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Editorial policy

Our credibility is the only asset that matters. This policy explains how pages are researched, written, checked and corrected.

Sources

We prefer systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomised controlled trials, major peer-reviewed journals and PubMed-indexed research, and guidance from NICE, the NHS, public-health bodies and universities. We do not cite a blog or news story as evidence when the underlying study is available. Every PMID and DOI links to its original record.

Every page answers first

The answer to the question appears in the first 150 words, followed by the verdict, the evidence grade and a 30-second explanation. The detailed evidence, what we know and don’t know, the studies and the references follow for readers who want them.

How we use AI

We use AI tools to help find candidate papers, extract information from abstracts, suggest internal links and draft copy. AI does not decide what is true. Specifically:

  • No reference is published unless it has been verified against its PubMed record.
  • No statistic, effect size or study conclusion is published unless it has been checked against the source abstract.
  • No evidence grade is final until a human editor has validated it; until then it is shown as provisional.
  • No page is published automatically; claims that remain uncertain are flagged for further review and marked as uncertain on the page.
  • We never invent experts, reviewers, qualifications or affiliations.

Authorship and review

Pages are written by the dopamine.co.uk editorial team. We are building a panel of named scientific reviewers; until a named reviewer has reviewed a page, the page says so. See scientific review.

Health and safety

We do not diagnose, recommend doses, or name products. Where a topic touches on mental health, addiction, medication or drugs, pages signpost to the NHS, a GP and specialist support services.

Separation of editorial and commercial

No advertiser, sponsor or partner can see, influence or pay for a verdict or grade. See conflicts of interest.

Corrections

We correct errors promptly and openly. See corrections.