4971 results for "Psychedelics"
Psychedelics in the treatment of eating disorders: Rationale and potential mechanisms
European Neuropsychopharmacology – June 21, 2023
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted therapy offers compelling promise for severe Eating disorders like Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa. Preliminary data, from various studies and case reports, suggests potential in Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology for improving body image and cognitive flexibility. These novel Psychedelics and Drug Studies address common Comorbidity with Mood disorders and Anxiety. While data on Binge-eating disorder and Binge eating remains limited, mechanisms influencing Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior offer new avenues. Psychotherapists in Medicine are exploring these treatments for challenging conditions.
Abstract
Eating disorders are serious illnesses showing high rates of mortality and comorbidity with other mental health problems. Psychedelic-assisted ther...
Validation of the Swiss Psychedelic Side Effects Inventory: Standardized assessment of adverse effects in studies of psychedelics and MDMA
OpenAlex – June 07, 2024
Summary
A critical advancement in clinical psychology now ensures safer psychedelic-assisted therapy. A new tool, the Swiss Psychedelic Side Effects Inventory, systematically tracks adverse effects from hallucinogens like MDMA and psilocybin, crucial for drug studies. Pilot-tested with 145 participants, it captures 32 distinct side effects, their severity, and duration. This improves understanding of these chemical synthesis products, vital for patient safety and informed consent. Careful forensic toxicology and drug analysis are essential to optimize therapeutic contexts.
Abstract
Introduction: Studies of psychedelic-assisted therapy with LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, and related substances show clinical promise but inadequately ass...
Jung, the Rebirth Motif and Psychedelics I: Documenting Jung's Contact with the British Pioneers.
The Journal of analytical psychology – September 01, 2024
Summary
Despite his skepticism, Carl Jung's fascination with psychedelics led to meaningful exchanges with pioneers like Aldous Huxley and Humphry Osmond. British psychiatrist Ronald Sandison, alongside colleague Margot Cutner, developed groundbreaking LSD therapy protocols incorporating Jungian principles. Their work in the 1950s revealed profound connections between psychedelic experiences and spiritual rebirth themes, bridging ancient wisdom with modern psychiatry.
Abstract
C. G. Jung wrote very little about psychedelic drugs and he took a sceptical view of them. However, he was sufficiently impressed by Aldous Huxley'...
Oscillatory Components of Psychedelic Experience
Journal of Humanistic Psychology – July 01, 2024
Summary
Neuroscientific studies reveal that the profound healing and inner restructuring from psychedelic experiences are deeply tied to brain rhythms. These transformative states intensify as brain oscillations peak, fully emerging when activity exceeds normal ranges. Interestingly, even experientially opposite states show similar brain activity, suggesting a deeper source for conscious content. This dynamic interplay offers significant therapeutic potential.
Abstract
As humanity has been utilizing psychedelic substances for millennia, much knowledge has already been accumulated about the exploratory potential an...
With great power comes great vulnerability: an ethical analysis of psychedelics’ therapeutic mechanisms proposed by the REBUS hypothesis
Journal of Medical Ethics – April 12, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics can make rigid beliefs flexible, offering new therapeutic avenues. This happens by increasing openness to new information, making individuals highly suggestible and sensitive to their environment. While this mechanism shows promise for healing, it also creates significant vulnerability, as patients become dependent on the therapeutic setting. Fully informing patients about this suggestibility and implementing strong safeguards are vital for ethical treatment.
Abstract
Psychedelics are experiencing a renaissance in mental healthcare. In recent years, more and more early phase trials on psychedelic-assisted therapy...
Psychedelic medicine at a crossroads: Advancing an integrative approach to research and practice.
Transcultural psychiatry – October 01, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, and ketamine are sparking a revolution in mental health treatment. When combined with psychotherapy, these consciousness-altering medicines show remarkable success in treating depression, anxiety, and addiction. The key finding: context and culture matter deeply. Traditional healing practices, modern clinical settings, and skilled therapists create a framework that enhances therapeutic benefits while ensuring safety.
Abstract
Psychedelics have been already used by human societies for more than 3000 years, mostly in religious and healing context. The renewed interest in t...
Commentary: A framework for assessment of adverse events in psychedelic research.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – May 01, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic therapy research faces a unique challenge: how do we accurately track both positive outcomes and potential adverse events? A new framework proposes systematic assessment methods that account for the complex psychological, spiritual, and emotional effects of psychedelics. By reducing bias and standardizing reporting protocols, this approach helps ensure participant safety while maintaining scientific rigor in clinical settings.
Abstract
Recent discussions about the methodological rigor of psychedelic clinical trials have focused on potential underreporting or misreporting of advers...
Rapid and sustained reduction of treatment-resistant PTSD symptoms after intravenous ketamine in a real-world, psychedelic paradigm.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – January 01, 2025
Summary
Ketamine therapy delivered in a supportive, psychedelic-inspired setting shows remarkable promise for treating severe PTSD. In a groundbreaking approach, patients received ketamine infusions combined with preparation, intention-setting, and integration sessions. Using music and eye shades during treatment, 75% of participants saw significant improvement, with 61% achieving PTSD remission. This innovative blend of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy offers new hope for those struggling with treatment-resistant trauma.
Abstract
Traditional treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often show limited success with high dropout. Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate an...
Psychedelic Therapist Sexual Misconduct and Other Adverse Experiences Among a Sample of Naturalistic Psychedelic Users.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.) – March 01, 2025
Summary
Sexual misconduct by psychedelic guides affects 8% of users or their acquaintances, revealing concerning safety gaps in underground therapy. A survey of 1,200+ psychedelic users found that while most experiences were positive, many reported adverse experiences like fear (74%) and sadness (59%). The findings highlight the need for stronger harm reduction practices and ethical guidelines to prevent inappropriate sexual contact and other risks during psychedelic sessions.
Abstract
Psychedelic substances have been used for centuries in various cultural and religious contexts, and more recently, in clinical research and therapy...
Co-use of psychedelics with other substances: Findings from the global psychedelic survey.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – May 01, 2025
Summary
A groundbreaking international survey reveals that over half of psychedelic users combine these substances with others, particularly cannabis and alcohol. Analysis of 5,370 participants showed co-use varies significantly by substance type - from 15% with ayahuasca to 55% with nitrous oxide. People using psychedelics for recreation were more likely to combine substances, while those focused on personal growth or therapy typically avoided co-use. These findings inform targeted harm reduction strategies.
Abstract
While most psychedelic substances are considered to carry a relatively low risk of acute or long-term harm, co-use with other psychoactive substanc...
A Systematic Review of Reporting Practices in Psychedelic Clinical Trials: Psychological Support, Therapy, and Psychosocial Interventions.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.) – December 01, 2023
Summary
Despite promising results in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), a striking 82% of clinical trials fail to verify if treatments were delivered as intended. Current reporting practices in psychedelic research often omit crucial details about psychosocial interventions, including session duration, therapist qualifications, and treatment protocols. This gap affects treatment standardization and makes it harder to replicate successful outcomes across different settings.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapy has gained significant attention in recent years. However, there is a lack of empirical clarity on the role of psychos...
IUPHAR-review: The integration of classic psychedelics into current substance use disorder treatment models.
Pharmacological research – January 01, 2024
Summary
Groundbreaking developments in addiction treatment show that psychedelics, including psilocybin, can complement existing therapies for Substance Use Disorder. When integrated with Medication Assisted Treatment and traditional approaches, psychedelic-assisted therapy offers promising outcomes for recovery. Studies indicate these treatments can enhance mindfulness, reduce cravings, and improve emotional processing.
Abstract
Substance use disorders (SUDs) have an enormous impact on public health. With classic psychedelic-assisted therapies showing initial promise in tre...
An Assessment of Psychedelic Knowledge Among People Using Psychedelics Naturalistically.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2023
Summary
People who use psychedelics like LSD, DMT, and psilocybin tend to be well-informed about these substances. A survey of 1,435 users revealed high levels of knowledge about therapeutic uses, legal status, and safety. Frequent users and those with higher education showed the strongest understanding, though knowledge gaps exist in underserved communities. This highlights the success of existing psychedelic education efforts.
Abstract
Identifying gaps and strengths in psychedelic-related knowledge is key to developing effective, evidence-based education to inform appropriate use ...
Psychedelic Trips: Travel Within the United States to Use Psychedelic Drugs After Legalization.
Annals of emergency medicine – June 30, 2025
Summary
Nearly one-third of psychedelic drug users travel out-of-state, highlighting a new facet of drug tourism. A recent national survey found many sought to treat medical or mental health symptoms, often in healing centers or ceremonial sites. This evolving health policy landscape shows a significant trend in psychedelic use, though some adverse events were noted, emphasizing the need for awareness.
Abstract
Oregon and Colorado have legalized possession of natural psychedelic drugs. We assessed if travel to use psychedelics in decriminalized states is o...
Psychedelics and chronic pain: self-reported outcomes on changed substance use patterns and health following naturalistic psychedelic use
British Journal of Pain – February 11, 2025
Summary
Among 466 adults with chronic pain, 86.3% reported decreasing or ceasing non-psychedelic substance use after self-treating with psychedelics. This included significant reductions in alcohol (71.1%) and prescription opioids (64.1%). While some increased illicit opioids or cannabis, 21.2% maintained reduced substance use for over 26 weeks. These findings in Psychiatry and Drug Studies suggest psychedelics offer novel potential in Medicine for chronic pain and substance use, necessitating rigorous Biochemical Analysis and Forensic Toxicology with advanced sensing techniques.
Abstract
Psychedelic substances have shown preliminary efficacy for several neuropsychiatric disorders and are currently being investigated for chronic pain...
Psychedelics for Psychiatric Disorders: More Research Needed
Psychiatric News – April 13, 2020
Summary
Breakthrough status from the FDA highlights the medical potential of psychedelics like psilocybin for depression and MDMA for PTSD. These hallucinogens, including Lysergic acid diethylamide and Ayahuasca, are transforming Psychiatry and Psychology. Placebo-controlled trials show psilocybin's efficacy for depression and MDMA's for PTSD. However, Drug Studies on these four agents are hampered by Schedule I classification and limited federal funding, despite strong evidence suggesting their role in future Medicine. Standardized protocols are crucial for advancing this promising field.
Abstract
Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Clinical & ResearchFull AccessPsychedelics for Psychiatric Disorders: More Research NeededN...
A Systematic Review of Reporting Practices in Psychedelic Clinical Trials: Psychological Support, Therapy, and Psychosocial Interventions
OpenAlex – July 18, 2023
Summary
A systematic review of 33 psychedelic clinical trials revealed significant underreporting of crucial psychosocial interventions, impacting treatment outcomes in Psychiatry and Clinical psychology. For example, 82% of trials did not assess treatment fidelity. Drawing from MEDLINE and PsycINFO, the systematic review used a Checklist based on Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials to examine reporting of psychological intervention by psychotherapists, including those administering psilocybin. Such reporting gaps hinder standardization in Medicine and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, crucial for Mental Health Research Topics.
Abstract
Background: Psychedelic-assisted therapy has gained significant attention in recent years. However, there is a lack of empirical clarity on the rol...
Attitudes Toward Psychedelic Treatments by Individuals With Histories of Substance Use or Psychiatric Disorders: A Survey Study.
Journal of addiction medicine – May 28, 2025
Summary
Patient perceptions of psychedelic-assisted treatment are shifting dramatically, with 72% of individuals with substance use disorder or psychiatric disorders believing in their therapeutic potential. A comprehensive survey revealed that among 192 participants, two-thirds had prior psychedelic experience. Those with firsthand experience using substances like psilocybin or MDMA showed significantly higher openness to trying psychedelic therapy. While some participants expressed concerns about risks, nearly 70% would consider this treatment for their own conditions.
Abstract
Psychedelics may be promising treatments for substance use disorders (SUD). This study aims to understand how individuals with alcohol use disorder...
Validation of the Swiss Psychedelic Side Effects Inventory: Standardized assessment of adverse effects in studies of psychedelics and MDMA.
Journal of affective disorders – November 15, 2024
Summary
A groundbreaking tool now helps track side effects of psychedelics and MDMA in therapy settings. The Swiss Psychedelic Side Effects Inventory (SPSI) standardizes how adverse effects are monitored, measuring their severity, duration, and impact. Tested with 145 participants, this 32-item assessment enhances patient safety and improves clinical decision-making in psychedelic medicine.
Abstract
Studies of psychedelic-assisted therapy with LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, and related substances show clinical promise but inadequately assess side effec...
Case analysis of long-term negative psychological responses to psychedelics
Scientific Reports – September 25, 2023
Summary
A compelling finding reveals 33% of individuals developed new psychiatric diagnoses after psychedelic use, with 93% experiencing worsening anxiety. This qualitative research in Clinical Psychology, focusing on negative psychological responses lasting over 72 hours, utilized thematic analysis of 15 in-depth interviews. Salient factors identified included unsafe environments, prior psychological vulnerabilities, and high drug quantities. This work, relevant to Psychedelics and Drug Studies, highlights how chemical synthesis and alkaloids can profoundly influence behavior, urging a nuanced Social Psychology perspective on risk, even as potential benefits are explored within Psychology.
Abstract
Abstract Recent controversies have arisen regarding claims of uncritical positive regard and hype surrounding psychedelic drugs and their therapeut...
Focusing on the negative: cases of long-term negative psychological responses to psychedelics
OpenAlex – April 12, 2023
Summary
Negative psychological responses to psychedelics are a genuine concern. A Psychology investigation into adverse outcomes lasting over 72 hours gathered data from 32 individuals, revealing 37.5% developed a new psychiatric diagnosis post-use, and 87% experienced worsened anxiety. Further Social psychology interviews with 15 individuals, analyzed via Thematic analysis, showed 33% received new diagnoses, with 93% reporting anxiety symptoms. Factors like unsafe environments, prior vulnerabilities, and high doses contribute to these Clinical psychology challenges in Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Background: Recent controversies have arisen regarding claims of uncritical positive regard and hype surrounding psychedelic drugs and their therap...
Fire Kasina advanced meditation produces experiences comparable to psychedelic and near-death experiences: A pilot study.
Explore (New York, N.Y.) – January 01, 2024
Summary
Advanced meditation techniques can produce profound mystical experiences comparable to those induced by high-dose psychedelics. In this groundbreaking investigation, experienced meditators underwent intensive Fire Kasina practice, achieving altered states of consciousness that matched or exceeded the intensity of psilocybin-induced experiences. Participants reported deep spiritual transformation and positive mental health impacts, suggesting meditation could offer a natural pathway to transformative mystical states.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapy studies suggest that the induction of "mystical experiences" combined with psycho-therapy is a possible intervention f...
Do Psychedelics Facilitate Emergence of Unconscious Psychological Processes?
Psychodynamic psychiatry – September 01, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Psychedelic substances have a long history of use in traditional healing and religious ceremonies worldwide and are increasingly being investigated...
The ego in psychedelic drug action – ego defenses, ego boundaries, and the therapeutic role of regression
Frontiers in Neuroscience – October 06, 2023
Summary
The ego, a central psychological construct in psychodynamics and psychotherapy, remains ambiguously conceptualized in psychedelic research. Clarifying this, a review details the ego's three major functions—boundaries, defenses, and synthesis—and its role in psychedelic drug action. Psychedelics, explored in drug studies, can induce regressed ego states, allowing early life conflicts and maladaptive patterns to emerge. This facilitates lasting change in habitual ego patterns, crucial for effective psychotherapy techniques and applications. The psycholytic approach aims to integrate these foundational experiences, compatible with cognitive psychology's behavioral therapies, fostering greater ego flexibility.
Abstract
The ego is one of the most central psychological constructs in psychedelic research and a key factor in psychotherapy, including psychedelic-assist...
Commentary: The entropic brain: a theory of conscious states informed by neuroimaging research with psychedelic drugs
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience – August 30, 2016
Summary
The compelling idea that psychedelic states elevate consciousness by making brain activity "more random and harder to predict" is central to Neuroscience. This "entropic brain hypothesis," explored through Functional neuroimaging in Cognitive psychology, posits that psychedelic states show elevated entropy and criticality, unlike normal, subcritical wakeful consciousness. However, Cognitive science questions if entropy is the sole indicator of consciousness quality. It also scrutinizes whether psychedelic-induced brain activity is genuinely critical, challenging current understanding in Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
The “entropic brain hypothesis” holds that the quality of conscious states depends on the system’s \nentropy (Carhart-Harris et al., 2014). Bra...
Challenges with clinical trial participants in studies with classical psychedelics: A position statement from the National Network of Depression Centers' task group on psychedelics and related compounds.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – February 05, 2026
Summary
Psilocybin and other psychedelics show significant promise for treating challenging mental health conditions like depression and mood disorders, offering hope for treatment resistance. However, advancing these therapies responsibly faces unique hurdles. Clinical trials must navigate issues like participants not responding to treatment, strong expectancy effects, and potential post-session psychological difficulties. Developing sophisticated strategies to manage these complexities is crucial to responsibly integrate psychedelics into psychiatric practice. Organizations are vital in guiding best practices for this emerging field.
Abstract
Classical psychedelics-a broad class of compounds that include psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, dimethyltryptamine, and mescaline-have shown...
Scoping Review of Experiential Measures from Psychedelic Research and Clinical Trials.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2023
Summary
Mystical experiences and feelings of boundlessness during psychedelic sessions strongly predict positive therapeutic outcomes. Analysis of multiple assessment tools reveals that subjective reactions to substances like psilocybin correlate with improvements in depression, anxiety, and addiction. While challenging experiences can be valuable, the depth of mystical experiences during psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy appears most crucial for healing.
Abstract
Subjective responses to psychoactive drugs have served as intriguing windows into consciousness as well as useful predictors. Subjective reactions ...
The Montreal model: an integrative biomedical-psychedelic approach to ketamine for severe treatment-resistant depression
Frontiers in Psychiatry – September 19, 2023
Summary
Ketamine offers rapid antidepressant effects for severe Treatment of Major Depression, a challenging brain disorder. The Montreal model, a comprehensive biopsychosocial approach refined over 6 years in public Psychiatry, integrates Ketamine infusions with holistic care. This model, relevant to Clinical psychology and Medicine, combines structured psychiatric support and ongoing psychotherapy with six Ketamine infusions. Drawing on Psychedelics and Drug Studies, a psychotherapist guides psychedelic-inspired psychological adjuncts, fostering growth and optimizing Ketamine's therapeutic potential for enhanced psychological care.
Abstract
Background Subanesthetic ketamine has accumulated meta-analytic evidence for rapid antidepressant effects in treatment-resistant depression (TRD), ...
A Psilocybin Experience Gone Wrong: The Importance of Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – January 07, 2025
Summary
A single patient's adverse psilocybin experience, a powerful hallucinogen, without a guiding psychotherapist resulted in inpatient psychiatry admission. This case, pivotal for Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, emphasizes the necessity of controlled settings. It highlights how experiential learning for prescribers, encompassing knowledge of chemical synthesis and alkaloids, is crucial. Such findings contribute to diverse academic research themes debating whether therapeutic support should be mandatory, especially as psilocybin nears FDA approval.
Abstract
As psilocybin awaits approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), scholars debate whether psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy should be requi...
The promises and perils of psychedelic pharmacology for psychiatry
UNC Libraries – June 12, 2024
Summary
Psychedelic compounds like psilocybin, DMT, and LSD are revolutionizing medicine, with psilocybin notably demonstrating significant clinical effects in phase II trials for depression and anxiety after just one or two administrations. This rapid therapeutic potential has ignited a 'gold rush,' with nearly 60 companies now exploring psychedelics for various psychological conditions. Understanding the precise pharmacology of how these drugs interact with brain receptors, like 5-HT2A, is paramount. The aim in clinical pharmacology is to develop next-generation psychedelic-inspired medications, enhancing efficacy for mental health without hallucinogenic actions.
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs including psilocybin, N,Nʹ-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) are undergoing a renaissance as potentia...
Post-traumatic stress disorder in psychedelic research.
International review of neurobiology – January 01, 2025
Summary
Remarkably, psychedelic-assisted therapy is showing profound promise for individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) who haven't responded to traditional trauma-focused therapy. Research highlights MDMA-assisted psychotherapy as particularly effective, demonstrating substantial, sustained reductions in PTSD symptoms. This approach, also exploring psilocybin and ketamine, appears to enhance traumatic memory processing through specific neurobiological mechanisms. Positive results suggest MDMA-assisted therapy offers a powerful new avenue for healing.
Abstract
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a severe psychiatric condition that develops after exposure to trauma such as combat, natural disasters, o...
Psychedelics as a Training Experience for Psychedelic Therapists: Drawing on History to Inform Current Practice
Journal of Humanistic Psychology – June 23, 2021
Summary
To effectively guide patients, psychotherapists administering psilocybin-assisted therapy may benefit from experiencing this hallucinogen. Current medical education in applied psychology lacks such direct exposure. Archival data from the Spring Grove LSD Training Study (1969-1974) offers vital insights. That pioneering training allowed psychotherapists to explore nonordinary states of consciousness using a variety of compounds. This historical precedent, crucial for understanding psilocybin—an alkaloid central to diverse academic research themes in psychedelics and drug studies—informs preparing hundreds of new therapists.
Abstract
The therapeutic use of psilocybin in psychedelic-assisted therapy models is currently being tested for a variety of indications, necessitating the ...
Investing in Group Psychedelic Therapy for Latinx Immigrants.
Journal of immigrant and minority health – June 09, 2025
Summary
Groundbreaking research shows psychedelic-assisted therapy can significantly improve mental health outcomes for Latinx immigrants when delivered in culturally-adapted group settings. This innovative approach combines traditional healing practices with modern psychedelic therapy, helping participants process trauma while building community support. Results show reduced depression and PTSD symptoms, plus improved social connection.
Abstract
Despite increasing interest in psychedelic-assisted therapies (PAT), there remains a critical gap in extending these treatments to marginalized and...
Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration: A Transtheoretical Model for Clinical Practice
Frontiers in Psychology – March 15, 2021
Summary
A significant shift in mental health care embraces Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration (PHRI), a transtheoretical model for psychotherapists. Moving beyond abstinence-based addiction paradigms, PHRI offers compassionate, destigmatizing support for individuals using psychedelics. This psychology-informed approach is crucial given their growing mainstream presence and unique historical context. It helps reduce potential harm by addressing diverse motivations and experiences, rather than solely focusing on negative outcomes in drug studies.
Abstract
Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration (PHRI) is a transtheoretical and transdiagnostic clinical approach to working with patients who are usin...
Making psychedelics into medicines: The politics and paradoxes of medicalization
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – July 30, 2019
Summary
The "medicalization" of psychedelics, while promising, faces critical challenges. Ethnographic research since 2014 reveals how political and economic contexts can undermine therapeutic safety and efficacy. The high cost of gaining approval for these drug studies incentivizes diluted treatments, potentially hindering broader decriminalization and legalization efforts. This shift also risks re-framing traditional use as "abuse," a concern for sociology and criminology. Understanding these dynamics is vital for future public policy and psychological well-being, influencing societal behavior.
Abstract
This commentary considers efforts to turn psychedelics into medications that can be administered through healthcare systems as examples of “medical...
Global bioethical challenges of medicalising psychedelics
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – September 17, 2021
Summary
Despite promising preliminary results for mental health, the re-medicalization of psychedelics presents significant bioethics challenges. A normative analysis, informed by engineering ethics and sociology, warns against reductionism. It suggests that reducing the complex psychological experiences induced by psychedelics, including those from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, to mere therapeutic tools risks exploiting ecological sources and traditional knowledge. This epistemological shift could diminish their efficacy and appropriate practices from Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, impacting the future of Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is an emerging psychiatric treatment that is attracting significant scientific, medical, and public att...
Knowledge, Perceptions, and Use of Psychedelics among Individuals with Fibromyalgia
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – January 10, 2022
Summary
Among a population with Fibromyalgia, 11 of 12 individuals using hallucinogens like psilocybin or Lysergic acid diethylamide specifically for chronic pain reported improved symptoms. A survey of 354 North American adults revealed 29.9% had used a psychedelic, with 36.8% perceiving positive effects on their health. This suggests potential for psychedelics in clinical psychology and medicine, aligning with interest in complementary and alternative medicine for Fibromyalgia. Perception of these substances for pain management warrants further psychiatry and drug studies.
Abstract
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a difficult to treat chronic pain condition for which there is strong interest in alternative treatments. There is growing int...
The Role of Psychedelics and Counseling in Mental Health Treatment
Journal of Mental Health Counseling – October 01, 2020
Summary
After centuries of global use and decades of restriction (1950s-1970s), psychedelic-assisted therapy is transforming psychiatry. Compounds like psilocybin, an alkaloid influencing neurotransmitter receptors, are now central to clinical psychology studies. These studies reveal significant reductions in depression and suicidal ideation for treatment-resistant individuals. This medicine offers renewed hope for complex mental health and addiction issues, including substance abuse. Effective therapy requires a psychotherapist's guidance, emphasizing psychology's critical role in these hallucinogen-based drug studies.
Abstract
Psychedelics (i.e., ketamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine, psilocybin) have been effectively used globally for centuries to treat mental health a...
Ayahuasca Treatment Outcome Project (ATOP): One-Year Results from Takiwasi Center and Implications for Psychedelic Science.
Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs – September 01, 2024
Summary
A unique Peruvian treatment center combining ayahuasca ceremonies with traditional therapy shows promising results for addiction recovery. After one year, participants demonstrated significant improvements in substance use, anxiety, depression, and quality of life. Most patients rated the spiritual aspects of ayahuasca experiences as highly meaningful in their healing journey.
Abstract
This article focuses on the outcomes at 1 year post-treatment of a naturalistic evaluation of services provided through the Takiwasi Centre, an acc...
Efficacy and Safety of Psychedelics in Mental Disorder Cases: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials
Journal of Clinical Medicine – December 29, 2025
Summary
MDMA dramatically reduces PTSD symptoms, showing a Hedges’ g of 1.24, often after only 2–3 sessions. Psilocybin similarly offers a large effect (Hedges’ g ≈ 1.05) for major depressive disorder, with benefits sustained for six months. This umbrella review, synthesizing 23 meta-analyses from clinical psychology, highlights the potential of these hallucinogens in Medicine and Psychiatry. LSD also showed short-term benefits for alcohol use disorder. While adverse effects were mild, rigorous randomized controlled trials are crucial to confirm long-term safety and efficacy for these promising psychedelics.
Abstract
Background: Psychedelic-assisted therapy is gaining renewed attention as a potential treatment for various mental disorders. Despite increasing num...
Psychedelics and neonihilism: connectedness in a meaningless world
Frontiers in Psychology – August 09, 2023
Summary
A compelling finding suggests psychedelics, often derived from complex alkaloids, can address a modern "meaning and alienation crisis" driving rising anxiety and depression. This crisis, termed neonihilism, highlights a profound lack of social connectedness. Integrating insights from Psychology and Social psychology, a novel approach combines these substances with group therapy. This aims to foster enhanced social connectedness and cognitive shifts, moving beyond mystical experiences. This strategy offers a structured path toward alleviating meaninglessness and improving mental well-being, leveraging the unique properties of these compounds.
Abstract
The resurgence of psychedelic research explicitly targets treating mental health conditions largely through psychedelics-assisted psychotherapy. Cu...
Quality of reporting on psychological interventions in psychedelic treatments: a systematic review.
The lancet. Psychiatry – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic therapy is gaining momentum in mental health treatment, but how therapists work with patients during these sessions varies widely. A comprehensive analysis of 45 studies revealed significant inconsistencies in how psychological support is provided alongside substances like psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD. MDMA therapy showed the most standardized approach, while other treatments lacked detailed protocols. Better documentation of therapy methods is crucial for safe, effective implementation.
Abstract
Although studies of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy are accumulating, there is no consensus regarding best practice of the psychotherapeutic com...
Translating Psychedelic Therapies From Clinical Trials to Community Clinics: Building Bridges and Addressing Potential Challenges Ahead
Frontiers in Psychiatry – November 04, 2021
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted therapies are flourishing, showing early promise for mental illnesses after decades of halted clinical trials. To ensure continued progress in this emerging field of medicine, a multidisciplinary approach is crucial. Australian experts identified five broad challenges, from inherent risks to problematic public relations and divisive relationships. Strategic planning and professional cohesion are vital. They recommend a multidisciplinary advisory body to guide policy, ensuring equitable access and best practice. Such strategic political planning is vital to keep the 'psychedelic renaissance' on track globally.
Abstract
Research exploring the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapies to treat a range of mental illnesses is flourishing, after the problematic socio...
IS PSYCHEDELIC TREATMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS READY FOR PRIME TIME?
Journal of Pakistan Psychiatric Society – June 30, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics like Psilocybin and MDMA are transforming Psychiatry, offering hope for millions with mental health challenges. These powerful hallucinogens, including Lysergic acid diethylamide (used clinically from the 1950s-1967) and Ayahuasca, influence neurotransmitter receptors, altering consciousness. Clinical psychology and drug studies reveal their potential to disrupt pathological brain activity, promoting neuroplasticity. Psychotherapist-guided sessions, leveraging these chemical synthesis alkaloids, address anxiety and other conditions. This burgeoning field of Psychology suggests a new era for mental health treatment.
Abstract
Psychedelics, substances known to alter perception, mood, and consciousness, have been used across various cultures for centuries, often in religio...
A systematic review of income and education reporting in psychedelic clinical trials
Nature Mental Health – May 01, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic therapy trials often lack diverse participants. A review of 98 studies found only 12% reported participant income, and 31% reported educational attainment. US trials notably included individuals with significantly higher education and income than the general population. This highlights a critical need for standardized reporting and strategies to boost socioeconomic diversity, ensuring these emerging mental health treatments are broadly accessible and effective for all.
Abstract
Socioeconomic status (SES) substantially influences mental health outcomes and treatment access, yet its reporting in psychedelic-assisted therapy ...
551. PSYCHEDELICS AND OCD: TRANSLATIONAL APPROACHES
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – August 01, 2025
Summary
A compelling Neuroscience discovery reveals a single dose of a novel, non-hallucinogenic chemical entity, derived from psychedelics, could alleviate obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms for over 21 days. This builds on prior Drug Studies where psilocybin showed promise in 9 OCD patients. Preclinical Psychology models demonstrated the new compound's efficacy, alongside psilocybin and psychedelic mushroom extract, which showed slightly greater therapeutic effect. These Chemical Reactions at brain receptors offer hope for the over a third of OCD patients unresponsive to current treatments, potentially without psychedelic effects.
Abstract
Abstract Background Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with significant personal suffering and functional impairment. At least a thi...
Insights on psychedelics: A systematic review of therapeutic effects.
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews – June 01, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Insight - a sudden change in understanding or perspective that feels true or reliable - is a common occurrence during psychedelic experiences, and ...
Perspectives and preliminary experiences of psychedelics for the treatment of eating disorders: A systematic scoping review.
European eating disorders review : the journal of the Eating Disorders Association – September 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Research regarding the therapeutic application of psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of eating disorders (EDs) ha...
Psychedelics alter metaphysical beliefs.
Scientific reports – November 23, 2021
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Can the use of psychedelic drugs induce lasting changes in metaphysical beliefs? While it is popularly believed that they can, this question has ne...
The compulsive eating paradigm: can psychedelics help in treating obesity?
Journal of eating disorders – April 07, 2025
Summary
Compulsive eating shares striking similarities with addiction, as both can rewire brain reward circuits. Recent findings reveal that psychedelics like psilocybin may help reset these neural patterns, potentially offering a new approach for treating obesity linked to compulsive eating. By creating periods of increased mental flexibility, these substances could help people develop healthier relationships with food when combined with therapy.
Abstract
Obesity is a multifactorial disorder involving a behavioural aetiology in subsets of patients that traditional therapeutic approaches have failed t...
Opioid Receptors in Psychedelia: Indirect Serotonergic Modulation of Direct KOR Activation by Salvinorin A
Biomedicines – February 21, 2026
Summary
Salvinorin A, a potent compound from *Salvia divinorum*, uniquely activates the kappa opioid receptor (KOR), diverging from traditional serotonergic models. In studies involving over 100 human neuroimaging trials and various animal models, KOR activation was linked to significant alterations in consciousness and brain network fragmentation. Unlike classical psychedelics, salvinorin A's effects include rapid receptor desensitization and low abuse potential due to aversive experiences. This insight into the endogenous opioid system opens new avenues for treating conditions like addiction and chronic pain, highlighting diverse neurochemical pathways in psychedelics.
Abstract
The neuropharmacology of psychedelics has traditionally focused on serotonergic mechanisms, particularly 5-HT2A receptor activation. However, this ...
Geschichte der Anwendung von Psychedelika
Nervenheilkunde – June 01, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics, substances with a history spanning millennia, are experiencing a profound resurgence in scientific and medical interest. After early pharmacological inquiry and clinical use for psychotherapy (1950s-60s), prohibition in the 1970s curtailed research. Yet, since the 2000s, new clinical studies, particularly involving psilocybin for depression, have surged. This re-evaluation, bridging humanities and political science, prompts broad philosophical and societal discussions. It highlights the complex interplay of chemical synthesis, art, and drug studies, exploring their potential integration into psychiatry and complementary medicine.
Abstract
ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Die menschliche Nutzung heute als psychedelisch bezeichneter Substanzen erfolgt bereits seit Jahrtausenden. Die wissenschaftliche U...
Therapeutic use of classic psychedelics to treat cancer-related psychiatric distress
International Review of Psychiatry – July 04, 2018
Summary
Psilocybin, a powerful hallucinogen, shows remarkable potential in psychiatry, offering rapid and sustained relief from cancer-related distress. A review of 10 clinical trials, involving 445 participants mostly with advanced cancer, highlights this. Early open-label studies (341 participants) suggested improvements in depression and anxiety. More recent clinical trials (104 participants, primarily with psilocybin) confirm these benefits, demonstrating its promise as a medicine to alleviate profound psychological distress in cancer patients. This alkaloid's impact on neurotransmitter receptors is a key area for clinical psychology and drug studies.
Abstract
Cancer is highly prevalent and one of the leading causes of global morbidity and mortality. Psychological and existential suffering is common in ca...
Exploring the role of psychedelic experiences on wellbeing and symptoms of disordered eating
Psychoactives – March 04, 2025
Summary
Many individuals with chronic eating disorders who used psychedelics reported unanimous, long-lasting symptom reduction, with two even attributing full recovery to these experiences. Interviews revealed how psychedelics can act as a 'gateway to healing,' fostering profound mental and emotional transformation. This suggests significant potential for psychedelic-assisted therapy in treating eating disorders.
Abstract
Accumulating psychedelic research has demonstrated a potential for improving mental health and wellbeing, yet studies in the context of eating diso...
The Potential Role of Psychedelic Drugs in Mental Health Care of the Future
Pharmacopsychiatry – May 12, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) are revolutionizing mental health treatment, offering new hope in psychiatry. These powerful hallucinogens, including MDMA, demand redefined psychological intervention. Successful integration into medicine requires careful psychopharmacology, focusing on precise dosing and comprehensive psychotherapist support. Six crucial areas, from patient screening to psychological integration, must be addressed. This contextualization of chemical synthesis and alkaloids' influence on neurotransmitter receptors is vital for future Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, ensuring safe, effective care.
Abstract
Abstract Serotonergic psychedelics such as psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), or dimethyltryptamine (DMT), as well as psychoactive drugs...
Break on Through: Betty Eisner's Problematic Use of Psychedelics, Groups, and Control for Integrative Experiences.
Journal of the history of the behavioral sciences – April 01, 2025
Summary
Betty Eisner pioneered psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy in the 1950s, combining LSD sessions with group therapy to create transformative healing experiences. However, her controversial methods and growing focus on control over participants ultimately highlighted important ethical boundaries in therapeutic practice. Her work shaped both the rise and fall of early psychedelic therapy's social matrix approach.
Abstract
Betty Eisner represents a prominent figure in the "golden age" of psychedelics research, as well as a cautionary tale about questionable therapeuti...
Mystical experiences without mysticism: An argument for mystical fictionalism in psychedelics
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – June 08, 2022
Summary
Profound mystical experiences frequently precede significant reductions in suffering, a compelling finding in Psychology and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies. Yet, for empiricists, acknowledging "mystical experiences" presents an epistemological challenge, implying a genuine mystical reality. This philosophical argument hinders complex analysis in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, particularly concerning chemical synthesis and alkaloids. Philosophical fictionalism, drawing on logic and linguistics, allows analysis of these experiences as "true" without asserting their veridicality. This refines our understanding, improving psychedelic-assisted treatments and fostering scientific humility.
Abstract
Abstract Mystical experiences frequently precede decreases in human suffering or increased functioning. Therapies that include the ingestion of psy...
Group psychedelic therapy: empirical estimates of cost-savings and improved access
Frontiers in Psychiatry – December 06, 2023
Summary
Group psychotherapy for Major depressive disorder and PTSD could save billions in healthcare costs. Comparing MDMA and psilocybin protocols, group sessions reduced clinician costs by 50.9% for MDMA-assisted therapy ($3,467 per patient) and 34.7% for psilocybin-assisted therapy ($981 per patient). This approach in Psychiatry could save $10.3 billion for PTSD and $2.0 billion for Major depressive disorder over a decade, requiring thousands fewer clinicians. Psychedelics as Medicine become more accessible, transforming Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies.
Abstract
Objective To compare group and individual psychedelic-assisted therapy in terms of clinician time, costs and patient access. Methods Using 2023 dat...
Therapeutic setting as an essential component of psychedelic research methodology: Reporting recommendations emerging from clinical trials of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine for post-traumatic stress disorder
Frontiers in Psychiatry – November 03, 2022
Summary
The therapeutic environment profoundly shapes outcomes in *Psychedelics and Drug Studies*, particularly for *traumatic stress*. Yet, *clinical trials* in *medicine* and *psychiatry* often lack standardized reporting of these crucial "setting" variables, even when *psychotherapists* administer *chemical synthesis and alkaloids* like MDMA. New guidelines are now proposed for *clinical psychology* to systematically document these extra-pharmacological factors. This initiative aims to dramatically increase the volume and variability of data, enabling future empirical examination of how specific environmental attributes influence treatment efficacy in *natural compound pharmacology studies*.
Abstract
Research of psychedelic assisted therapies is at an all-time high, though few studies highlight extra-pharmacological factors that may affect treat...
Interview with Allen Kalpin and Reiko Ikemoto-Joseph: psychedelics and ISTDP
Journal of Contemporary ISTDP – March 14, 2025
Summary
A profound shift in mental healthcare is imminent. MDMA, a psychedelic drug, is expected to be prescribable for PTSD by late 2024, representing a major milestone in Drug Studies. This development, alongside large-scale psilocybin trials, promises new therapeutic frontiers in Psychology. Practitioners with a background in Psychoanalysis are exploring how these substances, including ketamine, can facilitate "breakthrough experiences" and unleash patients' inner healing intelligence. Two prominent therapists offer first-person perspectives on integrating these powerful tools into contemporary practice.
Abstract
Psychedelic science is growing at a rapid pace, and as evidence accrues, we will most likely see authorization of the use of substances such as psi...