Anecdotal Research Articles

How to fight fake papers: a review on important information sources and steps towards solution of the problem.

Scientific fake papers, containing manipulated or completely fabricated data, are a problem that has reached dramatic dimensions. Companies known as paper mills (or more bluntly as "criminal science publishing gangs") produce and sell such fake papers on a large scale. The main drivers of the fake paper flood arethe pressure in academic systems and (monetary) incentives to publish in respected scientific journals and sometimes the personal desire for increased "prestige." Published fake papers cause substantial scientific, economic, and social damage. There are numerous information sources that deal with this topic from different points of view. This review aims to provide an overview of these information sources until June 2024. Much more original research with larger datasets is needed, for example on the extent and impact of the fake paper problem and especially on how to detect them, as many findings are based more on small datasets, anecdotal evidence, and assumptions. A long-term solution would be to overcome the mantra of publication metrics for evaluating scientists in academia.

What supports the emotional well-being of peer workers in an NHS mental health service?

Purpose This study aims to explore the experiences of peers working in a range of roles within a single NHS mental health service. This study also aims to provide evidence of the impact of existing support, organisational structure and culture around peer working and provide recommendations for a Good Practice Guide for Peer Working. Peer roles require lived experience of mental health conditions and/or services. While the impact on them of using their own lived experience is not fully understood, anecdotal evidence suggests that peer workers may experience a greater emotional impact than other mental health workers. Burnout and retention are particular concerns. Design/methodology/approach This was a two-stage study using focus groups and reflexive thematic analysis in Stage 1. The key themes formed the basis of the Stage 2 workshop, which provided recommendations for a Good Practice Guide. The study team consisted of peer researchers with lived experience, supported by a Lived Experience Advisory Panel. Findings There is a perceived lack of support and an increased peer burden for peer workers. Recommendations included relevant ongoing training and development; support and supervision; and organisational cultural change. Originality/value Working within a peer-led co-production framework, this study contributes to the development of the evidence base for peer emotional labour. Based on the findings, a Good Practice Guide for Peer Working is being developed to promote good practice for the development of future peer worker roles.

The Adaptive Role of Bark in the Diet of Budongo Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii)

AbstractThe ingestion of bark has been observed across the animal kingdom and is well documented in free-ranging chimpanzees. Thus far, the best-supported hypothesis for the adaptive function of this behavior is the fallback food hypothesis, which asserts that chimpanzees consume bark and cambium when preferred foods are scarce. However, alternative explanations exist, including the essential nutrient and mineral hypothesis, the self-medication hypothesis, and the stressed-tree hypothesis. We tested whether the fallback food hypothesis can explain bark-feeding across two communities of Eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in the Budongo Forest, Uganda. We used 13 years of the site’s long-term behavioral data, 5 years of food availability data, and 8 months of direct and indirect observations. We also conducted eight 400-m line transects to collect data on the distribution of tree species across community home ranges. We employed several analyses, including Pearson correlation tests, qualitative comparisons of descriptive data and heat maps, and interpretation of behavioral anecdotes. We found varying patterns of bark-feeding seasonality across tree species, with bark-feeding on several species showing no correlation with food scarcity. We also identified differences in the amounts of bark targeted between tree species and report anecdotal evidence of chimpanzees prioritizing bark over high-value foods. Lastly, we found that bark-feeding on certain species disproportionally occurs far from community core areas, despite relative abundance of these species within the home range. As a result, we argue that the fallback food hypothesis cannot explain bark-feeding across all tree species. Instead, we present supporting evidence for several alternative hypotheses, including self-medication, thereby challenging the widely accepted function of this behavior.

Arctic disinformation on X (Twitter) – an empirical investigation

ABSTRACT Disinformation campaigns have been deployed on social media by foreign states to target democratic elections as well as sow distrust in traditional authority figures. Scarce attention has been devoted to study the intensity and nature of online disinformation in relation to Arctic issues. This article presents evidence from an empirical study that gathered 1.7 million messages posted on the social media X (Twitter) that addressed Arctic issues. In total, we manually coded 12 500 to detect if and how disinformation was present. We found that Arctic disinformation is first and foremost climate disinformation: climate deniers or minimizers are the main drivers of disinformation on the region. These accounts have used common strategies including cherry-picking data, providing anecdotal evidence and attacking scientists to push their arguments forward. Finally, we observed an increase in Arctic disinformation since Elon Musk expressed his intention to acquire the platform.

Social and Cognitive Skills (SCOPE)—a generic model for multi-professional work and education in healthcare

In this article, we present a generic model for social and cognitive skills that can be used in work and (simulation-based) education in healthcare. We combined existing non-technical skills tools into a tool that we call SCOPE. SCOPE is a model that comprises the three social categories of “teamwork”, “leading”, and “task management” as well as the two cognitive categories of “situation awareness” and “decision making”. Each category comprises between three and six elements. We formulated guiding questions for each category in an attempt to emphasize its core meaning. We developed a dynamic graphical representation of the categories that emphasize the constant changes in the relative importance of the categories over the course of a clinical or educational situation. Anecdotal evidence supports the value of the model for aligning language around social and cognitive skills across specialties and professions.

Quantitative Trait Mapping for Zebra-stem in Tomato Confirms a Genetic Cause Involving the Interaction of Unlinked Loci

Zebra-stem of tomato is a disorder characterized by leaf necrosis, wilting, and a stripped pattern on stems of mature plants. Wilting, necrosis, and death of seedlings are also observed. The physiological and genetic causes of zebra-stem are poorly characterized. Anecdotal evidence has suggested pedigrees with S. pimpinellifolium and bacterial speck resistance in the genetic background are often prone to this disorder. We demonstrate a genetic cause using composite interval mapping and association analysis approaches to define quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that contribute to the disorder. A biparental population of F4 partially inbred families was developed for the initial analysis, and four subsequent backcross or F2 populations were used for subsequent validation. Significant QTLs on chromosomes 5 and 10 were identified, explaining ∼60% and 40% of the variation, respectively. Polymorphisms in the Pto locus are strongly associated with the QTL on chromosome 5. The two loci were derived from different parentage, and a significant interaction effect was demonstrated, resulting in the characteristic zebra-stem symptoms when combined.

“You should care about marriage”: Vietnamese Women's experience of ambivalent sexism in the STEM workplace

Anecdotal evidence, commentary in the media, and research conducted by intergovernmental organizations in Vietnam indicate that sexism is commonly experienced by women in the Vietnamese workplace. However, few systematic studies to date have been conducted on the prevalence and types of sexism that Vietnamese women experience. This cross-sectional exploratory study seeks to inquire into women's experiences of sexism in the STEM field and its potential associations with mental health outcomes through the lens of ambivalent sexism theory, which categorizes sexism as benevolent and hostile. Vietnamese women employed in STEM (N = 148) completed online questionnaires assessing experiences of ambivalent sexism, perceived stress and perceived sexism, stress symptoms, depression, and anxiety. The results indicate that benevolent sexism is more common than hostile sexism and that younger women are more frequently targeted. Correlation and regression analyses indicate that benevolent and hostile sexism are positively correlated with women's mental health problems. The findings highlight that despite the gains made in workplace gender equality in Vietnam, sexism continues to pose a problem for women's career development in STEM as well as potential health and safety issues. The study concludes with measures that organizations can undertake to tackle the problem and recommendations for future research in Vietnam to build on this exploratory inquiry.

Isolation and characterization of synthesis intermediates and side products in hexahydrocannabiphorol

AbstractAfter the Swiss ban of hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) in March 2023, other semisynthetic dibenzopyran cannabinoids emerged on the Swiss gray market. Hexahydrocannabiphorol (HHCP) was the most prominent of them due to its potent cannabimimetic effects, as anecdotal reports from recreational users suggest. In October 2023, a class wide ban of dibenzopyran cannabinoids was introduced in Switzerland to prevent new similar substances from entering the drug market. Various vendors in online shops claim that HHCP is made from CBD, even though they possess different alkyl chain lengths. An HHCP sample was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC‐MS), showing that a mixture of molecules with the same or a similar molecular mass as HHCP was present. Six different substances could be isolated from this sample using column chromatography. Four phenols ((9R)‐HHCP, iso‐HHCP, cis‐HHCP, and abn‐HHCP) and two ketones (possible intermediates to (9R)‐HHCP and abn‐HHCP) were identified by various nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) techniques. (9S)‐HHCP was obtained in an impure fraction. In addition, a fraction was obtained that showed characteristic molecular and fragment ions consistent with bisalkylated products from the synthesis of similar compounds. The presence of abnormal cannabinoids (abn‐HHCP) and bisalkylated cannabinoids is a confirmation that this sample was produced purely synthetically as initially suspected, as these compounds have not been reported in Cannabis. Chiral derivatization of the phenols with Mosher acid chlorides showed that only iso‐HHCP was present as a scalemic mixture, indicating a good stereocontrol of this synthetic procedure.

Review of Literature Addressing Biological and Social Responses to Touch: Instructional Implications

Introduction: Recent trends in training teachers of students who are blind or have low vision (i.e., those who are visually impaired) have shifted away from traditional hand-over-hand guidance and toward a hand-under-hand approach. However, a search for peer-reviewed studies that address the effects of the use of hand-under-hand versus hand-over-hand instructional techniques often yields few results. This article examines literature on tactile receptors in the human integumentary system and how different forms of touch may affect tactile learning. Methods: The authors used a purposive search of literature using key words and phrases associated with different forms of touch to examine literature on the effects of touch from the perspectives of both the biological and social sciences. Results: Much of the neurological and sociological research that was revealed in this study tended to support the anecdotal evidence from practitioners who have described learners developing a greater sense of autonomy, independence, and connectedness when they are able to control their own body. Discussion: Literature cited in this study indicates that repeated use of controlling forms of touch may inhibit learning through the discriminative tactile system. In addition, the authors describe literature indicating that implicit social messages conveyed through controlling touch may perpetuate stereotypes of individuals with visual impairments as dependent on sighted people and create social barriers to independence.

Is companion animal loss cat-astrophic? Responses of domestic cats to the loss of another companion animal

The examination of grief in nonhuman animals has historically been limited to anecdotal evidence. Recent investigations suggest that the psychological experience of loss may be widespread within the animal kingdom. Many studies have examined caregiver grief following the death of a companion animal but few have examined how other companion animals respond to these deaths. We sought to examine predictors related to the response of surviving domestic cats, following the death of a companion animal within the same household. A total of 412 cat caregivers were surveyed regarding both caregivers’ and surviving cats’ (n = 452) relationship with the deceased pet as well as possible immediate and long-term behavioral changes following the loss of a companion animal within the household. Amount of time spent engaging in activities together in a typical day predicted caregiver reports of increases in grief-like behaviors and fearfulness in surviving cats. More positive relationships between the deceased animal and surviving cat predicted decreases in sleeping, eating, and playing. The longer the cat had lived with the deceased animal, the more the caregivers reported increases in attention-seeking following the death. However, higher levels of caregiver attachment also predicted reports of increases in attention seeking behavior, which may reflect anthropomorphism in the projection of caregiver grief onto surviving companion animals. Consistent with this hypothesis, caregivers who experienced greater grief were more likely to report increases in their surviving cats’ sleep, spending time alone and hiding following the death. If caregivers reported avoidant attachment with the deceased cat, they reported greater decreases in grief-like behaviors in surviving cats following the death, suggesting that caregivers without strong, secure attachment binds were less likely to perceive that their surviving animals experienced grief. This is only the second known exploration of domestic cats’ responses to the death of another companion animal and reveals that cats exhibit similar grief-like behavioral changes following such deaths compared to dogs examined in previous work. That is, they engaged less in sleeping, eating and playing but more in seeking attention from humans and other pets, hiding, spending time alone and appearing to look for their lost companions. Future work is needed to determine whether these results reflect caregivers projecting their own grief onto surviving animal companions or whether cats may also experience grief following companion loss.

The non-White standard: Racial bias in perceptions of diversity, equity, and inclusion leaders.

In response to calls for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace, many organizations have implemented a leadership role dedicated to advancing DEI. Although prior research has found that the traditional leader is associated with being White, anecdotal evidence suggests DEI leader roles are predominantly held by non-White individuals. To examine this contradiction, we draw on social role and role congruity theories to conduct three preregistered experimental studies (N = 1,913) and explore whether the DEI leader role diverges from the traditional leader role such that observers expect a DEI leader to be non-White (i.e., Black, Hispanic, or Asian). Our findings indicate that DEI leaders are generally presumed to be non-White (Study 1) and that observers perceive traits associated with non-White, rather than White, groups correspond more strongly with traits required for the DEI leader role (Study 2). We also explore the effects of congruity and find non-White candidates receive stronger leader evaluations for a DEI leader role and that this relationship is mediated by nontraditional, role-specific traits (i.e., commitment to social justice and suffered discrimination; Study 3). We conclude by discussing the implications of our work for DEI and leadership research as well as for work drawing on role theories. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Bushfire exposure is associated with darker color of beef loin at grading

The effect of bushfires (also known as wildfires) on the Australian livestock industry extends beyond the direct loss of animals and farming assets, with anecdotal reports of increased incidence of dark meat color defects in beef carcasses at grading (AUSMEAT color score >3) from bushfire affected cattle. To understand the association between bushfire exposure and meat color, an investigation using historical MSA (Meat Standards Australia) grading data, pasture data and bushfire data over two bushfire seasons (2018–2019, 2019–2020) was conducted. For bushfire affected beef cattle (n = 451 299), predictive models were developed to estimate the association between bushfire exposure and (1) loin color at grading, and (2) the incidence of ‘dark color’ defects. Both models incorporated bushfire exposure, production, and animal variables, with hierarchical random effects specified as plant/processing date/consignment. For the two predictive models, distance of the animal's originating property from closest bushfire (km), the days the animal was exposed to bushfire, feed type (grass, grain), the use of hormone growth promotants (HGPs; no, yes), the interaction of distance of property from closest bushfire and feed type, and days of bushfire and HGP treatment, were all significant predictors of loin color outcomes (P < 0.05 for all). Model 1 indicated that as distance from closest bushfire decreased, loin from grain-fed animals had darker color (P < 0.001), and that as days of bushfire exposure increased, HGP treatment exacerbated dark color outcomes for grain-fed animals but had little effect on the consistently high color scores of grass-fed HGP treated animals (P = 0.001). For model 2, the highest predicted proportion of dark color defects (11.8 %) was for grass-fed, HGP treated cattle, 10 km from the closest bushfire and exposed to 150 days of bushfire. The lowest predicted proportion of dark colour carcasses (1.3 %) was for grain fed, non-HGP treated cattle, 30 km from the closest bushfire, with no change associated with increasing days of bushfire. Cattle can be categorized in order of increasing susceptibility to dark color defects as a result of being exposed to bushfires; grain-fed cattle with no HGPs were the least susceptible to dark color defects, and grass-fed cattle with HGP treatment were the most susceptible. Remediation strategies are discussed in relation to cattle susceptibility to adverse loin meat color outcomes associated with bushfire exposure.

The danger of microwave ovens in relation to free radicals formation, cellular inflammation, cancer initiation, and cancer progression

The US National Cancer Institute defines cancer as a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and then spread to other parts of the body. Cancer is a major cause of death globally and based on the World Health Organization (WHO) most recent data it accounts for about 10 million deaths annually. Cancer is a disorder of cell growth and behaviour, so its ultimate cause has to be defined at the cellular and subcellular levels. The focus of this review is on the danger of microwave ovens as a major source of free radicals in food, which then eventually leads to cellular inflammation, cancer initiation, and cancer progression. Man-made microwave and radiofrequency radiation technologies have been steadily increasing with the growing demand for electronic appliances such as microwave oven. Research have shown that these appliances affect biological systems by increasing free radicals formation, thus leading to oxidative damage. Cancer is a multistage disease which includes initiation, promotion, and progression. Free radicals in the form of ROS and ORF usually lead to cellular inflammation. Free radicals also lead to DNA damage, gene mutation, and mitochondrial damage. Food prepared or heated in microwave ovens are a major source of free radicals. Hence, the need for people to reduce or totally stop the usage of microwave ovens, especially those already diagnosed with cancer disease. Various research findings support the clinical observations of the author as it relates to the causes and management of cancer disease. The findings also confirm anecdotal evidences on the link between cancer disease and the usage of microwave ovens.

A Comprehensive Review of Dietary Approaches in Maintaining Remission of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in Adults.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) poses significant challenges in its management, encompassing a spectrum of conditions from Crohn's disease to ulcerative colitis. Dietary interventions have emerged as integral components of the multidisciplinary approach to IBD management, with implications ranging from disease prevention to treatment of active manifestations and addressing complications such as malnutrition. While dietary interventions show promise in improving outcomes for some patients with IBD, there is no consensus in the existing literature regarding remission maintenance in those patients. Furthermore, many patients explore dietary modifications often guided by anecdotal evidence or personal experiences and this could lead to malnutrition and decreased quality of life. This comprehensive review synthesizes existing literature to elucidate the complex interplay between diet and IBD, offering insights into the efficacy and safety of various dietary modalities in maintaining disease remission. It also highlights the importance of patient education in navigating dietary choices and potential risks associated with food avoidance, including the heightened risk of micronutrient deficiencies. Furthermore, it emphasizes the pivotal role of a multidisciplinary care team comprising clinicians and dietitians in providing personalized dietary guidance tailored to individual patient needs and goals. By synthesizing the latest evidence and providing insights into both the potential benefits and risks of dietary interventions, this review could be used as a resource for healthcare professionals and patients alike in navigating the complex landscape of dietary management in IBD.

Movements and habitat use of painted button-quail, Turnix varius, in tropical savanna of northern Queensland

Despite painted button-quail, Turnix varius, being one of Australia’s most common and widespread button-quail, knowledge of the species’ habitat use and movements is poor, and largely based on incidental observations. We GPS tracked eight painted button-quail individuals near Mareeba in northern Queensland during both dry (May to June 2020) and wet (January to February 2021) seasons. We found no evidence of nomadic or migratory movements; individuals occupied small home ranges (1.38–10.3 ha) and the species was present year-round. Differences in home-range size were detected between sexes and between seasons, likely reflecting the species’ polyandrous mating system. In both wet and dry seasons, painted button-quail occupied open savanna with a groundcover of native perennial tussock grasses. The home ranges of all tracked birds were associated mostly with ridges and slopes, although some use of alluvial flats was observed. The presence of perennial tussock grasses was consistent across the areas used by tracked individuals. In contrast to anecdotal reports, painted button-quail utilised areas with open groundcover (as low as 5% groundcover vegetation) as well as areas of dense cover (95% groundcover vegetation). Given that this is the first GPS-based movement study of any button-quail species, our findings provide potentially important insights into the daily and annual movements of this cryptic genus.

How sleep and fatigue shape statements in evidence: A psycho-legal perspective

Testimonial evidence in the form of verbal accounts by victims, witnesses, and suspects plays a critical role in investigations and judicial proceedings, often serving as the only evidence during a trial. The psychological nature of testimonies causes this form of evidence to be inherently limited, motivating psycho-legal scholars to identify both risk factors and solutions necessary to improve its reliability. To this end, the current perspective argues that sleep-related fatigue is a formative factor that influences the fidelity of statements and confessions provided during legal interactions. Specifically, it considers the prevalence of sleep disruption among subjects interacting with the criminal justice system, its likely impact on memory of victims and witnesses, and the role of sleep deprivation in confessions. In view of legal doctrines relevant to both evidentiary and constitutional considerations, this analysis is meant to motivate future work at the intersection of sleep-related fatigue and legal processes.

The Influences of Misinformation on Incidences of Politically Motivated Violence in Europe

Misinformation has become increasingly prevalent in online media. Transnational misinformation, in particular, poses an increasing threat to the security and stability of modern nation-states. To this end, at least some anecdotal evidence suggests a direct relationship between misinformation and domestic acts of politically motivated violence. Yet, such claims lack systematic empirical evidence, especially as it relates to transnational misinformation. To address this, this paper analyzes the effects of transnational misinformation on several distinct forms of domestic political violence across Europe, sharpening our empirical understanding of the purported association between misinformation and political violence. This is achieved through the fusion of a fine-grained spatial-temporal dataset of confirmed instances of news-based misinformation with daily event data on incidents of political conflict. These combined data are analyzed using a variety of statistical techniques for the period covering January 2016–May 2022. Findings imply a positive association between transnational misinformation and several forms of political violence in Europe. Furthermore, this association is more reliable for civilian-to-government violence events than for violence between civilian actors. Altogether this paper accordingly provides novel and nuanced empirical evidence for the pernicious effects of transnational misinformation on political violence.

Building entrepreneurial resilience during crisis using generative AI: An empirical study on SMEs

Recently, Gen AI has garnered significant attention across various sectors of society, particularly capturing the interest of small business due to its capacity to allow them to reassess their business models with minimal investment. To understand how small and medium-sized firms have utilised Gen AI-based tools to cope with the market's high level of turbulence caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical crises, and economic slowdown, researchers have conducted an empirical study. Although Gen AI is receiving more attention, there remains a dearth of empirical studies that investigate how it influences the entrepreneurial orientation of firms and their ability to cultivate entrepreneurial resilience amidst market turbulence. Most of the literature offers anecdotal evidence. To address this research gap, the authors have grounded their theoretical model and research hypotheses in the contingent view of dynamic capability. They tested the research hypotheses using cross-sectional data from a pre-tested survey instrument, which yielded 87 useable responses from small and medium enterprises in France. The authors used variance-based structural equation modelling with the commercial WarpPLS 7.0 software to test the theoretical model. The study's findings suggest that Gen AI and EO have a significant influence on building entrepreneurial resilience as higher-order and lower-order dynamic capabilities. However, market turbulence has a negative moderating effect on the path that joins entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial resilience. The results suggest that the assumption that high market turbulence will have positive effects on dynamic capabilities and competitive advantage is not always true, and the linear assumption does not hold, which is consistent with some scholars' assumptions. The study's results offer significant contributions to the contingent view of dynamic capabilities and open new research avenues that require further investigation into the non-linear relationship of market turbulence.

The effect of NAFTA on Mexico's wage gap

This paper studies how the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) affected the wage gap between high and low-paid workers within Mexico, considering internal migration. In low-skilled, labor-abundant developing countries, trade liberalization should theoretically increase the wages of low-skilled workers, decreasing income inequality. However, anecdotal evidence indicates that NAFTA increased the gap between rich and poor in Mexico, and empirical evidence is mixed (Hirte et al. 2020; Brülhart 2011; Bosch and Manacorda 2010; Nicita 2009; Chiquiar 2008; Hanson 2007; Gonzalez-Rivas 2007). Because trade may affect wages differently across regions within the country, accurate measures of wage effects must incorporate internal migration; otherwise, apparent wage convergence or divergence might only reflect a geographic resorting of workers. We evaluate wage changes by considering rural-to-urban migration. We first find a slight decrease in both internal and external migration in the years after NAFTA. Then, we find that all male workers see a wage reduction from trade openness, although the harm of high-wage workers almost doubled that of their counterparts with low wages. NAFTA also mitigated some of the wage differentials between the North and South. In summary, trade liberalization has reduced wage differentials among working-age men in urban areas.

Psychedelics in developmental stuttering to modulate brain functioning: a new therapeutic perspective?

Developmental stuttering (DS) is a neurodevelopmental speech-motor disorder characterized by symptoms such as blocks, repetitions, and prolongations. Persistent DS often has a significant negative impact on quality of life, and interventions for it have limited efficacy. Herein, we briefly review existing research on the neurophysiological underpinnings of DS -specifically, brain metabolic and default mode/social-cognitive networks (DMN/SCN) anomalies- arguing that psychedelic compounds might be considered and investigated (e.g., in randomized clinical trials) for treatment of DS. The neural background of DS is likely to be heterogeneous, and some contribution from genetically determinants of metabolic deficiencies in the basal ganglia and speech-motor cortical regions are thought to play a role in appearance of DS symptoms, which possibly results in a cascade of events contributing to impairments in speech-motor execution. In persistent DS, the difficulties of speech are often linked to a series of associated aspects such as social anxiety and social avoidance. In this context, the SCN and DMN (also influencing a series of fronto-parietal, somato-motor, and attentional networks) may have a role in worsening dysfluencies. Interestingly, brain metabolism and SCN/DMN connectivity can be modified by psychedelics, which have been shown to improve clinical evidence of some psychiatric conditions (e.g., depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc.) associated with psychological constructs such as rumination and social anxiety, which also tend to be present in persistent DS. To date, while there have been no controlled trials on the effects of psychedelics in DS, anecdotal evidence suggests that these agents may have beneficial effects on stuttering and its associated characteristics. We suggest that psychedelics warrant investigation in DS.