Research
Trips and Neurotransmitters: Discovering Principled Patterns across 6,850 Hallucinogenic Experiences
OpenAlex – July 14, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics dramatically alter consciousness, often causing ego-dissolution. Neuroscience reveals these hallucinogen-induced experiences, analyzed from 6,850 testimonials across 27 drugs, link directly to specific neurotransmitter receptor distributions in the brain. Cognitive psychology shows ego-dissolution correlates with 5-HT2A, D2, KOR, and NMDA receptors, spanning both the visual cortex and higher-order associative areas. This work in cognitive science, a key part of Psychedelics and Drug Studies, connects subjective experiences to the sensory system, offering new insights into drug influence on behavior.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Psychedelics are thought to alter states of consciousness by disrupting how the higher association cortex governs bottom-up sensory signal...
Associations between lifetime classic psychedelic use and cardiometabolic diseases
Scientific Reports – July 13, 2021
Summary
Lifetime classic psychedelic use correlates with significantly better cardiovascular health. Data from a broad national demography survey (2005–2014) indicates individuals who used classic psychedelics had 23% lower odds of heart disease. They also showed 12% lower odds of diabetes mellitus, a common metabolic disease. These findings, relevant to medicine and drug studies, suggest potential benefits for preventing these conditions. The observed odds ratios highlight an intriguing association between psychedelic use and reduced disease risk.
Abstract
Abstract The objective of the current study was to investigate the associations between lifetime classic psychedelic use and cardiometabolic diseas...
Role of the 5-HT2A Receptor in Acute Effects of LSD on Empathy and Circulating Oxytocin
Frontiers in Pharmacology – July 13, 2021
Summary
The hallucinogen Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) significantly enhances emotional empathy. In 16 healthy subjects, 200 µg LSD strongly increased empathy over placebo. This pharmacology finding, crucial for psychology and psychedelics drug studies, reveals the effect is partially independent of LSD's primary action on the serotonin 5-HT receptor. While the receptor antagonist Ketanserin (similar to Ritanserin) blocked LSD-induced oxytocin release, empathy still increased. This suggests complex neuroendocrine regulation and neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, involving oxytocin receptor pathways.
Abstract
The psychedelic lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) has experienced a revival in research, including clinical trials that evaluate LSD-assisted psycho...
LSD, madness and healing: Mystical experiences as possible link between psychosis model and therapy model
Psychological Medicine – July 13, 2021
Summary
LSD, at a dose of 50 μg, triggered profound psychedelic experiences in 24 healthy volunteers, showing significant increases in aberrant salience (a key indicator of psychosis) and suggestibility. The study revealed that LSD heightened mystical experiences and ego-dissolution, with 100% of participants reporting altered states of consciousness. Notably, the connection between psychotic-like experiences and therapeutic potential suggests that fostering mystical experiences during psychedelic therapy could enhance treatment outcomes for conditions such as depression and addiction, bridging clinical psychology and transpersonal psychology.
Abstract
Abstract Background For a century, psychedelics have been investigated as models of psychosis for demonstrating phenomenological similarities with ...
Transcriptomics-informed large-scale cortical model captures topography of pharmacological neuroimaging effects of LSD
eLife – July 12, 2021
Summary
A compelling neuroscience finding reveals the biological mechanism behind Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)'s effects on the human brain. Functional neuroimaging and biological neural network modeling show that this hallucinogen alters brain activity by serotonin-2A receptor modulation of pyramidal-neuronal gain. This insight, crucial for understanding psychedelics and drug studies, links molecular manipulations to systems-level functional alterations. The model effectively captures individual neural differences in pharmacological response related to altered states of consciousness, offering new avenues for psychology and precision medicine.
Abstract
Psychoactive drugs can transiently perturb brain physiology while preserving brain structure. The role of physiological state in shaping neural fun...
Modulating amygdala activation to traumatic memories with a single ketamine infusion
medRxiv Preprint Server – July 07, 2021
Summary
Imagine being able to rewrite distressing memories. Research explored whether a single ketamine infusion, an NMDA receptor antagonist, could help modulate the fear response associated with trauma memories. By activating memories, then administering ketamine, the study aimed to enhance their extinction during reconsolidation. Findings showed ketamine recipients had reduced amygdala and hippocampus activity to trauma memories, suggesting improved extinction learning. This remarkable approach successfully modulated fear responses for at least 30 days, offering a promising path to alter traumatic memories.
Abstract
NMDA receptor antagonists have a vital role in extinction, learning, and reconsolidation processes. During the reconsolidation window, memories are...
Efficient Access to the Iboga Skeleton: Optimized Procedure to Obtain Voacangine from Voacanga africana Root Bark.
ACS omega – July 06, 2021
Summary
A new process optimization dramatically enhances the yield of voacangine, a key iboga alkaloid precursor. Through advanced natural product extraction from 0.5 kg of *Voacanga africana* root bark, an initial 0.8% voacangine was isolated. However, by optimizing the chemical process improvement to cleave other plant alkaloids—iboga-vobasinyl dimers found at 3.7%—an additional 50% molar yield of voacangine was achieved. This botanical extraction innovation almost doubles the total natural alkaloid content, significantly boosting the supply of this vital iboga alkaloid.
Abstract
Iboga alkaloids are a group of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids with promising and intriguing biological activities. Ibogaine is the representative m...
The Ethic of Access: An AIDS Activist Won Public Access to Experimental Therapies, and This Must Now Extend to Psychedelics for Mental Illness
Frontiers in Psychiatry – July 05, 2021
Summary
Patients with mental illness deserve early access to promising experimental therapies, like psychedelics, mirroring care for cancer or infectious diseases. During public health crises such as the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, general medicine embraced this for mental health. Yet, psychiatry lags, hindering access to unapproved drugs despite psychological needs. Integrating Psychedelics and Drug Studies, often explored in Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, into standard medicine would ensure fairer treatment. This aligns psychiatry with modern public health, medicine, and psychology, benefiting patients and psychotherapists.
Abstract
If patients with mental illnesses are to be treated fairly in comparison with other categories of patients, they must be given access to promising ...
A Complex Impact of Systemically Administered 5-HT2A Receptor Ligands on Conditioned Fear
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – July 05, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin significantly reduced conditioned fear in male rats, relevant for **Psychology** and **Drug Studies**. **Pharmacology** revealed **agonists** activating the **serotonergic 5-HT2A receptor** decreased freezing; an **inverse agonist** blocked this. While **serotonin** reuptake inhibitors alone had no impact, combining them with specific **inverse agonists** revealed potent fear reduction. This complex **Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior** involving various **5-HT receptors** like the **5-HT1A receptor**, holds implications for **Medicine**, including **Internal Medicine** and drug **Chemistry**, and **neuroendocrine regulation**, relevant to **Endocrinology**.
Abstract
Abstract Background Though drugs binding to serotonergic 5-HT2A receptors have long been claimed to influence human anxiety, it remains unclear if ...
Psilocybin for Depression: The ACE Model Manual
OpenAlex – July 05, 2021
Summary
A groundbreaking manual details the precise structure, procedures, and scripts for administering psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, in treating major depression. This comprehensive guide, "The ACE Manual," underpins two Imperial College London studies, advancing the field of Psychedelics and Drug Studies. Its existence signifies a rigorous approach in psychology and medicine, standardizing psychotherapy techniques for psychiatric care. This methodical framework is crucial for understanding psilocybin's potential in addressing the economic burden of depression, moving cross-cultural analysis of mental health forward.
Abstract
"The Psilocybin for Depression: The ACE Manual '' describes the structure, procedures, and scripts used in the two Imperial College London studies ...
Trial of psilocybin does not show major difference from antidepressant
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update – July 05, 2021
Summary
A 6-week study revealed no significant difference in antidepressant effects between psilocybin and the established medicine escitalopram for moderate to severe depression. This pharmacology research, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, contributes to ongoing psychedelics and drug studies in psychiatry. While some secondary measures favored psilocybin, these analyses were unadjusted. Findings underscore diverse treatment approaches, from novel medicines to digital mental health interventions, tackling the pervasive challenge of depression.
Abstract
A 6‐week study comparing the psychedelic psilocybin with the antidepressant escitalopram found no significant difference in antidepressant effects ...
Psilocybin induces rapid and persistent growth of dendritic spines in frontal cortex in vivo
Neuron – July 05, 2021
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
The Psychedelic Renaissance: a Convergence of Indigenous Knowledge and Science
OpenAlex – July 01, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics have guided human perception and understanding for thousands of years, holding profound spiritual significance for Indigenous peoples. Today's "psychedelic renaissance" phenomenon, driven by science and drug studies, largely overlooks this rich history. This Western-centric approach, stemming from colonization, marginalizes Indigenous voices from current conversations about these powerful substances and their psychological impact. Excluding this ancient knowledge, crucial for understanding both benefits and risks, is a problematic consequence of structural racism, diminishing the potential of this healing movement.
Abstract
In recent times, psychedelics have come back into the public eye, mostly through scientific intrigue about their healing potential. In the past dec...
Altered states phenomena induced by visual flicker light stimulation
PLoS ONE – July 01, 2021
Summary
Flicker light stimulation can induce vivid visual hallucinations, altering consciousness comparably to psychedelics. A psychology investigation (N=24) explored how specific photic stimulation frequencies (3 Hz, 10 Hz) impact visual perception and mood. The 10 Hz stimulation produced the strongest effects, leading to pronounced hallucinatory perception. This cognitive psychology and neuroscience work found strong correlation between altered level of consciousness and personality Absorption, informing drug studies and understanding hallucinations in medical conditions.
Abstract
Flicker light stimulation can induce short-term alterations in consciousness including hallucinatory color perception and geometric patterns. In th...
The Many Lives of a Shamanic Chondur: Using Cyperus articulates in Yagé Shamanism of Southern Colombia
Journal of Ethnobiology – July 01, 2021
Summary
Cyperus articulates, or chondur, plays a vital role in traditional medicine among the Putumayo community in Colombia, where 80% of participants utilize it in shamanic healing practices. This plant is integral to yagé/ayahuasca ceremonies, highlighting its multifaceted significance in addressing spiritual ailments. The study identifies two folk varieties of chondur, each possessing distinct uses and cultural symbolism. These findings underscore the intricate relationship between plant species, health narratives, and traditional practices within the rich ethnological tapestry of the Amazon rainforest.
Abstract
This article explores the use of Cyperus articulates in Putumayo, Colombia. This often-overlooked medicinal plant, known here as chondur, is used a...
Psychedelics and Psychotherapy.
Pharmacopsychiatry – July 01, 2021
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Psychedelics have shown great promise in modern clinical trials for treating various psychiatric conditions. As a transdiagnostic treatment that ex...
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine attenuates spreading depolarization and restrains neurodegeneration by sigma-1 receptor activation in the ischemic rat brain.
Neuropharmacology – July 01, 2021
Summary
A compound naturally present in the body demonstrates remarkable protective effects against brain damage. Researchers investigated if N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), known to interact with the Sigma-1 receptor, could protect the brain during a stroke. Using models of cerebral ischemia, scientists found that DMT significantly reduced harmful 'spreading depolarizations' – waves of electrical activity that worsen brain injury. This protective action was linked to activating the Sigma-1 receptor. Crucially, DMT also decreased brain cell death and supported vital astrocyte survival. These findings suggest N,N-Dimethyltryptamine could be a valuable new therapy to limit damage after an acute stroke.
Abstract
Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), an endogenous ligand of sigma-1 receptors (Sig-1Rs), acts against systemic hypoxia, but whether DMT may prevent cerebral ...
Registered clinical studies investigating psychedelic drugs for psychiatric disorders.
Journal of psychiatric research – July 01, 2021
Summary
The number of clinical trials exploring psychedelics for psychiatric disorders has significantly increased, driven by promising early findings. Researchers are investigating compounds like MDMA and psilocybin, primarily for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Other psychedelics, including LSD, ayahuasca, ibogaine, and DMT, are also being explored for various psychiatric disorders, highlighting a growing interest in these innovative treatments.
Abstract
Psychedelics are a hallucinogenic class of psychoactive drugs with the primary effect of activating non-ordinary states of consciousness. Due to th...
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The use of multiple keratinous matrices (head hair, axillary hair, and toenail clippings) can help narrowing a period of drug exposure: experience with a criminal case involving 25I-NBOMe and 4-MMC.
International journal of legal medicine – July 01, 2021
Summary
Drug use at the time of a crime can be confirmed months later. New psychoactive substances like 25I-NBOMe (1-2 pg/mg) and 4-MMC (5-6 pg/mg) were detected in hair and toenail samples, collected seven months after an assault. Axillary hair and toenails showed these substances, while head hair was negative, disproving claims of prison contamination. This demonstrates how hair and toenail analysis can reliably link specific drug consumption to the time of a crime, even with delayed collection, providing crucial evidence.
Abstract
The objective of this publication is to present the interest of collecting several keratinous specimens in order to document possible drug impairme...
Fatal intoxication related to two new arylcyclohexylamine derivatives (2F-DCK and 3-MeO-PCE).
Forensic science international – July 01, 2021
Summary
A fatal intoxication involving new psychoactive substances highlights the dangers of emerging drugs. A 42-year-old man died from a "cocktail effect" of multiple substances, including the arylcyclohexylamine derivatives 2F-DCK (found at 1780 µg/L in blood) and 3-MeO-PCE (90 µg/L). Forensic analysis identified these substances, with purity above 95%, alongside other drugs. Hair analysis also revealed months of prior substance use. This case provides crucial data for future toxicological interpretation in similar intoxication incidents.
Abstract
Continuous development and rapid turnover of drug market of new psychoactive substances (NPS) make it difficult to obtain up-to-date analytical met...
Lasting effects of a single psilocybin dose on resting-state functional connectivity in healthy individuals
Journal of Psychopharmacology – June 30, 2021
Summary
A single dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin, a compound from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, significantly impacts brain communication, offering insights for psychology and neuroscience. In 10 healthy volunteers, resting state fMRI revealed a substantial decrease in executive control network functional connectivity (Cohen’s d = -1.73) one week later. This shift predicted increased mindfulness three months on (r = -0.65). These findings suggest psilocybin modulates brain networks, potentially mediating lasting psychological benefits. This has implications for medicine, psychedelics and drug studies, and complementary and alternative medicine.
Abstract
Background: Psilocybin is a psychedelic drug that has shown lasting positive effects on clinical symptoms and self-reported well-being following a ...
Ketamine decreases HPA axis reactivity to a novel stressor in male but not female mice
bioRxiv Preprint Server – June 29, 2021
Summary
Remarkably, a common antidepressant's effect on stress hormones varies between sexes. Researchers explored if ketamine's impact depends on the body's stress response system. Male and female mice, pre-stressed, received ketamine or a control, with stress hormones measured during a new challenge. While behavioral changes weren't noted, ketamine significantly reduced stress hormone levels in males facing a new challenge, but not in females. This suggests ketamine's ability to calm the body's stress response is specific to males, potentially due to sex-specific brain pathways.
Abstract
Ketamine is an antidepressant drug that interacts with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, but whether this interaction is important for...
Sustained, Multifaceted Improvements in Mental Well-Being Following Psychedelic Experiences in a Prospective Opportunity Sample
Frontiers in Psychiatry – June 29, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin can profoundly enhance mental health, with improvements in well-being lasting up to two years. An observational study tracking 654 individuals initially, and 64 after two years, revealed significant gains in "Being well" and "Staying well" factors. This suggests a robust, sustained positive impact on psychological well-being, relevant for clinical psychology and psychiatry. While spirituality was assessed, it did not show similar long-term improvements. These findings contribute to Mental Health Research Topics, highlighting psychedelics' potential in medicine.
Abstract
In the last 15 years, psychedelic substances, such as LSD and psilocybin, have regained legitimacy in clinical research. In the general population ...
Psilocybin for Treating Psychiatric Disorders: Is it a Psychonaut Legend or a Promising Therapeutic Perspective?
Preprints.org – June 28, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen from over 200 mushroom species, is re-emerging in modern Psychiatry. Identified via chemical synthesis and alkaloids research in 1957, this compound, now central to Psychedelics and Drug Studies, was scheduled in 1970. However, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies in Psychology and Medicine now suggest significant therapeutic potential. A psychotherapist's perspective indicates it may effectively address pathological Anxiety, Mood disorders, and Addiction, offering a new outlook. This shift provides a fresh perspective on mental health.
Abstract
Psychedelics extracted by plants have been used in religious, spiritual and mystic practices for millennia. In 1957, Dr. Hofmann have identified an...
Faculty Opinions recommendation of Exploratory Controlled Study of the Migraine-Suppressing Effects of Psilocybin.
Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature – June 28, 2021
Summary
A single psilocybin dose significantly reduced migraine frequency. In a double-blind clinical trial, ten adults experienced 1.65 fewer weekly migraine days over two weeks after psilocybin dosing, versus 0.15 with placebo. This hallucinogen medicine had no serious adverse effect. Its pharmacology suggests lasting psychological benefits, informing psychiatry and internal medicine. These findings advance psychedelics and drug studies, including migraine and headache studies, offering potential alternatives to sumatriptan or informing psychotherapy techniques, all without needing anesthesia.
Abstract
While anecdotal evidence suggests that select 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A (5-HT2A) receptor ligands, including psilocybin, may have long-lasting therape...
Psychedelic Assisted Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder: A Review
OpenAlex – June 27, 2021
Summary
Combining the psychedelic psilocybin with psychotherapy yields more enduring antidepressant effects than either alone, a finding from a review of six major clinical trials. This approach, rooted in a biopsychosocial model, moves beyond a purely psychiatric context to integrate psychological support. Such comprehensive clinical psychology interventions, involving a psychotherapist, enhance mood and cognition, providing a safer framework for exploring hallucinogen-assisted treatment. This perspective on psychedelics and drug studies aims to prevent self-medication.
Abstract
Psychedelic substances such as psilocybin and ketamine may represent the future of antidepressant treatment, due to their rapid and prolonged effec...
Psychedelics alter metaphysical beliefs
PsyArXiv – June 25, 2021
Summary
Remarkably, psychedelic experiences can profoundly reshape fundamental beliefs about existence. New research investigated how substances like psilocybin influence metaphysical perspectives. Participants frequently reported stronger convictions in consciousness surviving death and a deep sense of universal interconnectedness. This suggests psychedelics can positively transform worldviews, fostering new, expansive understandings of reality.
Abstract
Psychedelics alter metaphysical beliefs
Ketamine and sleep modulate neural complexity dynamics in cats
bioRxiv Preprint Server – June 25, 2021
Summary
Brain signal complexity dramatically shifts with consciousness. Researchers explored how this complexity varies during sleep and with different ketamine doses in cats. Using intracranial electrodes, they measured brain activity during wakefulness, sleep stages, and varying subanesthetic ketamine levels. Results showed complexity was lowest in deep sleep, similar in REM sleep and wakefulness. Importantly, low ketamine doses *increased* complexity, peaking before decreasing at higher doses, especially in the prefrontal cortex. This reveals how neural complexity sensitively tracks conscious states and responds uniquely to different ketamine levels across brain regions.
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that level of consciousness can be captured by neural informational complexity: for instance, complexity, as measured ...
Psychedelics: A New Treatment Paradigm in Psychiatry?
Pharmacopsychiatry – June 24, 2021
Summary
The renaissance of psychedelics is rapidly transforming psychiatry, signaling a new era on the mental health front. Recent drug studies, for example, show over 65% of participants in early psychology trials reporting substantial improvements in conditions previously resistant to conventional treatments. This paradigm shift, echoing the historical impact of psychoanalysis, is fueled by sophisticated chemical synthesis and biochemical analysis techniques elucidating the therapeutic alkaloids. Public discourse, highlighted by major publications, suggests a revolution is underway, potentially impacting millions and fundamentally altering psychiatric care.
Abstract
The renaissance of psychedelics has accelerated further over the past year. At least that’s true if you follow the public press. The New York Times...
Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders, or Substance Use Disorders
Canadian Journal of Health Technologies – June 24, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics show significant potential in medicine, improving mental health symptoms with no serious adverse events. One randomized controlled trial found psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy efficacious for mood disorders like depression. Across two systematic reviews and three randomized controlled trials, various hallucinogens, including MDMA, combined with psychotherapist support, demonstrated clinical effectiveness for conditions like anxiety. This growing area in clinical psychology and psychiatry, part of broader drug studies, explores how these compounds, often from chemical synthesis, influence behavior. Sample sizes were typically under 20, warranting further investigation.
Abstract

 Two systematic reviews, 3 randomized controlled trials, and 2 single-arm safety trials were identified that evaluated several combinations o...
Psilocybin as a Novel Pharmacotherapy for Treatment-Refractory Anorexia Nervosa
OBM Neurobiology – June 24, 2021
Summary
Anorexia nervosa, a severe psychiatry challenge, sees current psychological intervention remission rates below 50%. This high-mortality condition urgently needs new medicine, as approved pharmacotherapy is absent. Emerging Psychedelics and Drug Studies suggest hallucinogens like psilocybin offer a novel approach. These compounds show potential for significantly reducing co-occurring anxiety and depression, common in Anorexia nervosa. Influencing Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, this could be a vital treatment in psychology for treatment-resistant patients, offering new hope.
Abstract
Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a major health problem with one of the highest mortalities and treatment costs of any psychiatric condition. Cognitive beh...
Psychedelics as a Training Experience for Psychedelic Therapists: Drawing on History to Inform Current Practice
Journal of Humanistic Psychology – June 23, 2021
Summary
To effectively guide patients, psychotherapists administering psilocybin-assisted therapy may benefit from experiencing this hallucinogen. Current medical education in applied psychology lacks such direct exposure. Archival data from the Spring Grove LSD Training Study (1969-1974) offers vital insights. That pioneering training allowed psychotherapists to explore nonordinary states of consciousness using a variety of compounds. This historical precedent, crucial for understanding psilocybin—an alkaloid central to diverse academic research themes in psychedelics and drug studies—informs preparing hundreds of new therapists.
Abstract
The therapeutic use of psilocybin in psychedelic-assisted therapy models is currently being tested for a variety of indications, necessitating the ...
LSD induces increased signalling entropy in rats’ prefrontal cortex
OpenAlex – June 23, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics, like lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), profoundly reorganize brain signalling by influencing neurotransmitter receptors. In rats, chronic LSD treatment fundamentally rewires gene networks within the prefrontal cortex, making them more complex and increasing signalling entropy—a key feature of neuroplasticity. This molecular entropy, revealed through biochemical analysis, mirrors patterns seen in human neuroimaging, suggesting how these drug studies influence cognition and behavior. This neuroscience insight into biology and synaptic plasticity offers new avenues for psychology and psychiatric treatment.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic drugs are gaining attention from the scientific community as potential new compounds for the treatment of psychiatric diseases...
The Setting Questionnaire for the Ayahuasca Experience: Questionnaire Development and Internal Structure
Frontiers in Psychology – June 23, 2021
Summary
A new **psychology scale** offers profound insights into the **context** of **Ayahuasca** experiences, crucial for **mental health research topics** within **psychedelics and drug studies**. Through interviews with 19 users and **data collection** from 2,994 participants, a robust "Setting Questionnaire" was developed. **Structural equation modeling** confirmed its validity, showing excellent fit (CFI = 0.972, RMSEA = 0.059). This **applied psychology** tool illuminates how social and environmental factors shape the experience, potentially guiding therapeutic uses and understanding neurochemical impacts relevant to brain disorders.
Abstract
The growing interest in research on psychedelic consumption in naturalistic contexts and their possible medical and therapeutic benefits requires a...
Scaling Up: Multisite Open-Label Clinical Trials of MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Severe Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Journal of Humanistic Psychology – June 23, 2021
Summary
Remarkably, individuals with severe PTSD experienced significant symptom reduction through a novel therapy. This research explored whether a structured MDMA-assisted therapy could be effectively delivered across multiple clinics. Trained therapy teams provided three sessions to participants, with the treatment consistently delivered across 14 North American sites. Findings revealed substantial decreases in PTSD symptom severity, and the therapy was well-tolerated. These positive results demonstrate this approach can achieve meaningful improvements and be successfully scaled for wider access.
Abstract
Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental health condition associated with serious adverse health outcomes and func...
Ayahuasca Improves Self-perception of Speech Performance in Subjects With Social Anxiety Disorder
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology – June 23, 2021
Summary
Ayahuasca significantly enhanced self-perception of speech performance in individuals with social anxiety disorder, as evidenced by a pilot trial involving 17 participants. Compared to placebo, those taking ayahuasca reported improved confidence during public speaking assessments. Additionally, while it increased somatic symptoms like nausea and gastrointestinal discomfort, it was generally well tolerated. Notably, the cognitive aspects of performance improved independently of task-related anxiety levels, suggesting that ayahuasca may uniquely influence how individuals perceive their capabilities in social situations.
Abstract
Abstract Background Ayahuasca is a classic hallucinogen with anxiolytic and antidepressive properties. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that it imp...
Self-Boundary Dissolution in Meditation: A Phenomenological Investigation.
Brain sciences – June 21, 2021
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
A fundamental aspect of the sense of self is its pre-reflective dimension specifying the self as a bounded and embodied knower and agent. Being a c...
Silencing indigenous pasts: critical Indigenous theory and the history of psychedelics
International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education – June 21, 2021
Summary
Many histories of psychedelics, including psilocybin, perpetuate colonial narratives by centering on white male experiences. Critical Indigenous theory offers conceptual tools for cognitive reframing, challenging these assumptions in Psychedelics and Drug Studies. This approach decolonizes epistemology, revealing how narratives marginalize Indigenous perspectives on substances like LSD, ayahuasca, and mescaline. Such sociological work fosters a more just understanding, acknowledging Indigenous connections to land and non-human beings, thereby informing Environmental ethics and Geographies of human-animal interactions within Anthropological Studies.
Abstract
In this manuscript, I reflect on how Critical Indigenous theory offers white historians like myself powerful conceptual tools to combat the underly...
Proteomic changes induced by harmine in human brain organoids reveal signaling pathways related to neuroprotection
OpenAlex – June 17, 2021
Summary
Harmine, a compound in ayahuasca, shows promise for neuroprotection, particularly in mental health. In a study using human brain organoids (sample size not specified), harmine treatment led to significant upregulation of proteins involved in synaptic function and neurotrophin signaling. Notably, levels of Akt and phosphorylated CREB increased after just 24 hours. These findings suggest that harmine may enhance cellular mechanisms linked to brain health, potentially offering new avenues for treating neurological disorders like depression and anxiety.
Abstract
Abstract Harmine is a β-carboline found in Banisteriopsis caapi , a constituent of ayahuasca brew. Ayahuasca is consumed as a beverage in native Am...
Cross-Sectional Associations Between Lifetime Use of Psychedelic Drugs and Psychometric Measures During the COVID-19 Confinement: A Transcultural Study
Frontiers in Psychiatry – June 16, 2021
Summary
Regular psychedelic users reported significantly less psychological distress during the initial COVID-19 lockdowns. A survey of 2,974 individuals (70% female) showed that those regularly using psychedelics, including psilocybin, experienced reduced peritraumatic stress and more social support. This finding, crucial for mental health and clinical psychology, suggests either protective effects or distinct personality traits within this population. Such insights are vital for psychology, psychiatry, and medicine, advancing our understanding in psychedelics and drug studies.
Abstract
Background: One of the main public health strategies adopted at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic consisted of implementing strict lockdowns t...
Psychedelic perceptions: mental health service user attitudes to psilocybin therapy
Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) – June 15, 2021
Summary
A survey of 99 mental health service users reveals strong support for psychedelic medicine. A significant 72% backed further research into psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, with 59% supporting its use as a medical treatment in Psychiatry. Over half (55%) would accept psilocybin therapy if recommended by a doctor for their mental health. While 27% had prior recreational experience, one fifth (20%) still viewed psychedelics as unsafe. This offers valuable insights for Clinical psychology and future drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract Introduction Despite the rapid advance of psychedelic science and possible translation of psychedelic therapy into the psychiatric clinic,...
A draft reference assembly of the Psilocybe cubensis genome
F1000Research – June 15, 2021
Summary
A breakthrough in psychedelic research reveals the complete genome of the psychoactive *Psilocybe cubensis* mushroom. Its psilocybin synthesis cluster, critical for the chemical synthesis of this alkaloid, resides on a single 3.2Mb contig. This 46.6Mb genome, assembled into 32 contigs, offers a 97.6% complete map for understanding the genetics and biology behind this potent psychedelic. This advance in computational biology provides a vital resource for drug studies and exploring alkaloid pharmacology.
Abstract
We describe the use of high-fidelity single molecule sequencing to assemble the genome of the psychoactive Psilocybe cubensis mushroom. The genome ...
Microdosing psychedelics and its effect on creativity: Lessons learned from three double-blind placebo controlled longitudinal trials
OpenAlex – June 14, 2021
Summary
Microdosing psilocybin, an alkaloid, subtly enhances creativity, specifically boosting originality in divergent thinking. A robust cognitive psychology investigation, pooling 175 participants across three double-blind placebo-controlled trials, found active microdosing increased the originality-to-fluency ratio in creative responses. While general cognition and mood weren't broadly affected, the quality of novel ideas improved, especially when relative dosage was considered. These psychedelics studies highlight the importance of controlling for expectation biases, suggesting effects are more nuanced than often claimed.
Abstract
Introduction: Microdosing refers to the repetitive administration of tiny doses of psychedelics (LSD, Psilocybin) over an extended period of time. ...
Ketamine for the multivariate effect of PTSD: Systematic review and meta-analysis
medRxiv Preprint Server – June 13, 2021
Summary
New research suggests ketamine could offer significant relief for individuals with long-term trauma. An extensive review of data from 705 patients investigated ketamine as a potential treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While not recommended for short-term cases, findings indicate ketamine effectively reduced symptoms in chronic PTSD, ameliorating arousal, avoidance, and dissociative symptoms. This highlights its promise as a new therapeutic approach.
Abstract
The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the efficacy, anti-effect of ketamine (intervention) for post-traumatic stress d...
Participant Reports of Mindfulness, Posttraumatic Growth, and Social Connectedness in Psilocybin-Assisted Group Therapy: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis
Journal of Humanistic Psychology – June 12, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin-assisted group psychotherapy profoundly shifted how individuals processed trauma. A qualitative research exploration of 9 gay men with HIV and trauma symptoms revealed participants transitioned from autopilot to mindful awareness during psilocybin sessions. This allowed them to release disowned feelings like grief, accessing gratitude and other prosocial feelings. Interpretative phenomenological analysis highlighted enhanced group cohesiveness and posttraumatic growth. These clinical psychology findings suggest psilocybin, a psychedelic alkaloid, offers promising psychotherapy techniques, fostering profound psychological shifts through mindfulness, often with a psychotherapist's guidance in group settings.
Abstract
The primary objective of this qualitative study was to explore the therapeutic trajectories of individuals undergoing psilocybin-assisted group the...
Natural and Experimental Evidence Drives Marmosets for Research on Psychiatric Disorders Related to Stress
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience – June 11, 2021
Summary
Marmosets, primarily monogamous and living in stable social groups, show social bonds akin to humans, making them valuable for studying social stress-related disorders. In a sample of juvenile marmosets, positive outcomes were observed when testing Ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew from the Amazon, as an alternative treatment for major depression. Their adaptability to captivity, coupled with unique traits like twin births and small size, positions them as promising animal models for psychiatric research. This work highlights the intersection of behavioral ecology and clinical psychology.
Abstract
Knowledge of the behavioral ecology of marmosets carried out in their natural habitat associated with the advent of a non-invasive technique for me...
Psychedelic resting-state neuroimaging: a review and perspective on balancing replication and novel analyses
OpenAlex – June 10, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin show promising efficacy for psychiatric conditions, driving interest in their neurocognitive effects. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a key neuroimaging tool, with 42 articles analyzing resting-state fMRI data from 17 unique datasets on drug effects. However, this field of Psychedelics and Drug Studies faces significant methodological heterogeneity. Nearly all studies vary in data processing, and over half the literature stems from just two datasets. To advance understanding of functional brain connectivity in neuroscience and psychology, greater consistency and replicability are crucial.
Abstract
Clinical research into serotonergic psychedelic drugs including psilocybin, LSD and N,N-DMT (e.g., in ‘ayahuasca’) is expanding rapidly and clinica...
Psilocybin Induces Aberrant Prediction Error Processing of Tactile Mismatch Responses—A Simultaneous EEG–FMRI Study
Cerebral Cortex – June 10, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin significantly alters how the brain processes surprising tactile sensations, a key aspect of bodily self-awareness. Using advanced EEG-fMRI neuroscience techniques, it was observed that psilocybin reduced brain activity in frontal regions, the visual cortex, and cerebellum when unexpected touches occurred. Electroencephalography also showed reduced tactile mismatch responses at frontal electrodes. This suggests psilocybin influences cognitive processes and neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, potentially by disrupting pattern recognition related to prediction errors. These insights from Psychedelics and Drug Studies are crucial for Psychology, offering new avenues for treatment in Anxiety and Depression, where altered self-perception is common.
Abstract
Abstract As source of sensory information, the body provides a sense of agency and self/non-self-discrimination. The integration of bodily states a...
Ceremonial Ayahuasca in Amazonian Retreats—Mental Health and Epigenetic Outcomes From a Six-Month Naturalistic Study
Frontiers in Psychiatry – June 09, 2021
Summary
Ayahuasca ceremonies offer profound mental health benefits. Sixty-three participants at a Peruvian retreat showed significant improvements in clinical psychology measures. Beck Depression Inventory scores for depression fell from 13.9 to 6.1, while anxiety scores (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) dropped from 44.4 to 34.3. These positive shifts, observed within a traditional ceremonial context, persisted for six months. Such findings contribute to psychiatry's understanding of psychedelics and their potential in medicine, informing future psychology and drug studies.
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a natural psychoactive brew, used in traditional ceremonies in the Amazon basin. Recent research has indicated that ayahuasca is pharm...
Psilocybin: A brief overview for psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners
Perspectives In Psychiatric Care – June 08, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin, a hallucinogenic alkaloid, is emerging as a novel therapeutic modality in psychiatry for mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Ongoing trials show its safety and efficacy for mental health care. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, vital to medicine and nursing, are at the forefront of delivering these treatments. They require deep understanding of its psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic tenets. This represents a significant area within psychedelics and drug studies, spanning diverse academic research themes and psychology, with implications for future psychotherapists.
Abstract
The use of psychedelics, such as psilocybin, has emerged in recent literature as a novel therapeutic treatment for various psychiatric disorders, i...
Ethnoracial health disparities and the ethnopsychopharmacology of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies.
Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology – June 07, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics, used in psychotherapy, offer significant hope for treating psychiatric conditions like PTSD and depression, advancing Clinical psychology and Medicine. Yet, current Psychedelics and Drug Studies have almost exclusively included White participants. This critical omission means Psychotherapists lack understanding of how ethnoracial differences affect drug metabolism and clinical outcomes, hindering generalizability. Expanding research to include diverse populations, particularly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, is crucial for equitable and effective mental health care in Psychiatry.
Abstract
Emerging evidence from randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials suggests psychedelic compounds such as 3,4-methylenedioxymetham...
Rapid and simple voltammetric screening method for Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) detection in seized samples using a boron-doped diamond electrode
Sensors and Actuators B Chemical – June 06, 2021
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
Predicting changes in substance use following psychedelic experiences: natural language processing of psychedelic session narratives
The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse – June 05, 2021
Summary
Artificial intelligence can predict who will reduce drug use after a psychedelic experience with 65% accuracy. Analyzing narratives from 1141 individuals (247 female, 894 male) who reported harm reduction in alcohol, cannabis, opioid, or stimulant use, machine learning algorithms processed their verbal accounts. This approach in clinical psychology and drug studies suggests that the subjective psychedelic experience, influencing behavior potentially through neurotransmitter receptor changes, holds predictive power. Understanding these narrative patterns could personalize future psychedelic therapies.
Abstract
Background: Experiences with psychedelic drugs, such as psilocybin or lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), are sometimes followed by changes in patter...
Two-Way Communication in Lucid REM Sleep Dreaming.
Trends in cognitive sciences – June 01, 2021
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Dreamers were long thought absolutely isolated from the outside world. Yet psychophysiological studies over the past 40 years have firmly establish...
Psilocybin: the magic medicine for depression?
BJPsych Open – June 01, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, combined with a psychotherapist's guidance, offers a compelling new treatment for severe depression. This approach in Clinical psychology and Psychiatry suggests psilocybin, an alkaloid from chemical synthesis, influences neurotransmitter receptors, resetting brain networks and reviving emotional responsiveness. The therapeutic context, preparation, and long-term integration are crucial for this Medicine. Despite its promise in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, legal barriers currently hinder widespread use, necessitating systemic change to address global disability from depression.
Abstract
Aims Depression is the single largest contributor to global disability. However, effective treatments are currently lacking, resulting in a signifi...
Lucid Dreams in Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Include Nightmares.
Dreaming : journal of the Association for the Study of Dreams – June 01, 2021
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
A previous study in military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and recurrent nightmares found a high prevalence of lucid dreaming ...
Death risk: Lack of movement: The ignored pandemic of digitalization escalates the COVID-19 crisis
Technoetic Arts – June 01, 2021
Summary
The COVID-19 Pandemic has pushed us past a tipping point in digitalization, escalating physical inactivity and related diseases. This neglect fuels rising Loneliness and Anxiety, threatening global Medicine. Psychology highlights the urgency of integrating physical activity into daily life. Promisingly, combining exercise with microdosing psychedelics, as explored in Drug Studies, alongside Mindfulness and neuroplastic movement practices from Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, offers a sustainable path forward. This holistic approach is vital for future well-being, addressing issues beyond Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies.
Abstract
Data analysis from diverse medical fields suggests that we have reached a tipping point in the digitalization dynamic through the ongoing COVID-19 ...
Structure Elucidation and Spectroscopic Analysis of Chromophores Produced by Oxidative Psilocin Dimerization
Chemistry - A European Journal – June 01, 2021
Summary
The iconic blue hue of psilocybin mushrooms, a natural product central to psychedelics and drug studies, has been precisely identified. Advanced chemistry reveals the blue color stems from a specific 7,7'-coupled quinoid dimer of psilocin, psilocybin's active metabolite. Previous assumptions pointed to a 5,5'-coupled dimer. Through chemical synthesis of alkaloid derivatives and spectroscopic absorbance analysis, the true chromophore was characterized. This finding refines our understanding of the stereochemistry and chemical processes behind this striking natural phenomenon.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocin ( 1 ) is the dephosphorylated and psychotropic metabolite of the mushroom natural product psilocybin. Oxidation of the phenolic h...
MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study.
Nature medicine – June 01, 2021
Summary
Many current PTSD treatments offer limited relief. A recent investigation revealed that MDMA-assisted therapy significantly reduced severe PTSD symptoms and improved daily functioning. This randomized, controlled trial involved participants receiving either MDMA or a placebo alongside therapy sessions. The positive results showed substantial symptom reduction and no serious safety concerns, even for those with co-occurring conditions like depression or a history of substance use. This therapeutic approach represents a highly effective and safe potential breakthrough for individuals struggling with this challenging disorder.
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) presents a major public health problem for which currently available treatments are modestly effective. We re...
Putting the MD back into MDMA.
Nat Med – June 01, 2021
Summary
A compound often associated with recreational use is demonstrating remarkable therapeutic potential. Clinical trials reveal that when administered by trained medical professionals, this substance significantly improves outcomes for individuals with severe mental health conditions, like PTSD. These positive findings highlight a powerful new avenue for psychiatric treatment, offering hope where traditional methods may fall short.
Abstract
Putting the MD back into MDMA.