive” and while the results might not be “stunning,” they could be helpful in treatment development.

The false promise of psychedelic utopia – Vice
The current period of psychedelic research has now lasted for about as long as the one that took place in the 1950s and 1960s, before psychedelics were outlawed. [David Yaden, an incoming assistant professor at Johns Hopkins Medicine and member of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research] thinks that over-exuberant promises and assumptions about global impacts could have a serious consequence: getting in the way of the research that’s going on now.

Psychedelics take a high but rocky road – Bloomberg
Psychedelics, while undergoing a renaissance, are still federally illegal, just like marijuana. Yet the world is suddenly intrigued: “Fantastic Fungi” and “Nine Perfect Strangers,” both currently available for streaming, show how psychedelics are having a cultural moment.... Even governments are relaxing: Johns Hopkins Medicine just won the first federal grant to study psilocybin;

‘I’ve experienced states of consciousness beyond this life’: The people turning to psychedelics on their deathbeds - The Independent
Faced with the very real prospect of death, [Thomas Hartle] decided to seek out new ways of coping. It was then he remembered research he’d come across online, published by Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2016, which suggested … that therapeutic use of psilocybin – the active ingredient in magic mushrooms – could help decrease depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer.

Opening up about my struggle with recurring depression - Health Affairs
In a small 2020 study of adults with major depression, researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine found that two doses of the “magic mushroom” chemical psilocybin relieves symptoms for at least one month. However, more research, investment, and testing are needed before these treatments are considered clinically accessible.

October

Classic psychedelics aren’t addictive - Discover magazine
One person could take psilocybin and have a profound, joyful experience. Another could take the same dose and endure anxiety or horror. “Classic psychedelics are unreliable,” says Matthew Johnson, a psychedelics researcher at Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Even if you have an optimal environment, for the same person sometimes it’s blissful and sometimes it’s terrifying. It’s not an easy drug escape if that’s your goal.”

Psychedelic drugs and the future of medicine (audio) - WFYI radio (Indianapolis)
Researchers are studying the potential efficacy of microdosing highly potent drugs as an alternative therapy for issues like anxiety, depression, and pain. Today we hear about new research around psychedelic drugs, and find out what it could mean for the future of medicine. [Guests include Matthew Johnson, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.]

Detroit to vote on Proposal E, which would decriminalize psychedelic plants like magic mushrooms - WDET radio (Detroit)
[Psychedelic integration coach Shan] Vicious doesn’t have a medical degree and says she looked to studies from Johns Hopkins University for guidance. Researchers there have noted improvements with magic mushrooms and psychotherapy for conditions like depression and addiction. Vicious says those treatments should be available to everyone.

‘I don’t want to be a toxin, I want to be a nutric,’ Pharrell says as he hosts forum to discuss future of Virginia Beach, Norfolk - WAVY-TV (Portsmouth, Va.)
Nutric means “someone who is supportive and fosters others’ growth and development,” according to a definition by Dr. George Everly Jr., a Johns Hopkins psychologist.

What to expect during a bipolar disorder diagnosis – Self
Francis Mondimore, M.D., director of the Johns Hopkins Mood Disorders Clinic and associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, says genetics are likely a primary risk factor for bipolar disorder. A person who has a parent or sibling with bipolar disorder is at an elevated risk for developing the condition.

How to take a mental health day to really reap the benefits – Today
A mental health day can help you avoid hitting the point where you’re unmotivated and overwhelmed. Neda Gould, PhD, associate director of the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center Anxiety Disorders Clinic in Baltimore, told Today, “What we know from the science is that people who burn out don’t take breaks.”

Brain fog can persist 8 months after COVID: Study – WebMD
Tracy Vannorsdall, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, at Johns Hopkins Medicine, in Baltimore, says she is also seeing similar effects after COVID illness. This study shows that the lasting effects are found at all levels of illness from COVID-19, Vannorsdall says, adding that the findings also add concern to what happens to young COVID survivors as they age.

Can magic mushrooms help fight mental illness? A bipartisan group of Pa. lawmakers think so - Pittsburgh City Paper
There already is some research to go off. A Johns Hopkins University study released this year on psychedelics found that people suffering depression had a substantial decrease in symptoms after taking psilocybin in controlled capsule form twice. The effects were found to last for at least four weeks.

Hallucinogen therapy: Don't swallow all the hype around magic mushrooms yet - Men's Health
With the mental-health fallout from the pandemic and concerns that suicide rates will rise, could a mystical, psychedelic experience truly bring people some much-needed relief? I called up someone who knows more about it than almost anyone else: Matthew Johnson, at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, where psilocybin is administered legally in research studies.

Countdown to ecstasy: How music is being used in healing psychedelic trips - The Guardian (U.K.)
Top psychedelic research institutions use playlists during clinical trials, and some are available to stream online: the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research’s Sacred Knowledge playlist, which dates back to 1967, is stacked with classical composers such as Brahms and Vivaldi.

Johns Hopkins wins NIH grant to study psychedelics treatment of tobacco addiction - Maryland Daily Record
Johns Hopkins Medicine announced it has received a nearly $4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to explore the potential impacts of psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in so-called magic mushrooms, on treating tobacco addiction. “The historical importance of this grant is monumental,” principal investigator Matthew Johnson, Ph.D., Susan Hill Ward Professor in Psychedelics and Consciousness at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in [a] release.

Many Covid patients have memory problems months later, new study finds - NBC News
[T]herapy that helps people work around their deficits is the only treatment, said Tracy Vannorsdall, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Therapists ask patients about their strengths and weaknesses and then design a program that will teach the patients how to use their strengths to compensate for their weaknesses, Vannorsdall said.

Johns Hopkins Medicine receives first federal grant for psychedelic research in over half a century - Baltimore Fishbowl
This week, Johns Hopkins Medicine was awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health to research the potential impacts of psilocybin on tobacco addiction. It is the first NIH grant awarded for the direct investigation of a classic psychedelic in over 50 years. Johns Hopkins will lead the study of psilocybin – the active ingredient found in magic mushrooms – in collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham and New York University.

TikTok is giving teen girls Tourette-like tics: Doctors call it a ‘pandemic’ - New York Post
Johns Hopkins University Tourette’s Center saw 10% to 20% of its pediatric patients arrive with these symptoms during the past year, whereas the typical rate prior to the pandemic was just 2% to 3% annually.

These YouTubers say they hunt pedophiles. Their targets keep winding up dead. – Mic
Dr. Fred Berlin has spent years studying pedophilia as a sexual disorder, conducting early research on the administration of antiandrogenic (sex drive-lowering) medication in the U.S. and establishing a sexual disorders clinic at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. In a conversation with Mic, Berlin shared insight into the stigmatization of pedophilia in society and the resources available to those struggling.

Why ketamine-assisted therapy has gone mainstream – Forbes
Promising studies out of Johns Hopkins, Imperial College London, New York University, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and other institutions have found therapeutic potential of drugs like psilocybin and MDMA for various conditions, including depression, end-of-life anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and nicotine and alcohol dependence.

‘The rage would come out of nowhere’: Personality change has emerged as a symptom of long Covid - Rolling Stone
Starting in the spring of 2020, neuropsychiatrist Adam Kaplin, MD, PhD, began working as part of the Johns Hopkins Post-Acute COVID-19 Team, a multidisciplinary group of practitioners brought together to treat the impact of Covid-19 on the body and brain. “A number of people came out of the experience [of severe illness] with PTSD,” Kaplin tells Rolling Stone.

Could a psychedelic ego death bring you back to life? – mic
Although described in many different ways, generally speaking, ego death is a phenomenon that can occur while tripping, in which the distinction between you and everything else temporarily dissolves, explains Matthew Johnson, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Food and activities to fight SAD - U.S. News & World Report
Sometimes referred to as the winter blues or the winter doldrums, SAD can actually go much deeper than that, says Dr. Paul Nestadt, co-director of the Johns Hopkins Anxiety Disorders Clinic and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. “It’s a mood disorder, much like major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder.” Whereas most people probably feel a little blah sometime in the winter, SAD is when that normal down feeling becomes more problematic….” he says.

Teen girls are developing tics. Doctors say TikTok could be a factor. - Wall Street Journal
At the Johns Hopkins University Tourette’s Center, 10% to 20% of pediatric patients have described acute-onset tic-like behaviors, up from 2% to 3% a year before the pandemic, according to Joseph McGuire, an associate professor in the university’s department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.

Do those stress-relieving drinks really work? - New York Times
“At the doses [of cannabis] that we’re talking about, these are relatively benign molecules,” said Ryan Vandrey, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine who researches cannabis. “They’re not really going to hurt you, but who knows if they’re going to help you either? My sense is these things are mostly marketing and gimmickry.”

Startups are betting on a psychedelic gold rush – Vox
In September, researchers at Johns Hopkins University received funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to investigate whether psilocybin could help people quit cigarettes. It appears to be the first federally funded direct study in decades of the mental health benefits of a traditional psychedelic drug.

No, psychedelic treatment doesn't look like 'Nine Perfect Strangers' - Verywell Health
The psychedelic [TV] series arrives at a time when interest is growing in the therapeutic effects of "magic mushrooms." ... "The media can cause both harms and benefits," Matthew W. Johnson, PhD, a psychiatry professor at Johns Hopkins University and a top researcher globally on the human effects of psychedelics, tells Verywell via email. "To the degree that depictions reflect the medical evidence, this can serve a role in alerting people to an important emerging field of medicine."

World Mental Health Day: If you're feeling depressed or anxious, you're not alone - Good Morning America
"I've heard the pandemic described as a disaster of uncertainty because it seems like the finish line keeps moving," said Dr. Erica Martin Richards, chair and medical director of the department of psychiatry and behavioral health at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C. "And that makes it harder to come up with a plan [to cope]." … Richards, also an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, said women's mental health has suffered disproportionately during the pandemic for a number of reasons.

Florida lawmakers want to authorize study of mushrooms, MDMA as alternative therapies - News-Journal (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
Psilocybin is the "magic" part of "magic mushrooms." It is naturally occurring and has been used by civilizations, including those in Mexico and Central America, for centuries. Roland Griffiths, a professor of [psychiatry] and neurosciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, announced in late 2020 that his research showed two doses of psilocybin can relieve symptoms of major depression for at least a month.

Psychedelic therapy can work better if this element is in the mix — study – Inverse
Music is so important to this kind of therapy that Mendel Kaelen, a neuroscientist, refers to music as “the hidden therapist” of psilocybin-assisted therapy. In fact, the psilocybin researchers at Johns Hopkins University have their own specific psilocybin playlist they use in clinical trials. (Psilocybin is the primary hallucinogenic compound found in “magic mushrooms.”)

Happiness and joy during turbulent times: Dr. Margaret Chisolm of Johns Hopkins University on how to live with joie de vivre, even when it feels like the whole world is pulling you down – Medium
We are talking to experts, authors, and mental health professionals who share lessons from their research or experience about “How to Find Happiness and Joy During Troubled & Turbulent Times.” As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Margaret Chisolm ... a professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University.

How science is making sense of the mystical experience in psychedelic medicine – Forbes
Dr. Albert Garcia-Romeu, a Johns Hopkins professor and member of the university’s Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, says that the mystical-type effects produced by psychedelics have been linked across the board to benefits in a number of different populations, including people with depression, cancer patients, and people with … substance use disorders like alcohol dependence and tobacco addiction.

Are you tracking your sleep because of coronasomnia? - Verywell Health
Molly Atwood, PhD, clinician at Johns Hopkins Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinic, has noticed an increase in patients with insomnia since the onset of the pandemic. “Stress obviously impacts sleep, but there were also pretty significant changes in lifestyle,” Atwood tells Verywell.

September

The science of psychedelic therapy breaks on through – Axios
“The funding side of the government has been the last to the party for a long time,” says Matthew Johnson, who studies psychedelics at Johns Hopkins University. NIDA recently awarded Johnson a grant to investigate the use of psilocybin-enhanced therapy to help people quit smoking, building on earlier studies. The grant hasn’t been added to the NIH’s public database, but Johnson says it amounts to about $4 million.

How Instagram is hurting teen girls - Wall Street Journal
Angela Guarda, director for the eating-disorders program at Johns Hopkins Hospital and an associate professor of psychiatry in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, estimates that Instagram and other social-media apps play a role in the disorders of about half her patients. “It’s the ones who are most vulnerable or are already developing a problem — the use of Instagram and other social media can escalate it,” she said.

Psychedelic companies hope at-home DNA tests bring better highs - Bloomberg Businessweek
Bad trips are still problematic: A Johns Hopkins University study of 1,993 people who reported bad trips found that 11% said they had put themselves or others in harm’s way during the experience, and 8% had sought treatment for … enduring psychological symptoms related to the event. “That to me is disquieting, particularly in light of the cultural enthusiasm for legalization and decriminalization,” says Roland Griffiths, director of the Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research at the university.

Feds fund study into whether psilocybin can help people quit smoking cigarettes - Marijuana Moment
Matthew Johnson, a professor at Johns Hopkins University who will be a lead investigator in the study, announced the grant funding on Monday. He said he believes that this is the “first grant from the US government in over a half century to directly study therapeutics of a classic psychedelic.”

Mental health, with a side of psychedelics? – Ozy
Studies and clinical trials, beginning at Johns Hopkins University, the first institute in the U.S. to get permission to restart psychedelics research, are showing how psychoactive compounds can support treatment plans for depression, addiction and PTSD

Magic mushrooms may be the biggest advance in treating depression since Prozac – Newsweek
The turning point for [depression sufferer Aaron] Presley came as he lay on a psychiatrist's couch at Johns Hopkins University, wearing an eyeshade and listening through a pair of Bose headphones to a Russian choir singing hymns. He had consumed a large dose of psilocybin, the active ingredient in what's more commonly known as magic mushrooms, and entered a state that could best be described as lucid dreaming.

If you notice this when you walk, it could be an early sign of Parkinson's - Yahoo!
If you notice [your body suddently freezing], or any other serious changes to the way you walk, it's important to talk to your doctor. "Sometimes these symptoms are mild and not really that disruptive," Gwenn Smith, PhD, director of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neuropsychiatry at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, says on the Johns Hopkins Medicine site. "But they indicate that you should see a neurologist for an evaluation."

If I could use gene therapy to cure my manic-depression, I don’t know whether I would – Slate
More than 99 percent of the human genome doesn’t vary at all,” James Potash tells me when I ask him about the discovery of genes responsible for manic-depression. Potash is a researcher at Johns Hopkins and co-leads the Bipolar Sequencing Consortium. You have to look for the tiny fraction of genes where there is variation, a process Potash describes as “a million microscopic experiments on a platform as small as your hand.”

Nine Perfect Strangers's portrayal of psilocybin could derail progress in researching psychedelic use for mental health - Yahoo!
“Shows like ["Nine Perfect Strangers"] bring the conversation [about psychedelics] to a wider audience, and when it’s done well, it helps to educate the public about what these substances are,” [Alan Davis, PhD, adjunct assistant professor in the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins] says. “However, when it’s done poorly, or when it perpetuates stigma or misinformation, it adds fuel to the flame of those who are skeptics or those who are in leadership roles in the country who might see it and assume that these misconceptions are accurate.”

Psychedelics summer camp: A new form of tourism – BuzzFeed
As Matthew Johnson, a professor at Johns Hopkins Center For Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, explained to me, as with most psychedelics, the risks associated with 5-MeO have less to do with the compounds themselves than with the possibility of the redoubtable “bad trip,” which can lead to “someone doing something dangerous when they're panicking as a result of the effect.”

Mounting research suggests benefits of psychedelics as California considers legislation - ABC 7 (Glendale, Calif.)
"There is a great deal of incredible research. You have NYU, Johns Hopkins, Imperial College of London, all setting up centers of excellence around psychedelics and psychedelic medicine because these substances are perhaps the greatest breakthrough in mental wellness in the last 100 years," said Matt Stang, founder and CEO of Delic Corporation, a psychedelic wellness company.

World Alzheimer's Day (video) - WBFF-TV
World Alzheimer's Day is Tuesday, September 20th, raising awareness and to help families better navigate the disease. Dr. Constantine Lyketsos, Director of the Johns Hopkins Memory and Alzheimer's Treatment Center, talks about diagnosis, treatment and the upcoming Alzheimer's Awareness Walk in October.

California moves closer to decriminalizing psychedelic drugs - NBC News
Matthew W. Johnson, associate director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research, said he favors decriminalization but added that it comes with "risks." He said last year that unfettered access brings him "real concerns about very real risks of psychotic disorders — what people refer to as a bad trip." In an interview Friday, Johnson said decriminalization should be paired with more research and public education regarding the drugs' effects.

These psychedelic experiments at UW are for therapy (editorial) - Journal Times (Racine, Wis.)
[The] head-in-the-sand approach to psychedelic research lasted for decades. That landscape shifted abruptly in 2006 when Roland Griffiths at Johns Hopkins (University) published a new psilocybin study titled “Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance," [On Wisconsin magazine writer Preston] Schmitt told us.

Prescription magic mushrooms? This Israeli startup wants to make it happen - Haaretz (Israel)
The psychedelic revolution, albeit not the first, is indeed in full swing. [T]he results will not be felt for a few years, but academic institutions like Johns Hopkins and Yale, have established departments to study psychedelic materials.

$80 million granted to research psychedelic properties of ingesting toad venom – Newsweek
When the toad venom is ingested, the psychedelic effects only take about 30 seconds to kick in and then leave the person physically incapacitated for about 30 to 90 minutes, according to Johns Hopkins psychedelics researcher Alan Davis. This is why it is so important to be with a trained professional during the administration of the powerful compound.

What are intrusive thoughts? An expert weighs in - Yahoo!
Whether or not you have labeled them as such in your life, you have likely experienced intrusive thoughts before, says Dr. Paul Nestadt, co-director of the Johns Hopkins Anxiety Disorders Clinic. While the brain can conjure up thoughts when prompted — say, when you are trying to remember the name of movie — Nestadt says that intrusive thoughts are “unbidden.”

Kacey Musgraves had 'guided magic mushrooms' trip to deal with divorce - The Statesman (India)
The 'Rainbow' singer was keen … to "transform (her) trauma and pain into something else" so she embarked on "plant therapy," which involved taking the hallucinogens under supervision. She said: "I did it with a doctor friend here and her husband…. Basically, some neuroscientists (from Baltimore's Johns Hopkins University) have created a playlist that's music from all over the world, put together to guide you, in that state of mind, through different emotions, feeling memories, whatever."

Rep. Susan Wild faced trauma. It transformed her priorities in Congress. - The 19^th
Dr. Paul Nestadt, a practicing psychiatrist and the co-director of the Johns Hopkins Anxiety Disorders Clinic, said “it is both brave and important for lawmakers to share their personal experiences with mental health and suicide.” He participated in a suicide prevention roundtable Wild led in 2019.

Facebook knows Instagram is toxic for teen girls, company documents show - Wall Street Journal
Angela Guarda, director for the eating-disorders program at Johns Hopkins Hospital and an associate professor of psychiatry in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, said it is common for her patients to say they learned from social media tips for how to restrict food intake or purge. She estimates that Instagram and other social-media apps play a role in the disorders of about half her patients.

7 major myths about your sleep - USA Today
Electronics’ light photons suppress melatonin, a hormone that’s essential for drowsiness, says Dr. David Neubauer, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University.

Fatal opioid ODs keep rising in Black Americans (study) – HealthDay
Racial inequities in U.S. health care and social services are a likely reason for the continued increase in OD deaths among Black Americans, even as deaths among other ethnic groups have leveled out, said [lead researcher Dr. Marc Larochelle, an assistant professor at Boston University School of Medicine] and Dr. Kenneth Stoller, director of the Johns Hopkins Broadway Center for Addiction in Baltimore, who reviewed the study findings.

Rockville goes purple: Opioids: Let's talk about it panel discussion (video) - City of Rockville 11
Ashley Bone, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, and Beth Kane-Davidson, director of Suburban Hospital’s addiction treatment center, shared insights on opioid use during a recent panel discussion hosted by the City of Rockville.

Could you help prevent a suicide? Know the warning signs – HealthDay
"Suicide risk is very hard to predict," said Dr. Paul Nestadt. He's an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in Baltimore. "Even seasoned experts are hard pressed to accurately determine the risk."

Optimal antipsychotic dose for schizophrenia relapse identified (study) – Medscape
Commenting on the findings for Medscape Medical News, Thomas Sedlak, MD, PhD, director, Schizophrenia and Psychosis Consult Clinic and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, said the research "is a fine addition" to a previous analysis that explored dose-response relationships of antipsychotic drugs in the acute phase.

The worldview-changing drugs poised to go mainstream – BBC
Between the 1980s and mid-2000s, flares of change amid the crackdown [on psychedelic drugs] were seen. But the recent psychedelic renaissance has blown the doors off. It began with a landmark study in 2006 at Johns Hopkins University, headed by Roland Griffiths: a scientist who’d made his name studying caffeine.

Psychoactive substance summit set for the weekend in Gainesville - Gainesville Sun (Florida)
[U]niversities are once again taking a look at the effectiveness of psychedelics on mental health. Take the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research for instance. It has $17 million in funding to study psilocybin — the compound that makes some mushrooms "magic" — for new treatment of psychiatric and behavioral disorders, its website states.

Psychedelic drugs in Vermont: A grassroots push for legalization picks up on lawmakers' effort - Burlington Free Press (Vermont)
Garnering over 260 signatures over the past two weeks, [a] petition cites research from the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research as evidence of the safety and mental health benefits of psychedelic drugs. Johns Hopkins has found that psilocybin, also known as "magic mushrooms," can help relieve depression, anxiety, nicotine addiction, and alcohol dependency.

SoundMind opens a psychedelic clinic in West Philly as momentum builds for treatment of depression, PTSD with mind-altering drugs - Philadelphia Inquirer
The current push to bring psychedelics, some of which have ancient histories among indigenous populations, into mainstream medicine started about 15 years ago with research at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Characters on Nine Perfect Strangers are microdosing psilocybin for their health — but does it work? - People magazine
The use of psilocybin and other psychedelics are not FDA approved as a medical treatment, but the concept has been around since the 1950s, and it's part of ongoing clinical trials around the country. Dr. Albert Perez Garcia-Romeu, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, is one of the people working on those clinical trials.

Kacey Musgraves on writing new album Star-crossed: “You aren’t owed a visit by the muse. She can visit or not visit” – Uncut
Two days before she entered the studio to record her new album, Kacey Musgraves drove to a house outside Nashville, put on a blindfold and took a dose of psilocybin mushrooms. Her only sensory stimulation was a special playlist curated by neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins University to trigger different emotions and guide the listener through the journey.

Under pressure: Are the stresses of social media too much for teens and young adults? - Everyday Health
For some, these virtual platforms can boost social support and connectedness, says Carol Vidal, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, who has conducted research on the impact of social media on mental health among adolescents.

Students and mental health (video) - KAAL-TV (Austin, Minn.)
Dr. Hal Kronsberg, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Specialist in Baltimore, MD who currently practices at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, went in-depth on students' mental health and biggest challenges as kids head back to school.

August

'Don't give up on them': Mother remembers daughter who died of drug overdose (video) - WBAL-TV
Dr. Kenneth Stoller is the director of the Johns Hopkins Broadway Center for Addiction.... Stoller said the pandemic fueled the rise of overdose deaths in Maryland. "People are alone more if they are using alone, there's not people there to call 911 or to use Narcan to revive them. This is a 'I carry this at all times,' this is a lifesaving medication that everybody should be carrying so that if somebody overdoses, they can be revived right away," Stoller said.

What to know about Aduhelm, the new Alzheimer's drug - Consumer Reports
Who is Aduhelm for? It’s approved for people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. The drug’s questionable clinical benefits in those with very mild symptoms suggest that it’s highly unlikely to help people with moderate to severe cognitive impairment, says Constantine Lyketsos, MD, director of the Memory and Alzheimer’s Treatment Center at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

'Psychedelic renaissance' sees first legal collection of Australia's medicinal magic mushrooms - ABC (Australia)
Recent international trials at Johns Hopkins Centre for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research have revealed psilocybin's potential. One treatment session with psychedelics is said to have achieved what years of psychotropic drugs and counselling had not been able to accomplish.

Psychedelics can help mitigate symptoms of racial trauma for people of color, study finds - Marijuana Moment
It should be reiterated that the study authors — who are from Ohio State University, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, University of Ottawa and University of Connecticut — aren’t suggesting that taking psilocybin mushrooms or other psychedelics does anything to repair the systemic issues that contribute to racial trauma. But in terms of mitigating resulting symptoms like anxiety and depression, the substances may be a tool for healing.

Media company DoubleBlind is the master class of psychedelics - Forbes
It’s absolutely true that there’s some amazing data coming out of universities like Johns Hopkins and New York University about psychedelics. But finding healing through psychedelics is not as simple as just tripping.

GR is getting close to decriminalizing psychedelic plants and fungi - Fox 17 (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
In recent years, academia has hopped on board. Studies at … University of Chicago, Yale, Johns Hopkins, University of California – Berkeley, and even the FDA have facilitated several studies on the potential medical benefits of entheogenic plants and fungi.

Stress brought upon by return to office amid COVID-19 could harm health (video) - WBAL-TV
Dr. Karen Swartz, a Johns Hopkins Medicine associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, said there are … benefits of being back in the office, saying it makes some people more efficient and productive and revives the synergy and energy of teamwork and collaboration. However, it can also be stressful. "Good things, like getting back to normal and getting back to the office, can be incredibly stressful," Swartz said.

Hopkins psychologist offers tips for coping amid COVID-19 surge, new restrictions (video) - WBAL-TV
"We've been through this before and so we can get through it again," said Dr. Neda Gould, a clinical psychologist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.... Gould recommends reminding yourself of your resiliency ... or use mindfulness practices like meditation or talk to people in your social support network.

Psilocybin liberates the mind from constant thoughts of death that often consume the terminally ill. But its usage is being blocked, despite the Right to Try Law. - Inverse
Albert Garcia-Romeu is an assistant professor and researcher of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He tells Inverse the continued illegality of psychedelics and cannabis stems from a willful misrepresentation of these drugs, calling it a “culture war”. “This was largely due to political as opposed to scientific motivations,” Garcia-Romeu says.

July

My depression was consuming me. My doctor’s prescription? Shock therapy. It worked. - Washington Post
Irving Michael Reti, director of Electroconvulsive Therapy Service at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and an assistant professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, wrote in a report on ECT that the therapy “is hands-down the most controversial treatment in modern psychiatry,” but that “modern-day ECT is a far cry from the old methods that earned ECT its sinister reputation.

All kids lie: How to handle it, and when you should worry - Washington Post
Although the pandemic may have influenced the types of lies kids are telling, it didn’t increase their frequency, says Amie Bettencourt, a child psychologist at Johns Hopkins. “It’s developmentally normal to see this kind of stepwise increase in lying [among tweens and teens], and virtual learning just provides this new environment for it,” she says.

You can smoke it but you can’t study it: Cannabis researchers get creative - Courthouse News Service 
“The fact that a single chemical entity can exist in three different regulatory spaces, depending on where you are, or how it was obtained, doesn't make any sense to me,” said Dr. Ryan Vandrey, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

How a ‘party drug’ paved the way to relief for treatment-resistant depression - Scary Mommy
After being told they are “resistant” to treatment and, after sometimes waiting years, [patients with treatment-resistant depression] are offered some relief and, finally, some hope. Adam Kaplin, M.D., Ph.D., a psychiatrist with Johns Hopkins Medicine, gets it: “For some people, esketamine therapy is revolutionary, giving them the chance to experience life without depression for the first time in decades.”

Is it depression — or bipolar disorder? - Psychology Today
This commentary, which states, in part, “Psychiatrists now recognize that some people with mostly depression symptoms have a “soft” form of bipolar disorder and may benefit from drugs used to treat that illness,” was written by Francis Mondimore, M.D., an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Magic mushrooms - Dawn magazine (Pakistan)
In 2018, the FDA granted permission to research these mushrooms as a treatment for depression. A year later the world-renowned Johns Hopkins unveiled its Centre for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research where psilocybin will be evaluated as a possible treatment for addiction and substance abuse as well as PTSD and even Lyme’s disease among other conditions and ailments.

Michael Pollan shares everything he learned after quitting caffeine for 3 months - Men's Health
In order to find out just how closely linked human beings are to caffeine, Pollan decided to give it up for three months and record his experiences. He took on the challenge at the suggestion of Roland Griffiths, director of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins University. He recalls that Griffiths told him: "You're never going to understand your relationship to caffeine until you get off it."

June

Harvard University launches first-of-its-kind psychedelics policy center - Marijuana Moment
In 2019, Johns Hopkins University launched the nation’s first center devoted exclusively to researching psychedelic drugs — though its focus is on the therapeutic potential of these substances, rather than delving into the policy side of the issue.

California advances decriminalizing psychedelic substances -Associated Press
“People’s lives are literally transformed because of these substances," said Sen. Scott Wiener, a Democrat from San Francisco, though he amended his bill to remove ketamine from the list.... Wiener cited studies by Johns Hopkins University, the University of California, San Francisco and UCLA that found psychedelic therapies can help where other treatments have failed.

How VR company Tripp simulates psychedelic euphoria to treat depression and anxiety - dot.LA
The psychedelic visual leans into what longtime Johns Hopkins psychedelics researcher Matthew Johnson called "the mystical experience" -- the part of consuming psychedelics that isn't rooted in secular sciences, but rather in individual feelings.

Why it's important to speak with a doctor if PMS symptoms are affecting your daily life - PopSugar
As far as PMDD [premenstrual dysphoric disorder] is typically diagnosed, Johns Hopkins Medicine explains that there aren't many diagnostic tests and screenings for this condition. In other words, when seeking answers for what's causing your irritability, there isn't one stand-alone PMDD test that your doctor can give you. Before a conclusion is drawn, [Johns Hopkins] also notes, a certain amount of specific symptoms must be present over the course of a year and in most periods.

Psychedelic drugs offer effective new psychiatric treatments (audio) - WYPR radio (“Midday” program)
Dr. Roland Griffiths, a psycho-pharmacologist and professor of psychiatry and neurosciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, a specialist in mind-altering meditation practices and the founding director of the two year-old Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, joins a discussion about the potential and perils of psychedelic psychiatry.

Former head of psychiatry products at FDA joins psychedelic drug developer Cybin - Forbes
Psilocybin is a tryptamine that binds to serotonin receptor 5-HT2A in the brain. At certain doses, the psilocybin elicits profound changes in consciousness. Studies in academic institutions including Johns Hopkins and Imperial College London have found that psychedelic drugs have significant potential in treating mental health disorders, including certain types of depression.

Does vitamin D deficiency play a role in opioid addiction? (study) - Medscape
[W]eighing in on this research, Kenneth Stoller, MD, director of the Johns Hopkins Broadway Center for Addiction and associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, noted that "95% of patients with co-occurring disorders coming to the inpatient unit are vitamin D deficient, so it's very common in the population.

Texas the latest state to legalize psychedelic medical research - Bloomberg Law
Magic mushroom research is already underway at Johns Hopkins, where experiments found that psilocybin-assisted therapy could help patients with major depressive disorder, and at the University of California, San Francisco, which has a Translational Psychedelic Research (TrPR) Program.

Atai goes public with promising new mental-health treatments based on psychedelics - Entrepreneur
As with cannabis, medicinal use of psychedelics has been hamstrung by governmental restrictions. However, major universities, such as the University of California, Yale and Johns Hopkins are conducting research into the role of psychedelics in psychological treatment.

Can psychedelics help make dying easier? - Rolling Stone
[A 2006] study found that after two or three psilocybin sessions, a majority of participants had significant and positive changes in their mood, while 33 percent rated the experience as the most spiritually significant experience of their life.... Since then, this research has continued with the same results in trials at Johns Hopkins and New York University.

Are psychedelics the next big cure? - Good Housekeeping
Every person has a different experience during a psychedelic therapy session, which many find challenging to put into words because so much happens at once, says Matthew Johnson, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at John Hopkins Medicine and associate director of [the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research].

‘I’m a lighter me’: Can Mike Tyson and psychedelics help boxers with brain trauma? - The Guardian (U.K.)
“[The recovery from brain trauma of former NHL player Daniel Carcillo] sounds viable and doesn’t surprise me,” says Matthew W Johnson, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University and an associate director of their world-leading center for psychedelic and consciousness research. “In our controlled trials, success rates look really good. It’s not uncommon for the people in our sessions to have life-changing experiences with long-lasting effect.”

A dozen birthdays, an Easter egg hunt and a toast to a new year: Families make up for lost time at COVID reunions - Baltimore Sun
Dr. Neda F. Gould, clinical psychologist and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, said this time of transition and reunions can be a lot to take in. “For many people, there is that excitement and sense of joy, but there is also a sense of sadness and grief,” Gould said. “We see family members, and they’ve aged and they look different. It’s a lot to process.

Are psychedelics the next big cure? - Good Housekeeping
For depression, anxiety, addictions and eating disorders, “people who have suffered for decades have made substantial change after [treatment with psychedelics],” generally after just one to three doses in a supportive setting, says Natalie Gukasyan, M.D., medical director of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore. And these shifts seem to be lasting.

Psychedelics could be the future of psychotherapy - Discover
The business surge in psychedelics has followed a tidal shift in academic research. Since 2006, researchers at Johns Hopkins University alone have published more than 60 peer-reviewed papers on psychoactive compounds found in magic mushrooms and other plants. In late 2019, the university opened the first-of-its-kind Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research.

Will psychedelics become legal in California? - Cal Matters (Sacramento)
Beyond PTSD, psychedelic drugs also offer promise for depression and anxiety treatments. A Johns Hopkins study from last year observed how adults with depression responded to two doses of psilocybin — and they thrived. More than 70% of participants saw an improvement in their mental health.

What do you really know about psychedelics and psychedelics stocks? - Yahoo Finance
[Most folks] don’t know that in 2018, researchers at Johns Hopkins University published results from a smoking cessation study that used psilocybin (the psychedelic compound in magic mushrooms), to treat smoking addiction. The results were quite positive, showing an 80% success rate. Compare that to the most effective smoking cessation treatment on the market today, which maintains a success rate of about 30%.

Deepak Chopra on MindMed partnership, how psychedelics influenced the trajectory of his life - Forbes
[Chopra's] encounter as an inquisitive teenager in medical school is now, over 50 years later, being proven out in research that illustrates the effectiveness of psychotropic drugs as therapies for mental trauma. Rigorous studies at Johns Hopkins University, NYU Langone, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (and a host of other prominent institutions globally) are showing psychedelic drugs can ease the crushing symptoms of depression, PTSD, and addiction.

A new Alzheimer's drug is giving millions hope but does it work? (video) - WUSA-TV (D.C.)
Dr. Constantine Lyketsos of the Johns Hopkins Memory and Alzheimer's Treatment Center explores the new Alzheimer's drug and whether it will work.

Do psychedelics just provide comforting delusions? - Vice
Researchers like Johns Hopkins' Matthew Johnson have cautioned that therapists and guides need to be careful about projecting their own spiritual interpretations and assumptions onto others, and that relying on narrow forms of spirituality and mysticism could be alienating some from seeking out the treatment.

Drinking among older adults split during pandemic - AARP
“A lot of older adults think that it's okay to have four drinks at a dinner or cocktail party, because they don't drink at all the rest of the week,” explains [Susan Lehmann, director of the Geriatric Psychiatry Day Hospital Program at Johns Hopkins Medicine]. “But we know that sort of binge drinking can be particularly damaging for older adults.”

Cortical thinning in adolescence 'definitively' tied to subsequent psychosis (study) - Medscape
Commenting on the findings for Medscape Medical News, Russell Margolis, MD, clinical director, Johns Hopkins Schizophrenia Center, said that "it's not so much that the findings are novel but rather that they're fairly definitive in that this is by far the largest study of its kind looking at this particular question, and that gives it power.

Elected officials, health experts discuss gun violence awareness, prevention - Baltimore Sun
Dr. Paul Nestadt, co-director of the Johns Hopkins Anxiety Disorders Clinic and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, specializes in trying to understand suicide.... According to Nestadt, attempted suicide attempts are impulsive and made based on availability. Suicide survival rates are much lower when attempted with a firearm as opposed to pills or poison.

What to expect before your new grad leaves for college - AARP
[A]s young adults start tackling more tasks and earn a sense of independence, another behavior parents may notice is confrontation about rules, says Karen Swartz, M.D. “As they prepare to go away, they often get upset or might argue about a curfew or expectations of parents knowing where they are,” says Swartz, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

A clinical counsellor describes his legal trip on magic mushrooms - Vancouver Sun (Canada)
The playlist that is used to guide patients on the trip is one that has been carefully curated by experts who understand how music works with a psilocybin experience, said [clinical counsellor Dave] Phillips. The one he used is typically used by counsellors for cancer patients, made by Bill Richards, a psychologist at Johns Hopkins University.

Pandemic worsens pre-existing mental illness (video) - CBS News
Dr. Kali Cyrus, a psychiatrist and an assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, comments on a recent study reporting that people with schizophrenia are more than three times more likely to die from COVID-19 than those without the disorder, and she talks about the perceived link between social isolation and gun violence.

May

Don't swallow all the hype around magic mushrooms yet - Yahoo
With the mental-health fallout from the pandemic and concerns that suicide rates will rise, could a mystical, psychedelic experience truly bring people some much-needed relief? I called up someone who knows more about it than almost anyone else: Matthew Johnson, Ph.D., at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, where psilocybin is administered legally in research studies.

How does love work in psychedelic therapy? - Psychology Today
Mary Cosimano, clinical researcher at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research: We are born as love and over time we tend to experience blocks that obscure that love. These blocks manifest in ways that cause problems in our lives and society. In order to heal these problems, we need to get back to that state of love. Psychedelics have the potential to assist with that.

With psychedelics, mental health care may never be the same - Baystreet (Canada)
Not only has the US FDA been supportive of psychedelics, Johns Hopkins, Yale, Berkeley, and Mount Sinai Hospital are establishing psychedelic divisions, as well.

State-funded psychedelic therapy research for veterans could come out of Texas - KVEO-TV (Harlingen, Texas)
Currently, in the United States, the privately funded Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research has recently put out research in the field. The center was created in 2019 and published research in November 2020 on the “Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder.”

A wake-up call to retirees who don’t get enough sleep – MarketWatch
In older adults, the circadian clock advances, explains [Dr. David Neubauer, a psychiatrist and professor at Johns Hopkins Medicine who has treated patients for over 35 years in the medical center’s sleep clinic]. “People as they age tend to become more early birds, being sleepier earlier in the evening and having their sleep turned off earlier in the mornings,” he tells me in an interview.

Shroom boom? Here's why investors say psychedelics are the next stock to watch - 13 News (Nofolk, Va.)
“I think there’s incredible potential here. I really do think it's gonna be a new paradigm within psychiatric treatment,” said [Dr. Matthew Johnson, a Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University]. “It’s a new treatment model, and there’s a lot of opportunities. That’s gonna come with both the positive and challenges. This stuff has to be done safely.”

How psychotherapy can help with migraine - Everyday Health
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) works by identifying behaviors that a person is engaging in or avoiding, as well as thoughts they’re having that are unhelpful, inaccurate, or maladaptive, says Neda Gould, PhD, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine. “We examine the thoughts that could be maintaining or exacerbating the condition and then work to change both the thoughts and the behaviors in a systematic way to improve it,” says Dr. Gould.

Peace of mind: How chronic stress affects overall wellbeing (video) - WBAL-TV
Dr. Neda Gould, director of the Johns Hopkins Mindfulness Program, explains how chronic stress affects our mental and physical well-being.

Which alcohol makes you hungover? Experts explain – Mic
First things first: What is a hangover, and what causes it? You’re probably familiar with the symptoms, which Alexis Hammond, associate Medical Director of the Center for Addiction and Pregnancy/Addiction Treatment Services at Johns Hopkins Medicine, says can include headache, nausea, diarrhea, sensitivity to light and sound, and a general malaise.

Kacey Musgraves is in her feelings – Elle
At the beginning of this year, [Kacey] decided to lean all the way into the loss of control she was feeling and take a guided mushroom trip. I’d venture to say that Musgraves has type A tendencies rolled into a type B personality, based on the fact that she used a Johns Hopkins-created playlist made for the purpose.

Is it enough to 'just' take care of patients? - MedPage Today
Jennifer Leah Goetz, MD, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, who cares primarily for adolescents with eating disorders, shared a tweet this week that sparked discussion around a long-standing issue: the value of patient care in academic medicine.

Signs that it’s time for therapy - New York Times
Are you struggling to get through the day or feeling persistently sad, irritable or anxious? Have you thought about harming yourself? These are some of the signs that you might need therapy or medication. “When it’s really affecting how you live your life, is when we want you to reach out for support,” said Dr. Erica M. Richards, medical director of the department of psychiatry at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C.

The jury is out on the effectiveness of microdosing psychedelics, experts say, but definitely don't do it at work - Business Insider
"Like it or not, this is an illegal activity," said Matthew Johnson, a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins and the associate director of the university's Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, which was the first research group in the country to receive regulatory approval to study psychedelics with healthy volunteers.

Kristen Bell says she did hallucinogenic mushrooms to battle her depression – Insider
Research from scientists at Johns Hopkins and New York University late last year suggested that hallucinogenic mushrooms can help with anxiety and depression when traditional antidepressant medications don't work.

The emotional impact of Parkinson’s psychosis – HealthCentral
“At least 50% of people with Parkinson’s will suffer from either depression, anxiety, and often both at some point,” says Gregory Pontone, M.D., M.H.S., director of Johns Hopkins Parkinson’s Disease neuropsychiatry clinical program in Baltimore.... “[D]opamine medications are not the stand-alone cause [of psychosis], because most patients on medication do not have psychosis,” says Pontone.

Psychedelic treatment may offer a cure for depression and other mental illnesses - Washington Examiner
The substance psilocybin is found in various types of mushrooms. The Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins University is conducting extensive research into it as a treatment for mental illness. “The psychedelic research that we’ve been doing has been going on for nearly two decades,” said Matthew Johnson, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the center. “I’ve been conducting this research since 2004.”

How social media has impacted mental health in teens during the Covid pandemic (video) - NBC News NOW
According to an NBC News poll, 54 percent of parents say the time their kids spent on social media increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, which some teens and experts say could have a negative effect on their mental health. News NOW is joined by a panel of teens [and Dr. Erica Richards, chair of psychiatry at Sibley Memorial Hospital and assistant professor at Johns Hopkins medical school] to discuss how the pandemic has changed their relationship with social media and how to create healthy online boundaries.

Our ancestors knew the healing power of psychedelics. California must decriminalize (opinion) - Sacramento Bee
[At a] talk by author Michael Pollan on his best-selling book “How to Change Your Mind.” I learned that studies at Johns Hopkins University and other prestigious universities were finding that psychoactive mushrooms and other psychedelics seemed to enable people to find purpose and meaning again.

Psychedelic drugs could help treat mental health issues. But can you get there without the trip? - Baltimore Sun
[R]ecently the government has permitted, and occasionally funded, a growing number of studies in labs at Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland and several other academic and private centers nationally.... Doing the basic scientific research is important as these mood-altering drugs are getting closer to federal approval as medicines, [said Dr. Roland Griffiths, director of Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research and a longtime psychedelic drug researcher].

Why women’s brains are more vulnerable to disease, from anxiety to Alzheimer’s – Prevention
“In a memory test, women who reported more stressors in their 40s were able to recall fewer words than those who reported fewer stressors,” says [Cynthia Munro, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University]. That research didn’t find a difference in men. “We know we can’t stop stress,” she says. “But the research makes it clear that we need to train our ability to stay calm in the face of it.”

Psychiatrist: Could these interventions have prevented the Woodlawn shootings? (opinion) - Baltimore Sun
Researchers at Johns Hopkins found that 70% of their surveyed house staff (physicians in training) had little to no knowledge of ERPO [Extreme Risk Protection Order]. After ERPO was briefly described to them, over 90% said they believe they have seen patients who would have qualified for an ERPO.

MDMA, magic mushrooms could be the hottest entry in psychiatry, researchers hopeful - India Today
Johns Hopkins, Yale, the University of California, Berkeley, and Mount Sinai Hospital in New York are among the institutions that have recently set up psychedelic research divisions or are planning to do so, with financing from private donors. Scientists are conducting studies on whether psychedelics can be used in treating depression, autism and opioid addiction, anorexia and the anxieties experienced by the terminally ill.

Therapy in aisle 7: Retailers are entering the mental health market - New York Times
“I think it’s a smart model,” Dr. Kali Cyrus, a psychiatrist at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., and assistant professor at Johns Hopkins, said of the various therapy programs. “By expanding availability, you increase visibility — and that helps reduce stigma.” But she questioned whether the therapy clinics will have a standardized approach when giving out mental health advice, making referrals or offering risk assessments.

The psychedelic revolution is coming. Psychiatry may never be the same. - New York Times
These days, the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins … is studying, among other things, psilocybin for smoking cessation and the treatment of depression associated with Alzheimer’s as well as more spiritual explorations involving religious clergy. “We have to be careful not to overpromise, but these are fantastically interesting compounds with numerous possible uses,” said Roland R. Griffiths, the center’s founding director and a psychopharmacologist.

What happens when Big Pharma starts selling mass-market hallucinogens - The Federalist
After a long hiatus during the Drug War, scientific research on psychedelics has exploded in the 21st century. The prestigious Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research in Baltimore, Md., the Beckley Foundation in Oxford, United Kingdom, and the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) have all been hard at work quantifying and medicalizing the soul.

A psychedelic drug passes a big test for PTSD treatment (study) - New York Times
Albert Garcia-Romeu, a psychopharmacology researcher at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who was not involved in the study, said that additional research is needed to explore the therapy’s efficacy for people of diverse races and ethnicities, because three-quarters of the trial participants were white.

A psychedelic drug passes a big test for PTSD treatment (study) - New York Times
In an important step toward medical approval, MDMA, the illegal drug popularly known as Ecstasy or Molly, was shown to bring relief to those suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder when paired with talk therapy.... “This is about as excited as I can get about a clinical trial,” said Gul Dolen, a neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who was not involved in the research. “There is nothing like this in clinical trial results for a neuropsychiatric disease.”

April

Cancel your trip: Scientists identify psychedelic drug without hallucinogenic side effects - BBC Science Focus
Following from pilot studies, scientists are also researching how psychedelics such as psilocybin could be used to treat smoking, alcohol dependence and depression. A small study from Johns Hopkins and New York University also showed how a single 25 mg dose of the drug reduced the anxiety and depression of terminally ill people.

Struggling with social anxiety in a post-pandemic world (video) - WMAR-TV
Anxiety is something that affects all of us, and as we begin to see the light at the end of this tunnel that is the pandemic, there's another form of anxiety and stress that may be affecting a lot of people. Social anxiety. People that have social anxiety may be more hesitant to go out in social situations where there may be other people, explains Dr. Paul Nestadt, co-director of the Johns Hopkins Anxiety Disorders Clinic.

How much do you really know about schizophrenia? Here are the basics - Parade magazine
“Schizophrenia is a clinical syndrome characterized clinically by various combinations of so-called positive symptoms, negative symptoms, cognitive difficulties and impairment in ability to function,” says Russell Margolis, M.D., clinical director of the Johns Hopkins Schizophrenia Center in Baltimore.

Clinic founders tout the promise of psychedelics for mental illness; observers urge caution - MinnPost (Minnesota)
[Co-founder Kyle] Keller explained that staff at [the Institute for Integrative Therapies] take a multipronged approach to psychedelic treatment for mental illness, combining the use of psychedelic medications with traditional psychotherapy and medical monitoring. “We follow a pretty standard structure,” he said. “It’s a model that is used by Johns Hopkins or NYU for doing psychedelic-assisted therapy.”

There is a lot of fungus among us - New York Times
[A] 2016 study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine ... found use of psilocybin relieved anxiety and depression in people with a life-threatening cancer diagnosis. A second, small study involving 24 participants conducted by Johns Hopkins researchers that was published in JAMA Psychiatry found that those who received psilocybin-assisted therapy showed improvement as well.

How to sort through emotions after the Chauvin trial verdict (audio) - KCBS radio (San Francisco)
What are some ways to sort through the emotions around this verdict? KCBS Radio's Rebecca Corral spoke with Dr. Andrea Young, Child psychologist and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Coping after COVID: Navigating psychiatry after a pandemic (video) – HCPLive
Jennifer Payne, MD, Director of the Women’s Mood Disorder Center at Johns Hopkins University, discusses how difficult the pandemic has been for patients with mood disorders who often suffer from symptoms of impulsivity.

Long-term mental health consequences after repeated exposure to violence (video) - NBC News
Dr. Erica Richards, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Medicine, explains what happens to the psyche of people and communities of color when they see videos of police brutality play over and over again.

Bored in the pandemic, she made art by bruising bananas. Now she has an international following. - Washington Post
Experts have long agreed that art is good for mental and physical health. Meg Chisolm, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins … said art in almost any form promotes happiness. “When you’re creating art, you get into that flow state that actually takes you out of yourself a little bit, which allows you to be more centered and less stressed,” she said.

Blood tests offer the promise of precision psychiatry – Medscape
Reached for comment, Lauren Osborne, MD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, noted that for a long time, [the group doing the blood-test research] has been doing "very careful work" characterizing biomarkers in blood that can help predict psychiatric disorders.

Researchers in Europe, U.S. team up to produce first ever 5-MeO-DMT psychedelic training program – Forbes
Today, the energy behind psychoactive drugs as medicine is being propelled in clinical settings — in the hallowed academic halls of research titans like Johns Hopkins, U.C. San Francisco and Imperial College London.

In Canada, psychedelics re-emerge in treatment of depression - International Business Times
A recent clinical trial from Baltimore's Johns Hopkins University -- which has just opened a research center dedicated to psychedelics -- showed that two doses of psilocybin, accompanied by psychotherapy, produced "large, rapid and sustained" effects in patients suffering from serious depression.

Examining public health responses to gun violence (audio) – NPR
To help us think about [a public health response to gun violence, we've called Dr. Paul Nestadt once again. He's assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, where he is affiliated with the Center for Gun Violence Prevention and Policy.

'Magic Mushroom' hallucinogen as good as antidepressants: Study – HealthDay
Matthew Johnson is associate director of Johns Hopkins' Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, in Baltimore. In their research, Johnson and his colleagues found that one dose of psilocybin, combined with psychological therapy, produced "very large" and lasting reductions in cancer patients' depression and anxiety symptoms. Johnson said researchers have a "very good understanding" of psilocybin's immediate impact on the brain.

Psilocybin therapy may work as well as common antidepressant (study) - Scientific American
“Looking at their data, it’s very clear to me that there is a substantial difference between those two groups in precisely the direction we would have predicted,” says Roland Griffiths, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, who was not involved in this study but published his own “landmark” paper in JAMA Psychiatry last year: the first randomized controlled trial to examine psilocybin therapy for MDD [major depressive disorder].

Rick Perry urges study into using ‘magic mushrooms’ to treat veterans with PTSD - People magazine
[T]here's been increased interest in recent years about psilocybin's potential medical benefits when taken in small doses. Medical schools at universities like Johns Hopkins University and University of California-Berkeley have opened research centers in recent years dedicated to studying it.

U.S. suicides declined over all in 2020 but may have risen among people of color (study) - New York Times
“It’s clear the pandemic has hit African-Americans a lot harder than it has whites,” said Dr. Paul Nestadt, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins who was the senior author of the study, which was published in JAMA Psychiatry in December. “The pandemic may have been a perfect storm, but we’ve all been in very different boats in that storm,” he added.

Psychedelic drug worked for depression as well as common antidepressant, small trial finds - NBC News
"This is huge because it's showing that psilocybin is at least as good — and probably better — than the gold standard treatment for depression," said Roland Griffiths, director of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins University, who was not involved in the study.

What a trip! The first ever Jewish Psychedelic Summit is about to take off - Jewish News of Northern California
[Rabbi Zac] Kamenetz has had two experiences with psilocybin, and both were done legally as part of a Johns Hopkins University study of psychedelic experiences in clergy of various religions. Those experiences were among the most powerful of his life, he said, and convinced him of the need for psychedelic-assisted healing in the Jewish community.

Could psychedelic medicines have helped prevent DMX's overdose? – Benzinga
We’ve also seen evidence of psilocybin therapy working quite well in treating addiction. Perhaps the most well-known research in this area was the 2018 study that came out of Johns Hopkins University, which showed tremendous success in treating smoking addiction with psilocybin therapy.

Can 12-step groups and psychedelic addiction treatment coexist? – Vice
[Psychedelics] do have physical effects on the body and brain, but they also bring about profound psychological experiences that — anecdotally — people say help them stop using. “It really gets to more of the core of what addiction is, cutting across these substances,” said Matthew Johnson, the associate director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research.

Denver dabbles with magic mushrooms, but using them to treat mental health disorders remains underground - Los Angeles Times
Researchers now believe that taking psychedelics during talk therapy can help patients see their lives and the lives of others through a more compassionate lens. “Our studies have shown really promising medical potential for using psilocybin in a controlled setting for an astonishing range of mental health disorders,” said Matthew Johnson, professor of psychiatry and associate director of the Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins University. “But we need to keep following the data.”

FDA OKs first new ADHD drug in over a decade for children - Associated Press
Experts say the drug may appeal to parents who don’t want to give their child stimulants. It also could be an option for kids who have substance abuse problems, dislike the side effects of stimulants or need additional therapy, said Dr. David W. Goodman, director of Suburban Psychiatric Associates near Baltimore and an assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

March

Unlimited Sciences: The non-profit working with Johns Hopkins on a psilocybin study (and how you can take part) – Forbes
“We formed Unlimited Sciences in 2018 and started our conversations with Johns Hopkins to create a prospective observational research registry,” [co-founder and director Del Jolly] says. “We thought, ‘who is really collecting that data, and how can we inform the best way to use psilocybin?’ Because whether it’s illegal, legal or decriminalized, people are using this.”

Oregon’s in uncharted territory with therapeutic psilocybin use. That means creating our own map. - Portland Mercury (Oregon)
[Emergency medic Angela] Carter’s observations about psilocybin are backed up by research from Johns Hopkins University, which suggests the substance is an effective treatment for anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses.

Weekly ER visits for suicidal thoughts, attempts in 2020 did not exceed pre-pandemic level, data shows - Morning Consult
Part of the increase in outpatient mental health visits in the second half of 2020 could also be pent-up demand from people who delayed care in the early months of the pandemic, said Dr. Paul Nestadt, a psychiatrist and suicide researcher at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Andrew Yang wants to legalize magic mushrooms - Queens Daily Eagle (New York)
A 2020 study by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers found that doses of psilocybin produced “rapid and large reductions” in depression when combined with supportive psychotherapy. A 2016 John Hopkins study found that psilocybin relieved anxiety and depression for people with a life-threatening cancer diagnosis.

Can magic mushrooms heal us? - New York Times
“The definition of personality is it’s a trait, it doesn’t change,” Matthew Johnson at Johns Hopkins University and the associate director of its Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, told me. But Johnson has conducted multiple studies in which participants ranging from the very ill to so-called healthy-normals report profound changes to outlook and even personality after one well-facilitated dose.

Gov. Brown appoints advisory board to oversee beginnings of psilocybin therapy in Oregon - KDRV-TV (Medford, Ore.)
The board will be tasked with using the best available science and data to create Oregon’s regulatory framework for the supervised, therapeutic use of psilocybin products. Clinical studies, including research from Johns Hopkins University, UCLA, and NYU, have shown promising results using psilocybin for people suffering from anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Are magic mushrooms the cure to what ails MMA fighters’ brains? - MMA Fighting
[Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research] co-founder Matthew Johnson told MMA Fighting the research group has been in active talks with the fight promotion about collaborating on a study into the use of psychedelics for brain health. The promotion could provide funding into such a study, though plans are at the very preliminary stage, and the university would control the research. “My strong impression of the UFC is there’s a genuine interest in exploring methods that can help athletes,” he said

Feeling anxious about returning to in-person life? You’re not alone, experts say (video) - CBS Baltimore
Dr. Neda Gould, a Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Professor, said socializing is a skill that’s gotten rusty for some during the pandemic and the reintroduction of it may cause some to become anxious. "We haven’t been interacting with people in the same ways, so I think it’s going to take some time for us to build that skill again,” Dr. Gould said.

Magic mushrooms, ayahuasca and mescaline decriminalized in Washington, D.C. – Newsweek
Last September, Johns Hopkins launched the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, having received $17 million in funding. The institution will study the impact of psychedelics on brain function with a focus on making discoveries on how to treat conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and anorexia nervosa.

10 reasons why women may have a low sex drive and what to do about it – Insider
1. Shifts in hormones during your menstrual cycle. Your levels of sex hormones like estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone change throughout your menstrual cycle, which can affect your sex drive, says Kate Thomas, PhD, the director of clinical services at The Johns Hopkins Sex and Gender Clinic. "We know that progesterone can have a negative impact on sexuality; the role of estrogen is less understood," Thomas says.

ADHD and narcolepsy: Genetic correlations, common pathways (study) - MedPage Today
An ADHD expert not involved in the study praised it: “I think the associations uncovered in this study help move the genetic field forward by looking at common biologic mechanisms that lead to a constellation of symptoms seen in both ADHD and narcolepsy,” says David W. Goodman, MD, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore.

A long, strange trip to the mainstream for psychedelics - MSN via Boston Globe
This renaissance in the study of human consciousness has galvanized not just [Massachusetts General Hospital] but medical centers at other venerable institutions such as Johns Hopkins, New York University, and UCLA, which is studying psychedelic therapies with the dying.

Daydreaming may offer an escape from covid stress, but it’s surprisingly tricky. Try these tips. - Washington Post
Neda Gould, a clinical psychologist, agrees that daydreaming could be a handy coping mechanism during the pandemic. “One could hypothesize that this would help mood when you’re thinking about pleasurable experiences,” said Gould, director of the Mindfulness Program at Johns Hopkins.

Investors are debating who should own the future of psychedelics – Vice
[Podcast host and author Tim Ferriss, an influential player in the psychedelics space] has been a vocal supporter of psychedelic therapy research on his platforms, and has invested millions of his own money while organizing financial commitments to the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research and Imperial College London.

The race to patent psychedelics is just getting started – Vice
Outside of concerns about cost, access, and monopoly, some feel that some of the latest patent applications contradict the focuses of academic psychedelic research.... The multiple pending patent applications for weight loss are filed at the same time that Johns Hopkins is conducting research on the use of psychedelics for anorexia nervosa.

Teens’ mental health claims double amid pandemic: Experts weigh in - Fox News
"Anecdotally, our own pediatric ER and inpatient psychiatric units are seeing ... increases [in teen patients]," [Dr. Paul Nestadt, assistant professor of psychiatry and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Anxiety Disorders Clinic at Johns Hopkins University of School of Medicine] said in an email. "This may reflect lack of access to routine outpatient care, which often plays a preventative role for mental health crises. However, it is very likely also the result of the dramatic shift in teen lives….”

Traces of psychedelics make you feel good, but so does placebo, finds unusual ‘self-blinding’ study - Science magazine
The results echo the findings of the handful of very small placebo-controlled studies, says Johns Hopkins University psychedelics researcher Albert Garcia-Romeu, who was not involved with the work. But the new study was much larger and had more long-term observations, he says. Still, he thinks the results are likely to be contentious, because microdosing enthusiasts may not be convinced by findings that go against their own experiences.

What if your coping strategies hit the pandemic wall, too? – Bustle
"Sometimes we need to reevaluate and adjust our coping mechanisms if they are no longer effective," Neda Gould Ph.D., an assistant professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, tells Bustle. Rather than going back to your old behaviors repeatedly, she recommends a reset.

"In many ways it's been disastrous": COVID pandemic provides perfect storm for Americans with eating disorders - CBS News
Marita Cooper, a postdoctoral fellow at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said social media can be a serious trigger for individuals with eating disorders, particularly given the prevalence of memes about gaining weight during the pandemic era. Cooper was the lead author of a July study which found the "potential impact of the pandemic on individuals with EDs is staggering and necessitates concerted intervention efforts."

'Microdosing' LSD works no better than placebo, study suggests - Live Science
"It certainly appears so far that at least a significant portion of the claimed benefits of microdosing are the result of placebo effects," Matthew Johnson, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who was not involved in the study, told Live Science in an email. "This should be no surprise, because the placebo effect is nearly always at play in the real world use of a medication."

In the weeds: Virginia becomes the 16th state to legalize marijuana (audio) - WAMU-FM/The Kojo Nnamdi Show (D.C.)
Matthew Johnson, Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, joins Nmamdi to discuss what we know about the medical effects of marijuana and what issues the use of medical marijuana can address.

February

Why are a growing number of ex-Mormons using psychedelics? - KUER/NPR (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Bill Richards, a researcher at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has been studying psychedelics for the better part of five decades, and has overseen hundreds of psychedelic trips.... [W]hile he’s excited about the potential medical uses of psychedelics, he has also witnessed their potential to [elicit] spiritual experiences. “These drugs do help heal some sicknesses,” he told me. “But they also have potential for spiritual growth.

Serious coronavirus anxiety now has a name – Bustle
"A phobia is defined as an irrational or unrealistic fear, not just the normal anxiety that many of us are experiencing," Neda Gould PhD, assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and associate director of Bayview Anxiety Disorders Clinic, tells Bustle. "The intensity of this fear makes it interfere with someone’s functioning…." While anxiety about your health in the midst of COVID is rational, she says, coronaphobia takes it to an extreme.

Treating depression before, during, and after pregnancy – WebMD
“We know that babies who are born to moms who are depressed, stressed, or anxious in pregnancy are born with increased levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, which makes the babies themselves extra reactive,” says Lauren Osborne, MD, associate professor of psychiatry, gynecology, and obstetrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “This sets them up for their own psychological problems going into childhood.”

Are caffeinated foods safe to eat for an energy boost? – HuffPost
[Author Michael Pollan] points to studies showing that mental performance and athletic performance are improved by caffeine intake, and he quotes Johns Hopkins researcher Roland Griffiths, who pooh-poohed naysayers by saying, “If you have a steady supply of something, you can afford it and it’s not interfering with your life, there’s nothing wrong with being addicted.”

Sheppard Pratt to renovate part of Towson campus for psychedelics research center - Baltimore Business Journal
The Baltimore area has become a kind of hotspot for research into psychedelics. Johns Hopkins established a Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at its Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore last year. That center ... focuses on investigating how psychedelics can impact brain function in healthy people, as well as those affected by conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or major depression and anxiety disorders.

Envisioning a psychedelic future for Philadelphia’s USciences as it pairs with Compass Pathways for a Drug Discovery Center - Philadelphia Inquirer
A handful of major universities and research centers are pursuing similar research.... In September, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore launched the first-of-its-kind Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research to investigate the substances.... Hopkins, along with New York University, recently completed Phase 3 clinical trials with the nonprofit Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies for MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD.

Kacey Musgraves breaks her silence on divorce: 'Our season changed' - Radio.com
Additionally, the trippy country star detailed her experiences while on a “guided mushroom trip.” Spacey Kacey tells us that the experience was far from “recreational” and rather that “it was like mental and spiritual labor. Like, 10 years of therapy in one sitting.” Kacey also adds that the trip was overseen by a doctor and timed to a 7 hours and 40-minute playlist, that was created by researchers at Johns Hopkins.

Are you suffering from ‘coronaphobia?' - Fox5 (New York City)
Psychiatrists say coronaphobia is a new anxiety that stems from excessive fear of contracting the virus and is compounded by stress over job losses, finances and isolation. "It interferes with a person's ability to function," said Dr. Una McCann, a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. "It crosses the border from a nervous nelly who is anxious about a lot of things to 'I can't get the things in my life done that I need to get done because of this phobia.'"

Skip the school pressure and help kids find resilience - Psychology Today
Joe McGuire, a psychologist at Johns Hopkins who treats kids with anxiety disorders, explains, “When we are facing our fears, we are building that tolerance to distress, to the unknown. We see time and time again that this works.”

How I learned to sleep better, naturally – HGTV
The ability to fall asleep is a complex blend of biology and psychology, says Dr. David Neubauer, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and associate director of the Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorders Center. According to Neubauer, some 50% of the population suffers from occasional bouts of insomnia. "An awful lot of people are frustrated by their inability to achieve the sleep that they want most nights," he says.

Johns Hopkins psychologist Bill Richards studies the magical power of music - Baltimore magazine
As part of his groundbreaking work at the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins, Richards now serves as lead curator of the seven-hour playlists that help support participants through their existential experiences, aka clinical “trips.”

Ask the Expert: How can I prepare my child to go back to in-person schooling? - PBS Local
We spoke to pediatric anxiety expert Dr. Joseph McGuire, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, about how to prepare your child to go back to school.... There are three strategies you can employ, [he says].

Suicide by intentional overdose in children - Psychology Today
Dr. Paul Nestadt, a psychiatrist at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, observed that “Suicide is also surprisingly impulsive. A majority who decide to do it act within an hour … nearly a quarter act within five minutes. Not having access to a lethal weapon during that time greatly reduces the risk of death.”

Cannabis tied to self-harm, death in youth with mood disorders (study) – Medscape
[C]ommenting on the study for Medscape Medical News, Christopher Hammond, MD, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, said: "Three major strengths of the study are the size of the sample, its longitudinal analysis, and that the authors controlled for a number of potential confounding variables." In light of the findings, Hammond recommended clinicians and other health professionals who work with young people "should screen for cannabis-related problems in youth with mood disorders."

Pandemic may be affecting how parents feed their kids (study) – HealthDay
There have been good and bad changes to U.S. children's diets during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers say. "Providing healthy meals and snacks to our kids can be a challenge even when we're not experiencing a pandemic," said senior study author Susan Carnell. She's an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in Baltimore.

January

Study: Brain stimulation can be individualized to treat depression - Verywell Health
This study "really gets as near as you could get to circuit-level areas of the brain," Irving Reti, MBBS, a research psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University not involved with the study, tells Verywell. Even though personalized neuropsychiatry is still in its infancy, Reti, who is also the director of the Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Service at Johns Hopkins Hospital, says this study and its technology are "taking things to the next level."

10 surprising facts about CBD – HealthCentral
With an increasing number of states legalizing cannabis, products made from cannabidiol (CBD) are becoming more and more mainstream. We wanted to get educated, so we asked two experts [including Ryan Vandrey, Ph.D., a professor in the Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine] to discuss some lesser-known facts about CBD.

Why investors are bullish about psychedelics – Forbes
Lindsay Hoover, managing partner at JLS, an early-stage plant medicine venture: I think there’s optimism that there will be less uncertainty about the path to regulation that these substances can take. There’s optimism that if there’s mental health treatments for anxiety and depression, rational heads will prevail. There’s optimism that there is no reason to stop this experiment particularly when there are studies conducted by Johns Hopkins and top-tier academic institutions the last few years.

Are you OK? I'm not. (opinion) – CNN
"Everyone's struggling," Dr. Erica Martin Richards told me on the phone. She's a psychiatrist and a medical director at the Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, DC, as well as a professor at Johns Hopkins University. She told me her patients are sicker and more anxious than usual. Research and observation tell her that other Americans are having a very hard time.

Out of the Blue: As the pandemic wears on, experts weigh in on ways to stay positive - Baltimore magazine
“If your basic needs are met, and your life hasn’t been disrupted to the core in terms of finances and health,” says Neda Gould, associate director of the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, “this is an opportunity to reevaluate what matters in life, to practice gratitude for all the things we continue to have, and an opportunity to reframe and look within and develop new perspectives.”

Why the UFC decision to support psychedelics research is a very big deal (commentary) – Benzinga
Make no mistake: Professional fighters put their brains through a lot of physical and emotional trauma. So when I heard that UFC president Dana White announced the UFC approached researchers at Johns Hopkins about a psychedelics treatment study that could help fighters combat brain trauma, I was beyond excited

How does it feel to get ketamine therapy? – Gizmodo
Adam Kaplin, Clinical Director of the Psychiatric Esketamine Clinic and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University: When ketamine works, it works dramatically — in the first dose or two, people get dramatically better; some even feel they’ve returned to their old selves. To have this response in people with treatment-resistant depression, after just a few doses, is kind of amazing.

Terpenes: The little-known compounds that make cannabis a better medicine - Discover magazine
Terpenes have mostly been investigated by aromatherapy practitioners, [says Ethan Russo, CEO of a company that commercializes products derived from cannabis], and while there haven’t been a lot of high-quality investigations, they do exist. Researchers such as Ryan Vandrey of Johns Hopkins are conducting the kind of double-blind, controlled studies on terpenoids that change attitudes, Russo believes.

David W. Goodman, MD: Silver linings in ADHD (video) - HCP Live
In an interview with HCPLive, David W. Goodman, MD, FAPA, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, said despite the obvious challenges the pandemic has caused, he is hopeful some [people with] ADHD were able to adapt to a new routine that did not exacerbate some of the symptoms associated with the disorder.

How to give back on Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Real Simple
"[Volunteering] likely reduces stress levels in those that volunteer and often helps increase your social network which, in the long-run, also reduces anxiety and enhances overall life satisfaction," explains Erica Richards, MD, PhD, chair and medical director of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., and assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

'Mindfulness' on your mind? It has limits, review finds – HealthDay
Neda Gould, director of the Mindfulness Program at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, urged caution in interpreting the findings. "It doesn't mean that mindfulness isn't helpful," Gould stressed. "We have tons of research pointing to how it can help with anxiety, stress, blood pressure, pain and other concerns, but we can't make blanket statements that these programs are helpful for every person in every situation."

Council President Mosby announces suicide prevention legislative workgroup in Baltimore -WBFF-TV
Mosby will be joined by Councilmember Danielle McCray, chairwoman of the Council’s Health, Environment and Technology Committee, Dr. Cynthia Major Lewis, director of Johns Hopkins Adult Psychiatric Emergency Services, Michael Bray, researcher and medical student at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore Police Department Major Byron Conaway and Officer Joel Quillin.

UFC looks into Johns Hopkins study on psychedelic drugs as potential therapy for fighters – ESPN
The [Ultimate Fighting Championship] is looking to get involved with research into psychedelic drugs as a therapy for fighters' brain health. The promotion has been in contact with Johns Hopkins University about its psychedelics studies with an eye toward seeing if the drugs can be helpful for fighters dealing with brain issues, UFC president Dana White told MMA Junkie on Wednesday.
Also reported by: MMA Fighting

Talk to children about mental health and suicide, experts say - WFYI public radio (Indianapolis)
Dr. Paul Nestadt, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine … says children may feel more anxiety and other distress due to school closings. “We are seeing from surveys, self reports, higher numbers of distress in kids,” he says. “That may be related to the fact that kids are impacted uniquely and that they're cut off from school….”

The emerging revival of psychedelics in neuroscience - Psychology Today
The Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins Medicine aims to identify new treatments using psychedelics for various diseases such as addiction, PTSD, post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, anorexia nervosa, alcohol use with patients with major depression, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Baltimore County parents worry that the extended schools closure is harming their kids - Baltimore Sun
Carol Vidal, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, told members of Re-Open Baltimore County Public Schools that while children run the smallest risk from becoming seriously ill after contracting COVID-19, “they are paying the highest price.” “After months of not connecting to school,” Vidal said, “many children have lost all joy. It will affect them today and tomorrow by impacting their academic progress, job prospects and current and future mental health.

Your guide to CBD topicals for muscle and joint pain – HealthCentral
[U]ntil more large-scale, peer-reviewed studies are done, physicians are skeptical of topical CBD. “Especially with commercial products, there’s just not enough clinical evidence to back up any claims for joint and muscle pain,” says [Tory Spindle, Ph.D., a researcher in the Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center]. “That’s not to say they’re not effective, but there are no clinical studies to prove they are,” he says.

Best music playlists for psychedelic therapy are explored in new Johns Hopkins study - Marijuana Moment
Psychedelic therapy sessions often incorporate music — and typically that music is of the classical genre. But new research out of the John Hopkins University School of Medicine suggests there may in fact be no special value in playing a Mozart concerto or Chopin étude for tripping patients. Gongs could work just as well, if not better, the study found.

2020

December

Winter blues: Here are some tips to help combat seasonal affective disorder - International Business Times
"People rarely 'snap out of' a depression," Johns Hopkins Medicine [says]. "But they can feel a little better day-by-day." … It's important to set realistic goals and not to pressure oneself to do too many things at once. Instead, Johns Hopkins Medicine recommends breaking down tasks into smaller ones and tackling only what one can.

2020 was the year of the magic mushroom – Vice
You could say that the starting gun for [magic mushrooms'] reentry into our collective psyche was fired by new research from the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, and the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London.

Keeping New Year’s resolutions as we say hello to 2021 (audio) - The Kojo Nnamdi Show (WAMU-FM; D.C.)
[We] talk with two local psychologists [including Dr. Neda Gould Director, Johns Hopkins' Mindfulness Program; Associate Director, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center; Faculty Member, Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine] on how we can approach goal-setting in a realistic and doable way.

Why Canada could be next to allow psychedelic therapy (and how it’s already changing lives) – Forbes
One of the earliest studies to come out of the so-called psychedelic renaissance was conducted at Johns Hopkins University in 2016, and sought to examine how psilocybin would affect depression and anxiety in patients suffering from life-threatening cancers. It found that just a single dose of psilocybin left subjects with longstanding relief, with 78% experiencing lower rates of depression and 83% experiencing lower rates of anxiety six months after receiving the treatment.

2020 was the year of psychedelics — here's why - Benzinga
Matt Johnson, a professor and researcher at Johns Hopkins University’s psychedelics program, explained to Benzinga that psilocybin’s success above other psychedelics has to do with the amount of anecdotal evidence that already existed before academic research resumed in the early 2000s.

Travelers with COVID-19 are selfishly endangering others. Experts call the problematic behavior 'truly reckless.' - Yahoo! Life
Neda Gould, PhD, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, tells Yahoo Life that the behavior is “problematic” since “the consequences can be so dire for others.”

Is coronavirus compounding your holiday stress? Experts lend advice - Fox News
A top expert at Johns Hopkins said a good place to start [combatting holiday-related stress] is by acknowledging that there may be unpleasant and mixed emotions this year. "Make space for them and acknowledge them," says Neda Gould, clinical psychologist and assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "We can hold both pleasant and unpleasant emotions simultaneously and by doing so we can free up energy and build resilience."

From adaptogens to psychedelics: What’s next for wellness’ mushroom obsession – Glossy
Psychedelics ... have been the subject of a growing body of clinical research. In November 2019, Johns Hopkins Medicine launched the Center for Psychedelic Research with $17 million in donations. Researchers there are studying psilocybin, the chemical found in psychedelic mushrooms, for a wide range of uses, including as a “new therapy for opioid addiction, Alzheimer’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), ... anorexia nervosa and alcohol use....”

For many with eating disorders, pandemic set off ‘cascade of problems.’ Here’s how to get help. - Washington Post
Beyond the broad mental health impacts linked to the sudden disruption of lives and widespread isolation, coronavirus-related restrictions created specific factors that could put people with eating disorders at increased risk, said [Marita] Cooper, a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University [who specializes in eating disorders].

Feeling “Zoom fatigue”? 6 ways to stay social that don’t use video cams – Healthline
]M]any of us are in video meetings for work throughout the day, so the idea of using it for socializing may not be appealing,” said Neda Gould, PhD, clinical psychologist and director of the Mindfulness Program at Johns Hopkins Medicine.... 5. Drop off a care package. “It feels good for us to do nice things for others during this time, knowing that many people are really struggling, as well,” Gould said.

Fibromyalgia treatments: Living well with a chronic condition - Practical Pain Management
“Cognitive behavioral therapy can help you change your negative thoughts and modify your response to negative feelings,” says Traci Speed, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “It can help you replace maladaptive thoughts and find new coping skills.”

N.J. bill to lessen jail time for ‘magic’ mushrooms moves forward - NJ (New Jersey)
Some studies show promising medical benefits of psilocybin to treat depression and anxiety, particularly in cancer patients or others with chronic illnesses, like HIV, Mathew Johnson, a professor of psychiatry at and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, said during [Monday's bill] hearing.

Johns Hopkins psychologist offers tips to avoid pandemic burnout - WTOP-FM (D.C)
“Trying to adhere to anything extra is always a challenge,” said Carisa Parrish, the co-director of Pediatric Medical Psychology at Johns Hopkins Medicine.... She recommends reading a story about someone who has battled the virus so it resonates with you.... She also advises people to make a commitment to the precautions, just as they would wearing a helmet while riding a bike. That will help make it second nature, according to Parrish.

Focus on clinical research (video) - Horizon Media
How did psychedelics, not so long ago cast into the wilderness by the medical community, so quickly return to America’s most prestigious research institutions and graduate to the pages of its premier journals? Join us as we learn the stories of the scientists who re-opened the doors, and the new generation of researchers working to explore the potential of psychedelics in science and medicine [including Johns Hopkins’ Manoj Doss, Ph.D., Roland R. Griffiths, Ph.D., Natalie Gukasyan, M.D., Matthew W. Johnson, Ph.D., and William A. Richards, Ph.D.].

Can social media tell you how Covid-19 safe others are? - KCBS radio (San Francisco)
Dr. Carisa Parrish, Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, told KCBS Radio that she’s seen lots of scrutiny at Johns Hopkins on having “community behavior be in sync with our professional behavior, to prevent community spread for those of us that work in the hospital setting.” She said she understands that people want to be safe, which could be the reason for stalking their coworkers’ socials.

Boca Raton organization offering free virtual mental health workshop for seniors, caregivers - WPTV-TV (West Palm Beach, Fla.)
Experts are now warning a second Covid-19 wave is coming, and a Boca Raton organization is hoping to help. On Dec. 14, [Ruth and Norman Rales Jewish Family Services] is offering a free mental health workshop on Zoom featuring Dr. Susan Lehmann, the clinical director of Geriatric Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University. During the session, Dr. Lehmann will focus on ways that caregivers can help their mentally impacted loved ones cope.

Raising the bar on geriatric mental health competency training - Psychiatric Times
In this opinion piece, Dr. Susan Lehmann, Dr. Robert Roca and co-authors make the case for national education mandates from accreditation organizations and congressional support to require enhanced education of all clinicians who care for older adults. Lehmann is clinical director, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neuropsychiatry, and associate professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medicine. Roca is vice chair in the Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

3 psychedelic stocks to invest in the future of medicine - Investor Place
Research is in full swing with the announcement from Johns Hopkins on its development of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. With a $17 million commitment for planned studies, the research will further help in normalizing psychedelics. Therefore, the shroom boom has well and truly arrived.

Galaxy brain is real - The Atlantic
“Some people do have the sense when they’re looking across millions of light-years, that our ups and downs are ultimately meaningless on that scale,” says David Yaden, a research scientist in psychopharmacology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and who has studied self-transcendent experiences, including in astronauts. “But I think [space images] can also draw our attention to the preciousness of local meaning — our loved ones, people close to us, this Earth.

Psilocybin treatment for mental health gets legal framework - Scientific American
Oregon made history on November 3, becoming not just the first U.S. state to legalize psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in “magic mushrooms,” but also the first jurisdiction in the world to lay out plans for regulating the drug’s therapeutic use. The next day, on the opposite coast, Johns Hopkins University researchers published results from the first randomized controlled trial of treating major depressive disorder with synthetic psilocybin.

November

Will mushrooms go the way of cannabis? Legalization efforts are growing - Orange County Register (California)
Many medical experts who study psychedelics also believe they hold promise in treating a wide variety of conditions, with minimal risks of side effects or addiction. That includes Alan Davis, a clinical psychologist and professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who specializes in psychoactive drug research. Still, while he supports decriminalization, Davis warns against creating a commercial market and he urges caution on rushing into even a supervised therapeutic model….

Mike Tyson says psychedelic drug inspired his return to boxing - Fox News
“[Taking toad venom is] such an intense experience that, in most cases, doing it at a party isn’t safe. It’s not a recreational drug. If people get dosed too high, they can ‘white out’ and disassociate from their mind and body,” Alan K. Davis, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University’s psychedelic research unit, said in [a 2019] report.

The neuroscience of psychedelic drugs, music and nostalgia (video) – TedMed
Frederick Streeter Barrett, a Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine professor and core faculty member of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, explains his belief that music and psychedelics have the potential to open our minds and connect us with our most authentic selves.

New legal push aims to speed magic mushrooms to dying patients - Kaiser Health News
The Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, launched this year, has published dozens of peer-reviewed studies based on two decades of research. They include studies confirming that psilocybin helped patients grappling with major depressive disorder, thoughts of suicide and the emotional repercussions of a cancer diagnosis.

How psychedelics help you "die before you die" - Big Think
[Rick Strassman's] clinical work led to Charles Grob's government-approved research on ayahuasca and MDMA in the nineties, which opened the door to Johns Hopkins researchers studying psilocybin to treat the existential dread hospice patients encounter, which opened the floodgates to the psychedelic revolution occurring today.

Hopkins study shows 'magic mushrooms' may be effective in treating major depression - Baltimore Business Journal
Johns Hopkins researchers found in a recent study that psilocybin, or "magic mushrooms," combined with psychotherapy, may be effective in reducing depression symptoms among adults with major depressive disorder. The study was conducted by researchers at the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore.

How to have a healthier relationship with social media (audio) – Self
Neda Gould, Ph.D., [is] a clinical psychologist at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She works with adult patients with anxiety and depression and spends a lot of her time helping people be more mindful. And grounded in the present moment. We told Dr. Gould about Alexa's struggles and asked her if she had any advice for someone who can’t get off of social media because it’s her job.

As COVID-19 cases surpass records, cautions against holiday gatherings (audio) – NPR
A very large, new study ... found 1 in 5 [diagnosed with Covid] were also diagnosed with conditions including anxiety, depression, insomnia within the first three months following the infection.... Adam Kaplin, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins, says he is not surprised by these findings. "We know that when you get Covid-19, it has this effect on the entire body, including the fact that it does affect the brain."

Microdosing psychedelics is trendy, but does it work? Here’s what science says – Forbes
While respected institutions such as Johns Hopkins and NYU conduct placebo-controlled clinical trials using larger doses of psilocybin (one ongoing trial at Johns Hopkins is looking at the effects of psilocybin on anorexia), trials employing microdosing are not common.

Q&A: In the dark about psilocybin mushrooms - Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.)
[A]dvocates tout mushrooms as a safe drug with numerous health, psychological, spiritual and emotional benefits. And those benefits are being taking seriously. Johns Hopkins University is currently conducting research on types of mushrooms to see if they can help with conditions such as depression, nicotine dependence, Alzheimer’s, anxiety, opioid addiction and PTSD.

Sharing a home office with your partner? Here's how to keep the peace - Washington Post
As people spend more time at home during the pandemic and rethink how to make their space work for their new lifestyles, many homeowners in the United States are doing home-improvement projects. “So many of the couples I work with are also doing renovations or remodels,” says Chris Kraft, a couples therapist and the director of clinical services at the Sex and Gender Clinic in the psychiatry department at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “It really is all about boundaries. [The pandemic] is forcing people to reconfigure and renegotiate their living spaces.”

Inside psilocybin’s big week, from a pioneering depression study to Election Day wins - Vanity Fair
On top of [Election Day wins for psilocybin and other psychedelic substances], a new Johns Hopkins study showed that two therapeutic doses of psilocybin managed to ease major depression and put a majority of cases into remission for as long as a month.... “This is a new model in terms of psychiatry,” Roland Griffiths, Ph.D., the study’s lead researcher and a professor in the departments of psychiatry and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, said by phone [last week].

How to not let pandemic fatigue turn into pandemic burnout - Everyday Health
When we thought this health crisis might last just a few months, we psyched ourselves up to cope with it, says Paul Nestadt, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Now that we understand there’s no definitive end, that is causing widespread ‘pandemic fatigue.’ ”

Startup making dissolvable psilocybin strips goes public – Forbes
In November, Johns Hopkins published results from its latest study of adults with major depressive disorder finding that two doses of the psilocybin combined with psychotherapy, produced “large, rapid, and sustained antidepressant effects” on patients. Four weeks after the session, half of study participants —13 patients out of 24 — were still in remission.

Mind menders: The future of psychedelic therapy in the US – Medscape
After a 50-year hiatus, psychedelic drugs are undergoing a research renaissance. Roland R. Griffiths, professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and the Oliver Lee McCabe, III Professor in the Neuropsychopharmacology of Consciousness, and director of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins University, discusses the status of these drugs in the United States and their potential to treat psychiatric disorders.

A Navy SEAL veteran with PTSD said a 'magic' mushroom trip put an end to his depression – Insider
Researchers at Johns Hopkins and NYU conducted multiple small studies of cancer patients who experienced anxiety and depression as a result of their diagnoses. After giving these patients psilocybin, the majority reported an improvement in these symptoms immediately after treatment and over time.

What happens when psychedelics make you see God - Popular Science
Because of the link between the mystical and the medical, scientists like those at Johns Hopkins are probing why people have transcendent tendencies at all, how that might help our brains, and what it means for how we perceive the world.

David W. Goodman, MD: Pros and Cons of Vyvanse for ADHD (video) – HCPLive
David W. Goodman, MD, FAPA, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, shared his thoughts on the benefits of Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse), a go-to treatment for ADHD.

Caregivers Corner: Some with dementia may act inappropriately. Here’s how to deal with it. -Capital Gazette
As a caregiver, continue to educate yourself on this disease. We are fortunate to have the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine’s Frontotemporal Dementia and Young-Onset Dementias Clinic nearby.

'Magic mushroom' ingredient could work as mental health treatment – CNN
[A] new small study of 24 adults with major depression … found that two doses of psilocybin led to a large reduction in depressive symptoms.... "The magnitude of the effect we saw was about four times larger than what clinical trials have shown for traditional antidepressants on the market," said Alan Davis, an adjunct assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in a news statement.

Alert: Legal psychedelics could be the next cannabis stocks! - The Motley Fool
Johns Hopkins University — the U.S.’s oldest research university—launched a dedicated center for psychedelic studies. While it’s still early, researchers believe [psychedelics] could help treat certain psychological conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

‘Magic mushrooms’ relieve major depression within a week (find on homepage) - ZME Science
[A] new study involving patients with major depression reiterates the power of psilocybin — the active ingredient in magic mushrooms. Just two doses of the psychoactive substance were enough to produce a fast and significant reduction in depressive symptoms. “The magnitude of the effect we saw was about four times larger than what clinical trials have shown for traditional antidepressants on the market,” said Alan Davis, Ph.D., adjunct assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Also reported by: New York Post, The Hill, JAMA Network Learning, International Business Times, Fox5 (D.C.)

Why 2020 is a banner year for drug decriminalization — and what it means for public health – Vogue
Continued research by institutions like Johns Hopkins, London’s Imperial College, and MAPS are revealing that psychedelic drugs like MDMA and psilocybin have profound medicinal potential.

Confused about Covid brain fog? Doctors have questions, too – Wired
[W]hile doctors may have been expecting brain fog, there are still plenty of questions about what causes the symptom, who it affects the most, and how to treat it. “We don’t have the whole story,” says Adam Kaplin, a neuropsychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University. “What we don’t know is probably much larger than what we do know.”

The case for psychedelics for depression is getting stronger (study) – Elemental
A new study released [Wednesday] showed that psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms, is a powerful antidepressant. “[The participants in the study] were people who […] had lived with depression for decades. Their current depressive episode on average was two years or longer,” says Alan Davis, PhD, an adjunct assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University who led the study.
Also reported by: NPR, New Atlas, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, Insider, Daily Mail (U.K.)

Psychedelic mushrooms win a major electoral victory, paving the way for medical use - Fast Company
Matthew Johnson, professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University, has been conducting experimental researching into psychopharmacology since 1996. In May, during a panel discussion at the Future of Psychedelics Summit, Johnson said that psilocybin, and psychedelics in general, can help people see the big picture in ways that can lead to life-altering epiphanies.

Oregon becomes first state to legalize psychedelic mushrooms - The Oregonian
Recent research at universities including Johns Hopkins, Imperial College in London and the University of California, Los Angeles, have shown promising results of psilocybin therapy on depression, PTSD and addiction.

October

Oregon may become the first state to legalize 'magic' mushroom therapy on Election Day – Insider
In November 2018, researchers at Johns Hopkins published a paper urging the government to make psilocybin legally available in clinical settings after their small study showed the drug improved anxiety and depression in cancer patients.

Forget marijuana. Mushrooms are on the ballot on November 3 - Fast Company
Users on trips often see moving shapes, vivid colors, and distortion of objects — not to be confused with hallucinations, or spotting objects that aren’t there, says Albert Garcia-Romeu, assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University, and a member of that institution’s Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. It’s more akin to seeing a pattern on a carpet that’s “moving or waving or shimmering like the ocean,” he says.

What it’s like to experience depression for the first time, in a pandemic – Elemental
“Social isolation is something that’s hard for humans to deal with,” says Paul Nestadt, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Anxiety Disorders Clinic. “We’re used to a certain type of life, and we’ve had to adjust to a new lifestyle. There’s even some mourning or grieving for our old way of life.”

How the pandemic is contributing to your insomnia – CNN
Between Zoom meetings for work and people being glued to their phones, screen time is at an all-time high. Blue spectrum light generated from screens tells the brain to stop producing melatonin, a hormone that regulates the body's sleep-wake cycle, said Dr. David Neubauer, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore.

DC ballot initiative could decriminalize psychedelic plants, like magic mushrooms, in the city – ABC News
Matthew Johnson, the associate director of Johns Hopkins University's Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, told ABC News that while the FDA has not approved psychedelics for therapeutic use, there is "very strong evidence" they have anti-addiction effects and can treat depression and anxiety in some patients.

Oregon is on the verge of legalizing shrooms therapy, thanks to your favorite hippie soap – GQ
America’s attitudes about psychedelics have changed, and it looks like the laws around them will change, too. Four cities (Denver, Oakland, Ann Arbor, and Santa Cruz) have already decriminalized psilocybin, and a 2005 court ruling made it technically legal to grow mushrooms in New Mexico. Meanwhile, promising work from institutions like Johns Hopkins and NYU is at the center of what’s being called a “psychedelic renaissance” in the United States.

Pandemic fatigue (video) - St. Bonaventure University TV (Allegheny, N.Y.)
Dr. Carisa Parish, a psychology expert at Johns Hopkins Hospital, explains how exhausting it is to keep up with the changing guidelines for Covid-19. “There are all the precautions, the quarantining, the containment strategies … and the info-demic,” she says. Dr. Parish also offers some coping strategies.

Mushroom measure not such a far-out idea - Mail Tribune (Medford, Ore.)
A decade of research at Johns Hopkins University, NYU and others has indicated that psilocybin is uniquely effective in treating depression, anxiety, addiction and end-of-life psychological distress. Researchers found a single dose was found to ease anxiety and depression in patients months or years later.

Dying of loneliness: How COVID-19 is killing dementia patients - Al Jazeera
Esther Oh, co-director of the Johns Hopkins Memory and Alzheimer’s Treatment Center in Baltimore, Maryland, has found telemedicine – remote care through digital services like Zoom – to be promising ... for certain individuals living with dementia.... “Of course, I used to be a firm believer in in-person visits only,” she says. But when the pandemic started to spread, her methods had to adapt. “We went from 100 percent in-person visits only … to 100 percent telemedicine from the third week of March.”

The coronavirus pandemic’s mental health challenges (audio) - KCBS radio (San Francisco)
Dr. Carissa Parrish, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, says all the unknowns are causing more anger. "I would say people feel like they are a lot more tense or on edge or having more irritability…. She [adds that] there are some simple things people can do to help themselves … going for a walk for exercise, playing outside, talking to a friend on the phone, having meals together … can be both good for kids and for parents.

10 signs the pandemic is about to get much worse – Elemental
5. Everyone’s fed up. “This has been so emotionally taxing, and we can only take so much,” says Neda Gould, PhD, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Medicine. “People are feeling exhausted and burned-out from having to do certain things a certain way, and then not do so many things.”

Measure 109 would use magic mushrooms to treat mental illness - Herald and News (Klamath Falls, Ore.)
A 2016 study at Johns Hopkins’ Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research administered psilocybin to 51 cancer patients with life-threatening diagnoses who had all exhibited symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. Six months later, 80% of the participants showed sustained decreases in those symptoms.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Can Provide Pain Relief from Episodic Migraine - PainRelief.com
[Q&A with Dr. Neda Gould, Director, Mindfulness Program at Johns Hopkins Associate Director, Bayview Anxiety Disorders Clinic] Migraines can be severe and debilitating and many of the current pharmacological treatments have side effects. We were interested in studying the effect of a non-pharmacological intervention (mindfulness meditation) on migraines using various outcomes including brain imaging.

Election, coronavirus causing stress? Experts say to limit news consumption - Fox News
Focus on the present moment, and note what is in your control, such as voting, Neda Gould, director of the Mindfulness Program at Johns Hopkins and associate director of the Bayview Anxiety Disorders Clinic of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, wrote to Fox News. She suggested spending 10 to 20 minutes a day jotting down a list of worries, and for the rest of the day, redirecting the mind to the activities at hand.

The Devil's breath (video: 2:25) - Talk Radio (U.K.)
Matthew Johnson, a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Medicine, explains what a drug called the devil's breath does to the mind.

In the shadow of the pandemic: The suicide crisis in America - Behavioral Health News
This commentary, co-written by Paul Nestadt, assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, states, in part, "The pandemic, overdue confrontations of racism, and fears about the outcome of the 2020 election have diminished America's alarm about rising drug overdose and suicide rates. But these epidemics continue, albeit in the shadow of COVID-19.”

The psychological cost of the pandemic (audio) - WYPR-FM
Johns Hopkins psychologist George Everly discusses, among other topics, what leaders should be doing now to address the Covid-19 pandemic’s psychological cost.

Turn on, tune in, get well - The New Yorker
For years, researchers at N.Y.U. Langone Medical Center had been discussing the idea of a center for psychedelic medicine. MindMed just pledged five million dollars to N.Y.U. Langone, to kick off such an establishment.... (The first psychedelic-medicine center in the country, at Johns Hopkins, was created last year.)

Covid-19 got you — and your productivity — down? Here’s how to get back up – Forbes
3. Take a news break. “While keeping informed about current events is important, too much attention can cause problems,” explains Joseph McGuire, a child psychologist with Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Setting boundaries can prevent feeling overwhelmed by the situation.”

Why magic mushrooms are the next big booming (and legal!) drug market (U.K.) - The Observer
“I find it very worrisome there will be a legal recreational marketplace for psychedelics. For medical use, psilocybin is given to people with drug-resistant depression. A bad trip could be detrimental for them,” Dr. Matthew Johnson, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University, says. “Psychedelics should be dispensed and administered under the supervision of a medical professional.”

September

A mind-altering path to healing - U.S. News & World Report
In 2019, Johns Hopkins Medicine – with $17 million in promised funding from individuals including podcaster and “The Four-Hour Workweek” author Tim Ferriss – launched the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research to study the therapeutic potential of psychedelic compounds.

Biden's spotlight on son's addiction earns praise from advocates – Yahoo
Paul Nestadt, the co-director of the Johns Hopkins Anxiety Disorders Clinic, thinks Biden’s remarks might lighten the stigma those vulnerable Americans face at every turn. “For the millions of Americans struggling with substance dependence, it will be refreshing to hear Biden openly praise his son for his work to overcome addiction,” Nestadt said. “Stigma has been one of the major barriers to treatment in this country...."

Elder abuse and ageism during COVID-19 - Psychiatric Times
Elderly individuals are ... disproportionately affected by social distancing policies and other restrictions to stop the spread of the virus, resulting in increased loneliness, social isolation, and loss of freedom and support networks, say the writers of this commentary: Mansoor Malik, MD, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry, and Haroon Burhanullah, MD, an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry, both of Johns Hopkins University SOM, and Constantine G. Lyketsos, MD, a professor and chairman of the Department of Psychiatry, Bayview Campus, Johns Hopkins University SOM.

If psychedelics are going mainstream, will they be accessible to everyone? - The Independent (U.K.) via Washington Post
It would be hard to avoid coverage of what’s been called “the psychedelic renaissance”: It’s everywhere. In a recent episode of “60 Minutes,” Anderson Cooper reported on successful clinical trials at Johns Hopkins and New York University that found psilocybin can help with, respectively, smoking cessation and binge drinking.

Now is the worst time for Covid-19 fatigue – Elemental
[N]ow there’s a big problem: We’re not winning this war, and that’s affecting the motivation to fight. “This has been so emotionally taxing, and we can only take so much,” says Neda Gould, PhD, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Medicine. “People are feeling exhausted and burned-out from having to do certain things a certain way, and then not do so many things.”

As coronavirus rolls on in Maryland, mental health toll surges, with experts fearing spike in suicides - Baltimore Sun
Dr. Paul Nestadt, co-director of the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at Johns Hopkins Medicine, said he is especially concerned about the pandemic’s mental health impact on Black and brown communities.... The Black and Latino communities have endured disproportionate consequences, from higher rates of infection to catastrophic job losses. Nestadt said that puts minorities at high risk of depression and suicide....

Oregon may soon legalize the use of magic mushrooms as mental health treatment. Many Portlanders aren’t waiting. - Willamette Week (Oregon)
The science is on [the side of Portland Psychedelic Society President Kayci Mitchell]. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research have published more than 60 peer-reviewed articles, many of them showing that psilocybin is therapeutic for people suffering from depression, addiction, and the existential distress of living with life-threatening diseases.

Ann Arbor OKs move to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms, plants - MLive (Michigan)
Council Member Zachary Ackerman, D-3rd Ward, noted Johns Hopkins Medicine has launched a $17 million center dedicated to psychedelic and consciousness research, seeing what he called “the tremendous potential of these future medicines.”

Who will benefit from psychedelic medicine? - Washington Post
It would be hard to avoid coverage of what’s been called “the psychedelic renaissance”: It’s everywhere. In a recent episode of “60 Minutes,” Anderson Cooper reported on successful clinical trials at Johns Hopkins and New York University that found psilocybin can help with, respectively, smoking cessation and binge drinking.

I had passive suicidal ideation. Here’s what everyone should know - Refinery29
Before reaching out to a friend about suicidal thoughts, make sure you’re in a mentally healthy place yourself. “It is difficult to help others if you are in significant distress. Make sure you are engaging in self-care strategies,” Neda Gould, PhD, a clinical psychologist and director of the Mindfulness Program at Johns Hopkins, told Refinery29 in a previous interview.

Winter may bring a lot more coronavirus cases, new Johns Hopkins research finds* - Baltimore Sun
“We have made significant inroads in this pandemic, and we can say a lot of that is because of social interventions,” said Dr. Adam Kaplin, assistant [Johns] Hopkins professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and the lead researcher. The warm weather served as a tail wind for those efforts, he said. “In the fall and colder months we are going to hit a head wind in the other direction and that will make control much more difficult,” Kaplin said.

What to do if you’re anxious about re-entering the world – Self
It’s human nature to have trouble coping with uncertainty. “We view uncertainty as a potential threat to our well-being,” Neda Gould, Ph.D., psychologist and associate director of the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center Anxiety Disorders Clinic, tells Self. “Sometimes our brain fills in that uncertainty with catastrophic thoughts and possibilities. And if someone already has the predisposition to anxiety, then this is heightened even more so for them.”

August

Depression in older homebound adults improves with telehealth 'visits' by lay counselors (study) - M.D./alert via Reuters
The new study is "timely," said Dr. Susan Lehmann, an associate professor and clinical director in the division of geriatric psychiatry and neuropsychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. "It is interesting that this telehealth study was performed before the onset of the current COVID-19 pandemic," Lehmann said in an email. "This is particularly timely as now that we are in the midst of the pandemic, most outpatient mental health care is being delivered through telemedicine."

Cancer patients say psilocybin can be both therapy and “a beautiful experience” – Inverse
Matthew Johnson, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University who co-authored a 2016 landmark psilocybin trial, says that while cancer-related psychological distress is devastating and common, it’s also poorly understood. Cancer-related distress is not in the DSM, the so-called "psychiatric Bible." There's a huge unmet clinical need, Johnson explains.

'A hail Mary’: Psychedelic therapy draws veterans to jungle retreats - New York Times
“You have to recognize that there’s a Wild West element” to ayahuasca retreats, said Dr. Matthew Johnson, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University who has studied psychedelics since 2004. In a controlled setting, he said, unleashing the brain can help patients revisit repressed trauma and generate new insights.

How to cope through the pandemic while dealing with COVID-19 fatigue - WMAR-TV
Psychologist Carisa Parrish with Johns Hopkins Medicine says there are several ways to help make changes to our lives a little bit easier. Some of those include committing to things like washing our hands more often, maintaining physical distance and wearing a mask. Others include staying flexible as recommendations change, practicing precautions as if they're second nature and always being prepared with the necessary supplies.

The healers are hurting – Awaken
Rates of depression start climbing in med school and then take a big leap upward during residency training. In part, says Adam Kaplin, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins, that’s because residency training generally coincides with the peak age of onset of mood disorders. But medical training appears to be unique in the stresses it supplies.

Updates in treatment-resistant depression - Psychiatry Advisor
To learn more about ... updates in TRD treatment, we interviewed Irving Reti, MBBS, MD, research psychiatrist and associate professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and director of the Electroconvulsive Therapy Service at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.

Pedophilia is a mental health issue. It's still not treated as one – Vice
“I think one of the biggest problems is that people just don't understand this as a mental health issue,” said Fred Berlin, an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Rightfully, people are concerned about protecting children. And so we just quickly stigmatize people who are attracted to children and often don't even see them as human beings with a problem who might be deserving of help.

Psychedelics group raises $30 million from execs at GoDaddy, SpaceX and others for MDMA study - Marijuana Moment
[Psychedelics advocate Rick Doblin] noted that “the decrim movement has only taken place after we’ve made a lot of progress with the research — and also the Hopkins team, the NYU teams, the other teams that have worked with psilocybin,” referring to studies from universities, including Johns Hopkins, which last year launched the nation’s first center devoted exclusively to studying psychedelic drugs.

Open your mind: the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs - WAMU-FM (D.C.)
Many of us are looking for ways to escape 2020.... [F]or a growing number of Americans that means taking psychedelic drugs, as drugs like LSD and psilocybin (the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms) are becoming more popular. Meanwhile, clinical trials at Johns Hopkins University and New York University show the benefits of treating mental health disorders with psychedelics.

Isolation, disruption and confusion: Coping with dementia during a pandemic - California Healthline
The pandemic is also exacerbating feelings of isolation and loneliness, and not just for people with dementia, said Dr. Jin Hui Joo, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Caregivers are lonely, too.”

Johns Hopkins wants to hear about your psychedelic journeys for new ‘real-world’ study - Marijuana Moment
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University, who have been at the forefront of psychedelics studies in a lab setting, are partnering with a Denver-based nonprofit to gather thousands of real-world experiences with psilocybin, the main psychedelic component of so-called magic mushrooms. By diverging from a standard research setting, they’re hoping to gain a better understanding of the factors that influence a trip and its outcomes.

Eleusis sheds light on psychedelics that relieve asthma in rats with no mental effects - Fierce Biotech
Several academic groups are studying psychedelics as treatments for a wide variety of diseases. Last year, Johns Hopkins pulled in $17 million in funding to open the new Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, which is studying the effect of the drugs on brain function, memory, learning and mood.

Is Covid-19 Driving you crazy? - Psychology Today
Get accurate information, knowledge, and preparation to help reduce feelings of stress and overwhelm. Joseph McGuire, PhD, a psychologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine, recommends seeking solid up-to-date information from credible resources about the illness, the science, and steps you can take to prevent it. He cites the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Prevention (CDC).

On your next psychedelic journey, let an app be your guide – Wired
More recent studies from Yale and the National Institute of Mental Health home in on ketamine as a fast-acting treatment for depression. “For that, the science is good,” says Adam Kaplin, director of the Johns Hopkins Psychiatric Esketamine Clinic, before pointing out the problems: “We don’t yet know the best way to sustain the long-term benefits. It’s virgin territory. If patients don’t want to keep coming in and sitting in the clinic, what do we replace it with? We don’t know.”

Why Michelle Obama opening up about depression is a big deal for Black women – CNN
"[Michelle Obama] makes it okay to talk about [depression], and I think that will open the discussion up for so many people, especially during the pandemic, who are really struggling with trying to understand the emotions that they're experiencing," said Dr. Erica Richards, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine [and chair and medical director, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Sibley Memorial Hospital].

Hyperacusis in children with ADHD - MedPage Today
“The study highlights an underreported aspect of ADHD,” comments Joseph F. McGuire, PhD, who is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, MD. “Children with ADHD may struggle with inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity to a greater degree because of sound sensitivities,” says Dr. McGuire, who wasn’t affiliated with the study.

Canada will let terminally ill patients use psychedelic mushrooms for end-of-life care - Marijuana Moment
In September of last year, Johns Hopkins University announced the launch of the nation’s first-ever psychedelic research center, a $17-million project to study whether psychedelics can treat conditions such as opioid use disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

For 25 years I've battled emetophobia, a fear of vomiting that rules my entire life - Good Housekeeping
Emetophobia can be a tricky thing to treat. Una McCann, M.D., a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, says those living with emetophobia need to “learn how to recognize automatic irrational thoughts and engage in behaviors that are soothing.”

Should D.C. police ease enforcement of magic mushroom laws? Voters will get to weigh in this fall – Dcist
Advocates for these measures say that mushrooms and other psychedelic plants have significant medicinal value, more of which they say is entering the mainstream due to research at places like the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research.

5 ways businesses can prevent a costly mental health crisis – CNN
This op-ed, which states in part, "We're urging every business to step up and address their employees' serious mental health needs during this unusual moment by taking a multi-faceted approach," was co-signed by J. Raymond DePaulo, Jr., MD, co-director of the Mood Disorders Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine, and James Potash, MD, MPH, department director and Psychiatrist-in-Chief at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

July

New blood biomarker tests for Alzheimer’s called a game changer (study) - Everyday Health
Commenting on the study, Paul Rosenberg, MD, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, states, “The most remarkable thing is that P-tau predicted amyloid in the brain. It’s not just a matter of a better chemical test — this is biology. When the plasma tau was elevated, it was an excellent predictor of having amyloid in the brain.”

During pandemic, Maryland’s drug treatment clinics grapple with health safety issues, rising caseloads* -Baltimore Sun
The costs of fewer people coming into the clinics … can’t be discounted. Dr. Kenneth Stoller, director of the Johns Hopkins Broadway Center for Addiction, said many treatment sessions before the pandemic were done in groups of eight to 10 people but now involve only three to four people seated at a distance. Given “the risk inherent in sitting in a room with multiple other people for upward of 10 hours per week … it will be a challenge to get back” to the same level of services, Stoller said.

Magic mushrooms and the future of psychology - Psychology Today
Psilocybin is [also] being studied for tobacco addiction at Johns Hopkins, and they're finishing up a controlled trial of psilocybin versus nicotine replacement, and we'll know more there soon, too. Their pilot trial, you know, was like in 12 people, and it’s astonishing.

Parents weigh options as Baltimore-area schools go virtual (video) - WBFF-TV
“The idea that we are going to have [schooling] remotely feels daunting,” says Carisa Parrish, who is an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She also has a child in elementary school. “We’re going to have to make arraignments so that screen time is not happening for every waking hour of children’s lives in the foreseeable future,” Parrish says.

New psychedelic research sheds light on why psilocybin-containing mushrooms have been consumed for centuries – PsyPost
A new study from the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine provides insight into the psychoactive effects that distinguish psilocybin from other hallucinogenic substances. The findings suggest that feelings of spiritual and/or psychological insight play an important role in the drug’s popularity.... “Recently there has been a renewal of interest in research with psychedelic drugs,” explained Roland R. Griffiths, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences who is the corresponding author of the new study.

The uptight girl's guide to psychedelics – Bustle
These researchers have mastered the art of the safe trip: Mary Cosimano, MSW, and Dr. Natalie Gukasyan, M.D., are directors at the Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins University, where they research psilocybin-assisted therapy for smoking cessation, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, anorexia, and more.

Activists seek to decriminalize ‘magic’ mushrooms in DC - Associated Press
A growing body of work is looking at the effects of natural psychedelics to treat depression, trauma and addiction. Last year, Johns Hopkins University opened the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research with plans to study the effects of psychedelics on ailments including anorexia and Alzheimer’s disease. In an article, center director Roland Griffiths called natural psychedelics “a fascinating class of compounds” that can “produce a unique and profound change of consciousness….”

Coronavirus stress, depression increasing in U.S. adults - WJLA-ABC 7
“For some people it might present itself as insomnia, irritability, for some people it might be more clear-cut depression and anxiety and can identify it as such,” explained Dr. Neda Gould, Johns Hopkins clinical psychologist. So, I am seeing people who have never sought mental health treatment and are saying, ‘I just need a little extra support.’

Psilocybin Decriminalization Efforts Worth Expanding Nationwide - High Times
Luckily, several small research programs began during the 1990s, and continue today. Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research is at the forefront. Based on its research triumphs, a team of Hopkins psychiatric researchers called for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to remove psilocybin from Schedule I.

June

Medical pot may help many battle insomnia, pain and stress (study) – HealthDay
[L]ittle research has examined the impact of legalisation on the people who use medicinal cannabis, said senior study author Ryan Vandrey, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. The finding that cannabis users felt better than non-users is not necessarily surprising, according to Vandrey. But it's important to demonstrate it in a study, he said.

Push to legalize psychedelic mushrooms in Oregon picks up steam - Fox News
A petition to give voters in Oregon the option to legalize psychedelic mushrooms has garnered enough signatures to be put on the November ballot, organizers said Monday. The Oregon Psilocybin Therapy Initiative and campaign for Initiative Petition #34 said it gathered 164,782 signatures, according to its website.... “Pioneering research at institutions like Johns Hopkins, NYU, and UCLA has shown the significant promise of psilocybin therapy,” the campaign said in a press release.

The joys and sorrows of treating bipolar disorder - Psychology Today
Sometimes I think there’s a selfish reason behind [my specializing in treating bipolar disorder]: I can make a big difference in people’s lives because bipolar disorder is eminently treatable, says the author of this blog, Francis Mondimore, M.D., a psychiatrist and an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

I am part of the problem (commentary) – MDEdge
“[O]ften black clients share that they would prefer to be matched with a black therapist or a therapist who has received specific training on working with black clients.” While 13% of the American population is black, only 4% of physicians, 2% of psychiatrists, and 4% of psychologists are black, says Dr. Dinah Miller, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins.

How the COVID-19 pandemic could be messing with your sleep – Time
“There is a risk for a breakdown in the biological clock,” says Dr. David Neubauer, associate professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a faculty member at the school’s Sleep Disorders Center. “Maybe you’re staying up later, eating regular meals in the evening but snacking or napping during the day. We have had people in whom circadian rhythmicity disintegrates.”

Medicinal cannabis users report better quality of life and fewer emergency room visits (study) - Medical Research
"The background for this study is that 33 states in the U.S. have legalized medicinal cannabis use and millions of people are using cannabis for therapeutic purposes, but we have very little data on the broad health impacts of medicinal cannabis use," says Ryan Vandrey, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Using mindfulness of the breath for stress reduction (video) - Psychiatric Times
Neda Gould, PhD, a clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, directs a daily mindfulness program. She shares in a video a bit about what mindfulness meditation is and guides you through a brief practice.

Johns Hopkins is now offering a free online course on psychological first aid — here’s what that entails -Well + Good
The online class is offered by John Hopkins University and has a 4.8/5 rating from the nearly 8,000 people who’ve reviewed it. In it, psychologist George S. Everly, PhD — co-author of the book The John Hopkins Guide to Psychological First Aid and co-founder of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation — teaches his RAPID model for dealing with emergency mental health situations.

2nd gen psychedelic drugs for depression can be safer for older adults – Forbes
[Dr. Alan Kozikowski of biotechnology startup Bright Minds] estimates that it will take about two years of preclinical work before they zero in on an investigative new drug, and then another 2-3 years of clinical trials before Bright Minds can introduce a first drug into the market.... For those who don’t want to wait, Johns Hopkins is enlisting patients for a clinical study on psilocybin for treating patients with early Alzheimer’s disease. I look forward to hearing the results…

The effects of psychedelics on the brain's "consciousness conductor" - New Atlas
A new Johns Hopkins study, looking at how psilocybin influences a mysterious brain region called the claustrum, is just one of several compelling recent articles shining a light on how our brains generate our experience of consciousness.

Study finds who is most likely to stockpile toilet paper amid the pandemic - WCBS-AM (New York City)
“People who felt threatened by COVID were more likely to hoard and people who tend to be more conscientious, that is those who are future-oriented and orderly, also tend to stockpile,” said Neda Gould, a clinical psychologist and an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “It’s likely that anxious individuals were hoarding because it gave them a sense of control when so much was out of control.”

Maintaining regular sleep-wake schedule during pandemic may help adolescents - Psychiatric News
Disconnected from friends and without the structure of a full day of school, youth with anxiety and mood disorders may experience a worsening of symptoms. One way to help these youth, says Leslie Miller, M.D., an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins and director of the Johns Hopkins Mood Disorders in Adolescents and Young Adults Program, is to encourage them to keep a regular sleep and exercise schedule.

Mindfulness practice: Simple but not easy (video) - Psychiatric Times
Neda F. Gould, PhD, Associate Director of Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center Anxiety Disorders Clinic, and Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, discusses her work in mindfulness for patients as well as faculty. She describes what mindfulness is and how it can be useful for stress management, and she will walk through a practice session.

Why some moms experiences major mood shifts when they stop breastfeeding – Shape
"There are basically three stages of hormonal and physiological changes that allow women to produce breastmilk," explains Lauren M. Osborne, M.D., assistant director of the Women's Mood Disorders Center at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

COVID-19: Experts warn of psychological trauma from 'air hunger' – Medscape
O. Joseph Bienvenu, MD, PhD, associate professor, psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland said [lessening psychological trauma in survivors] is an issue that comes up for consultation-liaison psychiatrists. "Critical illnesses and the treatments needed to keep patients alive are huge stressors and psychiatric morbidity is common after ICU care," he told Medscape Medical News.

Imaging hallucinogen’s actions in the brain may help understand benefits for psychiatric disorders - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News
“Our findings move us one step closer to understanding mechanisms underlying how psilocybin works in the brain,” said Frederick Barrett, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a member of the school’s Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. “This will hopefully enable us to better understand why it’s an effective therapy for certain psychiatric disorders….”

Terminally ill Canadians apply for legal access to 'magic mushrooms' drug - CTV (Canada)
Researchers at the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore are currently conducting Phase 3 clinical trials with the aim of having psilocybin approved for market as a prescription medication. Roland Griffiths, the centre’s director, told CTV News … [the the researchers] have published multiple studies on the benefits of using one dose of psilocybin in a treatment that runs approximately six hours and has few side effects.

Psychedelics revolution creating a multi-billion-dollar investment opportunity - Baystreet (Canada)
Even the medical community is well aware of the multi-billion-dollar opportunity. Johns Hopkins Medicine, for example launched the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research to study compounds like LSD and psilocybin to treat a range of mental health problems, including anorexia, addiction and depression. Psychiatrists at Johns Hopkins University even found that mushrooms can help with smoking cessation, and another study found it can assist with alcohol dependence.

Researching psychedelics for psychiatric disorders – Medscape
Frederick S. Barrett, PhD, is affiliated with the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins University. Dr Barrett spoke with Nick Andrews at TEDMED about the research that has been conducted by his center on the impact of psychedelics, or hallucinogens, on psychiatric disorders.

Why coronavirus boredom might be good for your kids - National Geographic
Overscheduled kids can feel irritable and overwhelmed, according to Shannon Barnett, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. “They may not be sleeping as well or be kind of anxious,” she says. “They might have stomachaches or other physical complaints. We see teens who’ve always been high achievers suddenly unable to meet expectations.”

May

Baltimore City leaders introduce mental health effort to combat impact of COVID-19 - WMAR-TV
City officials say the recent COVID-19 pandemic has caused physical devastation and a mental health crisis, which Johns Hopkins University Psychologist, Dr. George Everly, called a “hidden pandemic” that can be 25 times more debilitating than the physical devastation.

Doctors are concerned: Increased usage of drugs for anxiety, insomnia due to coronavirus worries - Yeshiva World
Dr. James Potash, director of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, told the WSJ that although anti-anxiety medications such as Xanax, Ativan and Klonopin work very well, their use should be limited to weeks and not months.

Lockdown got you down? Experts offer tips to de-stress – HealthDay
[The goal ... to create "moments of positive emotion"] was seconded by Neda Gould, associate director of the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore. And that goal, she said, can be furthered by taking time to embrace meditative moments of calm and relaxation. "Any form of relaxation or mindfulness can turn off the stress response," Gould said.

More people are taking drugs for anxiety and insomnia, and doctors are worried* - Wall Street Journal
The most popular anti-anxiety medications are benzodiazepines that include Valium, Xanax, Ativan and Klonopin.... “They are powerful, and they are powerfully attractive in that they work instantly,” says James Potash, director of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine. “You take Ativan, and 30 minutes later you are feeling dramatically less anxious.”

A nurse struggled with COVID-19 trauma. He was found dead in his car – Reuters
Healthcare workers with histories of substance abuse may have more difficulty coping with fear, isolation and witnessing so much death during the pandemic, psychiatrists told Reuters. Those factors could provoke relapses in workers recovering from addiction, they said. “Patients who are being treated for opioid use disorder have reported increased stress and opioid craving since this pandemic began," said Kelly Dunn, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University who researches opioid use.

Psychedelic Treatments May be Key in Helping Resolve Health Issues - Yahoo Finance
Psychedelic drugs have been largely misunderstood for years... Johns Hopkins Medicine announced the launch of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research to study compounds like LSD and psilocybin to treat a range of mental health problems, including anorexia, addiction and depression.

How to help your anxiety as we transition out of isolation (video) - WJZ-TV
Johns Hopkins’ Dr. Neda Gould talks about self-care and managing anxiety as we transition out of isolation.

Expert roundtable: Adjusting to telepsychiatry during COVID-19 - Psychiatry Advisor
While some providers had been using telemedicine before the pandemic, others have had to adapt quickly to delivering care in this context. We checked in with [some] clinicians to learn about their telemedicine experiences in recent months, [including] Paul S. Nestadt, MD, assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Anxiety Disorders Clinic.

Largest ever DMT survey travels to the fringes of psychedelic science - New Atlas
Last year Johns Hopkins University launched the first dedicated psychedelic research center in the United States, called the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. Of course, this multi-million dollar enterprise is primarily focused on studying the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, from its uses in depression and anorexia, to its potential as a smoking cessation tool. But that is not all that is going on at the facility.

There’s a push to change D.C.’s laws on mushrooms and psychedelics. Here’s what you need to know – Dcist
Melissa Lavasani, a D.C. government employee and the leader of the Decriminalize Nature D.C. campaign, told us earlier this year that after she gave birth to her two kids, she suffered from severe depression and anxiety that she ultimately treated by micro-dosing magic mushrooms. And while that may sound outlandish to some, researchers at places like Johns Hopkins University are looking into the therapeutic and medical value of psychedelics.

How to find a therapist during the COVID-19 pandemic and other mental health options - Teen Vogue
... Carolina Vidal, M.D., M.P.H., an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, is expecting mental health needs to continue to rise. Vidal, who works largely with children and adolescents, said that since the start of the pandemic, she’s noticed social distancing has taken quite a toll on some students.

Challenges mount for those with addiction disorders during COVID-19 - ABC News
"I'm not aware, right now, of any COVID-positive addiction-recovery programs [in Baltimore] at this point, although that's something that would be terrific if it were available," said Dr. Kenneth Stoller, director of the Johns Hopkins Broadway Center for Addiction in Baltimore. [This article was written by Heather J. Kagan, M.D., an internal medicine resident physician at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and a contributor to the ABC News Medical Unit.]

Dr. Bronner’s soap company donates $1 million to Oregon effort to legalize psychedelic mushrooms - The Oregonian
Bronner said the company supported the therapeutic use of psilocybin to treat depression, anxiety and addiction. “We want to make sure it’s done in the right way,” Bronner said, “and we feel that [legalization advocates] Tom and Sheri a[Eckert] are putting forward models based on the best practices based off of the clinical trials coming out of Johns Hopkins and NYU but making it accessible for everyone.

How to help someone with anxiety, according to mental health experts - Refinery 29
"People are often dismissive of people experiencing anxiety," said Joseph McGuire, PhD, a pediatric psychologist, in an interview for the Johns Hopkins Medicine website. "With other medical illnesses, you may be able to see physical symptoms. But with anxiety, you don’t necessarily see what the person is dealing with."

6 ways to grow your business by focusing on personal health – Entrepreneur
Daily mindfulness ... can help (avoid a loss of focus, high stress levels and poor decision making). [R]esearch out of Johns Hopkins indicates that those who practice mindfulness experience a moderate but noticeable reduction in overall stress level.

April

Tired of video chatting? The experts weigh in on 'Zoom fatigue' amid coronavirus pandemic - Fox 5 (D.C.)
“It’s the fatigue, the tiredness, the anxiety that surrounds having so many Zoom calls in our current lifestyle,” Johns Hopkins University clinical psychologist Dr. Neda Gould said Monday via (of course) a Zoom call…. So what can we do about it? Gould recommended getting some fresh air in between meetings, spacing out your calls, and she also said to remember it is ok to just say no.

Quarantini anyone? When everyday drinking becomes a problem - New York Times
One way alcohol undermines health in quarantine is by disrupting sleep, said Dr. Una McCann, a professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Without sleep, it’s been very well documented that our stress responses are hyperreactive, we’re more likely to have panic attacks, we’re more likely to respond poorly to stressful situations the next day. It’s huge,” Dr. McCann said. “Alcohol doesn’t help with sleep.”

Lifting the veil: A landmark depression-awareness program hopes to curb the rise in youth suicide rates. - Baltimore magazine
One thing that happened [to increase suicide rates] is the opioid crisis,” says Dr. Karen Swartz, director of clinical and educational programs at the Johns Hopkins Mood Disorders Center. Opioid use, explains Swartz, “unmasks or worsens mood symptoms in those with mood disorders” — and that can lead to suicide.

Disasters of uncertainty - Psychology Today
This commentary, written by George Everly, Ph.D., a psychologist and an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, states, in part: I believe the most effective way for local, state, and Federal agencies to respond to disasters of uncertainty is to adapt the standard of care in physical healthcare to psychological healthcare

Psychiatric hospital patients are vulnerable amid pandemic – Newsday
“The treatment of psychiatric illnesses involves more — not less — social interaction and patients attend groups and occupational therapy session,” said Dinah Miller, a psychiatrist and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University.

Top 12 mistakes in perinatal psychiatry - Psychiatric Times
The mistakes include avoiding the use of lithium, stopping all psychiatric medications and underestimating the risks of psychiatric illness in pregnancy, says Jennifer L. Payne, MD., associate professor of psychiatry, associate professor of gynecology and obstetrics and director of the Johns Hopkins Women's Mood Disorders Center.

Income, social determinants of health affect opioid care outcomes - Patient Engagement Hit
The promise of increased income … could be enough to improve results and yield sustained sobriety among individuals undergoing opioid use disorder treatment, according to research from Johns Hopkins Medicine.... Specifically, the research team, led by August Holtyn, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, found that adding another $8 an hour to patient salaries was enough to drive a more sustained sobriety.

Medical workers’ looming mental-health crisis - New York magazine
Dr. George Everly, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavorial sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and an expert in disaster mental health, Dr. Albert Wu, a Johns Hopkins internist and founder of RISE (Resilience in Stressful Events), a peer support group for health-care workers within the university’s system, and Dr. Elliott Haut, a Johns Hopkins trauma surgeon, are quoted in this article about the unique stresses of the coronavirus pandemic.

Pandemic's impact on people battling addiction and their ability to seek treatment (video) - WJLA-TV/ABC7 News (D.C.)
The coronavirus pandemic is impacting everyone including individuals battling addiction. ABC7 News spoke with Dr. Kenneth Stoller to discuss clinical and provider measures being used to care for substance abuse disorder patients during the coronavirus crisis. Stoller is the director of the Johns Hopkins Broadway Center for Addiction.

Treating depression at home with a tDCS headset – Freethink
[U]nlike tDCS, TMS therapy is FDA-approved. ... Tracy Vannorsdall, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins medical school, says that the portability of tDCS devices still makes them a more appealing candidate for at-home solutions. "TDCS devices are less technically complex and, in fact, often run off of 9-volt batteries," says Vannorsdall.

How to cope with your coronavirus anxiety - Refinery 29
[The COVID-19 pandemic] is enough to make anyone feel anxious, and can worsen symptoms of the roughly 40 million adults in the US who already suffer from anxiety disorders, explains Neda Gould, PhD, a clinical psychologist, director of the Mindfulness Program at Johns Hopkins, and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “In a situation like our current one, some health anxiety is expected,” she says.

The heartbreaking struggle to stay sober under lockdown – Elemental
Treatment providers across the country have converted many appointments and outpatient treatment to phone calls, videoconferencing, or other web-based applications.... “We have, in the course of a week, catapulted 20 years into the future of telemental health,” said Dan Buccino, a clinical social worker and clinical manager of Johns Hopkins’ Broadway Center for Addiction in Baltimore, which treats about 150 to 200 patients at any one time.

Foods to boost your mood, now that you really need it – CNN
Coffee and tea are sources of caffeine, which can give us a lift. “When we consume caffeine, it has positive effects on mood and alertness, and people like these beneficial effects,” said Mary M. Sweeney, an instructor who researches caffeine’s effects on individuals in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Psychological first aid with Dr. George Everly (audio) - WYPR-FM
[A] look at psychological first aid in times of crisis. Dr. George Everly is Tom's guest. He’s a pioneer in the field, and the co-author of The Johns Hopkins Guide to Psychological First Aid. For more than three decades, he has helped survivors of catastrophe -- including war, natural disaster, terrorist attacks and now, a pandemic. Dr. Everly is a psychologist and an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Johns Hopkins doctors address how children are impacted by coronavirus (video) - WBAL-TV
With so many children at home these days, parents now have to come up with simple, quick answers when their kids ask questions about coronavirus. Two doctors at Johns Hopkins [Dr. Hal Kronsberg, an expert in adolescent psychology and Dr. Rachel Thornton, who specializes in pediatrics] tackled several issues when it comes to children and coronavirus.

Why women may be more susceptible to mood disorders (study) - Scientific American
“The findings could help explain why women who experienced difficulties during childhood are “more likely to be depressed during pregnancy, more likely to have postpartum depression and more likely to have perimenopausal depression,” says Lauren Osborne, a reproductive psychiatrist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who was not involved in the new research.

How to manage panic attacks - New York Times
The coronavirus pandemic is affecting the entire globe, and it’s no wonder that, as a result, many people may be experiencing panic attacks for the first time. A panic attack comes on suddenly, bringing with it short-lived disabling anxiety, fear or discomfort. It’s an activation of the body’s physiological “fight or flight” response, which is triggered by a perceived threat, said Dr. Paul Nestadt, co-director of the Johns Hopkins Anxiety Disorders Clinic. “So all the things your body would want to do if you’re near a tiger become activated at the wrong time,” he said.

Cannabis may ease opioid withdrawal symptoms, Johns Hopkins study finds - Marijuana Moment
The study, conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and published in the forthcoming issue of the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, asked 200 people with past-month opioid and marijuana use whether their symptoms of opioid withdrawal improved or worsened when they consumed cannabis.

Parenting during COVID-19 // the importance of mental health check-ins... with Dr. Shannon Barnett (audio) - Anchor.FM
Dr. Shannon Barnett, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral health at Johns Hopkins, discusses the best way to handle any anxiety or mood or mental health issues that you children might be having doing this COVID-19 pandemic and the best ways as parents you can focus on trying to make sure they feel happy, healthy, good and supported.

March

Keeping kids busy at home amid pandemic (video) - WBAL-TV/NBC Baltimore
Dr. Shannon Barnett, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins, shares tips to help keep kids busy mentally and physically while at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

AA meetings canceled due to COVID-19 putting addicts at risk of relapse - 4 News (El Paso, Texas)
Assistant professor at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Paul Nestadt says that any person dependent on alcohol and can’t get access to it can go into withdrawal. “Alcohol is one of the few substances that when you're withdrawing you can actually die. You can't die from heroin withdrawal or cocaine withdrawal,” said Nestadt.

8 trustworthy tips on how to stay physically and mentally healthy right now – Entrepreneur
Paul Shasha Nestadt, co-director of the Johns Hopkins Anxiety Clinic, told Global Health NOW that chronic drinkers — and their loved ones — should pay careful attention to the amount they’re consuming, especially during layoffs or lost jobs. “There are risk factors with isolation, the lack of a schedule and if alcohol is just there in the house with you,” Nestadt says.

9 tips to deal with the uncertainty of the coronavirus outbreak - NBC News
What we're experiencing as a result of the pandemic is unprecedented in many ways, including the amount of uncertainty we're all facing. Uncertainty is particularly difficult to deal with because it triggers fear, says Neda Gould, an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and director of the mindfulness program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "We view uncertainty as a potential threat to our well-being."

Hold the “quarantinis”: Alcohol and novel coronavirus might not mix - Global Health Now
Chronic drinkers should pay extra attention, and so should their loved ones, especially during layoffs or lost jobs, said Paul Sasha Nestadt, MD, codirector of the Johns Hopkins Anxiety Disorders Clinic. “There are risk factors with isolation, the lack of a schedule, and if alcohol is just there in the house with you,” noted Nestadt. “People with depression, anxiety, and substance abuse are also at higher risk when stressed.”

How to cope with your coronavirus anxiety - Refinery29
This is enough to make anyone feel anxious, and can worsen symptoms of the roughly 40 million adults in the U.S. who already suffer from anxiety disorders, explains Neda Gould, PhD, a clinical psychologist, director of the Mindfulness Program at Johns Hopkins, and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “In a situation like our current one, some health anxiety is expected,” she says.

Anxious about coronavirus? You're not alone. - Greenville News (South Carolina)
[T]he uncertainty has led to a lot of anxiety that can easily become impairing, said Dr. Neda Gould, assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Signs can be different for different people, she said. Some may have increased worry, sleeplessness, headaches or other physical manifestations, she said.

Psychedelics for mental illness: The evidence to-date (study) – Medscape
Commenting on the findings for Medscape Medical News, Matthew Johnson, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and associate director of the Center for Psychedelics and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, said the review effectively encapsulates the "promising lines of research" in psychedelics and certain psychiatric disorders.

7 reasons why it’s hard to control your coronavirus anxiety – Stat
The uncertainty about what’s coming and how bad it will be is something “the brain doesn’t like,” said clinical psychologist Neda Gould of Johns Hopkins University. “We don’t know what steps to take, which leaves us feeling vulnerable. We’re a society that likes to plan and to know what’s coming. Instead, we have these huge and unpredictable disruptions to our routine, which contribute to putting us on edge.”

Here's What Blue Light Before Bed Can Do to Your Circadian Rhythm — and How to Avoid It – Popsugar
"Generally, this is not likely to happen after just one night," said Luis Buenaver, PhD, an assistant professor and director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at Johns Hopkins's department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. "But [it] may become an issue after several nights or if it becomes a bad habit."

The world needs healing, psychedelic drug advocates tell Ann Arbor council - MLive (Michigan)
“There are studies from Johns Hopkins and NYU that show that plant-based psychedelics like psilocybin are well-tolerated and demonstrate a high safety profile, as well as remarkable results for treatment-resistant depression and addiction,” [advocate Eric Massey] said.

The history of psychedelic therapy: What can we learn? - Psychology Today
Modern research, at numerous institutions including Johns Hopkins University, New York University, and the University of New Mexico, has largely picked up where LSD research ended in the 1970s, replicating the same treatment methods, and with the same or similar types of patients, but mostly using psilocybin — the active ingredient in 'magic mushrooms' — instead of LSD.

Santa Cruz has decriminalized magic mushrooms, ayahuasca, and peyote - KCRW-FM (Santa Monica, Calif.)
“We are seeing psilocybin being used for anxiety, PTSD, depression, addiction. And the rest of them — LSD, ayahuasca — all have applications within that realm,” says [Madison Margolin, editor of a magazine dedicated to psychedelics]. “In the clinical trials that are happening right now through places like Johns Hopkins or the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies … people are seeing a lot of positive results.

February

Psychedelics, the Next Frontier in Drug Research - Financial Content
Just last year, the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine opened the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research in Baltimore. Headed by renowned researcher Roland R. Griffiths, Ph.D., the Center aims to further research the school has already been conducting.

Your guide to general anxiety disorder – Allure
Everyone experiences worry from time to time. But when worry or stress is persistent and interferes with a person’s life, it may lead to a diagnosis of anxiety, Jennifer Payne, director of the Women’s Mood Disorders Center and an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University, tells Allure.

An unexpected new diagnosis in older adults: ADHD* - Wall Street Journal
Dr. [David] Goodman, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, sees patients between the ages of 15 and 85. He has a particular interest in ADHD patients who are over 50 and have never been diagnosed.... Cognitive difficulties in older people are often attributed to memory impairments or early signs of dementia, says Dr. Goodman.

Few U.S. residential drug rehabs give anti-addiction medicine - Reuters and numerous subscribers
Most people who check in to residential treatment facilities to recover from opioid use disorder won't be given medicines proven to help combat addiction, a U.S. study suggests. "Patients entering these facilities are paying for a very high level of care, but might not be receiving the gold standard of treatment," said study leader Andrew Huhn of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

Could 'miraculous' drug be cure to opioid addiction? (video) - WBAL-TV
"Our field has a little bit of a concern about [ibogaine], because of the potential for medical consequences," said Kelly Dunn, PhD., [a researcher at Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic (& Consciousness) Research]. Dunn said there have been a handful of cardiac deaths and also prolonged psychosis tied to ibogaine. "There is not a lot of data regarding what the exact right dose would be….”

Neman: No murder + no mayhem = empty calories - St. Louis Today
[T]he Google machine also produced a 2011 article in Psychology Today by Susan Carnell, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University who specializes in eating behavior. Carnell looked at the biology of boredom eating and speculated — admittedly without any particular evidence — that boredom eating is related to dopamine.

Shotguns often play tragic role in rural teens' suicides: Study - HealthDay and subscribers
Could stricter safety rules for rifles and shotguns help prevent suicide? Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore analyzed nearly 4,000 firearm suicides and found that long guns, not handguns, are more often the method of choice for youths and people in rural areas.

Some St. Louisans find therapy, meaning in psychedelics as researchers study benefit - St. Louis Public Radio
Today, psychedelic substances like LSD and “magic” psilocybin mushrooms are often still seen as a vestige of ... hippie culture or even a dangerous threat. But a growing number of recent studies at Johns Hopkins University and other institutions show psilocybin can treat depression, addiction, PTSD and other mental health concerns.

DC mom leads effort to decriminalize magic mushrooms after treating postpartum depression - WJLA-TV (D.C.)
Studies at Johns Hopkins have proven that there are therapeutic effects after using some psychedelic substances.

Psychedelic drugs have lost their cool. Blame Gwyneth Paltrow and her Goop - The Guardian (U.K.)
Parsing Goop’s sundry claims to pseudoscience and utter quackery feels like low hanging fruit.... In the case of magic mushrooms, however, the science seems solid. Researchers at NYU, London’s Imperial College, and Johns Hopkins University, have produced reams of reputable evidence pointing to psilocybin’s role in easing depression, PTSD, anxiety, and even addiction.

Carrying on: Deadheads to doctors - Georgetown Voice (D.C.)
Last September, Johns Hopkins University received $17 million in donations to construct a Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, following a similar effort at Imperial College London that led to the first such center worldwide. Centers like these at elite research universities lend legitimacy to the “alternative” approaches for which college students and researchers alike advocate.

Can magic mushrooms and LSD treat depression and anxiety? Scientists are optimistic. - Philadelphia Inquirer
[M]edical experts don’t recommend self-medicating. “For people interested in a treatment who can’t get into a trial, this is not the only thing out there,” said Matthew Johnson, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University who has studied psychedelics for over 15 years. “It’s one promising thing, and it’s important for people to stay in treatment."

Business gets ready to trip: How psychedelic drugs may revolutionize mental health care – Fortune
[Highly successful angel investor Tim] Ferriss says he’s donated upwards of $3 million to support the underlying science and has corralled millions more from wealthy friends. They’ve kicked in half of the $17 million grant to create the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research, the first U.S. research center of its kind.

CBD abounds in central Ohio, but does it work? - Columbus Dispatch
Dr. Tory Spindle, a postdoctoral research fellow at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said too little research has been conducted on topical [CBD] products to make conclusions about their efficacy. “No one has ever done studies to understand whether drinking CBD in coffee changes absorption compared to a tincture or some other type of drink,” Spindle said.

Plant-based comedy: Shane Mauss shares the psychedelic world he sees - Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette
As a supporter of "cognitive liberties," [Shane Mauss] doesn't believe "anyone has a right to tell someone how they can or cannot explore their brain." And he's excited about research at institutions as prestigious as Johns Hopkins that shows psychedelics may have potential to treat issues like depression and PTSD.

The growing push for medical use of psilocybin in Canada - CTV News (Canada)
The field of psychedelic research is “very exciting” according to professor Roland Griffiths, director of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Griffiths’ centre was the first to obtain regulatory approval in the U.S. to restart research into psychedelics using healthy volunteers. Previous research into psychedelics met an abrupt end during the war on drugs in the 1970s.

Is coffee good for you? - New York Times
“I think that caffeine is so common and so ingrained in our culture, and daily habits, that we often don’t think about it as a potential source of problems,” said Mary M. Sweeney, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

New help for dementia patients, delivered via games and puzzles* - Wall Street Journal
The focus on volunteers [as caregivers] reflects a troubling reality as the dementia population is expected to surge: There simply aren’t enough caregivers to meet demand, says Quincy Samus, associate professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University.

Promising therapies may help Huntington’s disease - Brain&Life
[A]bout 150,000 to 250,000 people in the United States are believed to be at risk for the disease, says Jee Bang, MD, MPH, assistant professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and clinical director of the Johns Hopkins Huntington Disease Center of Excellence.... "The average range of life expectancy is 15 to 20 years after diagnosis," says Dr. Bang. "But there are many individual differences and outliers."

Physician on boosting sex with foods: Keep an open mind – Medscape
Chocolate is probably the item on [Dr. Niket Sonpal's list] that has the most scientific connection to boosting libido, says Kate Thomas, PhD, director of clinical services at the Sex and Gender Clinic of Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland. "It's been universally touted in many different cultures as an aphrodisiac," she said. And she agreed chocolate's components can be physically tied to feelings of being in love.

Addiction therapy meds barely used in residential treatment facilities - Modern Healthcare
"The majority [of residential treatment centers] are not offering medication to treat opioid use disorder, and when you look at [who’s] being prescribed it is grossly underutilized," said study lead author Andrew Huhn, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Michael Pollan explains caffeine cravings (and why you don't have to quit) – NPR
"I think the word 'addiction' has a lot of moral baggage attached to it," [Pollan] says. "As [Johns Hopkins researcher] Roland Griffith told me, if you have a steady supply of something, you can afford it and it's not interfering with your life, there's nothing wrong with being addicted."

More than a trip: Psychedelic drugs being used to help people quit smoking in just one dose (video) - WJZ-TV (CBS Baltimore)
When most people think of psychedelic drugs, they think of hippies in the sixties tripping on LSD or magic mushrooms. But at Johns Hopkins, fascinating research is being done using hallucinogens as medicine — and the results are promising, particularly when using psilocybin to treat addiction.

The silent epidemic of America’s problem with guns – BBC
"Anything that puts a barrier between a potential customer and a gun gets resistance from the industry," said Paul Nestadt, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the John Hopkins School of Medicine. "And yet study after study shows that any regulation that limits access to firearms decreases suicide rates."

Update: Some 2nd Amendment activists say suicide isn't a gun issue. Public health experts disagree. - North Country Public Radio (New York)
"Access to lethal means, specifically guns, is one of the most important health factors we could address when preventing suicides," said Paul Nestadt, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins who researches suicide…. He spoke with NCPR in 2018. Nestadt says for communities like the rural North Country, suicide should be a top issue when talking about how to make guns safer.

Dr C. Patrick Carroll on barriers to accessing nonpharmacologic treatments to SDC-related pain (video) - American Journal of Managed Care
There is not a lot of evidence on how well nonpharmacologic treatments work to treat sickle cell disease-related pain, and it can be difficult to get people access to these treatments, said C. Patrick Carroll, MD, director of psychiatric services, Sickle Cell Center for Adults, associate professor of psychiatry, Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Decriminalization debate - WRC-TV/NBC D.C.
The Washington, D.C., Board of Elections has approved an effort to put the decriminalization of psychedelic mushrooms on the November ballot.... Researchers at Johns Hopkins have found certain types of mushrooms impact the brain in such a way that it reduces depressions, but reaction to the idea has been mixed.

D.C. considers ballot initiative to decriminalize ‘magic mushrooms,’ other psychedelics - Washington Post
Matthew W. Johnson, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University, said he has been present in clinical sessions involving people who have taken psilocybin more than 100 times. Johnson said research into the therapeutic benefits of the drug are “very promising,” but added that users should proceed with caution.

Can microdosing psychedelics improve your relationship? Experts weigh in – Mic
“We know high doses of psychedelics have strong science behind them for having therapeutic effects,” Matthew Johnson, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, [says].

Santa Cruz is third U.S. city to decriminalize psilocybin, plant medicine, as advocacy expands – Forbes
The proof behind what [Mike Sinyard, co-founder of Project New Day is] saying is best illustrated by current compelling psychedelic research performed at Johns Hopkins University on patients confronting depression, anxiety and addiction. Featured in a well-received 60 Minutes segment last October, the studies are examining the positive effects of psilocybin on alcoholics and terminally ill patients facing end-of-life anxiety

January

Santa Cruz is decriminalizing magic mushrooms – Vice
Scattered movements to decriminalize magic mushrooms and other psychedelic substances have proven successful in recent years as public perception of these drugs has shifted.... Last September, Johns Hopkins University in Maryland opened up a dedicated center to psychedelic research.

Menopause can start earlier than you think: Here's what you need to know - Science Times
If you have not heard of the term perimenopause, you are not alone. Dr. Jennifer Payne, director of the Women's Mood Disorders Center at Johns Hopkins University, said that often when women talk about going through menopause, what they are really talking about is perimenopause, which is a transitional stage during which the body is preparing to stop ovulating.

I went to a high-end psychedelic retreat to address my anxiety – Vice
Matthew Johnson, a psychiatrist and the associate director of the Johns Hopkins Center on Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, said that though he believes deeply in the promise of psychedelic therapy, he cannot recommend any retreat in good conscience because of the wide amount of variability and lack of professional oversight.

Psilocybin: The magic ingredient in psychedelic shrooms – LiveScience
This article mentions the work of Johns Hopkins psilocybin researchers Roland Griffiths and Matthew Johnson.

Many soldiers thinking about suicide show no signs (study) – Reuters
The study shows that suicidal ideation in soldiers is triggered by similar factors to those leading civilians to think about suicide, said Dr. Paul Nestadt, an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore who also wasn’t involved in the research. What the study can’t say is who is likely to attempt suicide in the next 30 days, Nestadt noted. “That is what I want to know,” he added.

Psychedelic drug eases cancer patients' distress long term - U.S. News & World Report via HealthDay
"Research stopped because of the sociopolitical context and street use -- not because the science wasn't there," said Matthew Johnson, associate director of [Johns Hopkins’] Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. He stressed that no one is suggesting people self-treat their mental health symptoms with mushrooms. "With recreational use, there's the risk of engaging in dangerous behavior," Johnson said.

Psychedelic drug eases cancer patients' distress long term – HealthDay
Psilocybin is illegal in the United States, and researchers need permission to use it in studies. But a growing number of institutions are doing just that. NYU, Johns Hopkins, the University of California and other universities are currently studying psilocybin-assisted therapy for conditions such as eating disorders, addiction and major depression.

Single dose of magic mushrooms can reduce anxiety, depression in cancer patients, study finds - New York Post
The landmark research was a followup of a 2016 John Hopkins trial — using 51 subjects — studying whether magic mushrooms could relieve death anxiety and depression in cancer patients.

Driving & marijuana: A closer look at study suggesting cannabis impairs driving long after consumption – Cheddar
Tory Spindle, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, joined Cheddar to discuss a test that compared the simulated driving performances of non-users and heavy users of marijuana.

What is postpartum depression? Recognizing the signs and getting help – NPR
"There's this kind of myth that women couldn't possibly be depressed during pregnancy, [that] this is such a happy time," says Jennifer Payne, a psychiatrist and the director of the Women's Mood Disorders Center at Johns Hopkins University. "The reality is that a lot of women struggle with anxiety and depression during pregnancy as well as during the postpartum period."

Cannabis for sleep: Short-term benefit, long-term disruption? (study) – Medscape
Ryan G. Vandrey, PhD, who was not involved in the study, said the findings are in line with previous research. "I think the results make sense with respect to the data I've collected and from what I've seen," said Vandrey, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.

New Vermont bill would decriminalize psychedelics and kratom - Marijuana Moment
“Research at Johns Hopkins University and other facilities around the country on the medicinal use of psilocybin mushrooms are showing some promising results as a long term treatment of depression, addiction and anxiety,” [Rep. Zachariah Ralph (Progressive/Democrat)] said. “This is especially important as we deal with increased rates of suicides and drug overdoses across the nation and especially in Vermont.”

‘Magic mushrooms’ for PTSD: Why psychedelics may help heal trauma - The Healthy
There are a variety of treatments for PTSD — cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), prolonged exposure (PE) therapy, and other therapies that similarly involve the processing of traumatic experiences, which are the gold standard, says Matthew Johnson, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, a principal investigator of multiple psychedelic research studies and an expert on addiction and risk behavior.

Psychedelics can be used to treat PTSD, finds yet another clinical trial – Vice
[A] 2016 study conducted by the Johns Hopkins University in the US, administered high doses of psychedelics to end-stage cancer patients, and found that 80 percent of patients felt free of existential depression and anxiety.

Researchers went to festivals to study psychedelic drugs and found they left people feeling happy and connected hours after the high wore off – Insider
Recently there's been a resurgence of scientific interest in the benefits of psilocybin. In 2018, researchers at John Hopkins, America's oldest research university, urged the federal government to legalize psilocybin. Last year Johns Hopkins launched a center solely dedicated to psychedelics research.

As if premenopause isn't bad enough, doctors now think it increases anxiety & depression – Moms
Jennifer Payne, Director of the Women’s Mood Disorders Center at Johns Hopkins University, says that “women who have a previous diagnosis of major depression or [an] anxiety disorder are going to be at the greatest risk during the perimenopausal time.”

Your happiness is more likely to hit rock bottom at age 47.2—but there’s an upside, says new research – CNBC
Regret and uncertainty may play another role, according to Neda Gould, a clinical psychologist and director of the Mindfulness Program at Johns Hopkins. “We’re looking back at experiences we may regret, and then we’re looking forward and wondering what the next phase may look like. That can cause anxiety,” she tells CNBC Make It.

Returning bill to require background checks on transfer and sale of rifles and shotguns - Baltimore Fishbowl
Dr. Paul Nestadt, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Hospital Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, told lawmakers that the majority of firearm deaths are suicides and one-third of firearm suicides in Maryland are from rifles and shotguns.

Johns Hopkins scientists give psychedelics the serious treatment - Scientific American
A frenzy of interest has [triggered] some understandable wariness over promises that may sound a little too good to be true. But late last year the highly respected institution Johns Hopkins University — the U.S.’s oldest research university — launched a dedicated center for psychedelic studies, the first of its kind in the country and perhaps the world’s largest.

For some women nearing menopause, depression and anxiety can spike - NPR and affiliates
"Women who have a previous diagnosis of major depression or anxiety disorder are going to be at a greater risk during the perimenopausal time," says Jennifer Payne, who directs the Women's Mood Disorders Center at Johns Hopkins University. And she warns that for these women, it's something to take seriously.

How to prioritize sleep and finally get the rest you've been craving, according to experts – PopSugar
I struggle to get enough sleep, but it's not because I physically can't sleep — it's just a question of time and priority. According to Neda Gould, PhD, a clinical psychologist and director of the Mindfulness Program at Johns Hopkins, this is pretty common. Most of us have dozens of demands on our time every day, from work obligations to family care to social events. "There's too much to do and not enough time," she explained.

It's premature for DC to treat Psilocybin as harmless and medicinally helpful as marijuana - WUSA-TV (D.C.)
[H]ere's the thing: the science on LSD (aka magic mushrooms) is still in its infancy since it was first banned under the Nixon administration. Researchers at Johns Hopkins have helped many people with psilocybin, using a guide to take patients through their hallucinogenic journeys that often lead to less angst about their affliction. They have also reported some patients experiencing terrifying episodes, something back in the day they used to call a “bad acid trip.”

Even when sober, frequent marijuana users are dangerous drivers, report finds - NBC News
As states legalize recreational use of marijuana, more research is needed on how consumption affects driving safety, said Ryan Vandrey, an associate professor in the behavioral pharmacology research unit at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. "We don't fully understand the health impacts of heavy frequent cannabis use," Vandrey said.

4 questions about trends in the use of telepsychiatry - Consultant 360
In a recent study, researchers examined changes in the rates of use of telepsychiatry from 2010 to 2017 and sought to identify factors influencing the likelihood of its use. Consultant360 spoke with study author Stanislav Spivak, MD, medical director, Johns Hopkins Mobile Treatment Services of Community Psychiatry, and assistant professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine about their findings.

Up to a third of opioid overdose deaths might be suicides, Johns Hopkins researcher concludes* -Baltimore Sun
[A] computer program using a kind of artificial intelligence finds many [opioid overdose death] are likely suicides — possibly a third of them, according to a study by a Johns Hopkins School of Medicine researcher who partnered with a Utah high school student..... “If we’re trying to prevent deaths in the community, we have to figure out why people are dying,” said Dr. Paul Nestadt, the Johns Hopkins assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences who was one of the study’s authors. [Note: Dr. Kenneth Stoller, director of the Johns Hopkins Broadway Center for Addiction, is also quoted in this article.]
Also reported by: Subscribers to Tribune News Service

This D.C. group wants to decriminalize magic mushrooms and some psychedelic plants - WAMU-FM (D.C.)
Not unlike the push to legalize marijuana for medical and recreational use, advocates say psychedelic mushrooms and plants — including cacti, Iboga and Ayahuasca — have significant medicinal value, more of which they say is entering the mainstream due to research at places like the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research.

Anxiety's genetic roots revealed (study) – Medscape
Commenting on the findings for Medscape Medical News, James Potash, MD, MPH, psychiatrist-in-chief, Johns Hopkins Medicine, in Baltimore, Maryland, said the results "confirm that genetic susceptibility to depression and to anxiety are very tightly connected. That's not a surprise, but reassuring, and helps tell us we are on the right path."

Effects of methadone, buprenorphine on sleep quality in opioid use disorder (study) - Neurology Advisor
Sleep disturbances are a frequent complaint of patients on methadone, with 70% to 85% reporting poor sleep quality. However, less is known about the effects of newer opioid use disorder treatments on sleep, noted the researchers, led by Patrick H. Finan, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.

Utah's opioid suicide toll underreported, teen-led research project reveals - Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah)
Dr. Paul Nestadt, a researcher at Johns Hopkins in Maryland, said … a colleague alerted him to the [teen-agers' suicide prevention] poster, which won a national competition. He contacted the teenagers’ principal and invited [the two teens] to work on [a] larger study, [which] produced the recent findings.... “Do you know how rare that is,” Nestadt said, referring to an incoming high school student being in the vanguard of a scientific research project.
Also reported by: Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Associated Press and numerous subscribers

New study: Drug-caused suicides in Utah could be underestimated by 33% (study) - Daily Herald (Provo, Utah)
The nation’s opioid epidemic has clouded suicide classification, according to Paul Nestadt, one of the paper’s authors and an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “If you work in mental health, it is pretty clear there is a lot of overlap in the symptoms of someone who is using opiates and someone who may be suicidal,” Nestadt said.

2019

December

What the future holds for medical psychedelics in Canada - Global News
This fall, the University of Toronto launched the Centre for Psychedelic Studies, which will host the world’s first clinical trials on microdosing psilocybin. It joins a number of other prominent institutions devoting resources to psychedelics research, including other research centres at Johns Hopkins University and Imperial College London.

The future of psychedelic science: What the next decade holds - New Atlas
Natalie Gukasyan is a psychiatrist and research fellow at Johns Hopkins University. Her work is conducted at Johns Hopkins' Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, and she focuses on psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for mood, addictive, and eating disorders. Her latest project involves a landmark clinical trial exploring the safety and efficacy of psilocybin in persons with chronic anorexia nervosa.

Denver's psilocybin mushroom policy review panel set to launch in January - 9 News (Denver)
"Does [psilocybin] have a use? What are the health effects, positive and negative? And what are the benefits," [Councilman Chris] Hinds said. Current research by Johns Hopkins University is showing positive effects on people suffering from addiction and depression, but it says more studies need to be done.

Psilocybin sessions: Psychedelics could help people with addiction and anxiety (video) - 60 Minutes (CBS News)
Study participants at some of the country's leading medical research centers are going through intense therapy and six-hour psychedelic journeys deep into their minds to do things like quit smoking and worry less. [Johns Hopkins psilocybin researchers Roland Griffiths and Matthew Johnson are key figures in this report.)

I thought I would feel free after I stopped breastfeeding. Instead I fell into a deep depression. - Business Insider
Post-weaning depression is technically a delayed onset of postpartum depression, according to Dr. Lauren Osborne, assistant director of the Johns Hopkins Mood Disorders Center and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. “If you’re nursing, the state of your hormones won’t go back to normal until the time you wean,” Osbourne told Insider. “Women who are breastfeeding just keep their hormones steady for a longer time.”

A new way to quit? Psychedelic therapy offers promise for smoking cessation – NPR
By the early 1970s, many ongoing studies into the potential medical benefits of psychedelics had halted. "Unfortunately, all of that legitimate research was really sacrificed because of the association between psychedelics and the counterculture," says Matthew Johnson, an associate professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the lead investigator in the psilocybin study for smoking cessation.
Also reported by: Numerous NPR affiliates

A third of Utah overdose deaths are actually suicides, researchers find - KSL-TV (Salt Lake City)
“It is important to recognize the role that opioids are playing in suicide. Because they are increasingly prevalent and can be much more lethal on overdose than other drugs or medicines, we might compare them to firearms,” said Dr. Paul Nestadt, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University.

Johns Hopkins University, Greek scientists join forces to tackle dementia epidemic - Greek Reporter
Greek researchers from the US’ Johns Hopkins University and Ionian University have joined forces to confront the epidemic of Alzheimer’s disease and its related disorders in Greece. “This is a national crisis that needs a national response. I take great pride in the presence of many government and other agencies that will help us achieve this goal,” said [Greek Initiative Against Alzheimer] Professor Constantine Lyketsos, who is also head of the Memory and Alzheimer’s Treatment Center at Johns Hopkins.

What is serotonin syndrome? - The Mighty
According to Joseph Bienvenu, MD, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, it’s not clear why some patients develop serotonin syndrome and others do not. In some cases, patients on high doses of serotonin-modulating drugs will not develop it, while patients on typical therapeutic doses can show symptoms of serotonin toxicity.

When your friend is pregnant and depressed - New York Times
“We have clear and overwhelming literature to show that lack of social support is a problem,” said Dr. Lauren M. Osborne, M.D., assistant director of the Women’s Mood Disorders Center at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who points out that poor social support is a strong risk factor for developing a pregnancy-related mental health condition.

Why doctors are turning to psychedelics to treat depression and addiction - Men's Journal
Scientists at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research in Baltimore … plan to test these drugs rigorously so that one day they could be prescribed. We talked with two of the center’s founding members, Alan Davis and Albert Garcia-Romeu, who are seeking out mental health and addiction treatments, to find out more about their research and how they plan to change our lives.

A label that suggests exercise needed to burn off a food's calories may aid weight loss - Everyday Health
There could be potential benefits to PACE [physical activity calorie equivalent], says Colleen Clarkin Schreyer, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, who specializes in eating disorders. “Obesity is a significant problem in our society, and it is associated with morbidity and mortality,” says Dr. Schreyer.

Psychedelic therapy offers hope for smoking cessation (audio) – NPR
Therapeutic research on psychedelic drugs isn't new. Scientists first started researching them in the 1950s, but when counterculture youth began using and abusing psychedelics in the 1960s, the feds criminalized their use, and that research skidded to a halt. Matthew Johnson leads the psilocybin smoking study at Johns Hopkins.

Andrew Yang wants to make psychedelic mushrooms ‘more freely available’ – Forbes
Psychedelics reform has taken major strides in the U.S. this year.... In September, Johns Hopkins University announced the launch of a new research center dedicated to studying the effects of psychedelics.

Two-century trend of Army suicide decrease during war reversed in past two decades – Reuters
The findings among military personnel mirror what’s been happening in the general population, said Dr. Paul Nestadt, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who wasn’t involved in the study. “In the general population there has been a 30% increase in suicide over the same last 17 years,” Nestadt said.

Could epigenome editing prevent developmental disorders? - Medical News Today
Epigenome editing is a way of altering the expression, or reading, of genes without altering their underlying DNA code. A team from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, led the study that focuses on the protein C11orf46. One of the study's corresponding authors is Dr. Atsushi Kamiya, who is an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Also reported by: Free Press Journal (India), Drug Target Review

Epigenome editing can reverse gene mutation, cure genetic brain disorders: Study - International Business Times
"Although this work is early, these findings suggest that we may be able to develop future epigenome editing therapies that could help reshape the neural connections in the brain, and perhaps prevent developmental disorders of the brain from occurring," Atsushi Kamiya, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, stated in the study.

‘With help, you will get better’: Howard group offers support to those going through postpartum depression* - Baltimore Sun
Postpartum depression, a major depressive episode, is the most common complication of childbirth, according to Dr. Jennifer Payne, director of the Women’s Mood Disorder Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Psychedelic 'wonder drug' that can 'reset the brain' and 'turn off' people's addictions without the downsides of tripping is due to start trials next year - Daily Mail (U.K.)
Some steadfast advocates of the benefits of micro-dosing believe [18-MC] will not work, as it is the high itself and the visions that help overcome addiction. Roland Griffiths, lead researcher on a study at Johns Hopkins Center [for] Psychedelic & Consciousness Research, said: '[Patients] come to a profound shift of worldview, essentially a shift in a sense of self.’

ASH: Consider marrow transplant for sickle cell kids - MedPage Today
In reviewing the forthcoming guideline on pain management, Patrick Carroll, MD, of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, spent most of his talk [at the American Society of Hematology meeting] on the challenging -- and controversial -- topic of chronic pain management. He noted that many sickle cell patients who aren't in "crisis" still complain of ongoing pain. These patients often wind up on opioids.

Silicon Valley’s psychedelic wonder drug is almost here - Fast Company
Roland Griffiths, who led [a study testing the effects of psilocybin on addiction] and is the founding director of the Johns Hopkins Center on Psychedelic and Consciousness Research], supports the idea that hallucinations play a significant role in patient recovery.

Biogen's Alzheimer's pitch yields few converts - Biopharma Dive
Constantine Lyketsos, a psychiatry and behavioral sciences professor at Johns Hopkins Medicine .... said he doesn't think aducanumab can get approved on its efficacy data and, if it did, he still wouldn't feel comfortable giving it to patients for multiple years because of safety concerns.

Paul Stamets becomes fungi phenom with acclaimed documentary and Star Trek character - The Olympian (Olympia, Wash.)
[P]sychedelic mushrooms are part of the [“Fantastic Fungi”] story — and an interesting one given that research on psilocybin’s power to alleviate depression and anxiety is so promising that Johns Hopkins University recently opened a center for research into it and other psychedelics.

Scientist talks benefits of psychedelics at federal health agency event - Marijuana Moment
A federal health agency hosted a leading psychedelics researcher on Tuesday for an event focused on the therapeutic potential of controlled substances such as psilocybin and DMT. [Johns Hopkins’] Roland Griffiths, who has spent decades studying various entheogenic plants and fungi, described the existing scientific literature and future research objectives during a speech organized by the National Institute of Mental Health.

The keys to understanding psilocybin's medical value, market potential – Benzinga
Clinical research didn’t just sprout an understanding of psilocybin’s treatment benefits. Last year, researchers at John Hopkins University released a study analyzing the compound’s abuse potential, concluding that it should be rescheduled to Schedule IV, where most prescription benzodiazepines can be found.

As medical marijuana products come to Maryland, so do regulations (video) - WBAL-TV
Ryan Vandrey is an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He said dosing of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis that gives people the feeling of being high, is critically important. "At higher doses, we see people get nauseous and vomit. We've had people get very anxious and paranoid. We've had people hallucinate at higher doses," Vandrey said. "How we allow the branding and the marketing and the labeling of products becomes important."

Firearms most lethal suicide method by far in the U.S. – Reuters
Suicide attempts are often impulsive, said Dr. Paul Nestadt, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland. And if you can block that impulse, you may save a life, Nestadt added.

How to reduce suicide on the psychiatric ward - Los Angeles Times
When someone wants to die by suicide, they are typically focused on one mode, whether it be jumping off a bridge or overdosing, said Johns Hopkins University psychiatry professor Dr. Paul Nestadt. Without that option, the desire to complete suicide drops dramatically.

Their kids died on the psych ward. They were far from alone, a Times investigation found - Los Angeles Times
Though suicide is often represented in popular culture as a persistent death wish, it tends to be impulsive — a desire that comes on quickly and can pass just as quickly, said Johns Hopkins University psychiatry professor Dr. Paul Nestadt. That can make the psychiatric hospital vital to a patient’s long-term safety, he said.

First US center for psychedelic research a 'game changer' – Medscape
The funding of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research with private donations "may well be a game changer in the understanding of the efficacy of [psychedelics] in psychiatric disorders and the neurobiology of complex psychological processes such as empathy, mystical experiences, and creativity," [said William McDonald, MD, corresponding member of the American Psychiatric Association Council on Research].

November

Psychedelic drug for severe depression granted breakthrough therapy status by FDA - Medical Daily
Since psilocybin was shown to help deal with depression, anxiety and substance abuse, researchers from Johns Hopkins University had requested the government to move it to Schedule IV. So far, Oakland and Denver have decriminalized the chemical compound in 2019.

Scientists have a fascinating new map of the human brain on DMT – Vice
[W]hat’s the neurology behind [the hallucinogenic drug] DMT? And why do so many people report seeing elves? These questions have instigated a few studies, including one at Johns Hopkins in the United States, but the latest findings have just come from the Imperial College London.

In the 2010s, getting high became even more profitable and terrifying – Vice
May 7, 2019: Denver became the first U.S. city to decriminalize the possession of psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient in magic mushrooms. And, as more labs carry out tests of psychedelics to treat mental health problems, the tide seems to be shifting nationwide. Oregon is considering a therapy-based legalization structure ... more donors are getting involved, and Johns Hopkins University in Maryland has plans to open up a new research center dedicated to psychedelics.

Federal health agency hosts talk on psychedelics research - Marijuana Moment
A federal health agency invited a noted psychedelics researcher to discuss the science of substances such as psilocybin mushrooms as part of an “innovation speaker series” it’s hosting next week. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) announced that Roland Griffiths, who heads Johns Hopkins University’s newly launched Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, will lead a discussion titled “Psilocybin: History, Neuropharmacology, and Implications for Therapeutics” on December 3.

Role reversal: Caring for your parents (video) - WMAR-TV
There is new research that points to clear-cut ways to reduce both the risks of getting dementia and becoming a victim to scams. "Anything that is good for the heart is good for brain. A lot of research is now focusing on preventive strategies, lifestyle strategies, health-management strategies that focus on not smoking, not having excessive drinking, having a Mediterranean-type diet for a long period of time," says Dr. Quincy Samus, a Johns Hopkins gerontologist.

Forgive (and maybe forget) for a healthier life – WebMd
For some, the driving force [to forgive] may be a desire to let go -- freedom from holding on to the old hurt, says Neda F. Gould, PhD, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She often counsels people trying to forgive.

Pure CBD does not trigger positive drug tests for weed, new study shows - Merry Jane (Canada)
If you take federally legal CBD products, can you fail a drug test looking for weed use? A study published this month found that many CBD products will create positive drug test results. But let's make one thing clear: Pure, pharmaceutical-grade CBD will not. The study, conducted by researchers working with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, was published in the November edition of the Journal of Analytical Toxicology.
Also reported by: London Free Press (Canada)

Does your portfolio have mushrooms in it? - Baystreet (Canada)
The “hard to argue with” evidence is leading to increased investment and interest in general. Two months ago, Johns Hopkins Medicine announced the launch of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research for the purpose of studying compounds like psilocybin and LSD for a full spectrum of mental health conditions. A group of private donors have contributed $17 million to move the research forward.

Study finds way to catch signs of cognitive decline in more women - Next Avenue
About half of people diagnosed with [mild cognitive impairment] will develop Alzheimer’s disease within five years. “The patients often think they are fine. Their families see the signs and bring them in for testing,” says Dr. Cynthia Munro, an associate professor and neuropsychologist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Enthusiastic donors pony up in support of psychedelic research, harm reduction efforts – Forbes
The vast tidal change in acceptance of psychedelic therapies is coinciding with serious research being conducted by esteemed organizations like Johns Hopkins University.... Featured in a widely watched 60 Minutes episode in October, cancer patients involved in clinical trials at Hopkins explained how psilocybin — the active agent in magic mushrooms — has aided them in dealing with their fear of dying.

A man who sold opioids and texted instructions to a depressed college student who killed herself got 24 years in prison – BuzzFeed
This case also highlights how important it is to restrict access to lethal means of suicide, Dr. Paul Nestadt, a Johns Hopkins psychiatry professor who studies opiates and suicides, told BuzzFeed News. He said that [Rachel] Bandman might have not been able to get a lethal enough dose [of drugs] on her own had [Anthony] Hunt not supplied her with it.

Anxious and depressed as a scary disease destroyed her lungs, she turned to ecstasy for relief. Here’s what happened. - Washington Post
Using recent studies at UCLA, Johns Hopkins, New York University and elsewhere, [author Michael Pollan] wrote about how hallucinogenics, specifically LSD and psilocybin, had had profound results in conjunction with psychotherapy with suicidal depressives, the terminally ill, addicts and PTSD patients.

'How do we recover?': Experts weigh in on how to talk to your kids about shootings - Los Angeles Times
Younger kids may not be as worried. But teenagers are likely to know more and have concerns, so it’s better to address the subject directly with them rather than avoid it, said Carol Vidal, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University. “The most important thing is not to minimize any sense of anxiety that they may have,” Vidal said.

"Fantastic Funghi" at Carnegie Science Center forecasts an expanded role in human evolution - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Research on medical uses of fungi is becoming more mainstream, including the recently established Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins University, the first such formal center in the U.S.

9 USC students have died this semester, and the campus community is searching for answers - Los Angeles magazine
Dr. Paul Nestadt, a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University, told the [Los Angeles] Times that he sees the uptick in suicides and drug overdoses as potentially being linked to one another. “They’re both kind of going up at the same time, almost twin epidemics,” he said, describing both as “often driven by an ambivalence about life.”

States where recreational marijuana legalized see increased problematic use (study) – Reuters
“(It) makes sense that more people were using cannabis once it was legalized,” said Ryan Vandrey, an associate professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. “It makes a difference if people can buy it in a store rather than having to seek out a drug dealer.” One problem with the study, though, is that you can’t tell whether people are using cannabis to get high or if they are using it to treat medical problems, Vandrey said.

Nine student deaths has USC trying to quell rumors, prevent triggering students - Los Angeles Times
Universities don’t have rule books, nor is there any scientific research, about how to navigate addressing multiple student deaths and suicides, said Dr. Paul Nestadt, a Johns Hopkins University psychiatry professor. Officials are likely acting with an abundance of caution so as not to prompt a suicide contagion, he said.

Call for patients to take part in anorexia psilocybin treatment study - Health Europa
Johns Hopkins University recently secured funding of $17m (€15.39m) to start the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins Medicine, making it the largest research centre of its kind in the world. The centre will be carrying out research in the hope of creating precision medicine treatments tailored to individual patients’ specific needs.... Much of the early work at Johns Hopkins has focused on psilocybin, the chemical found in so-called magic mushrooms.

The healing potential of psychedelic drugs - People's Pharmacy
Dr. Matthew Johnson, associate director of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, has conducted a number of clinical trials utilizing psilocybin. He and his colleagues have been exploring the possible uses of psychedelic drugs as medicines for people with life-threatening cancer. They have also examined the possible benefits of a single dose of psilocybin for smoking cessation and overcoming alcohol misuse.

Can a trip-free psychedelic still help people with depression? – Vice
[P]silocybin and other psychedelics [recently] have been hailed as powerful and much-needed interventions for mental illness. Psychedelic research centers have been formed at Imperial College, and more recently at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Atlanta woman billed $10K by lab snared in alleged genetic test fraud - Atlanta Journal Constitution
[T]op experts maintain there is still much debate over these tests’ effectiveness in mental health treatment, said Dr. James Potash, director of Johns Hopkins Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. “Even among people who are at the cutting edge of the field there is not complete agreement on how useful or not useful these tests are at the moment,” Potash said.

Some CBD products could lead to positive urine test for pot – Reuters
A small pilot study finds that vaping CBD products might lead to a positive urine test for marijuana, researchers report. The researchers hope the findings will alert users of legal CBD products to problems that could arise in drug testing, especially if they don’t know how much THC is in the products. “It’s a common perception that CBD is THC-free,” said senior study author Ryan Vandrey, an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. “But that’s not necessarily the case.”

A new center at Johns Hopkins builds the case for psychedelic research - Psychiatry Advisor
Nearly 15 years after experts at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine helped to reinvigorate research on the potential therapeutic effects of psychedelic substances, experts have launched the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, the first of its kind in the United States and the largest in the world.

October

Petitioners trying to decriminalize psychedelics in Portland - KATU-TV (Portland, Ore.)
"There’s some great research coming out of Johns Hopkins University, NYU, and other places and organizations. They're really doing some exciting stuff right now, so it's really an exciting time to be in the field of mental health," said Dr. Dan Fischer, who specializes in psychiatry.

Having trouble forgiving a loved one? Ask yourself these questions - NBC News
“When you are holding a grudge, you’re going to be in a state when you are essentially angry and stressed. You’re increasing cortisol — and that gets associated with all kinds of things,” says Dr. Karen Swartz, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Why minority representation in medical research is a matter of life and death (video) - PBS NewsHour
Lack of diversity is a problem that extends well beyond clinical trials. Basic research has also been long dominated by people of European ancestry. Dr. Daniel Weinberger: "This train is speeding out of the station, and the African-American community doesn't seem to be on it nearly with the representation that it deserves." Daniel Weinberger is the head of the Lieber Institute for Brain Development [which has an affiliation with Johns Hopkins]. The train he's referring to is, once again, the revolution of precision medicine.

Review: Mushrooms are the new superheroes in documentary ‘Fantastic Fungi’ - Los Angeles Times
[The film] covers a lot of ground ... from mushrooms’ role in developing the human brain to their healing history (think penicillin), and, of course, consciousness-altering properties, which have been shown to alleviate PTSD and depression. (Johns Hopkins’ magic mushroom studies — featured in the film — have even led to the recent announcement of a new center there for psychedelic research.)

Should I try microdosing at work? The science behind the Silicon Valley brain hack – Mic
As for whether microdosing at work can boost performance, it’s still too early to say, experts tell Mic. Most of the published research on microdosing consists of surveys in which people report how they feel after microdosing (such as more focused, or more productive) which may not reliably reflect its effects, says Matthew Johnson, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

In opioid settlements, Suboxone plays a leading role - Stateline (Pew Trusts)
[I]n states that have expanded the federal-state health program, the influx of settlement Suboxone might cut state Medicaid costs and allow the money to be spent on other addiction services, said Kenneth Stoller, who runs a treatment center in Baltimore [Johns Hopkins Broadway Center for Addiction]. “But I would imagine states would rather have the money,” Stoller said, since Suboxone and the other two medications represent only a small portion of the total cost of treatment and recovery services.

How psychedelic drugs treat mental illness differently than traditional medicine – Mic
While most psychedelic drugs lie in a legal gray area, doctors and researchers across the country are beginning to offer them therapeutically. Academia and medicine alike are taking studies about their efficacy seriously, with Johns Hopkins opening a center just for psychedelic research in September.

DNA tests for psychiatric drugs are controversial but some insurers are covering them – NPR
James Potash, the head of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Medicine and an expert on psychiatric genetics, says of all the tests claiming to improve depression treatment, GeneSight's has the most proof. That isn't saying much, though. "I wouldn't say there's no evidence that it works," he says. "It's just the evidence at this point is still weak."

Investors hope psychedelics are the new cannabis. Are they high? - The Economist
]B]ackers think psychedelic drugs could be used to treat mental-health disorders like depression, anxiety and addiction. In April Imperial College London, inaugurated the first research centre dedicated to psychedelics research. Last month Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore launched America’s first such scientific outfit.

Could psychedelic drugs be a cure for depression? (video) - Today show
Some of the country’s top psychiatric researchers [including Roland Griffiths of Johns Hopkins Medicine] are exploring whether hallucinogens, when taken in a controlled and clinical environment, can help people suffering from severe depression. Griffiths, director of Johns Hopkins' Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research, and program coordinator Mary Cosimano explain what patients go through during a session at the newly opened center.

To ease dementia agitation, drugs may not be best option (study) – Reuters
The new results were not surprising to Dr. Milap Nowrangi, an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins medical school. But "they are important," he said, adding that aggression and agitation are the kinds of symptoms "that lead to caregiver burnout and institutionalization of patients."

Psilocybin paves path for addiction research at Johns Hopkins (audio) - WAMU-FM (D.C.)
“One of the decisions a couple of decades ago when researchers jumped back into this psychedelic field is that LSD did have most of the negative cultural connotations,” Dr. [Matthew] Johnson explains. “Politically, it was easier to move forward with psilocybin.” Dr. Johnson [associate director of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins Medicine] and his team have already had success using psilocybin to treat certain types of addiction and depression.

Cellular garbage aids quest for Alzheimer’s blood test – NIH
[C]ells are constantly discarding a variety of materials. This cellular trash is packaged into tiny capsules called exosomes and shipped out of cells into the bloodstream. Recently, researchers like [Intramural Research Program] investigator Dimitrios Kapogiannis, M.D., an associate professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins University, have become interested in how exosomes expelled from neurons into the bloodstream differ between healthy people and those with brain illnesses like Alzheimer’s.

Charming documentary ‘Fantastic Fungi’ explores the miracle of mushrooms – Observer
[Magic mushrooms] are now studied in the research for cancer and Alzheimer’s cures, and taught in psychiatry and behavioral science courses at Johns Hopkins.

What are the benefits of CBD? - New York Times
Most of the research on cannabidiol has been in animals, and its current popularity has outpaced science. “We don’t have the 101 course on CBD quite figured out yet,” said Ryan Vandrey, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

How magic mushrooms can help smokers kick the habit - NPR
[T]here are signs that psilocybin might help [cigarette] addicts shake the habit by causing the brain to talk with itself in different ways. "These brain changes lead to, often times, a sense of unity," says Matthew Johnson, an experimental psychologist at Johns Hopkins University. It all may sound a little "woo-woo," he admits, but it seems to be working.

Free mental health workshop set Oct. 17 in Rehoboth - Cape Gazette (Delaware)
Attendees can hear from a leading expert in mental health, Andy Feinberg, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist and faculty member at Johns Hopkins Medicine. His keynote address will focus on advances in diagnosis and treatment, the challenges of managing multiple medications, and understanding the roles of different treating professionals.

With cognitive impairment, older adults struggle with — and face risks from — smartphones, computers - Washington Post
Already, some physicians are adapting to this new digital reality. At Johns Hopkins Medicine, Halima Amjad, an assistant professor of medicine, now asks her older patients if they use a computer or smartphone and are having trouble such as forgetting passwords or getting locked out of accounts.

Psilocybin Sessions: Psychedelics could help people with addiction and anxiety (video) - 60 Minutes
Carine McLaughlin was a smoker for 46 years and said she tried everything to quit before being given psilocybin at Johns Hopkins last year. Psilocybin itself is non-addictive.
(Researcher Matthew Johnson and Roland Griffiths were featured in this video)

Active agent in magic mushrooms could treat addiction, depression and anxiety - 60 Minutes Overtime
Roland Griffiths, of Johns Hopkins University, is a pioneer in psychedelic research, which was studied extensively until former President Nixon signed the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Thirty years later, Griffiths received FDA approval for to study psilocybin. The results amazed him. "The red light started flashing. It's unprecedented – the capacity of the human organism to change. It just was astounding."

Mental health issues aren’t just a normal part of aging – Considerable
Dr. Susan W. Lehmann, clinical director of the division of geriatric psychiatry and neuropsychiatry and director of the Geriatric Psychiatry Day Hospital at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine told US News that adults over 65 “were much less likely to be asked by their primary care physician if they felt tense or anxious and were much less likely to be referred by their primary care physician for mental health specialty care.”

How psychedelic substances can help treat anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses - WBUR-FM (Boston)
Johns Hopkins University has launched a center for psychedelic research with $17 million in donations from private donors, the first of its kind in the U.S. Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson talks with William Richards, a psychologist at Johns Hopkins, who began his work with psychedelic research in the 1960s about the promise of these substances, including LSD and psilocybin.

Kristen Bell says she takes CBD oil daily to manage her depression and anxiety - Women's Health
(FWIW, there's a growing pool of research suggesting CBD has legit benefits for pain relief, but some experts say more is needed. "We don't have what we'd want in terms of clinical trials on [CBD's] safety and efficacy for anything beyond treatment of rare seizure disorder. We need more research,” Ryan Vandrey, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, previously told Women's Health.)

Jamaica launches the World Magic Mushroom Center – Jamaicans
The University of the West Indies in Mona is launching the world’s first research facility to focus on psychedelic lifeforms. Researchers will study what makes so-called “magic mushrooms” psychedelic, for example.... The announcement of the new psychedelic research facility came a few weeks after Johns Hopkins became the largest such center in the world.

Owning a dog linked to lower risk of death after a heart attack, study finds - NBC News
While the studies don’t prove that dog ownership leads to longer lives — they can only show associations, not causation — there have been studies showing that the companionship of a dog can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, said Neda Gould, an assistant professor and director of the Mindfulness Program at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

5 relaxation hacks that work as well as meditation – Medium
[M]editation is ... being studied as an intervention for [issues such as anxiety and depression]. That led Frederick Barrett, a behavioral neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University, to ask: Do psychedelics have a similar effect on the brain as meditation? “At least anecdotally, the answer seems to be almost a resounding yes,” he says.

The problem with always asking black people to forgive – CNN
"Anger is a form of stress, and so when we hold on to anger it is as though we are turning on the body's stress response, or fight or flight response, chronically," Neda Gould, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, told CNN in June. "When we engage in the act of forgiveness, we can begin to turn off the stress response and the physiological changes that accompany it."

Michael Pollan, describing a drug trip: ‘I saw myself dissolve’* - Boston Globe
Only after Timothy Leary was thrown out of Harvard amid sloppy science and LSD-taking by his students did psychedelic drugs come to be seen as features of the 1960s counterculture. Now, researchers at New York University, Johns Hopkins University, and elsewhere are taking another look, and finding intriguing possibilities

5 relaxation hacks that work as well as meditation – Medium
[M]editation is ... being studied as an intervention for [issues such as anxiety and depression]. That led Frederick Barrett, a behavioral neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University, to ask: Do psychedelics have a similar effect on the brain as meditation? “At least anecdotally, the answer seems to be almost a resounding yes,” he says.

The problem with always asking black people to forgive – CNN
"Anger is a form of stress, and so when we hold on to anger it is as though we are turning on the body's stress response, or fight or flight response, chronically," Neda Gould, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, told CNN in June. "When we engage in the act of forgiveness, we can begin to turn off the stress response and the physiological changes that accompany it."

Michael Pollan, describing a drug trip: ‘I saw myself dissolve’* - Boston Globe
Only after Timothy Leary was thrown out of Harvard amid sloppy science and LSD-taking by his students did psychedelic drugs come to be seen as features of the 1960s counterculture. Now, researchers at New York University, Johns Hopkins University, and elsewhere are taking another look, and finding intriguing possibilities. Most are studying psilocybin, the active ingredient in “magic mushrooms.”

In Vancouver documentary Dosed, magic mushrooms reveal a path out of addiction – Straight
While Dosed was in production in 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved psilocybin for a drug trial for treatment-resistant depression. In May of this year, Denver decriminalized magic mushrooms, and in June Oakland did the same. Just last month, the prestigious Johns Hopkins University established the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research.

Long drive times in rural areas may be a barrier to opioid addiction treatment (study) – Reuters
The new study shows that drive times may be a barrier to patients seeking opioid treatment programs in rural areas, said Dr. Kenneth Stoller, an associate professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and director of the Johns Hopkins Broadway Center for Addiction. "And I agree with the authors that we are going to need to think more creatively," Stoller said.

THC breathalyzer in the works at Pitt, but there's still no solid link with intoxication (audio) - WESA-FM (Pittsburgh)
[A] major roadblock exists: there's no research directly linking intoxication with the amount of THC in someone's breath.... "The real challenge is not knowing whether or not somebody has used cannabis, but whether or not they're impaired from it," said Ryan Vandrey, a professor at Johns Hopkins University who studies how cannabis affects behavior. 

September

Mental health in black moms is largely ignored — 5 ways we can improve it – Self
Depending on the population, black women are less likely to be identified as depressed even when they are. In inner-city Baltimore, for instance, African-Americans have a really high rate of stressful life situations, and doctors subject to unconscious biases can interpret those depressive symptoms as being due to stressful circumstances instead of as an illness.” — Jennifer L. Payne, M.D., director of the Women’s Mood Disorders Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine

What do we really know about pedophiles? - The Cut (New York magazine)
Dr. Fred Berlin, director of the Johns Hopkins Sex and Gender Clinic, tells the Times that treatment is worthwhile, and prevention is possible: “There’s a subgroup out there [who] are quite convinced that they do not want real-life sex with children.” Finding them and treating them before they become abusers — and before they participate in the exploding internet child-sex-abuse marketplace — presents an overwhelming challenge.

What could go wrong? New York partiers jump on toad venom to get high - Business & Politics Review
“[R]esearchers have discovered that use of the synthetic psychedelic 5-methocy-N,-N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) appears to be associated with unintended improvements in self-reported depression and anxiety when given in a ceremonial group setting,” the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine reported last March. “5-MeO-DMT is a psychedelic that is found in the venom of Bufo Alvarius toads, in a variety of plants species, and can be produced synthetically.”

Dr. Bronner's donated to psychedelic research again — here's why their investment matters. – Mic
Dr. Bronner’s [soap company] is known for its new age evangelism — David Bronner’s official title is CEO: Cosmic Engagement Officer — but psilocybin therapy isn’t half-baked hippie science. Earlier this year, Johns Hopkins established a new center, MAPS, specifically to study the therapeutic use of psychedelics.

Psychedelic drug therapy enters new era with Johns Hopkins center - United Press International
Johns Hopkins University researchers plan to use psychedelic drugs to attack some of society's toughest problems at a new research center, including smoking, depression, alcoholism, Alzheimer's disease, anorexia, Lyme disease and even addiction to opioids. Private donations of $17 million have been pledged for the new Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research, which opened this month in Baltimore.
Also reported by: Cheddar

Preying on children: The emerging psychology of pedophiles - New York Times
“People don’t choose what arouses them — they discover it,” said Dr. Fred Berlin, director of the Johns Hopkins Sex and Gender Clinic. “No one grows up wanting to be a pedophile.” “The important thing, I think, is that people know that treatment is possible,” Dr. Berlin said. “There’s a subgroup out there, they refer themselves here, and they are quite convinced that they do not want real-life sex with children.”

The delicate issue of taking away a senior’s smartphone - Kaiser Health News
Already, some physicians are adapting to this new digital reality. At Johns Hopkins Medicine, Dr. Halima Amjad, an assistant professor of medicine, now asks older patients if they use a computer or smartphone and are having trouble such as forgetting passwords or getting locked out of accounts. “If there’s a notable change in how someone is using technology,” she said, “we would proceed with a more in-depth cognitive evaluation.”

How to do psychedelics without killing yourself - The Stranger
[D]octors administer[ed] LSD to more than 40,000 patients from 1950 to 1965 and produc[ed] convincing evidence that psychedelics could be an effective treatment for a wide range of disorders from alcoholism to depression. That research was stunted by the American prohibition of psychedelics in 1970, but research is now restarting. Johns Hopkins University announced this year that it is launching an entire center dedicated to psychedelic research.

Even Nobel-winning chemists don’t know what’s in your weed vape – Bloomberg
Researchers are restricted from walking into a marijuana store in Denver or Los Angeles and buying products for testing because their funding could be jeopardized if they run afoul of federal regulations. “It’s an absurd situation,” said Matthew Johnson, an addiction expert at Johns Hopkins University. “It hampers our ability to know the good, the bad and the ugly about cannabis use.”

Inside the centre exploring the effect of psychedelic drugs on mental health - The Independent (U.K.)
Earlier this month, Johns Hopkins Medicine introduced the Centre for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, to study compounds like LSD and psilocybin for mental health problems, including anorexia, addiction and depression. The centre is the first of its kind in the country, established with $17m (£13.6m) in commitments from wealthy private donors and a foundation.

Can you overdose on weed? – Gizmodo
Ryan Gregory Vandrey, Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medicine, whose research focuses on the human behavioural pharmacology of Cannabis, among other things: “The short answer is yes, you can overdose on cannabis. The nuance is this. An overdose does not necessarily mean death. From my perspective, an overdose means a several different things.”

Your toddler has A.D.H.D. Should you medicate? - New York Times
[I]t was not surprising that nearly 80 percent of the children who originally learned they had A.D.H.D. at the start of [a 2001] study still had the diagnosis six years later when assessed during a follow-up, said Dr. Mark Riddle, M.D., a pediatric psychiatrist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and co-author of the … study.

Magic mushrooms as medicine? Johns Hopkins scientists launch center for psychedelic research. say psychedelics could treat Alzheimer’s, depression and addiction. – Forbes
Roland R. Griffiths, Ph.D., a psychopharmacologist and professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Department of Neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in an interview that the approach could offer “an entirely new paradigm for treating psychiatric disorders.”

Johns Hopkins opens center for psychedelic research - Big Think
Johns Hopkins University's School of Medicine recently announced it'd be launching the largest psychedelics research center in the world. Its new Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research was funded by a $17 million donation from a group of private donors. Doctors and researchers at the center hope to learn and examine whether these psychedelic drugs will be able to treat conditions such as depression and opioid addiction.
Also reported by: Ganjapreneur

How to teach future doctors about pain in the midst of the opioid crisis (audio) – NPR
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine students Tony Wang, Jenny Franke, Annie Cho and David Botros, and faculty or pain-management experts Traci Speed, Ryan Graddy, Beth Hogans, Jennifer Haythornthwaite and Shravani Durbhakula are quoted in this article that focuses on “a mandatory, four-day course [on chronic pain] at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore — home to one of the top medical schools in the country."

Johns Hopkins launches research center on psychedelics - The Scientist
Last Wednesday (September 4), Johns Hopkins Medicine announced the launch of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, which will focus on using psychedelic compounds such as LSD, ketamine, and psilocybin to treat mental health problems.
Also reported by: Washington Post

Vaping is the easiest way to smoke weed — but may be the most harmful - Men's Journal
[E]ven [vaping] cartridges from dispensaries aren’t necessarily safe.... And that’s the real message of this growing epidemic, says Ryan Vandrey, Ph.D., who studies behavioral pharmacology of cannabis, nicotine, and tobacco at Johns Hopkins University: These are poorly regulated industries. The standards of quality are different from state to state, and we don’t even know if legalized states have the resources available to them (e.g., manpower and money) to establish and follow regulations.

Johns Hopkins launches center for psychedelic and consciousness research - High Times
One of the United States’ most respected medical institutions has announced that it will be sinking its teeth into the field of psychedelics research. Johns Hopkins University will form the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, funded by $17 million in donations from private sources. It may well be the largest research facility in the world to focus on the study of psychedelics.
Also reported by: Fierce Biotech, Yahoo (via ABC News), Pharmacy Times, boingboing

John Hopkins opens $17 million psychedelic research center to study the benefits of illegal drugs like magic mushrooms on Alzheimer's disease, anorexia and depression - Daily Mail (U.K.)
A research center will open to study the medical benefits of 'magic mushrooms' and other psychedelic drugs for mental health illnesses and addiction. John Hopkins Medicine announced it is opening the center, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the U.S. and the largest facility in the world. Around $17 million in funding was raised from private donors to start work at the center.
Also reported by: Endpoints, U.S. News & World Report, Stat, Vice, Science magazine

Tim Ferriss, the man who put his money behind psychedelic medicine - New York Times
The fund-raising for the new [Johns] Hopkins center was largely driven by the author and investor Tim Ferriss, who said in a telephone interview that he had put aside most of his other projects to advance psychedelic medicine.

Johns Hopkins opens new center for psychedelic research - New York Times
On Wednesday, Johns Hopkins Medicine announced the launch of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, to study compounds like LSD and psilocybin for a range of mental health problems, including anorexia, addiction and depression. The center is the first of its kind in the country, established with $17 million in commitments from wealthy private donors and a foundation.
Also reported by: Baltimore Sun*, CNN, ABC News, Newsweek,  Quartz, Fortune, The Hill, Discover magazine, Marijuana Moment, Endpoints

Study: Most dementia patients never see specialists - NBC Los Angeles (via City News Service)
Researchers at USC, Johns Hopkins and the University of Washington used Medicare data to track dementia diagnoses of nearly a quarter of a million people over five years. The team found 85% of individuals first diagnosed with dementia were diagnosed by a non-dementia specialist physician, usually a primary care doctor, and an "unspecified dementia" diagnosis was common.

Does marijuana lead to violence? Experts say there’s no clear link – Politifact
[W]ithout being able to legally administer marijuana in a controlled laboratory setting, researchers can’t tell whether its use causes psychosis. "In terms of whether using cannabis causes the development of psychotic disorders, there is no consensus," said Matthew Johnson, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University. "The definitive studies have yet to be run."

I tried 20 trendy anti-anxiety products, and these 8 actually work - Refinery 29
Muse 2: The Next Generation Meditation Headband: The headband connects to an app, which guides you through various meditations. Meanwhile, the sensors on the device are picking up on your brain activity, heart rate, breathing, and body movements, as you go through various techniques.... In general, this kind of mindfulness meditation is good for curbing anxiety. Doing about 30 minutes of meditation daily has been shown to improve symptoms of anxiety and depression, a Johns Hopkins analysis found.

August

Could psychedelic drugs become the new medical marijuana? Inside the potential benefits and high risks of ‘magic mushrooms’ - Deseret News (Salt Lake City)
Researchers are conducting clinical trials of psychedelic therapy at some of the United States’ most prestigious universities, including Johns Hopkins University, Yale University, New York University and the University of California, Los Angeles.

Reminiscence therapy: Bringing memories back to life - U.S. News & World Report
People suffering from dementia tend to withdraw from social engagements, conversations and everyday activities, explains Dr. Esther Oh, an associate professor in the division of geriatric medicine and gerontology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Reminiscence therapy, however, "really draws them out of [their] shell," says Oh, "because they're able to tap into their past and things they're very familiar with."

New concerns emerge about long-term antidepressant use* - Wall Street Journal
[T]here’s a growing concern among health professionals that some people who are taking the drugs long-term shouldn’t be — needlessly subjecting themselves to side effects and potential health risks. “Sometimes a person gets put on a medicine and it simply gets continued because nobody thinks very hard about it,” says James Potash, psychiatrist-in-chief at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

World-first trial investigating psilocybin psychotherapy for anorexia commencing in US - New Atlas
Scientists from the Johns Hopkins Psychedelic Research Unit are commencing a landmark human clinical trial to explore the effects of psilocybin in persons with chronic anorexia nervosa. The new trial adds to a growing body of evidence finding psychedelic psychotherapy effective for depression, addiction and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Researchers optimistic that clinics will soon be able to offer MDMA therapy to PTSD patients - Good News Network
Back in April, researchers from Johns Hopkins University found that MDMA triggers a neural response called a “critical period” during which the brain is sensitive to learning the reward value of social behaviors. This means that patients can use this critical period to revisit traumatic events in a clinical setting so that they can form positive associations with negative memories.

Teens who use concentrated marijuana more likely to use other drugs (study) - NBC News
While some might conclude that the new findings mean that cannabis use is leading to other drugs, it’s more likely that cannabis use is simply a marker for the teens who are more likely to be drawn to drugs and other risk, said Ryan Vandrey, an associate professor [of] psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University.

In Denver, the spores of a psychedelic mushroom boom have landed - Denver Post
[Psilocybin is] the subject of a popular new book and promising therapeutic research studies at Johns Hopkins University and elsewhere, but the first steps of decriminalization also have prompted worries about regulation and substance-use culture.

Dopamine levels increased through deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease patients - New Atlas
Fascinating new research from scientists at Johns Hopkins University is shedding light on the mystery of how deep brain stimulation improves physical symptoms in Parkinson’s disease patients. The study reveals evidence for the first time suggesting the electrical stimulation technique directly increases dopamine release in the brain.

Half of psychiatry, psychology trial abstracts contain spin (study) – Mdedge
In an interview, Paul S. Nestadt, MD, said the findings were not surprising. “The proportion [56%] of psychiatry and psychology abstracts which [the study authors] found to contain spin is similar to that found in broader studies of all biomedical literature in previous reviews,” said Dr. Nestadt, assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore.

Women's mid-life stress might have long-term effect on memory (study) – HealthDay
"We can't get rid of stressors, but we might adjust the way we respond to stress, and have a real effect on brain function as we age," said study author Cynthia Munro. She's an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.
Also reported by: Newsmax

New millennial patterns of cocaine use may benefit future generations – Inverse
The fact that 18-25s (who are somewhere between millennials and post-millennials, generationally speaking) are trending away from cocaine use is significant, explains Matthew Johnson, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins who studies the behavioral economics of drugs.

Can psychedelics heal the Jewish people? This rabbi is exploring that question. - Jewish News of Northern California
[Rabbi Zac] Kamenetz’s first trip took place in a comfortable room at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore with a couch and various religious symbols — a cross, a small statue of Buddha, etc. — and he was accompanied by a guide, one of the researchers. He put on a sleep mask and headphones outfitted with a playlist of classical music, was given a dose of psilocybin, and off he went.

Is CBD the panacea the adverts claim? - The Ecologist
Dr. Ryan Vandrey, associate professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins, said: “People are throwing CBD at every condition under the sun at random doses and expecting it to work.” Many people claim there are minimal to no risks to using CBD, but that’s not exactly accurate…. Vandrey commented: “We know that CBD can affect the metabolism of drugs, though the extent to which that happens is still not well understood.”

Is ketamine an opioid? - Pain News Network
“A (Stanford) study done late last year delivered a black eye to ketamine, and as a result of the coverage, there was a wholesale acceptance by both potential patients and physicians that ketamine is an opioid,” says Adam Kaplin, MD, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins. “This is most worrisome if people continue to think this way, particularly in the wake of the opioid epidemic...."

Baltimore methadone clinics examine security needs in wake of recent shooting* - Baltimore Sun
The Johns Hopkins Broadway Center for Addiction, on the hospital’s medical campus in East Baltimore, uses unarmed guards with special training to greet and interact with clients, who may be homeless, suffer mental health conditions or just hungry. The clinic serves lunch so clients can get a healthy meal and feel cared for, said Dr. Kenneth Stoller, the center’s director.

Fentanyl as Ohio's lethal-injection drug? Wait til you hear what opioid crisis watchers say - Cincinnati Enquirer
An opioid researcher and addiction specialist, Dr. Marc Fishman, who is an assistant professor in the psychiatry department at Johns Hopkins University, was appalled at the notion of using the drug as some kind of ultimate punishment. "A physician ought not have an opinion on improved ways of poisoning people," he said.

Is stress the reason women get Alzheimer’s more? – Considerable
A new study from Johns Hopkins shows that continual stress affects the memories of women more than men, which could suggest why more women are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.... “We can’t get rid of stressors, but we might adjust the way we respond to stress, and have a real effect on brain function as we age,” said Cynthia Munro, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Battling the 'Devil in the Third Year': The fight to foster empathy in medical trainees – Medscape
"There are a lot of forces working against empathy," explains Margaret S. Chisolm, MD, professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "Systemic forces are working against understanding patients, in terms of time and other pressures, the way the curriculum is and what's being modeled."

Urinary tract infection or dementia: Which one do I have? - U.S. News & World Report
"With evaluation, the clinician should be able to pick up on the fact that [a person's confused state is] a fairly sudden change that, with treatment, should improve," says Dr. Halima Amjad, an assistant professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who sees patients at the Johns Hopkins Memory and Alzheimer's Treatment Center.

Can microdosing psychedelic mushrooms curb your anxiety? - Refinery 29
Psychedelic drugs, such as LSD and psilocybin, essentially "change the way that the brain functions," explains Albert Garcia-Romeu, PhD, a faculty member at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he studies the effects of psychedelics in humans, with a focus on psilocybin as an aid in the treatment of addiction.

The search for a way to rely on sleeping pills less* (study) - Wall Street Journal
David Neubauer, an associate psychiatry professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, called the [full-dose medicine/reduced-dose medicine] experiment clever. He also noted the positive effect the [cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia] sessions may have had, as well as meeting with a doctor regularly. “This was a pretty labor-intensive process,” Dr. Neubauer says.

Women get Alzheimer’s way more than men — and stress could help explain why - Popular Science
A new study from Johns Hopkins suggests cumulative stress can have an outsize effect on women’s memories, pointing to a possible reason why women experience dementia and related illnesses at a much higher rate than men.

How electromagnetic stimulation can improve memory - Next Avenue
[M]ore research is needed, but there have been studies showing that strategically applied tDCS [transcranial direct current stimulation] can temporarily improve thinking skills in healthy older adults, says Tracy Vannorsdall, a neuroscientist at John Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. However, “We are still working to determine what brain regions to target to optimize cognition in older adults, how frequently to apply tDCS and what cognitive training activities should accompany the stimulation,” Vannorsdall adds. 

The psychiatric 'wonder drug' that almost no one is using – Vice
“I've had people who were in and out of hospitals 10 times — their parents said they had lost their children — and then after [they were given clozapine], they were not hospitalized again," said Fred Nucifora, a clinician scientist and director of the clozapine clinic at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. "I’ve seen miracles on clozapine."

People are hungry for shroom legalization, and the money to fund it is growing – Vice
There's been a steady stream of movement in the halls of power…. Last year, a team at Johns Hopkins that has been at the forefront of studying the mental-health applications of psilocybin called for it to lose this status, and the Food and Drug Administration also designated it as a "breakthrough therapy" for "treatment-resistant depression."

July

Can psychedelic drugs help solve our mental health crisis? – Spectrum
Experts like Dr. Matthew Johnson, a psychologist at Johns Hopkins University, say [there is a mental health crisis]. Johnson is a principal investigator with Johns Hopkins Psychedelic Research Unit. The group is at the forefront of a renaissance of sorts in the U.S.; their work is helping to resurrect study of the drugs.

Psychedelic medicine is coming. The law isn’t ready - Scientific American
When researchers at Johns Hopkins gave psilocybin to healthy participants with no history of hallucinogen use, nearly eighty percent reported that their experiences "increased their current sense of personal well-being or life satisfaction 'moderately' or 'very much' " — effects that persisted for more than a year.

Why I decided to take antidepressants during my pregnancy — even though I knew the potential risks & side effects - Your Tango
As explained by Dr. Lauren Osbourne of Johns Hopkins University, "About 30 percent of babies whose mothers take [selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors] will experience neonatal adaptation syndrome, which can cause increased jitteriness, irritability and respiratory distress (difficulty breathing), among other symptoms.

Could social media’s ‘healthy food’ focus be contributing to a little-known eating disorder? - Washington Post
Angela Guarda, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Hospital, says anorexia patients typically “have a rationalization for why they do what they do.” With orthorexia, that rationalization is clear and more societally accepted: “Those explanations are that they’re vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free or so on,” she says.

Does microdosing magic mushrooms actually work? Experts weigh in – Mic
Matthew Johnson, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University of School of Medicine [says] that the very subtle benefits microdosers claim to enjoy, such as being friendlier and more focused, “are really ripe for a placebo effect.”

Doctors explain whether fancy vitamins can really make you more focused and better at life – Cosmopolitan
Docs actually have been prescribing stimulants, a form of nootropics, since the 1930s to treat depression and fatigue, says Neeraj Gandotra, M.D., an instructor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Medicine.... They work by increasing the levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine and noradrenaline in the part of the brain responsible for focus and memory, which improves your concentration, says Dr. Gandotra....  “These types of substances do not actually make people more intelligent.”

From mushrooms to pension reform: Here's what could be on your 2020 ballot - Salem Reporter (Oregon)
It may seem far-fetched, but the ... [pro-psilocybin] campaign comes amid a growing movement of tolerance and support for the medicinal use of psychedelics. This spring, Oakland, Calif., and Denver decriminalized psilocybin.... [R]esearchers at Johns Hopkins [have] found the drug to be a low-risk, high-reward mental health drug....

Age and the presidency: How old is too old? (audio) - WYPR-FM
What happens to our cognitive ability as we get older? Is age a legitimate issue in considering a person’s qualifications to be the U.S. president? [“Midday” host Tom Hall] is joined today by two guests with valuable perspectives on these questions, [including] Dr. Jason Brandt is a neuropsychologist and Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Brandt’s research focuses on cognition and neurological health in the elderly.

Can Alzheimer's be stopped? Five lifestyle behaviors are key, new research suggests - NBC News and numerous affiliates
While the studies are definitely good news, they don’t shed light on whether healthy lifestyle behaviors slow down the pathology that gunks up the brain in people with Alzheimer’s or simply make the brain more resilient to it, said Dr. Jason Brandt, a professor in the departments of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and neurology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Sex may be less satisfying with age, too few women seek help (study) – Medscape
Kate Thomas, PhD, RN, director of clinical services for the Sex and Gender Clinic and instructor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, said the fact that it was a large study adds some weight to its conclusions. She said the main message for her was that, as providers, "there's work to be done here.

Some schizophrenia brains show abnormal protein buildup similar to Alzheimer’s – PsychCentral
In a new study, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers unveiled new evidence showing that some schizophrenia brains are marked by a buildup of abnormal proteins similar to those found in the brains of people with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s or Huntington’s diseases.

‘Well, that was a weird moment’ and other signs of dementia family members should watch for - Washington Post
Halima Amjad, assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said that about 60 percent of people with dementia symptoms go unreported either from not being diagnosed or because of denial or shame.

Keto-like diet may improve cognition in MCI, early Alzheimer's – Medscape
A ketogenic diet may boost cognition in older adults who have early signs of dementia, preliminary research suggests. Investigators at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine … found that when older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) switched their diet to a low-carbohydrate, high-fat ketogenic diet, they experienced modest improvement in memory, as measured by a standardized test.

Keto-like diet may improve cognition in MCI, early Alzheimer's – Medscape
A ketogenic diet may boost cognition in older adults who have early signs of dementia, preliminary research suggests. Investigators at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine … found that when older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) switched their diet to a low-carbohydrate, high-fat ketogenic diet, they experienced modest improvement in memory, as measured by a standardized test.

The psychedelics evangelist: A German financier wants to turn magic mushrooms into modern medicine – Stat
[With a handful of drugs that are considered “classic” psychedelics], “there’s no dose with observable organ damage or neurotoxicity. That’s pretty freakish,” said Matthew Johnson, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University who studies psychedelics. “You’d be hard-pressed to find anything sold over-the-counter that you could say this about — including caffeine and aspirin.”

June

Schizophrenia caused by protein buildup in the brain, new research says - Medical Daily
The [research's] lead author, Frederick Nucifora Jr., an assistant professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University's School of Medicine, said that schizophrenia only results in mental and behavioural changes and surprisingly does not cause neuronal cell death, which actually occurs in Alzheimer's disease. He and his team found similarities in the biological changes and interactions, nonetheless.

Brain study reveals type of schizophrenia similar to neurodegenerative disease - New Atlas
Research from Johns Hopkins Medicine has revealed some cases of schizophrenia can be associated with abnormal protein buildup in the brain similar to that seen in cases of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative disorders. It's hoped the discovery will lead to better diagnostic strategies identifying specific types of schizophrenia.

Here's what you need to know about the new "female Viagra" drug – Shape
[M]ental health can play a role.... "A primary symptom of depression is the inability to enjoy things you normally enjoy, like sex," said Jennifer Payne, M.D., director of the Women's Mood Disorders Center at Johns Hopkins. "People with depression also have decreased energy, feel badly about themselves and might view their partners through a negative filter, all of which impacts sex drive."

How a trip on magic mushrooms helped decriminalize psychedelic plants in a California city - Los Angeles Times
In October, the FDA granted “breakthrough therapy” status, meant to speed the development of drugs with strong potential, to a company testing psilocybin in people with treatment-resistant depression. Scientists with Johns Hopkins University recently recommended reclassifying it from a Schedule I drug with no known medical benefit to a Schedule IV drug akin to sleeping pills.

Beyond addiction: Medical therapy for addiction may benefit medical adherence - The Rheumatologist
Although medical treatments for addiction have been proved effective, they are not used often enough, said Kenneth Stoller, MD, during a session at the 2019 ACR State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium. These treatments bring health benefits that extend beyond addiction, he said. Dr. Stoller, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University, said methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone and other drugs to treat addiction are underused due to long-standing stigmas about drug use….

Recognizing the hidden signs of depression - Medical News Today
Low sex drive: According to Dr. Jennifer Payne, director of the Women's Mood Disorders Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, MD, some health professionals consider changes in sex drive a key indicator for diagnosing episodes of major depression.

First pot, then magic mushrooms? Decriminalization is spreading – Bloomberg
In recent years, researchers at New York University found psilocybin caused a “rapid and sustained” reduction in anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer. And psychiatrists at Johns Hopkins University discovered mushrooms can help people quit smoking. Another study found the psychedelic can also help with alcohol dependence.

Tau and amyloid deposition in living former NFL players (study) - Neurology Advisor
Neurology Advisor interviewed Jennifer M. Coughlin MD, associate professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, for additional insights regarding [chronic traumatic encephalopathy] and the results of the Boston University Research CTE Center study.

Could California become the first state to decriminalize magic mushrooms? - Los Angeles Times
In 2018 Johns Hopkins researchers recommended rescheduling psilocybin from Schedule 1 to Schedule 4 (meaning it would go from the group that contains heroin to the group that contains Xanax), but Decriminalize California wants to take things a step further.

Alabama moves to state-ordered castration - The Atlantic
In psychiatry, there are some accepted uses for androgen-blocking medications. As the Johns Hopkins psychiatrist Fred Berlin has noted, in these cases drugs are used for “diminishing the intensity of the eroticized urges that energize unacceptable para-philic behaviors” — in other words, when a person is concerned about acting on urges they know to be wrong or illegal, and so seeks preventive help. Other people seek help when an all-consuming libido becomes a problem in daily life.

Ocasio-Cortez wants to make it easier to study magic mushrooms, other psychedelic drugs - Fox News
In an analysis published last October in an issue of Neuropharmacology, a medical journal focused on neuroscience, researchers from Johns Hopkins University recommended that psilocybin be reclassified for medical use – arguing its benefits in helping treat PTSD, depression and anxiety and helping people stop smoking.

Could “magic mushrooms” follow in the footsteps of cannabis on the road to legalization? - Well + Good
With decriminalization, it’s likely that more people across the country will become curious about psychedelic mushrooms and want to experiment with them, says Albert Garcia-Romeu, PhD, an instructor and researcher at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who specializes in psychedelics. “My concern is that like most drugs, psilocybin can be abused and carries risk...."

Storing a loaded gun at home raised soldiers’ risk of death by suicide, study finds – CNN
[A]ccess to a gun can be the difference between life and death, said Dr. Paul Nestadt, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University who was not involved in the study. “There is a common misconception out there that if you’re suicidal, you’ll just find a way,” he said. “Or that if you don’t die in your first attempt, you’ll die in another. The evidence does not show that happening.”

Oakland becomes second U.S. city to decriminalize ‘magic mushrooms’ – HuffPost
The federal government classifies psilocybin as a Schedule I drug, which means it’s legally considered to have no medical purpose and a high potential for abuse. That classification has impeded research into psilocybin’s medical uses. But some studies in recent years, including one published last year by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, have found that it can help treat anxiety and depression in cancer patients.

Forgiveness and your health: What science says about the benefits – CNN
"To better understand the process of forgiveness, it might be useful to step back and look at the process of holding on to anger," said Neda Gould, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

When are cookies or brownies not 'food?' When they've got marijuana in them, Maryland regulators say* - Baltimore Sun
“There’s absolutely no reason for any medicine to be in a brownie, a cookie or a lollipop,” said Ryan Vandrey, a Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine professor who has studied the effects of edibles for five years at the schools’ Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit. “From a public health perspective, it makes no sense at all.”

The next battle in the War on Drugs will be fought over psychedelics – Quartz
Psychedelics are fast re-entering the mainstream, with prudent visionaries, scientists, and academics like Rick Doblin, founder of the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies, Michael Pollan, author of How to Change Your Mind, and Johns Hopkins researcher Roland Griffiths, among others, leading the way.

'Good luck with that': FDA aims to make sense of medicinal cannabis* - MedPage Today
Ryan Vandrey, PhD, of Johns Hopkins University, noted that not only are THC [tetrahydrocannabinol] and marijuana extracts designated as Schedule I drugs, so is synthetic CBD [cannabidiol].... Vandrey said that while CBD and THC garner the most attention, researchers should also look into the other 80-plus cannabinoids found in cannabis.

Oakland City Council looks to decriminalize 'magic mushrooms' after Denver vote - USA Today
Last year, researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore published a study in the medical journal Neuropharmacology advising that psilocybin be reclassified from a Schedule 1 drug with no known benefits to a Schedule 4 drug, which would put it in the same category as prescription sleeping pills.

CBD in the spotlight (video) - KVOA-TV (Tucson)
The Food and Drug Administration is seeking clarity on the supplement and took a first step Friday toward regulating CBD, hearing from more than 140 people, including doctors, retailers, trade groups and researchers…. “Right now [CBD supplements] are marketed and they are not tested under FDA approved strategies for safety and efficacy. The public opinion is guiding how we’re treating a number of disorders,” said Elise Weerts of Johns Hopkins University.

Psychedelics, long ignored by scientists, seeing resurgence in medical research - San Francisco Chronicle
“I came across the older era of psychedelic research in the late ’90s, when I was in college. I recognized it as this fascinating scientific history for which these threads were left dangling,” said Matthew Johnson, an associate professor in psychiatry and behaviorial sciences at Johns Hopkins University who has studied using psychedelics to change behavior.

May

A patient's guide to schizophrenia - U.S. News & World Report
“[Schizophrenia] is a construct that was developed early in the 20th century to make sense out of a group of patients that were clearly very ill and did not have what we would now call bipolar disorder – then manic depressive illness,” says Dr. Russell L. Margolis, clinical director of the Johns Hopkins Schizophrenia Center and a professor of psychiatry and neurology at Johns Hopkins University. “And yet, there’s no one precise thing that defines it.”

Broccoli sprout compound may help restore brain chemistry imbalance in schizophrenia – PsychCentral
In a series of recently published studies in humans and animals, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers say they have identified certain glutamate-related chemical imbalances in the brains of schizophrenia patients —  and that these imbalances may potentially be reversed using a compound derived from broccoli sprouts, known as sulforaphane.

Oakland could become second US city to decriminalize ‘magic mushrooms’ - San Francisco Chronicle
Research out of Johns Hopkins University has shown that the drug could help people quit smoking. UCSF scientists are studying psilocybin as a possible treatment for long-term AIDS survivors who are feeling general malaise and demoralization. “The data are really impressive. We should be cautiously but enthusiastically pursuing these threads,” said Matthew Johnson, an associate professor in psychiatry and behavior sciences at Johns Hopkins.

My great-grandmother’s struggle with mental illness — and the therapy that saved her life – Vox
To get a better sense of how [electroconvulsive therapy] is applied, I visited a clinic at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore that treats between 10 and 20 patients a day.... While visiting Johns Hopkins, I spoke to Dr. Irving Reti, the director of the brain stimulation program and a professor of psychiatry. He’s a soft-spoken man with a barely noticeable Australian accent who has treated thousands of patients with ECT.

Bipolar disorder a risk factor for Parkinson's? (study) – HealthDay
"I wasn't surprised [by the study's findings], because similar disorders like major depression and anxiety disorder convey a similar increased risk of Parkinson's later in life," said Dr. Gregory Pontone, director of the Parkinson's disease research center at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. "This gives you two reasons to treat bipolar disorder aggressively," he added.

'Everybody feels free here': Baltimore's nightclub for disabled adults fosters love, friendship and inclusion* - Baltimore Sun
Carol Orth, clinical supervisor for Adult Autism and Developmental Disorders Center at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, said broaching the topic of intimate relationships for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities can be tricky…. “It is a very difficult thing because they are in bodies that, chronically, want to and can be sexual, but do not necessarily have the capacity to understand intimacy,” Orth said. “It is a case-by-case basis.”

Can psychedelic experiences cure alcohol addiction? - Psychology Today
[T]here might be hope on the horizon for chronic sufferers of alcohol use disorder. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and the Erowid Center explored the effects of psychedelics on heavy alcohol users. Interestingly, they found significant and long-term reductions in alcohol use following psychedelic experiences.

Where Is the grandmother I once knew? When dementia drugs steal patients’ personalities - Being Patient
Paul Rosenberg, M.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, researches depression and other neuropsychiatric symptoms in relation to Alzheimer’s disease. He said researchers have been focusing on social interaction as an alternative to drug interventions. However, he thinks funding is limited for researchers who want to focus on lifestyle interventions because drug companies in the U.S. make billions of dollars.

With Denver’s vote on magic mushrooms, will Colorado anchor a psychedelic medicine revolution? - Colorado Sun
Studies measuring psilocybin’s effect on depression — at London’s Imperial College and Johns Hopkins’ Psychedelic Research Unit — show that the mushrooms can reduce symptoms, with the relief from a single treatment lasting more than a month.

The troubled history of psychiatry - New Yorker
Adolf Meyer, a Swiss-born physician who, in 1910, became the first director of the psychiatry clinic at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, advocated an approach he called, variously, “psychobiology” and “common sense” psychiatry — the gathering of data without a guiding dogma.

How the party drug ketamine is helping battle severe depression (video) - NBC 4 (D.C.)
Clinical trials found that ketamine, administered in controlled doses, could help [people] with severe hopeless depression.... "It acts through a different area in the brain than what most typical depressants are acting," said Dr. Erica Richards, the medical director of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Sibley Memorial Hospital and who took part in the clinical trials. She calls the treatment a game changer because ketamine is the first depression drug that can work quickly, within hours.

'A grand experiment': how 'shrooms made Denver America's most drug-friendly city - The Guardian
At its peak, the Initiative 301 campaign had 10 staff members and 50 volunteers canvassing Denver to tell people about the “breakthrough therapy” status psilocybin-assisted treatments had received from the US Food and Drug Administration in October 2018. The designation came after studies from Johns Hopkins, UCLA, New York University and other leading medical institutions that showed psychedelic mus