1623 results for "LSD"
Evidence for 5-HT2 involvement in the mechanism of action of hallucinogenic agents.
Life sciences – December 17, 1984
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
The affinities (Ki values) of twenty two psycho-active agents, including LSD, 5-OMe DMT and a series of phenalkylamine derivatives, for cortical 5-...
Raphe neurons: firing rate correlates with size of drug response.
European journal of pharmacology – June 03, 1983
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Significant negative correlations were obtained between the spontaneous discharge rate during waking and the neural response to systemic injections...
High-affinity 3H-serotonin binding to caudate: inhibition by hallucinogens and serotoninergic drugs.
Psychopharmacology – September 15, 1978
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
The specific binding of 3H-serotonin to calf caudate homogenate was studied. The dissociation constant was 2nM and the number of specific sites was...
Cross-Sectional Associations Between Lifetime Use of Psychedelic Drugs and Psychometric Measures During the COVID-19 Confinement: A Transcultural Study
Frontiers in Psychiatry – June 16, 2021
Summary
Regular psychedelic users reported significantly less psychological distress during the initial COVID-19 lockdowns. A survey of 2,974 individuals (70% female) showed that those regularly using psychedelics, including psilocybin, experienced reduced peritraumatic stress and more social support. This finding, crucial for mental health and clinical psychology, suggests either protective effects or distinct personality traits within this population. Such insights are vital for psychology, psychiatry, and medicine, advancing our understanding in psychedelics and drug studies.
Abstract
Background: One of the main public health strategies adopted at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic consisted of implementing strict lockdowns t...
Safer Tripping: Serotonergic Psychedelics and Drug Checking. Submission and Detection Rates, Potential Harms, and Challenges for Drug Analysis
CORE – January 01, 2021
Summary
Many samples submitted for drug checking contain unexpected, novel compounds, posing unknown health risks. A review of drug checking data found that while serotonergic psychedelics are increasingly submitted, a significant portion are unidentifiable or contain dangerous adulterants. These novel substances often have unpredictable effects. Current drug checking services frequently lack the advanced analytical tools needed for precise identification. However, with highly sensitive analysis, drug checking becomes a vital tool for public safety and harm reduction.
Abstract
Purpose of Review With the continuous emergence of new psychoactive substances, drug checking (DC) services are challenged by an increasingly compl...
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Investigating the Efficacy of Various Psychedelic Drugs for the Treatment of Substance Use Disorder.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) – October 23, 2025
Summary
Emerging research reveals a powerful new approach to substance use disorder. A comprehensive analysis of human trials shows that psychedelic treatment, utilizing compounds like ibogaine and psilocybin, effectively reduces substance misuse. Ibogaine, in particular, demonstrated the most prominent positive results. These significant benefits were observed whether or not the psychedelic treatment was paired with psychotherapy, highlighting the direct impact of these compounds in addressing substance use disorder.
Abstract
Objectives: This study investigates psychedelic drugs to treat substance use disorder (SUD). Researchers have recently begun conducting clinical tr...
The Psychedelic Renaissance and Its Forensic Implications.
The journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law – March 01, 2020
Summary
Recent studies reveal psychedelics may reduce interpersonal violence, marking a significant shift in understanding these substances. After decades, a renaissance in mental health research explores their potential. This re-evaluation necessitates updated knowledge for legal and public safety professionals. Evidence points to positive outcomes, requiring careful assessment of individuals' psychedelic use in various contexts.
Abstract
Recent years have seen a renaissance of research into the use of psychedelic compounds to address various psychiatric conditions. The study of thes...
Use and abuse of dissociative and psychedelic drugs in adolescence
Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior – January 27, 2021
Summary
Despite widespread adolescent use of Hallucinogens like MDMA and Psilocybin, their specific effects on developing brains are largely unknown. Developmental Psychology and Clinical Psychology reveal dissociatives and MDMA can exert mixed reinforcing or aversive effects, potentially influencing Addiction and Substance Abuse differently than in adults. Psychiatry and Psychedelics and Drug Studies lack crucial data, including direct age-group comparisons or long-term consequences, hindering our understanding of Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior. Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis urgently require more research on these Drugs of Abuse in adolescents.
Abstract
Adolescence is a period of profound developmental changes, which run the gamut from behavioral and neural to physiological and hormonal. It is also...
DPT as an Adjunct in Brief Psychotherapy with Cancer Patients
OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying – February 01, 1980
Summary
For cancer patients experiencing psychological distress, a novel therapeutic approach shows promise. A pilot project combined brief verbal therapy with a single session of DPT, a short-acting psychedelic drug. Thirty patients participated over four weeks, receiving about twelve hours of conventional interaction plus the drug-assisted session. Data analysis revealed this combined therapy significantly enhanced their quality of life, offering a positive outlook for future interventions.
Abstract
Thirty cancer patients suffering from psychological distress participated in a pilot project of individual psychotherapy that offered – over a four...
Psychedelic drug abuse potential assessment research for new drug applications and Controlled Substances Act scheduling
Neuropharmacology – August 17, 2022
Summary
New psychiatric medicines, including psilocybin, MDMA, and lysergic acid diethylamide, face hurdles as Schedule I controlled substances. Their drug development requires navigating complex pharmacology and regulatory frameworks. Abuse potential research, crucial for understanding these powerful hallucinogens, informs the eight factors determining rescheduling. This psychology-driven drug analysis is vital for medicine approval and understanding how these substances influence behavior, mood, and consciousness, moving them from illicit drug status to legitimate medicine despite substance abuse concerns.
Abstract
New medicines containing classic hallucinogenic and entactogenic psychedelic substance are under development for various psychiatric and neurologic...
Psilocybin induces spatially constrained alterations in thalamic functional organizaton and connectivity.
NeuroImage – October 15, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin profoundly alter perception, and new insights reveal how. Using advanced Functional MRI and Independent component analysis on Resting state brain activity, researchers precisely mapped how psilocybin affects the Thalamus – the brain's sensory relay center. Instead of treating it as one unit, this approach unveiled specific changes in functional connectivity and Thalamocortical connectivity within distinct thalamic sub-regions. Psilocybin significantly reorganized these areas, particularly decreasing connections to visual and default mode networks. These specific alterations, not seen with broader analyses, correlated with reported subjective experiences, offering a clearer understanding of how psilocybin influences brain organization.
Abstract
Classic psychedelics, such as psilocybin and LSD, and other serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) agonists evoke acute alterations in perception and cogn...
Models of psychedelic drug action: modulation of cortical-subcortical circuits
Brain – October 22, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin hold promise for psychiatric disorders, prompting deep Neuroscience inquiry into their drug action. Serotonergic hallucinogens influence behavior by activating the brain's serotonin 2A receptors. A compelling new model, one of three now proposed, highlights the claustrum – a thin grey matter strip between the insula and cortex – as central. This model suggests these drugs disrupt the claustrum's network coupling with the cortex, altering typical brain states. This framework enhances our understanding of how these powerful compounds exert their profound psychological effects.
Abstract
Abstract Classic psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) have recaptured the imagination of both science and popu...
Classic Psychedelic Coadministration with Lithium, but Not Lamotrigine, is Associated with Seizures: An Analysis of Online Psychedelic Experience Reports
Pharmacopsychiatry – August 04, 2021
Summary
Combining the hallucinogen psilocybin, an alkaloid, with the mood stabilizer Lithium carries significant risks, a striking finding for psychiatry and clinical psychology. Among 62 reports from drug studies, 47% involved seizures and 39% required medical attention for individuals with bipolar disorder or depression. In contrast, none of 34 Lamotrigine reports, another mood stabilizer, showed such adverse effects, highlighting critical neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior and mood management.
Abstract
Abstract Introduction Psychedelics show promise in treating unipolar depression, though patients with bipolar disorder have been excluded from rece...
Trends in the Top-Cited Articles on Classic Psychedelics
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – February 03, 2021
Summary
A dramatic shift towards clinical application defines recent Psychedelics and Drug Studies. A cohort study of 76 top-cited articles reveals the "Recent Cohort" (post-2010.5) has a median annual citation rate of 76.0, vastly surpassing the "Older Cohort" (10.0). This newer cohort features 68.4% clinical studies, with Psilocybin dominating (65.8%) for potential medicine in Psychiatry and Internal medicine, addressing affective or substance use disorders. Older work (55.3% basic science) explored chemical synthesis and alkaloids and neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
This study was designed to identify trends in the top-cited classic psychedelic publications. The top 50 publications on classic psychedelics with ...
Neuroticism is associated with challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms.
Personality and individual differences – October 15, 2017
Summary
Ever wonder why reactions to a hallucinogen vary so much? New research highlights that individual differences play a key role. Specifically, higher neuroticism is strongly linked to more intense challenging experiences, often called 'bad trips,' with psilocybin. Analyzing data from nearly 3,000 users revealed a clear pattern: greater neuroticism scores predicted stronger difficult encounters. This understanding is crucial for navigating individual responses.
Abstract
Classic hallucinogens (e.g. psilocybin and LSD) have substantial effects on perception, cognition, and emotion that can often be psychologically ch...
Psilocybin induces spatially constrained alterations in thalamic functional organizaton and connectivity
OpenAlex – March 02, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly alters perception and cognition. Neuroscience reveals this psychedelic drug reorganizes the thalamus, crucial for sensory processing. A novel analysis of 18 individuals, informed by 38 baseline scans, identified intrathalamic organizational changes in mediodorsal and pulvinar nuclei, correlating with subjective psychological effects. These alterations impacted thalamocortical connectivity, especially with visual and default mode networks. This nuanced understanding of psilocybin's neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, relevant for drug studies and tryptophan-related brain research, suggests focal changes, not uniform effects.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Background Serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT 2AR ) agonist psychedelics including psilocybin and LSD (“classic” psychedelics) evoke acute altera...
Classic psychedelic coadministration with lithium, but not lamotrigine, is associated with seizures: an analysis of online psychedelic experience reports
OpenAlex – February 24, 2021
Summary
For individuals managing bipolar disorder with Lithium, combining it with a hallucinogen like Psilocybin carries significant risks. Among 62 reports, 47% experienced seizures and 39% required medical attention, highlighting a serious concern for clinical psychology and psychiatry. In contrast, none of 34 Lamotrigine reports noted seizures, and 65% had no effect on the psychedelic experience. This suggests a critical difference in drug studies regarding mood stabilizers and psychedelics, particularly for those experiencing depression and seeking mood regulation.
Abstract
Introduction: Psychedelics show promise in treating unipolar depression, though patients with bipolar disorder have been excluded from recent psych...
Psilocybin, psychological distress, and suicidality
Journal of Psychopharmacology – September 01, 2015
Summary
Lifetime psilocybin use significantly correlates with reduced psychological distress and suicidality. Among 191,832 U.S. adults, those reporting only psilocybin (a potent hallucinogen) use (2.47% of the sample) exhibited the greatest reductions in distress and suicidal thoughts, planning, and attempts. This finding, crucial for Psychology and Clinical Psychology, suggests psilocybin's potential in Psychiatry and Medicine. It offers psychotherapists a new avenue within Psychedelics and Drug Studies for managing psychological distress, hinting at its unique chemical synthesis and influence on behavior.
Abstract
Hendricks et al. (2015) found that having ever used any classic psychedelic substance—namely, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), ayahuasca, lysergic acid di...
Sustained, Multifaceted Improvements in Mental Well-Being Following Psychedelic Experiences in a Prospective Opportunity Sample
Frontiers in Psychiatry – June 29, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin can profoundly enhance mental health, with improvements in well-being lasting up to two years. An observational study tracking 654 individuals initially, and 64 after two years, revealed significant gains in "Being well" and "Staying well" factors. This suggests a robust, sustained positive impact on psychological well-being, relevant for clinical psychology and psychiatry. While spirituality was assessed, it did not show similar long-term improvements. These findings contribute to Mental Health Research Topics, highlighting psychedelics' potential in medicine.
Abstract
In the last 15 years, psychedelic substances, such as LSD and psilocybin, have regained legitimacy in clinical research. In the general population ...
Psychedelic resting-state neuroimaging: a review and perspective on balancing replication and novel analyses
OpenAlex – June 10, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin show promising efficacy for psychiatric conditions, driving interest in their neurocognitive effects. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a key neuroimaging tool, with 42 articles analyzing resting-state fMRI data from 17 unique datasets on drug effects. However, this field of Psychedelics and Drug Studies faces significant methodological heterogeneity. Nearly all studies vary in data processing, and over half the literature stems from just two datasets. To advance understanding of functional brain connectivity in neuroscience and psychology, greater consistency and replicability are crucial.
Abstract
Clinical research into serotonergic psychedelic drugs including psilocybin, LSD and N,N-DMT (e.g., in ‘ayahuasca’) is expanding rapidly and clinica...
Therapeutic effects of classic serotonergic psychedelics: A systematic review of modern‐era clinical studies
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica – October 30, 2020
Summary
Serotonergic hallucinogens like psilocybin show remarkable promise, offering 188 patients long-lasting relief from anxiety and major depressive disorder after just 1-3 sessions. This burgeoning field of clinical psychology and medicine, grounded in careful psychedelics and drug studies, reviewed 16 papers. It confirms these compounds, influencing neurotransmitter receptors, are safe, reporting no severe adverse effects. Psychiatry is exploring these naturally derived or chemically synthesized agents as powerful new tools for psychotherapists, addressing significant unmet needs in mental health.
Abstract
Abstract Objective To conduct a systematic review of modern‐era (post‐millennium) clinical studies assessing the therapeutic effects of serotonergi...
Serotonin, psychedelics and psychiatry
World Psychiatry – September 07, 2018
Summary
In Psychiatry, just one or two psychedelic treatment sessions can yield therapeutic effects lasting several months for mood disorders and addiction—an unprecedented outcome. Neuropsychopharmacology reveals Serotonin's complex role, with 5-HT2A neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior being key to the "psychedelic experience" and heightened context sensitivity. This shift in Medicine and Drug Studies, moving beyond traditional psychoanalysis and simple Serotonin deficiency models, highlights new Psychology avenues exploring how these compounds, often alkaloids, profoundly impact mental health.
Abstract
Serotonin is a key neuromodulator known to be involved in brain development, perception, cognition, and mood. However, unlike as with dopamine for ...
Microdosing psychedelics: More questions than answers? An overview and suggestions for future research
Journal of Psychopharmacology – July 14, 2019
Summary
Despite widespread claims that microdosing psychedelics, like the alkaloid psilocybin, enhances mood and cognition, scientific understanding remains critically underdeveloped. A review in Psychology and Drug Studies stresses the urgent need for rigorous Pharmacology research, employing biochemical analysis and sensing techniques to quantify both positive and potential negative effects. Future Medicine must move beyond anecdotes, investigating the full impact of these low-dose hallucinogens on biological and cognitive parameters, including risks.
Abstract
Background: In the past few years, the issue of ‘microdosing’ psychedelics has been openly discussed in the public arena where claims have been mad...
Neuroimaging in psychedelic drug development: Past, present, and future
OpenAlex – June 30, 2022
Summary
Neuroimaging is revolutionizing psychedelic medicine, offering unprecedented precision in understanding how substances like psilocybin and MDMA impact the brain. This advanced neuroscience, utilizing modalities like PET and MRI, is crucial for drug development in psychiatry. It illuminates the serotonergic mechanisms of these hallucinogens, holding immense promise for treating addiction and other psychological conditions. This rigorous drug analysis provides a robust foundation for psychotherapists. Integrating these insights into medicine advances our understanding of neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, propelling psychedelics and drug studies forward.
Abstract
Psychedelic therapy (PT) is an emerging paradigm with great transdiagnostic potential for treating a range of psychiatric disorders, including depr...
Psychedelics: reconnecting the brain to heal the mind
The Biochemist – March 25, 2024
Summary
Remarkably, a single psychedelic experience can yield profound, long-lasting improvements across various mental illnesses. After a 1970s ban, modern Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveal how hallucinogens like Psilocybin influence neurotransmitter receptors, particularly serotonin 5-HT2A, altering brain circuitry. This mechanism shows promise in Psychiatry and Psychology for treating Depression and Addiction. With consistent positive outcomes, including in Australia for treatment-resistant depression, these substances, whether natural alkaloids or via chemical synthesis, are poised for wider acceptance in Medicine, addressing significant societal burdens.
Abstract
Natural psychedelics such as magic mushrooms have a long history of human use of at least 7000 years. Their use underwent a resurgence in the 1950/...
“The mushroom was more alive and vibrant”: Patient reports of synthetic versus organic forms of psilocybin
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – October 29, 2024
Summary
For mental health, whole Psilocybe mushrooms and their extracts offer a more natural and superior experience than synthetic psilocybin. Participants in a Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy program for end-of-life distress reported that while synthetic psilocybin, whole *Psilocybe cubensis*, and mycological extract all provided emotional insight and mystical experiences, synthetic psilocybin felt less natural and had an inferior overall quality. This suggests future Psychedelics and Drug Studies in psychology and psychiatry should prioritize natural mushroom compounds in medicine, moving beyond synthetic drug forms.
Abstract
Abstract Interest in psychedelic research in the West is surging, however, clinical trials have almost exclusively studied synthetic compounds such...
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...
Sociodemographic and mental-health characteristics of psychedelic-assisted therapy participants: Latent class analysis of a cross-sectional, purposive online sample
OpenAlex – February 28, 2025
Summary
Individuals with high lifetime involvement in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) report elevated depression and anxiety, a compelling finding from a cross-sectional study. Analyzing a nonprobability sample of 244 PAT patients, a latent class model identified three groups: High-PAT (55.7%), Medium-PAT (29.1%), and a unique Psilocybin-Ketamine class (15.2%). This psychology-focused research suggests a link between extensive PAT engagement and mental health challenges, informing clinical psychology, medicine, and psychiatry regarding these psychedelics.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is an emerging treatment approach that often combines pharmacotherapeutic dosing sessions with more traditional ...
Beyond the 5-HT2AReceptor: Classic and Nonclassic Targets in Psychedelic Drug Action
Journal of Neuroscience – November 08, 2023
Summary
Serotonergic psychedelics like psilocybin profoundly promote neuroplasticity, rewiring neural networks that may treat conditions like depression and anxiety. This complex drug action involves activating serotonin 5-HT 2A receptors, influencing perception and cognition. Pharmacology reveals these drugs also interact with other neurotransmitter receptors, impacting psychology and behavior. Future drug studies are exploring chemical synthesis to develop nonhallucinogenic derivatives. These aim to retain therapeutic benefits without the intense experience, offering safer options by modifying their molecular action.
Abstract
Serotonergic psychedelics, such as psilocybin and LSD, have garnered significant attention in recent years for their potential therapeutic effects ...
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: Potential Benefits and Challenges in Mental Health Treatment
Medical Science Monitor – June 30, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics offer compelling potential for mental health, addressing severe conditions like depression and PTSD. These substances, including those from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, are explored in Psychiatry and Psychology. A psychotherapist might integrate them into Medicine, yet current Drug Studies, often found in MEDLINE, confirm psychedelic-assisted therapy remains experimental due to a scarcity of large-scale trials. While unique mechanisms, such as those related to Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors, are under study, robust evidence is crucial for patients needing intensive care medicine-level attention for complex mental health challenges.
Abstract
Psychedelics, derived from the Greek words "psyche" (soul) and "deloun" (revealing), are substances historically and currently considered "soul-rev...
DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: NBOMes
ACS Chemical Neuroscience – October 28, 2019
Summary
Synthetic psychedelics known as NBOMes, derived from the natural alkaloid mescaline through chemical synthesis, emerged in 2010. While their recreational use led to acute toxicity and deaths, prompting Schedule I classification in 2013, these compounds also offer significant value. In neuroscience, specific NBOMes like [¹¹C]Cimbi-36 are crucial biochemical tools for brain imaging, enabling detailed study of serotonin 2A receptors. This dual nature highlights their impact on both public health and our understanding of brain function in cognitive science and psychology.
Abstract
N-Benzylphenethylamines, commonly known as NBOMes, are synthetic psychedelic compounds derived from the phenethylamine class of psychedelics (2C-X ...
Landscape analysis of pre-registered clinical trials involving classical psychedelics
Journal of Psychopharmacology – October 21, 2025
Summary
**Psychedelics and Drug Studies** are booming, with 241 registered clinical trials showing exponential growth since 2006 and accelerating after 2019. Two-thirds are ongoing or planned. Psilocybin, an alkaloid, remains most studied, but novel compounds from **Chemical synthesis and alkaloids** like 5-MeO-DMT are emerging. While universities still lead, industry involvement is rising. Consistent reporting of psychotherapeutic components is crucial for comparing outcomes, underscoring the meticulous standards of **Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis** needed for these potent substances.
Abstract
Psychedelic clinical research is expanding rapidly. This review analyses the state and trends in psychedelic clinical trial registrations. A system...
Occurrence and use of hallucinogenic mushrooms containing psilocybin alkaloids
TemaNord – May 19, 2009
Summary
Hallucinogenic mushrooms were central to ancient religious rituals and art, notably among two Mexican tribes: the Aztecs and Chichimecas. Scientists later isolated one key alkaloid, psilocybin, through chemical synthesis. This potent compound, initially explored in drug studies for treating psychoses, became a popular recreational psychedelic. Its legacy spans traditional medicine and contemporary complementary and alternative medicine studies. Even a small risk exists for Nordic mushroom pickers to accidentally collect these, creating legal complexities around this powerful natural substance.
Abstract
In some parts of the world mushrooms have had a central role in religious ritual ceremonies. Ethnomycological studies among the Indian tribes of Me...
Role of psilocybin in the treatment of depression
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology – October 27, 2016
Summary
Contrary to common perception, extensive population-based studies reveal psilocybin, a classic hallucinogen like lysergic acid diethylamide, does not cause serious health problems or dependence, even as a recreational drug. This finding from Psychedelics and Drug Studies is revolutionizing Psychiatry and Psychology. Psilocybin, a naturally occurring alkaloid with novel neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, is now rigorously explored in Medicine for mood and anxiety disorders. Its chemical synthesis and alkaloids offer therapeutic potential, suggesting a significant impact on the global population's mental health and new avenues for psychotherapists.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring alkaloid, pharmacologically similar to the classic hallucinogen lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Although prim...
The Use of Psilocybin in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders with Attention to Relative Safety Profile: A Systematic Review
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – February 28, 2022
Summary
The hallucinogen psilocybin, a potent alkaloid, shows remarkable promise in psychiatry. A review of 76 articles highlights its efficacy in significantly reducing anxiety and depression symptoms, a major burden on population health. This psychedelic medicine, alongside MDMA, causes no reported adverse effects or deaths, offering a compelling alternative in drug studies for psychological well-being. Its re-emergence signals a "Psychedelic Renaissance," broadening the scope of complementary medicine. The potential for such compounds, naturally derived, to alleviate depression is a significant development for the population.
Abstract
There has been a reemergence of research into the use of substances such as LSD, MDMA, and psilocybin for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. T...
Psychedelic drugs—a new era in psychiatry?
Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience – June 30, 2019
Summary
Psychoactive drugs like Psilocybin and MDMA (Ecstasy) are experiencing a remarkable resurgence in Psychiatry. Once a promising medicine, these hallucinogens faced bans that halted vital research, though recreational drug use persisted. Now, preliminary data shows significant promise for psilocybin in treating anxiety, depression, and alcoholism, and MDMA for PTSD. Regulatory bodies have approved MDMA for a Phase 3 PTSD trial and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression, signaling a new era for these psychedelics in medicine and psychology. This renaissance in Drug Studies could revolutionize mental health.
Abstract
This article covers the renaissance of classical psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin and LSD plus 3,4-methylene dioxymethamphetamine (MDMA-ecstasy...
Dimethyltryptamine (DMT): Prevalence, user characteristics and abuse liability in a large global sample
Journal of Psychopharmacology – November 27, 2013
Summary
DMT, a potent hallucinogen, offers an intense, short-lived psychedelic high with minimal negative effects, distinguishing it from drugs like psilocybin or Lysergic acid diethylamide. A survey of 22,289 individuals revealed 8.9% lifetime use. Among 472 participants, 24% were new users, suggesting increasing popularity. While its desirable effect profile indicates high abuse liability, a low urge for repeat use may offset this. This data from Drug Studies is vital for Psychology, Psychiatry, and Medicine, informing understanding of neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior and Forensic Toxicology.
Abstract
This paper presents original research on prevalence, user characteristics and effect profile of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a potent hallucinogen...
Lifetime use of MDMA/ecstasy and psilocybin is associated with reduced odds of major depressive episodes
Journal of Psychopharmacology – January 01, 2022
Summary
Lifetime MDMA/Ecstasy use is associated with 16% lower odds of experiencing a major depressive episode. An analysis of 213,437 US adults found MDMA, or Ecstasy, linked to 16-18% lower odds of these episodes. The hallucinogen Psilocybin, a classic psychedelic, correlated with 10-13% lower odds. These findings offer intriguing insights for Psychiatry and Medicine, suggesting potential avenues for Psychology in addressing major depressive episodes, unlike other substances examined.
Abstract
Background: Depression is a major mental health issue worldwide, with high rates of chronicity and non-recovery associated with the condition. Exis...
Altered states: psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression
The Lancet Psychiatry – May 17, 2016
Summary
A pilot in Psychiatry suggests Psilocybin, a powerful hallucinogen, offers hope for Treatment-resistant depression. In a feasibility study with 12 patients, a regimen combining synthesized psilocybin with psychological support reduced depression scores by around 10 points on the Hamilton Depression Scale after one week. This Medicine, documented in medical literature and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, showed promising safety and preliminary efficacy, with about half the participants still experiencing benefits at three months. This offers hope for the 20% of patients with depression unresponsive to conventional treatments.
Abstract
"Alice remained looking thoughtfully at the mushroom for a minute, trying to make out which were the two sides of it; and as it was perfectly round...
A new behavior change program using psilocybin.
Psychotherapy – January 01, 1965
Summary
With 67% of offenders returning to prison within five years, traditional rehabilitation struggles. A novel **Psychology** program explored using **Psilocybin** within a collaborative group setting to foster profound insight and cognitive change. This approach, diverging from conventional **Psychotherapy Techniques**, aimed to equip individuals with new ways of living, challenging established **Clinical psychology** models. Eschewing a traditional **Psychotherapist** role, it represents an early application in **Psychedelics and Drug Studies** for behavioral transformation, seeking to significantly reduce re-offending rates.
Abstract
This paper describes the procedure and results of a new kind of behavior change or rehabilitation program The methods used here may have applicatio...
Psilocybin use is associated with lowered odds of crime arrests in US adults: A replication and extension
Journal of Psychopharmacology – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin use is linked to significantly lowered odds of arrest. National demography data from 211,549 individuals showed lifetime psilocybin use associated with reduced odds for 7 of 11 past-year arrest types (odds ratios 0.30-0.73). This offers criminology a new perspective on reducing recidivism within prison populations. Mescaline also reduced odds for drug possession. These psychology and psychedelics and drug studies findings suggest avenues for medicine.
Abstract
Background: The United States boasts the largest prison population in the world, conferring significant direct and indirect costs (e.g. lost wages ...
Psychedelics as Medicines: An Emerging New Paradigm
Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics – November 04, 2016
Summary
Serotonergic psychedelics, including psilocybin, are emerging as powerful tools in medicine. These hallucinogens show preliminary efficacy against anxiety, addiction, and psychiatric depression, influencing neurotransmitter receptors like 5-HT2A. Neuroscience suggests this mechanism, relevant to psychiatry and psychology, can "reset" brain networks, potentially impacting brain disorders linked to serotonin pathways (derived from tryptophan). Beyond mental health, drug studies reveal their promise against inflammatory diseases. This unique influence on behavior offers new hope for debilitating conditions, opening novel avenues in medicine.
Abstract
Scientific interest in serotonergic psychedelics (e.g., psilocybin and LSD; 5‐HT 2A receptor agonists) has dramatically increased within the last d...
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...
Blinding and expectancy confounds in psychedelic randomized controlled trials
Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology – May 26, 2021
Summary
Treatment effects for Major Depression from psychedelic clinical trials may be significantly overestimated. A systematic review of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) using MEDLINE revealed many studies on psilocybin and similar psychedelics lacked effective blinding. Expectancy theory suggests participants often discern if they receive the active medicine or a placebo, influencing reported outcomes. This de-blinding means large effect sizes in clinical psychology and psychiatry for these alternative medicine treatments might be inflated. Future drug studies must improve blinding to accurately assess therapeutic potential.
Abstract
Introduction: There is increasing interest in the potential for psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin, LSD and ketamine to treat several mental heal...
Case Report: Magic Mushroom (Psilocybe Cubensis) Intoxication
Archives of The Medicine and Case Reports – October 13, 2021
Summary
Consuming Psilocybe mushrooms, containing the hallucinogen Psilocybin, can induce severe psychological and life-threatening physical distress. A single case details a 22-year-old male experiencing disorientation, auditory hallucinations, and bizarre movements, necessitating psychiatric care. This acute event, similar to Mescaline intoxication, also caused life-threatening kidney injury. Such incidents underscore critical safety concerns in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, often overlooked amidst discussions of Pain Management or the Placebo Effect. This aspect of Psychology and Psychiatry highlights the dark side of substances that can lead to experiences sometimes interpreted as paranormal.
Abstract
Introduction. Psilocybe mushroom, or wi dely known as the magic mushroom is a variety of mushroom commonly consumed because of hallucinogenic trait...
Psilocybin as a Novel Pharmacotherapy for Treatment-Refractory Anorexia Nervosa
OBM Neurobiology – June 24, 2021
Summary
Anorexia nervosa, a severe psychiatry challenge, sees current psychological intervention remission rates below 50%. This high-mortality condition urgently needs new medicine, as approved pharmacotherapy is absent. Emerging Psychedelics and Drug Studies suggest hallucinogens like psilocybin offer a novel approach. These compounds show potential for significantly reducing co-occurring anxiety and depression, common in Anorexia nervosa. Influencing Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, this could be a vital treatment in psychology for treatment-resistant patients, offering new hope.
Abstract
Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a major health problem with one of the highest mortalities and treatment costs of any psychiatric condition. Cognitive beh...
Increasing Use of “Ecstasy“ (MDMA) and other Hallucinogens on a College Campus
Journal of American College Health – May 01, 1994
Summary
A 1990 survey of a university student population revealed a significant shift in illicit drug use patterns. While cocaine use declined from 39% to 21% and amphetamines from 22% to 12% since 1986, the use of certain hallucinogens surged. Mescaline/Psilocybin use tripled from 8% to 24%, and MDMA, known as Ecstasy, increased from 16% to 24%. Lysergic acid diethylamide use remained stable. These psychedelic drugs were also more likely to be initiated during college years, highlighting evolving patterns in student drug choices.
Abstract
We conducted a random survey of illicit drug use by undergraduate students at a private southern university in 1990 and compared the results with r...
What Geometric Visual Hallucinations Tell Us about the Visual Cortex
Neural Computation – March 01, 2002
Summary
Geometric visual hallucinations, like the tunnels and spirals reported after taking psychedelics such as psilocybin or during sleep, are not random. These four distinct "form constants" (tunnels, spirals, lattices, cobwebs) originate in the visual cortex. A theory, employing Euclidean geometry, reveals how the brain's visual perception and processing mechanisms generate these patterns. Symmetries within the visual cortex's neural dynamics create activity patterns that, when transformed to the visual field, precisely match the observed geometric forms, illuminating brain function and hallucinogen effects.
Abstract
Many observers see geometric visual hallucinations after taking hallucinogens such as LSD, cannabis, mescaline or psilocybin; on viewing bright fli...
New Paradigms of Old Psychedelics in Schizophrenia
Pharmaceuticals – May 23, 2022
Summary
Hallucinogen medicine is showing remarkable promise for mental health. Recent Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveal that compounds like Psilocybin and Lysergic acid diethylamide are well-tolerated and effective for conditions such as severe Anxiety. Neuroscience indicates these substances, including Mescaline, primarily activate the Serotonin 5-HT2A receptor, influencing brain connectivity. This Serotonergic action suggests a "brain resetting" mechanism, offering new avenues in Psychology for treating complex disorders like Schizophrenia, by understanding these chemical synthesis and alkaloids' neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
Psychedelics such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin (magic mushrooms), and mescaline exhibit intense effects on the human brain and b...
Legal highs: staying on top of the flood of novel psychoactive substances
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology – January 26, 2015
Summary
A startling 81 novel psychoactive substances were identified in 2013 alone, posing a significant challenge for Medicine and Psychiatry. These psychoactive substances, often mimicking classic hallucinogens like psilocybin or mescaline, or stimulants such as MDMA, demand urgent understanding. Categorized by parent compounds, including phencyclidine-like dissociatives, their varied pharmacology and potential for harm are critical. Understanding their Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior is vital for Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, as Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis strive to keep pace.
Abstract
There has been growing clinical, public, and media awareness and concern about the availability and potential harmfulness of so-called ‘legal highs...
Lifetime experience with (classic) psychedelics predicts pro-environmental behavior through an increase in nature relatedness
Journal of Psychopharmacology – June 20, 2017
Summary
Experience with classic hallucinogens like psilocybin and mescaline strongly predicts pro-environmental behavior, a compelling Psychology finding from a 1,487-person general population study. This effect, relevant to social psychology, is explained by a deeper self-identification with nature, independent of Big Five personality traits such as conscientiousness or openness to experience. These Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlight how neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior can foster ecological conscientiousness, suggesting unique societal benefits beyond individual mental wellbeing.
Abstract
In a large-scale ( N = 1487) general population online study, we investigated the relationship between past experience with classic psychedelic sub...
Psychedelic-Assisted Group Therapy: A Systematic Review
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – March 15, 2019
Summary
While individual psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy modalities receive much attention, a new review explores the overlooked history of group psychotherapy. Classic hallucinogens like psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide, substances derived from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, were often integrated into group psychotherapy. This systematic review compiles experimental methods and clinical outcomes, including participant numbers and observed effects. Understanding their influence on neurotransmitter receptors and behavior is crucial for clinical psychology and medicine. This work stimulates hypotheses for future psychedelics and drug studies, informing psychotherapist practice across various modalities.
Abstract
Contemporary research with classic psychedelic drugs (e.g., lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin) is indebted to the twentieth-century r...
Case report: Prolonged amelioration of mild red-green color vision deficiency following psilocybin mushroom use
Drug Science Policy and Law – January 01, 2023
Summary
A single 5-gram dose of psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, dramatically improved red-green color vision in one individual. Partial improvement, assessed via Ishihara tests, peaked at 8 days and persisted for at least 16 days, despite color blindness being genetic. This intriguing finding for Medicine and Psychology suggests new directions for Psychiatry and Psychedelics and Drug Studies. Understanding these effects requires biochemical analysis of such alkaloids, whether from chemical synthesis or natural sources, to gauge their impact on perception and inform generalizability.
Abstract
Background Recent survey data indicate that some people report long-term improvement in color vision deficiency (CVD), also known as color blindnes...
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...
Serotonergic hallucinogens as translational models relevant to schizophrenia
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – August 13, 2013
Summary
Compelling evidence links serotonergic hallucinogens like psilocybin, mescaline, and lysergic acid diethylamide to temporary psychosis, mimicking schizophrenia symptoms. These psychedelics influence behavior by targeting the serotonin 5-HT2A neurotransmitter receptor. This neurochemical interaction provides crucial insights for Psychology and Neuroscience, particularly within Drug Studies. Understanding how these substances induce a 'model psychosis' through specific receptor influence, revealed by biochemical analysis, helps unravel schizophrenia's pathogenesis. This knowledge is vital for developing novel therapeutic approaches.
Abstract
Abstract One of the oldest models of schizophrenia is based on the effects of serotonergic hallucinogens such as mescaline, psilocybin, and (+)-lys...
Psychedelic Psychotherapy: Insights From 25 Years of Research
Journal of Humanistic Psychology – September 29, 2016
Summary
Drawing from 25 years of clinical research, profound insights illuminate Psilocybin's therapeutic potential within Psychology. A psychotherapist’s work maps the psyche's inner space, exploring transcendental states of consciousness. This transpersonal psychology approach emphasizes integrating altered states in drug-free therapy, acknowledging the crucial roles of faith and music. Understanding neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior and the chemical synthesis of alkaloids is vital. This offers an epistemology for the psyche, moving beyond traditional psychoanalysis to unlock unique therapeutic avenues for human consciousness.
Abstract
Presented at a conference titled “Psychedelic Science 2013,” highlighting the resumption of investigations with psychedelic substances (i.e., psilo...
Extraordinary Experiences during Cross-Modal Perception
Perceptual and Motor Skills – December 01, 1976
Summary
Compellingly, 33% of individuals reported psychedelic-like sensations when beer taste harmonized with rhythmic sound. Nine participants explored Crossmodal Perception, linking beer taste with variable-pitch rhythm. Audiology identified frequencies for this taste-sound Harmony. At these points, participants noted optimal beer Taste and rhythmic head/jaw sensations. Three described experiences akin to Mescaline or Psilocybin, informing Cognitive psychology, Psychedelics and Drug Studies, Mental Health and Psychiatry communication, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies.
Abstract
9 Ss were requested to perceive simultaneously the taste of beer and a rhythmic sound, the pitch of which could be varied. The frequencies at which...
Values and Beliefs of Psychedelic Drug Users: A Cross-Cultural Study
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – June 01, 2006
Summary
Individuals who use hallucinogens like psilocybin demonstrate a distinct psychological profile, scoring higher on mystical beliefs, spirituality, and concern for others, while valuing financial prosperity less. This pattern emerged from a psychology study of 183 people, including 88 psychedelic users, 29 non-psychedelic illegal drug users, and 66 social drinkers, and held true across cultures. Furthermore, both groups using illegal drugs exhibited greater empathy than social drinkers. This suggests unique enduring psychological characteristics, though pre-existing traits of users may contribute to these associations with psychedelics.
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs such as LSD and psilocybin are often claimed to be capable of inducing life-changing experiences described as mystical or transce...
Effects of Chemical Stimulation of Electrically-Induced Phosphenes on their Bandwidth, Shape, Number and Intensity
Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery – January 01, 1963
Summary
Combining electrical brain stimulation with psychedelics like psilocybin profoundly alters perception. In one subject, this stimulation created a great number of new visual patterns, called phosphenes. These drug-induced phosphenes exhibited significantly increased intensity and broader bandwidth compared to two baseline patterns. This work, at the intersection of neuroscience and biomedical engineering, explores how chemical stimulation influences visual experiences. It offers insights for computer science models of perception and the biophysics of brain activity, advancing psychedelics and drug studies.
Abstract
The perception of patterns not resulting from viewing external objects but stimulated by cranial electrodes with pulse currents within the electroe...
Breakdown or Breakthrough? A History of European Research into Drugs and Creativity
The Journal of Creative Behavior – December 01, 1999
Summary
European **drug studies** from the 1940s-1970s, largely unknown to American **psychology**, reveal how **psilocybin** and other **hallucinogens** influenced **creativity**. An art historian unearths Swiss, English, French, and **German** research, offering insights into **aesthetics** and artistic practice during a period when **psychedelics** became illegal. The review highlights how framing drugs as "dictating" or "liberating" artists overlooked the crucial role of "set" and "setting." Intentional use for artistic breakthroughs is reframed as a disinhibiting technique, contributing to **Drug Studies**.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Language barriers have largely prevented American scholars from learning about European studies concerning drugs and creativity. An art hi...