Scott explores GABA-A receptor subunits, their effects, and how various drugs interact with them, discussing potential for more selective drug development. Longer summary

This post explores GABA-A receptor subunits and their role in psychiatric drugs and supplements. It explains the structure of GABA-A receptors, focusing on the alpha subunits and their associated effects. The post discusses how different drugs like benzodiazepines and zolpidem (Ambien) interact with these subunits, and mentions attempts to create more selective drugs. It also touches on the role of GABA receptors in alcohol's effects and the classification of Z-drugs. The author includes personal experiences with supplements claiming to have selective GABA modulation. Shorter summary

Scott responds to various comments on his article about supplement labeling, addressing concerns about the industry and providing additional context and analysis. Longer summary

This post is a highlights reel of comments on Scott's previous article about supplement labeling. It covers various points raised by commenters, including skepticism about the supplement industry, concerns about heavy metal contamination, and a defense from the founder of LabDoor. Scott responds to each comment, providing additional context, analysis, and sometimes his own perspective on the issues raised. The post touches on topics such as the efficacy of supplements, the trustworthiness of supplement testing companies, and the potential risks associated with certain types of supplements. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander investigates the reliability of dietary supplements, finding that while issues exist, most are not completely fake as some media reports claim. Longer summary

Scott Alexander examines the trustworthiness of dietary supplements, debunking widespread claims that most are completely fake. He analyzes studies, consumer lab reports, and industry insider accounts to conclude that while there are issues in the supplement industry, outright fraud is rare, especially for common vitamins and minerals. More complex botanicals and trendy supplements may have more variability, but complete absence of active ingredients is uncommon. Scott suggests consumers should be discerning, especially with lesser-known products, but notes that for many supplements, precise dosing may not be critical. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander presents a detailed guide on depression, covering its causes, symptoms, and various treatment options, including lifestyle changes, therapies, medications, and other interventions. Longer summary

Scott Alexander provides a comprehensive guide on depression, covering its causes, symptoms, and various treatment options. He discusses lifestyle changes, therapies, medications, supplements, and other interventions like TMS and ECT. The post offers practical advice on how to approach treatment, including specific regimens for different situations, and guidelines on how long to continue treatment once it starts working. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander conducts a personal randomized controlled trial of a sleep supplement, finding no significant effect over placebo, but gains insights into his sleep patterns. Longer summary

Scott Alexander conducts a personal randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of a sleep supplement called Sleep Support. Initially, he experiences a dramatic improvement in his sleep patterns, but decides to rigorously test this effect. He designs an experiment using placebo pills and blind administration over 24 nights. Surprisingly, the results show no significant difference between the Sleep Support and placebo nights in terms of sleep duration, wake-up time, or subjective measures. Scott concludes that his initial perceived improvement was likely due to the placebo effect and the act of not checking the clock upon waking. Despite the supplement not outperforming placebo, Scott considers the experiment a success as it led to improved sleep habits. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander offers a comprehensive guide for treating depression, covering professional help, lifestyle changes, and supplements, emphasizing the importance of persistence in finding effective treatments. Longer summary

Scott Alexander provides a comprehensive guide for people with depression, covering diagnosis, treatment options, and self-help strategies. He starts by explaining how to determine if one has depression and strongly recommends seeing a doctor or psychiatrist. He then outlines a step-by-step treatment algorithm for doctors to follow, including various medications and therapies. The post also covers lifestyle interventions, supplements, and other strategies for those who can't or won't see a doctor. Scott emphasizes the importance of persistence in finding effective treatments and reassures readers that depression is often treatable with sufficient effort. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander critiques a paper claiming superior Victorian health, finding issues with its key arguments while agreeing on some points about diet-linked disease increases. Longer summary

Scott Alexander critiques a paper claiming mid-Victorian Britain had superior health and longevity compared to today. He fact-checks key claims, finding issues with the paper's arguments about height decreases and life expectancy. While agreeing that Victorians likely had less cancer and heart disease, Scott disagrees with attributing this solely to nutrition, suggesting modern diets may have too much of harmful foods rather than lacking nutrients. He's skeptical of the authors' promotion of supplements, noting lack of evidence for their efficacy. Scott does praise the paper for highlighting the need to better understand why whole foods are beneficial. Overall, he finds the paper's main claims unsupported but agrees there has been a gradual rise in some diseases linked to modern diets. Shorter summary