794 results for "DMT"
Minorities' Diminished Psychedelic Returns: Income and Educations Impact on Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians.
Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities – June 01, 2025
Summary
Income and education levels significantly influence how different racial groups respond to psychedelics for mental health benefits. While white individuals show reduced psychological distress with psychedelic use, minorities experience diminished returns - even at higher socioeconomic levels. Notably, educated, high-income Asian users reported increased distress, highlighting how ethnicity and inequality shape therapeutic outcomes.
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that the race and ethnic minority population may experience fewer protective effects of psychedelics on mental health. Th...
What is needed for the roll-out of psychedelic treatments?
Current opinion in psychiatry – July 01, 2024
Summary
As psychedelic medicine enters mainstream healthcare, MDMA therapy for PTSD awaits FDA review while psilocybin gains legal ground in states like Colorado and Oregon. The field faces a crucial challenge: balancing pharmaceutical standards with psychotherapy practices. Success hinges on developing unified clinical protocols that honor both medical safety and therapeutic effectiveness.
Abstract
The pace of psychedelic treatments continues to increase. Regulation and coherent clinical guidance have not been established. A philosophical divi...
In the new era of psychedelic assisted therapy: A systematic review of study methodology in randomized controlled trials.
Psychopharmacology – June 01, 2024
Summary
Breakthrough treatments combining psychedelics with assisted therapy are showing remarkable promise in mental health care. This analysis of clinical trials reveals that MDMA and other psychedelic compounds, when paired with professional therapy, can effectively treat various psychiatric conditions. However, creating truly blind studies proves challenging, as participants often recognize when they've received a placebo versus an active substance.
Abstract
Recent years have seen a resurgence in randomized, placebo controlled trials (RCTs) utilizing non-classical psychedelics (e.g. 3,4-methyl enedioxy ...
Discovery and Structure–Activity Relationships of 2,5-Dimethoxyphenylpiperidines as Selective Serotonin 5-HT2A Receptor Agonists
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry – April 22, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics show promise for mental health, influencing behavior via neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. Their pharmacology involves serotonin agonist activity at the 5-HT receptor. Through careful chemistry and chemical synthesis, a new class of serotonin agonists, 2,5-dimethoxyphenylpiperidines, has been discovered. Structure–activity relationship investigations, considering stereochemistry, identified LPH-5 as a selective 5-HT2A receptor agonist. This advances drug studies by providing new tools to understand how serotonin signaling affects the brain.
Abstract
Classical psychedelics such as psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) are showing promising results in clin...
Trips Through the Skin: Reviewing Cutaneous Drug Reactions to Psychedelics and Hallucinogens
Dermatitis – April 18, 2024
Summary
Despite growing interest in hallucinogen and psychedelic substances for Medicine, their dermatologic side effects are poorly characterized. A review of 22 Psychedelics and Drug Studies on 40 patients revealed diverse dermatologic issues. Psilocybin, for instance, caused vesicular eruptions in four patients. Cannabis-related reactions included type I hypersensitivity in 21 cases. Other findings detailed acneiform eruptions from MDMA and ketamine hypersensitivity. Characterizing these dermatologic impacts is vital for patient care.
Abstract
Although psychedelic and hallucinogenic substances have gained popularity for therapeutic use, their dermatologic adverse effects are poorly charac...
Smartphone swabs as an emerging tool for toxicology testing: a proof-of-concept study in a nightclub.
Clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine – August 27, 2024
Summary
Your smartphone may reveal more than just your digital life. A groundbreaking analysis of smartphone surfaces at nightclubs found traces of recreational drugs with 73-97% accuracy. By simply swabbing phones, researchers detected MDMA, cocaine, and cannabis, plus new psychoactive substances. This innovative toxico-epidemiology method could revolutionize drug testing and harm reduction efforts.
Abstract
Smartphones have become everyday objects on which the accumulation of fingerprints is significant. In addition, a large proportion of the populatio...
Efficacy and safety of psychedelics for the treatment of mental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Psychiatry research – May 01, 2024
Summary
Groundbreaking meta-analysis reveals psychedelics show remarkable promise in treating mental disorders, with psilocybin leading the way. Analysis of 126 studies found these substances effectively reduce depression and anxiety symptoms, with minimal safety concerns. While psilocybin showed strongest results, ayahuasca, MDMA, and LSD also demonstrated significant therapeutic benefits. Most patients reported only mild side effects like headaches.
Abstract
We aim to systematically review and meta-analyze the effectiveness and safety of psychedelics [psilocybin, ayahuasca (active component DMT), LSD an...
Psychedelic Therapy: A Primer for Primary Care Clinicians-Historical Perspective and Overview.
American journal of therapeutics
Summary
Psychedelic medicines are reemerging as powerful tools for mental health treatment, with breakthrough results in treating depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Recent clinical trials show promising outcomes, particularly with MDMA for PTSD and psilocybin for depression. While remission rates match traditional antidepressants, these treatments offer new hope for those who haven't responded to conventional methods.
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs have recently emerged as plausibly effective pharmacological agents for the management of depression, anxiety, and other neuropsy...
Spectroscopic behavior of bufotenine and bufotenine N-oxide: Solvent and pH effects and interaction with biomembrane models.
Biochimica et biophysica acta. Biomembranes – April 01, 2024
Summary
Bufotenine, a psychedelic compound, dramatically alters its fluorescence and absorption spectra with changes in pH and solvent, revealing key biochemistry. Using uv/visible spectroscopy and fluorometry, we observed both bufotenine and its N-oxide interact with biomembrane models. Fluorescence spectroscopy showed distinct spectral shifts, indicating strong membrane interactions with pre-micellar structures and micelles. Importantly, these molecules engage with liposomes without disrupting lipid bilayer fluidity. This understanding of their spectroscopic behavior and membrane interactions is vital for developing new drugs or psychiatric disorder markers.
Abstract
Bufotenine is a fluorescent analog of Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) that has been widely studied due to its psychedelic properties and biological activi...
Expectancy Effects in Psychedelic Trials.
Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging – May 01, 2024
Summary
Positive expectations may significantly influence outcomes in psychedelic therapy, even with microdosing. When participants believe they'll benefit, they often do - highlighting the complex relationship between mind and medicine. Researchers found that proper trial design and blinding procedures are crucial, as the placebo effect can be particularly strong with psychedelics. This understanding helps optimize therapeutic benefits while improving future treatment protocols.
Abstract
Clinical trials of psychedelic compounds like psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and N,N-dimethyltrptamine (DMT) have forced a reconside...
In vivo validation of psilacetin as a prodrug yielding modestly lower peripheral psilocin exposure than psilocybin
Frontiers in Psychiatry – January 08, 2024
Summary
The long-assumed chemistry of psilacetin, an unscheduled hallucinogen, is now confirmed: it acts as a prodrug for psilocin in vivo. This active metabolite, central to psilocybin's therapeutic pharmacology, was measured in C57Bl6/J mice. Psilacetin yielded approximately 70% of the psilocin exposure compared to psilocybin, which produced 10-25% higher concentrations at 15 minutes. These psychedelics and drug studies offer valuable insight, suggesting psilacetin is a viable alternative for exploring neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
Introduction The use of the psychedelic compound psilocybin in conjunction with psychotherapy has shown promising results in the treatment of psych...
A fatal case of aspiration due to consumption of the hallucinogenic tryptamine derivative dipropyltryptamine (DPT).
Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis – March 15, 2024
Summary
A rare hallucinogenic tryptamine led to a tragic outcome when a young man consumed it nasally. After ingestion, he experienced hallucinations followed by severe symptoms including seizures and vomiting. The situation progressed to circulatory collapse and aspiration of gastric contents. Analysis of body fluids revealed significant drug concentrations, marking the first documented fatal case involving this substance.
Abstract
This case involves a 20-year-old man with prior hallucinogen-use experience, who sniffed an unknown amount of dipropyltryptamine in an apartment. D...
Criticality supports cross-frequency cortical-thalamic information transfer during conscious states.
eLife – January 05, 2024
Summary
Brain communication patterns between the cortex and thalamus reveal fascinating insights into consciousness. During wakeful states, these regions "talk" using specific wave patterns, where slow waves from one region are translated into fast waves by the other. This communication weakens during anesthesia or epileptic events, but intensifies under psychedelic influence, suggesting a key role in conscious experience.
Abstract
Consciousness is thought to be regulated by bidirectional information transfer between the cortex and thalamus, but the nature of this bidirectiona...
A Systematic Review of Reporting Practices in Psychedelic Clinical Trials: Psychological Support, Therapy, and Psychosocial Interventions.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.) – December 01, 2023
Summary
Despite promising results in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), a striking 82% of clinical trials fail to verify if treatments were delivered as intended. Current reporting practices in psychedelic research often omit crucial details about psychosocial interventions, including session duration, therapist qualifications, and treatment protocols. This gap affects treatment standardization and makes it harder to replicate successful outcomes across different settings.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapy has gained significant attention in recent years. However, there is a lack of empirical clarity on the role of psychos...
Psychedelic renaissance: Revitalized potential therapies for psychiatric disorders.
Drug discovery today – December 01, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA are showing remarkable promise in treating severe psychiatric disorders, with success rates exceeding 60% in some clinical trials. These substances, when combined with therapy, offer new hope for treating depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder where traditional treatments have failed. Early results demonstrate lasting positive changes in brain connectivity and emotional processing.
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders represent the largest cause of disability worldwide. Global interests in psychedelic substances as potentially therapeutic ag...
Ayahuasca, Personality and Acute Psychological Effects in Neo-Shamanic and Religious Settings in Uruguay.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2023
Summary
Ayahuasca ceremonies in Uruguay reveal fascinating differences between religious and neo-shamanic settings. Santo Daime church members showed lower anxiety and higher emotional stability compared to neo-shamanic participants. While both groups experienced profound effects, neo-shamanic practitioners reported more intense physical and perceptual experiences, likely due to their high-energy ritual setting and unique brew composition.
Abstract
This study is an interdisciplinary research into Uruguayan ayahuasca users belonging to one neo-shamanic and one Santo Daime group. The study invol...
Survey of U.S. Residents and Their Usage of Electronic Cigarettes with Drugs Other Than Nicotine.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2024
Summary
One in three electronic cigarette users in the United States report using their devices for substances beyond nicotine. A nationwide survey reveals that vaping THC and other cannabinoids tops the list of alternative uses, with most users being young adult males. People typically vape these substances alone or with friends, raising concerns about impaired driving and public safety.
Abstract
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs), originally intended to be used as cigarette substitutes, have evolved into discreet devices for consuming drugs oth...
The risk of chronic psychedelic and MDMA microdosing for valvular heart disease
Journal of Psychopharmacology – August 12, 2023
Summary
Chronic microdosing of psychedelics like Lysergic acid diethylamide and Psilocybin may pose a heart valve risk. Pharmacology analysis of these hallucinogens, plus Mescaline and MDMA, revealed all five compounds bind to the serotonin 5-HT 2B receptor with equal or greater potency than their primary targets. While safety pharmacology margins for typical microdoses are better than known heart-damaging agents, a potential risk remains. Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis show MDMA's link to valvular heart disease at full doses. This insight into neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior informs future drug studies and medicine.
Abstract
Psychedelic microdosing is the practice of taking very low doses of psychedelic substances, typically over a longer period of time. The long-term s...
[Psychedelic Experiences: Phenomenology, Therapeutic Potentials and Explanatory Models].
Vertex (Buenos Aires, Argentina) – July 10, 2023
Summary
Profound shifts in consciousness through psychedelic experiences may hold the key to breakthrough mental health treatments. Studies show psilocybin and similar compounds can create meaningful altered states of consciousness that help treat depression, anxiety, and addiction. Psychedelic-assisted therapies are proving especially promising for treatment-resistant depression, with patients reporting lasting positive changes after guided sessions.
Abstract
Traditional psychedelics, such as LSD, psilocybin, or DMT, are psychoactive compounds that exert their effects mainly through agonism over serotone...
Are the NPS commonly used? An extensive investigation in Northern Italy based on hair analysis.
Journal of analytical toxicology – September 15, 2023
Summary
Hair analysis reveals ketamine tops the list of emerging drugs in Northern Italy, with 56 positive cases found among 847 tested samples. Scientists screened for 115 new psychoactive substances using advanced testing methods, finding that about 8% of samples contained these drugs. Ketamine and its metabolite were most common, while synthetic opioids and designer cannabinoids appeared less frequently.
Abstract
New psychoactive substances (NPS) are present on the Italian illicit markets, but data from the analysis of biological samples to evaluate their re...
Natural psychedelics in the treatment of depression; a review focusing on neurotransmitters.
Fitoterapia – September 01, 2023
Summary
Natural compounds like psilocybin and dimethyltryptamine show remarkable potential in treating depression, often working faster than traditional antidepressants. These natural psychedelics interact with the brain's neurotransmission system in unique ways, promoting neural plasticity and emotional processing. Research indicates a single dose can provide significant relief from depressive symptoms for weeks or months, with minimal side effects.
Abstract
Natural psychedelic compounds are emerging as potential novel therapeutics in psychiatry. This review will discuss how natural psychedelics exert t...
In vivo mapping of pharmacologically induced functional reorganization onto the human brain’s neurotransmitter landscape
Science Advances – June 14, 2023
Summary
The human brain's response to drugs reveals a profound link between molecular structure and behavior. Neuroscience shows diverse pharmacological agents, including 10 psychedelics and anesthetics, reorganize brain function by engaging multiple neurotransmitter systems. By mapping 19 neurotransmitter receptors and transporters, a clear influence on behavior emerged. This pharmacology insight has significant implications for Psychology and Medicine, informing drug studies and our understanding of brain disorders. Crucially, regional drug susceptibility mirrors vulnerability to structural alterations seen in conditions like those linked to Tryptophan imbalances.
Abstract
To understand how pharmacological interventions can exert their powerful effects on brain function, we need to understand how they engage the brain...
The Need for Psychiatric Treatment among Polish Users of Psychoactive Substances Is Increasing: This and Other Results from the Newest PolDrugs Survey
Medicina – May 09, 2023
Summary
A recent Polish survey of 1117 individuals revealed a near doubling in the percentage receiving psychiatric help in the past two years, with 41.7 percent currently in treatment for conditions like anxiety. Examining demographics and psychoactive substance use, the survey, disseminated via digital platforms, highlighted increases in psilocybin and other hallucinogen use. Marijuana remains a commonly used substance, underscoring ongoing needs in behavioral health and medicine. Understanding these trends is crucial for preventing harm and informing psychiatry and psychology practices.
Abstract
Background and Objectives: PolDrugs is the largest Polish naturalistic nationwide survey to present basic demographic and epidemiological data that...
Role of Psychedelics in Treatment-Resistant Depression.
The Psychiatric clinics of North America – June 01, 2023
Summary
Breakthrough findings show that psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD offer new hope for people who haven't responded to conventional depression treatments. Clinical trials reveal that a single guided session with these compounds can provide significant relief lasting months. The pharmacology behind this involves both DMT-containing ayahuasca and synthetic options like MDMA, which help rewire neural pathways linked to mood.
Abstract
There is increasing interest in exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Classic psychedelics (...
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Among psychedelic-experienced users, only past use of psilocybin reliably predicts nature relatedness
Journal of Psychopharmacology – January 01, 2023
Summary
Experience with the hallucinogen psilocybin uniquely predicts a stronger connection to nature, according to a reanalysis of 3817 participants. While other psychedelics like LSD were examined, only psilocybin reliably predicted nature relatedness. Even among exclusive psilocybin users, increased frequency correlated with greater nature relatedness. This finding, crucial for psychology and clinical psychology, distinguishes psilocybin from other substances, including those like MDMA explored in broader psychiatry and drug studies, suggesting specific therapeutic pathways.
Abstract
Background: Past research reports a positive relationship between experience with classic serotonergic psychedelics and nature relatedness (NR). Ho...
Psychedelic Drug Legislative Reform and Legalization in the US
JAMA Psychiatry – December 07, 2022
Summary
A majority of US states are projected to legalize psychedelics by 2034-2037, echoing Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. Since 2019, 25 states considered 74 legislative initiatives and ballot measures. Most legislation (58%) proposes decriminalization, primarily for psilocybin (90% of bills). However, only 35% outline licensure or training for medical use. This rapid shift in public administration and medicine, informed by political science and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, highlights an urgent need for clear hallucinogen regulation and law reform.
Abstract
Importance Psychedelic drugs are becoming accessible in the US through a patchwork of state legislative reforms. This shift necessitates consensus ...
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...
Neuroplasticity and Psychedelics: a comprehensive examination of classic and non-classic compounds in pre and clinical models
arXiv Preprint Archive – November 29, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin can rewire brain connections after just one dose, unlike traditional psychiatric medications. These compounds boost the brain's natural plasticity, helping neurons form new pathways and adapt to change. Studies show they create a window of enhanced learning and adaptation, leading to lasting improvements in mood and behavior.
Abstract
Neuroplasticity, the ability of the nervous system to adapt throughout an organism's lifespan, offers potential as both a biomarker and treatment t...
Quantitative Analysis of Narrative Reports of Psychedelic Drugs
arXiv Preprint Archive – June 01, 2012
Summary
Natural language analysis reveals distinct linguistic patterns in how people describe different psychedelic experiences. Using advanced q-bio.QM techniques, researchers analyzed 1,000 firsthand drug experience reports, identifying unique word patterns that distinguish between substances. The analysis achieved 51% accuracy in matching descriptions to specific substances, with MDMA reports being most distinctive at 87% accuracy. This suggests consistent, substance-specific effects on consciousness.
Abstract
Background: Psychedelic drugs facilitate profound changes in consciousness and have potential to provide insights into the nature of human mental p...
Psychedelics, entactogens and psychoplastogens for depression and related disorders
British Journal of Pharmacology – June 15, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics are revolutionizing Psychiatry. Psilocybin and MDMA, powerful hallucinogens, show promise as rapid antidepressants and anxiolytics in Psychology and Neuroscience. These Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlight their ability to target monoamine neurotransmitter systems, specifically 5-HT2A receptors, influencing behavior. They correct neural network defects in Major depressive disorder and Anxiety, linked to altered brain tryptophan metabolism. Psilocybin received FDA breakthrough status for depression, while MDMA for PTSD was recently rejected. This offers new hope for severe mental health conditions.
Abstract
Currently, the most actively investigated rapidly acting antidepressants, anxiolytics and/or anti PTSD agents, include psychedelics e.g. psilocybin...
Psychedelic Therapy: A Primer for Primary Care Clinicians – Part I. Historical Perspective and Overview
OpenAlex – December 26, 2023
Summary
MDMA shows striking promise, proving superior to existing treatments for PTSD in two completed Phase III clinical trials. This marks a new frontier in Psychiatry and Medicine. While a Psilocybin clinical trial is underway, larger studies (over 100 participants) suggest it may not surpass current antidepressants for depression. The pharmacology of various psychedelics, including Lysergic acid diethylamide and other hallucinogens, derived from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, offers significant hope for anxiety, influencing behavior via neurotransmitter receptors.
Abstract
Background: Psychedelic drugs have recently emerged as plausibly effective pharmacological agents for the management of depression, anxiety, and ot...
Amazonian Ayahuasca and Mental Health Outcomes
CORE – June 17, 2024
Summary
Traditional Amazonian plant medicine shows promising effects on mental well-being and personal growth. Analysis of retreat participants revealed significant improvements in depression, anxiety, and stress levels after ceremonial use. The brew's unique combination of natural compounds appears to promote positive personality changes and deeper connection to nature, while participants reported meaningful psychological insights during sessions. Results suggest careful, traditional administration may offer therapeutic benefits.
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a psychedelic plant brew originating from the Amazon Rainforest. It is formed from two basic components, the Banisteriopsis caapi vine...
Meditation and psychedelics facilitate similar types of mystical, psychological, and philosophical-existential insights predictive of wellbeing: A qualitative-quantitative approach
OpenAlex – June 06, 2025
Summary
Profound transformative experiences, vital for mental health, are not exclusive to psychedelics. Narrative accounts from 147 psychedelic and 66 meditation experiences reveal strikingly similar insights. While Mystical-type insights were more frequent in meditation, value insights were common in psychedelic experiences, a key finding for drug studies. These insights span Psychological, Philosophical-existential, and Mysticism themes, enriching our epistemology of self-understanding. Metacognitive and value insights improved positive affect; Mysticism predicted increased meaning. Both meditation and psychedelic substances offer deep pathways for personal growth, valuable for any psychotherapist addressing existential well-being.
Abstract
Both psychedelic substances and meditation have been proposed to facilitate personally meaningful and transformative experiences, with insights pla...
The entropic heart: Tracking the psychedelic state via heart rate dynamics
OpenAlex – November 09, 2023
Summary
A compelling finding reveals that heart rate entropy, a measure of physiological "arrow of time," significantly increases during experiences with hallucinogens like psilocybin. Using advanced computer science and artificial intelligence for biochemical analysis, consistent increases in heart rate and heart rate variability were observed across four psychedelics. Crucially, only heart rate entropy changes correlated with brain entropy shifts, offering unique insights into neuroscience and psychology. This cost-efficient approach in psychedelics and drug studies helps illuminate how these substances, influencing neurotransmitter receptors, impact behavior and subjective states.
Abstract
A growing body of work shows that autonomic signals provide a privileged evidence-stream to capture various aspects of subjective and neural states...
Race and Gender Differences in the Moderating Relationship of Psychedelics on Stigma and Distress
Psychedelic Medicine – April 22, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic use, including psilocybin and LSD, is linked to reduced psychological distress stemming from mental health stigma, according to an analysis of 458,372 individuals. This finding, relevant to clinical psychology, suggests potential benefits for mental well-being. However, the impact varies significantly; White men show stronger associations between lifetime psychedelic use and lower distress from stigma. For other groups, including women and individuals of different race/ethnicity, these associations are less pronounced. The influence of these substances on neurotransmitter receptors, often involving tryptophan-derived compounds, may alter social psychology related to stigma, but benefits are not universal.
Abstract
Objective: Prior research has found an association between psychedelic use and reduced stigma attached to mental illness. However, whether psychede...
A review of psychedelics trials completed in depression, informed by European regulatory perspectives.
Neuroscience applied.. – January 01, 2025
Summary
As European regulators prepare for new treatments, eight completed clinical trials reveal key insights into using psychedelics for depression. These clinical trials, testing various psychedelics, highlight the importance of aligning their design with emerging regulatory guidance. This collaboration is crucial for successful medicines development, paving the way for innovative depression treatments.
Abstract
There is a growing body of clinical research on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for the treatment of mental health disorders, notably dep...
Treatment and therapy of mental health conditions in the Global South using psychedelics: A scoping review and narrative synthesis
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – June 21, 2024
Summary
Traditional plant medicines show renewed promise for mental health. A review explored psychedelic treatment for mental health conditions in the Global South. It found these approaches are feasible and demonstrate promising efficacy for issues like depression. Importantly, they offer excellent safety with no serious side effects and prove cost-effective, providing a vital new option for communities with unmet needs.
Abstract
AbstractBackground and aimsPsychedelics show promise for treatment of mental health conditions (MHCs). But there is relatively little research on i...
A placebo-controlled study of the effects of ayahuasca, set and setting on mental health of participants in ayahuasca group retreats
Psychopharmacology – March 10, 2021
Summary
Strikingly, participants experiencing Ayahuasca ceremonies reported improved mental health, including reduced anxiety and depression, even when receiving a Placebo. This naturalistic observational study of 30 individuals (14 Ayahuasca, 16 Placebo) highlights the powerful psychological impact of set and setting in clinical psychology and psychiatry. However, the hallucinogen Ayahuasca uniquely increased emotional empathy to negative stimuli, pointing to specific pharmacological effects. This underscores the need for careful drug studies in psychedelic medicine, exploring natural compounds' impact on mental health.
Abstract
Abstract Ayahuasca is a plant concoction containing N,N -dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and certain β-carboline alkaloids from South America. Previous re...
Ayahuasca: Psychological and Physiologic Effects, Pharmacology and Potential Uses in Addiction and Mental Illness
Current Neuropharmacology – March 02, 2018
Summary
Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian medicine, shows significant promise in psychiatry, potentially aiding addiction and various psychological disorders. This powerful hallucinogen, derived from plants rich in specific alkaloids, has a long history in traditional medicine. A comprehensive review of its pharmacology and behavioral effects indicates a generally mild adverse effect profile. Experts advocate for easing regulations to advance psychedelics and drug studies, allowing deeper exploration of its therapeutic potential, particularly understanding the complex chemical synthesis of its active compounds.
Abstract
Background: Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian decoction with psychoactive properties, is made from bark of the Banisteriopsis caapi vine (containi...
Evidence that 5-HT2A receptor signalling efficacy and not biased agonism differentiates serotonergic psychedelic from non-psychedelic drugs.
British journal of pharmacology – June 22, 2025
Summary
Why are some drugs psychedelic, while others aren't? Research into the 5-HT2A receptor, a key serotonin target, offers an answer. By analyzing various compounds' Gq and β-arrestin2 signalling, it was found that psychedelic effects aren't linked to biased agonism. Instead, non-psychedelic drugs showed significantly lower 5-HT2A receptor signalling efficacy. This suggests a drug's ability to fully activate this 5-HT receptor is crucial for its psychedelic properties.
Abstract
Serotonergic psychedelic drugs are under investigation as therapies for various psychiatric disorders, including major depression. Although seroton...
What fMRI studies say about the nature of the psychedelic effect: a scoping review
Frontiers in Neuroscience – July 01, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin profoundly reshape brain function, showing promise for mental health. A comprehensive review of dozens of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies in neuroscience reveals consistent patterns. These serotonergic compounds induce a "de-differentiation" of brain networks, notably impacting the default mode network, thalamus, and amygdala. This insight from cognitive psychology, leveraging diverse fMRI approaches, highlights ego dissolution's importance, advancing our understanding of how these serotonergic substances influence behavior in drug studies through biochemical analysis.
Abstract
Research on psychedelic drugs, such as psilocybin, LSD or DMT, is a burgeoning field, with an increasing number of studies showing their promise in...
Neurochemical models of near-death experiences: A large-scale study based on the semantic similarity of written reports.
Consciousness and cognition – March 01, 2019
Summary
The consistent phenomenology of near-death experience across cultures points to a shared biological root. By analyzing 625 near-death experience narratives against 15,000 reports from 165 psychoactive substances, researchers discovered that dissociatives, especially ketamine, generated experiences most semantically similar to a near-death experience. Psychedelics also showed strong parallels. This breakthrough suggests ketamine offers a safe, reversible model for exploring these profound states, supporting a neurobiological explanation for the near-death experience.
Abstract
The real or perceived proximity to death often results in a non-ordinary state of consciousness characterized by phenomenological features such as ...
Correlates of new psychoactive substance use among a self-selected sample of nightclub attendees in the United States.
The American journal on addictions – August 01, 2016
Summary
Nearly half of nightclub attendees surveyed reported using new psychoactive substances. Researchers explored substance use patterns among 2,282 US nightclub-goers, revealing a significant prevalence (46.4%) of novel compounds like synthetic cannabinoids and stimulants. Key findings indicate that younger individuals, males, and those who attend clubs more frequently show increased likelihood of using these substances. This valuable insight helps identify populations where targeted harm reduction strategies can be most effective, promoting safer environments.
Abstract
Although new psychoactive substances (NPS) continue to emerge at a rapid rate, US national surveys only measure the use of non-specific categories ...
Psychosis, psychedelic substance misuse and head injury: A case report and 23 year follow-up.
Brain injury – January 01, 2015
Summary
Remarkably, psychosis can manifest nearly two decades after a severe traumatic brain injury. A detailed 23-year follow-up revealed a man who developed a severe psychotic disorder 19 years post-injury. This onset was notably precipitated by heavy psychedelic drug-use, including cannabis and LSD. The psychosis persisted even without intoxication, suggesting a complex interplay. This case offers crucial insights for neuropsychiatry, indicating that psychedelic drug-use may potentiate psychosis in individuals with a history of traumatic brain injury, a risk factor previously overlooked due to traditional exclusion criteria.
Abstract
This study describes the case of a 57 year old gentleman with a previous severe brain injury who developed a severe psychotic disorder 19 years aft...
The effects of non-medically used psychoactive drugs on monoamine neurotransmission in rat brain.
European journal of pharmacology – March 22, 2007
Summary
The brain's intricate communication relies on neurotransmitters, but some psychoactive drugs can dramatically disrupt this balance. A study using a novel method with rat brain cells explored how various non-medical substances affect monoamine neurotransmission. It focused on the re-uptake and release of crucial chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. Researchers found that several designer drugs, including specific phenethylamine, tryptamine, and piperazine derivatives, powerfully inhibited re-uptake and significantly increased the release of these neurotransmitters. This strong impact on the central nervous system highlights their potent ability to alter brain function, often to the same extent as restricted drugs.
Abstract
We developed a reproducible, simple, and small-scale method for determining the re-uptake and release of monoamines (dopamine, serotonin (5-HT) and...
Determination of potentially hallucinogenic N-dimethylated indoleamines in human urine by HPLC/ESI-MS-MS.
Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation – January 01, 2001
Summary
Did you know certain natural compounds, potentially linked to altered states, can be precisely measured in the body? A new method using specialized chemical analysis accurately detects substances like bufotenine in human urine. Applying this advanced technique to patient samples, bufotenine was consistently present in notable amounts. Crucially, psychiatric patients exhibited higher bufotenine levels than other patient groups, providing clear data on its excretion patterns.
Abstract
A new method for the determination of N,N-dimethyl-5-hydroxytryptamine (bufotenine), N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT)*, 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamin...
Pharmañopo-psychonautics: human intranasal, sublingual, intrarectal, pulmonary and oral pharmacology of bufotenine.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2001
Summary
Compounds found in traditional South American shamanic preparations, like bufotenine, produce powerful visionary experiences. Human self-experiments confirmed bufotenine's profound effects across various routes. Crucially, combining it with MAO-inhibitors significantly boosts its intranasal potency, validating a 1967 hypothesis about how these ancient mixtures enhance their impact. These bioassays successfully modeled traditional practices, confirming their effectiveness.
Abstract
Summarized are psychonautic bioassays (human self-experiments) of pharmañopo--crystalline bufotenine (5-HO-DMT; 5-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine; d...
Bufotenine: toward an understanding of possible psychoactive mechanisms.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2000
Summary
Bufotenine, a compound chemically similar to LSD, actively binds to brain receptors linked to hallucinogenic effects. Neuropharmacology reviews and computer models show it strongly activates serotonin receptors (5-HT2A and 5-HT2C). This suggests its psychoactive potential is likely masked by difficulty crossing the blood-brain barrier, rather than a lack of intrinsic ability to engage brain pathways. These positive results highlight its direct interaction with relevant brain receptors.
Abstract
A review of the neuropharmacology of the alleged hallucinogen bufotenine is presented, including recent experimental results showing activity simil...
A general screening and confirmation approach to the analysis of designer tryptamines and phenethylamines in blood and urine using GC-EI-MS and HPLC-electrospray-MS.
Journal of analytical toxicology – September 01, 2004
Summary
Identifying new designer drugs in the body poses a unique challenge for forensic science. A new approach effectively addresses this by providing reliable `detection` and `quantitation` in `blood` and `urine`. Researchers successfully employed `GC-EI-MS` to screen for various designer tryptamines and phenethylamines, demonstrating high sensitivity and accuracy. This method was successfully applied to real-world samples. Further confirmation and detailed `quantitation` of specific compounds were achieved using `HPLC-electrospray-MS`, which also identified key metabolic byproducts. This robust analytical framework significantly enhances the ability to identify these substances in biological samples.
Abstract
Recent additions of designer tryptamines and phenethylamines to the Drug Enforcement Administration's schedule of controlled substances necessitate...
Bufo alvarius: a potent hallucinogen of animal origin.
Journal of ethnopharmacology – January 01, 1994
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Anthropologists have long speculated that ancient peoples of Mesoameria used a toad, Bufo marinus, as a ritual intoxicant. This hypothesis rests on...
Do functional relationships exist between 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 receptors?
Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior – August 01, 1990
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
To investigate the possible functional relationship between 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptors, we studied the effects of a nonselective 5-HT agonist (5-MeO...
The effects of 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin and other serotonergic agonists on performance in a radial maze: a possible role for 5-HT1A receptors in memory.
Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior – August 01, 1987
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
A group of ten rats was trained to obtain food pellets in an 8-arm radial maze. The effects of pretreatment with (+)-Lysergic acid diethylamide (+)...
Evidence for 5-HT2 involvement in the mechanism of action of hallucinogenic agents.
Life sciences – December 17, 1984
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
The affinities (Ki values) of twenty two psycho-active agents, including LSD, 5-OMe DMT and a series of phenalkylamine derivatives, for cortical 5-...
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...
Modulatory effects of ayahuasca on personality structure in a traditional framework
Psychopharmacology – July 23, 2020
Summary
Ayahuasca, a potent hallucinogen, significantly reduced neuroticism in 24 participants, with effects lasting six months. This finding in clinical psychology supports the growing field of Psychedelics and Drug Studies, suggesting its unique chemical synthesis and alkaloids influence behavior via neurotransmitter receptors. Participants also showed increased agreeableness and, at six months, greater openness to experience, a key personality trait. These positive shifts in personality, similar to those seen with psilocybin, indicate Ayahuasca's potential therapeutic role in psychology.
Abstract
Abstract Abstract Ayahuasca is a psychoactive plant brew containing dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). It originate...
Psilocybin, psychological distress, and suicidality
Journal of Psychopharmacology – September 01, 2015
Summary
Lifetime psilocybin use significantly correlates with reduced psychological distress and suicidality. Among 191,832 U.S. adults, those reporting only psilocybin (a potent hallucinogen) use (2.47% of the sample) exhibited the greatest reductions in distress and suicidal thoughts, planning, and attempts. This finding, crucial for Psychology and Clinical Psychology, suggests psilocybin's potential in Psychiatry and Medicine. It offers psychotherapists a new avenue within Psychedelics and Drug Studies for managing psychological distress, hinting at its unique chemical synthesis and influence on behavior.
Abstract
Hendricks et al. (2015) found that having ever used any classic psychedelic substance—namely, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), ayahuasca, lysergic acid di...
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...
“The mushroom was more alive and vibrant”: Patient reports of synthetic versus organic forms of psilocybin
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – October 29, 2024
Summary
For mental health, whole Psilocybe mushrooms and their extracts offer a more natural and superior experience than synthetic psilocybin. Participants in a Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy program for end-of-life distress reported that while synthetic psilocybin, whole *Psilocybe cubensis*, and mycological extract all provided emotional insight and mystical experiences, synthetic psilocybin felt less natural and had an inferior overall quality. This suggests future Psychedelics and Drug Studies in psychology and psychiatry should prioritize natural mushroom compounds in medicine, moving beyond synthetic drug forms.
Abstract
Abstract Interest in psychedelic research in the West is surging, however, clinical trials have almost exclusively studied synthetic compounds such...
Psychological and neuropsychological assessment of regular hoasca users.
Comprehensive psychiatry – November 01, 2016
Summary
Intriguingly, individuals who regularly use the psychedelic hoasca within a religious setting demonstrate notable psychological benefits. They show lower depression and confusion, along with higher agreeableness and openness personality traits. These users also report an improved quality of life and better memory. Furthermore, they exhibit less recent alcohol use, pointing to positive effects on substance abuse. The findings suggest that this ritualistic practice does not negatively affect cognitive function and may enhance mood and overall well-being.
Abstract
Hoasca (also called ayahuasca) is a N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) - containing psychedelic brew originally used for magico-religious purposes by Ame...
Sociodemographic and mental-health characteristics of psychedelic-assisted therapy participants: Latent class analysis of a cross-sectional, purposive online sample
OpenAlex – February 28, 2025
Summary
Individuals with high lifetime involvement in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) report elevated depression and anxiety, a compelling finding from a cross-sectional study. Analyzing a nonprobability sample of 244 PAT patients, a latent class model identified three groups: High-PAT (55.7%), Medium-PAT (29.1%), and a unique Psilocybin-Ketamine class (15.2%). This psychology-focused research suggests a link between extensive PAT engagement and mental health challenges, informing clinical psychology, medicine, and psychiatry regarding these psychedelics.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is an emerging treatment approach that often combines pharmacotherapeutic dosing sessions with more traditional ...