A study in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry reveals that older adults experience significant mental well-being improvements from psychedelic retreats, despite milder acute effects compared to younger participants. The sense of community and shared experiences during these retreats emerged as a key factor in their positive outcomes, highlighting the potential of psychedelics in addressing mental health issues in older adults. Further research is needed to explore these effects in diverse settings and populations.
Marble, a startup founded by former Headway co-founders and backed by Khosla Ventures, offers affordable online group therapy for teens to address the rising mental health crisis. The company partners with school counselors and works with insurance, including Medicaid, to provide accessible mental health care. Marble aims to solve logistical challenges of group therapy and plans to expand its services beyond New York.
Foul-mouthed parrots at U.K.’s Lincolnshire Wildlife Park, known for their ability to swear, will undergo group therapy by being introduced to a larger group of proper parrots in the hope of curbing their cursing, as experts believe parrots easily mimic swear words due to their tone and context. The park acknowledges the risk of the bad habits rubbing off on the larger group.
Psilocybin-assisted group therapy has shown promise in reducing depression symptoms in cancer patients, according to a recent study. The trial involved 30 adults with cancer and major depression who received a 25 mg dose of synthesized psilocybin. The therapy, which included both individual and group sessions, resulted in a significant decrease in depression severity scores, with 80% of participants showing a sustained response and 50% achieving full remission of depressive symptoms. The group therapy approach was found to enhance feelings of connection and belonging, potentially contributing to the therapeutic effect. While the study has limitations, such as a small sample size and lack of a control group, the results suggest that psilocybin-assisted therapy could be a game-changer for cancer patients suffering from major depressive disorder.
