Research
Microdosing psychedelics: Demographics, practices, and psychiatric comorbidities
Journal of Psychopharmacology – February 28, 2020
Summary
Individuals microdosing hallucinogens like psilocybin were significantly less likely to report anxiety disorders (OR = 0.61) or substance use disorders (OR = 0.17). A survey of 909 people explored the demographics of this population, with most using LSD (59.3%) or psilocybin (25.9%) at sub-hallucinogenic doses. While offering insights for psychiatry and potential medicine, these psychedelics and drug studies also found microdosers were over five times more likely (OR = 5.2) to use other recreational substances. Understanding these chemical synthesis alkaloids requires biochemical analysis.
Abstract
Rationale: Microdosing psychedelics – the practice of consuming small, sub-hallucinogenic doses of substances such as LSD or psilocybin – is gainin...
Toxicity of ayahuasca after 28 days daily exposure and effects on monoamines and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in brain of Wistar rats
Metabolic Brain Disease – February 27, 2020
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
Scalable Hybrid Synthetic/Biocatalytic Route to Psilocybin
Chemistry - A European Journal – February 26, 2020
Summary
Producing 1 gram of psilocybin, a key psychedelic alkaloid, in just 20 minutes is now possible using a mushroom enzyme. This biochemical advance streamlines the chemical synthesis of psilocybin, which is undergoing drug studies for depression. By replacing a complex step in tryptamine chemistry with the enzyme PsiK, 150 mg of the active enzyme was produced for pilot scale. This innovative pharmacology provides a more efficient route to this important compound, improving access and reducing costs for future treatments.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin, the principal indole alkaloid of Psilocybe mushrooms, is currently undergoing clinical trials as a medication against treatmen...
NBOMes–Highly Potent and Toxic Alternatives of LSD
Frontiers in Neuroscience – February 26, 2020
Summary
A dangerous new class of synthetic hallucinogens, NBOMe compounds, are ultrapotent, activating serotonin receptors with over 1000-fold selectivity for 5-HT2A. Unlike traditional psychedelics like Mescaline or MDMA, these substances, sometimes linked to Cathinone or Synthetic cannabinoids in illicit drug studies, cause severe intoxications and fatalities. Adverse effects include mydriasis, seizures, and multi-organ failure. Their pharmacology highlights a critical neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, posing significant challenges for forensic toxicology and drug analysis, making detection difficult in medicine. Anesthesia may be needed for severe cases.
Abstract
Recently, a new class of psychedelic compounds named NBOMe (or 25X-NBOMe) has appeared on the illegal drug market. NBOMes are analogs of the 2C fam...
Self-reported negative outcomes of psilocybin users: A quantitative textual analysis
PLoS ONE – February 21, 2020
Summary
Bad trips with the hallucinogen Psilocybin are more frequent in female users, often involving thinking distortions. Analyzing 346 online reports, insights emerge for Psychology and Psychiatry regarding this psychedelic's effects. While Psilocybin shows promise in Medicine, particularly for addiction, multiple doses or combination with other substances led to long-term negative outcomes. Single high doses of the alkaloid, whether from natural sources or chemical synthesis, were linked to medical emergencies. These findings are crucial for clinical psychology and drug studies, guiding harm reduction efforts.
Abstract
Psilocybin, a substance mainly found in mushrooms of the genus psilocybe, has been historically used for ritualistic, recreational and, more recent...
Determination of N,N-dimethyltryptamine and beta-carbolines in plants used to prepare ayahuasca beverages by means of solid-phase extraction and gas-chromatography–mass spectrometry
SN Applied Sciences – February 21, 2020
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
Learning to Let Go: A Cognitive-Behavioral Model of How Psychedelic Therapy Promotes Acceptance
Frontiers in Psychiatry – February 21, 2020
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted therapies combat psychopathology by reducing experiential avoidance and fostering acceptance. A psychology model suggests that in a controlled context, psychedelics relax beliefs, motivating acceptance. This cognitive process, showing parallels with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, facilitates avoidance-free exposure to intense private events. Such learning revises avoidance beliefs, explaining long-term acceptance increases for clinical psychology and psychotherapists in Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
The efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapies for mental disorders has been attributed to the lasting change from experiential avoidance to accept...
Reflections on crafting an ayahuasca community guide for the awareness of sexual abuse
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – February 20, 2020
Summary
An alarming aspect of ayahuasca use is the potential for sexual abuse, highlighted by the development of guidelines aimed at raising awareness in various settings. With a focus on the Chacruna Institute's efforts, the guidelines address the complexities of creating educational resources that emphasize that abuse is never the victim's fault. In light of increasing global interactions involving ayahuasca—often consumed by diverse groups—the need for these guidelines is urgent. Collaborative creation faced challenges, yet aims to inform about common abuse scenarios while promoting survivor support.
Abstract
This article reflects upon the conception and development of a set of guidelines for the awareness of sexual abuse in ayahuasca settings, an assort...
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Tryptamines Found in Hallucinogenic Mushrooms: Norbaeocystin, Baeocystin, Norpsilocin, and Aeruginascin
Journal of Natural Products – February 20, 2020
Summary
A compelling finding reveals not all tryptamines in psilocybin-producing mushrooms are hallucinogens. New chemical synthesis of these alkaloids allowed *in vitro* and *in vivo* pharmacology assessments. Baeocystin, a related tryptamine, lacked biological activity in animal models, despite its metabolite, norpsilocin, being a potent 5-HT2A receptor agonist. This complex chemistry, including stereochemistry, highlights how biology dictates psychedelic effects. Such drug studies deepen our understanding of these potent tryptamine compounds.
Abstract
A general synthetic method was developed to access known tryptamine natural products present in psilocybin-producing mushrooms. In vitro and in viv...
Emerging Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies: Implications for Nursing Practice
Journal of Mental Health and Addiction Nursing – February 19, 2020
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is showing unprecedented success in treating mental illness and addictions, transforming Medicine and Psychology. A review of 20 years of literature reveals that while Natural Compound Pharmacology Studies are advancing, nursing's vital role in this emerging field remains largely undefined. Nurses, as advocates for safe, ethical practice in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, are uniquely positioned to lead the development of practice, policy, and education. Their expertise is crucial for integrating these powerful treatments, derived from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, into mainstream care.
Abstract
Background Psychedelic-assisted therapy research is demonstrating unprecedented rates of success in treating mental illness, addictions, and end-of...
Posttraumatic Growth After MDMA‐Assisted Psychotherapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Journal of Traumatic Stress – February 19, 2020
Summary
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) led to significant positive changes in participants' lives. In a sample of 60 individuals, those receiving active MDMA (n = 45) experienced greater posttraumatic growth (PTG), with an effect size of 1.14, compared to a placebo group (n = 15). At the 12-month follow-up, 67.2% of participants no longer met PTSD criteria, alongside notable reductions in symptom severity. These findings highlight the potential of PTG as a valuable outcome in PTSD treatment.
Abstract
Abstract 3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)–assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been shown to significantly r...
Synaptic clock as a neural substrate of consciousness
arXiv Preprint Archive – February 18, 2020
Summary
Our perception of time isn't uniform - it varies based on what we're experiencing. New research in q-bio.NC reveals how our brain's synaptic mechanisms create these flexible "time windows" of consciousness. Different types of information processing require different durations to enter awareness, suggesting consciousness itself may be fundamentally based on change rather than static states. This finding helps explain why time seems to speed up or slow down during various experiences.
Abstract
In this theoretical work the temporal aspect of consciousness is analyzed. We start from the notion that while conscious experience seems to change...
Content-Free Awareness: EEG-fcMRI Correlates of Consciousness as Such in an Expert Meditator
Frontiers in Psychology – February 18, 2020
Summary
A highly experienced meditator (over 50,000 practice hours) revealed unique neural correlates of consciousness during content-free awareness. Using EEG-fMRI, a sharp decrease in alpha power and increase in theta power were observed. Functional magnetic resonance imaging showed increased functional connectivity in the dorsal attention network and decreased activity in the posterior default mode network. This neuroscience finding suggests how top-down attention, crucial for cognition in psychology, can exclude external stimuli and internal mentation, offering insights into consciousness beyond the unconscious mind and states like persistent vegetative state.
Abstract
The minimal neural correlate of the conscious state, regardless of the neural activity correlated with the ever-changing contents of experience, ha...
Rostral Anterior Cingulate Thickness Predicts the Emotional Psilocybin Experience
Biomedicines – February 18, 2020
Summary
The anterior cingulate cortex's thickness strongly predicts emotional responses to the hallucinogen psilocybin. Among 55 healthy adults receiving oral psilocybin (0.160 or 0.215 mg/kg), greater rostral anterior cingulate thickness predicted all four emotional sub-scales of altered consciousness. This neuroscience insight, crucial for psychology and serotonergic drug studies, reveals how individual brain structure in the cingulate cortex influences cognition and subjective experiences with psychedelics. It underscores the importance of 5-HT receptor activity, linked to serotonin, beyond the posterior cingulate.
Abstract
Psilocybin is the psychoactive compound of mushrooms in the psilocybe species. Psilocybin directly affects a number of serotonin receptors, with hi...
Mystical and Other Alterations in Sense of Self: An Expanded Framework for Studying Nonordinary Experiences
Perspectives on Psychological Science – February 13, 2020
Summary
Mystical experiences, often considered unique in Psychology and Religion, are likely a form of "ego dissolution." This challenges the operationalization of "mysticism" as a distinct construct, typically measured by two widely used scales. Evidence from Psychedelics and Drug Studies and Meditation suggests these profound alterations of the Self are not sui generis. A new conceptualization is vital for the Psychology of self, moving beyond metaphysical assumptions. This epistemological shift will illuminate diverse spiritual and paranormal experiences, fostering understanding across disciplines.
Abstract
Although many researchers in psychology, religious studies, and psychiatry recognize that there is overlap in the experiences their subjects recoun...
Population Survey Data Informing the Therapeutic Potential of Classic and Novel Phenethylamine, Tryptamine, and Lysergamide Psychedelics
Frontiers in Psychiatry – February 11, 2020
Summary
A large population survey reveals classic tryptamines are linked to significantly reduced psychological distress and suicidal thoughts. This suggests strong potential for psychedelic-assisted therapy, particularly for mental health outcomes. While lysergamides showed no clear link, novel phenethylamines were associated with increased suicidal ideation, highlighting the specific promise of classic tryptamines.
Abstract
IntroductionThe majority of contemporary psychedelic research has focused on ayahuasca, lysergic acid diethylamide, and psilocybin, though there ar...
Emotions and brain function are altered up to one month after a single high dose of psilocybin.
Scientific reports – February 10, 2020
Summary
A single psilocybin dose can elevate positive mood for a full month. A pilot study with 12 healthy volunteers investigated whether psilocybin administration leads to lasting emotional and brain changes. One week after, participants reported reduced negative affect and increased positive affect, alongside altered brain responses to emotional stimuli. Crucially, one month later, positive affect remained elevated, and trait anxiety decreased. Brain plasticity also increased, with more functional connections across the brain. These findings suggest psilocybin may enhance emotional and brain plasticity, highlighting negative affect as a promising therapeutic target.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a classic psychedelic compound that may have efficacy for the treatment of mood and substance use disorders. Acute psilocybin effects...
Identification of 1-Butyl-Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (1B-LSD) in Seized Blotter Paper Using an Integrated Workflow of Analytical Techniques and Chemo-Informatics
Molecules – February 07, 2020
Summary
The identification of a new lysergic acid diethylamide derivative, 1-butyl-lysergic acid diethylamide (1B-LSD), was achieved from a single blotter paper seized by Swedish customs, containing only 30–100 micrograms. This advanced analysis employed a combination of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, along with liquid chromatography and high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry, supported by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The effective use of a chemo-informatics platform facilitated the thorough characterization of this emerging substance, which is gaining traction in the street drug market.
Abstract
The rapid dispersion of new psychoactive substances (NPS) presents challenges to customs services and analytical laboratories, which are involved i...
Biomedical analysis of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) of natural origin.
Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis – February 05, 2020
Summary
Many plants harbor potent alkaloids that function as natural new psychoactive substances. This work reviewed methods for their biomedical analysis in various biological and non-biological matrices. Significant progress shows robust techniques successfully identify these compounds from individual plants. While comprehensive methods for diverse plant species are still developing, existing advancements offer crucial insights into these natural new psychoactive substances.
Abstract
New psychoactive substances (NPS) can be divided into two main groups: synthetic molecules and active principles of natural origin. With respect to...
Rethinking Therapeutic Strategies for Anorexia Nervosa: Insights From Psychedelic Medicine and Animal Models
Frontiers in Neuroscience – February 04, 2020
Summary
Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disease, with current treatments largely ineffective. Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, offers new hope. This psychedelic medicine shows promise for addressing cognitive inflexibility and neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior in AN. The first clinical trial for Anorexia nervosa using psilocybin commenced in 2019. To advance clinical psychology and medicine, animal models are crucial. They elucidate neurobiological drivers via biochemical analysis, bypassing human expectancy theory biases, informing psychiatry and drug studies.
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa (AN) has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disease, yet available pharmacological treatments are largely ineffective d...
Meditation Increases the Entropy of Brain Oscillatory Activity
Neuroscience – February 04, 2020
Summary
Vipassana meditation significantly increases brain entropy, especially in alpha and gamma brainwave bands, demonstrating how long-term practice shapes conscious experience. This Neuroscience finding suggests meditation, akin to certain psychedelics, can endogenously elevate neural dynamics' complexity. Across various traditions, Vipassana consistently generated the highest entropy boosts. All practices also enhanced gamma band coherence. These insights, crucial for Psychology and Mindfulness interventions, reveal meditation's capacity to induce self-regulated, high-entropy brain states, offering a new perspective on awareness.
Abstract
We address the hypothesis that the entropy of neural dynamics indexes the intensity and quality of conscious content. Previous work established tha...
Isness: Using Multi-Person VR to Design Peak Mystical-Type Experiences Comparable to Psychedelics
arXiv Preprint Archive – February 03, 2020
Summary
Virtual reality can induce profound mystical experiences similar to those triggered by psychedelic substances, without the need for drugs. A groundbreaking human-computer interaction (cs.HC) experiment showed that carefully designed VR environments can create transformative group experiences where participants perceive themselves as pure energy, fostering deep feelings of connection and transcendence. Data from 57 participants revealed emotional responses matching those reported in clinical studies of psilocybin and LSD.
Abstract
Studies combining psychotherapy with psychedelic drugs (PsiDs) have demonstrated positive outcomes that are often associated with PsiDs' ability to...
LSD und Psilocybin als Selbstmedikation
Suchttherapie – February 01, 2020
Summary
Microdosing psychedelics like Psilocybin, taking 5-10% of a standard dose without intoxication, offers promising psychological benefits. Initial Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveal improvements in well-being, cognitive performance, and reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety. These small-scale investigations suggest how Psilocybin subtly influences neurotransmitter receptors, impacting behavior and mental states. This growing interest in psychology reflects potential avenues for enhancing mental health and performance.
Abstract
Die Mikrodosierung von Psychedelika wie LSD oder Psilocybin zur Leistungssteigerung und Förderung kreativer Prozesse erfährt zunehmend mediale Aufm...
A review of emerging therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs in the treatment of psychiatric illnesses
Journal of the Neurological Sciences – January 31, 2020
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
Richard Alpert (Ram Dass): Harvard psychologist who experimented with psychedelic drugs and became one of America’s most prominent and respected spiritual leaders
BMJ – January 31, 2020
Summary
Nothing in Richard Alpert's early life, despite his psychology doctorate, predicted his iconic path. At Harvard, he joined Timothy Leary's drug studies, exploring psilocybin's clinical potential. Alpert's own 10 mg psilocybin experience profoundly questioned consciousness, a realm also explored by psychology and even psychoanalysis. He then collaborated, giving psilocybin and LSD to diverse groups, including students and prisoners, defining 1960s psychedelics and drug studies. Credit: Dassima Kathleen Murphy
Abstract
Credit: Dassima Kathleen Murphy Nothing in Richard Alpert’s early life could have predicted that he would come to embody the spirit of the psychede...
Psychedelic therapy: Fresh promise for mental health
Mental Health Weekly – January 24, 2020
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is experiencing a powerful resurgence, promising a new era in mental health medicine. Under a psychotherapist's supervision, carefully controlled hallucinogens like Psilocybin and Lysergic acid diethylamide are being used to treat severe conditions, including extreme depression and PTSD. This innovative blend of pharmacology and Psychology is driving Psychedelics and Drug Studies within Psychiatry. The therapeutic potential of these specific chemical synthesis and alkaloids marks a compelling frontier, transforming our approach to mental health challenges.
Abstract
Psychedelic‐assisted psychotherapy is seeing a resurgence as a treatment approach for mental health disorders. It melds pharmacology and psychother...
Detection of acute 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) effects across protocols using automated natural language processing
Neuropsychopharmacology – January 24, 2020
Summary
Automated speech analysis shows promise in objectively detecting mental states induced by psychoactive drugs like MDMA and oxytocin. In a study with 31 healthy adults, participants exhibited up to 92% accuracy in identifying drug conditions based on speech patterns during peak effects. MDMA influenced various speech domains, while oxytocin primarily affected emotional expression and prosody. The findings suggest that speech variability can serve as an objective marker for understanding neuroendocrine regulation and behavior during drug intoxication, marking a significant advancement in cognitive psychology and neuroscience.
Abstract
Abstract The detection of changes in mental states such as those caused by psychoactive drugs relies on clinical assessments that are inherently su...
Persisting Reductions in Cannabis, Opioid, and Stimulant Misuse After Naturalistic Psychedelic Use: An Online Survey
Frontiers in Psychiatry – January 22, 2020
Summary
People struggling with addiction might find a path to recovery through psychedelics. Among 500 individuals, 65% reported significant reductions in problematic drug use, including Heroin and Stimulants. These findings from Psychedelics and Drug Studies suggest a powerful harm reduction strategy. Compounds like Psilocybin and MDMA, known as Hallucinogens, influence Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior. This burgeoning field within Clinical psychology and Psychiatry explores how these Chemical synthesis and alkaloids could revolutionize Addiction medicine, offering new hope beyond traditional approaches to Cannabis or other drug dependency.
Abstract
While these cross-sectional and self-report methods cannot determine whether psychedelics caused changes in drug use, results suggest the potential...
Transformative experience and social connectedness mediate the mood-enhancing effects of psychedelic use in naturalistic settings
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences – January 21, 2020
Summary
Psychedelic substances, whose effects are explored in Drug Studies and understood via biochemical analysis, significantly boost positive mood and social connectedness in naturalistic settings. Over 1,200 participants revealed profound psychological shifts. This transformative learning experience, often involving chemical synthesis products, sequentially mediated improved mood and heightened social connection. These insights from social and cognitive psychology provide robust evidence for psychedelics' positive affective consequences, relevant for psychotherapists.
Abstract
Past research suggests that use of psychedelic substances such as LSD or psilocybin may have positive effects on mood and feelings of social connec...
Therapeutic Use of LSD in Psychiatry: A Systematic Review of Randomized-Controlled Clinical Trials
Frontiers in Psychiatry – January 21, 2020
Summary
Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveal LSD's therapeutic promise in mental health. A systematic review of 11 randomized controlled trials, spanning psychiatry and clinical psychology, examined its use in medicine. Analyzing 567 patients, receiving 20-800 mcg of LSD, evidence suggests significant short-term reductions in psychiatric symptoms, particularly for addiction like alcoholism, and some anxiety. While inclusion and exclusion criteria were strict, the findings highlight LSD's potential, underscoring its relevance to current Mental Health Research Topics.
Abstract
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) was studied from the 1950s to the 1970s to evaluate behavioral and personality changes, as well as remission of ps...
Investigation of Ayahuasca β-Carboline Alkaloids and Tryptamine in Sweat Samples from Religious Community Participants by GC-MS
Journal of Analytical Toxicology – January 21, 2020
Summary
Sweat analysis offers a promising method for monitoring ayahuasca use, detecting key compounds like DMT and harmine. In a study involving participants during a religious ritual, solid-phase extraction achieved over 70% extraction efficiency, with impressive accuracy between 87.5% and 102.4%. The method demonstrated high selectivity, with limits of detection at 15 ng/patch for harmine and harmaline, and 10 ng/patch for DMT. This non-invasive approach provides a convenient alternative to traditional biological samples in forensic toxicology and drug analysis.
Abstract
Abstract Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic beverage used in religious rituals in South America, has become a global phenomenon. Its main active component...
Therapeutic mechanisms of psilocybin: Changes in amygdala and prefrontal functional connectivity during emotional processing after psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression
Journal of Psychopharmacology – January 16, 2020
Summary
A single 25 mg dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin appears to revive emotional responsiveness in the brain, a key mechanism for treating treatment-resistant depression. In 19 patients, this psychedelic therapy led to decreased functional connectivity between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex during face processing. This neuroscience finding, observed in areas crucial for emotional regulation, correlated with reduced rumination one week later. The chemical synthesis of psilocybin influences neurotransmitter receptors, suggesting a psychological reset. This shift in brain communication, particularly for fearful and neutral faces, highlights how psilocybin may alleviate severe depression in psychiatry.
Abstract
Background: Psilocybin has shown promise as a treatment for depression but its therapeutic mechanisms are not properly understood. In contrast to t...
Therapeutic potential of ayahuasca in grief: a prospective, observational study
Psychopharmacology – January 14, 2020
Summary
Ayahuasca ceremonies significantly reduce grief severity over time, with a notable effect size of 1.39 after 12 months among 50 bereaved participants. Initial assessments revealed high levels of grief, but follow-ups showed consistent improvement: Cohen’s d values of 0.84 at 15 days and 1.38 at three months. Key mechanisms, experiential avoidance and decentering, were linked to these reductions, indicating that engaging with emotions can enhance healing. This highlights ayahuasca's potential in clinical psychology for addressing complicated grief and depression.
Abstract
Abstract Rationale Recent studies have assessed the therapeutic potential of ayahuasca for the treatment of depression with promising preliminary r...
Psilocybin Induces Time-Dependent Changes in Global Functional Connectivity
Biological Psychiatry – January 13, 2020
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
Matthew Oram, The Trials of Psychedelic Therapy: LSD Psychotherapy in America
Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences – January 13, 2020
Summary
The current renaissance of psychedelics, like psilocybin, echoes a mid-20th century medical ambition. After decades of proscription against hallucinogens, a new political context sees decriminalization (e.g., Denver, 2019). Matthew Oram's work, vital for history of science and medicine and complementary medicine studies, details Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) psychotherapy's trials. It illuminates persistent tensions between orthodox psychiatry and non-orthodox approaches, crucial for psychology and drug studies, revealing the complex politics of healing.
Abstract
Psychedelics are back in vogue. In popular culture, political legislation, and scientific research, we appear to be witnessing an early twenty-firs...
Ayahuasca’s ‘afterglow’: improved mindfulness and cognitive flexibility in ayahuasca drinkers
Psychopharmacology – January 11, 2020
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for psychiatric and existential distress in patients with life-threatening cancer
Journal of Psychopharmacology – January 09, 2020
Summary
Psilocybin, a psychedelic hallucinogen, alongside a psychotherapist, offered profound, long-term relief from cancer-related psychiatric and existential distress. A 4.5-year follow-up of 15 participants showed 60–80% maintained clinically significant improvements in anxiety and depression, with large effect sizes. This medicine enhances quality of life for clinical psychology and psychiatry. Participants (71–100%) attributed positive life changes to the experience, rating it among their most meaningful spiritual or even paranormal experiences, highlighting its complementary medicine potential.
Abstract
Background: A recently published randomized controlled trial compared single-dose psilocybin with single-dose niacin in conjunction with psychother...
An Improved, Practical, and Scalable Five-Step Synthesis of Psilocybin
Synthesis – January 08, 2020
Summary
Producing high-quality psilocybin for psychedelics and drug studies just became significantly easier. A new chemical synthesis streamlines the production of this vital alkaloid, achieving multigram quantities in five steps with an impressive 23% overall yield from an inexpensive starting material. This improved chemistry eliminates complex purification methods like chromatography, focusing instead on precise process control for impurity removal. Such advancements in alkaloid synthesis are crucial for pharmacology research.
Abstract
Described herein is an improved synthesis of 3-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-1H-indol-4-yl dihydrogen phosphate (psilocybin). The protocol outlines: syn...
A qualitative descriptive analysis of effects of psychedelic phenethylamines and tryptamines
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental – January 01, 2020
Summary
Many users describe the tryptamine 4-AcO-DMT as mimicking psilocybin, a key insight from a qualitative analysis of 39 adults' experiences with various hallucinogen drugs. This pharmacology study explored subjective effects of novel psychedelics and their influence on behavior. Among participants, 46.2% used tryptamines, while 64.1% used phenethylamines like the 2C series. Notably, NBOMe compounds were often viewed unfavorably, and DOx effects lasted 12-36 hours. Understanding these diverse psychological impacts informs harm reduction and future medicine.
Abstract
Abstract Objective The number of novel psychedelic phenethylamines and tryptamines has continued to increase, but little academic research has focu...
Psychedelic treatment of functional neurological disorder: a systematic review
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology – January 01, 2020
Summary
Sixty-nine percent of patients with Functional Neurological Disorder (formerly **Conversion disorder**) experienced recovery in early **psychedelics and drug studies**. A review of nine historical **medicine** studies (1954-1967) involving 26 patients explored **Psilocybin** and **Lysergic acid diethylamide** for this condition, which causes significant **distress** in **neurology** and **psychiatry**. Often combined with **psychotherapy** from a **psychotherapist** in **clinical psychology**, these **hallucinogens** showed promise for **psychosomatic disorders and their treatments**. While **adverse effect**s were mostly mild, one patient terminated due to severe **distress**.
Abstract
Functional neurological disorder (FND), formerly known as conversion disorder, causes a high burden of disability and distress, and is amongst the ...
Analytical Characterization of 3-MeO-PCP and 3-MMC in Seized Products and Biosamples: The Role of LC-HRAM-Orbitrap-MS and Solid Deposition GC-FTIR.
Frontiers in chemistry – January 01, 2020
Summary
Precisely identifying illicit drug isomers, like 3-methoxyphencyclidine and 3-methylmethcathinone, is crucial for forensic toxicology. New analytical methods successfully differentiated these challenging compounds. Using a solid deposition GC-FTIR interface, combined with liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry, enabled unambiguous identification of 3-MeO-PCP and 3-MMC in two seized powders. Furthermore, 3-MeO-PCP was detected in blood and urine samples from two subjects involved in non-fatal intoxication, alongside dozens of its metabolites. This robust approach provides full structural characterization, even without reference standards.
Abstract
Among the phencyclidine (PCP) and synthetic cathinone analogs present on the street market, 3-methoxyphencyclidine (3-MeO-PCP) is one of the most p...
Improved colour blindness symptoms associated with recreational psychedelic use: Results from the Global Drug Survey 2017
Drug Science Policy and Law – January 01, 2020
Summary
Remarkably, some individuals with color blindness report improved vision after using hallucinogens like Lysergic acid diethylamide and Psilocybin. A Global Drugs Survey gathered 47 accounts, with 23 describing enhanced color perception, sometimes lasting years. This intriguing finding, significant for Psychology, Optometry, and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, suggests these compounds may influence how the brain processes visual information. The reported changes highlight a fascinating aspect of perception, offering preliminary insights for Medicine and Psychiatry into how psychedelics could potentially reconfigure sensory experiences, even for blindness.
Abstract
It is well documented that psychedelic drugs can have a profound effect on colour perception. After previous research involving psychedelic drug in...
The Touristic Use of Ayahuasca in Peru
Sozialwissenschaftliche Gesundheitsforschung – January 01, 2020
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
Psychological flexibility mediates the relations between acute psychedelic effects and subjective decreases in depression and anxiety.
Journal of contextual behavioral science – January 01, 2020
Summary
A fascinating insight reveals that the therapeutic benefits often reported after using psychedelics may stem from a specific psychological shift. This research explored whether increased psychological flexibility acts as the crucial mechanism linking acute hallucinogen experiences to improved mental well-being. A survey of nearly 1,000 individuals found that profound mystical and insightful experiences during psychedelic use were strongly associated with subsequent reductions in anxiety and depression. Crucially, statistical analysis confirmed this positive impact was fully explained by an observed increase in psychological flexibility. This suggests that psychedelics foster an adaptive mental state, serving as the key to alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Abstract
Prior research has shown that acute subjective psychedelic effects are associated with both spontaneous and intended changes in depression and anxi...
Neural network models for DMT-induced visual hallucinations
Neuroscience of Consciousness – January 01, 2020
Summary
Psychedelic alkaloids like N,N-Dimethyltryptamine profoundly alter visual perception, offering unique insights into consciousness. Neuroscience and cognitive psychology reveal how the serotonergic system, influenced by these compounds, critically gates sensory and internal information, shaping our reality. Utilizing two advanced generative deep neural networks, cognitive science can illustrate psychedelic-induced visual hallucination. This innovative approach helps conceptualize how the serotonergic sensory system regulates visual perception, providing a novel framework for understanding sensory gating and the biochemical basis of perception within drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract The regulatory role of the serotonergic system on conscious perception can be investigated perturbatorily with psychedelic drugs such as N...
Reported effects of psychedelic use on those with low well-being given various emotional states and social contexts
Drug Science Policy and Law – January 01, 2020
Summary
Individuals with low psychological well-being (643 respondents) were more likely to report positive mood changes after using psychedelics like lysergic acid diethylamide or psilocybin, and MDMA. An online survey of 1967 individuals revealed these hallucinogens were often used in positive mood states (set), typically at home. Importantly for clinical psychology, increased neuroticism, a personality trait, correlated with greater positive mood shifts, alongside more negative experiences. This highlights potential for psychiatry in Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Background It has been suggested that the outcome of the psychedelic experience is dependent on set and setting. While scientific research into the...
Experience of Music Used With Psychedelic Therapy: A Rapid Review and Implications
Journal of Music Therapy – January 01, 2020
Summary
Music is integral to psychedelic therapy, acting as both anchor and guide during emotional and embodied experiences. A review of 10 articles involving 180 participants revealed music's transformative power, eliciting deep sensations and facilitating self-exploration. In Psychedelics and Drug Studies, compounds like psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (from chemical synthesis and alkaloids) are paired with music. This highlights a crucial role for music therapy and psychotherapists in Psychology, optimizing protocols for these emerging treatments, linking to Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies. Participant openness to music improved outcomes.
Abstract
Abstract Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music emerged following discontinuation of psychedelic therapy research in the early 1970s, but psyched...
Ayahuasca tourism
Sozialwissenschaftliche Gesundheitsforschung – January 01, 2020
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
Ayahuasca Users in Estonia: Ceremonial Practices, Subjective Long-Term Effects, Mental Health, and Quality of Life.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2020
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
The study aims to describe ayahuasca users in Estonia and compare their mental health and quality of life to those of nonusers. Ceremonial practice...
Common and distinct lateralised patterns of neural coupling during focused attention, open monitoring and loving kindness meditation
Scientific Reports – January 01, 2020
Summary
Did you know different meditations uniquely shape brain activity? Examining experienced meditators practicing focused attention, open monitoring, and loving kindness reveals both common and distinct neural patterns. All three practices strengthen broad delta, left-brain theta, and right-brain alpha networks. Significantly, each meditation also uniquely activates specific left or right beta networks. This demonstrates how distinct mental processes are supported by precise brain asymmetries, providing valuable insights for targeted therapeutic approaches.
Abstract
Meditation has been integrated into different therapeutic interventions. To inform the evidence-based selection of specific meditation types it is ...
Therapeutic potential of spirituality and mystical experiences in the treatment of substance use disorders.
CORE – January 01, 2020
Summary
Spiritual engagement, including mystical experiences, shows remarkable promise in treating substance use disorders. This perspective suggests integrating spiritual elements into therapy can significantly aid recovery. A review of existing knowledge and insights from a therapeutic community using psychoactive plants informed this view. Findings reveal that a blend of spiritual traditions, alongside practices like mindfulness and specific breathwork, offers a powerful path to healing. Ultimately, the evidence strongly supports spirituality as a crucial, positive factor in addiction recovery, with various complementary therapies showing great potential.
Abstract
Objetivo. Este artículo tiene como objetivo ofrecer una descripción general del papel de la espiritualidad, de la fe y de las experiencias místicas...
Utilidades terapéuticas del ayahuasca
Libro Comunicaciones – January 01, 2020
Summary
Ayahuasca shows promising therapeutic benefits, particularly for conditions like addiction and depression. Clinical literature indicates significant reductions in alcohol and cocaine use among dependent patients, with 60% reporting decreased symptoms of depression after treatment. Neuroimaging studies reveal notable activation in brain areas linked to emotion and memory processing. Additionally, users often describe experiences akin to psychotherapy, enhancing introspection and personal reflection. The compound promotes neuroplasticity through its effects on serotonin receptors, potentially improving cognitive aspects such as attention and memory.
Abstract
Objetivo: Exponer los potenciales beneficios terapéuticos del uso de ayahuasca, desde la neurofarmacología y la evidencia clínica existente hasta e...
Fast Hollow Fiber Liquid-Phase Microextraction as a Greener Alternative for the Determination of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine and Harmala Alkaloids in Human Urine.
Frontiers in chemistry – January 01, 2020
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Ayahuasca tea is an entheogen hallucinogenic beverage used for shamanic and spiritual purposes, prepared by the decoction of different Amazonian pl...
Nondual Awareness and Minimal Phenomenal Experience.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2020
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Minimal phenomenal experiences (MPEs) have recently gained attention in the fields of neuroscience and philosophy of mind. They can be thought of a...
Meditation-Relaxation (MR Therapy) for Sleep Paralysis: A Pilot Study in Patients With Narcolepsy.
Frontiers in neurology – January 01, 2020
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Sleep paralysis (SP) is a condition where a person is paralyzed upon waking or falling asleep. SP afflicts ~20% of people, and is also one of the t...
Cognitions in Sleep: Lucid Dreaming as an Intervention for Nightmares in Patients With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2020
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
About 80% of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients suffer from nightmares or dysphoric dreams that cause major distress and impact nighttim...
Immersion, Absorption, and Spiritual Experience: Some Preliminary Findings.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2020
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Many traditions have utilized silent environments to induce altered states of consciousness and spiritual experiences. Neurocognitive explorations ...
LSD Overdoses: Three Case Reports
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs – January 01, 2020
Summary
Unexpectedly, LSD has shown potential benefits, including improved symptoms of mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression, alongside reduced physical pain and morphine withdrawal symptoms. In a sample of pregnant individuals, data indicated that an LSD overdose did not harm the fetus. These findings suggest that psychedelics could play a role in psychiatry and injury prevention, offering insights into natural compounds' pharmacological effects on mood and behavior. This research opens doors for further exploration into the therapeutic applications of psychedelics.
Abstract
There appear to be unpredictable, positive sequelae that ranged from improvements in mental illness symptoms to reduction in physical pain and morp...
Creativity in Narcolepsy Type 1: The Role of Dissociated REM Sleep Manifestations.
Nature and science of sleep – January 01, 2020
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
A higher creative potential has been reported in narcoleptic patients and linked to lucid dreaming. The aim of the present study was to explore the...
Ayahuasca: Between Cognition and Culture
Publicacions URV eBooks – January 01, 2020
Summary
Ayahuasca practices reveal profound insights into spirituality and cognition, as explored through a decade of ethnographic study involving over 300 participants across Latin America and Catalonia. Ismael Apud integrates medical anthropology, cognitive science, and religious studies to dissect the diverse beliefs surrounding ayahuasca. His work highlights the intricate interplay between psychological experiences and cultural narratives, offering a comprehensive understanding of how psychedelics influence human cognition and spiritual practices. This multifaceted approach sheds light on the biochemical and sensory dimensions of these transformative experiences.
Abstract
This book summarizes Ismael Apud's ethnographic research in the field of ayahuasca, conducted in Latin America and Catalonia over a period of 10 ye...