The Lancet Psychiatry in conversation with

What does the science actually say about cannabis and mental health? In this episode of In Conversation With, hosted by Dustin Graham (Deputy Editor, The Lancet Psychiatry), three leading researchers unpack a landmark collection of papers on cannabis and mental health published in the journal.

Dr. Jack Wilson (University of Sydney) breaks down a comprehensive meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials, revealing striking evidence gaps. Dr. Wayne Hall (University of Queensland) synthesises multiple forms of evidence, exploring cannabis's complex relationship with psychosis, anxiety, and depression. Professor Tom Freeman (University of Bath) zooms out to examine international cannabis policy, from decriminalisation to commercial legalisation, and what those shifts mean for psychiatric outcomes.

Together, they tackle the tension between public demand, commercial interests, and a rapidly evolving evidence base — and what policymakers and clinicians urgently need to know.

Read the full collection at thelancet.com

A Health Policy piece in our April issue by Tasdik Hasan and co-authors titled:  Co-designing a Bangla Mental Health Sign Language Bank in Bangladesh

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(25)00334-7/fulltext

Continue this conversation on social!
Follow us today at...
https://thelancet.bsky.social/
https://instagram.com/thelancetgroup
https://facebook.com/thelancetmedicaljournal
https://linkedIn.com/company/the-lancet
https://youtube.com/thelancettv

How can you stop traumatic flashbacks in just one session?

Intrusive memories are so common after experiencing traumatic events and are one of the hallmark features of PTSD, but what if you could take away the power of those images without having to discuss them at length in therapy? In this episode, Emily Holmes talks about a new randomised controlled trial of an imagery-competing task, where participants are taught in just one guided session to recall a traumatic memory and then use mental rotation and playing Tetris, which had a strong effect on reducing intrusive memories and PTSD symptoms.  We talk about the neuroscience-informed development of this approach to trauma, and the importance of finding scalable and accessible approaches in psychological intervention research. 

Click here to read the full article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(25)00397-9/fulltext

Continue this conversation on social!
Follow us today at...
https://thelancet.bsky.social/
https://instagram.com/thelancetgroup
https://facebook.com/thelancetmedicaljournal
https://linkedIn.com/company/the-lancet
https://youtube.com/thelancettv

Can personality disorder treatments be reduced to just a few months?

The evidence base for personality disorder treatments, like dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) or mentalisation-based treatment (MBT), points towards treatments that last at least a year. Within the mental health field in general, though, in many countries there's a drive towards offering shorter treatments. But how short is too short, considering the needs of people with personality-related difficulties and the challenges in developing a therapeutic relationship?

In this episode, Mike Crawford talks about a new study into a treatment of just 10 sessions using Structured Psychological Support, which draws on elements of DBT and MBT. We talk about the language used around personality disorder, how caution is now needed in reducing treatment duration, and about what to take forwards from this study for future treatment development.

Click here to read the full article:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(25)00372-4/fulltext

Continue this conversation on social!
Follow us today at...
https://thelancet.bsky.social/
https://instagram.com/thelancetgroup
https://facebook.com/thelancetmedicaljournal
https://linkedIn.com/company/the-lancet
https://youtube.com/thelancettv

How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect mental health? 

Now that some years have passed since the pandemic's height, we can learn more from synthesising all the evidence about its shorter and longer term effects. 

In this episode, Ethelreda Nakimuli and Peter Jones talk about two new papers that gather the past 5 years of work on the pandemic and mental health and policy approaches. They talk about the different effects of the pandemic on different groups' mental health, how mental health care was affected, and about what we can learn for future crises about different types of public health response to the pandemic.

Click here to read the full articles:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(25)00247-0 /fulltext

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(25)00358-X/fulltext

Continue this conversation on social!
Follow us today at...
https://thelancet.bsky.social/
https://instagram.com/thelancetgroup
https://facebook.com/thelancetmedicaljournal
https://linkedIn.com/company/the-lancet
https://youtube.com/thelancettv