A Simulation to Improve Understanding and Communication of Ethical Dilemmas That Surround Brain Death.

Introduction: Providers across multiple specialties may be called upon to perform brain death assessments at hospitals that lack specialty neurology or critical care services. To address this need, we developed a brain death curriculum involving simulation and group discussion to prepare medical trainees for brain death testing and communication with surrogate decision-makers.

Methods: A 1-hour session was delivered to trainees rotating through the intensive care unit at William Beaumont University Hospital.

LSDDEP2: study protocol for a randomised, double-dummy, triple-blind, active placebo-controlled, parallel groups trial of LSD microdosing in patients with major depressive disorder.

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) poses a significant global health burden with available treatments limited by inconsistent efficacy and notable side effects. Classic psychedelics, including lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), have garnered attention for their potential in treating psychiatric disorders. Microdosing, the repeated consumption of sub-hallucinogenic doses of psychedelics, has emerged as a self-treatment approach for depression within lay communities.

Targeting neuroinflammation in distal symmetrical polyneuropathy in diabetes.

Diabetic distal symmetric polyneuropathy is the most common type of peripheral neuropathy complication of diabetes mellitus. Neuroinflammation is emerging as an important contributor to diabetes-induced neuropathy. Long-term hyperglycemia results in increased production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

Eating Disorder and Other Psychiatric Hospitalizations in New Zealand During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: An unprecedented rise in eating disorder presentations has been documented in several countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. We explored this phenomenon by analyzing nationwide psychiatric admissions over 5 years, controlling for demographic variables.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all hospitalizations in New Zealand with a primary psychiatric diagnosis from 2017 to 2021, using Poisson regression to calculate admission rates by diagnosis, before and during the pandemic.

Effect of MDMA-assisted therapy on mood and anxiety symptoms in advanced-stage cancer (EMMAC): study protocol for a double-blind, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Symptoms of anxiety and depression are common in patients with terminal illness and multiple challenges exist with timely and effective care in this population. Several centres have reported that one dose of the serotonergic psychedelic psilocybin, combined with therapeutic support, improves these symptoms for up to 6 months in this patient group. Drawing upon related therapeutic mechanisms, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted therapy may have the potential to achieve similar, positive mental health outcomes in this group.