Depression is the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 30 percent of Americans at some point in their lives. But despite half a century of research, ubiquitous advertising, and blockbuster sales, antidepressants just aren't very effective. They treat depression as if it were caused by a chemical imbalance: add more of one key ingredient, or deepen another, and you're done.

At the same time, the treatment can be extremely ineffective. According to the 2006 STAR*D study, the largest clinical trial of antidepressants, less than a third of depressed patients respond to the drug within 14 weeks. After six months and several drugs, only half of the patients recovered. Thirty-three percent do not respond to any drug at all. When the pills work, they're slow — a deadly risk, given that people with mood disorders kill themselves more often than anyone else.

In November, a correspondent of the broadcasting service of the British troops visited the Expo center (British Forces Broadcasting Service) Anna King.

BFBS is a registered charity that has been a pioneer in armed forces broadcasting and communications for over 80 years, bringing the best of British television, sport and music to military families around the world. It is a pioneering military charity that aims to entertain, inform, connect and advocate for the UK Armed Forces, their families and veterans.
BFBS broadcasts in more than 20 countries worldwide and has permanent studios in 10 countries, including Bahrain, Cyprus, the Falkland Islands and Canada.

See the BFBS website a report entitled "Inside a Ukrainian ketamine clinic where soldiers suffering from PTSD are treated" (in English).

Imagine being offered a choice: to be alone with your thoughts for 15 minutes or to receive electric shocks several times during that time. What will you choose?

At first glance, the answer is obvious – pain seems like a much worse alternative. But a study published in the journal Science in 2014, shows that for many people, the silence of their own thoughts can be even worse. In this experiment, a quarter of the women and two-thirds of the men chose the electric shock over sitting quietly with their own thoughts. One of the experiment participants even electrocuted himself 190 times in those 15 minutes.

These impressive results confirm a simple but troubling truth: most people do not know how to be effectively alone with their inner world. And while this may seem like a small thing, the problem is actually deeper. It is directly related to our mental health and how we cope with life's challenges.

On October 15-17, 2024, the 2nd annual event took place International Health Summit, jointly organized by August Mission and MedGlobal, became a landmark event for medical professionals, researchers, medical companies and experts from the international community.

The participants learned about advanced technologies, the latest treatment methods and best practices implemented by Ukrainian doctors today, based on the best experience of doctors and hospitals around the world. Experts in this field shared their experience and opinions on current and future needs in the field of health care in Ukraine, and also talked about rehabilitation projects.

How can psychedelics promote positive changes in consciousness?

Recently, science has been paying more and more attention to the study of the influence of psychedelic drugs on human consciousness. Article in MDPI magazine describes how these substances not only cause deep feelings, but also help people have beneficial psychological experiences that can change their lives for the better.

The role of altered states of consciousness
When under the influence of psychedelics such as LSD, psilocybin, or DMT, people often experience strong emotional and intuitive feelings. Researchers emphasize that such experiences can lead to catharsis - a deep emotional cleansing. These experiences help to rethink life's difficulties, overcome old traumas and look at the world from a new angle.

Ketamine, known since the late 20th century as an anesthetic, has recently attracted the attention of scientists due to its potential in the treatment of mental disorders and addictions. Research shows its effectiveness in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as in working with patients with alcohol or drug addiction. Let's analyze how exactly ketamine can help in addiction therapy and what challenges researchers and doctors face.

A recent study published in the journal Nature, studied the potential of using ketamine to treat patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). In a pilot randomized controlled trial, scientists investigated the effect of a single dose of ketamine on the emotional state of patients.

Borderline personality disorder is a complex mental disorder characterized by significant emotional instability, impulsive behavior, a tendency to self-harm, and difficulties in relationships. Traditional treatments for BPD include therapy, antidepressants, and mood stabilizers, but these approaches often take a long time to achieve significant effects.