1178 results for "Consciousness"
Ayahuasca Retreats: The Role of Awe and Mystical Experiences in Well-Being.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – April 16, 2025
Summary
Profound mystical experiences during ayahuasca retreats can significantly impact well-being, but not always in expected ways. Researchers tracked 60 participants who attended legal retreats, finding that the most positive outcomes occurred when people reported deep mystical experiences without feeling overwhelmed by the vastness of their psychedelic journey. This suggests that balanced, manageable experiences may be key to transformation.
Abstract
Research on the positive psychological effects of psychedelics has surged since the early 2000s, particularly regarding increased well-being. Studi...
Further education in psychedelic-assisted therapy - experiences from Switzerland.
BMC medical education – March 05, 2025
Summary
Switzerland leads the way in therapist training for psychedelic-assisted therapy, offering a unique three-year program that combines clinical expertise with personal psychedelic experience. Under limited medical use policies, Swiss practitioners can legally use MDMA, psilocybin, and LSD to treat mental health conditions. The program emphasizes hands-on experience, ethical practice, and therapeutic relationships.
Abstract
The growing interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) for treating psychiatric disorders such as treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and anx...
Shame, Guilt and Psychedelic Experience: Results from a Prospective, Longitudinal Survey of Real-World Psilocybin Use
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – February 07, 2025
Summary
A significant 68.2% of 679 adults reported acute shame or guilt during psilocybin experiences, a potent hallucinogen. While challenging, working through these feelings predicted better psychological wellbeing weeks later. This finding, relevant to clinical psychology and psychiatry, reveals how psilocybin can impact shame, a core emotion in psychology. Overall, the alkaloid produced a small decrease in trait shame (Cohen's dz = 0.37) maintained for months, though shame increased for 29.8%. These insights from psychedelics and drug studies highlight complex psychological responses.
Abstract
The classic psychedelic psilocybin has attracted special interest across clinical and non-clinical settings as a potential tool for mental health. ...
A qualitative analysis of the psychedelic mushroom come-up and come-down.
Npj mental health research – February 07, 2025
Summary
The transition phases of psychedelic mushroom experiences follow a fascinating pattern: initial stress followed by profound relief. Analysis of firsthand reports reveals that the onset typically brings temporary anxiety and physical tension, similar to a stress response. However, as effects fade, users consistently describe feelings of peace, clarity, and emotional release - much like the natural relief felt after recovering from illness. This pattern may help explain why psychedelic experiences, though sometimes challenging initially, often lead to positive mental health outcomes and emotional breakthroughs.
Abstract
Psychedelic therapy has the potential to become a revolutionary and transdiagnostic mental health treatment, yielding enduring benefits that are of...
Oregon’s Emerging Psilocybin Services Workforce: A Survey of the First Legal Psilocybin Facilitators and Their Training Programs
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – January 29, 2025
Summary
Oregon's emerging psilocybin facilitator workforce faces significant financial hurdles. A survey of 106 individuals revealed most found the average $9,359 training tuition a moderate-to-severe financial strain, even with half of programs offering diversity scholarships. Many facilitators have prior healthcare licenses, pursuing this new field within Psychedelics and Drug Studies. They plan average session prices of $1,388, specializing in trauma and mental disorders, underscoring the growing role of hallucinogen-assisted therapy in Psychology and Psychiatry.
Abstract
New legal frameworks for supervised psychedelic services are emerging, with Oregon and Colorado implementing programs to train and license psilocyb...
The role of the psychedelic experience in psilocybin treatment for treatment-resistant depression.
Journal of affective disorders – March 01, 2025
Summary
Higher doses of psilocybin create more profound psychedelic experiences, which strongly correlate with better outcomes in people with treatment-resistant depression. A single dose, combined with psychological support, showed that participants who reported deeper mystical experiences and visual effects were more likely to see significant improvements in their depression symptoms after three weeks.
Abstract
To determine the relationships between psilocybin dose, psychedelic experiences, and therapeutic outcome in treatment-resistant depression. For tre...
Consistent evidence that brain serotonin 2A receptor binding is positively associated with personality-based risk markers of depression
The British Journal of Psychiatry – December 05, 2024
Summary
Brain scans of 80 healthy volunteers reveal a direct link between serotonin 5-HT2A receptor activity and inward-focused neuroticism, a key personality trait in psychology. Specifically, higher receptor binding positively correlated with traits like depression and anxiety (β = 0.01). This finding, derived from functional brain imaging, suggests that targeting these serotonin receptors could offer a novel approach for clinical psychology and psychiatry in the treatment of major depression. Understanding these mechanisms advances vital mental health research topics, potentially informing personalized interventions based on an individual's personality profile.
Abstract
Background Using [ 18 F]altanserin, a serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT 2A R) antagonist Positron Emission Tomography (PET) tracer, a positive associatio...
Traditional Medicine, Culture, and Psychedelic Science: New Pathways for Recovery From Substance Use Disorders.
Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs – September 01, 2024
Summary
Ancient healing wisdom meets modern science in treating addiction: Indigenous ceremonial use of natural psychedelics shows promising results for substance use recovery. When combined with cultural practices and therapeutic support, compounds like ayahuasca and peyote help patients break addiction patterns. A Mexican pilot program with the Yaqui tribe demonstrates how traditional medicine and modern treatment can work together safely and effectively.
Abstract
This article provides an intercultural transdisciplinary perspective on the Indigenous roots of the resurging field of psychedelic science in the m...
Single-dose psilocybin for U.S. military Veterans with severe treatment-resistant depression - A first-in-kind open-label pilot study.
Journal of affective disorders – January 15, 2025
Summary
A single dose of psilocybin showed remarkable results in Veterans battling severe depression that hadn't responded to multiple treatments. In this groundbreaking exploration, 60% of participating Veterans experienced significant relief from depression within three weeks, with over half achieving complete remission. The treatment proved effective even for those with PTSD, offering new hope for Veterans struggling with treatment-resistant depression.
Abstract
The enduring and severe depression often suffered by Veterans causes immense suffering and is associated with high rates of suicide and disability....
Autonomic nervous system activity correlates with peak experiences induced by DMT and predicts increases in well-being.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – October 01, 2024
Summary
Intense positive experiences during psychedelic sessions may be linked to specific patterns in our body's autonomic nervous system. Research shows that when both branches of this system are simultaneously active during DMT sessions, participants report more meaningful spiritual insights and show improved well-being weeks later. Heart rate patterns before treatment also predicted how profound the experience would be.
Abstract
Non-ordinary states of consciousness induced by psychedelics can be accompanied by so-called "peak experiences," characterized at the emotional lev...
Low‐dose psilocybin in short‐lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks: results from an open‐label phase Ib ascending dose study
Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain – September 20, 2024
Summary
Two participants with severe headache attacks experienced over 50% fewer daily episodes after low-dose psilocybin, a chemical synthesis alkaloid. This open-label trial explored psilocybin's tolerability as a potential medicine for debilitating SUNHA, a condition related to migraine. Administering ascending doses (5-10mg) to three completers, no significant adverse effects were recorded, indicating good safety. While not definitive, these Psychedelics and Drug Studies, alongside Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, suggest psychological insights from the experience, rather than direct anesthesia, may be key to pain management.
Abstract
Abstract Background Short‐lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks (SUNHA) are trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias that feature intense and r...
Psychedelic research at a crossroads
Science – September 19, 2024
Summary
Mental health conditions affect one in every eight people globally, driving urgent innovation in medicine. Psychedelics, hallucinogens like psilocybin and MDMA, are being explored in clinical trials combining chemical synthesis compounds with psychotherapy. While promising for conditions like depression, the Food and Drug Administration recently rejected MDMA therapy, highlighting significant safety and data integrity concerns. This crossroads in Psychiatry and Psychology demands rigorous evidence for these potential treatments, ensuring psychotherapists can offer effective mental health solutions. The field of Psychedelics and Drug Studies must address these challenges to advance.
Abstract
There is an urgent need to develop better treatments for mental health conditions that affect one in every eight people in the world. To combat thi...
Co-administration of midazolam and psilocybin: differential effects on subjective quality versus memory of the psychedelic experience.
Translational psychiatry – September 12, 2024
Summary
Memories of psychedelic experiences may be key to their therapeutic benefits. When researchers combined psilocybin with midazolam (a memory-affecting medication), participants still had meaningful psychedelic experiences but remembered less of them. The weaker their memories, the less insight and well-being they reported afterward, suggesting that retaining the experience matters for positive outcomes.
Abstract
Aspects of the acute experience induced by the serotonergic psychedelic psilocybin predict symptomatic relief in multiple psychiatric disorders and...
Pharmacological and non-pharmacological predictors of the LSD experience in healthy participants.
Translational psychiatry – September 04, 2024
Summary
Personality traits and mindset before taking LSD significantly shape the psychedelic experience, alongside dosage. Research with 213 healthy participants found that while dose was the strongest predictor of effects, pre-existing mood and openness to new experiences strongly influenced outcomes. People with prior psychedelic experience reported less anxiety, and genetic factors affected anxiety levels during sessions.
Abstract
The pharmacodynamic effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) are diverse and different in different individuals. Effects of other psychoactive s...
[Psychedelic and dissociative agents in psychiatry: challenges in the treatment].
Der Nervenarzt – September 01, 2024
Summary
Ketamine and psychedelics are emerging as groundbreaking options in mental health care. While ketamine shows remarkable success in treating depression, careful monitoring of side effects and addictive potential remains crucial. Recent approvals in multiple countries highlight growing acceptance, though treatment risks must be balanced against benefits. Current evidence suggests these therapies are safe when properly administered, but study quality varies and protocols need standardization.
Abstract
With the discovery of the antidepressive effects of ketamine and the increasing withdrawal of the pharmaceutical industry from the development of n...
Neurochemical and Neurophysiological Effects of Intravenous Administration of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine in Rats.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology – February 15, 2025
Summary
DMT, a naturally occurring compound in the brain, operates at levels similar to crucial neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. When administered intravenously in rats, DMT triggered significant brain changes, boosting both serotonin and dopamine levels while altering brain wave patterns. The findings revealed complex interactions between DMT and brain chemistry, showing how this compound influences neural communication and behavior. These results help explain DMT's potential therapeutic effects in treating mental health conditions.
Abstract
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a serotonergic psychedelic that is being investigated clinically for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Althou...
Psychedelic Therapy: A Primer for Primary Care Clinicians-Psilocybin.
American journal of therapeutics
Summary
Psilocybin, found in magic mushrooms, shows remarkable potential in treating depression, with some early trials reporting remission rates of up to 57%. Recent research reveals this naturally-occurring compound is generally safe when used in controlled settings, causing mainly temporary effects like nausea. Clinical data suggests it's particularly effective for treatment-resistant depression, substance use disorders, and end-of-life anxiety, with benefits lasting months after just 1-2 doses. While larger trials show more modest success rates of 25-29%, the significant reduction in depressive symptoms still outperforms many traditional treatments.
Abstract
The primary psychoactive drug in magic mushrooms, psilocybin, induces profound alterations in consciousness through the 5-HT2A receptor. This revie...
Evaluation of the sedative effect of intranasal versus intramuscular ketamine in 2-6-year-old uncooperative dental patients.
Dental and medical problems – January 01, 2024
Summary
Helping anxious children stay calm during dental work is crucial, and ketamine sedation offers a solution. A comparison of intranasal and intramuscular delivery methods in young dental patients revealed that muscle injection produced better results. Children showed less movement and crying, while dentists reported improved cooperation. The intramuscular approach proved more effective for safe sedation in pediatric dentistry.
Abstract
Conscious sedation has gained more popularity these days, with different routes of drug administration having various advantages and disadvantages....
Development of a digital intervention for psychedelic preparation (DIPP).
Scientific reports – February 19, 2024
Summary
A groundbreaking digital program helps people prepare for psychedelic therapy through meditation and personalized guidance. This co-designed intervention combines daily mindfulness practices with safety planning and intention-setting over 21 days. Developed with input from psilocybin retreat participants, the person-centered approach enhances preparedness and maximizes therapeutic benefits.
Abstract
Psychedelic substances induce profound alterations in consciousness. Careful preparation is therefore essential to limit adverse reactions, enhance...
Aesthetic chills mitigate maladaptive cognition in depression
BMC Psychiatry – January 10, 2024
Summary
Profound emotional "chills" can positively reshape core self-beliefs in individuals with depression. A clinical psychology investigation involving 96 patients with major depressive disorder found that experiencing aesthetic chills, often characterized by shivers, shifted their negative self-schema. This psychological intervention, influencing cognitive processes, shows parallels to the profound mental shifts observed in psychedelics and drug studies. Such experiences offer a non-pharmacological treatment avenue for mental health, potentially aiding in depression management.
Abstract
Abstract Background Depression is a major global health challenge, affecting over 300 million people worldwide. Current pharmacological and psychot...
Ayahuasca-induced personal death experiences: prevalence, characteristics, and impact on attitudes toward death, life, and the environment
Frontiers in Psychiatry – December 19, 2023
Summary
Over half of Ayahuasca participants experience a profound "personal death" during ceremonies, a significant psychological phenomenon. Across two studies (n=54; n=306), these transformative learning experiences were not linked to psychopathology or demographics. Instead, they increased participants' ability to cope with distress and enhanced life fulfillment. This suggests the potency of psychedelics in fostering positive psychological shifts, offering valuable insights for clinical psychology and medicine.
Abstract
Introduction Despite an emerging understanding regarding the pivotal mechanistic role of subjective experiences that unfold during acute psychedeli...
Unveiling the Psychedelic Journey: An Appraisal of Psilocybin as a Profound Antidepressant Therapy.
Molecular biotechnology – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, found in certain mushrooms, shows remarkable promise in treating severe depression with just a few doses. Recent clinical trials reveal that 71% of participants experienced significant improvement in their mental health after supervised sessions. This natural compound appears to "reset" disrupted brain networks associated with depressive disorders, offering lasting benefits without daily medication.
Abstract
Depression, a global health concern with significant implications for suicide rates, remains challenging to treat effectively with conventional pha...
Classical psychedelics in psychiatry - renaissance of interest and therapeutic perspectives.
Psychiatria polska – June 30, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin are showing remarkable promise in modern psychiatry, reviving therapeutic approaches from traditional healing practices. Recent clinical trials demonstrate these substances' potential as breakthrough pharmacotherapy options for treating depression, anxiety, and addiction. When combined with professional therapy, psychedelics appear safe and effective, offering hope for patients who haven't responded to conventional treatments.
Abstract
Substances that change the states of consciousness have been used in the therapeutics of traditional cultures for hundreds of years. In the Western...
Greater subjective effects of a low dose of LSD in participants with depressed mood.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology – April 01, 2024
Summary
A low dose of LSD produced stronger positive effects in people with depressive symptoms compared to non-depressed individuals. In this placebo-controlled trial, participants received either a micro-dose of LSD or placebo. Those with higher depression scores reported greater improvements in mood, energy, and emotional well-being. The benefits persisted two days after treatment, suggesting therapeutic potential for low-dose psychedelics in mood enhancement.
Abstract
Recent studies and anecdotal reports suggest that psychedelics can improve mood states, even at low doses. However, few placebo-controlled studies ...
Psychedelia: The interplay of music and psychedelics
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences – November 20, 2023
Summary
Music's profound ability to guide psychedelic experiences, from ancient shamanic rituals to modern therapy, is a compelling finding in Psychology and Drug Studies. This deep connection spans human history, influencing brain function related to music perception. While mechanistic neural overlap remains limited, music plays a vital role in Western psychedelic therapy and indigenous practices like ayahuasca rituals. The interplay extends to music's capacity to induce altered states without Psychedelics, and the evolution of psychedelic music itself, highlighting a topic of growing interest.
Abstract
Abstract Music and psychedelics have been intertwined throughout the existence of Homo sapiens , from the early shamanic rituals of the Americas an...
Present and future of metabolic and metabolomics studies focused on classical psychedelics in humans.
Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie – December 31, 2023
Summary
Groundbreaking research reveals how psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, and ayahuasca affect human biology at the molecular level. Scientists tracked how these compounds are processed in the body and mapped their effects on cellular metabolism. While we understand how these substances break down, their broader impact on the body's metabolic systems offers promising insights for mental health treatments.
Abstract
Psychedelics are classical hallucinogen drugs that induce a marked altered state of consciousness. In recent years, there has been renewed attentio...
A model training curriculum for psychedelic, psycholytic, and entactogen-assisted psychotherapy.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – June 10, 2025
Summary
As psychedelic therapy gains mainstream acceptance, healthcare providers need standardized training to safely guide patients through transformative experiences. This comprehensive framework outlines essential components for therapist education in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy and other psychedelic treatments. The curriculum combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience, including apprenticeship observation and supervised practice. Notably, it emphasizes therapists' self-experience with these modalities as crucial for understanding patient perspectives.
Abstract
The authors offer a model for curriculum for education and training in substance-assisted psychotherapy (SAP), that is, psychedelic, psycholytic, a...
Acute effects of intranasal esketamine application on thalamic structures in healthy individuals.
The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology – June 06, 2025
Summary
Ketamine, traditionally known as an anesthetic, can rapidly transform brain structures within hours. This groundbreaking research reveals how intranasal ketamine causes immediate changes in the thalamus, a brain region crucial for sensory processing. In healthy volunteers, a single dose led to measurable growth in specific thalamic areas linked to visual processing. These structural changes help explain both ketamine's promise in treating MDD and its ability to temporarily mirror schizophrenia-like experiences.
Abstract
The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist ketamine has found broad application in the field of psychiatry. Due to its rapid antidepressant and a...
Infant Death due to Cannabis Ingestion.
Drug testing and analysis – May 21, 2025
Summary
A tragic case highlights the severe dangers of accidental cannabis exposure in children. After ingesting hashish, a young child developed critical symptoms including impaired balance and breathing difficulties. Emergency toxicology revealed high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol, leading to acute intoxication. The case underscores the importance of secure storage of cannabis products to prevent infant death.
Abstract
A child died in the emergency room of a local hospital a few hours after ingesting a substance the color of cork and the consistency of earth. At h...
Effect of pretreatment with low-dose Esketamine on the Propofol requirements and the onset time of cisatracurium during the induction of general anesthesia: a prospective, randomized, double-blinded trial.
BMC anesthesiology – April 28, 2025
Summary
A breakthrough in anesthesia management shows that small doses of Esketamine can significantly reduce the amount of Propofol needed during anesthesia induction. In a study of 140 surgical patients, pretreatment with Esketamine at different doses demonstrated that higher amounts (0.5 mg/kg) reduced Propofol requirements while maintaining effective sedation. This finding could lead to more efficient and controlled anesthesia delivery, though onset time remained unchanged.
Abstract
Esketamine has been increasingly used as an adjuvant for propofol-based induction. However, the effective esketamine dose for this indication remai...
Advances in research on the pathogenesis and signaling pathways associated with postoperative delirium (Review).
Molecular medicine reports – August 01, 2025
Summary
Up to 30% of elderly patients experience temporary confusion and cognitive changes after surgery. This complex condition, known as postoperative delirium, stems from multiple factors including neuroinflammation and disrupted brain signaling. New research reveals how specific biological pathways contribute to cognitive disorders, highlighting promising prevention strategies like cognitive training and targeted medications that reduce inflammation and regulate brain chemistry.
Abstract
Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common postoperative complication, characterized by acute, transient and fluctuating declines in consciousness an...
COVID-19-Associated Cytotoxic Lesions of the Corpus Callosum in Chinese Patients: A Retrospective Study.
Brain and behavior – June 01, 2025
Summary
Brain inflammation linked to SARS-CoV-2 can affect the corpus callosum, a vital bridge between brain hemispheres. Chinese researchers found that patients with this rare inflammatory encephalopathy showed promising recovery when treated promptly. Advanced neuroimaging revealed distinct patterns in eight patients, with most experiencing fever before neurological symptoms. After treatment, seven patients showed significant improvement within two weeks.
Abstract
Cytotoxic lesions of the corpus callosum (CLOCCs) are a rare clinicoradiologic syndrome, exceptionally rare in association with coronavirus disease...
Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in the Postpartum Period: A Rare Entity With Atypical Presentation.
Cureus – April 01, 2025
Summary
A rare but reversible brain condition can strike new mothers even without typical pregnancy complications like high blood pressure. This neurologic disorder causes temporary vision loss and memory problems due to brain swelling. Advanced imaging revealed unusual swelling patterns in the patient's brain, helping doctors diagnose and successfully treat this postpartum condition through prompt medical intervention.
Abstract
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare condition characterized by clinical and brain imaging criteria. It is most often asso...
Death and Happiness: Exploring the Temporalities of the Meditated Death and Everyday Life in Tibetan Buddhist Practice of Tukdam.
Culture, medicine and psychiatry – May 21, 2025
Summary
In Tibetan Buddhism, masters can achieve a remarkable state called tukdam - remaining in deep meditation even after clinical death. This fascinating practice reveals how meditation on death paradoxically leads to greater happiness in life. Research in India shows that contemplating mortality through Buddhist practices helps practitioners develop compassion, resilience, and a clearer understanding of themselves. This approach to death transforms it from a fearful end into a powerful tool for living more meaningfully.
Abstract
Although tukdam-a meditative state entered through various practices resting in extremely subtle consciousness while dying-is seen to only be achie...
Confidence reports during perceptual decision making dissociate from changes in subjective experience.
Communications psychology – May 21, 2025
Summary
Our brains can be tricked: even when making decisions about what we see, our confidence in those choices isn't just about perception. New research reveals that external factors, like how often we expect to see something or potential rewards, significantly influence how confident we feel about our visual decisions - even when our actual perception hasn't changed. This finding challenges how we understand decision-making and shows that our reported confidence levels may not reliably reflect our true perceptual experience.
Abstract
In noisy perceptual environments, people frequently make decisions based on non-perceptual information to maximize rewards. Therefore, a central pr...
Utilizing Google Trends data to enhance forecasts and monitor long COVID prevalence.
Communications medicine – May 16, 2025
Summary
Web searches reveal early warning signs of long COVID trends. By analyzing Google search patterns for symptoms like loss of taste, chest pain, and headaches, researchers discovered these searches spike before official long COVID cases rise. The data helps predict outbreak patterns, allowing healthcare systems to better prepare for incoming waves of post-COVID complications.
Abstract
Long COVID, the persistent illness following COVID-19 infection, has emerged as a major public health concern since the outbreak of the pandemic. E...
Predicting delirium in acute ischemic stroke: the PREDELIS score.
Journal of neurology – May 11, 2025
Summary
A groundbreaking prediction tool helps doctors identify stroke patients at risk of developing delirium, a serious mental disturbance affecting recovery. By analyzing data from over 14,000 acute ischemic stroke patients, researchers developed a simple scoring system based on key factors like age, previous episodes, and stroke severity. This new prevention tool helps target early interventions where they're needed most.
Abstract
Delirium, defined as an acute, fluctuating disturbance in consciousness, attention and cognition, is a common stroke complication and associated wi...
Dreaming of Better Treatments: Advances in Drug Development for Sleep Medicine and Chronotherapy.
Journal of sleep research – May 10, 2025
Summary
Sleep medicine has evolved from ancient herbs to cutting-edge treatments targeting specific brain chemicals. Modern research reveals how sleep impacts brain health through natural cleaning processes called glymphatic clearance. New medications focus on orexin, a wake-promoting molecule, rather than broadly sedating GABA pathways. This targeted approach shows promise for treating both sleep disorders and neurodegeneration, while respecting our natural circadian rhythms.
Abstract
Throughout history, the development of new sleep medicines has been driven by progress in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying sleep. Anc...
Research progress of postoperative delirium in neurosurgery.
World journal of psychiatry – April 19, 2025
Summary
Up to 30% of patients experience mental confusion after brain surgery. Recent advances reveal that postoperative delirium, a temporary state of confusion and disorientation, can be better predicted and managed through targeted interventions. Early recognition of risk factors, including age and pre-existing neurological dysfunction, combined with specialized surgical protocols, has led to improved recovery outcomes and shorter hospital stays.
Abstract
Delirium is a transient and acute syndrome of encephalopathy, characterized by disturbances in consciousness, orientation, cognition, perception, a...
Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Intervention (TCTSY). Improving Conditions for Incarcerated Women in Latin America.
Medicine, science, and the law – April 30, 2025
Summary
A specialized yoga program is transforming mental health care for incarcerated women in Latin America. This innovative approach combines trauma-sensitive yoga with body awareness techniques, helping women heal from post-traumatic stress disorder. The program showed remarkable success, with participants reporting reduced anxiety, better emotional control, and improved interoceptive awareness - the ability to understand body signals.
Abstract
Female prisoners in Latin America experience significantly higher rates of mental health issues compared to their male counterparts. The most preva...
A Low Life's Simple 7 Score Is an Independent Risk Factor for Postoperative Delirium After Total Knee Arthroplasty.
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) – April 15, 2025
Summary
A simple heart health score could predict mental confusion risks after knee surgery. Researchers found that patients with lower Life's Simple 7 scores were more likely to experience postoperative delirium after total knee arthroplasty. This easy-to-measure cardiovascular health metric helps doctors identify at-risk patients and provide better care planning for knee replacement procedures.
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Postoperative delirium (PODil) is a cognitive condition characterized by sudden fluctuations in consciousness and orient...
Music mindfulness acutely modulates autonomic activity and improves psychological state in anxiety and depression.
Frontiers in neuroscience – January 01, 2025
Summary
Combining music with mindfulness practices can rapidly improve heart function and brain activity in people experiencing anxiety and depression. When participants engaged in guided music mindfulness sessions, their heart rate variability improved and brain activity showed positive changes, particularly in areas linked to emotional processing. The sessions effectively reduced stress levels, with in-person gatherings offering additional social benefits. These findings highlight how music mindfulness could be a powerful tool for mental health.
Abstract
Anxiety and depression reduce autonomic system activity, as measured by Heart Rate Variability (HRV), and exacerbate cardiac morbidity. Both music ...
Unveiling Reality: Psychedelics, Neural Filtering, and the Future of Psychiatric Medicine.
ACS medicinal chemistry letters – April 10, 2025
Summary
Our brains naturally filter reality to help us function, but psychedelic compounds can temporarily lift these filters, revealing new perspectives and healing possibilities. Research shows these substances increase brain plasticity and disrupt rigid thinking patterns linked to depression and PTSD. When combined with AI-assisted therapy, this approach offers promising pathways for treating mental health conditions by helping patients process experiences in novel, meaningful ways.
Abstract
Psychedelics and AI modulate cognitive frameworks, disrupt rigid thought patterns, and enhance neuroplasticity, offering therapeutic potential for ...
Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression without psychedelic effects: study protocol for a 4-week, double-blind, proof-of-concept randomised controlled trial
BJPsych Open – July 01, 2023
Summary
A groundbreaking psychiatry approach aims to harness psilocybin's antidepressant power without its hallucinogen effects. A randomized controlled trial will involve 60 adults with treatment-resistant depression, assessing tolerability and adverse effects of combining psilocybin with risperidone. This pharmacology strategy, exploring neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, seeks to block the psychedelic experience using risperidone. Participants receive psilocybin (25mg) plus risperidone (1mg), psilocybin plus placebo, or placebo plus risperidone, alongside psychology support. This medicine, involving such alkaloids, could expand access to psychedelics and drug studies, offering a novel antidepressant.
Abstract
Background Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of psilocybin have reported large antidepressant effects in adults with major depressive disorder an...
Assessment of the Acute Effects of 2C‐B vs. Psilocybin on Subjective Experience, Mood, and Cognition
Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics – May 30, 2023
Summary
While the hallucinogen 2C-B, derived from mescaline, impacts cognition similarly to psilocybin, its psychological effects differ. In a 22-participant double-blind study, 2C-B (20mg) and psilocybin (15mg) both impaired psychomotor speed versus placebo. Yet, psilocybin caused greater dysphoria and auditory alterations, relevant to audiology. As a serotonergic compound, 2C-B’s effects resolved within six hours. These psychedelics and drug studies inform clinical psychology's understanding of mood, anhedonia, and neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, crucial for developmental psychology insights.
Abstract
2,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐bromophenethylamine (2C‐B) is a hallucinogenic phenethylamine derived from mescaline. Observational and preclinical data have sugge...
Comparative acute effects of mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide, and psilocybin in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study in healthy participants.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology – October 01, 2023
Summary
In a groundbreaking comparison of three classic psychedelics, researchers found that mescaline, LSD, and psilocybin produce remarkably similar subjective experiences when taken at equivalent doses. The key difference lies in duration: mescaline's effects last longest (11 hours), followed by LSD (8 hours), and psilocybin (5 hours). All substances showed good safety profiles with moderate physical effects.
Abstract
Mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and psilocybin are classic serotonergic psychedelics. A valid, direct comparison of the effects of the...
Time-resolved network control analysis links reduced control energy under DMT with the serotonin 2a receptor, signal diversity, and subjective experience
OpenAlex – May 12, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin and the hallucinogen lysergic acid diethylamide profoundly reshape brain dynamics. Neuroscience reveals that N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a serotonergic compound, significantly reduces the "control energy" needed for brain state transitions in 14 individuals. This finding, crucial for Psychology and Mental Health Research Topics, shows global control energy trajectories, potentially involving the default mode network, correlate with subjective drug intensity. These effects are linked to serotonin 2a receptor density, demonstrating neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior and offering a predictive model for Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelics offer a profound window into the functioning of the human brain and mind through their robust acute effects on perception, su...
Light Shining within the "Dark" Classics: A Perspective on Entheogenic Compounds.
ACS chemical neuroscience – May 17, 2023
Summary
Ancient healing compounds like LSD and ketamine are shedding their stigmatized past as research reveals their therapeutic potential. Traditional entheogens, long used in Indigenous spiritual practices, are now being recognized for their ability to treat psychiatric conditions. Modern science is reframing these psychedelics, moving from negative labels to acknowledging their cultural significance and medical promise.
Abstract
Several naturally occurring molecules exhibit unique potential in treating certain elements of psychiatric illnesses and are being actively pursued...
Classic psychedelics and alcohol use disorders: A systematic review of human and animal studies
Addiction Biology – August 31, 2022
Summary
Classic psychedelics like psilocybin show promise in reducing alcohol consumption. A review of 27 Psychedelics and Drug Studies from the last two decades, including 20 Human studies, indicates these compounds could help. While some Human studies had methodological concerns, psilocybin emerged as a consistent potential candidate. Animal studies (7 included) were scarcer and less conclusive. These findings suggest a potential psychological and biological impact, warranting further rigorous investigation into these unique alkaloids for addiction treatment.
Abstract
Abstract Classic psychedelics refer to substances such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, ayahuasca, and mescaline, which induce alte...
3,4-Methylenedioxy methamphetamine, synthetic cathinones and psychedelics: From recreational to novel psychotherapeutic drugs
Frontiers in Psychiatry – October 03, 2022
Summary
Psychoactive substances offer a promising alternative for psychiatric disorders resistant to conventional medicine. MDMA, Psilocybin, and Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) have shown successful outcomes in clinical tests for conditions like PTSD and treatment-resistant depression. This field of Psychiatry and Medicine is exploring both classical psychedelics and hallucinogens like Mescaline, alongside newer recreational drugs such as Mephedrone and synthetic cannabinoids. Pharmacology and Drug Studies investigate their neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. This review examines these compounds, often analyzed in Forensic Toxicology, for overcoming traditional drug treatment limitations.
Abstract
The utility of classical drugs used to treat psychiatric disorders (e.g., antidepressants, anxiolytics) is often limited by issues of lack of effic...
Scoping Review of Experiential Measures from Psychedelic Research and Clinical Trials.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2023
Summary
Mystical experiences and feelings of boundlessness during psychedelic sessions strongly predict positive therapeutic outcomes. Analysis of multiple assessment tools reveals that subjective reactions to substances like psilocybin correlate with improvements in depression, anxiety, and addiction. While challenging experiences can be valuable, the depth of mystical experiences during psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy appears most crucial for healing.
Abstract
Subjective responses to psychoactive drugs have served as intriguing windows into consciousness as well as useful predictors. Subjective reactions ...
Characterizing complex networks using Entropy-degree diagrams: unveiling changes in functional brain connectivity induced by Ayahuasca
arXiv Preprint Archive – September 26, 2018
Summary
Scientists discovered that Ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew, measurably alters the brain's network connectivity patterns. Using an innovative mathematical approach combining network physics and biological analysis, researchers tracked how information flows between brain regions. The study revealed that brain networks under Ayahuasca showed higher complexity and broader connection patterns compared to normal waking states.
Abstract
Open problems abound in the theory of complex networks, which has found successful application to diverse fields of science. With the aim of furthe...
Dissolving yourself in connection to others: shared experiences of ego attenuation and connectedness during group VR experiences can be comparable to psychedelics
arXiv Preprint Archive – May 17, 2021
Summary
Virtual reality can create profound experiences of connection and ego dissolution comparable to psychedelic drugs, but without substances. In groundbreaking human-computer interaction (cs.HC) research, participants experienced their bodies as luminous energy forms in shared virtual spaces, allowing them to merge and connect with others in unprecedented ways. Using four established measurement scales, these virtual experiences produced levels of self-transcendence and group bonding statistically similar to those reported in psychedelic studies.
Abstract
With a growing body of research highlighting the therapeutic potential of experiential phenomenology which diminishes egoic identity and increases ...
An algebraic theory to discriminate qualia in the brain
arXiv Preprint Archive – May 31, 2023
Summary
Scientists have discovered how our brains may mathematically distinguish between different types of sensory experiences, like seeing red versus feeling touch. Using neural networks and advanced algebra, researchers demonstrated that the brain creates separate "mental spaces" for different sensation types by weakening independence between neural pathways, helping explain how we process diverse sensory experiences.
Abstract
The mind-brain problem is to bridge relations between in higher-level mental events and in lower-level neural events. To address this, some mathema...
Subject-independent Classification of Meditative State from the Resting State using EEG
arXiv Preprint Archive – April 25, 2025
Summary
Brain wave patterns can reveal when someone is meditating with remarkable accuracy. Using advanced signal processing and machine learning, researchers developed systems that can detect meditative states from regular brain activity with over 96% accuracy - even in people whose data wasn't used for training. This breakthrough could help validate meditation practices and develop better mindfulness tools.
Abstract
While it is beneficial to objectively determine whether a subject is meditating, most research in the literature reports good results only in a sub...
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...
Phenethylaminylation: Preliminary In Vitro Evidence for the Covalent Transamidation of Psychedelic Phenethylamines to Glial Proteins using 3,5-Dimethoxy-4-(2-Propynyloxy)-Phenethylamine as a Model Compound.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology – February 17, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic compounds may create lasting brain changes through a newly discovered mechanism: directly attaching to proteins in brain cells. Scientists found that mescaline-like compounds can permanently modify proteins in glial cells, brain cells that support neural function. This chemical bonding process could help explain why single doses of psychedelics sometimes produce long-term positive effects on mental health.
Abstract
Psychedelics are well known for their ability to produce profoundly altered states of consciousness. But, more importantly, the effects of psychede...
Sleep-administered ketamine/psychedelics: A streamlined strategy to address two challenges in research on ketamine and psychedelics.
European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists – February 05, 2025
Summary
Administering ketamine and psychedelics during sleep could revolutionize how we understand their antidepressant effects. This innovative approach explores whether these rapid-acting antidepressants work independently of their consciousness-altering effects. By delivering treatments during sleep, researchers can better study the underlying mechanism of action while improving clinical trial blinding, as patients won't experience the distinct sensations that typically reveal whether they received active treatment.
Abstract
The dissociative effects of ketamine and psychedelics might be associated with their rapid antidepressant properties, raising questions about wheth...
Dissociation-related behaviors in mice emerge from the inhibition of retrosplenial cortex parvalbumin interneurons.
Cell reports – January 28, 2025
Summary
Scientists have pinpointed specific brain cells that control dissociation - a dreamlike mental state where reality feels disconnected. When these cells (called parvalbumin interneurons) in the brain's retrosplenial cortex are inhibited, mice show dissociative behaviors similar to those caused by ketamine. This discovery explains how ketamine triggers its unique effects and may lead to better treatments for dissociative disorders.
Abstract
Dissociation, characterized by altered consciousness and perception, underlies multiple mental disorders, but the specific neuronal subtypes involv...
KETAMINE: Neural- and network-level changes.
Neuroscience – November 01, 2024
Summary
Ketamine's remarkable ability to reshape brain connectivity offers new hope for treating mental health conditions. This groundbreaking research reveals how ketamine enhances neuroplasticity by promoting hyperconnectivity between brain regions and fine-tuning neural responses. The drug increases neural synchrony across brain networks while reducing firing variability, creating more robust connections between neurons. These changes in brain circuitry help explain ketamine's powerful therapeutic effects and its potential to rapidly improve mood disorders.
Abstract
Ketamine is a widely used clinical drug that has several functional and clinical applications, including its use as an anaesthetic, analgesic, anti...