Pre-registration becomes standard in top journals
Most top-tier psychology journals now require pre-registration or Registered Reports. The replication crisis has transformed research culture in less than a decade.
News
Psychology news and project updates.
FDA advances psilocybin to Phase III trials for depression
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is one of the decade's defining developments. Studies show rapid and sustained antidepressant effects of psilocybin combined with psychotherapy.
FDA rejects MDMA therapy for PTSD
The FDA rejected Lykos Therapeutics' application for MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, citing methodological concerns. A setback for the psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy movement.
Australia first to legalize MDMA and psilocybin therapy
Australia becomes the first country to allow clinical use of MDMA for PTSD and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression, under psychiatric supervision.
US Surgeon General warns about social media and youth
The US Surgeon General issues an advisory on the risks of social media for adolescent mental health, calling for regulation and further research.
Loneliness epidemic: Surgeon General advisory
The Surgeon General declares loneliness and social isolation a public health epidemic in the US, with health effects comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
WHO World Mental Health Report
WHO publishes its first comprehensive global report on mental health in 20 years, calling for a transformation of mental health services worldwide.
Youth mental health crisis: Surgeon General advisory
The US Surgeon General declares a youth mental health crisis, citing alarming increases in depression, anxiety, and suicide among young people.
Pandemic and mental health: global data
COVID-19 increased the prevalence of depression by 25% and anxiety by 26% according to WHO (Lancet, 2021). Online psychotherapy showed effectiveness comparable to in-person formats.
MDMA for PTSD: Phase III results
The MAPS Phase III study shows MDMA-assisted therapy significantly reduces PTSD symptoms. 67% of participants no longer met diagnostic criteria.
APA recognizes racism as public health crisis
APA adopts a resolution recognizing racism as a determinant of mental health and apologizes for its historical contributions to discrimination.
Teletherapy becomes standard of care
The pandemic accelerates adoption of online psychotherapy. Meta-analyses confirm comparable efficacy to in-person therapy for depression and anxiety.
Burnout recognized in ICD-11
WHO includes burnout in ICD-11 as an occupational phenomenon, defined by exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced professional efficacy.
ICD-11: dimensional model for personality disorders
ICD-11 (WHO, 2019) adopted a dimensional model for personality disorders — replacing the categorical approach. A paradigm shift in diagnosis.
Esketamine FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression
The FDA approves intranasal esketamine (Spravato) for treatment-resistant depression. The first antidepressant with a fundamentally new mechanism of action in decades.
Lancet Commission: mental health and sustainable development
The Lancet Commission on global mental health calls for massive investment in mental health services as a prerequisite for sustainable development.
Gaming disorder included in ICD-11
WHO recognizes gaming disorder in ICD-11, sparking debate among clinicians and researchers about the medicalization of digital behavior.
Marshmallow test fails to replicate
Watts et al. show that delay of gratification does not predict success once socioeconomic factors are controlled. A psychology classic questioned.
Lancet Commission on global mental health
The Lancet Commission documents that 75% of people with mental disorders in low-income countries receive no treatment. Proposes a global mental health agenda.
Thaler wins Nobel for behavioral economics
Richard Thaler receives the Nobel Prize in Economics for contributions to behavioral economics: nudges, mental accounting, and limited self-control.
Network theory of psychopathology
Borsboom proposes that mental disorders are not latent entities but networks of mutually activating symptoms. A paradigm shift in conceptualizing psychopathology.
Gut-brain axis: microbiome affects mood and behavior
Gut microbiota influences serotonin levels, anxiety, and social behavior. Psychobiotics (probiotics affecting the mind) — a new concept in psychiatry.
Ego depletion fails to replicate
A large multi-site study fails to replicate the ego depletion effect (Baumeister). The concept of willpower as a limited resource is questioned.
WEIRD psychology: the generalizability crisis
Henrich et al. demonstrate that most psychology research is based on WEIRD (Western, educated, industrialized, rich, democratic) samples, limiting generalizability.
Many Labs 2: large-scale replication
Many Labs 2 replicates 28 classic effects across 36 samples from 16 countries. Only 54% replicate. Cultural differences in effect sizes.
Reproducibility Project: only 36% of experiments replicate
The Open Science Collaboration repeated 100 classic experiments — results held in only 36–39% of cases. The beginning of the replication crisis.
Mindfulness: NICE includes MBCT in clinical guidelines
Meta-analyses confirmed the efficacy of MBSR and MBCT for recurrent depression, chronic pain, and anxiety. NICE included MBCT in guidelines.
Van der Kolk: "The Body Keeps the Score"
Bessel van der Kolk publishes the landmark book popularizing somatic understanding of trauma. Integrates neuroscience, body-oriented therapy, and psychotraumatology.
Registered Reports: peer review before results
The Registered Reports format gains traction: journals review and accept studies before data collection, eliminating publication bias.
Epigenetics of trauma: stress transmitted across generations
Studies by Dias & Ressler showed that epigenetic mechanisms allow the effects of stress to be passed to subsequent generations.
DSM-5 published
APA publishes DSM-5 after 14 years of revision. Key changes: elimination of the multiaxial system, new disorders, dimensional model for personality.
NIMH abandons DSM in favor of RDoC
Tom Insel, NIMH director, announces that NIMH will no longer fund research based on DSM categories, endorsing RDoC as an alternative framework.
Obama's BRAIN Initiative
Obama announces the BRAIN Initiative (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) with billions in funding to map brain activity.
Many Labs Project: collaborative replication
The Many Labs project unites dozens of laboratories to simultaneously replicate classic psychology effects. A new model of collaborative science.
Default Mode Network and mind wandering
Discovery of the default mode network (DMN) — a brain system active during mind wandering. DMN hyperactivity is linked to depression and rumination.
Open Science Framework launched
The Center for Open Science launches OSF, a free platform for pre-registration, open data, and research materials. Key infrastructure for open science.
Thinking, Fast and Slow: Kahneman
Kahneman's book popularized decades of research on cognitive biases. The dual-system model became foundational for understanding decision-making.
Bem's precognition paper triggers methods crisis
Daryl Bem publishes a precognition study in a top journal. The controversy over how an impossible result passed peer review accelerates methodological reforms.
Human Connectome Project
NIH funds the Human Connectome Project to map brain connections of 1,200 adults. A new era in the neuroscience of individual differences.
UK Behavioural Insights Team ("Nudge Unit")
The UK government creates the Behavioural Insights Team to apply behavioral psychology to public policy. The model has been replicated in dozens of countries.
Porges' Polyvagal Theory
Porges' polyvagal theory explains how the autonomic nervous system regulates threat response. Foundation of body-oriented trauma work.
Mentalization-based treatment for BPD
Bateman & Fonagy publish long-term results of MBT for borderline personality disorder: sustained effects at 8 years. A psychodynamic approach with empirical support.
Financial crisis: mental health impact
The 2008 global financial crisis causes a 3.4% increase in suicide rates across Europe and the Americas. Launches research on austerity and mental health.
NIMH announces Research Domain Criteria (RDoC)
NIMH launches the RDoC framework as a dimensional alternative to the DSM. Classifies psychopathology by dimensions (cognition, motivation, valence) rather than diagnostic categories.
"Nudge": applied behavioral economics
Thaler and Sunstein publish 'Nudge', showing how small changes in choice architecture can improve behavior without restricting freedom.
IAPT: Improving Access to Psychological Therapies in UK
The UK launches IAPT, offering free evidence-based psychological therapies to millions. The largest mental health program in the world.
Behavioral activation as standalone treatment
Research shows behavioral activation alone is as effective as full CBT for severe depression, and superior to antidepressants at follow-up.
ACT gains an evidence base
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) by Hayes accumulated enough RCTs for APA recognition.
First GWAS for psychiatric disorders
First genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for psychiatric disorders confirm polygenic architecture: hundreds of variants with small effects.
STAR*D: treatment-resistant depression is the norm
The STAR*D trial, the largest depression study, shows only a third of patients respond to the first antidepressant. Full remission requires multiple treatment attempts.
Compassion-focused therapy
Paul Gilbert formalizes Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), integrating evolutionary psychology, affective neuroscience, and Buddhist techniques for shame and self-criticism.
Positive psychology: the science of well-being
Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi formalized positive psychology. Focus shifted from pathology to strengths, flow, and meaning.
Ioannidis: why most published research findings are false
John Ioannidis publishes the most-cited paper in the history of medicine, mathematically demonstrating that most published research findings are likely false.
Dweck: growth mindset
Carol Dweck formalizes mindset theory: people with a growth mindset see abilities as developable, improving learning and resilience.
NICE publishes depression guidelines
NICE (UK) publishes first comprehensive guidelines for depression, recommending CBT and structured therapies as first-line treatment.
Neuroimaging emotions: the fMRI revolution
Functional MRI allowed researchers to observe brain activation during emotional experiences in real time.
VIA Classification of Character Strengths
Peterson and Seligman publish the VIA Classification: 24 character strengths across 6 universal virtues. The 'anti-DSM' of positive psychology.
Neff: self-compassion as a construct
Kristin Neff introduces self-compassion as a measurable psychological construct: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness.
Human Genome Project completed
The completion of the Human Genome Project launched the era of genetic research in psychology. Most mental disorders turned out to be polygenic.
Kahneman wins Nobel Prize in Economics
Kahneman receives the Nobel Prize for research on cognitive biases and decision-making. The first psychologist to win the Economics Nobel.
9/11: psychology of mass trauma
The 9/11 attacks generate the largest wave of mass trauma and PTSD research. Bonanno demonstrates that resilience is the most common response to trauma.
Kandel wins Nobel for memory research
Eric Kandel receives the Nobel Prize for discovering molecular mechanisms of memory formation. Neurobiological basis for understanding how psychotherapy changes the brain.
Emotional intelligence enters the mainstream
After Goleman's book (1995), EQ enters academic psychology. Validated tests (MSCEIT) and research confirm its importance.
Implicit Association Test (IAT)
Greenwald et al.'s IAT measures unconscious biases. Generates enormous debate about whether implicit attitudes predict discriminatory behavior.
Neuroplasticity: the brain changes throughout life
Research by Kandel and others proved that synaptic connections reorganize through experience. A neurobiological basis for psychotherapy.
WHO prioritizes mental health
WHO's World Health Report focuses on mental health for the first time. Theme: 'Mental health — new understanding, new hope'.
EMDR recognized by APA for PTSD
APA recognizes EMDR (Shapiro) as an effective treatment for PTSD. Despite mechanism controversy, clinical evidence accumulates.
ACE Study: childhood trauma and adult health
The ACE study (Felitti et al.) showed a dose-response relationship between childhood traumas and risk of disease in adulthood.
Seligman launches positive psychology
Martin Seligman, as APA president, declares positive psychology a priority: studying well-being, not just pathology.
Attachment theory: neurobiological confirmation
Neuroimaging studies confirmed that attachment patterns are reflected in brain structure and function.
Sapolsky: chronic stress and disease
Robert Sapolsky consolidates research on how chronic stress damages the brain (hippocampus), immune system, and cardiovascular health.
DBT: first major trial for BPD
Linehan publishes results of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for borderline personality disorder. First validated therapy for a condition considered 'untreatable'.
Evidence-based psychotherapy: APA first list
APA Division 12 published criteria and a list of empirically supported treatments (ESTs). The beginning of evidence-based psychotherapy.