B ∙ R ∙ A I ∙ N

Patients who believe their depression stems from a chemical imbalance tend to take antidepressants twice as long and are less likely to attempt quitting, suggesting that biological messaging heavily influences long-term drug reliance.

Scientists have discovered that varying genetics alter how the brain responds to alcohol withdrawal. Testing a common anti-parasitic drug, researchers successfully reduced compulsive drinking in dependent rodents by boosting calming chemical signals in the brain’s stress center.