The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) denied approval for 3,4- methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) assisted therapy, and the academic and medical journal Psychopharmacology retracted three papers related to the trial. The FDA denial and Psychopharmacology’s response to ethical concerns cited drug trial participant selection, study design, and data manipulation. For future consideration, the FDA required an additional Phase III trial by Lykos Therapeutics. Background ...

Many of us were encouraged to have fun and explore our imaginations in our early years. We scribbled, finger-painted, and sculpted Play-Doh. Our imaginative powers were used to construct make-believe worlds only we could see. However, fine arts and music were often considered extracurricular activities during school. But a lifelong pursuit of artistic endeavors is ...

Pixar movies should come with warning labels before seeing them. It could read, “Will experience intense emotions and thoughts. BEWARE.” Once again, the franchise hit it out of the park with “Inside Out 2.” Like everyone else, I saw the critically exclaimed movie, and it got me thinking. The storyline created a dialogue for conversations ...

A new schizophrenia drug revives the previously investigated drug xanomeline. Historically, physicians used xanomeline to treat Alzheimer’s disease until its removal from the market in 1998 because of gastrointestinal side effects. The investigation into its use for schizophrenia ceased for the same reason. However, an experimental drug, KarXT, combines xanomeline and trospium and takes a novel ...

Darkness filled the room with silence, the only sound available to me. My juvenile body felt a heavy weight. The rush of worry was loud and blaring like a fire engine. What could this feeling be? How did it appear out of nowhere? I didn’t have the answers to my questions or the words for ...

Life would be simple if every task was a straight line from A to B. The paths ahead are clear, with no forks or decisions to be made about the direction to follow. Alas, reality is more complex. More often, every problem involves multiple solutions and requires us to make complicated decisions. Success does not ...

The visit to Ottawa ended. Nothing had been resolved. It was clear Sudhir needed to continue under supervised care, and he was sick of it. As he put it, I am wasting here. Returning to the airport, I stopped to say goodbye. I walked upstairs to check out his room. We uttered words of getting ...

In the hushed, soft-lit room, Sudhir lies in a pine coffin draped with a white cloth. Munna, my younger sister, and I arrange white gladiolas on either end with peace lilies along the length. Deep red roses lie in the middle. Mummy enters with Juji (my youngest sister). The priest prepares the thali for the ...

A freeform poem about my experience with depression.

I am a Christian. After years of life in a sheltered church environment, I dove out into the world to find people in different spiritual spaces. Most of what I found was enlightening, encouraging, and helped increase my closeness to God. But along the way, I found a problematic doctrine that weaponized the bible against ...