Kudzu extract cuts binge drinking in phase 2b trial; Medicare fee schedule raises collaborative care pay; Caring Contacts trial is negative

• Research Nov 4, 2026
  Kudzu extract taken before drinking cuts binge days in 120-adult phase 2b trial in alcohol use disorder
  In a 12-week phase 2b randomized trial published Nov. 4 in the American Journal of Psychiatry, 120 adults with alcohol use disorder who binge drank at least weekly took a standardized kudzu extract or placebo about 2.5 hours before expected heavy drinking. By the end of treatment, binge-drinking days had fallen from 2.15 to 1.42 per week with kudzu and from 2.15 to 2.06 with placebo, according to a University of California, San Francisco release. Side effects were no more frequent than with placebo, and the authors said larger studies are needed.
  Sources: American Journal of Psychiatry, EurekAlert
• Payment Nov 4, 2026
  Medicare 2027 fee schedule raises collaborative care valuation and extends mental health telehealth flexibility
  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the 2027 physician fee schedule on Nov. 4. For the Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model, CMS said it is increasing work relative value units and updating clinical labor rates for the behavioral health care manager. The rule also raises valuations for behavioral health assessments, according to CMS. Implementing the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, it provides that in-person visit requirements for mental health visits at rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers do not apply to services through Dec. 31, 2027.
  Sources: CMS fact sheet, CMS
• Technology Nov 2, 2026
  Self-led RELAX digital program lowers pregnancy anxiety scores in 268-person phase 2b trial
  The RELAX trial randomized 268 pregnant individuals in the U.K. at 16 to 28 weeks' gestation to usual care with or without a self-led digital intervention, pregnancy-tailored cognitive bias modification for interpretation, delivered in 12 17-minute sessions over four weeks. Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scores were lower with RELAX at the primary assessment (mean difference -1.5; 95% CI -2.4 to -0.6; P = .001), and anxiety was lower during pregnancy and postnatally, according to JAMA Network Open.
  Sources: JAMA Network Open, PubMed
• Research Nov 2, 2026
  Culturally adapted Caring Contacts do not reduce suicidality beyond enhanced usual care in American Indian and Alaska Native trial
  In a blinded randomized trial of 709 American Indian and Alaska Native adults with active suicidality, published Nov. 2 in JAMA Network Open, culturally adapted Caring Contacts were compared with enhanced usual care. Suicidal ideation fell in both groups by 12 months, with no statistically significant difference between them. The authors said Caring Contacts did not improve suicidal outcomes beyond optimal available resources alone.
  Sources: JAMA Network Open, PubMed

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