Dr Adrian Lopresti shares important clinical insights from his published research on natural products such as saffron, ashwagandha, curcumin and magnesium on anxiety, depression and insomnia. He also discusses personalised Integrative therapy, a holistic treatment model he has pioneered that places the use of natural products in the wider context of lifestyle medicine and nutritional psychiatry. 

About our guest: 

Dr Adrian Lopresti is the managing director at Clinical Research Australia, a clinical psychologist, and an adjunct senior lecturer at Murdoch University, Western Australia. 

He regularly publishes in peer-reviewed, high-impact journals and has completed more than 50 clinical trials investigating the effects of ingredients such as saffron, ashwagandha, curcumin, lutein, bacopa monnieri, magnesium, probiotics, and holy basil on anxiety, depression, insomnia, cognitive decline, osteoarthritis, digestive conditions, and general wellbeing in children and adults. 

Dr Lopresti also has over 25 years of clinical experience working with children and adults experiencing a range of mental health conditions and has extensive experience in utilising psychological, nutritional and lifestyle treatments. 

Dr Lopresti is also the founder of Personalised Integrative Therapy, a holistic treatment for depression and anxiety, and regularly conducts workshops both nationally and internationally.

Guest websites and links:

https://clinicalresearch.com.au

https://pitherapy.com.au

Selection of our guest's publications:

• Schuster J, Cycelskij I, Lopresti A, Hahn A. Magnesium Bisglycinate Supplementation in Healthy Adults Reporting Poor Sleep: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nat Sci Sleep. 2025 Aug 30;17:20 27-2040.
• Lopresti AL, Smith SJ, Metse AP, Drummond PD. Effects of saffron on sleep quality in healthy adults with self-reported poor sleep: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Clin Sleep Med. 2020 Jun 15;16(6):937-947.
• Smith SJ, Lopresti AL, Fairchild TJ. Exploring the efficacy and safety of a novel standardized ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root extract (Witholytin®) in adults experiencing high stress and fatigue in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Psychopharmacol. 2023 Nov;37(11):1091-1104.
• Lopresti AL, Smith SJ, Metse AP, Foster T, Drummond PD. The Feasibility and Efficacy of a Brief Integrative Treatment for Adults With Depression and/or Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Evid Based Integr Med. 2020 Jan-Dec;25:25 15690X20937997.
• Sarris J, Ravindran A, Yatham LN, et al. Clinician guidelines for the treatment of psychiatric disorders with nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals: The World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) and Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) Taskforce. World J Biol Psychiatry. 2022 Jul;23(6):424-455.
• Lopresti AL. The Problem of Curcumin and Its Bioavailability: Could Its Gastrointestinal Influence Contribute to Its Overall Health-Enhancing Effects? Adv Nutr. 2018 Jan 1;9(1):41-50.
• Lopresti AL, Maker GL, Hood SD, Drummond PD. A review of peripheral biomarkers in major depression: the potential of inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2014 Jan 3;48:10 2-11.