Float Research Collective’s Post

Tell your friends. Let’s change the narrative around mental health, one float at a time. #REST #floatlife #float #floattherapy #floating #selfcare #wellness #spalifestyle #spa #Tucson #BearDown #uofa #isolation #metime #emotionalwellness #mentalhealth #recovery #epsom #healthandwellness #mensmentalhealth #endthestigma #interoception

When I published my first float study back in 2018 (https://lnkd.in/gFT2RkQQ), it was the first time that anyone had systematically examined the safety and efficacy of floating in a sample with rather severe anxiety and depression, including patients with PTSD. In my mind, one of the most surprising findings from that initial float study was the overall lack of any negative side effects. Going into the study, I was worried about all sorts of adverse effects; everything from panic attacks, to flashbacks, to hallucinations had crossed my mind as possibilities. I waited patiently for the first patient to scream out loud through the intercom system, but it never happened. I thought for sure that most patients would only be able to tolerate 20-30 minutes alone by themselves in the float environment, but they ended up floating for the entire hour, and afterwards said they wanted to float longer. Their float experience was remarkably positive, so much so that we went out of our way to transcribe each patient's post-float debriefing interview that we ended up publishing in the supplement (https://lnkd.in/gdkytK84). As excited as I was by these initial findings, I had to temper my excitement because this was only a single float session, and we had no idea if it could be replicated across multiple float sessions. In order to find out, I applied for an NIH grant that was funded by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Just getting the grant was a major win, as the NIH had never funded a float study before (which is quite perplexing given that the first iteration of the float tank was built at the National Institute of Mental Health back in the 1950's!) Running clinical trials with multiple sessions is quite difficult and costly in its own right. Now try doing it during a global pandemic in a sample of chronically anxious patients who's number one response to adversity in life is avoidance! This was quite a feat, and it would have never been possible without the herculean efforts of my close friend and colleague Dr. Sahib Khalsa and the amazing staff at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research. In particular, I want to acknowledge Raminta Wilson, who was able to successfully navigate this study through the pandemic, and Dr. McKenna Garland, who completed this study as part of her dissertation and did an absolutely incredible job of writing up the results! I'm very excited to finally see these results published and even more excited to see that the notable lack of side effects found in my original 2018 study has now been replicated across multiple float sessions. More research is always necessary, but these findings provide the Float Research Collective with an important and necessary foundation to build on. The study, along with a repository of all the other peer-reviewed clinical float research can be found at https://lnkd.in/gHYJKvn4

VA Funds Studies on New Therapies for Treating Mental Health Conditions   The VA has released a request for applications (RFA) inviting proposals from its network of VA researchers, in collaboration with academic institutions, to study the use of psychedelic compounds such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and psilocybin in treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. This marks the first time since the 1960s that the VA is funding research on these compounds. The initiative aims to gather definitive scientific evidence on the potential efficacy and safety of psychedelic compounds when used in conjunction with psychotherapy to treat veterans with PTSD and depression. The move is part of the VA's commitment to exploring innovative approaches to improve the health and quality of life for veterans, aligning with the Biden-Harris Administration's focus on veterans' well-being. Research on these compounds will be conducted under stringent safety protocols and regulatory approvals from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Black box warnings are everywhere these days. It shows how common major safety concerns have become, especially for medications targeting depression and anxiety. Most antidepressant medications like SSRIs now contain a suicide warning, and anti-anxiety medications using benzodiazpines have an addiction warning. Adverse events can also occur with psychedelics, and just this week, an FDA advisory committee rejected MDMA for the treatment of PTSD, with many reviewers commenting on the lack of safety data. Indeed safety issues and side effects can be found with behavioral interventions too, like psychotherapy and even meditation. Given this context, it is no wonder that the 1st float study funded by the NIH is focused on safety. The results were published this week and make a compelling argument for the safety of floatation therapy in individuals with clinical depression and anxiety, including PTSD. There were no serious adverse events, minimal negative side effects, and numerous positive side effects. Here are the 10 most commonly reported side effects from the study. If floating were a pill, everyone would take it! The study, along with a repository of all the other peer-reviewed clinical float research can be found at https://lnkd.in/eY9xH_Je #PTSDAwarenessMonth

Interested in learning more about #depression? Attend the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)'s 2024 conference in #Boston! Below are just a few of the sessions during the three-day conference. Join us! https://lnkd.in/drk5MrEP   #anxiety #depression #OCD #conference #ADAA2024 ~ Stress-Related Biomarkers in Risk for Anxiety and Depression: In Life and the Lab with Ellen Jopling, M.A. (Harvard Medical School), Katerina Rnic, Ph.D. (The University of British Columbia), Catherine Stroud, Prof. Dr. (Williams College), Alessandra R. Grillo, M.A. (University of North Carolina at Greensboro), and Leah Somerville, Prof. (Harvard University)   ~ Mood and Anxiety during the Menopausal Transition: Considerations, Risk Factors, and Opportunities with Leah Susser, M.D. (Weill Cornell Medicine), Victoria Wilkins, Ph.D. (Weill Cornell Medicine), Jenny Lin, M.D. (NYU Langone Health), and Hadine Joffe, MD MSc (Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School)   ~ Comparative Effectiveness of Intravenous Ketamine versus Ect for Non-Psychotic Treatment Resistant Depression: Lessons Learned from the Elekt-D Study with Brittany O'Brien, Ph.D. (Baylor College of Medicine/MICHEAL E.DEBAKEY VA MEDICAL CENTER Center), Sanjay Mathew, M.D. (Baylor College of Medicine), Manish Jha, M.D. (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center), amit anand, M.D. (Harvard Medical School), and Maurizio Fava, M.D. (Massachusetts General Hospital)   ~ Intergenerational Transmission of Depression: From Mechanisms to Targets for Intervention with Brandon Gibb, Ph.D. (Binghamton University), Maria Granros, M.A. (University of Illinois Chicago), Autumn Kujawa, Ph.D. (Vanderbilt University), and Sherryl Goodman, Ph.D. (Emory University)   ~ Depression and Comorbidity with General Medicine: Discoveries and Treatment Viewed through a Sex Differences Lens" with Jill Goldstein, M.P.H., Ph.D. (Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School)    ~ Exploring self-labeling, biogenetic, and functional beliefs about depression in students, patients, and providers with Hans Schroder, Ph.D. (University of Michigan Medical School), Elizabeth Kneeland, Ph.D. (Amherst College), Annalise Perricone, M.S. (Yale University), and Isaac Ahuvia, M.A. (Stony Brook University)   ~ Positive Emotion Savoring Practices: Building Well-Being While Reducing Anxiety and Depression with Lucas LaFreniere, Ph.D. (Skidmore College)   ~ Our Evolving Understanding of Cognitive Dysfunction in depression: A Discussion on Its Etiology and Underlying Mechanisms as Well as Novel Assessment Techniques and Treatment Options Being Developed with Naoise Mac Giollabhui, Ph.D. (Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital), Richard Liu, Ph.D. (Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School), Olusola Ajilore, M.D., Ph.D. (University of Illinois), and Faith Gunning, Ph.D. (Weill Cornell Medical College)

  The optimism around psychedelics has led to a number of political and legislative changes in the last decade.   In the US alone, around 500 clinics opened in the last few years.    There are many legal retreats today, in the Netherlands and other places.    And Australia recently acknowledged psychedelics as medicines, which was a massive decision.    Psychedelics have been discussed as treatments for depression, addiction, OCD, PTSD, suicidal ideation, and especially treatment-resistant conditions (a situation in which you have received multiple treatments for a condition, but they did not help you get better).    They’re a groundbreaking method of treatment that will forever change the landscape of mental health.     Increasing numbers of drug development companies are pushing psychedelic clinical trials, with over 35 Phase 2 clinicals trials currently in the works.     Clerkenwell Health has supported the design and delivery of these trials across over 14 mental health conditions and 6 different psychedelic compounds, delivering thousands of hours of psychedelic-assisted therapy.    If you're a therapist who'd like to prepare themselves for when these compounds receive market approval, visit https://lnkd.in/g835h7r6. Our experts will teach you all the necessary theoretical and practical skills.

''I have little illusion in [mental health treatments], let alone the antidepressants drama. You have to take them for at least six weeks, often with all the side effects, only to conclude they don’t do anything..'' #Depression, affecting over 300 million globally, remains a significant and complicated challenge with up to 30% of patients finding current treatments, including #psychotherapy and #antidepressants not fully effective. A recent study explored the perspectives and experiences of 11 patients undergoing a double-blind randomised clinical trial with a single session of #psilocybin treatment for treatment-resistant depression, offering insights into the treatment's effectiveness and areas for improvement. The findings reveal that patients faced challenges with trust-building, managing expectations, and navigating the profound and often overwhelming experience. They expressed a general desire for a more comprehensive treatment approach, which may include multiple, dose-escalated, psilocybin sessions, and ongoing therapy to integrate and make sense of their experiences. This study not only reinforces the importance of substance, set and setting, as well as sustained therapeutic support in the outcomes of psychedelic therapy but also the crucial need for a more personalised treatment approach that considers and addresses the unique situation and needs of each individual. #Psychedelics #PsychedelicTherapy #PsychedelicResearch #PsychedelicAssistedTherapy #PsychedelicIntegration #MentalHealth #PsychedelicMedicine #MentalHealthSupport #Wellness #HealingJourney #Wellbeing

“My psychiatrist says I have dissociative symptoms. Am I losing my mind?” 🗨 #NormativeDissociation, commonly referred to as absorption, is widely distributed in the general population. Whereas #ClinicalDissociation symptoms are less common and more debilitating. So, #dissociation is a wide spectrum.. but it does not mean you are “going crazy”. 🗨Feeling more absentminded than before, having regular episodes of numbness, etc., can be attended to with some strategies but sometimes more is required. With increasing severity of symptoms, more factors need to be formulated and accounted for in treatment planning. But when does dissociation become a clinical condition? 🤔 *** 🔬 What does the latest research say about this? 🔎 A study examining a U.S. sample found that childhood maltreatment strongly predicted severe dissociative symptoms such as amnesia, depersonalization, and identity alteration. These presentations can be treated but by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals well-versed in dissociative trauma work. The study has also highlighted that the condition can turn for worse under untrained care. 👨🔬👩🔬 We recommend those with debilitating symptoms to seek clarity with a psychiatrist and explore medical treatment alongside psychotherapy. Do refrain from conclusions using self-help materials. *** 💫 Everyday, many sufferers go through undetected conditions and delay needed intervention. 💫 Share this post, spread knowledge, and destigmatise #healthcare needs! #MentalHealthIsHealth #ClaritySingapore #SocialService

New Study Casts Doubt on CBD's Anxiolytic Effects for Trauma Victims: A recently published clinical trial in the Journal of Traumatic Stress found that CBD may not effectively reduce trauma-induced anxiety, distress, and physiological arousal. The double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the acute and repeated effects of a 300mg daily CBD dose in 42 trauma-exposed individuals. Participants underwent an idiographic trauma script challenge to elicit stress responses. Contrary to claims of CBD's anxiolytic properties, the results showed no significant differences between CBD and placebo in reducing anxiety, distress, or heart rate reactions to the trauma script. This was true for both single-dose and 1-week treatment conditions. While more research is needed, these findings suggest CBD may not be the panacea some have touted for trauma-related symptoms. The authors note the small sample size as a limitation, but conclude CBD does not appear to robustly attenuate trauma-relevant emotional reactivity. This adds to the growing body of mixed evidence on CBD's clinical efficacy. More large-scale, rigorous trials are necessary to clarify CBD's therapeutic potential, especially for mental health conditions like PTSD. The study is now available in the Journal of Traumatic Stress at: https://lnkd.in/dXFy3RNM #CBD #trauma #PTSD #mentalhealth #clinicalresearch

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) 2024 conference in Boston is less than seven weeks away! As you make your travel plans, consider this - some of the best sessions are Thursday morning. I highly encourage arriving Wednesday night to get the most out of the conference. Join us! https://lnkd.in/drk5MrEP Here are some of the sessions Thursday morning: #anxiety #depression #OCD #PTSD #ADAA2024 #conference #professionaldevelopment ~ Program Development for Treatment-Resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder with Lauren Edwards, MD (University of Nebraska Medical Center), Justin Weeks, Ph.D. (UNMC/Nebraska Medicine), Nicholas Trapp, M.D., M.S. (University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine), Rachel Davis, M.D. (University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus), and Jonathan Grayson, Ph.D. (The Grayson LA Treatment Center for Anxiety & OCD)   ~ Stress-Related Biomarkers in Risk for Anxiety and Depression: In Life and the Lab with Ellen Jopling, M.A. (Harvard Medical School), Katerina Rnic, Ph.D. (The University of British Columbia), Catherine Stroud, Prof. Dr. (Williams College), Alessandra R. Grillo, M.A. (University of North Carolina at Greensboro), and Leah Somerville, Prof. (Harvard University)   ~ Spotlight Workshop: The Metacognitive and Strategic Treatment of OCD with Reid Wilson, Ph.D. (Anxiety Disorders Treatment Center)   ~ Mood and Anxiety during the Menopausal Transition: Considerations, Risk Factors, and Opportunities with Leah Susser, M.D. (Weill Cornell Medicine), Victoria Wilkins, Ph.D. (Weill Cornell Medicine), Jenny Lin, M.D. (NYU Langone Health), Hadine Joffe, MD MSc (Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School)   ~ Suicide Risk Reimagined: New Directions and Treatment Strategies with Igor Galynker, M.D., Ph.D. (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai), Charles Nemeroff, M.D. (Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin), Jill Harkavy-Friedman, PhD she-her (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention), and Katalin Szanto, Prof. Dr. (University of Pittsburgh)   ~ Unveiling the Future of Mental Health: Wearable Movement Data Meets Deep Learning with Nicholas Jacobson, Ph.D. (Dartmouth College), Amanda Collins, Ph.D. (Dartmouth College), Daniel Mackin, Ph.D. (Dartmouth College), and Hannah Dorris, PhD student (Dartmouth College)   ~ Effect of Hormonal Contraceptive Use on Fear and Stress circuitries: From Basic Science to Clinical Implications with Marie-France Marin, Ph.D. (UQAM | Université du Québec à Montréal), Lisa-Marie Davignon, B.Sc. (UQAM), Nafissa Ismail, Prof. Dr. (University of Ottawa), Alexandra Brouillard, B.Sc. (UQAM), and Frances Chen, Ph.D. (The University of British Columbia)   ~ Behaviors Make Sense: Empowering Families to Help Teens Struggling with Substance Use and Anxiety Using the Invitation to Change Model with Jarell Myers, Ph.D. (Center for Motivation & Change)