News Mentions for the week of November 6, 2023

In good news for drinkers, researchers in the US have discovered that the brains of people who suffer from alcohol use disorder and abstained from drinking for roughly 7.3 months displayed significant structural improvements, suggesting remarkable powers of recovery are possible. The “results support the adaptive and beneficial effects of sustained sobriety on brain structural recovery,” the study says. Timothy Durazzo, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment.

If, in 2015, someone had told you that the number of overdose deaths caused solely by the two most historically lethal drugs—heroin and cocaine—would drop by more than half by 2021, you would likely have assumed that the overdose crisis in the U.S. was finally coming to an end. Instead, drug overdose deaths soared to more than 100,000 per year due to the rise of synthetic drugs, a truly disruptive innovation with which U.S. drug policy is only beginning to grapple. Keith Humphreys, the Esther Ting Memorial professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, coauthors this issue brief with Jonathan Caulkins.

Do you try to face them directly? Or do you tend to avoid confrontation? Karen Osilla, associate professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment.

A new Stanford study from researchers in the departments of Biology, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Bioengineering uses behavioral analysis, neural engineering, electrophysiology, and math to explore how mice decide whether to eat or drink when they are both hungry and thirsty.

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative recently announced the newly funded round of Neurodegeneration Challenge Network (NDCN) Projects. NDCN brings together experimental scientists from diverse research fields, along with computational biologists and physicians, to accelerate fundamental neuroscience and neurodegenerative disease research that leads to an in-depth understanding of healthy brain function and the development of new strategies for treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative disorders. Congratulations to Erin Gibson, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, recipient of the Ben Barres Early Career Acceleration Award!

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recently announced this year’s recipients of the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications, given by the National Academies in partnership with Schmidt Futures. These prestigious awards recognize science journalists, research scientists, and science communicators who have developed creative, original work to communicate issues and advances in science, engineering, and medicine to the general public. Congratulations to Britt Wray, instructor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, top prize recipient in the Research Scientist: Early Career category!

Some psychiatrists are incorporating prescriptions for the diabetes and weight loss drug into their patients’ care. Shebani Sethi, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is interviewed in this segment.

Hundreds of clinics may be using false and misleading statements in online advertising to sell off-label and unapproved ketamine -- an injectable, short-acting anesthetic -- to treat mental health conditions and pain. Smita Das, clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment.

While large swaths of North America still abide by the twice-per-year time change, a recent effort to eliminate the bi-annual changes has sparked conversation about the benefits and disadvantages of this disruption to our routines. Rafael Pelayo, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment.

Parents magazine turned to pediatric experts to learn more about how the symptoms and treatment of seasonal affective disorder in kids. Victoria Cosgrove, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted.

Jamie Zeitzer, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, dishes on the science (or lack thereof) behind 'falling back.'

The concept has long tantalized scientists: harnessing antibodies to block the dangerous effects of heroin, cocaine and nicotine. Keith Humphreys, the Esther Ting Memorial professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment.

As daylight-saving time comes to an end on Sunday, evenings will feel even longer and darker. This shift is known to exacerbate feelings of seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is often linked with light levels. Kristin Raj, clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment.

Doctors say the diabetes medication, and drugs like it, could counteract the weight patients gain on antipsychotics and antidepressants. Shebani Sethi, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted.