Brain and Nervous System, Mental Health, Wellness

Meditation Is Big Business. The Science Isn’t So Clear.

For more than two decades, various studies have suggested that meditation and mindfulness — that is, being aware of the present moment — can help reduce and improve pain management, lending some credence to the notion that the brain can affect the body. Such results have helped the field grow into a multibillion-dollar industry, populated by meditation apps, guided workshops, and upscale retreats.
Yet the field has also faced sharp criticism from psychologists and researchers who say the health benefits are overstated and some of the research methodologically flawed.

Health Insurance, Health Policy, Mental Health

Insurers often shortchange mental health care coverage, despite a federal law

The Biden administration is pushing insurers and state regulators to improve mental health care coverage. The move comes as overdose deaths rise and youth mental health problems grow more rampant, disproportionately affecting communities of color. Inflation and a shortage of mental health care providers, including psychiatrists and specialists who treat adolescents, further hinder access to care.

Abstract psychedelic image.
Drugs, Mental Health

Do psychedelics really work to treat depression and PTSD? Here’s what the evidence says

Early results from studies around the world have found psychedelic therapy might be effective for treating a range of psychological issues. However, as psychedelic research has grown, limitations of the research have been identified by researchers both within and outside the psychedelic field. One issue is that we aren’t sure whether findings might be due to a placebo effect, which occurs when a treatment works because people expect it to work.