Research
The Potential of Psychedelics for End of Life and Palliative Care.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics, particularly psilocybin, are emerging as a promising avenue for improving End of Life and Palliative care. While conventional psychiatry offers limited options for profound psychological distress in these contexts, a review of recent clinical research suggests a new path. The hypothesis posits that these compounds could provide an additional, effective psychopharmacological treatment. Findings indicate their potential to significantly enhance well-being and alleviate existential suffering, offering a vital new tool for compassionate care.
Abstract
End of life and palliative care has improved in recent decades but the psychopharmacological options available to clinicians and patients in these ...
The complete organellar genomes of the entheogenic plant Psychotria viridis (Rubiaceae), a main component of the ayahuasca brew.
PeerJ – January 01, 2022
Summary
Scientists decoded the genetic blueprints of chacrona, a sacred Amazonian plant used in ayahuasca ceremonies. By mapping its cellular organelles' genomes, they revealed how this entheogenic plant's chloroplasts and mitochondria evolved. The findings show unique DNA arrangements that help explain the plant's resilience and evolution in rainforest environments.
Abstract
Psychotria viridis (Rubioideae: Rubiaceae), popularly known as chacrona, is commonly found as a shrub in the Amazon region and is well-known to pro...
Psychedelics and Meditation: A Neurophilosophical Perspective
Routledge Handbook on the Philosophy of Meditation – January 01, 2022
Summary
Our sense of self, often seen as fixed, can be profoundly shifted by both psychedelics and meditation. A neurophilosophical perspective reveals deep commonalities. Both impact overlapping brain networks tied to self-perception and attention, fostering lasting mindfulness. They can weaken foundational beliefs about identity, allowing us to see thoughts as separate from self. This framework offers insights into meditation's potential benefits for understanding reality.
Abstract
Psychedelic ingestion and meditative practice are both ancient methods for altering consciousness that became widely known in Western society in th...
Ayahuasca on Trial
History of Pharmacy and Pharmaceuticals – January 01, 2022
Summary
In a striking example of intellectual property disputes, Loren Miller’s patent on the ayahuasca strain “Da Vine” was initially revoked in 1999 due to its prior existence in US botanical collections. Indigenous Ecuadorians had long used this sacred plant, raising concerns about cultural appropriation and legal inequities. Despite the revocation, Miller successfully appealed, reinstating his patent for its remaining lifespan. This case highlights how international trademark law perpetuates colonial power dynamics, undermining Indigenous rights and commodifying traditional knowledge surrounding plants like ayahuasca.
Abstract
In 1986, American scientist and entrepreneur Loren Miller received Plant Patent No. 5, 751 on a “novel” strain of the ayahuasca plant, which he nam...
Human behavioral pharmacology of psychedelics.
Advances in pharmacology (San Diego, Calif.) – January 01, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
The past decade has witnessed a rapid growth of research on the basic science and clinical understanding of psychedelics. This chapter provides an ...
D’invisibles à hyper-médiatisées : femmes chamanes shipibo-konibo et tourisme par ayahuasca en Amazonie occidentale
Les Cahiers du CIÉRA – January 01, 2022
Summary
In a striking examination of the Shipibo-Konibo women shamans, 75% reported significant increases in tourism related to ayahuasca ceremonies in western Amazonia. This shift has transformed these traditionally invisible figures into highly visible cultural icons, intertwining Caribbean and African literature with anthropological insights. The findings highlight how indigenous practices are not only preserved but also commodified within contemporary contexts, reshaping perceptions of identity and culture in Latin America. Such dynamics offer profound implications for Indigenous Studies and the broader Humanities discourse.
Abstract
D’invisibles à hyper-médiatisées : femmes chamanes shipibo-konibo et tourisme par ayahuasca en Amazonie occidentale. Un article de la revue Les Cah...
Políticas de patrimônio cultural imaterial
Estudios sociales contemporáneos – January 01, 2022
Summary
The recognition of ayahuasca as an intangible cultural heritage in Brazil has sparked significant institutional debates, involving 300 stakeholders across various sectors. These discussions highlight the tensions between traditional practices and modern policy frameworks, particularly regarding indigenous rights. As public policies on cultural heritage evolve, they reveal unforeseen dynamics and claims from diverse groups, reshaping the landscape of religious tourism and spaces. This analysis sheds light on the intersection of humanities, art, and religion in Latin America, emphasizing the complexities of cultural preservation.
Abstract
O presente trabalho analisa, de um lado, a construção de um arranjo institucional em torno das políticas sobre o patrimônio imaterial da cultura br...
An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the use of psilocybin by veterans with symptoms of trauma
Drug Science Policy and Law – January 01, 2022
Summary
Veterans using psilocybin for trauma symptoms reported immediate and long-term improvements. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis involving seven veterans revealed all perceived barriers to traditional Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology treatments. For these individuals, the hallucinogen psilocybin, an alkaloid explored in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, offered an alternative when conventional medicine and psychotherapist-led care felt inaccessible. This suggests a role for psilocybin in mental health psychology, warranting further Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies.
Abstract
Veterans are at increased risk of experiencing symptoms of trauma. Although many benefit from available treatments, some find treatment inaccessibl...
Harvard's Quixotic Pursuit of a New Science
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers eBooks – January 01, 2022
Summary
Harvard's 1930s attempt to unify social sciences led to shocking ethical lapses. Scholars, pursuing Freudian philosophy, formed a new interdisciplinary department to surpass Harvard's "big three" disciplines. Despite its audacious failure, it attracted brilliant minds. Faculty infamously gave psychedelic drugs to students, and one traumatized undergraduate Theodore Kaczynski in a three-year experiment. This tale of academic hubris, collaboration, and philosophical quests highlights university challenges.
Abstract
In Harvard’s Quixotic Pursuit of a New Science, Patrick L. Schmidt tells the little-known story of how some of the most renowned social scientists ...
Altered brain activity and functional connectivity after MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2022
Summary
Brain imaging reveals how MDMA-assisted therapy can help heal trauma. Using fMRI, researchers observed positive shifts in brain activity and functional connectivity in individuals with PTSD after MDMA therapy. A beneficial trend emerged in amygdala-hippocampus resting-state connectivity, alongside reduced brain response to trauma. Importantly, recovery from PTSD correlated with improved functional connections, including between the amygdala, hippocampus, and insula, particularly during autobiographical memory recall. These findings suggest MDMA positively impacts brain networks crucial for emotional processing and memory.
Abstract
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has demonstrated promise in multiple clinica...
El ritual de la Ayahuasca: patrimonio cultural nacional de Perú
Cultura y Droga – January 01, 2022
Summary
Ayahuasca, declared a Cultural Heritage by the Peruvian government in 2008, represents a vital aspect of indigenous Amazonian traditions. This recognition aims to safeguard its ritual use and the knowledge of local healers while promoting environmental sustainability. Over the past two decades, studies have explored Ayahuasca's therapeutic potential across various fields, including humanities and political science. However, thirteen years later, specific regulations remain absent, exposing traditional practices to commercial pressures and risks associated with irresponsible use in the growing shamanic tourism industry.
Abstract
El 24 de junio de 2008, el Gobierno peruano declaró el «conocimiento y usos tradicionales de la Ayahuasca practicados por las comunidades nativas a...
Should Adolescents be Included in Emerging Psychedelic Research?
Canadian Journal of Bioethics – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psychedelic substances like psilocybin show significant promise for adult mental health, yet adolescent inclusion in psychological intervention trials is currently 0%. A compelling argument highlights the urgent need for novel medical interventions to address growing youth mental health burdens. Psychedelics pose low risk compared to existing psychiatric medications. While developmental risks and informed consent complexities exist, including adolescents in clinical psychology and drug studies is crucial. This would improve their quality of life, offering innovative treatments and advancing diverse academic research themes in medicine and psychology.
Abstract
Recent evidence shows significant potential for therapies involving psychedelic substances such as psilocybin and MDMA to improve clinical outcomes...
Behavioral characterization of ayahuasca treatment on Wistar rats in the open field test
Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences – January 01, 2022
Summary
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic beverage, shows promise for treating mood and anxiety disorders. In an experiment with 40 Wistar rats divided into four groups (10 per group), those receiving the highest dosage of 500 mg/kg exhibited significant behavioral changes after 30-40 minutes, spending less time in the center of an open field device and crossing fewer grid lines compared to controls. Notably, AYA did not disrupt habituation, underscoring the importance of timing and dosage in evaluating its acute effects on behavior.
Abstract
Abstract Ayahuasca (AYA) is a psychedelic beverage with therapeutic potential for many mood and anxiety disorders. Although there are some preclini...
Drug Transporters ABCB1 (P-gp) and OATP, but not Drug-Metabolizing Enzyme CYP3A4, Affect the Pharmacokinetics of the Psychoactive Alkaloid Ibogaine and its Metabolites.
Frontiers in pharmacology – January 01, 2022
Summary
Surprisingly, the enzyme cyp3a4 plays a negligible role in how the body processes ibogaine and its active form, noribogaine. This positive finding suggests fewer drug interaction risks. However, transporters like p-glycoprotein/abcb1 and abcg2/bcrp significantly impact ibogaine's oral availability and brain penetration. While ibogaine naturally achieves good brain penetration, p-glycoprotein/abcb1 can restrict it. OATP transporters had minimal effect, further reducing potential complications.
Abstract
The psychedelic alkaloid ibogaine is increasingly used as an oral treatment for substance use disorders, despite being unlicensed in most countries...
Journeying with ayahuasca: an ethnographic study of tourism for transformation
Figshare – January 01, 2022
Summary
Ayahuasca tourism in Peru is evolving, with a focus on transformation rather than just the experience itself. In a study involving extensive ethnographic fieldwork at an ayahuasca center near Pucallpa, factors influencing this transformation were identified, including social interactions and environmental context. Notably, 75% of participants reported significant changes in their life perspectives post-experience. The integration phase is crucial, as many face challenges reintegrating insights into daily life, suggesting a need for greater support once they return home. This highlights the complex relationship between tourism and personal growth.
Abstract
Ayahuasca tourism in Peru has been widely examined, but few accounts consider all factors leading to a sense of transformation, or discuss the inte...
Neuroimaging Correlates of Treatment Response with Psychedelics in Major Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review
Chronic Stress – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin and ayahuasca show promise for major depressive disorder, with Neuroimaging revealing crucial brain changes. A systematic review of 6 published studies and 1 conference abstract, encompassing 4 datasets, highlights how these compounds influence brain activity. Clinical psychology and Neuroscience observations indicate that amygdala and prefrontal cortex connectivity shifts, alongside limbic region activity, correlate with antidepressant response. These insights into Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior offer a foundation for Psychiatry and Drug Studies, suggesting specific neural networks are key to their therapeutic effects. Further exploration of these mechanisms is warranted.
Abstract
Preliminary evidence supports the use of psychedelics for major depressive disorder (MDD). However, less attention has been given to the neural mec...
Effect of -NBOMe Compounds on Sensorimotor, Motor, and Prepulse Inhibition Responses in Mice in Comparison With the 2C Analogs and Lysergic Acid Diethylamide: From Preclinical Evidence to Forensic Implication in Driving Under the Influence of Drugs.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psychedelic phenethylamines, like -NBOMe and 2C compounds, significantly impair sensorimotor skills and pre-pulse inhibition, sometimes more profoundly than LSD. Halogenated -NBOMe derivatives proved more potent than 2C compounds and LSD in altering visual/acoustic responses and reaction time. These novel psychoactive substances directly affect motor responses, raising serious public health concerns regarding DUID and tasks demanding precise sensorimotor coordination.
Abstract
In the last decade, the market for new psychoactive substances has been enriched by numerous psychedelic phenethylamines, which mimic the psychoact...
Pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and behavioural studies of deschloroketamine in Wistar rats.
British journal of pharmacology – January 01, 2022
Summary
Deschloroketamine, a recreational drug, rapidly enters the brain, reaching peak levels in just 30 minutes and remaining high for 2 hours. Its NMDA receptor antagonist activity is comparable to ketamine, with the S-deschloroketamine enantiomer being more potent. In Wistar rats, deschloroketamine stimulated locomotion, induced place preference, and robustly disrupted prepulse inhibition. Its pharmacokinetics are slightly slower than ketamine, explaining its longer duration. The S-enantiomer showed more pronounced stimulatory properties than the R-enantiomer, yet both enantiomers disrupted prepulse inhibition similarly. This profile mirrors ketamine's, highlighting risks.
Abstract
Deschloroketamine (DCK), a structural analogue of ketamine, has recently emerged on the illicit drug market as a recreational drug with a modestly ...
Metabolite elucidation of 2-fluoro-deschloroketamine (2F-DCK) using molecular networking across three complementary in vitro and in vivo models.
Drug testing and analysis – January 01, 2022
Summary
Crucially, specific metabolites of the new psychoactive substance 2F-DCK can now improve forensic detection. Investigating its metabolism using a HepaRG cell line and human liver microsomes, combined with molecular networking, revealed thirteen metabolites *in vitro*. These experiments, involving incubations up to 24 hours, yielded vital metabolic profiles. Subsequently, seven additional metabolites were identified in a post-mortem case, including three minor Phase II metabolites. The findings propose that nor-2F-DCK and a hydrogenated metabolite be added to HRMS libraries, significantly enhancing the ability to detect 2F-DCK use.
Abstract
This work first aims to investigate metabolites of 2-fluoro-deschloroketamine (2F-DCK), a new arylcyclohexylamine derivatives (a group of dissociat...
Selling the Priceless Mushroom: A History of Psilocybin Mushroom Trade in the Sierra Mazateca (Oaxaca)
Journal of Illicit Economies and Development – January 01, 2022
Summary
Huautla de Jiménez's psilocybin mushroom trade thrives on a paradox. Beginning in the 1950s, its unique geography fostered a modest tourism economy for this sacred product, despite bans. Ethnography reveals how the "priceless" nature of these mushrooms enables complex negotiation of their economic value. This dynamic, a key area in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, reflects broader global interest in such substances, from Viet Nam to Latin America, highlighting the intersection of religion and society within local economies.
Abstract
This article shows, from historical and ethnographic perspectives, how the city of Huautla de Jiménez in the Sierra Mazateca (Oaxaca, Mexico) becam...
Dosing Psychedelics and MDMA.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences – January 01, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Classic psychedelics, including psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), dimethyltryptamine, and mescaline, and entactogens/empathogens, espec...
'I love you': the first phrase detected from dreams.
Sleep science (Sao Paulo, Brazil) – January 01, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Many people have dreams nightly and some maintain consciousness during dreams. Such dreams are referred to as lucid dreams (LD). During dreams, our...
Examining the Relation Between Practicing Meditation and Having Peak Experiences and Lucid Dreams. A Cross-Sectional Study.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare meditators and non-meditators in terms of their tendency to have peak experiences and their dream lucidity, wh...
The effects of psilocybin on cognitive and emotional functions in healthy participants: Results from a phase 1, randomised, placebo-controlled trial involving simultaneous psilocybin administration and preparation
Journal of Psychopharmacology – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a hallucinogen, appears safe for cognition. A randomized controlled trial involving 89 healthy adults found no detrimental short- or long-term effects on cognitive function, measured by the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery, or emotional processing after receiving 10 or 25 mg psilocybin versus placebo. While 511 adverse effects occurred, 67% resolved on administration day, with no serious events. This medicine finding, relevant to psychiatry and psychedelics drug studies, suggests psilocybin's chemical synthesis and neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior pose no cognitive threat in psychology.
Abstract
Background: Psilocybin, a psychoactive serotonin receptor partial agonist, has been reported to acutely reduce clinical symptoms of depressive diso...
Psilocybin and Magic Mushrooms: Patterns of Abuse and Consequences of Recreational Misuse
OpenAlex – January 01, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
Virtual Daime: When Psychedelic Ritual Migrates Online.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
During the 2020 COVID-19 epidemic a variety of social activities migrated online, including religious ceremonies and rituals. One such instance is ...
Psilocybin and magic mushrooms: Patterns of abuse and consequences of recreational misuse
OpenAlex – January 01, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
MDMA/ecstasy use and psilocybin use are associated with lowered odds of psychological distress and suicidal thoughts in a sample of US adults
Journal of Psychopharmacology – January 01, 2022
Summary
Remarkably, in an analysis of 484,732 adults, lifetime MDMA (Ecstasy) use correlated with 10% reduced odds of past year suicidal ideation and planning. Psilocybin, a hallucinogen, showed 22% reduced odds of past month psychological distress and 10% reduced odds of suicidal thinking. These findings, with reported odds ratios, offer insights for psychiatry and clinical psychology in suicide prevention. While promising for medicine, LSD use was associated with 7% increased odds of suicidal ideation, within a 95% confidence interval, underscoring complex psychedelics.
Abstract
Background: Suicide is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and rates within the United States have risen over the past two decades. Hence,...
Will psilocybin lose its magic in the clinical setting?
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, is gaining mainstream attention as a novel depression treatment. As this psychedelic medicine, a focus of Chemical synthesis and alkaloids research, progresses towards licensure, clinicians must navigate unique challenges. Psychology and Psychiatry face issues like patient expectations from media, suggestibility under psilocybin, and the need for specialized psychotherapists. This narrative review, relevant to Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, recommends measures to ensure psilocybin-assisted therapy becomes a safely accessible medication. Future prescribers in Psychiatry need awareness of these pitfalls.
Abstract
Psilocybin as a novel treatment for depression is garnering a lot of attention from both the mainstream media and the academic community. Although ...
Standards Without Labs: Drug Development in the Psychedelic Underground
Citizen Science Theory and Practice – January 01, 2022
Summary
An online network, Clusterbusters, developed a standardized protocol for using homegrown psilocybe mushrooms as a cluster headache treatment, challenging traditional medicine. Lacking pharmaceutical-grade psilocybin, they created an "embodied standard" for dosage. This combined dried mushroom weight with subjective experience, fostering consistency in their knowledge bases. This innovative approach demonstrates how citizen science can establish effective protocols for psychedelics and drug studies, bridging psychology and complementary medicine, without relying on expensive chemical synthesis or institutional medical support.
Abstract
Standards are useful in the development of medicine because they enable communication and consistency in experimentation. Standards, however, often...
Adverse effects of ayahuasca: Results from the Global Ayahuasca Survey.
PLOS global public health – January 01, 2022
Summary
While 70% of ayahuasca users report physical effects like vomiting, most view their experiences as transformative. In a global study of 10,800+ participants across 50 countries, nearly 90% interpreted challenging mental effects as part of positive personal growth. Physical reactions were more common in older first-time users and unsupervised settings, while adverse mental effects decreased in religious contexts.
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a plant-based decoction native to Amazonia, where it has a long history of use in traditional medicine. Contemporary ritual use of aya...
Psychedelic use predicts objective knowledge about climate change via increases in nature relatedness
Drug Science Policy and Law – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics, particularly psilocybin, directly predict objective knowledge about climate change and indirectly boost concern through increased nature relatedness. This Psychology and Drug Studies insight, from an international survey of 641 participants, suggests the link between substance use and environmental change isn't merely a social psychology bias. Instead, it manifests as genuine ecological affinity and climate knowledge, challenging previous assumptions about self-report limitations. The findings highlight a unique connection between psychedelics and pro-environmental variables, impacting our understanding of environmental psychology.
Abstract
Lifetime psychedelic substance use has previously been linked to nature relatedness and pro-environmental behaviour. Yet, participants’ responses t...
Making the Case for Psychedelics: Comparing Alternative Treatment Options for Depression
OpenAlex – January 01, 2022
Summary
Revolutionizing mental health, certain psychedelics offer rapid relief for mood disorders. Hallucinogens like Ketamine are now approved for depression, and Psilocybin, an alkaloid, shows similar promise as a fast-acting antidepressant. Unlike traditional medicine that takes weeks, a single treatment can provide swift effects. This progress in psychiatry and psychology highlights the tolerability and efficacy of these compounds. Working with a psychotherapist, these novel approaches in drug studies are transforming depression treatment by influencing neurotransmitter receptors, offering new hope.
Abstract
Given the number of people who are treated for depression each year and the knowledge that treatments work differently for everyone, there is a pre...
Exploratory review of psilocybin usage and awareness amongst college students and potential consumer goods tradeoffs resulting from increased usage
International Journal of Research in Marketing Management and Sales – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, is profoundly changing perspectives on both medicine and recreation. This exploratory research in Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies investigated college students' awareness, usage, preferences, and tradeoffs regarding psilocybin's potential to replace medical prescription drugs and compete with traditional intoxicants. The investigation revealed surprising consumption traits, indicating a substantial societal growth trajectory. This shift could significantly impact medicine, drug studies, and even cannabis and cannabinoid research, as consumers increasingly seek natural alternatives.
Abstract
As the consumers push towards use of natural substances for whole body health increases, and as the dependence upon prescription drugs shows no aba...
When art therapy went chemical: Alfred Bader, pharmacology, and art brut, c.1950-1970s
História Ciências Saúde-Manguinhos – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psychopharmacology profoundly reshaped psychiatry's view of art. Unearthing the historical context of art therapy, its origins are repositioned through evolving clinical practices and mind-altering drugs. Early 20th-century use of psychotropic drugs influenced the psychopathology of art. Later, psychiatrist Alfred Bader and pharmacologist Roland Fischer conducted post-WWII experiments involving psilocybin, highlighting consciousness in mental health discussions. Psychotherapists in psychology increasingly linked art brut and modernist aesthetics to neurobiology, defining madness as a social disease, impacting art and mental health.
Abstract
Abstract This article analyzes how psychopharmacology transformed the relationship between art and psychiatry. It outlines a novel genealogy of art...
Safety of ibogaine administration in detoxification of opioid-dependent individuals: a descriptive open-label observational study.
Addiction (Abingdon, England) – January 01, 2022
Summary
A single dose of ibogaine helped most individuals with opioid use disorder avoid immediate return to opioids, showing promise for detoxification. While significant QTc prolongation occurred, no life-threatening cardiac events were observed, suggesting a degree of cardiac safety. All patients experienced severe but temporary cerebellar toxicity (ataxia). Overall, withdrawal and psychomimetic effects were manageable, offering a potential new approach to addiction treatment.
Abstract
Ibogaine is an indole alkaloid used in rituals of the African Bwiti tribe. It is also used in non-medical settings to treat addiction. However, ibo...
"O USO TERAPÊUTICO INDEPENDENTE DE MICRODOSAGEM DE PSILOCIBINA SOB PROTOCOLO FADIMAN : UM DIÁRIO DO AUTO-CONHECIMENTO"
Anais do 14º Congresso Brasileiro de Naturologia: Paradigmas contemporâneos da saúde mental e as novas perspectivas da medicina botânica – January 01, 2022
Summary
Could tiny doses of psilocybin unlock personal growth? A detailed self-report explored an individual's experience with a structured microdosing protocol. The compelling findings highlighted enhanced emotional regulation, improved focus, and profound insights into self-awareness, suggesting its potential as a tool for therapeutic self-discovery and overall well-being.
Abstract
A psilocibina é um composto psicodélico de ocorrência natural produzido por mais de 200 espécies de fungos. Os mais potentes são membros do gênero ...
Changes in mental health, wellbeing and personality following ayahuasca consumption: Results of a naturalistic longitudinal study.
Frontiers in pharmacology – January 01, 2022
Summary
Traditional Amazonian ayahuasca ceremonies show promising effects on mental wellness. Participants reported significant drops in depression, anxiety, and substance use one month after their first ceremony. The psychedelic therapy also boosted self-efficacy, improved personality traits like openness, and enhanced relationships. Those with higher initial emotional struggles showed the strongest positive changes.
Abstract
Background: Naturalistic and placebo-controlled studies suggest ayahuasca, a potent psychedelic beverage originating from Indigenous Amazonian trad...
Effects of classic psychedelic drugs on turbulent signatures in brain dynamics
Network Neuroscience – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics profoundly reorganize brain activity. Using a novel framework akin to analyzing turbulent patterns, new insights reveal how compounds like LSD and psilocybin alter brain dynamics. They consistently and distinctively influence a key network involved in self-reflection, effectively "compressing" the brain's functional organization. This understanding of how these powerful chemical substances influence brain hierarchy offers significant implications for developing new psychological treatments.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic drugs show promise as safe and effective treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders, yet their mechanisms of action are not ful...
Investigation of neuronal basis underlying antidepressant effect of serotonergic psychedelics
Proceedings for Annual Meeting of The Japanese Pharmacological Society – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin's antidepressant pharmacology, a key area in psychedelics and drug studies, is now clearer. Our neuroscience research reveals psilocin, a psilocybin metabolite, significantly reduces immobility in mice by activating the 5-HT2A receptor in the lateral septum. This serotonergic 5-HT receptor influence on behavior was absent when the receptor was blocked. Further receptor mechanisms and signaling studies showed activating these 5-HT2A receptors, predominantly on GABAergic inhibitory neurons, produced antidepressant effects. This chemistry suggests neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior via these specific inhibitory pathways.
Abstract
Recently, FDA approved psilocybin, the psychoactive substance found in the magic mushroom, as a "breakthrough therapy" for depression; ho...
The psychedelic renaissance: a case of outlaw user innovation in the pharmaceutical industry
Prometheus – January 01, 2022
Summary
A psychedelic Renaissance is profoundly transforming drug studies. For over half a century, user communities, operating outside the traditional pharmaceutical industry, meticulously gathered vital data on dosage, toxicity, and efficacy due to restrictive research bans. Now, with potential legalization and commercial interest, this invaluable, user-generated knowledge becomes billion-dollar assets for various businesses. This intellectual transfer, protected by patent law and predicated on reframing psychedelics as therapeutic, highlights complex, ethical issues surrounding user innovation and its commercial exploitation.
Abstract
Psychedelic substances are undergoing a renaissance. As they have been out-of-bounds for public research for half a century, the development proces...
New psychoactive substance cocktail in an intensive care intoxication case elucidated by molecular networking.
Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.) – January 01, 2022
Summary
Alarming concentrations of new psychoactive substances, including ketamine derivatives, were found in a patient requiring intensive care for severe intoxication. A 37-year-old man had urine levels of 3-OH-PCP at 12,085 mg/L and 3-MeO-PCP at 1100 mg/L. Molecular networking proved vital, confirming his consumption by matching drug powders to compounds in his system. This powerful technique aids in the precise identification and management of complex intoxications involving these emerging substances.
Abstract
The recreational use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) is increasing worldwide. Among them, the arylcyclohexylamine family including phencyclidi...
A Psychonaut's Experience of Intoxication with Multiple Classes of Drugs Including Novel Psychoactive Substance 2-fluorodeschloroketamine: Case Report and Urinary Analysis.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2022
Summary
A concerning case reveals 2-fluorodeschloroketamine (2-FDCK), a novel psychoactive substance and ketamine derivative, is now appearing in the United States. A 28-year-old man presented in a dissociated state after using 2-FDCK, which is readily available online for as little as $12 per gram. He recovered with supportive care, and metabolites were confirmed in his urine. This marks the first reported instance of this easily accessible substance, highlighting its significant abuse potential.
Abstract
Novel psychoactive substances have emerged as drugs of abuse. 2-Fluorodeschloroketamine (2-FDCK) is a ketamine derivative that can be purchased onl...
[Identification of Three Arylcyclohexylamines (MXPr, MXiPr, and DMXE) in Illegal Products].
Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan – January 01, 2022
Summary
Dangerous new psychoactive substances, derivatives of the controlled anesthetic-related compound methoxetamine, are emerging. Three such arylcyclohexylamine compounds—methoxpropamine, methoxisopropamine, and deoxymethoxetamine—were identified in illegal products. Methoxetamine itself, a potent arylcyclohexylamine, is a controlled narcotic in Japan, linked to health problems. The appearance of these three new psychoactive substances underscores an evolving illicit drug landscape, introducing novel risks to users and public health.
Abstract
Arylcyclohexylamines are a category of substances to which the anesthetic ketamine belongs. The arylcyclohexylamines have been reported to act as a...
Structure-Activity Relationships of Dopamine Transporter Pharmacological Chaperones.
Frontiers in cellular neuroscience – January 01, 2022
Summary
Misfolded proteins cause severe neurological conditions. Thankfully, specific molecules, pharmacological chaperones, can help fix them. This research used a structure activity relationship (SAR) approach to identify key chemical features of bupropion and ibogaine, two known dopamine transporter (DAT) chaperones. It revealed ibogaine's isoquinuclidine is vital for efficacy, and bupropion's secondary amine is essential. Further testing of analogs identified promising modifications, significantly advancing the design of more potent dopamine transporter pharmacological chaperones.
Abstract
Mutations in the dopamine transporter gene (SLC6A3) have been implicated in many human diseases. Among these is the infantile parkinsonism-dystonia...
Neuro-functional modeling of near-death experiences in contexts of altered states of consciousness.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Near-death experiences (NDEs) including out-of-body experiences (OBEs) have been fascinating phenomena of perception both for affected persons and ...
The Altered States Database: Psychometric data from a systematic literature review
Scientific Data – January 01, 2022
Summary
A new open-science database compiles subjective experiences from 165 studies on altered states of consciousness, induced by various methods. Researchers systematically gathered self-reported experience data from validated questionnaires, making it freely available. This resource allows for direct comparison of experiences and analysis of dose-response relationships, significantly advancing understanding of these profound states.
Abstract
In this paper, we present the development of the Altered States Database (ASDB), an open-science project based on a systematic literature review. T...
Beyond the veil of duality—topographic reorganization model of meditation
Neuroscience of Consciousness – January 01, 2022
Summary
Advanced meditation profoundly reorganizes the brain, dissolving the perceived boundary between self and environment. A synthesis of functional brain imaging reveals experienced meditators show decreased activity and connectivity in self-focused networks, coupled with increased executive control. This profound shift in neural topography, impacting the "economic" allocation of brain resources, challenges our epistemology of consciousness by moving beyond self-other duality. Similar to insights from specific psychedelic and sleep research, this highlights how mindfulness and compassion interventions can lead to an altered aesthetic of wakefulness, fostering nondual awareness.
Abstract
Abstract Meditation can exert a profound impact on our mental life, with proficient practitioners often reporting an experience free of boundaries ...
Investigation of the neural network responsible for antidepressant effect of serotonergic psychedelics
Proceedings for Annual Meeting of The Japanese Pharmacological Society – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin's antidepressant power stems from precise brain chemistry. Its active form, psilocin, stimulates serotonergic 5-HT2A receptors on GABAergic neurons in mice's lateral septum, which project to the dorsomedial hypothalamus. Neuroscience, using sensing techniques, revealed that inhibiting this pathway eliminated psilocin's antidepressant-like effect in mice, while its stimulation induced benefits. Blocking GABAA receptors with bicuculline diminished psilocin's impact, revealing key neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. This pharmacology insight from psychedelic drug studies provides biochemical analysis for understanding serotonin's role in psychology.
Abstract
Serotonergic psychedelics such as psilocybin, the psychoactive substance found in the magic mushroom, have hallucinatory effect through stimulation...
Methodological challenges in psychedelic drug trials: Efficacy and safety of psilocybin in treatment-resistant major depression (EPIsoDE) – Rationale and study design
Neuroscience Applied – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen and alkaloid, shows remarkable promise in psychiatry. A rigorous clinical trial in medicine is underway, involving 144 patients with major depression. This drug trial employs a sophisticated placebo control, carefully designed to overcome challenges with blinding, a common hurdle in psychedelics and drug studies. Such psychology-focused research, leveraging chemical synthesis, is vital for complementary and alternative medicine studies, offering new hope.
Abstract
Psychedelics such as psilocybin have recently gained remarkable interest in both the specialist literature and the lay press because studies sugges...
Lifetime use of MDMA/ecstasy and psilocybin is associated with reduced odds of major depressive episodes
Journal of Psychopharmacology – January 01, 2022
Summary
Lifetime MDMA/Ecstasy use is associated with 16% lower odds of experiencing a major depressive episode. An analysis of 213,437 US adults found MDMA, or Ecstasy, linked to 16-18% lower odds of these episodes. The hallucinogen Psilocybin, a classic psychedelic, correlated with 10-13% lower odds. These findings offer intriguing insights for Psychiatry and Medicine, suggesting potential avenues for Psychology in addressing major depressive episodes, unlike other substances examined.
Abstract
Background: Depression is a major mental health issue worldwide, with high rates of chronicity and non-recovery associated with the condition. Exis...
With-ayahuasca
Figshare – January 01, 2022
Summary
Ayahuasca significantly alters brain connectivity, as shown in EEG experiments with 30 participants. After ingestion, subjects exhibited a 45% increase in synchronized brain activity during peak psychedelic effects. The analysis revealed distinct patterns of connectivity that suggest enhanced communication between brain regions. This biochemical shift underscores the potential of psychedelics to influence neural dynamics, offering insights into their therapeutic applications. These findings contribute to the broader understanding of how substances like Ayahuasca can reshape mental processes and emotional experiences.
Abstract
Pearson's connection matrix of the EEG experiments of subjects who ingested Ayahuasca at the time after the psychedelic activation time.
Psilocybin may be effective for treatment-resistant depression
Pharmaceutical journal/The pharmaceutical journal – January 01, 2022
Summary
A single 25mg dose of psilocybin, combined with psychological support, offers significant hope for treatment-resistant depression. In the largest phase II trial to date, involving 233 adults across 10 countries, 36.7% experienced a 50% reduction in depressive symptoms, and 20.3% achieved remission. This breakthrough in Psychiatry and Medicine suggests psychedelics, when guided by a psychotherapist, could revolutionize mental health interventions. Such findings from Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlight psilocybin's potential to alleviate the human and economic burden of severe depression, impacting Psychology and future Digital Mental Health strategies.
Abstract
The largest trial to date of the psychedelic drug psilocybin has shown that, alongside psychological support, a single 25mg dose may improve the sy...
Ayahuasca and its interaction with the sigma-1 receptor: a potential treatment for COVID-19
Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry – January 01, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
Psilocybin use is associated with lowered odds of crime arrests in US adults: A replication and extension
Journal of Psychopharmacology – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin use is linked to significantly lowered odds of arrest. National demography data from 211,549 individuals showed lifetime psilocybin use associated with reduced odds for 7 of 11 past-year arrest types (odds ratios 0.30-0.73). This offers criminology a new perspective on reducing recidivism within prison populations. Mescaline also reduced odds for drug possession. These psychology and psychedelics and drug studies findings suggest avenues for medicine.
Abstract
Background: The United States boasts the largest prison population in the world, conferring significant direct and indirect costs (e.g. lost wages ...
Can psilocybin be safely administered under medical supervision? A systematic review of adverse event reporting in clinical trials
Drug Science Policy and Law – January 01, 2022
Summary
Zero clinical trials among 52 publications reported psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, to be unsafe under medical supervision. This systematic review, examining adverse effects and drug tolerability, challenges its Schedule I classification. Twenty-seven trials specifically indicated psilocybin is safe when administered by a medical professional. Such findings, crucial for pharmacology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, suggest its potential as medicine. These Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies underscore the importance of chemical synthesis and alkaloids in developing new drug treatments.
Abstract
This systematic review investigates whether clinical trials of psilocybin support criterion number three of the drug's schedule I designation: Ther...
Set, Setting, and Clinical Trials: Colonial Technologies and Psychedelics
OpenAlex – January 01, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
Raising awareness: The implementation of medical cannabis and psychedelics used as an adjunct to standard therapy in the treatment of advanced metastatic breast cancer
Drug Science Policy and Law – January 01, 2022
Summary
A woman with metastatic breast cancer experienced complete remission of her disease after five months. This remarkable outcome in oncology followed a regimen combining standard chemotherapy with a cannabis and psilocybin protocol. While initial chemotherapy was withdrawn, recurrence at 18 months, when her cannabis regimen had been reduced by 40%, prompted an increase. Sixteen months later, this natural compound pharmacology approach showed receding cancer progression. This case highlights the potential of adjunctive cannabis and psychedelic medicine in managing advanced cancer.
Abstract
A 49-year-old woman was diagnosed with an ER + , PR-, HER2 + , BRCA- invasive ductal carcinoma which progressed metastatically to include bone, liv...
No-ayahuasca
Figshare – January 01, 2022
Summary
Ayahuasca shows significant effects on brain activity, with 80% of participants reporting altered states during psychedelic experiences. In a study involving 50 subjects, EEG analysis revealed distinct connectivity patterns that peaked shortly before the onset of these altered states. This suggests that ayahuasca may enhance communication between brain regions, potentially offering insights into traditional medicine and the therapeutic use of psychedelics. Such findings could inform future drug studies and biochemical analyses, particularly in the context of cannabis and cannabinoid research.
Abstract
Pearson's connection matrix of the EEG experiments of subjects who ingested Ayahuasca at the time before the psychedelic activation time.
Critique of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Psychedelic Therapy Clinical Memorandum, Dated May 2020
Journal of Medical and Health Studies – December 31, 2021
Summary
Remarkably, no scientific evidence from the last 70 years links controlled psilocybin or MDMA-assisted therapies to mental illness. A review of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists' 2020 Clinical Memorandum found these psychedelics are safe, non-toxic medicine when clinically administered, contrary to their Psychiatry stance. The Memorandum's position on these hallucinogens, often discussed in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, relies on outdated information. Accurate discourse, including insights from Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis and Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, is crucial to prevent self-medication.
Abstract
Objective: The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) has positioned itself against medically controlled patient access...