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“Your brain on shrooms” – check us out in Nature and the New York Times.
Latest News
Washington University researchers test antidepressant for treating long COVID (Links to an external site)
By Russell Kinsaul Published: Mar. 18, 2024 at 5:55 PM CDT Check out the Healthy Mind Lab’s current study on long COVID! Researchers at Washington University are leading the way to find a treatment for a debilitating condition that affects as many as 16 million Americans.
Washington University trial studies antidepressant Fluvoxamine as treatment for Long COVID symptoms (Links to an external site)
ST. LOUIS (KMOV) -A clinical trial at the Washington University School of Medicine is studying the impact of an antidepressant on long COVID symptoms.
Specifically, the study is examining whether Fluvoxamine, a medication used to treat depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, can relieve problems with “brain fog” and other neurological conditions associated with lingering symptoms.
Relieving treatment-resistant depression in older adults
At a Glance On behalf of Eric Lenze, MD, please check this link for a recent publication of ours posted on the NIH website!
Promoting resilience in health-care workers aim of new grant (Links to an external site)
WashU receives part of $103 million to address depression, anxiety related to pandemic
Adding med to antidepressant may help older adults with treatment-resistant depression (Links to an external site)
For some patients, two different medications better than antidepressant alone
Intravenous Ketamine for Late-Life Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Pilot Study of Tolerability, Safety, Clinical Benefits, and Effect on Cognition
Check out our recent publication on PubMed about our pilot study exploring Ketamine for treatment-resistant depression (TRD)!
Mindfulness Training for Depressed Older Adults Using Smartphone Technology: Protocol for a Fully Remote Precision Clinical Trial (Links to an external site)
Click the title to be sent to the a recent publication on a Healthy Mind Lab study! For the full article – click here
Healthy Mind Lab guide to clinical research
New to clinical research? Check out our guide!
Exercise, mindfulness don’t appear to boost cognitive function in older adults (Links to an external site)
In healthy older adults, neither led to measurable improvements after 6 months, 18 months
Psychedelic Drugs for Mental Health Treatments at Wash U-St. Louis On the Air interview with Ginger Nicol, MD and Josh Siegel, MD, PhD
Click to listen to researchers at Washington University Department of Psychiatry discuss the exciting psychedelic research happening right here in St. Louis.
Antidepressant may prevent severe COVID-19, follow-up study indicates (Links to an external site)
The latest article on the Healthy minds lab study on how fluvoxamine can help treat and prevent sever COVID-19 symptoms.
Investigating Antidepressants’ Surprising Effect on COVID Deaths (Links to an external site)
Another article describing Andrea Fekete and Eric Lenses findings on fluvoxamine’s efficacy against fighting the worst of the COVID symptoms. The article describes the way fluvoxamine allows for the body’s inflammatory system to keep in check due to the presence of the sigma-1 receptor.
Cheap, generic anti-depressant may reduce severe Covid-19 disease, study finds (Links to an external site)
CNN’s discussion on the latest study that found that fluvoxamine could reduce the risk of having severe COVID-19 symptoms. “Fluvoxamine may reduce the production of inflammatory molecules called cytokines that can be triggered by SARS-COV-2 infection.”
A cheap antidepressant lowers the risk of COVID hospitalization, a large study finds. (Links to an external site)
Effect of early treatment with fluvoxamine on risk of hospitalization among patients with COVID (Links to an external site)
This is the first large and randomized controlled trial test to test the efficacy of fluvoxamine for acute treatment of COVID-19. In the study, they found an absolute risk reduction of 5.0% and a 32% RR reduction.
$6.2 million grant to fund Center for Perioperative Mental Health (Links to an external site)
Clinicians and researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have received a four-year, $6.2 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to launch a center designed to help improve mental health in surgery patients, particularly older surgery patients. The center will conduct studies to identify and treat depression and anxiety in surgical patients. This new center is the first NIH-funded center of its kind in the United States.
Update on our study of an early treatment COVID-19
Fluvoxamine vs Placebo and Clinical Deterioration in Outpatients With Symptomatic COVID-19 A Randomized Clinical Trial Eric J. Lenze, MD1; Caline Mattar, MD2; Charles F. Zorumski, MD1; Angela Stevens, BA1; Julie Schweiger1; Ginger E. Nicol, MD1; J. Philip Miller, AB3; Lei Yang, MPH, MSIS1; Michael Yingling, MS1; Michael S. Avidan, MBBCh4; Angela M. Reiersen, MD, MPE1JAMA. Published online November 12, 2020. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.22760
Study to evaluate antidepressants as potential COVID-19 treatment (Links to an external site)
Goal-oriented rehab improves recovery in older adults (Links to an external site)
Goal-oriented, motivational physical and occupational therapy helps older patients recover more fully from broken hips, strokes and other ailments that land them in skilled nursing facilities for rehabilitation, according to new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Dr. Eric Lenze weighs in on depression in older adults for The St. Louis American (Links to an external site)
For some older adults, seeking help for depression may be stressful or embarrassing. Some people can’t find the words to describe how they feel, which can make them feel even more alone. Primary care physicians are usually the first health care provider older adults speak with about their stress, mood, anxiety, loneliness, and concerns about their future.
Youths prescribed antipsychotics gain body fat, have increased diabetes risk (Links to an external site)
Dr. Ginger E. Nicol’s new research published in JAMA Psychiatry first to use gold-standard metabolic assessments to link initial antipsychotic exposure in children to developing insulin resistance.
Jennifer Blome of 550 KTRS interviews Dr. Lenze
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we shared information about our healthy aging studies for adults ages 60+ on-air with Jennifer Blome of The Big 550 KTRS. Listen to the full recording or read the transcript below. TRANSCRIPT This radio interview aired on May 14, 2018. Jennifer Blome (The Big 550 KTRS): There is […]
Psychotropic Drugs and Falls in Older Adults (Links to an external site)
In the elderly, falls are a common and important problem. One of the most feared consequences of falling is a hip fracture. Other consequences include other fractures, head injuries, and less serious injuries that can nonetheless impair function and quality of life.
Healthy Mind Lab physicians make ‘Best Doctors’ list (Links to an external site)
Published each year, Best Doctors Inc. identifies outstanding physicians in numerous disciplines. Physicians are asked “If you or a loved one needed a doctor in your specialty, who would you choose?”
Researchers aim to improve brain health in older adults (Links to an external site)
Two research studies in Dr. Lenze’s Healthy Mind Lab, Optimum and MEDEX, are currently recruiting older adults. Optimum aims to improve depression treatment. MEDEX aims to improve memory and concentration.
Researchers seek formula for improving memory in people over 65 (Links to an external site)
Volumes of studies show that exercise and meditation help improve aging. The MEDEX study hopes to learn how and why.
Dr. Lenze, geriatric psychiatrist, weighs in on psychiatric drug usage finding (Links to an external site)
About one in six American adults took a psychiatric drug — most often antidepressants, sedatives or antipsychotics — at least once during 2013, according to a new research letter published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine. Dr. Lenze sheds light on the implications for older adults.
Hard-to-treat depression in seniors focus of $13.5 million study (Links to an external site)
“Older adults who are prescribed antidepressants often find that they don’t get better with the first or second medication they are prescribed,” said principal investigator Eric J. Lenze, MD, a professor of psychiatry. “So what should they get? This will be the largest and, we hope, the definitive study to answer that question. This study will show us which treatments work best and which are safest, and it will help us personalize treatment.”
Antipsychotic Addition Treats Depression in Seniors (Links to an external site)
Two-drug combo helps older adults with hard-to-treat depression (Links to an external site)
Improving depression and anxiety therapy in seniors (Links to an external site)
Healthy Mind Lab researchers, led by Dr. Eric Lenze, are looking for better ways to help older adults deal with depression and anxiety through antidepressant medications and mindfulness-based stress reduction