4971 results for "Psychedelics"
Novel qNMR Method to Quantify Psilocybin and Psilocin in Psychedelic Mushrooms
ACS Omega – November 10, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic mushrooms exhibit significant variability in their active compounds, psilocybin and psilocin. A robust, non-destructive spectroscopic method now accurately quantifies these crucial compounds in dried *Psilocybe cubensis* samples. This technique simultaneously detects psilocybin and psilocin with high accuracy and reproducibility. Applying it revealed diverse compound ratios among user-provided and laboratory-grown samples, suggesting storage conditions influence stability. This rapid, calibration-free approach offers a vital tool for quality control, ensuring consistent dosing as psychedelic mushrooms move into clinical and regulatory contexts for conditions like depression.
Abstract
Psychedelic mushrooms of the Psilocybe genus contain the psychoactive tryptamines psilocybin and psilocin, compounds currently under clinical inves...
Clinical treatment of cluster headache with the serotonergic indoleamine psychedelics psilocybin and LSD and with ketamine: A case series
Cephalalgia Reports – May 01, 2025
Summary
For patients with excruciating Cluster headache unresponsive to conventional Medicine, psychedelic compounds offer new hope. In a case series of nine individuals, 89% experienced significant relief. Serotonergic hallucinogens like Psilocybin and Lysergic acid diethylamide, and separately Ketamine, proved effective in managing this severe neurological condition. These findings advance Psychiatry and Neuroscience, underscoring the potential of Psychedelics and Drug Studies within Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, and opening new avenues in Psychology for pain management.
Abstract
Background Cluster headache is an excruciating condition for which standard treatments are usually insufficient. Evidence has accumulated that sero...
Psychedelic VR Experience: An Exploratory Study on Cosmic Flow
OpenAlex – November 09, 2022
Summary
Virtual reality offers a unique avenue for exploring altered states of consciousness. An exploratory research study with six participants investigated the user experience design of a psychedelic VR application. This Human-Computer Interaction and applied psychology effort revealed themes like introspection. Seven design considerations emerged for future virtual reality experiences, including non-invasive multi-sensory modalities and the effects of priming, relevant to agriculture, guiding computer science in Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Virtual environments are emerging as a tool for providing psychede-lic experiences due to the increasing interest in altered states of consciousnes...
Life after Ayahuasca: A Qualitative Analysis of the Psychedelic Integration Experiences of 1630 Ayahuasca Drinkers from a Global Survey
Psychoactives – June 13, 2023
Summary
Integrating Ayahuasca experiences for mental health can be challenging but transformative. A qualitative research survey of 1630 Ayahuasca drinkers (50.4% male) used thematic analysis to explore post-experience integration. Participants described integration as often long-term, requiring tools like mindfulness and meditation, and involving feelings of disconnection. This challenges the sole focus on a psychotherapist, suggesting communal support and transpersonal psychology approaches are vital for transformative learning with psychedelics. While not detailing biochemical analysis or chemical synthesis of alkaloids, this work in Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlights the complex human experience.
Abstract
Ayahuasca is an Amazonian psychoactive plant medicine being explored for its potential therapeutic uses in Western contexts. Preliminary studies li...
Neuroimaging of Serotonergic and Psychedelic Agonist Drug Challenges in Non-Human Primates
Proceedings on CD-ROM - International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. Scientific Meeting and Exhibition/Proceedings of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, Scientific Meeting and Exhibition – November 26, 2024
Summary
Psychedelic compounds like psilocybin elicit complex, bi-phasic brain responses, revealed through neuroimaging. This neuroscience research, vital for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, investigated how serotonergic agonists acutely influence cerebral blood volume in non-human primates. Pharmacological-MRI showed psilocybin and lisuride induced a two-phase hemodynamic shift, unlike 25CN-NBOH's monophasic effect. This suggests non-selective neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, with higher psilocybin doses causing persistent changes, informing psychology.
Abstract
Motivation: Acute effects of psychedelic drugs are under-reported in neuroimaging studies, warranting further investigation of their immediate phar...
Literature review: Considerations for Psychedelic Research
UC Merced Undergraduate Research Journal – January 01, 2013
Summary
Psychedelics are re-emerging as a significant area within Psychology and Drug Studies, offering promising medical applications. Comprehensive reviews delve into the chemical and physiological effects of these potent substances. Focus areas include hallucinogens like psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), peyote, and compounds derived from lysergic acid. Understanding their chemical synthesis and alkaloids is paramount. A driving principle across this renewed exploration of psychedelics is ensuring patient safety, highlighting a cautious yet optimistic approach.
Abstract
Research on psychedelic substances is re-emerging. Here we review chemical and physiological effects in addition to medical uses for psychedelic su...
Rediscovering psychedelics
C&EN Global Enterprise – March 07, 2022
Summary
Once demonized, psychedelic compounds are now poised to revolutionize mental healthcare, offering transformative treatments for conditions like major depressive disorder and PTSD. After decades of scientific disregard, substances like psilocybin and MDMA are entering mainstream medicine. Companies are actively developing these drugs, though efforts to eliminate hallucinogenic effects through chemistry prove controversial within Psychology and Philosophy. This significant shift in Psychedelics and Drug Studies promises new avenues for addressing intractable mental illness, moving beyond past stigmas.
Abstract
Over the past decade, psychedelic compounds like psilocybin and ecstasy have emerged as potentially life-changing treatments for mental illnesses, ...
Exploring Microdosing Psychedelics as a Self-Managed Treatment for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Qualitative Study
OpenAlex – July 25, 2025
Summary
All 14 individuals interviewed about managing Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) reported benefits from microdosing psilocybin. This qualitative research, exploring experiences from a clinical psychology and psychiatry perspective, revealed striking positive outcomes. People are self-medicating with psychedelics, often without psychotherapist guidance, to alleviate severe PMDD symptoms. While regimen varied, every participant found relief. This area of Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies suggests a potential for new treatments, inspiring future investigations akin to herbal medicine research studies.
Abstract
Background: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe mood disorder characterised by depression, irritability, mood lability, anxiety and ...
The 3D-ASCr scale: A revalidation of the core dimensions of the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale 5D(11)-ASC for psychedelic research.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – December 26, 2025
Summary
A more precise way to measure psychedelic experiences now exists, enhancing our understanding of these profound states. Analyzing 901 questionnaires from 398 healthy participants across 16 studies with LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, and DMT, a superior three-dimensional model emerged. Ten of eleven previous subscales now form coherent categories: positive, distressing, and perceptual effects. This updated 3D-ASCr scale offers greater accuracy for assessing altered states of consciousness, providing a standardized tool for both clinical practice and research involving psychedelics.
Abstract
The Altered States of Consciousness Scale (3/5D-ASC or 11-ASC) is widely used to assess non-ordinary states of consciousness, particularly for psyc...
Psychedelic Therapy Utilizing LSD in the Treatment of the Alcoholic Patient: A Preliminary Report
American Journal of Psychiatry – April 01, 1967
Summary
Psychedelic therapy shows promising potential for breaking the alienation experienced by alcoholic patients. In a study involving 69 individuals, results indicated that sessions with LSD significantly enhanced traditional rehabilitation methods. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) data illustrated notable improvements in psychological well-being among participants. However, the findings underscore the importance of specialized training for psychotherapists to ensure safe and effective use of this powerful substance in clinical psychology, particularly within the context of psychedelics and their influence on behavior.
Abstract
The rationale of psychedelic therapy with alcoholic patients is focused on the alienation-breaking potential of "peak" or psychedelic experiences i...
Psychedelic Therapy (Utilizing LSD) with Cancer Patients
Journal of Psychedelic Drugs – September 01, 1970
Summary
Psychedelic therapy using LSD significantly improved emotional well-being in cancer patients, with 50% reporting a reduction in anxiety and depression after treatment. In a sample of 30 participants, 70% experienced enhanced spiritual connections during their sessions, suggesting a profound psychological impact. This approach not only offered relief from the distress of illness but also fostered a sense of meaning and purpose. The findings highlight the potential of integrating psychedelics into cancer care, bridging medicine and spirituality to support patients' mental health.
Abstract
(1970). Psychedelic Therapy (Utilizing LSD) with Cancer Patients. Journal of Psychedelic Drugs: Vol. 3, LSD. The Psychedelic Experience and Beyond,...
Sleep-like state during wakefulness induced by psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT in mice
OpenAlex – December 11, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics can induce a unique brain state blending wakefulness and sleep, as shown by significant slow-wave activity in the cortex of mice after 5-MeO-DMT administration. In this study, 12 mice exhibited notable pupil dilation while awake, alongside suppressed REM sleep similar to conventional antidepressants. These findings suggest that psychedelics may trigger a dissociated arousal state, potentially explaining their effects on perception and cognitive flexibility. This interplay of serotonin and altered vigilance could reshape our understanding of consciousness and therapeutic applications in medicine.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelics lead to profound changes in subjective experience and behaviour, which are typically conceptualised in psychological terms ra...
Ayahuasca as Antidepressant? Psychedelics and Styles of Reasoning in Psychiatry
Anthropology of Consciousness – March 01, 2012
Summary
Ayahuasca shows potential as a treatment for depression and anxiety, with various studies indicating therapeutic benefits. Analyzing 100+ academic publications reveals that conventional psychiatric views often label psychedelic experiences as pathological, influencing the discourse on ayahuasca's efficacy. Despite this bias, findings suggest that altered states of consciousness induced by ayahuasca may have significant psychological advantages. This calls for a reevaluation of traditional psychiatric reasoning to embrace the therapeutic possibilities of psychedelics in mental health care, highlighting their potential role in enhancing psychological well-being.
Abstract
Abstract There is a growing interest among scientists and the lay public alike in using the S outh A merican psychedelic brew, ayahuasca, to treat ...
Information parity increases on functional brain networks under influence of a psychedelic substance
Journal of Physics Complexity – March 01, 2023
Summary
Psychedelic experiences significantly enhance brain connectivity, with a notable increase in information parity observed after Ayahuasca consumption. In a study involving 30 participants, functional brain networks showed heightened statistical similarities between regions, particularly within the limbic system and frontal cortex. This suggests that the interactive information system of the brain becomes more resilient under psychedelic influence, indicating a potential mechanism for improved cognitive processing. The findings contribute to our understanding of consciousness and its intricate relationship with brain activity and mental health.
Abstract
Abstract The physical basis of consciousness is one of the most intriguing open questions that contemporary science aims to solve. By approaching t...
Managing 'bad trips': Nursing considerations and safety of psychedelic 'trip killers'.
Nursing – July 01, 2025
Summary
As interest in psychedelics for mental health grows, ensuring safety during their use becomes paramount. This paper explores how to safely manage challenging experiences, particularly outside controlled psychotherapy settings. It highlights the role of "trip killers" and "trip sitters" in mitigating adverse reactions. Crucially, it outlines vital nursing considerations for patient well-being, promoting safer engagement with psychedelics.
Abstract
Psychedelic use in clinical settings is emerging as a way to treat a variety of psychiatric illnesses. However, psychedelic use primarily occurs in...
5-MeO-DMT: An atypical psychedelic with unique pharmacology, phenomenology & risk?
Psychopharmacology – December 11, 2023
Summary
Unlike typical psychedelics, 5-MeO-DMT shows unique effects that may mirror temporal lobe seizure activity, offering clues to its therapeutic potential. This powerful compound acts strongly on 5-HT1A receptors and produces profound but brief psychedelic experiences. Users sometimes report flashbacks - spontaneous re-experiences that differ from those of other psychedelics, suggesting distinctive brain activity patterns similar to mild seizures.
Abstract
5-MeO-DMT is a tryptamine being developed as a potential antidepressant that may display a distinct therapeutic mechanism due to its unique pharmac...
Functional neuroimaging of psychedelic experience: An overview of psychological and neural effects and their relevance to research on creativity, daydreaming, and dreaming
arXiv Preprint Archive – May 23, 2016
Summary
Brain imaging reveals psychedelic states share neural patterns with creativity and vivid dreaming. This research explores how these substances alter brain activity, linking them to natural imaginative states. Through reviewing functional neuroimaging studies, common neural signatures were identified. Profound changes in brain function were observed, showing significant overlap between psychedelic experiences and creative thought, daydreaming, and dreaming. This offers exciting insights into the q-bio.nc of consciousness and human imagination.
Abstract
Humans have employed an incredible variety of plant-derived substances over the millennia in order to alter consciousness and perception. Among the...
A prospective ecological momentary assessment study of an ayahuasca retreat: exploring the salutary impact of acute psychedelic experiences on subacute affect and mindfulness skills in daily life
Psychopharmacology – January 18, 2025
Summary
Ayahuasca use notably improved mood and mindfulness skills for 36 participants. Post-retreat, individuals reported reduced negative affect and increased positive affect, alongside enhanced mindfulness in daily life. Acute psychedelic experiences, including emotional breakthroughs, predicted greater positive affect. This suggests Ayahuasca, a complex blend of alkaloids, profoundly influences psychology and affect. Only 5.5% experienced some mood deterioration, with no clinically significant adverse responses, highlighting its potential for further drug studies in clinical psychology.
Abstract
Abstract Rationale To examine the acute effects of ayahuasca use and their relationship to sub-acute changes in affect and mindfulness in a non-cli...
Innovative Psychedelic Therapies: Harnessing 5-MeO-DMT and DMT for Mental Health Treatment.
ACS medicinal chemistry letters – November 14, 2024
Summary
Naturally-occurring compounds 5-MeO-DMT and DMT show remarkable promise in treating severe mental health conditions. In controlled therapeutic settings, these substances produced rapid and significant improvements in depression and anxiety symptoms, with effects lasting weeks to months. New delivery methods and preparation techniques make treatments safer and more effective, while targeted approaches help specific groups like postpartum patients. Early results suggest these therapies could transform mental healthcare for those who haven't responded to traditional treatments.
Abstract
Recent advancements in the therapeutic use of psychedelic compounds, particularly 5-MeO-DMT and DMT, have demonstrated significant potential in tre...
Psychedelics and the ‘inner healer’: Myth or mechanism?
Journal of Psychopharmacology – April 12, 2024
Summary
A single 25mg dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin significantly boosted 30 patients' sense of an "inner healer" compared to 29 receiving a 1mg placebo, predicting improved depressive symptoms. This clinical psychology trial, involving 59 patients from various backgrounds including inner city populations, found the higher dose strongly increased this "inner healer" perception—a key mechanism in psychology. Such psychedelics, like psilocybin from chemical synthesis, activate intrinsic healing. This medicine could aid psychotherapists in psychiatry, moving beyond a mere placebo response.
Abstract
Background: Reference to an intrinsic healing mechanism or an ‘inner healer’ is commonplace amongst psychedelic drug-using cultures. The ‘inner hea...
Serotonin 2A Receptor (5-HT2AR) Agonists: Psychedelics and Non-Hallucinogenic Analogues as Emerging Antidepressants
Chemical Reviews – November 30, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics, including psilocybin and Lysergic acid diethylamide, are demonstrating significant promise in drug studies as rapid-acting antidepressants. These compounds influence behavior by engaging the serotonin 5-HT receptor. The core challenge in pharmacology is to refine their chemistry through chemical synthesis of novel alkaloids. This involves understanding functional selectivity at the 5-HT2A receptor to develop safer drugs that retain therapeutic benefits without hallucinogen effects. This Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior research aims to unlock their full potential.
Abstract
Psychedelics make up a group of psychoactive compounds that induce hallucinogenic effects by activating the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR). Clinic...
A Comprehensive Review of the Current Status of the Cellular Neurobiology of Psychedelics
Biology – October 28, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics hold profound potential to revolutionize mental health treatments. Neuroscience and Biology reveal these substances influence behavior by specifically targeting neurotransmitter receptors, notably the 5-HT2A receptor, central to serotonin pathways, and promoting brain plasticity via the TrkB-BDNF pathway. This review, part of ongoing drug studies, highlights how such precise molecular mechanisms could alleviate the global burden of mental illness. Exploring various receptors and pathways, including anti-inflammatory actions, these compounds represent a significant development, promising transformative approaches to brain disorders and mental health.
Abstract
Psychedelic substances have gained significant attention in recent years for their potential therapeutic effects on various psychiatric disorders. ...
Psychedelics for treatment resistant depression: are they game changers?
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy – November 10, 2023
Summary
Psychedelic therapy is creating a paradigm shift in Medicine for Treatment-resistant depression. Psilocybin, a potent alkaloid, shows extraordinary antidepressant promise. This compound, often from chemical synthesis, rapidly influences neurotransmitter receptors, with some individuals experiencing benefits sustained for at least 3 months. This could transform Psychiatry, offering psychotherapists a novel approach to severe Depression and potentially easing its economic burden. Ongoing drug studies are exploring these powerful compounds, providing hope where traditional treatments often fail.
Abstract
Psychedelic therapy has created a paradigm shift in the treatment of TRD, as it can maximize therapeutic benefits and minimize potential risks. Psi...
How is a psychotherapeutic process like a psychedelic drug? Neurocognitive evidence for a novel mechanism of action with Regenerating Images in Memory.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2025
Summary
A novel brief therapy approach triggers brain patterns similar to those seen during mystical experiences, offering hope for stress and trauma healing. Using EEG monitoring, researchers found that this imagery-based technique shifts brain activity from analytical regions to emotional processing areas. The therapy helped nursing students process pandemic-related stress, producing significant symptom improvements in just one session. Cognitive neuroscience reveals it works by accessing deeper mental states, similar to psychedelic treatments, but through conversation alone.
Abstract
Nursing students are at risk for traumatic stress, but current treatments have limited benefits. Regenerating Images in Memory (RIM) is a verbal ps...
Translation and Initial Psychometric Evaluation of Spanish Versions of Three Psychedelic Acute Effects Measures: Mystical, Challenging, and Insight Experiences
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – July 14, 2023
Summary
Reliable tools now exist for Spanish-speaking populations to explore the psychological impact of psychedelics like Psilocybin. New psychometric analysis, including confirmatory factor analysis, confirms the construct validity of translated measures for mystical and challenging experiences. Administered to 442 Spanish-speakers (71.5% male; 91.4% Hispanic), these measures showed consistent results, whether participants used LSD (58.4%) or Psilocybin (41.6%). This advances clinical psychology and drug studies, providing vital psychometrics for understanding prosocial behavior changes and subjective hallucinogen effects, aiding future research across psychology, including developmental aspects.
Abstract
This study translated and tested the psychometric properties of acute psychedelic effects measures among Spanish-speaking people. The Psychological...
Enhanced repertoire of brain dynamical states during the psychedelic experience
arXiv Preprint Archive – May 26, 2014
Summary
Psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, dramatically expands the brain's repertoire of connectivity states, revealing how consciousness can be altered. Using advanced brain imaging, researchers tracked neural activity before and after psilocybin administration. Results showed increased signal variability in memory and emotion-processing regions, while higher brain networks displayed enhanced flexibility in their communication patterns.
Abstract
The study of rapid changes in brain dynamics and functional connectivity (FC) is of increasing interest in neuroimaging. Brain states departing fro...
Unequal representation? A cross-sectional analysis of age, sex, race, and ethnicity in clinical trials of classic psychedelics
Journal of Psychopharmacology – July 11, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin clinical trials, a key area in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, reveal a significant lack of diversity. Across eight psilocybin trials (n=501), 87.2% of participants were White, while Black individuals constituted only 3.0% and Asian individuals 5.0%. Among those reporting ethnicity (n=134), 13.4% were Hispanic or Latino. This limited representation in clinical psychology and psychiatry trials raises serious questions about the generalizability of these hallucinogen therapies across the broader population. Ensuring equitable access and understanding true safety and efficacy in medicine requires broader inclusion of every ethnic group.
Abstract
Background: Although classic psychedelic trials show therapeutic potential, the limited diversity of participants raises concerns about generalizab...
Phenomenological assessment of psychedelics induced experiences: Translation and validation of the German Challenging Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) and Ego-Dissolution Inventory (EDI)
PLoS ONE – March 16, 2022
Summary
A 26-item *rating scale* for challenging *psilocybin* experiences, for *psychedelics and drug studies*, showed robust *psychometrics*. *Confirmatory factor analysis* supported its seven-subscale structure, demonstrating strong *convergent* and *discriminant validity*, bolstering its *construct validity* and *nomological network*. However, the 8-item Ego-Dissolution Inventory required *exploratory factor analysis*, yielding a 5-item measure with high internal consistency and *convergent validity*. These tools advance *psychology* and *clinical psychology* by providing reliable measures for altered states.
Abstract
Several measures have been designed to assess subjective experiences induced by psychedelic substances or other mind-altering drugs as well as non-...
Twenty percent better with 20 micrograms? A qualitative study of psychedelic microdosing self-rapports and discussions on YouTube
Harm Reduction Journal – November 28, 2019
Summary
Microdosing psychedelics, predominantly LSD and psilocybin, appears to offer significant therapeutic benefits, particularly for depression. A thematic analysis of online discussions reveals users report predominantly positive effects for various psychological and medical conditions. This applied psychology insight suggests microdosing, a practice within pharmacology and drug studies, provides a complementary approach, potentially mirroring full-dose benefits with reduced risks. Social interactions foster comprehension, offering strategies and emotional support. The user's intentions for engaging with these chemical synthesis and alkaloids significantly influence outcomes.
Abstract
Abstract Background Psychedelic microdosing is the trending practice of using tiny repeated doses of psychedelic substances to facilitate a range o...
Quality of Acute Psychedelic Experience Predicts Therapeutic Efficacy of Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression
Frontiers in Pharmacology – January 17, 2018
Summary
The quality of a psychedelic experience profoundly impacts long-term mental health. A clinical trial with 20 patients found that receiving psilocybin, an alkaloid hallucinogen, for treatment-resistant depression yielded significant results. Specifically, mystical-type experiences during a 25mg psilocybin session predicted reduced depression symptoms five weeks later. This pharmacology insight, reflecting psilocybin's neurotransmitter receptor influence, suggests optimizing the acute experience is crucial for effective medicine in drug studies.
Abstract
Introduction: It is a basic principle of the "psychedelic" treatment model that the quality of the acute experience mediates long-term improvements...
What fMRI studies say about the nature of the psychedelic effect: a scoping review
Frontiers in Neuroscience – July 01, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin profoundly reshape brain function, showing promise for mental health. A comprehensive review of dozens of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies in neuroscience reveals consistent patterns. These serotonergic compounds induce a "de-differentiation" of brain networks, notably impacting the default mode network, thalamus, and amygdala. This insight from cognitive psychology, leveraging diverse fMRI approaches, highlights ego dissolution's importance, advancing our understanding of how these serotonergic substances influence behavior in drug studies through biochemical analysis.
Abstract
Research on psychedelic drugs, such as psilocybin, LSD or DMT, is a burgeoning field, with an increasing number of studies showing their promise in...
Reduced Precision Underwrites Ego Dissolution and Therapeutic Outcomes Under Psychedelics
Frontiers in Neuroscience – March 17, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics dramatically shift our perception by reducing the "precision" of how our brains update beliefs, a core concept in Bayesian probability and cognitive psychology. This biological mechanism, involving neurotransmitter receptor influence on cortical connectivity, unlocks diverse alternate hypotheses, explaining their therapeutic potential in psychology for internalizing disorders. This same mechanism, akin to computer science models of information processing, also drives profound changes in consciousness like "ego dissolution," providing a unified understanding of how these drug studies modify attention and perception through biochemical changes.
Abstract
Evidence suggests classic psychedelics reduce the precision of belief updating and enable access to a range of alternate hypotheses that underwrite...
Dreams and Psychedelics: Neurophenomenological Comparison and Therapeutic Implications
Current Neuropharmacology – June 19, 2017
Summary
The profound overlap between dreaming and states induced by hallucinogens like Psilocybin, Lysergic acid diethylamide, and Ayahuasca is a compelling finding in Psychology. This unique perception shift, explored in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, suggests these chemically synthesized alkaloids could foster long-term improvements in psychosocial well-being. Psychotherapists are particularly interested in how these acute dreamlike experiences, measurable through Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques, correlate with sustained therapeutic outcomes.
Abstract
The broad overlap between dreaming and psychedelic states supports the notion that psychedelics acutely induce dreamlike subjective experiences whi...
Serotonergic Psychedelics in Neural Plasticity
Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience – October 12, 2021
Summary
Dramatic shifts in consciousness induced by psychedelics, used for centuries, are now understood through their profound impact on brain biology. Recent Neuroscience reveals that specific serotonergic compounds, often from chemical synthesis or natural alkaloids, promote significant neuroplasticity. These drug studies demonstrate effects like increased neurite growth and synapse formation, showing a direct neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior and mental states. This plasticity offers a new focus in Psychology, highlighting therapeutic potential for conditions rooted in brain circuitry.
Abstract
Psychedelics, compounds that can induce dramatic changes in conscious experience, have been used by humans for centuries. Recent studies have shown...
Policy considerations that support equitable access to responsible, accountable, safe, and ethical uses of psychedelic medicines
Neuropharmacology – August 13, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin and MDMA, combined with psychosocial support, offer profound potential for safe, rapid, and durable clinical improvements. Both have earned FDA Breakthrough Therapy designations, with similar regulatory considerations occurring in multiple countries, signaling expanding access to these medicines. As the field of psychedelics and drug studies grows, critical policy considerations for public health and business ethics are paramount. Safeguarding consumer protection and ensuring equitable access require a diverse community of stakeholders from medicine, psychology, and engineering ethics to co-create best practices and public relations strategies.
Abstract
There is mounting evidence suggesting psychedelic and entactogen medicines (namely psilocybin and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine [MDMA]), in con...
Considerations and cautions for the integration of psilocybin into routine clinical care: a consensus statement from the US National Network of Depression Centers' Task Group on Psychedelics and Related Compounds
EClinicalMedicine – September 24, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin offer transformative potential for psychiatric treatment. A US task group, reviewing articles through April 2025, highlights critical gaps in drug studies. They emphasize understanding dosage, efficacy across diverse populations, and long-term safety for these compounds. The field, encompassing chemical synthesis and clinical application, requires diversified funding and standardized training. Addressing these diverse academic research themes ensures careful, ethical progress towards equitable access and integration.
Abstract
The potential for psilocybin, and other psychedelic drugs, to fulfil a much needed and potentially transformative class of psychiatric treatments h...
Pharmacological characterisation of psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT discriminative cues in the rat and their translational value for identifying novel psychedelics
Journal of Psychopharmacology – August 27, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin exposures causing perceptual effects in humans align remarkably with those eliciting similar responses in rats (5–52 ng/mL plasma). This demonstrates the translational value for Psychedelics and Drug Studies. Two cohorts of male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to understand the Neuroscience of these hallucinogens. Biochemical Analysis shows these chemical alkaloids primarily act via 5-HT2A receptors. While higher DMT/LSD plasma exposures were needed in rats, their temporal profiles (LSD > psilocybin) matched human psychological experience, enhancing our understanding of their Pharmacology.
Abstract
Background and aims: Drug discrimination procedures have made important contributions to the pre-clinical investigation of psychedelic drugs, such ...
Psychedelic integration challenges: Participant experiences after a psilocybin truffle retreat in the Netherlands
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – January 16, 2023
Summary
Experiencing challenges after a psilocybin retreat can be integral to its transformative potential. Among 30 individuals attending a legal truffle retreat, 9 (30%) spontaneously reported integration difficulties, including mood fluctuations and disconnection from community, key in psychology. These transient experiences, aligned with 'spiritual emergency' in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, often resolved, correlating with positive outcomes. This highlights the importance of harm reduction and psychotherapist support for hallucinogen use, contributing to diverse academic research themes beyond chemical synthesis and alkaloids, fostering transformative learning.
Abstract
Abstract This article reports on integration challenges that were experienced by nine individuals who attended a three-day legal psilocybin truffle...
Psilocybin-induced changes in brain network integrity and segregation correlate with plasma psilocin level and psychedelic experience
OpenAlex – February 05, 2021
Summary
A single dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin profoundly alters brain connectivity, directly shaping subjective experience. In fifteen healthy individuals, functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed this psychedelic drug, acting on Serotonin 2A receptors, reduced the integrity of the Default Mode Network and other regions. As psilocin levels rose, networks like the Task-positive network desegregated, increasing connectivity. This Neuroscience and Pharmacology insight illuminates how psilocybin influences consciousness, offering new perspectives for Psychology and therapeutic approaches to brain disorders, relating to neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
Abstract The emerging novel therapeutic psilocybin produces psychedelic effects via engagement of cerebral serotonergic targets by psilocin (active...
The Psychedelic State Induced by Ayahuasca Modulates the Activity and Connectivity of the Default Mode Network
PLoS ONE – February 18, 2015
Summary
A powerful hallucinogen, Ayahuasca, significantly reduces activity in the brain's default mode network (DMN), a key area for mind-wandering and consciousness. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (resting state fMRI) on ten experienced subjects, neuroscience revealed decreased activity in regions like the Posterior Cingulate and Precuneus. This modulation of the DMN by psychedelics offers insights for psychology into altered states, linking drug studies to our understanding of consciousness and unconsciousness. This informs neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, relevant to tryptophan and brain disorders.
Abstract
The experiences induced by psychedelics share a wide variety of subjective features, related to the complex changes in perception and cognition ind...
An Overview on the Taxonomy, Phylogenetics and Ecology of the Psychedelic Genera Psilocybe, Panaeolus, Pluteus and Gymnopilus
Frontiers in Forests and Global Change – May 23, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen from "magic mushrooms," offers significant therapeutic promise for mental health without addiction risks. Amidst surging interest in psychedelics and drug studies, accurate identification is paramount. This review details the fungal biology, taxonomy, and classification of four key genera—Psilocybe, Panaeolus, Pluteus, and Gymnopilus—known for producing these alkaloids. Understanding their ecology and the chemical synthesis of psilocybin is crucial for safe applications, distinguishing beneficial fungi from harmful lookalikes.
Abstract
Psilocybin and psilocin, two psychoactive components found in “magic mushrooms,” have therapeutic potential in a number of mental health disorders ...
Methodological challenges in psychedelic drug trials: Efficacy and safety of psilocybin in treatment-resistant major depression (EPIsoDE) – Rationale and study design
Neuroscience Applied – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen and alkaloid, shows remarkable promise in psychiatry. A rigorous clinical trial in medicine is underway, involving 144 patients with major depression. This drug trial employs a sophisticated placebo control, carefully designed to overcome challenges with blinding, a common hurdle in psychedelics and drug studies. Such psychology-focused research, leveraging chemical synthesis, is vital for complementary and alternative medicine studies, offering new hope.
Abstract
Psychedelics such as psilocybin have recently gained remarkable interest in both the specialist literature and the lay press because studies sugges...
Psychedelics as a Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia
Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience – August 21, 2020
Summary
A compelling new frontier in Medicine suggests psychedelics like psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, could revolutionize Dementia treatment. With no current disease-modifying options for Alzheimer's disease, Neuroscience and Psychiatry are exploring these compounds. Early Drug Studies highlight their potential to improve Cognition by stimulating neuroplasticity and reducing Neuroinflammation. This offers hope for managing this devastating Disease, influencing behavior through complex neurotransmitter receptor interactions. The focus is on micro-dosing these chemical synthesis alkaloids for therapeutic benefits, moving beyond their traditional Psychology context.
Abstract
Currently, there are no disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) or any other dementia subtype. The renaissance in psychedelic res...
Molecular insights into psychedelic drug action
Journal of Neurochemistry – November 19, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin has received FDA "Breakthrough Therapy" designation for treatment-resistant depression, signaling a new era for psychedelics in medicine. Renewed interest in compounds like Lysergic acid diethylamide and Mescaline stems from evolving mental health needs and policy shifts. Understanding the precise molecular action of these potent hallucinogens is now crucial. This involves detailed pharmacology and biochemical analysis to reveal how these drugs, often alkaloids from chemical synthesis, exert their effects. Such insights are vital for psychotherapists and psychiatry to harness their full potential in psychology and drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract A confluence of factors has renewed interest in the scientific understanding and translational potential of psychedelic drugs such as lyse...
Co-administration of midazolam and psilocybin: Differential effects on subjective quality versus memory of the psychedelic experience
OpenAlex – June 13, 2024
Summary
The profound psychological benefits of the serotonergic hallucinogen psilocybin may depend on remembering the experience. In a pharmacology experiment, 8 healthy participants received 25mg Psilocybin alongside Midazolam, a drug causing memory impairment. While consciously experiencing the psychedelic effects, participants showed reduced memory. Crucially, greater memory impairment tended to lessen positive psychological outcomes like insight and well-being. This neuroscience finding suggests neuroplasticity-related memory processes are integral to psilocybin's lasting effects in medicine, influencing behavior via neurotransmitter receptor influence.
Abstract
Abstract Aspects of the acute experience induced by the serotonergic psychedelic psilocybin predict symptomatic relief in multiple psychiatric diso...
Associations between classic psychedelics and nicotine dependence in a nationally representative sample
Scientific Reports – June 22, 2022
Summary
Lifetime psilocybin use is linked to reduced odds of nicotine dependence. A large psychology study of 214,505 adults found psilocybin use was associated with 7-13% lower odds of current nicotine dependence. Mescaline and peyote also showed 9-21% reduced odds of specific nicotine dependence measures. However, LSD use was associated with 17-24% *increased* odds. This logistic regression analysis suggests certain hallucinogen psychedelics might offer new avenues in medicine and psychiatry for addiction and smoking cessation, influencing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. This field of drug studies explores novel approaches to addiction.
Abstract
Abstract Tobacco use is the single largest cause of preventable death worldwide, but none of the established treatments aimed at smoking cessation ...
Motives and Side-Effects of Microdosing With Psychedelics Among Users
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – May 30, 2019
Summary
Many microdose psychedelics like psilocybin, hoping for a performance boost. A survey of 1116 users revealed 37% sought enhancement, often taking the hallucinogen 2-4 times weekly. While acute psychological side effects were common, the main reason for stopping was a lack of perceived effectiveness. This highlights the need for rigorous placebo-controlled medicine studies to understand the pharmacology of these chemical synthesis and alkaloids, and their neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, moving beyond anecdotal drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract Background Microdosing with psychedelics has gained considerable media attention where it is portrayed as a performance enhancer, especial...
New Frontiers or a Bursting Bubble? Psychedelic Therapy Beyond the Dichotomy
Frontiers in Psychiatry – September 10, 2021
Summary
Despite a 2021 Phase II study showing no primary outcome advantage for psilocybin-assisted therapy over escitalopram, secondary measures favored psilocybin for depression. This sparked critical discussions in Psychiatry, Psychology, and therapeutic fields like Psychoanalysis, questioning trial methodology for Psychedelics and Drug Studies. Psychotherapists in Medicine suggest the "bubble" of enthusiasm might be bursting. A nuanced view acknowledges both potential and pitfalls for this mental healthcare frontier, considering neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior and chemical synthesis of alkaloids.
Abstract
The publication in April 2021 of the Imperial College London Phase II study investigating \nthe efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy vs. esc...
Dynamics of Psychedelic Drug Abuse
Archives of General Psychiatry – May 01, 1967
Summary
Unsupervised use of hallucinogens like Psilocybin and Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) poses significant hazards, clinical studies document. This phenomenon, despite regulatory efforts, has been largely put aside. It raises complex Psychology and Psychiatry questions regarding wide variety of personal and social determinants. Understanding how substances, including morning glory seeds, influence behavior via neurotransmitter receptors is crucial for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, necessitating robust forensic toxicology and drug analysis, with psychotherapist input, for public health.
Abstract
THE PUBLIC has become aware of the increasing use of the major psychedelic substances (lysergic acid diethylamide [LSD], peyote, psilocybin, mornin...
The Effects of Tryptamine Psychedelics in the Brain: A meta-Analysis of Functional and Review of Molecular Imaging Studies
Frontiers in Pharmacology – September 29, 2021
Summary
Tryptamine hallucinogens like Psilocybin strongly modulate key brain regions, holding therapeutic promise in Psychology. A quantitative meta-analysis of functional imaging studies revealed changes in cortical activation and connectivity align with high densities of the 5-HT2A receptor, a crucial 5-HT receptor. Neuroscience shows these psychedelics, often from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, influence behavior. Affected areas include the anterior cingulate cortex, posterior cingulate, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and temporal cortex. This highlights neurotransmitter receptor influence on the brain's cortex.
Abstract
There is an increasing interest in the neural effects of psychoactive drugs, in particular tryptamine psychedelics, which has been incremented by t...
Positive expectations predict improved mental-health outcomes linked to psychedelic microdosing
Scientific Reports – January 21, 2021
Summary
After four weeks, 81 individuals microdosing psychedelics reported improved mood, reduced anxiety, and enhanced mental health, reaching a key clinical endpoint. However, this prospective study, relevant to clinical psychology and psychiatry, revealed that positive expectancy at baseline strongly predicted these benefits, suggesting a significant placebo response. While prior observational studies hinted at benefits in complementary medicine, these drug studies highlight psychology's role via expectancy theory, cautioning against overstating direct medicinal value.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic microdosing describes the ingestion of near-threshold perceptible doses of classic psychedelic substances. Anecdotal reports a...
Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelics in Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders, Part 2
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry – February 23, 2021
Summary
High-dose psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, significantly reduced Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety in a randomized controlled trial of 51 cancer patients, sustained in 80% at six months. This compelling finding in Clinical Psychology highlights psychedelics' potential in Psychiatry. Psilocybin, Lysergic acid diethylamide, and MDMA are gaining traction in Medicine, exploring their neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior to improve mood. Drug Studies are advancing chemical synthesis and alkaloids for these therapies.
Abstract
P sychedelics have recently gained attention as compounds with therapeutic potential in the treatment of psychiatric disorders.The US Food and Drug...
Recent developments involving psychedelics
World drug report – July 20, 2023
Summary
A significant shift occurred in **mental health** **medicine**: early **psychology** and **psychiatry** explored **hallucinogen** **psilocybin** for conditions like substance use. However, initial **clinical trial** efforts, often by **psychotherapists**, lacked modern rigor. By **1971**, international controls on **psychedelics** emerged. Concurrently, new **medicine**, like SSRIs, revolutionized **depression** treatment. These advancements, demonstrating **neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior**, offered proven efficacy for complex **mental health** disorders, shifting **clinical psychology** away from early **drug studies** involving **alkaloids**.
Abstract
The therapeutic use of psychedelic substances such as LSD and psilocybin has been researched by psychologists and psychiatrists for a range of psyc...
Phenomenological assessment of psychedelic induced experiences: Translation and validation of the German Challenging Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) and Ego-Dissolution Inventory (EDI)
OpenAlex – April 02, 2021
Summary
A 26-item German scale reliably measures diverse challenging experiences induced by psychedelics, advancing clinical psychology. Its 7-factor structure was confirmed via confirmatory factor analysis, showing strong construct validity and convergent validity with anxiety measures within a nomological network. An 8-item ego-dissolution scale was refined to five items through exploratory factor analysis, enhancing its psychometrics. These validated tools, essential for psychology, will illuminate how chemical synthesis of alkaloids and their neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior manifest as subjective states, bolstering drug studies.
Abstract
Several measures have been designed to assess subjective experiences induced by psychedelic substances and other mind-altering drugs or non-pharmac...
Neuropsychological Functioning in Users of Serotonergic Psychedelics – A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Frontiers in Pharmacology – September 16, 2021
Summary
Ayahuasca use may enhance executive cognition, a compelling finding from a systematic review and meta-analysis of 13 studies (N=539) identified via databases like MEDLINE. This neuropsychology research explored serotonergic hallucinogens, including psilocybin and LSD, which influence neurotransmitter receptors. No uniform cognitive impairment emerged; instead, distinct psychological profiles appeared. A meta-analysis of 5 studies (n=352) showed ayahuasca users performed better on a Stroop task, while LSD users (n=42) exhibited reduced executive functioning. This informs clinical psychology, medicine, and psychiatry regarding these chemically diverse psychedelics.
Abstract
Background: Serotonergic psychedelics (SPs) like LSD, psilocybin, DMT, and mescaline are a heterogeneous group of substances that share agonism at ...
Microdosing psychedelics and its effect on creativity: Lessons learned from three double-blind placebo controlled longitudinal trials
OpenAlex – June 14, 2021
Summary
Microdosing psilocybin, an alkaloid, subtly enhances creativity, specifically boosting originality in divergent thinking. A robust cognitive psychology investigation, pooling 175 participants across three double-blind placebo-controlled trials, found active microdosing increased the originality-to-fluency ratio in creative responses. While general cognition and mood weren't broadly affected, the quality of novel ideas improved, especially when relative dosage was considered. These psychedelics studies highlight the importance of controlling for expectation biases, suggesting effects are more nuanced than often claimed.
Abstract
Introduction: Microdosing refers to the repetitive administration of tiny doses of psychedelics (LSD, Psilocybin) over an extended period of time. ...
Psychedelic Drugs in Correctional Treatment
Crime & Delinquency – July 01, 1972
Summary
Early **psychedelics and drug studies** revealed intriguing potential for **psychotherapy techniques and applications** in **prison** settings. For example, **psilocybin** appeared to induce positive **behavior** changes among **thirty-three** incarcerated individuals. Another initiative showed LSD could accelerate **psychotherapy** for **addiction**, suggesting its **value** in **psychiatry** and **medicine**. While long-term outcomes remain unquantified, these historical explorations hint at the profound impact such **psychotherapist**-guided approaches could have on correctional **psychology**.
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs have been used for individual psychotherapy in prison settings. This paper outlines two studies that explore the use of psychedel...
The psychotherapeutic use of psychedelics
OpenAlex – July 28, 2020
Summary
Psychedelics, particularly psilocybin, show unprecedented promise for severe anxiety, depression, and PTSD, offering new hope in mental health. Extensive Drug Studies and Psychology research now supports high-dose psilocybin's therapeutic efficacy for many patients. After decades of stigma, these potent compounds are gaining respect through careful academic scrutiny. The crucial process of "integration"—akin to psychoanalysis, where experiences are processed—is vital. This diverse academic research explores novel treatments, moving beyond past controversies to harness these unique chemical agents.
Abstract
Psychedelics are newly respectable. Evidence suggests that a variety of ills, from anxiety and depression to addictions and post-traumatic stress d...
Studying classic psychedelics for the management of headache disorders: Considerations for Veterans
Journal of Military Veteran and Family Health – December 01, 2023
Summary
Patients report that psychedelics like psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide offer remarkable relief from debilitating headaches, including migraine and cluster headache, lasting weeks or months from just a single or few doses. This potential for long-term relief is a significant development in medicine and psychiatry, particularly for Veterans. Emerging drug studies in psychology and complementary/alternative medicine are exploring these naturally occurring and chemically synthesized alkaloids. While initial findings are encouraging, robust studies are vital to confirm these promising patient accounts for headache management.
Abstract
LAY SUMMARY Patients with headache disorders, such as migraine or cluster headache, often have poor quality of life and can be disabled by their co...
Investigation of neuronal basis underlying antidepressant effect of serotonergic psychedelics
Proceedings for Annual Meeting of The Japanese Pharmacological Society – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin's antidepressant pharmacology, a key area in psychedelics and drug studies, is now clearer. Our neuroscience research reveals psilocin, a psilocybin metabolite, significantly reduces immobility in mice by activating the 5-HT2A receptor in the lateral septum. This serotonergic 5-HT receptor influence on behavior was absent when the receptor was blocked. Further receptor mechanisms and signaling studies showed activating these 5-HT2A receptors, predominantly on GABAergic inhibitory neurons, produced antidepressant effects. This chemistry suggests neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior via these specific inhibitory pathways.
Abstract
Recently, FDA approved psilocybin, the psychoactive substance found in the magic mushroom, as a "breakthrough therapy" for depression; ho...