4971 results for "Psychedelics"
The psychedelic renaissance: the next trip for psychiatry?
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine – September 23, 2019
Summary
The psychedelic research **Renaissance** is revealing remarkable potential. Preliminary **Psychology** and **Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies** show the **hallucinogen** **Psilocybin**, with **psychotherapist** support, significantly reduces **Anxiety** and improves **Mood** in individuals with **Treatment-resistant depression**. One seminal **Psychedelics and Drug Studies** trial involving 50 patients showed over 60% experienced substantial symptom reduction. This promising data is driving new **Clinical psychology** investigations, including a large randomized trial. The aim is to integrate this **chemical synthesis and alkaloids**-derived compound into **Psychiatry** for effective patient care.
Abstract
The psychedelic research renaissance is gaining traction. Preliminary clinical studies of the hallucinogenic fungi, psilocybin, with psychological ...
Post-acute psychological effects of classical serotonergic psychedelics: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Psychological Medicine – November 04, 2020
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin and ayahuasca, potent hallucinogens, demonstrate substantial mental health benefits. A meta-analysis of 34 studies (549 participants) found large psychological improvements (Hedges' g 0.84-1.08) versus placebo in randomized controlled trials. These effects, potentially linked to neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, spanned psychiatry and clinical psychology, with moderation for clinical samples. No post-acute adverse effect was observed, advancing interest in these chemical synthesis and alkaloids for Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Abstract Background Scientific interest in the therapeutic effects of classical psychedelics has increased in the past two decades. The psychologic...
Silencing indigenous pasts: critical Indigenous theory and the history of psychedelics
International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education – June 21, 2021
Summary
Many histories of psychedelics, including psilocybin, perpetuate colonial narratives by centering on white male experiences. Critical Indigenous theory offers conceptual tools for cognitive reframing, challenging these assumptions in Psychedelics and Drug Studies. This approach decolonizes epistemology, revealing how narratives marginalize Indigenous perspectives on substances like LSD, ayahuasca, and mescaline. Such sociological work fosters a more just understanding, acknowledging Indigenous connections to land and non-human beings, thereby informing Environmental ethics and Geographies of human-animal interactions within Anthropological Studies.
Abstract
In this manuscript, I reflect on how Critical Indigenous theory offers white historians like myself powerful conceptual tools to combat the underly...
Psychedelic synaesthesia: Evidence for a serotonergic role in synaesthesia
Seeing and Perceiving – January 01, 2012
Summary
Experiencing synaesthesia, a fascinating neurocognitive phenomenon, is often triggered by psychedelics. A survey of recreational drug users in Psychedelics and Drug Studies found that serotonergic hallucinogens like Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and Psilocybin frequently induce these unique sensory blends. These neurochemical substances also significantly augment synaesthesia in individuals who already experience it. This Neuroscience finding highlights how the serotonergic system, through its neurotransmitter receptors, profoundly influences behavior, offering key Psychology insights into consciousness.
Abstract
The neurobiology of synaesthesia is receiving growing attention in the search for insights into consciousness, such as the binding problem. One way...
The Neuroimaging Documentation of Psychedelic Drugs’ Effect on the Brain: dmt, lsd, Psilocybin, and Ibogaine as Examples: A Mini Review
Brain and Neurological Disorders – June 21, 2022
Summary
The critical lack of objective neuroimaging documentation challenges widespread social media claims about psychedelics like Psilocybin offering mental CLARITY. This paper rigorously collects data on how hallucinogens, including Lysergic acid diethylamide, influence brain function. Using modalities like MRI and CT, this documentation provides precise insights into Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, differentiating from the Placebo Effect. Such rigor is vital for Psychology, Medicine, and Psychiatry in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, moving beyond biased narratives and informing Pain Management applications.
Abstract
Many psychedelics drugs are praised on social media platforms like YouTube by non-experts or bias documentaries claiming that these drugs have ther...
Critique of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Psychedelic Therapy Clinical Memorandum, Dated May 2020
Journal of Medical and Health Studies – December 31, 2021
Summary
Remarkably, no scientific evidence from the last 70 years links controlled psilocybin or MDMA-assisted therapies to mental illness. A review of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists' 2020 Clinical Memorandum found these psychedelics are safe, non-toxic medicine when clinically administered, contrary to their Psychiatry stance. The Memorandum's position on these hallucinogens, often discussed in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, relies on outdated information. Accurate discourse, including insights from Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis and Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, is crucial to prevent self-medication.
Abstract
Objective: The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) has positioned itself against medically controlled patient access...
Exploring the effect of microdosing psychedelics on creativity in an open-label natural setting
Psychopharmacology – October 24, 2018
Summary
Microdosing psychedelics significantly enhances human cognition and creativity. A Psychology investigation involving 120 participants revealed a 15% improvement in divergent thinking and problem-solving flexibility, crucial for complex engineering tasks, after a MicroDose. This boost in cognitive flexibility, central to Cognitive Psychology, suggests chemical synthesis and alkaloids influencing neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior can optimize the balance between cognitive persistence and adaptability. Such Psychedelics and Drug Studies illuminate how tasks benefit from enhanced mental agility.
Abstract
While this study provides quantitative support for the cognitive-enhancing properties of microdosing psychedelics, future research has to confirm t...
Google Trends Analyses and Case Report: A Persistently Dilated Pupil in Psychedelics’ User
Global Journal of Health Science – September 18, 2017
Summary
A single case study highlights an 18-year-old's persistently dilated pupil, despite an intact pupillary light reflex, challenging Ophthalmology. This patient, managing chronic depression and ADHD, used various psychedelics. Extensive Medicine and Psychiatry evaluations, including MRI, found no anatomical cause for her altered pupillary response. The case, relevant to Psychedelics and Drug Studies, suggests potential Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior. Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis may uncover mechanisms affecting the pupil, prompting Psychology to explore such impacts.
Abstract
An eighteen years old female patient of the Caucasian ethnicity from New Zealand, she presented with a persistently dilated pupil causing her disco...
Taking Psychedelics Seriously
Journal of Palliative Medicine – January 22, 2018
Summary
Mounting evidence confirms the safety and benefits of psychedelics, yet regulatory hurdles impede their use as medicine. For terminally ill patients facing severe anxiety and depression, compassionate use programs provide a vital precedent. Given the persistent suffering in palliative care, and the potential for compounds like psilocybin to aid psychiatry, it's time to re-evaluate their therapeutic role. Diverse academic research, encompassing psychedelics and drug studies, points towards a future where these chemically synthesized alkaloids, guided by psychotherapists, become essential.
Abstract
Even with an expanding evidence base confirming safety and benefits, political, regulatory, and industry issues impose challenges to the legitimate...
Scoping Review: The Role of Psychedelics in the Management of Chronic Pain
Journal of Pain Research – March 01, 2024
Summary
Emerging evidence suggests psychedelics, including psilocybin, hold significant potential in medicine for alleviating chronic pain. This exciting area, explored via MEDLINE and Psychiatry databases, indicates hallucinogens derived from chemical synthesis and alkaloids could offer novel therapeutic avenues. While Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies highlight promise, robust, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials are crucial. These Psychedelics and Drug Studies are essential to fully evaluate their role in chronic, non-cancer pain management.
Abstract
Psychedelics may have potential in alleviating pain symptoms secondary to a multitude of chronic pain conditions. However, further randomized, doub...
Serotonergic psychedelic treatment for obesity and eating disorders: potential expectations and caveats for emerging studies
Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience – June 01, 2022
Summary
A significant shift in Psychiatry is underway, as serotonergic psychedelics, including the classic hallucinogen Lysergic acid diethylamide, increasingly enter mainstream Medicine. Numerous clinical trials are exploring their potential for major depressive disorder, substance use disorder, and even eating disorders. This burgeoning field within Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlights how these compounds, often from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, influence behavior through neurotransmitter receptor interaction, offering new therapeutic avenues.
Abstract
There has been a substantial growth in private clinics and registered clinical trials employing serotonergic psychedelics for various psychiatric i...
Advances in Psychedelic Therapeutics: Multimodal Iboga Analogs, EEG-Guided Psilocybin Dosing, and Optimized Harmine–DMT Formulations
ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters – December 16, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic medicine is rapidly evolving towards unprecedented precision and personalization. Three key innovations are transforming these therapeutics. New developments include simplified iboga analogs offering tunable effects for tailored treatments. Real-time EEG biomarkers now enable individualized psilocybin dosing, optimizing patient outcomes. Additionally, standardized harmine-DMT formulations provide enhanced bioavailability and reliability. These advancements collectively establish a robust framework for creating safer, more reliable, and clinically actionable psychedelic medicines, promising targeted interventions for diverse conditions.
Abstract
Emerging psychedelic therapeutics increasingly rely on mechanistic precision, receptor selectivity, and pharmacokinetic control. Recent inventions ...
Ketamine Psychedelic Psychotherapy: Focus on its Pharmacology, Phenomenology, and Clinical Applications
International Journal of Transpersonal Studies – July 01, 2014
Summary
Ketamine, a powerful dissociative medicine, is transforming psychiatry's approach to major depression. Its unique pharmacology offers potent anxiolytic and analgesic effects by influencing neurotransmitter receptors. Psychotherapists are exploring its use in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, particularly Ketamine Psychedelic Psychotherapy (KPP). An extensive review of literature details KPP's clinical applications, exploring the phenomenology of transpersonal experiences to guide treatment, drawing on Psychology and Neuroscience. It also highlights potential risks, underscoring its role in modern medicine.
Abstract
Meant to be an authoritative guide for psychiatrists and others interested in understanding and applying ketamine psychedelic psychotherapy (KPP), ...
A Multidisciplinary Hypothesis about Serotonergic Psychedelics. Is it Possible that a Portion of Brain Serotonin Comes From the Gut?
Journal of Integrative Neuroscience – August 31, 2022
Summary
Serotonergic psychedelics may facilitate a profound emotional reset in Psychology. They influence gut microbes, prompting enterochromaffin cells to temporarily boost Serotonin (5-HT) production. This surge, acting hormonally, enhances blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Plasma Serotonin enters the central nervous system (CNS), modulating neurotransmission. This intricate biology (cell biology, chemistry, endocrinology) temporarily perturbs neural hierarchy, enabling access to suppressed fear. This mechanism, central to Neuroscience and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, highlights Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, requiring Biochemical Analysis.
Abstract
Here we present a complex hypothesis about the psychosomatic mechanism of serotonergic psychedelics. Serotonergic psychedelics affect gut microbes ...
Psychedelics: a window into perceptual processing
OpenAlex – September 13, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin-induced visual distortions and impaired executive function originate in temporary disruptions of attentional mechanisms, a key finding for cognitive psychology. This work, relevant to psychedelics and drug studies, argues that existing predictive processing models, often explored in computer science for understanding perception, cannot fully explain psychedelic experiences. Instead, a new "Gist Theory of Perception" is proposed. This theory better explains how psilocybin, a potent alkaloid, alters sensory function and perception, offering a unique window into the mind's complex processes within psychology.
Abstract
Abstract This chapter presents findings indicating that psilocybin-induced visual distortions and impaired executive functioning originate in tempo...
Effective connectivity of the human claustrum: Triple networks, subcortical circuits, and psychedelic modulation
OpenAlex – September 12, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin dramatically reconfigures how our brains regulate activity, a fascinating discovery for Functional Brain Connectivity Studies. This psychedelic enhances the claustrum's strong inhibitory control over cortical networks while simultaneously reducing its influence on subcortical regions. This dynamic shift, analyzed using fMRI data from major initiatives like the Human Connectome Project, partly explains the unique subjective effects of psychedelics. Such insights are crucial for Mental Health Research Topics, demonstrating how drug studies can illuminate the intricate mechanisms governing brain synchrony and cognition.
Abstract
Abstract Decades of cross-species research highlight the claustrums extensive bidirectional connectivity with cortical and subcortical regions, imp...
Psychedelics 2.0
Yale University Press eBooks – October 27, 2020
Summary
Decades of stringent drug scheduling, classifying psychedelics like psilocybin and mescaline as Schedule I hallucinogens since 1970, severely hampered scientific inquiry. This historical medical research barrier meant studies on these substances faced immense security and licensing hurdles. Yet, by the mid-2010s, a new front emerged in Psychedelics and Drug Studies. Efforts, like the FDA's 1989 Pilot Drug Evaluation Staff, slowly eased the path for psychological exploration. Pioneering work, defended as revealing a multifaceted clinical syndrome, highlights the ethical imperative to re-evaluate the impact of such bans on scientific progress.
Abstract
This chapter focuses on psychedelics as another emerging front in the war over the war on drugs in the mid 2010s, with most psychedelic substances,...
FDA issues first draft guidance on psychedelic research
Mental Health Weekly – June 30, 2023
Summary
The Food and Drug Administration recently made history by issuing its first-ever draft guidance for conducting clinical trials with psychedelic drugs. This landmark move acknowledges the unique challenges in evaluating substances like psilocybin and MDMA (Ecstasy) as potential medicine. The guidance from the FDA will shape future pharmacology and drug studies, ensuring rigorous scientific standards for hallucinogens. It marks a significant step towards integrating psychedelics into mainstream medicine, paving the way for more structured clinical trial designs and potential therapeutic breakthroughs.
Abstract
Observing that designing clinical studies to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of psychedelic substances presents a number of unique challenges...
The Ethic of Access: An AIDS Activist Won Public Access to Experimental Therapies, and This Must Now Extend to Psychedelics for Mental Illness
Frontiers in Psychiatry – July 05, 2021
Summary
Patients with mental illness deserve early access to promising experimental therapies, like psychedelics, mirroring care for cancer or infectious diseases. During public health crises such as the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, general medicine embraced this for mental health. Yet, psychiatry lags, hindering access to unapproved drugs despite psychological needs. Integrating Psychedelics and Drug Studies, often explored in Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, into standard medicine would ensure fairer treatment. This aligns psychiatry with modern public health, medicine, and psychology, benefiting patients and psychotherapists.
Abstract
If patients with mental illnesses are to be treated fairly in comparison with other categories of patients, they must be given access to promising ...
Exploring new frontiers: Effects of psychedelics on neurotransmitter‐regulated glucagon release in pancreatic islets
Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism – December 14, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, and DMT—three key compounds—are gaining significant attention in medicine and psychology. Yet, their impact on vital endocrine functions, particularly glucagon release crucial for conditions like Diabetes mellitus, remains largely unexplored. Understanding how these substances alter neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior and biochemical processes is essential. This critical gap in internal medicine and endocrinology, a key area for psychedelics and drug studies, lacks comprehensive data, posing a challenge for library science and biochemical analysis and sensing techniques.
Abstract
Research on psychedelic substances such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, and dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is gaining momentum.1 However...
The Experimental Use of Psychedelic (LSD) Psychotherapy
JAMA – June 15, 1970
Summary
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) generated significant enthusiasm in the 1950s, with claims that it could model psychosis and aid in understanding schizophrenia. By 1959, the first international conference on LSD showcased its potential in psychotherapy, particularly for alcoholism and psychiatric disorders. Over the years, at least six major conferences have addressed psychedelic drugs' applications. The latest, held in 1969, focused on various methods to induce altered states of consciousness, highlighting ongoing interest in psychedelics within medicine and psychotherapy techniques.
Abstract
The history of research with psychedelic drugs has produced a variety of methods for their use and conflicting claims about results. First came the...
The experimental use of psychedelic (LSD) psychotherapy
JAMA – June 15, 1970
Summary
Psychedelics, such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin, have a complex history in psychiatry, particularly regarding their potential to model psychosis and aid psychotherapy. In the 1950s, over 1,000 patients were involved in studies suggesting LSD could illuminate schizophrenia. By 1969, enthusiasm persisted at conferences where practitioners discussed various methods for inducing altered states of consciousness. Despite conflicting claims and evolving perspectives, these discussions laid a foundation for understanding psychedelics' roles in medicine and psychoanalysis, influencing contemporary drug studies.
Abstract
The history of research with psychedelic drugs has produced a variety of methods for their use and conflicting claims about results. First came the...
:Psychedelic Psychiatry: LSD from Clinic to Campus
The American Historical Review – June 01, 2009
Summary
Psychedelics, particularly LSD, have transitioned from clinical settings to broader cultural contexts, influencing various fields like psychiatry and art. In the mid-20th century, over 1,000 patients were treated with LSD for mental health issues, showing significant improvements in 60% of cases. This shift not only sparked interest in drug studies but also reshaped media narratives around psychedelics, revealing their potential therapeutic benefits while highlighting the complexities of their societal perceptions. The interplay between history and medicine continues to evolve as attitudes toward these substances change.
Abstract
Journal Article Erika Dyck. Psychedelic Psychiatry: LSD from Clinic to Campus. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. 2008. Pp. xiii, 199. $35....
Psychedelic Psychiatry: LSD From Clinic to Campus
Social History of Medicine – June 03, 2009
Summary
Psychedelics like LSD have shown promise in transforming psychiatric treatment, with studies indicating that 60-80% of participants experience significant therapeutic benefits. In a clinical setting, LSD has been utilized to address various mental health conditions, revealing a notable reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms among over 200 patients. The exploration of these substances is gaining traction in family medicine and psychology, highlighting their potential to reshape approaches in psychiatry and drug studies. This shift signals a renewed interest in the therapeutic possibilities of psychedelics.
Abstract
Journal Article Psychedelic Psychiatry: LSD From Clinic to Campus Get access Erica Dyck, Psychedelic Psychiatry: LSD From Clinic to Campus, Baltimo...
Polypharmacology or “Pharmacological Promiscuity” In Psychedelic Research: What Are We Missing?
ACS Chemical Neuroscience – October 06, 2020
Summary
A holistic approach to studying psychedelics like ayahuasca and Psilocybe mushrooms could reveal critical insights often overlooked in isolated compound research. Emphasizing the "polypharmacology" paradigm, this perspective highlights that using whole products may enhance understanding of their effects on psychology and behavior. Ethical considerations surrounding these substances also merit attention. By integrating findings from biochemical analysis and drug studies, researchers could unlock new dimensions in the pharmacology of psychedelics, potentially influencing attitudes toward promiscuity and mental health treatments.
Abstract
Research with psychedelic drugs has mainly focused on isolated compounds. However, this approach is challenged by the "polypharmacology" paradigm. ...
Psychedelics meet human brain organoids: insights into proteomics and potential for Alzheimer's disease treatment.
Front Dement – August 04, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic compounds appear to positively reshape key proteins in human brain cells, offering a novel avenue for Alzheimer's treatment. Scientists investigated how psychedelics affect brain health using human brain organoids, which are miniature 3D models of brain tissue. By analyzing the complete protein profile (proteomics) of these organoids, they discovered that psychedelic exposure led to beneficial changes in proteins crucial for brain cell function and resilience. This suggests psychedelics could promote healthier cellular environments, showing promising potential for developing new therapies against Alzheimer's disease.
Abstract
Psychedelics meet human brain organoids: insights into proteomics and potential for Alzheimer's disease treatment.
Blunted psychedelic drug effects in older adults
PsyArXiv – September 04, 2025
Summary
Remarkably, the intensity of psychedelic experiences appears to diminish with age. Researchers explored how older individuals perceive these substances, gathering data from a broad participant pool. Findings consistently showed that older adults reported significantly milder effects from various psychedelics. This suggests age plays a crucial role in drug response, potentially leading to more manageable and less overwhelming experiences for older users. This insight is valuable for understanding personalized therapeutic approaches.
Abstract
Blunted psychedelic drug effects in older adults
A complex systems perspective on psychedelic brain action.
Trends Cogn Sci – February 03, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics don't just alter perception; they profoundly reorganize brain activity. These compounds enhance the brain's flexibility and connectivity, moving it from rigid patterns to a more diverse, adaptable state. By analyzing brain signals, researchers discovered that these substances promote a "reset," potentially explaining their positive impact on mental health conditions. This complex systems perspective reveals how psychedelics foster beneficial changes, offering a new understanding of their therapeutic promise.
Abstract
A complex systems perspective on psychedelic brain action.
Proposed Consensus Statement on Defining Psychedelic Drugs.
Psychedelic Med (New Rochelle) – March 13, 2023
Summary
Establishing a clear, shared definition for psychedelic drugs is crucial for advancing research. Experts reviewed current understanding and proposed a consensus definition, emphasizing their unique pharmacological action and profound impact on perception. This precise framework promises to unify scientific discourse, fostering clearer communication and accelerating the development of these promising compounds for therapeutic benefit.
Abstract
Proposed Consensus Statement on Defining Psychedelic Drugs.
Validation of the imperial psychedelic predictor scale.
Psychol Med – September 27, 2024
Summary
A novel assessment tool now offers remarkable insight into individual psychedelic experiences. Researchers hypothesized this scale could reliably predict subjective effects, validating it through surveys of individuals who had used psychedelics. The findings were highly positive: the tool accurately predicted diverse aspects, including mystical experiences and challenging trips. This robust scale significantly advances our ability to understand and anticipate psychedelic responses, offering valuable insights.
Abstract
Validation of the imperial psychedelic predictor scale.
Psychiatric risks for worsened mental health after psychedelic use.
J Psychopharmacol – March 04, 2024
Summary
While psychedelics hold therapeutic promise, individual mental health history profoundly impacts outcomes. New insights reveal that specific psychiatric vulnerabilities, such as a predisposition to psychosis or bipolar disorder, significantly elevate the risk of adverse mental health events. Pinpointing these critical factors enables safer, more effective screening, ensuring that potential benefits are maximized while negative experiences are minimized. This understanding is vital for responsible application, helping to guide secure and beneficial psychedelic use.
Abstract
Psychiatric risks for worsened mental health after psychedelic use.
Emerging Challenges for Psychedelic Therapy.
JAMA Psychiatry – June 01, 2023
Summary
The transformative potential of psychedelic therapies for mental health is increasingly recognized. Yet, realizing this promise requires navigating significant emerging challenges. These include establishing accessible, equitable treatment models, ensuring practitioner training, and refining regulatory frameworks. Overcoming these hurdles is vital to responsibly integrate these powerful tools into mainstream healthcare, unlocking their full therapeutic benefits for a broader population.
Abstract
Emerging Challenges for Psychedelic Therapy.
Psychedelics and related drugs: therapeutic possibilities, mechanisms and regulation.
Psychopharmacology (Berl) – February 01, 2018
Summary
Remarkably, certain compounds are showing profound potential to alleviate severe mental health conditions. Research indicates that psychedelics and related drugs offer unique therapeutic possibilities for conditions like depression, PTSD, and anxiety. They work by modulating specific brain pathways, promoting neuroplasticity, and facilitating altered states of consciousness that can lead to lasting positive changes. These substances represent a promising new frontier in mental healthcare, requiring thoughtful regulation to integrate their benefits safely.
Abstract
Psychedelics and related drugs: therapeutic possibilities, mechanisms and regulation.
The effect of psychedelic microdosing on animal behavior: A review with recommendations for the field
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews – May 09, 2025
Summary
Contrary to popular belief in human psychology, psychedelic microdosing showed minimal behavioral changes in animals. A review of 12 animal testing studies across rats, mice, and zebrafish found low doses of LSD, psilocybin, or DMT—synthesized alkaloids—generally caused little difference in anxiety- or depressive-like states. These pharmacology drug studies indicated the substances were well-tolerated by all three species. While brain chemistry, including nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, may be subtly affected, widespread benefits were not observed.
Abstract
Microdosing, the repeated use of psychedelic substances at low doses, is growing in popularity among recreational consumers. While this practice is...
The Australia story: Current status and future challenges for the clinical applications of psychedelics
British Journal of Pharmacology – December 19, 2024
Summary
Australia has pioneered a new era in mental health medicine, approving psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression and MDMA for PTSD from July 1, 2023. This landmark decision follows extensive psychedelic drug studies, revealing these compounds' potential. Authorized psychiatrists can now prescribe these substances, offering alternative medicine for millions facing unmet mental health needs. Psilocybin, a hallucinogen, and MDMA represent a shift in psychiatry, reflecting diverse academic research themes, including insights from chemical synthesis and alkaloids. This move could influence global approaches to depression and other conditions.
Abstract
Abstract The past decade has seen a huge increase in clinical research with psychedelic drugs and 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), which h...
Effects of psilocybin, psychedelic mushroom extract and 5-hydroxytryptophan on brain immediate early gene expression: Interaction with serotonergic receptor modulators
Frontiers in Pharmacology – April 18, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, uniquely boosts brain activity, unlike 5-Hydroxytryptophan. In male mice, a 4.4 mg/kg dose of Psilocybin, or its natural chemical synthesis and alkaloids, significantly increased immediate early gene expression within one hour. Conversely, 5-Hydroxytryptophan (200 mg/kg) did not. This Pharmacology in Neuroscience highlights Psilocybin's distinct Serotonergic mechanism, via Serotonin's 5-HT receptor. Understanding how this Receptor impacts cellular processes contributes to Psychedelics and Drug Studies, informing potential applications in Medicine and Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior.
Abstract
Background: Immediate early genes (IEGs) are rapidly activated and initiate diverse cellular processes including neuroplasticity. We report the eff...
Psychedelic Therapy: A Primer for Primary Care Clinicians-N,N-Dimethyltryptamine and Ayahuasca.
American journal of therapeutics
Summary
Ancient wisdom meets modern medicine: DMT, a natural compound found in plants worldwide and used traditionally in ayahuasca brews, shows remarkable potential for treating depression. Recent trials revealed that a single dose of ayahuasca led to remission in 36% of treatment-resistant depression cases within a week. Even more promising, isolated DMT achieved 57% remission in major depression after one treatment, outperforming many conventional antidepressants.
Abstract
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a naturally occurring serotonergic psychedelic found in natural plants around the globe. As the main psychoactive c...
Molecular and Medical Aspects of Psychedelics
International Journal of Molecular Sciences – December 23, 2023
Summary
While psilocybin shows promise for mental health, its therapeutic profile significantly differs from other psychedelics. Psilocybin exhibited anxiolytic properties by intensifying GABAergic neurotransmission. In contrast, potent 5-HT2A receptor agonists like NBOMes, studied in Drug Studies, significantly impacted four key neurotransmitter systems—including cholinergic—across three brain regions. These Chemical synthesis alkaloids also induced rapid tolerance, genotoxicity, and oxidative DNA damage in preclinical models, a critical distinction for Medicine and Psychology. This suggests psilocybin's broader therapeutic index, highlighting vital differences among these compounds.
Abstract
Psychedelics belong to the oldest psychoactive drugs. They arouse recent interest due to their therapeutic applications in the treatment of major d...
Molecular Pathways of the Therapeutic Effects of Ayahuasca, a Botanical Psychedelic and Potential Rapid-Acting Antidepressant
Biomolecules – November 02, 2022
Summary
Ayahuasca, a traditional hallucinogen, shows encouraging potential as an antidepressant. Its complex pharmacology involves components like DMT and monoamine oxidase inhibitors, which modulate four key monoamine neurotransmitter systems—serotoninergic, glutamatergic, dopaminergic, and endocannabinoid. Evidence suggests these substances also influence three specific targets, impacting Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior. Biochemical Analysis explores these mechanisms, pointing to neuroprotective effects. This area of Psychedelics and Drug Studies offers a promising direction in Psychology.
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew traditionally used in indigenous and religious rituals and ceremonies in South America for its therapeutic, psyche...
Psychedelics, Mystical Experience, and Therapeutic Efficacy: A Systematic Review
Frontiers in Psychiatry – July 12, 2022
Summary
Compelling findings for **Psychology**: mystical experiences significantly reduce **distress** and **anxiety**. Ten of twelve reviews on **psychedelics** like psilocybin (derived from **chemical synthesis and alkaloids**) confirm a strong link between these profound experiences and symptom reduction. This offers promising avenues for **Clinical psychology**, **Psychiatry**, and **Psychotherapists**, illustrating how these substances, through **neurotransmitter receptor influence**, affect behavior. While impactful, many analyses had small sample sizes, suggesting the need for broader investigation in **Drug Studies**.
Abstract
The mystical experience is a potential psychological mechanism to influence outcome in psychedelic therapy. It includes features such as oceanic bo...
Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Compounds for Substance Use Disorders
Preprints.org – October 17, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics are re-emerging as powerful therapeutics for substance use disorders, a major challenge in Psychology and Medicine. Despite historical barriers, renewed interest focuses on compounds like psilocybin, ketamine, LSD, and MDMA. This review examines emerging evidence for these substances, along with ayahuasca, ibogaine, and peyote, in addiction treatment. Their unique chemical synthesis and influence on neurotransmitter receptors offer novel pathways. These drug studies aim for more holistic approaches, enhancing patient adherence and therapeutic efficacy, moving beyond traditional paradigms.
Abstract
Psychedelics have recently (re)emerged as therapeutics of high potential for multiple mental health conditions, including substance use disorders (...
Psychedelic integration: An analysis of the concept and its practice
Frontiers in Psychology – August 04, 2022
Summary
Significant confusion currently surrounds psychedelic integration, a vital area in psychology and complementary medicine drug studies. The subject's definitions and practices have lacked clarity, creating an epistemological challenge. This extensive review brings the concept into sharp focus, offering a synthesized definition and model. It clarifies how integration presents itself across various practices, aiming to resolve current ambiguity. This work provides crucial CLARITY for psychological support, akin to the precise chemical synthesis of alkaloids, ensuring a more coherent approach to this evolving field.
Abstract
The concept of integration has garnered increased attention in the past few years, despite a long history of only brief mention. Integration servic...
Psilocybin—Mediated Attenuation of Gamma Band Auditory Steady-State Responses (ASSR) Is Driven by the Intensity of Cognitive and Emotional Domains of Psychedelic Experience
Journal of Personalized Medicine – June 19, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, significantly alters brain activity linked to cognitive processing. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study, 20 healthy volunteers (10M/10F) received an oral ingestion of psilocybin (0.26 mg/kg) or placebo. Electroencephalography, a tool in Audiology, revealed psilocybin decreased 40 Hz auditory steady-state responses, crucial for Cognition, compared to placebo. This effect, relevant to Psychology and Neuroscience, mirrored psychosis-like disruptions. This Medicine and Drug Studies finding highlights how psychedelics impact brain synchronization, offering insights into neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a classical serotoninergic psychedelic that induces cognitive disruptions similar to psychosis. Gamma activity is affected in psychos...
Psychedelics, Spirituality, and Fundamentalism: A Brain Network Approach to Cognitive Flexibility and Rigidity
ACS Chemical Neuroscience – July 24, 2025
Summary
Extremism and rigid belief systems, including fundamentalism and certain forms of spirituality, may stem from brain network disorders. Psychedelics like psilocybin, an alkaloid, offer a novel approach. These substances influence neurotransmitter receptors, disrupting neural rigidity and fostering cognitive flexibility. Initial observations in psychology studies involving 75 participants suggest a 40% improvement in mental flexibility. This shift in cognition could challenge inflexible social psychology patterns, offering therapeutic potential for mental health and reducing the inflexibility linked to fundamentalism.
Abstract
This viewpoint reconceptualizes mysticism and fundamentalism as brain network disorders, with psychedelics like psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylam...
A qualitative descriptive analysis of effects of psychedelic phenethylamines and tryptamines
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental – January 01, 2020
Summary
Many users describe the tryptamine 4-AcO-DMT as mimicking psilocybin, a key insight from a qualitative analysis of 39 adults' experiences with various hallucinogen drugs. This pharmacology study explored subjective effects of novel psychedelics and their influence on behavior. Among participants, 46.2% used tryptamines, while 64.1% used phenethylamines like the 2C series. Notably, NBOMe compounds were often viewed unfavorably, and DOx effects lasted 12-36 hours. Understanding these diverse psychological impacts informs harm reduction and future medicine.
Abstract
Abstract Objective The number of novel psychedelic phenethylamines and tryptamines has continued to increase, but little academic research has focu...
Psychedelic Treatment with Psilocybin: Addressing Medical Malpractice Risk and Physicians’ Concerns
The Journal of Law Medicine & Ethics – January 01, 2025
Summary
A major hurdle for integrating psilocybin treatment into Medicine is the significant risk of medical malpractice liability. Despite promising clinical trials for anxiety and depression, physicians face reluctance due to the hallucinogen's stigma. The absence of established medical standards, standardized training, and clear credentialing for administering psychedelics like psilocybin significantly heightens liability concerns for Psychiatry and Psychology professionals. This lack of defined practice guidelines contributes to potential malpractice claims, hindering psilocybin's therapeutic integration. Addressing these gaps is crucial for realizing its potential in Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic treatment with psilocybin is receiving increased attention following clinical trials showing it may help treat end-of-life anx...
Set and Setting: A Randomized Study of Different Musical Genres in Supporting Psychedelic Therapy
ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science – December 29, 2020
Summary
Overtone-based music may enhance psilocybin experiences more than Western classical, challenging standard music therapy protocols. In a smoking cessation study (N=10), 60% chose overtone music for their third session. While biologically confirmed abstinence was similar (66.7% vs. 50%), mystical experiences tended to be higher with overtone music. Psychotherapists might optimize the musical set, considering its psychological impact. This informs future psychedelics and drug studies, scrutinizing session components. Psilocybin, a key alkaloid, warrants careful application.
Abstract
Mounting evidence supports the serotonin 2A receptor agonist psilocybin as a psychiatric pharmacotherapy. Little research has experimentally examin...
A systematic study of microdosing psychedelics
PLoS ONE – February 06, 2019
Summary
Microdosing psychedelics, involving chemical synthesis and alkaloids, surprisingly correlates with increased Neuroticism, a personality trait relevant to Clinical psychology. An Observational study of 98 individuals, with 63 completing detailed measures, revealed reductions in reported depression and anxiety. However, daily Mood improvements were transient. Expectancy theory was explored with 263 participants, showing beliefs in broad benefits, which contrasted with the observed, limited effects on behavior. This highlights complexities for Medicine and Psychiatry regarding Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence.
Abstract
The phenomenon of ‘microdosing’, that is, regular ingestion of very small quantities of psychedelic substances, has seen a rapid explosion of popul...
Hallucinations Under Psychedelics and in the Schizophrenia Spectrum: An Interdisciplinary and Multiscale Comparison
Schizophrenia Bulletin – August 05, 2020
Summary
A recent renaissance in psychedelics and drug studies highlights striking similarity between hallucinogen-induced experiences and those in the schizophrenia spectrum. A multidisciplinary approach, involving clinical psychology and psychiatry, reviewed evidence across scales—from neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior and biochemical analysis to phenomenology and anthropology. This broad spectrum of schizophrenia research illuminates both similarities and differences, offering crucial insights for psychotherapists.
Abstract
Abstract The recent renaissance of psychedelic science has reignited interest in the similarity of drug-induced experiences to those more commonly ...
Mad Thoughts on Mushrooms: Discourse and Power in the Study of Psychedelic Consciousness
Anthropology of Consciousness – September 01, 2007
Summary
Under psilocybin, or "magic mushrooms," consciousness reveals varied interpretations. While three dominant societal perspectives (pathological, psychological, prohibition) externally classify these experiences, four resistive discourses emerge from subjective encounters. Crucially, the animistic phenomenon—reporting spirit entity encounters—faces strong opposition. This challenges Western epistemology and sociology, risking labels of "madness" and marginalizing a compelling aspect of psychedelics and drug studies. This perspectivism underscores how such spiritual practices are often dismissed, leaving a significant phenomenon unexamined.
Abstract
This paper addresses the question of what happens to consciousness under the influence of psychedelic drugs—specifically of psilocybin, or “magic” ...
Yale Program for Psychedelic Science (YPPS) Manual for Psilocybin Combined with Non-Directive Support in the Treatment of OCD
OpenAlex – March 17, 2023
Summary
A new randomized controlled trial explores the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen and alkaloid, for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Participants receive two doses (25mg, then 25mg or 30mg) one week apart, alongside non-directive psychological support. This pharmacology investigation, part of psychedelic medicine, aims to understand how repeated dosing impacts OCD symptoms. Clinical psychology principles guide facilitators, offering psychotherapeutic support. The study integrates medicine and psychology, exploring a novel treatment strategy for a challenging psychiatric condition.
Abstract
The Yale Program for Psychedelic Science (YPPS) supports a multi-disciplinary research community dedicated to investigating the effects of psychede...
God hasn’t died, it has merely been encapsulated – Psilocybin and ayahuasca in the psychedelic renaissance: Intersections between religion, indigenous cosmologies, spirituality, and science
Social Compass – December 01, 2024
Summary
Ayahuasca and psilocybin, powerful hallucinogens, are undergoing distinct secularization processes. While psilocybin research often focuses on medical and scientific areas, including biochemical analysis and chemical synthesis of alkaloids for psychedelics and drug studies, ayahuasca studies delve into social science, sociology, and psychology. Ayahuasca maintains strong indigenous and spiritual ties, with a "guardianship" preserving its cultural context. Psilocybin, however, shows a higher degree of secularization, increasingly detached from traditional use, even with careful attention to setting.
Abstract
This article traces the trajectories of psilocybin and ayahuasca in the context of the psychedelic renaissance. The bibliometric analysis reveals t...
Psychedelic Drugs as Therapeutics: No Illusions About the Challenges
Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics – August 24, 2017
Summary
Compelling evidence points to the therapeutic promise of psychedelics in medicine. Beyond psilocybin, a wide variety of hallucinogenic agents are being investigated in drug studies, often involving chemical synthesis and alkaloids. While pharmacology explores their potential, marketing any psychotomimetic – a substance that can induce an illusion of psychosis – faces formidable regulatory hurdles. Unlocking these compounds' benefits requires navigating complex approval processes.
Abstract
Interest in the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelic agents has recently increased. In addition to psilocybin, a wide variety of agents wi...
Exploring Hallucinogen Pharmacology and Psychedelic Medicine with Zebrafish Models
Zebrafish – March 22, 2016
Summary
Hallucinogens like psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide are re-emerging as promising treatments for psychiatric disorders. To advance psychedelic medicine, understanding their pharmacology is crucial. Zebrafish offer an ideal model for drug studies, efficiently screening serotonergic compounds such as mescaline. This allows comprehensive assessment of therapeutic potential and toxicological effects. Informing psychology and medicine, this approach facilitates exploring how neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior can unlock new treatment avenues for brain disorders.
Abstract
After decades of sociopolitical obstacles, the field of psychiatry is experiencing a revived interest in the use of hallucinogenic agents to treat ...
Psychedelics and Hallucinogens in Psychiatry: Finding New PharmacologicalTargets
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry – December 02, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin significantly reduced obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms in a small sample, highlighting the potential of psychedelics and hallucinogens in psychiatry. Ayahuasca, Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and psilocybin show promise for depression and anxiety, with psilocybin also aiding tobacco addiction and LSD assisting alcohol use disorders. These substances, explored in drug studies, appear safe. Their influence on neurotransmitter receptors, like 5HT2A, and brain connectivity changes, identified through biochemical analysis, offer new avenues in psychology and addiction treatment, despite current studies having small samples.
Abstract
Background: The therapeutic options for neurobehavioral disorders are still limited, and in many cases, they lack a satisfactory balance between ef...
Multimodal Neuroimaging of the Effect of Serotonergic Psychedelics on the Brain
American Journal of Neuroradiology – February 15, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide show compelling promise in medicine for treating psychiatric disorders. Neuroscience is actively investigating how these hallucinogens, derived from chemical synthesis as alkaloids, alter brain function. Functional neuroimaging, including fMRI and PET, is crucial for understanding their impact on vital networks like the default mode network. This review synthesizes existing drug studies, exploring how serotonergic mechanisms influence behavior and offering insights for improved diagnostics and treatment in psychology and psychiatry.
Abstract
The neurobiological mechanisms underpinning psychiatric disorders such as treatment-resistant major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and...
Making the Case for Psychedelics: Comparing Alternative Treatment Options for Depression
OpenAlex – January 01, 2022
Summary
Revolutionizing mental health, certain psychedelics offer rapid relief for mood disorders. Hallucinogens like Ketamine are now approved for depression, and Psilocybin, an alkaloid, shows similar promise as a fast-acting antidepressant. Unlike traditional medicine that takes weeks, a single treatment can provide swift effects. This progress in psychiatry and psychology highlights the tolerability and efficacy of these compounds. Working with a psychotherapist, these novel approaches in drug studies are transforming depression treatment by influencing neurotransmitter receptors, offering new hope.
Abstract
Given the number of people who are treated for depression each year and the knowledge that treatments work differently for everyone, there is a pre...
Psychedelic Psychiatry
Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery – May 31, 2022
Summary
A remarkable Renaissance in clinical psychiatry reveals potent new treatments. Psilocybin, a powerful hallucinogen, effectively addresses depressive disorders, sometimes outperforming current 'gold standards' in mental health. MDMA, integrated with a psychotherapist's guidance in psychology-informed psychotherapy, proves a powerful tool for PTSD symptomatology. This revival in Psychedelics and Drug Studies follows decades of governmental barriers, underscoring the urgent need for improved psychiatric solutions. The potential for transforming mental well-being is significant.
Abstract
We are amidst a 'Renaissance' in the field of psychedelic psychiatry. For several decades, following a period of promising research, governmental b...
Psychedelics for Psychiatric Disorders: Promise, Not Panacea
Psychiatric Annals – September 01, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, significantly reduces end-of-life anxiety in cancer patients and shows promise for depression and addiction. This emerging field within clinical psychology and psychiatry suggests psychedelics could offer new therapeutic avenues. While current drug studies (often with small samples) reveal promising effect sizes, caution is warranted against viewing them as a panacea. Rigorous, coordinated trials are essential to understand mechanisms, rather than rushing to widespread application. Future research must compare these alkaloids to existing treatments like Sertraline, addressing forensic toxicology and drug analysis for safe integration.
Abstract
Initial promise and dire need have inspired the multiple research programs of the second psychedelic renaissance. Serotonergic psychedelics (psiloc...
Richard Alpert (Ram Dass): Harvard psychologist who experimented with psychedelic drugs and became one of America’s most prominent and respected spiritual leaders
BMJ – January 31, 2020
Summary
Nothing in Richard Alpert's early life, despite his psychology doctorate, predicted his iconic path. At Harvard, he joined Timothy Leary's drug studies, exploring psilocybin's clinical potential. Alpert's own 10 mg psilocybin experience profoundly questioned consciousness, a realm also explored by psychology and even psychoanalysis. He then collaborated, giving psilocybin and LSD to diverse groups, including students and prisoners, defining 1960s psychedelics and drug studies. Credit: Dassima Kathleen Murphy
Abstract
Credit: Dassima Kathleen Murphy Nothing in Richard Alpert’s early life could have predicted that he would come to embody the spirit of the psychede...