Highlights from Recent Psychological Research 2024 Edition
Recent advances in psychological research are shedding light on how we understand and address mental health, decision-making, and behaviour. From breakthroughs in personalized treatments for major depression to new insights into the psychological impacts of psilocybin use, the field is evolving rapidly. At the same time, innovative methodologies, such as ecological momentary assessment and Internet-delivered therapies, are transforming the way researchers and clinicians engage with complex mental health challenges.
This article explores some of our favourite studies published recently, highlighting the breadth of psychological inquiry. Whether it’s improving emotional regulation, leveraging machine learning to optimize interventions, or tackling addiction with cutting-edge tools, each study offers a glimpse into the future of mental health research and practice. By unpacking these developments, we aim to provide a deeper understanding of how these findings are poised to influence both theory and application in psychology.
The Power of Machine learning-optimized non-invasive brain stimulation
Imagine harnessing machine learning to deliver precisely the right “dose” of electrical current to the brain—a feat that could transform how we treat major depression. In this cutting-edge study, Albizu and colleagues investigated the power of personalized transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) by zeroing in on one often-overlooked factor: individual differences in head and brain anatomy. While functional changes in the brain have long been the centrepiece of depression research, the team suggests that subtle variations in cortical thickness or volume may also play a crucial role in how effectively tDCS penetrates and modulates brain activity.
To test this hypothesis, the researchers used neuroimaging-derived computational models for 16 participants within the larger ELECT clinical trial. Their approach was threefold: classify which participants would respond to tDCS, identify the most influential stimulation parameters, and compute each individual’s optimal dose. The results were striking—machine learning models achieved over 90% accuracy in predicting who would benefit from tDCS. Better yet, when applying precision-dosing methods, the likelihood of a positive treatment response soared to nearly 100%, reducing dosing variability by over 90%. These findings offer a powerful glimpse into a future where psychiatry embraces precision medicine, tailoring non-invasive brain stimulation to each patient’s unique neural signature for maximal therapeutic benefit.
The relations between real-time use of emotion regulation strategies and anxiety / depression symptoms
Have you ever wondered if the way you handle your emotions in the moment might reveal underlying anxiety or depression? That’s precisely what Alawadhi, Smith, and King set out to uncover using a powerful real-world methodology: ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Rather than relying on after-the-fact surveys, they prompted hundreds of undergraduates multiple times a day over 8–10 days to report on how they were managing their emotions in real time.
The results offer fresh insight into how people with higher levels of anxiety and depression tend to regulate their emotions. Ironically, they actually use both adaptive strategies (like reframing or problem-solving) and maladaptive ones (such as rumination or self-blame) more often than their less-symptomatic peers. The real clincher? Maladaptive strategies tended to be more strongly tied to anxiety and depression than adaptive strategies—underscoring the persistent hold negative thought patterns can have. Far from being completely passive, individuals with depression and anxiety appear to be working overtime to regulate their emotions, but unfortunately often turn to strategies that may perpetuate distress. By examining these moment-to-moment regulatory efforts, the study shines a light on how crucial it is to foster healthier, more effective emotion regulation in everyday life.
The potential of preregistration in psychology
Preregistration is often championed as the magic bullet to curb questionable research practices—yet this timely investigation by van den Akker and colleagues suggests there’s plenty more work to be done. By scrutinizing 300 preregistered psychology studies, the researchers found that many lacked sufficient detail to be fully reproducible, and that researchers sometimes strayed from their stated plans without reporting these deviations. In other words, the potential for “researcher degrees of freedom” to inadvertently influence results remains alive and well.
Despite these sobering findings, the study also highlights some promising avenues for improvement. More comprehensive preregistration templates made a significant difference, boosting the clarity and fidelity of preregistrations. Perhaps even more noteworthy, the operationalization of variables was generally the most faithfully preregistered aspect. This indicates that more detailed, standardized templates—and better training on how to use them—could enhance scientific transparency and rigor across psychology.
Rather than portraying preregistration as a failure, the authors call for a refined, more thoughtful approach: thorough preregistrations that leave fewer ambiguities, plus a stronger commitment to adhere to and openly report any changes to those plans. The takeaway is refreshingly straightforward: by investing in the right tools and training, researchers can harness the true potential of preregistration and take a meaningful step toward more reliable, trustworthy science.
Naturalistic psilocybin use is associated with persisting improvements in mental health and wellbeing
What happens when people take psilocybin mushrooms entirely on their own—outside the safety nets of clinical trials? In the largest prospective survey of its kind, researchers set out to tackle that question by following 2,833 adults who were preparing to take psilocybin in a naturalistic setting. Over several months, participants regularly reported their experiences: from two weeks before their planned psilocybin use, to just days afterward, and up to two to three months later.
The findings were intriguing. On average, participants reported persisting improvements in anxiety and depression, enhanced emotion regulation, greater cognitive flexibility, and even increased extraversion—along with reductions in alcohol misuse and burnout. While these gains paint an encouraging picture of psilocybin’s potential mental health benefits, the study also underscores a critical caveat: a notable minority (around 11% at the first follow-up and 7% by the final survey) reported lingering negative effects, including mood swings and depressive symptoms.
Given that most participants were college-educated White men in the United States with prior psychedelic experience, the results may not capture the full spectrum of psilocybin use across diverse populations. Even so, the study provides one of the clearest glimpses yet into how psilocybin, taken without clinical oversight, can both foster significant mental health gains and carry real risks. By highlighting these complexities, the research invites further exploration into how psilocybin might be safely integrated into broader mental health strategies—and underscores the need for caution, education, and harm-reduction practices in public settings.
Internet delivered therapist-assisted cBT for gambling disorder
What if the key to tackling problem gambling lies not in a therapist’s office, but within an online platform supported by expert guidance? That’s the intriguing question posed by this randomized controlled trial, which directly compared Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with an active motivational enhancement/MI control (IMI). Gamblers diagnosed with gambling disorder (GD) received eight weeks of structured digital treatment, backed by regular telephone support—a setup designed to overcome well-known barriers to care, like stigma and limited service availability.
The results paint a cautiously optimistic picture: both CBT and IMI produced meaningful reductions in gambling symptoms, with no significant difference between the two groups at either the end of treatment or six months later. In fact, by post-treatment, clinical gambling symptoms were nearly absent in both cohorts. Yet, a few important nuances emerged. First, the largest drop in gambling symptoms actually occurred before treatment officially began, hinting that seeking help itself might spark a shift toward recovery. Second, there was some backsliding between post-treatment and six-month follow-up, highlighting the complexity of sustaining change long-term.
Still, this study underscores the promise of online interventions. Not only can they reduce symptoms; they also have the potential to help far more people than conventional in-person therapies ever could. As researchers continue to refine digital treatments—integrating robust support and follow-up—it’s possible that online platforms may reshape how we understand and treat gambling disorder.
Simply Put
The studies highlighted in this roundup reflect the dynamic and transformative nature of psychological research today. From the precision of machine learning in tailoring brain stimulation treatments to the accessibility of Internet-delivered therapies for gambling disorder, these findings underscore the innovative strides being made to address some of the most pressing mental health challenges. They also reveal a common thread: the critical role of personalized, real-world approaches in understanding and improving human behaviour and wellbeing.
Yet, these advancements also bring to light areas requiring further exploration. The complexities of emotion regulation in anxiety and depression, the long-term effects of naturalistic psilocybin use, and the evolving role of preregistration in ensuring research transparency all point to the ongoing need for rigorous inquiry and thoughtful application. As psychology continues to integrate cutting-edge technologies and methodologies, it holds the promise of not only advancing scientific understanding but also profoundly improving lives.
This intersection of innovation and humanity is what makes the field so compelling. As researchers push boundaries and refine practices, we can look forward to a future where psychological insights are more accessible, impactful, and transformative than ever before.
