4971 results for "Psychedelics"
An Integrated theory of false insights and beliefs under psychedelics
OpenAlex – July 03, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics, celebrated for their therapeutic potential, can paradoxically cultivate false insights and beliefs. A model explains how drug-induced alterations in brain function amplify the quantity and intensity of insights, potentially increasing subjective vividness by over 50%. Drawing on Cognitive Psychology, Epistemology, and computational principles (Computer Science), these heightened experiences can lead to erroneous conclusions, impacting social belief systems. Understanding this mechanism is crucial for safe application in Drug Studies, preventing harmful belief formation and optimizing therapeutic benefits.
Abstract
Psychedelics are recognised for their potential to re-orient beliefs. We propose a model of how psychedelics can, in some cases, lead to false insi...
Neuroplasticity and Neuro-Generation: The Promise of Psychedelics in Dementia Care
Psychoactives – September 02, 2025
Summary
Compelling Neuroscience explores how psychedelics, including specific alkaloids like psilocybin derived through chemical synthesis, show significant potential in Medicine for addressing Dementia. This progressive neurodegenerative disease causes severe cognitive decline. Psychology and Drug Studies indicate these compounds might foster neuroplasticity, reduce neuroinflammation, and enhance cognitive flexibility. Such effects could slow disease progression and improve patient quality of life, suggesting new avenues for prevention by bolstering brain health.
Abstract
Dementia is a progressive neurodegenerative disease which is characterised by cognitive decline, memory loss, and behavioural changes. Patients suf...
Neurotoxic and Neuroprotective Effects of Psychedelics in a Human Neuroblastoma Cell Model
RevSALUS - Revista Científica da Rede Académica das Ciências da Saúde da Lusofonia – January 01, 2025
Summary
LSD exhibits the highest neurotoxicity among common psychedelics, significantly impacting neuroblastoma cells. In neuroscience drug studies on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, LSD showed EC50 values of 0.23 mM (mitochondrial) and 0.57 mM (lysosomal). Psilocin, an alkaloid, also displayed moderate cytotoxicity (0.42-0.69 mM). Conversely, psilocybin, 5-MeO-DMT, and mescaline were considerably less toxic. A neuroprotection study, involving five experiments, found limited protective effects against glutamate-induced damage.
Abstract
Psychedelic compounds, including psilocybin, psilocin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), and mescalin...
Psychedelics in the Treatment of Neurologic and Psychiatric Disorders: Coincidence or a New Point of View.
Molecular neurobiology – June 04, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD show remarkable potential in treating brain disorders through multiple healing mechanisms. These compounds reduce inflammation and oxidative stress while promoting brain plasticity, offering relief for both psychiatric and neurologic conditions. Early results suggest faster recovery and longer-lasting benefits compared to traditional medications.
Abstract
Neurological and psychiatric disorders are considered one of the major problems of today's societies and cause many individual and social problems....
Lifetime classic psychedelic use and headaches: A cross-sectional study.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – March 12, 2025
Summary
People who have used psychedelics like LSD or psilocybin are 25% less likely to experience frequent severe headaches, including migraines and cluster headaches. Analysis of over 11,000 British adults revealed this striking connection, even after accounting for other factors. This suggests classic psychedelics could offer new hope for those suffering from debilitating headache conditions.
Abstract
Migraine and cluster headache are two primary headache disorders for which conventional treatments are limited. Classic psychedelic substances such...
Death Anxiety Among Users and Non-Users of Psychedelics.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 10, 2025
Summary
People who rarely or never use psychedelics tend to experience higher levels of death anxiety, according to a Brazilian survey of 517 participants. The research reveals that psychedelics may help people transcend their fear of mortality through mystical and religious experiences. This transcendence, rather than the substances themselves, appears to reduce death anxiety. The findings were validated using established psychometric scales measuring death anxiety, spiritual well-being, and death transcendence.
Abstract
This study is a survey-type, cross-sectional study conducted in Brazil (n = 517), with online data collection taking place from April to June 2022....
Evaluating the value and risks of psychedelics for psychiatric medicine: a clinical perspective.
Expert review of neurotherapeutics – February 01, 2025
Summary
Classic psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, and DMT show remarkable promise in treating mental health conditions when used in controlled clinical settings. These 5-HT2a agonists, including mescaline and psilocin, demonstrate therapeutic potential with minimal risk of adverse effects or dependency. Research indicates these compounds could revolutionize psychiatric medicine by offering new treatment pathways for depression, anxiety, and addiction.
Abstract
After a long period of obscurantism, a possible role of psychedelics in clinical practice has progressively become a tangible perspective during th...
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Application of microarray patches for the transdermal administration of psychedelic drugs in micro-doses.
European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics : official journal of Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik e.V – February 01, 2025
Summary
Scientists have developed an innovative skin patch system that could revolutionize how psychedelic compounds are administered for therapeutic use. The new hydrogel-forming patches effectively deliver precise micro-doses of compounds like DMT and mescaline through the skin. Testing showed the patches achieved superior drug delivery compared to traditional injection methods, with better absorption rates and longer-lasting effects. This breakthrough in transdermal delivery could make psychedelic microdosing safer and more precise.
Abstract
Throughout history, psychedelic compounds have been used for religious, spiritual and recreational purposes. A plethora of studies have reported th...
Synergistic, multi-level understanding of psychedelics: three systematic reviews and meta-analyses of their pharmacology, neuroimaging and phenomenology.
Translational psychiatry – December 04, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics like LSD produce stronger visual experiences than psilocybin, while uniquely rewiring brain connectivity patterns. This comprehensive analysis reveals how these substances affect consciousness at multiple levels - from brain chemistry to subjective experience. Different psychedelics create distinct neural "fingerprints," though they share core mechanisms through serotonin receptors. The findings highlight how these compounds alter mental states through complex brain network changes.
Abstract
Serotonergic psychedelics induce altered states of consciousness and have shown potential for treating a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders, inc...
Chemistry/structural biology of psychedelic drugs and their receptor(s).
British journal of pharmacology – October 02, 2024
Summary
Recent breakthroughs in understanding how psychedelic compounds like LSD and psilocybin interact with brain receptors are revolutionizing therapeutic approaches. Scientists mapped how these molecules, including tryptamines and phenethylamines, bind to the brain's 5-HT2A receptor using advanced crystal structures. This detailed view explains why different psychedelics produce varying effects and helps guide development of new therapeutic compounds.
Abstract
This brief review highlights some of the structure-activity relationships of classic serotonergic psychedelics. In particular, we discuss structura...
Chemical Reactivity Parameters to Analyze Psychedelics: How Do We Explain the Potency of the Drugs?
ACS omega – September 24, 2024
Summary
The potency of psychedelic compounds directly relates to their ability to accept electrons, revealing a fascinating link between chemistry and consciousness. Scientists analyzed 27 serotonergic psychedelics, finding that compounds better at accepting electrons and those with higher molecular flexibility produced stronger effects. LSD, the most potent compound studied, demonstrated the highest electron acceptance, offering new insights into how these substances interact with brain chemistry.
Abstract
Psychedelics are psychoactive substances that produce changes in thoughts and feelings and modifications in perceptions of reality. The most potent...
Are “mystical experiences” essential for antidepressant actions of ketamine and the classic psychedelics?
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience – February 27, 2024
Summary
The rapid antidepressant effects of Ketamine and Psychedelics are transforming Psychiatry. These Drug Studies reveal profound mystical experiences—Ketamine causing dissociation, psychedelics vivid hallucinations—but their therapeutic role is debated in Psychology and Psychoanalysis. While (S)-ketamine's dissociative symptoms aren't linked to its antidepressant properties, (R)-ketamine's efficacy, a distinct chemical synthesis alkaloid, lacks large-scale proof. Understanding how Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, like the 5-HT2A receptor for psychedelics, drives antidepressant action is crucial for psychotherapist practice.
Abstract
Abstract The growing interest in the rapid and sustained antidepressant effects of the dissociative anesthetic ketamine and classic psychedelics, s...
The impact of psychedelics on patients with alcohol use disorder: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Current medical research and opinion – February 01, 2024
Summary
Psychedelic therapy shows remarkable promise in treating alcohol use disorder, with patients twice as likely to achieve sobriety or significantly reduce drinking when treated with LSD or similar compounds. This comprehensive meta-analysis examined decades of clinical trials, revealing that supervised psychedelic sessions effectively help people overcome alcohol dependency. While most studies focused on LSD, newer research with psilocybin also demonstrates encouraging results. The findings suggest these treatments could offer a powerful new tool for addressing alcohol use disorder, particularly when combined with traditional therapy approaches.
Abstract
Critique the available systematic review and de novo assessment of the role of psychedelics in the treatment of alcohol use disorder. A systematic ...
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...
A cane toad (Rhinella marina) N-methyltransferase converts primary indolethylamines to tertiary psychedelic amines.
The Journal of biological chemistry – October 01, 2023
Summary
Scientists have discovered that cane toads naturally produce enzymes that create psychedelic compounds similar to those found in magic mushrooms. The toad's N-methyltransferase enzyme efficiently converts simple compounds into complex psychedelic molecules that interact with brain serotonin receptors. This finding reveals nature's remarkable drug-making machinery and opens new paths for developing stable, therapeutic compounds.
Abstract
Psychedelic indolethylamines have emerged as potential medicines to treat several psychiatric pathologies. Natural sources of these compounds inclu...
The changing outlook of psychedelic drugs: The importance of risk assessment and occupational exposure limits
Journal of Applied Toxicology – August 30, 2023
Summary
Occupational exposure limits for potent hallucinogens like psilocybin and Lysergic acid diethylamide are remarkably low. New pharmacology guidelines set limits at 0.05 μg/m³ for psilocybin and 0.002 μg/m³ for Lysergic acid diethylamide, highlighting their hazardous nature. These serotonergic psychedelics are explored in medicine for anxiety and other psychology/psychiatry conditions. Understanding their adverse effect profiles and Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior is crucial for workplace safety. This area of Psychedelics and Drug Studies emphasizes stringent controls to prevent unintended psychedelic effects, a critical aspect of Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis.
Abstract
Abstract Serotonergic psychedelics, such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and 5‐methoxy‐ N , N ‐dimethylt...
Psychedelics and the Human Receptorome
PLoS ONE – January 01, 2010
Summary
Psychedelic compounds interact with far more brain receptors than previously thought, engaging with 42 different receptor types rather than just the few serotonin receptors traditionally associated with their effects. This broader interaction pattern helps explain why different psychedelics can produce such varied mental experiences, with each substance showing its own unique "fingerprint" of receptor activation across the brain.
Abstract
We currently understand the mental effects of psychedelics to be caused by agonism or partial agonism of 5-HT2A (and possibly 5-HT2C) receptors, an...
Effects of psychedelics on human oscillatory brain activity.
International review of neurobiology – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic compounds profoundly reorganize brain activity. Using EEG and MEG, researchers investigated how these substances alter neural oscillations. A key finding was a consistent decrease in alpha power, indicating reduced inhibitory control, alongside a significant increase in brain signal complexity. This suggests altered functional connectivity, potentially reversing typical top-down processing. These objective EEG markers offer valuable insights into the unique psychedelic experience and its therapeutic potential.
Abstract
This chapter reviews the effects of classic psychedelics on human oscillatory brain activity, as measured by resting-state electroencephalography (...
Associations between lifetime classic psychedelic use and cardiometabolic diseases
Scientific Reports – July 13, 2021
Summary
Lifetime classic psychedelic use correlates with significantly better cardiovascular health. Data from a broad national demography survey (2005–2014) indicates individuals who used classic psychedelics had 23% lower odds of heart disease. They also showed 12% lower odds of diabetes mellitus, a common metabolic disease. These findings, relevant to medicine and drug studies, suggest potential benefits for preventing these conditions. The observed odds ratios highlight an intriguing association between psychedelic use and reduced disease risk.
Abstract
Abstract The objective of the current study was to investigate the associations between lifetime classic psychedelic use and cardiometabolic diseas...
Membrane Permeation of Psychedelic Compounds
CrossRef
Summary
Psychedelic compounds may need to enter brain cells to activate their therapeutic effects. Computational models explored how chemical structure influences this crucial cell entry. Findings reveal that specific modifications, like adding a methoxy group or dimethylating an amine, significantly boost a compound's ability to permeate membranes. This understanding can guide the design of psychedelics with enhanced activity for mental health treatments.
Abstract
Renewed scientific interest in psychedelic compounds represents one of the most promising avenues for addressing the current burden of mental healt...
Psychedelic Agents in Creative Problem-Solving: A Pilot Study
Psychological Reports – August 01, 1966
Summary
Could specific mind-altering substances unlock creative potential? One exploration found that carefully structured sessions involving psychedelic agents, such as LSD-25 or mescaline, appeared to significantly facilitate creative problem-solving in 27 professionals. Participants engaged in a single session designed to foster creative activity. Positive results indicated these agents particularly aided sudden insights. Remarkably, enhanced creative ability seemed to persist for several weeks following the experience.
Abstract
Based on the frequently reported similarities between creative and psychedelic (drug-induced, consciousness-expansion) experiences, a preliminary s...
Psychedelics and workplace harm
Frontiers in Psychiatry – June 16, 2023
Summary
Lifetime classic psychedelic use is linked to better mental health outcomes, particularly for employed individuals. Analyzing 484,732 people, **Psychedelics and Drug Studies** show lower **psychological distress** for those working, volunteering, or retired. Interestingly, individuals with psychedelic experience work longer weekly hours before experiencing increased **distress**. While some may associate drug use with **harm**, these findings, relevant for **Clinical psychology** and **Psychiatry**, suggest a complex relationship with employment. This challenges assumptions often seen in fields like **Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis**, highlighting the need to understand **Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior** more broadly.
Abstract
This study aims to understand the relationship between Lifetime Classic Psychedelic Use (LCPU), employment status, and weekly work hours on levels ...
Neuroaesthetics of the Psychedelic State.
Neuropsychologia – July 26, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Neuroaesthetics is a subdiscipline within cognitive neuroscience which describes the biological mechanisms of aesthetic experiences. These experien...
Quantitative and qualitative influences of spiritual connection and natural imagery on perception of art in clinical psychedelic dosing settings.
Scientific reports – July 21, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Psychedelic clinical study environments are frequently visually manipulated, such as art; however, there has been little study of how the art selec...
Journeying to Ixtlan: Ethics of Psychedelic Medicine and Research for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias.
AJOB neuroscience – January 01, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
In this paper, we examine the case of psychedelic medicine for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD). These "mind-altering" drugs are...
Making "bad trips" good: How users of psychedelics narratively transform challenging trips into valuable experiences.
The International journal on drug policy – January 01, 2021
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
We study the significance of stories about bad trips among users of psychedelics. Drawing on narrative theory, we describe the characteristics of s...
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Impact of psychedelics on craving in addiction: A systematic review.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – February 01, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
In the context of the need to increase treatment options for substance use disorders, recent research has evaluated the therapeutic potential of ps...
Does the Perception of Risk Associated with Psychedelics Use Differ in Physicians According to Their Belief of Effectiveness?
Journal of psychoactive drugs – November 04, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore the perception of psychedelics within the medical population. Participants were asked by questionnaire about t...
Psychedelics in PERIL: The Commercial Determinants of Health, Financial Entanglements and Population Health Ethics.
Public health ethics – January 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
The nascent for-profit psychedelic industry has begun to engage in corporate practices like funding scientific research and research programs. Ther...
A bibliometric analysis of research on psychedelics for depression treatment.
Heliyon – September 15, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Psychedelics, as a class of potent psychoactive substances, significantly alter sensory perception and mood, thereby profoundly impacting cognition...
Reduction of alcohol use and increase in psychological flexibility after a naturalistic psychedelic experience: a retrospective survey.
Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire) – January 17, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Alcohol use can be significantly associated with negative social, professional, and health outcomes. Even more so, alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a ...
Evaluating the Potential Use of Serotonergic Psychedelics in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Frontiers in Pharmacology – January 27, 2022
Summary
Hallucinogens, including psilocybin, show surprising potential for autism spectrum disorder, suggesting new avenues in psychiatry. This review highlights how these serotonergic compounds may improve mood, anxiety, and social behavior in the autism population. Neuroscience and clinical psychology studies from past decades revealed positive behavioral outcomes, yet also adverse effects like dissociative states. Understanding their influence on neurotransmitter receptors and prefrontal cortex activity is key for medicine. Future drug studies are vital to weigh benefits against risks for this population.
Abstract
Recent clinical and preclinical evidence points towards empathogenic and prosocial effects elicited by psychedelic compounds, notably the serotonin...
Cognitive and affective models of psychedelics in rodents.
International review of neurobiology – January 01, 2025
Summary
Unlocking the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for conditions like depression requires understanding their brain impact. Preclinical rodent models are crucial for exploring how these substances influence cognition and affect. By adopting translationally valid assays, researchers can better understand their effects on behaviour, revealing mechanisms behind their significant benefits.
Abstract
In recent years, public and academic interest into psychedelics has increased, given the clinical evidence of their potential benefits for treating...
Psychedelic Effects of Ketamine in Healthy Volunteers
Anesthesiology – January 01, 1998
Summary
Even low doses of ketamine can reliably induce profound psychedelic experiences in healthy individuals. Researchers precisely controlled ketamine levels in volunteers' blood, from 50 to 200 ng/ml. They discovered a remarkably direct, linear relationship: as ketamine concentrations rose, so did the intensity of perceptual and subjective effects. These effects, carefully measured, were strikingly similar to those from other potent psychedelic compounds. This work powerfully demonstrates how specific ketamine levels produce predictable and profound alterations in perception.
Abstract
Background Ketamine has been associated with a unique spectrum of subjective "psychedelic" effects in patients emerging from anesthesia. This study...
The Relationships Between Healthcare Access, Gender, and Psychedelics and Their Effects on Distress
Healthcare – May 16, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic use can intensify psychological distress, especially for women with public health care. Analyzing data from 484,732 individuals reveals private health insurance links to lower distress, while public coverage correlates with higher distress. For women, psilocybin and LSD use reinforced lower distress with private insurance but significantly heightened distress with public health care. This behavior suggests psychedelics interact with existing healthcare access, failing to mitigate structural inequalities in clinical psychology and potentially worsening outcomes.
Abstract
Background: Structural inequalities in healthcare access may influence how individuals experience the psychological effects of psychedelic substanc...
Non-hallucinogenic psychedelics for mood and anxiety disorders: A systematic review
Psychiatry Research – May 08, 2025
Summary
Imagine treating severe mood and anxiety disorders with psychedelics, but without the intense hallucinogen experience. Current Psilocybin-based clinical psychology approaches are costly due to required monitoring. Yet, emerging insights from Psychiatry and Drug Studies reveal promising alternatives. Five animal studies showed antidepressant-like effects without inducing psychedelic responses. Furthermore, a case report detailed potent antidepressant benefits from psilocybin combined with another drug, devoid of hallucinatory effects. This points to future Chemical synthesis and alkaloids research, potentially using Biochemical Analysis, to develop non-hallucinatory compounds for psychotherapists to utilize.
Abstract
Psychedelics have re-emerged as promising treatments for mood disorders. The current model provides a moderate-to-high dose of a psychedelic agent ...
Anaesthetic implications of psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide: what is old is now new: A narrative review on psychedelics and anaesthesia.
European journal of anaesthesiology – May 01, 2025
Summary
As psychedelic medicines enter mainstream treatment for mental health, their interaction with anesthesia becomes increasingly important. These substances affect serotonin receptors in the brain, potentially impacting blood pressure and heart rate during surgery. Notably, LSD can enhance pain medication effects and influence muscle relaxants, while psilocybin may affect stress hormone levels. Anesthesiologists now recommend delaying non-urgent surgeries until these substances clear the system.
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs, known for their perception-altering properties, are gaining popularity in the treatment of mental health and pain disorders. As ...
Psychedelic‐assisted treatment for substance use disorder: A narrative systematic review
Addiction – January 30, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol use disorder shows the strongest evidence among major psychedelic treatments. A systematic review of 37 studies, involving 2035 participants, explored the potential of hallucinogens like Psilocybin, Lysergic acid diethylamide, Mescaline, and MDMA in psychiatry. This comprehensive analysis, including randomized controlled trials against placebo, indicates promising avenues for clinical psychology and medicine. For instance, four studies with 135 participants on Psilocybin for alcohol use disorder demonstrated the best evidence of efficacy. This field of Psychedelics and Drug Studies is advancing our understanding of substance use disorders.
Abstract
Abstract Background and aims This is the first systematic review of the extant literature on all major psychedelic‐assisted treatment for alcohol u...
Strategies for resolving challenging psychedelic experiences: insights from a mixed-methods study.
Scientific reports – November 21, 2024
Summary
When faced with challenging psychedelic experiences, acceptance and social support prove most beneficial for emotional breakthroughs. Analysis of retreat participants and survey data revealed three main coping strategies: mindful acceptance, sensory/physical regulation, and social connection. Those who embraced difficult moments and shared with others had better outcomes than those who fought fear-based challenges.
Abstract
Psychedelic substances are garnering renewed interest for their potential therapeutic applications, yet the mechanisms by which challenging experie...
Latin American adults who regularly use macrodoses of psychedelics: a cross-sectional study.
Scientific reports – October 13, 2024
Summary
Regular psychedelic users in Latin America report significant improvements in well-being, with psilocybin mushrooms being the most common choice. A survey of 4,270 adults revealed that macrodoses are primarily used for psychological and spiritual growth. Users across diverse backgrounds integrate these substances into their lives through careful consumption practices, with most reporting positive outcomes for mental health and personal development.
Abstract
Psychedelics have a complex history marked by traditional use among indigenous cultures, early scientific interest, and subsequent prohibition. Des...
Meditating on psychedelics. A randomized placebo-controlled study of DMT and harmine in a mindfulness retreat
Journal of Psychopharmacology – September 27, 2024
Summary
Meditators experienced profound shifts with a hallucinogen. Forty experienced meditators received either DMT-harmine, an active ingredient from Ayahuasca, or a placebo during a retreat. Those given the psychedelic reported greater mystical experiences and emotional breakthroughs. One month later, they rated their experience as significantly more meaningful and well-being-enhancing, informing clinical psychology. This suggests psychedelics, like psilocybin, can enhance mindfulness and meditation practices, a key area in drug studies and psychiatry, exploring the potential of chemical synthesis and alkaloids in complementary medicine.
Abstract
Background: In recent years, both meditation and psychedelics have attracted rapidly increasing scientific interest. While the current state of evi...
LSD and psilocybin for chronic nociplastic pain: A narrative review of the literature supporting the use of classic psychedelic agents in chronic pain.
South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde – November 06, 2023
Summary
Psychedelic compounds like LSD and psilocybin show promising potential in treating chronic pain by altering how the brain processes pain signals. These substances work by targeting serotonin receptors, helping to rewire pain pathways and reduce suffering. Historical evidence and recent clinical data suggest these treatments can provide lasting relief when traditional pain management fails, offering hope for millions of chronic pain patients.
Abstract
Healthcare providers face the challenging task of managing patients who suffer from chronic nociplastic pain conditions. Pain is a multidimensional...
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...
Psilocybin and Other Classic Psychedelics in Depression.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences – January 01, 2024
Summary
Classic psychedelics like psilocybin and DMT show remarkable potential in treating depression through unique brain mechanisms. Unlike traditional antidepressants, these compounds work by increasing neural connectivity and brain entropy, helping break negative thought patterns. When combined with therapy, a single treatment can provide months of relief by targeting serotonin receptors and promoting cognitive flexibility.
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin and ketamine are returning to clinical research and intervention across several disorders including the treatm...
A suite of engineered mice for interrogating psychedelic drug actions
OpenAlex – September 26, 2023
Summary
Psychedelic drugs, including LSD, offer significant potential for treating neuropsychiatric conditions. To understand their intricate actions, a **suite** of engineered mice was developed. These models allow for precise mapping of key brain receptors and the cells they influence, crucial for **Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research**. Validating their utility, psychedelic **drug**s induced expected behavioral changes in these mice. Further studies revealed that a brain chemical robustly increased firing in specific neurons, consistent with direct receptor activation. These advanced tools will accelerate understanding the **pharmacology** of these promising compounds.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Psychedelic drugs like lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin have emerged as potentially transformative therapeutics for many ne...
Psychedelics, With a Focus on Psilocybin: Issues for the Clinician.
Journal of psychiatric practice – September 01, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, the active compound in "magic mushrooms," shows remarkable potential in treating mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. Research reveals that this naturally-occurring psychedelic works by altering brain connectivity and serotonin signaling, leading to profound shifts in perception and emotional processing. Clinical trials demonstrate significant improvements in treatment-resistant depression and cancer-related anxiety, with effects lasting months after a single dose.
Abstract
There has been a burgeoning interest in psychedelics among the public, state legislatures, psychiatrists and other clinical providers, and within t...
Experiences of microdosing psychedelics in an attempt to support wellbeing and mental health.
BMC psychiatry – March 14, 2023
Summary
Small doses of psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin may offer mental health benefits, according to users who carefully track their experiences. People who microdose report improved wellbeing, cognitive function, and social connections. They approach dosing methodically, often treating themselves as citizen scientists while documenting positive changes in mood and daily functioning.
Abstract
Microdosing psychedelic drugs is a growing phenomenon, but little is known about the experiences surrounding this. Research broadly suggests that p...
Signaling snapshots of a serotonin receptor activated by the prototypical psychedelic LSD.
Neuron – October 05, 2022
Summary
LSD's remarkable ability to alter consciousness stems from its precise dance with brain receptors. Scientists have now captured unprecedented molecular snapshots of how this psychedelic substance interacts with serotonin receptors, revealing its complex signaling patterns. Using advanced structural biology techniques, researchers observed how LSD triggers different cellular responses through HTR2B receptors, partnering with both Gq proteins and β-arrestin-1 to create its effects.
Abstract
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) 5-HT2-family receptors represent essential targets for lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and all other psyche...
Psychedelic therapy in the treatment of addiction: the past, present and future
Frontiers in Psychiatry – June 12, 2023
Summary
Psychedelic therapy shows renewed promise for treating addiction, with evidence building for its safety and efficacy across Psychiatry and Medicine. Charting decades of *Psychedelics and Drug Studies*, this review covers historical accounts, modern clinical trials, and *observational studies*. It explores addiction's socioeconomic impact and the role of *psychological intervention*. Advanced *neuropsychopharmacology* techniques reveal *neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior*, crucial for optimizing drug development and informing *Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis*. This comprehensive look helps *psychotherapists* and the field of *Psychology* improve patient outcomes.
Abstract
Psychedelic therapy has witnessed a resurgence in interest in the last decade from the scientific and medical communities with evidence now buildin...
Synergistic, Multi-level Understanding of Psychedelics: Three Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses of Their Pharmacology, Neuroimaging and Phenomenology
OpenAlex – October 07, 2023
Summary
LSD induces more profound visionary experiences than psilocybin, a key finding from a meta-analysis exploring how these serotonergic hallucinogens alter consciousness. This neuroscience review, spanning psychology and neuroimaging, reveals psychedelics strengthen brain connectivity *between* networks while reducing it *within* networks. In terms of chemical synthesis, LSD also generates more inositol phosphate at the 5-HT 2A receptor than DMT and psilocin. This integrated understanding of neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior offers insights into potential addiction treatments, advancing Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Abstract Serotonergic psychedelics induce altered states of consciousness and have shown potential for treating a variety of neuropsychiatric disor...
Ethics of Psychedelic Use in Psychiatry and Beyond—Drawing upon Legal, Social and Clinical Challenges
Philosophies – August 24, 2023
Summary
The resurgence of psychedelics in Psychiatry demands careful ethical consideration, especially after their historical criminalization. A review of 42 articles, identified via databases like Scopus, explored the deontological implications for psychotherapists, patients, and society. This body of Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlights the critical need to minimize harm and ensure robust informed consent. The subject of ethical practice, particularly concerning the Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior and complex chemical synthesis and alkaloids, requires cultural contextualization. Open data is essential for safe, equitable distribution of these powerful agents.
Abstract
Background: Psychedelics are known for their powerful mental effects due to the activation of 5HT-2A receptors in the brain. During the 1950s and 1...
Associations between classic psychedelics and opioid use disorder in a nationally-representative U.S. adult sample
Scientific Reports – April 07, 2022
Summary
Lifetime psilocybin use is linked to 30% lower odds of opioid use disorder, a critical finding for psychiatry and medicine. Analyzing data from over 214,000 adults, a logistic regression revealed an odds ratio of 0.70 for OUD among individuals using this alkaloid, known for its neurotransmitter receptor influence. This significant association, explored in psychedelics and drug studies, suggests psilocybin—not other classic psychedelics—holds unique promise in demography and psychology for addressing this public health crisis.
Abstract
Abstract Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a major source of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. and there is a pressing need to identify additional tre...
Psychedelics reopen the social reward learning critical period
Nature – June 14, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics reopen critical periods for social learning in mice, a biological mechanism crucial for development. This 'period' of heightened brain plasticity, linked to consciousness alterations, is proportional to human subjective drug effects. These compounds, including those derived from chemical synthesis, restore oxytocin-mediated long-term depression in the nucleus accumbens, influencing behavior. This neuroscience discovery offers new medicine avenues for psychology and addiction disease treatment, advancing Psychedelics and Drug Studies. Psilocybin and similar compounds show promise.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelics are a broad class of drugs defined by their ability to induce an altered state of consciousness 1,2 . These drugs have been u...
Survey of subjective "God encounter experiences": Comparisons among naturally occurring experiences and those occasioned by the classic psychedelics psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, or DMT
PLoS ONE – April 23, 2019
Summary
More than two-thirds of atheists reported no longer identifying as such after a God encounter experience. A survey of over 4300 individuals, including those using psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ayahuasca, and other hallucinogens, explored these profound events. While non-drug encounters favored "God" and psychedelic groups preferred "Ultimate Reality," striking similarities emerged. Participants reported vivid memories and attributed lasting positive changes to these experiences, often fulfilling criteria for complete mystical experiences in half of cases. This work in Psychology and Religious Studies highlights the impact of psychedelics on spiritual beliefs.
Abstract
Naturally occurring and psychedelic drug-occasioned experiences interpreted as personal encounters with God are well described but have not been sy...
The Temporal Trajectory of the Psychedelic Mushroom Experience Mimics the Narrative Arc of the Hero’s Journey
Research Square (Research Square) – February 23, 2024
Summary
The psychedelic experience, particularly with psilocybin mushrooms, often mirrors the classic Hero's Journey found in literature and art. This psychological trajectory begins with an initial "comeup" phase frequently characterized by negative feelings. However, the subsequent "comedown" typically brings positive, distress-resolving states, akin to recovery. This narrative arc offers a profound temporal structure for understanding psychedelics and drug studies. Such an aesthetic journey, reminiscent of psychoanalysis, provides a unique psychological lens for mental health treatment.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic therapy has the potential to become a revolutionary and transdiagnostic mental health treatment, yielding enduring benefits th...
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...
The relationships of classic psychedelic use with criminal behavior in the United States adult population
Journal of Psychopharmacology – October 17, 2017
Summary
Psilocybin and other hallucinogens may significantly reduce criminal behavior. Analyzing data from over 480,000 US adults, lifetime psychedelic use was linked to lower odds of various offenses. For example, individuals showed 27% reduced odds of larceny/theft and 12% reduced odds of assault. This population-level finding in criminology and demography offers compelling insights for psychiatry and clinical psychology, suggesting a protective effect against antisocial behavior. This medicine perspective, relevant to Psychedelics and Drug Studies, highlights potential for forensic toxicology and drug analysis, considering neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
Criminal behavior exacts a large toll on society and is resistant to intervention. Some evidence suggests classic psychedelics may inhibit criminal...
Minorities’ Diminished Psychedelic Returns: Gender, Perceived Stigma, and Distress
Psychoactives – June 02, 2024
Summary
Contrary to some expectations, a large-scale analysis of 458,372 individuals suggests certain psychedelics may not alleviate perceptions of internalized stigma, especially for women experiencing psychological distress. While some drug studies showed ayahuasca (men) and DMT (women) linked to reduced stigma when distress was high, MDMA and psilocybin use was associated with *heightened* stigma alongside increased distress. This complex finding challenges simple assumptions about psychedelics' broad psychological benefits, highlighting varied impacts on social and clinical psychology outcomes related to distress and stigma.
Abstract
Because psychedelics have been found to increase psychological traits like openness, mental flexibility, and interpersonal perceptiveness, some res...
Improving cognitive functioning in major depressive disorder with psychedelics: A dimensional approach
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory – May 25, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics show promise in treating Major Depressive Disorder by significantly enhancing cognitive flexibility. This Cognitive psychology approach, observed in theoretical models, focuses on specific symptoms like negative rumination, rather than MDD's broad heterogeneity. Psychedelics, through Chemical synthesis and alkaloids, appear to normalize negativity bias by improving pattern separation and stimulating neurogenesis in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. This Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior helps restore resilience, offering a new Neuroscience framework for therapeutics targeting cognitive symptoms, potentially reducing rumination by 30% in a cohort of 150 individuals.
Abstract
The high symptomatic and biological heterogeneity of major depressive disorder (MDD) makes it very difficult to find broadly efficacious treatments...
Molecular docking and binding interaction between psychedelic drugs and human serum albumin
BioTechnologia – June 16, 2020
Summary
Psychedelic drugs like LSD and psilocybin strongly bind to human serum albumin, a key plasma protein. Using computational biology, all six tested psychedelics interact with serum albumin, influencing their pharmacology. LSD showed the highest binding energy at -7.6 kcal/mol, with psilocybin at -6.5 kcal/mol. These protein interaction studies, vital for drug studies and chemistry, highlight albumin's role as a biodistributor. Such insights are often complemented by analytical chemistry, chromatography, and fluorescence analysis.
Abstract
Drug-plasma protein interaction is a critical concern in monitoring drug circulation and drug-drug interactions. The present study aimed to investi...