Psychedelic drugs to treat depression
Researchers are exploring the science of psychedelic drugs as a potential treatment for depression. How effective could they be, and what are the regulatory and legal challenges in their use?
Factors shaping gender incongruence and gender dysphoria, and impact on health services
This briefing outlines what is known about the factors that shape gender incongruence and gender dysphoria. The impact on the NHS from increased referrals for gender identity care is discussed.
Reforming the Mental Health Act – Approaches to Improve Patient Choice
A POSTnote summarising proposed reforms to the Mental Health Act (1983) to improve patient choice, highlighting relevant research evidence and stakeholder perspectives.
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POSTnote
Diet-related Health Inequalities
A POSTnote that describes the impact of poor diet on health, the underlying causes and policy approaches to address them.
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Rapid response
Science Diplomacy
A overview of science diplomacy, outlining its role in scientific collaborations and to support international diplomatic relationships, and a resume of recent developments.
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Future research
Approved work: Hormone Treatments for Children with Gender Dysphoria
This POSTnote will describe how hormone treatments are used to treat children with gender dysphoria, and explore wider issues relating to their use
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POSTnote
Performance, Inclusion and Elite Sports – Transgender Athletes
A POSTnote giving an overview of the scientific and stakeholder debate on policies regulating the participation of transgender athletes in elite, professional sports.
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POSTnote
Performance, Inclusion and Elite Sports – Athletes with Differences in Sex Development
A POSTnote giving an overview of the scientific and ethical debate around policies regulating the participation of female athletes with differences in sex development (DSDs) in the female category of elite, professional sports.
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POSTnote
Prolonged Disorders of Consciousness
Medical advances mean that increasing numbers of people survive physical injury, stroke, periods of low oxygenation and severe brain infections. Some, however, are left with substantially reduced consciousness. This paper discusses the medical, ethical and commissioning challenges associated with the care of patients in vegetative and minimally conscious states, and explains the impact of recent legal judgments.
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Resource
Communicating uncertainty in research for Parliament
Find out how we communicate uncertainty in our research, view our readability scores, and find out what we are doing to continuously improve our editorial processes.
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POSTnote
Mental Health Act Reform – Race and Ethnic Inequalities
A POSTnote that describes the race and ethnic inequalities in mental health, and Government plans to reform the Mental Health Act 1983.
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Rapid response
Drug Therapies for COVID-19
Research studies involving thousands of people have allowed scientists to test which drugs are effective at treating COVID-19. Several drug therapies are now available to treat people who are in hospital with COVID-19, or to prevent infections in vulnerable people becoming more serious. This briefing explains which drugs are available, the groups of people in which they are used and how they work. It also outlines the importance of monitoring the emergence of new variants and drug resistance.
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POSTnote
The Use of Biological Methods in Asylum Age Assessments
An overview of current age assessment processes used in the UK asylum system and an examination of new proposals to use biological methods to distinguish children from adults.
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Rapid response
COVID-19: Omicron, recent developments, and the likely impact of future variants on the pandemic
The Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, has been found across the world since it was first detected in early November 2021. This article describes the characteristics of the variant and its health impacts. It also discusses vaccine effectiveness against the variant and the medium and long-term outlook for the future course of the pandemic.
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Resource
COVID-19 glossary
View definitions for the most commonly used scientific terms relating to COVID-19, as well as a list of organisations involved in public health, their acronyms and descriptions of their work.
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