Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
November 18, 2024
Alessandro Lazzarelli, Francesca Scafuto, Cristiano Crescentini et al.
30 citations
Interoceptive ability—detecting and interpreting body signals—can be trained through mind-body interventions and is central to emotion regulation. Mindfulness meditation improves both interoceptive ability and emotion regulation via top-down brain-body processing. Interventions using bottom-up processing through body movement and emotional expression remain under-investigated. The authors argue that interoceptive ability is a crucial aspect linking mind-body interventions to emotion regulation and suggest that studying it with both quantitative and qualitative methods could integrate top-down and bottom-up emotion processing, observational and non-observational body awareness, and conscious and unconscious levels of interoception.
Pharmaceuticals
January 19, 2025
Marco Bonaso, Letizia Biso, Benedetta Zucchini et al.
13 citations
Psychedelics, known for their cultural and spiritual roles, are emerging as promising therapeutic agents by profoundly altering consciousness, emotional processing, mood, and neural plasticity. They modulate brain connectivity, particularly by enhancing functional connections between sensory areas while reducing connections in associative regions like the default mode network, thereby decreasing rigidity and increasing plasticity. The relaxed beliefs under psychedelics (REBUS) model and changes in cortico-striatal thalamo-cortical loops help explain these effects. Clinical trials of MDMA, psilocybin, and LSD show significant efficacy in treating treatment-resistant PTSD, depression, and anxiety with favorable safety profiles. However, linking molecular actions to clinical outcomes remains a critical gap needing further research.
Clinical neuropsychiatry
October 1, 2023
Mario Miniati, Graziella Orrù, Mery Paroli et al.
7 citations
Chronic pain patients with higher levels of mindfulness attitudes report less distress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, and greater physical and general well-being, regardless of whether their pain is oncologic or non-oncologic. In a study of 50 patients, those scoring above a mindfulness threshold (26 of 50) had significantly lower scores on measures of pain-related disability, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression, and higher scores on psychological well-being. Mindfulness level was the strongest positive predictor of well-being, while anxiety and pain intensity were negative predictors.
International journal of environmental research and public health
November 13, 2024
Rebecca Ciacchini, Ciro Conversano, Graziella Orrù et al.
5 citations
A mindfulness-based stress reduction program for people with chronic pain (fibromyalgia or low back pain) improved sleep quality and showed a marginal increase in trait mindfulness. The intervention reduced perceived stress differently between the two diagnostic groups, and it also reduced anxiety in those with fibromyalgia and depressive symptoms in those with low back pain. These results suggest that mindfulness-based approaches could be tailored for personalized pain management.
Biomedicines
February 25, 2026
Alice Melani, Giorgia Papini, Marco Bonaso et al.
Psychedelics are gaining renewed scientific interest as breakthrough therapies for mental disorders, with ayahuasca and its active component DMT showing particular promise. DMT acts primarily as a serotonin 5-HT2A receptor partial agonist, while 5-MeO-DMT has higher affinity for 5-HT1A receptors; both foster neuroplasticity and reorganize brain networks involved in perception, cognition, and mood. Current evidence offers an optimistic outlook for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, with four phase II studies of 5-MeO-DMT and one of DMT for TRD, plus two phase II studies of DMT fumarate for MDD. Evidence for other mental disorders remains preliminary.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
January 13, 2026
Rebecca Ciacchini, Alessandro Lazzarelli, Giorgia Papini et al.
A 12-week Qigong program for Italian university students was feasible and associated with improvements in mental health and well-being. Of 332 enrolled undergraduates, 114 completed the intervention, which combined static and dynamic Neidan Qigong exercises. Self-report measures showed consistent improvements across mindfulness, interoceptive ability, perceived stress, depression, anxiety, emotion regulation, alexithymia, and sleep quality. The findings are preliminary and uncontrolled, so further research with rigorous designs is needed to confirm stability over time and clarify the role of spontaneous movement.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
November 7, 2025
Francesca Scafuto, Rossella Mattea Quinto, Graziella Orrù et al.
A narrative review of 42 studies found that contemplative practices—including mindfulness, yoga, tai chi, qigong, and meditation—can reduce trauma-related symptoms such as reactivity, intrusion, hyperarousal, and negative cognitions and mood in both adults and youths. Mindfulness was the most studied approach. Evidence on avoidance symptoms and physiological measures was mixed. The authors suggest combining contemplative practices with trauma-focused psychotherapy to improve emotional expression, awareness of fear and shame, and metacognitive processes, thereby supporting healing of the self and restoring trust.
International journal of environmental research and public health
June 27, 2025
Rebecca Ciacchini, Silvia Villani, Mario Miniati et al.
College students experience high rates of psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and chronic stress. A structured mindfulness-based program called Mindfulness Laboratory (MLAB) was delivered to 194 psychology students in Italy across online, hybrid, and in-person formats over three academic years. Among the 176 students who completed pre- and post-intervention assessments, improvements were observed in mindfulness, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression, with a smaller increase in resilience. Sleep quality remained unchanged, and self-compassion slightly declined. No significant differences emerged across the three delivery formats, indicating comparable effectiveness regardless of modality. These results suggest that mindfulness-based interventions are feasible and beneficial for university students.