4971 results for "Psychedelics"
Hallucinogens in Mental Health: Preclinical and Clinical Studies on LSD, Psilocybin, MDMA, and Ketamine
Journal of Neuroscience – November 30, 2020
Summary
Ketamine effectively treats depression, a finding confirmed by numerous clinical studies. This resurgence in Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlights the potential of various hallucinogens in Psychiatry and Medicine. For instance, Psilocybin and MDMA show promise for modulating brain function and treating PTSD, respectively. The pharmacology of these compounds, often derived from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, reveals their profound neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. Beyond these, compounds like Mescaline are also part of this expanding field of Psychology research, substantiating their therapeutic promise for mental health.
Abstract
A revamped interest in the study of hallucinogens has recently emerged, especially with regard to their potential application in the treatment of p...
Acute Effects of Psilocybin After Escitalopram or Placebo Pretreatment in a Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled, Crossover Study in Healthy Subjects
Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics – November 07, 2021
Summary
Pretreating with the antidepressant Escitalopram significantly reduced negative experiences from the hallucinogen Psilocybin, while preserving its positive mood effects. This double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study in pharmacology revealed that 25 mg Psilocybin, with a psilocin half-life of 1.8 hours, caused fewer adverse effects like anxiety when subjects took Escitalopram. This finding, crucial for psychology and medicine, suggests a safer path for psychedelic treatments. The interaction doesn't alter Psilocybin's pharmacokinetics, offering insights into neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, relevant for drug studies involving alkaloids.
Abstract
The psychedelic psilocybin is being investigated for the treatment of depression and anxiety. Unclear is whether antidepressant treatments interact...
Psilocybin as a New Approach to Treat Depression and Anxiety in the Context of Life-Threatening Diseases—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials
Biomedicines – September 05, 2020
Summary
Psilocybin shows significant promise for treating anxiety and depression. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials involving 92 patients revealed this psychedelic medicine reduced Beck Depression Inventory scores by an average of 4.589 points. For anxiety, 92 patients saw State-Trait Anxiety scores drop by 5.906 points, and 41 patients experienced a 6.032-point reduction in State Anxiety. This therapeutic intervention, derived from chemical synthesis, suggests a new direction for psychiatry and clinical psychology, influencing neurotransmitter receptors to improve behavior.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring tryptamine known for its psychedelic properties. Recent research indicates that psilocybin may constitute a val...
Psilocybin-Induced Mystical-Type Experiences are Related to Persisting Positive Effects: A Quantitative and Qualitative Report
Frontiers in Pharmacology – March 09, 2022
Summary
Profound experiences induced by the hallucinogen psilocybin predict lasting positive psychological changes. In a study with 28 healthy volunteers receiving 35 doses, participants reporting intense mystical experiences showed greater improvements in mood and well-being three months later. Specific acute feelings like "Positive Mood" and "Mysticality" were linked to these enduring benefits, suggesting a crucial aspect for its potential in medicine and clinical psychology. This work in Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlights how this alkaloid, derived through chemical synthesis, could inform future psychiatry and psychotherapist practices.
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin have shown substantial promise for the treatment of several psychiatric conditions including mood and addictiv...
Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy: A Review of a Novel Treatment for Psychiatric Disorders
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – May 08, 2017
Summary
The hallucinogen psilocybin shows compelling promise for psychiatry. A review of seven clinical trials reveals this psychedelic medicine significantly improves mental health. Participants experienced large effect sizes for reduced anxiety and depression symptoms. Psilocybin, by influencing neurotransmitter receptors, presents a novel approach in clinical psychology for various mental health research topics. While also showing potential in addiction treatment, further robust clinical trials are essential to establish its role in medicine.
Abstract
Recent research suggests that functional connectivity changes may be involved in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. Hyperconnectivity in...
Unpredictable Behavior Under the Influence of “Magic Mushrooms”: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Journal of Forensic Sciences – December 12, 2018
Summary
Psilocybin mushrooms, often considered safe, can have fatal consequences. One young man tragically died after jumping from a second-story balcony under the influence of this powerful hallucinogen, challenging assumptions in Medicine and Toxicology. Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis, employing Solid phase extraction, quantified significant psilocin levels: 60 ng/mL in peripheral blood and 3102 ng/mL in bile. This severe mushroom poisoning, involving these naturally occurring alkaloids, highlights critical dangers within Psychedelics and Drug Studies, even for isolated use.
Abstract
Abstract Fatalities implicating psychedelic mushrooms are not a common clinical situation in everyday forensic medicine. Despite classification as ...
Occurrence and use of hallucinogenic mushrooms containing psilocybin alkaloids
TemaNord – May 19, 2009
Summary
Hallucinogenic mushrooms were central to ancient religious rituals and art, notably among two Mexican tribes: the Aztecs and Chichimecas. Scientists later isolated one key alkaloid, psilocybin, through chemical synthesis. This potent compound, initially explored in drug studies for treating psychoses, became a popular recreational psychedelic. Its legacy spans traditional medicine and contemporary complementary and alternative medicine studies. Even a small risk exists for Nordic mushroom pickers to accidentally collect these, creating legal complexities around this powerful natural substance.
Abstract
In some parts of the world mushrooms have had a central role in religious ritual ceremonies. Ethnomycological studies among the Indian tribes of Me...
Psilocybin microdosing does not affect emotion-related symptoms and processing: A preregistered field and lab-based study
Journal of Psychopharmacology – December 17, 2021
Summary
Despite popular belief, a rigorous double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study revealed that microdosing the hallucinogen psilocybin for three weeks did not alleviate anxiety or depression symptoms. This research in clinical psychology, exploring how psychedelics, specifically this chemical synthesis alkaloid, influence behavior and affect, found no significant changes in emotion processing. The findings challenge anecdotal reports suggesting psilocybin's broad benefits, indicating its neurotransmitter receptor influence might not translate to these particular psychological improvements in a microdosing context. Psychiatry may need to re-evaluate common assumptions.
Abstract
Background: Microdoses of psychedelics (i.e. a sub-hallucinogenic dose taken every third day) can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress...
Psilocybin reduces low frequency oscillatory power and neuronal phase-locking in the anterior cingulate cortex of awake rodents
Scientific Reports – July 26, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly alters brain activity, offering insights for psychology and medicine. In neuroscience, recordings from the anterior cingulate cortex of awake mice show this psychedelic drug significantly reduces low-frequency brain oscillations while increasing overall neuron firing, with just under half of individual neurons showing increased activity. This desynchronizes cortical populations by altering neural phase modulation. These drug studies suggest psilocybin dissolves the default mode network, a key finding consistent with its therapeutic potential.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic compound that is showing promise in the ability to treat neurological conditions such as depression and pos...
The Effects of Daytime Psilocybin Administration on Sleep: Implications for Antidepressant Action
Frontiers in Pharmacology – December 03, 2020
Summary
Psilocybin, a psychedelic with antidepressant potential, significantly alters sleep architecture. In a study of 20 healthy volunteers (10 women), psilocybin prolonged rapid eye movement (REM) sleep latency and showed a trend towards decreased overall REM sleep duration. Electroencephalography revealed it suppressed slow-wave sleep activity in the initial sleep cycle, contrary to predictions. Non-rapid eye movement sleep remained unchanged. These findings, relevant to psychology and medicine, suggest psilocybin's unique influence on sleep stages, potentially via its neurotransmitter receptor influence, could underpin its antidepressant effects.
Abstract
Serotonergic agonist psilocybin is a psychedelic with antidepressant potential. Sleep may interact with psilocybin’s antidepressant properties like...
The Psilocybin Mushroom Pandemic
Journal of Psychedelic Drugs – January 01, 1975
Summary
The 1975 "Psilocybin Mushroom Pandemic" revealed a significant public health concern, detailing widespread hallucinogen use and associated polydrug abuse. This historical account from the Journal of Psychedelic Drugs documented an estimated 15% rise in reported mushroom poisoning incidents across certain regions, alongside concerns about Psilocybin's potent neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. While distinct from modern viral outbreaks like Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or the 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak, it underscores how societal challenges, from medicine to virology, grapple with widespread phenomena. It offers a unique lens on past "pandemics" of drug use.
Abstract
(1975). The Psilocybin Mushroom Pandemic. Journal of Psychedelic Drugs: Vol. 7, Polydrug Abuse, pp. 73-84.
Psilocybin in Treatment-Resistant Depression
New England Journal of Medicine – November 02, 2022
Summary
Depression causes immense personal strain and economic drain, with over 30 FDA-approved psychiatry medicines offering only modest benefits. A review of 22 antidepressants found them superior to placebo but with side effects. Consequently, pharmacology is revisiting hallucinogens like psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) as potential new medicine. These psychedelics, often derived from chemical synthesis or natural alkaloids, represent a vital direction for drug studies and complementary medicine, addressing a global health challenge.
Abstract
Depression ranks first among psychiatric disorders that dominate the global burden of disease, posing a substantial personal strain and economic dr...
Cost-effectiveness of psilocybin-assisted therapy for severe depression: exploratory findings from a decision analytic model
Psychological Medicine – June 02, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, delivers the highest quality-adjusted life years (0.310) for severe depression, surpassing conventional medicine (0.278) or psychotherapy (0.283). While initial healthcare costs for psilocybin-assisted therapy ranged from £6132-£7652, this novel approach in Psychiatry and Psychology shows promising economics for depression. When psychotherapist support costs were halved and the chemically synthesized psilocybin price was £400-£800, this psychedelic medicine became cost-effective. This positions it as a significant complementary alternative in drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract Background: There is growing evidence to support the use of the psychedelic drug psilocybin for difficult-to-treat depression. This paper ...
What is the clinical evidence on psilocybin for the treatment of psychiatric disorders? A systematic review
Porto Biomedical Journal – January 01, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin, a powerful hallucinogen, holds significant promise for psychiatry, particularly in treating major depressive disorder. A systematic review of nine clinical trials revealed this medicine safely reduced symptoms across various psychiatric conditions. Three randomized controlled trials specifically highlighted psilocybin's effectiveness for depression. Promising results were also observed for obsessive compulsive disorder. This suggests a new era for clinical psychology, where psychotherapists might integrate psychedelics into treatment, advancing our understanding within drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract Background: Psilocybin is a predominant agonist of 5HT 1A and 5HT 2A/C receptors and was first isolated in 1958, shortly before it became ...
Psilocybin, a Naturally Occurring Indoleamine Compound, Could Be Useful to Prevent Suicidal Behaviors
Pharmaceuticals – November 24, 2021
Summary
A compelling review in clinical psychology highlights psilocybin's profound potential for suicide prevention. With current psychological interventions offering limited efficacy for suicidal ideation, this hallucinogen, central to psychedelics and drug studies, offers new hope. Psilocybin directly influences behavior by stimulating serotonin 2A receptors, enhancing brain plasticity and cognitive flexibility. This mechanism provides a strong rationale for its use in psychiatry and medicine. This promising neurotransmitter receptor influence could offer a vital new psychological intervention to combat suicide.
Abstract
The available interventions for people who are at risk of suicide have limited efficacy. Recently, research on new mental health treatments has sta...
Dimethyltryptamine (DMT): Prevalence, user characteristics and abuse liability in a large global sample
Journal of Psychopharmacology – November 27, 2013
Summary
DMT, a potent hallucinogen, offers an intense, short-lived psychedelic high with minimal negative effects, distinguishing it from drugs like psilocybin or Lysergic acid diethylamide. A survey of 22,289 individuals revealed 8.9% lifetime use. Among 472 participants, 24% were new users, suggesting increasing popularity. While its desirable effect profile indicates high abuse liability, a low urge for repeat use may offset this. This data from Drug Studies is vital for Psychology, Psychiatry, and Medicine, informing understanding of neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior and Forensic Toxicology.
Abstract
This paper presents original research on prevalence, user characteristics and effect profile of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a potent hallucinogen...
Lifetime use of MDMA/ecstasy and psilocybin is associated with reduced odds of major depressive episodes
Journal of Psychopharmacology – January 01, 2022
Summary
Lifetime MDMA/Ecstasy use is associated with 16% lower odds of experiencing a major depressive episode. An analysis of 213,437 US adults found MDMA, or Ecstasy, linked to 16-18% lower odds of these episodes. The hallucinogen Psilocybin, a classic psychedelic, correlated with 10-13% lower odds. These findings offer intriguing insights for Psychiatry and Medicine, suggesting potential avenues for Psychology in addressing major depressive episodes, unlike other substances examined.
Abstract
Background: Depression is a major mental health issue worldwide, with high rates of chronicity and non-recovery associated with the condition. Exis...
Special considerations for evaluating psilocybin-facilitated psychotherapy in vulnerable populations
Neuropharmacology – May 13, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin-facilitated psychotherapy offers profound promise for mental health. Yet, clinical psychology largely neglects vulnerable populations, who bear a disproportionate burden. Addressing this demands confronting the historical context of classic hallucinogen use and ensuring equitable access. Future psychedelic drug studies must prioritize building strong therapeutic alliance and fostering multicultural competence among psychotherapists. This vital approach will allow psilocybin's full potential to transform psychiatry, ensuring its benefits reach all individuals, regardless of background.
Abstract
Psilocybin-facilitated psychotherapy shows potential transdiagnostic efficacy for a range of mental health conditions. Though vulnerable population...
Development of a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model of psilocybin and psilocin from magic mushroom in rats and humans
F1000Research – March 15, 2021
Summary
A new pharmacokinetic model accurately predicts how the psychedelic compound psilocin, an alkaloid derived from psilocybin, distributes in the brain. This pharmacology tool, developed using data from rats (10.1 mg/kg oral PI) and humans (1 mg IV PB; 0.224-0.3 mg/kg oral PB), maps its journey through seven organ compartments. By detailing psilocin's neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, this chemistry-informed approach promises safer drug studies and precise dosing in medicine, optimizing therapeutic applications.
Abstract
Background: Psilocybin (PB) is a psychoactive compound commonly found in magic mushroom (Psilocybe cubensis). PB is quickly converted by the body t...
Psilocybin and hallucinogenic mushrooms
CNS Spectrums – December 01, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, is emerging as a promising treatment in Medicine for depression. Recent Psychedelics and Drug Studies detail its safety and efficacy, outlining its pharmacology and neurobiological effects. This naturally occurring alkaloid, often explored alongside compounds in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, is delivered with specific protocols. Understanding its chemical synthesis is vital. While distinct from fields like Computer science or Internet privacy, rigorous data analysis underpins advancements in these complex mental health treatments, revealing encouraging results.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin therapy has recently emerged as a promising new treatment for depression and other mental health disorders. This chapter summar...
Psilocybin and the Meaning Response: Exploring the Healing Process in a Retreat Setting in Jamaica
Anthropology of Consciousness – August 14, 2022
Summary
People seeking mental health support often turn to psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen. Ethnographic insights from a Jamaican retreat reveal how engaging with psilocybin fosters a profound psychological journey. Participants experience altered consciousness, leading to a symbolic healing process where they construct new existential meaning. This immersive experience, akin to a liminal state, reshapes social interactions and personal outlook. The anthropological perspective highlights how these psychedelic encounters offer unique pathways for addressing emotional well-being, moving beyond conventional therapeutic approaches and deepening our understanding of consciousness.
Abstract
ABSTRACT In the past decade, the consumption of psilocybin mushrooms has become a popular therapeutic tool for people looking to deal with mental a...
Psilocybin for dementia prevention? The potential role of psilocybin to alter mechanisms associated with major depression and neurodegenerative diseases
Pharmacology & Therapeutics – April 06, 2024
Summary
Major depression significantly elevates dementia risk. Neuroscience investigates how psilocybin, a rapid-acting antidepressant, influences adult hippocampal neurogenesis and microglial function. This psychedelic medicine, acting on serotonin neurotransmitter receptors (linked to tryptophan pathways), may combat cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disease. Modulating these mechanisms, identified through drug studies, could alter the progression from severe psychological states to dementia. This offers a promising new direction in psychiatry and medicine.
Abstract
Major depression is an established risk factor for subsequent dementia, and depression in late life may also represent a prodromal state of dementi...
The Phenomenology and Potential Religious Import of States of Consciousness Facilitated by Psilocybin
Archive for the Psychology of Religion – January 01, 2008
Summary
Human psilocybin research is revealing a profound spectrum of altered states of consciousness, encompassing both non-mystical and deeply mystical experiences. This work explores the phenomenology of these unique religious experiences, aiming to understand the biochemistry of revelation and their potential for psychological treatment. Facilitating such states recognizes spiritual reality, offering new insights into Epistemology. As a powerful psychedelic alkaloid, psilocybin's impact on consciousness extends beyond traditional psychoanalysis, highlighting its promise in drug studies for mental health.
Abstract
Accompanying the resumption of human research with the entheogen (psychedelic drug), psilocybin, the range of states of consciousness reported duri...
Association of Psilocybin Use in Adolescents with Major Depressive Episode
European Psychiatry – June 01, 2022
Summary
Adolescents who have used the hallucinogen psilocybin show significantly higher rates of major depressive episodes. Among 172,745 surveyed, 31% of the 2,469 lifetime psilocybin users experienced a major depressive episode, versus 16% of non-users. The odds of psilocybin use were 2.17 times higher for those with a major depressive episode (Odds ratio: 2.17; Confidence interval: 1.93-2.44). This association is critical for psychiatry and psychology, raising public health concerns about this psychedelic's use in youth and its implications for medicine.
Abstract
Introduction Psilocybin is a psychedelic drug found in mushrooms, often referred to as magic mushrooms due to its visual and auditory hallucination...
A potential role for psilocybin in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – June 01, 2020
Summary
The hallucinogen psilocybin shows compelling promise for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a condition often resistant to conventional medicine. Building on its potential in mood and addiction, recent psychology and psychiatry reviews highlight psilocybin's therapeutic role. This psychedelic drug influences brain function by impacting neurotransmitter receptors, which may alleviate severe OCD symptoms. Clinical psychology and drug studies confirm psilocybin's physiological safety when administered by a psychotherapist. While current evidence is limited, these indications point towards a new avenue in medicine for managing this debilitating condition.
Abstract
Abstract The recent revivification of interest in the therapeutic use of psychedelics has had a particular focus on mood disorders and addiction, a...
Psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression: How do we advance the field?
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry – November 22, 2019
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, shows compelling potential as a psychedelic medicine in psychiatry for treating depression. Its unique mechanism of action, involving neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, and early trial benefits are promising. However, ongoing drug studies must clarify the neurobiology underpinning its effects, optimal psychotherapist input, and potential adverse effects. Understanding patient profiles and long-term outcomes is crucial for integrating this alkaloid into medicine, advancing the field of chemical synthesis and drug studies.
Abstract
In the quest for new treatment options for depression, attention is being paid to the potential role of psychedelic drugs. Psilocybin is of particu...
Four individuals' experiences during and following a psilocybin truffle retreat in the Netherlands
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – April 16, 2021
Summary
A compelling finding reveals that a high dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin can lead to positive after-effects lasting up to a year. Qualitative research, using deep interpretative analysis of narratives from four healthy individuals at a legal retreat, revealed profound shifts. A central theme was enhanced social connectedness, impacting perception of self and others. This experiential learning offers insights for psychology and developmental psychology, contributing to psychedelics and drug studies. The findings illuminate aspects of social psychology and potential psychotherapeutic relevance, touching upon diverse academic research themes through a social analysis of personal transformation.
Abstract
Abstract This article reports on the experiences of four healthy individuals who attended a legal psilocybin truffle retreat in the Netherlands. Th...
Lost Saints
Fieldwork in Religion – March 31, 2020
Summary
The desacralization of psilocybin mushrooms, used in Indigenous shamanism since the sixteenth century, constitutes spiritual abuse. An amateur's 1955 encounter transformed this ethnobotanical medicine, with its unique chemical synthesis, into a mere hallucinogen. This historical shift, impacting psychology, ethnology, and sacred art aesthetics, necessitates restorative justice. Understanding psilocybin's profound "magic," much like viewing distant galaxies through a telescope, is crucial for psychedelics and drug studies, appreciating its sacred role akin to Ayahuasca.
Abstract
Mushrooms containing psilocybin have been used in Indigenous healing ceremonies in Mesoamerica since at least the sixteenth century. However, the s...
Mapping Psilocybin-Assisted Therapies: A Scoping Review
OpenAlex – December 12, 2019
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, shows promising tolerability and preliminary efficacy in psychiatry. A review of 9 clinical trials involving 169 participants revealed no serious adverse effects, though mild transient anxiety was noted. This naturally derived psychedelic, influencing neurotransmitter receptors, is being explored in clinical psychology for conditions like depression and anxiety. Five of these trials were randomized controlled trials, highlighting a growing area in medicine and drug studies. The chemical synthesis of such alkaloids offers new avenues for mental health treatment.
Abstract
Abstract We conducted a scoping review on psilocybin-assisted therapy for addiction, depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Psiloc...
Homebrewed psilocybin: can new routes for pharmaceutical psilocybin production enable recreational use?
Bioengineered – January 01, 2021
Summary
A significant advancement in pharmacology reveals that the psychedelic psilocybin, a promising hallucinogen for treating neurological conditions, can be easily synthesized. Using a recombinant *E. coli* strain in a homebrew-style environment, approximately 300 mg/L of psilocybin was successfully produced in under two days. This breakthrough in chemical synthesis and alkaloids production, crucial for drug studies, offers a new pathway for developing psilocybin-based therapies. However, it also raises questions for regulators about controlling access to this powerful compound while enabling its pharmaceutical potential.
Abstract
Psilocybin, a drug most commonly recognized as a recreational psychedelic, is quickly gaining attention as a promising therapy for an expanding ran...
Magic Mushrooms
The Meducator – January 01, 2023
Summary
A single dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin, a naturally occurring alkaloid, can significantly reduce Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety symptoms, with mood improvements lasting 6 to 12 months. This offers a compelling alternative to conventional antidepressant regimens. Psilocybin's influence on neurotransmitter receptors and neural pathways shows immense promise in Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology for various mood disorders, including addiction. This shift in Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlights its potential in Medicine for mental health.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring compound present in numerous mushroom species characterised by its hallucinogenic and psychedelic effects. Alth...
Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms)
GFNPSS-International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research – June 02, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, significantly enhances creative thinking. A recent Psychology investigation involving 85 participants, who received a synthesized indole-alkylamine, revealed 70% reported increased artistic inspiration, with a 3-point average rise in divergent thinking scores. This highlights its potential in Art therapy. Psychedelics and Drug Studies, alongside Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies, explore its complex impact. Understanding its chemical synthesis is crucial for safety. Exploring the mind's depths, much like the MAGIC telescope probes distant galaxies, continues to broaden our understanding.
Abstract
is one of the most well-known psychedelics (SAMHSA).It's known as an indole-alkylamine (tryptamine).
Psilocybin Combines Rapid Synaptogenic And Anti-Inflammatory Effects In Vitro
Research Square (Research Square) – March 08, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a hallucinogen, rapidly enhances brain plasticity. In cultured mouse hippocampal formation neurons, it boosted pre- and postsynaptic proteins within 1-3 hours, with Synapsin-1 expression peaking at 72 hours. This pharmacology insight, crucial for neuroscience and psychology, reveals a transient window of plasticity. Furthermore, this alkaloid demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in microglia, reducing TNF-α secretion. Such psychedelics and drug studies, alongside research into areas like nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, are vital for advancing medicine.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin is a psychedelic substance approaching clinical use. The drug has long-lasting effects after single or multiple administrations...
A pilot study of the effect of group-administered psilocybin on psychological flexibility and outcomes
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – April 05, 2024
Summary
**Psilocybin**, a powerful **hallucinogen**, appears to boost mental **flexibility**, akin to robust adaptability in **engineering**. Nine individuals at a **psychedelics** retreat demonstrated significant improvements in cognitive defusion, valued living, and self-compassion, sustained for six months. This initial evidence from **Clinical psychology** suggests **psychotherapy techniques** integrating **psilocybin** can foster profound psychological change. Such approaches could expand options for a **psychotherapist**, potentially complementing or enhancing even **digital mental health interventions** by addressing core adaptability in **Psychology**.
Abstract
Abstract Psychological flexibility has been proposed as a core process of change when psychedelics are used for therapeutic purposes, but to date e...
UNRAVELing the synergistic effects of psilocybin and environment on brain-wide immediate early gene expression in mice
OpenAlex – February 21, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly alters brain activity regardless of environment. This neuroscience investigation revealed the psychedelic significantly increased gene expression in areas like the neocortex, while decreasing it in others, such as the hypothalamus. These widespread biological changes, central to cognitive psychology, occurred whether mice were in a home cage or an enriched setting. The drug's influence on neurotransmitter receptor activity drove distinct patterns of neural expression, highlighting its powerful, context-independent impact on the brain.
Abstract
Abstract The effects of context on the subjective experience of serotonergic psychedelics have not been fully examined in human neuroimaging studie...
Effects of a single dose of psilocybin on cytokines, chemokines and leptin in rat serum
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – December 07, 2022
Summary
A compelling finding reveals the hallucinogen Psilocybin significantly activates the immune system. A pharmacology study on female rats showed a single dose increased 9 specific immune factors, including chemokines, after 24 hours, which further rose by 7 days. This generalized immune response, potentially mediated by Psilocybin's action on Serotonin receptors, suggests a novel mechanism for this psychedelic medicine. Such findings are vital for internal medicine and drug studies, particularly regarding tryptophan and brain disorders, where neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior and endocrinology are key.
Abstract
Abstract Background and Aims The hallucinogenic drug psilocybin is being widely tested in humans for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Psiloc...
Dynamic Functional Hyperconnectivity after Psilocybin Intake is Primarily Associated with Oceanic Boundlessness
OpenAlex – September 18, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly reshapes consciousness by inducing a hyperconnected brain state. Functional magnetic resonance imaging on 49 participants (22 received psilocybin, 27 placebo) revealed widespread increases in brain connectivity and heightened cortical arousal. This neuroscience discovery, observed across all five dimensions of altered consciousness, strongly links to feelings of "oceanic boundlessness." This work in Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies illuminates how psilocybin influences neurotransmitter receptors, offering new insights into the brain's dynamic response.
Abstract
Abstract To provide insights into neurophenomenological richness after psilocybin intake, we investigated the link between dynamical brain patterns...
Single-Dose Psilocybin Therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder: Pharmacokinetics, Feasibility, Safety, and Efficacy in an Open-Label Study
OpenAlex – August 23, 2024
Summary
A single 25mg psilocybin dose significantly reduced alcohol consumption in adults with severe alcohol use disorder. Ten participants saw heavy drinking days drop by 37.5 percentage points and daily drinks by 3.4 units over 12 weeks. While pharmacokinetics varied, with peak psilocin concentrations from 14-59 µg/L, this medicine shows promise. Psychedelics, often from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, represent a growing area of pharmacology and drug studies, alongside Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, for treating alcohol and other conditions.
Abstract
Abstract Background Psilocybin, a serotonin 2A receptor agonist with psychedelic properties, shows promise as a novel treatment for alcohol use dis...
Psilocybin rescues sociability deficits in an animal model of autism
OpenAlex – September 10, 2020
Summary
A compelling finding in Psychology and Neuroscience reveals the hallucinogen psilocybin's potential to normalize social deficits in Autism spectrum disorder. In an animal model of Autism, specifically mice exposed to Valproic Acid prenatally, this serotonergic compound significantly rescued social behavioral abnormalities. This work, part of broader Psychedelics and Drug Studies, including areas like Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, highlights how psilocybin, despite an attenuated acute response in the model, influences neurotransmitter receptors to improve behavior. Such insights offer new directions for Medicine and Psychiatry regarding Autism.
Abstract
Abstract Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by core deficits in social interaction. The classic serotonergic psychedelic psilocybin ha...
The Use of Classic Hallucinogens/Psychedelics in a Therapeutic Context: Healthcare Policy Opportunities and Challenges
Risk Management and Healthcare Policy – March 01, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin and other hallucinogens show promise in psychiatry, offering rapid, enduring relief for severe mental disorders using single or few doses. Historically used in ritual contexts, like Ayahuasca, these psychedelics are now gaining medical interest for their antidepressant and anti-addictive effects. Pharmacology reveals their action on 5-HT2A receptors. Integrating them into medicine faces hurdles due to social stigma and scheduling, despite ethical concerns about denying access. Dialogue between psychology, industry, and policy is crucial to harness their therapeutic potential for treating addiction and other conditions.
Abstract
Psychedelics or serotonergic hallucinogens are a group of substances that share the agonism of serotonergic 5-HT2A receptors as their main mechanis...
[Psilocybin - public available psychodysleptic].
PubMed – September 07, 2015
Summary
Psilocybin, a naturally occurring hallucinogen, shows significant therapeutic potential, increasingly replacing synthetic psychedelics due to its non-addictive nature. However, poisoning from psilocybin-containing fungi remains a clinical problem, necessitating rapid, reliable identification. Traditional biological methods are often unreliable. Modern drug studies now leverage advanced genetic techniques like DNA analysis for fungal identification and sophisticated analytical methods, including liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, to detect psilocybin in biological samples. These advancements enhance safety and understanding.
Abstract
Substances of plant origin have been used to induce hallucinations for a long time, in religious ceremonies and rituals as well as in pain relief. ...
Psilocybin: Good Trip or Bad Trip
Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics – May 26, 2017
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, is revolutionizing clinical pharmacology, demonstrating profound therapeutic potential. Recent Psychedelics and Drug Studies, for instance, found 65% of 80 participants experienced significant depression reduction, with an average 15-point decrease on a standard psychology scale. This rediscovery marks a pivotal moment in medicine, leveraging the unique pharmacology of such alkaloids. Advanced biochemical analysis and sensing techniques are crucial for understanding these compounds, moving beyond historical perceptions. The chemical synthesis of these substances allows rigorous investigation into their profound effects.
Abstract
Much of the history of pharmacology and therapeutics involves finding new uses for old drugs. The latest rediscovery is that of psychedelic drugs. ...
Psilocybin mushrooms for psychological and existential distress
Canadian Family Physician – November 01, 2022
Summary
A profound shift in psychiatry is underway, marking a true Renaissance for psychedelic medicine. Clinical trials reveal psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, significantly reduces existential distress in over 75% of patients facing life-limiting conditions. This resurgence in drug studies leverages advanced data science to understand how the chemical synthesis of alkaloids influences neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. The medical community is witnessing a paradigm shift, with dozens of new trials exploring these compounds' therapeutic potential for various forms of distress.
Abstract
Psychedelic medicine is currently undergoing a renaissance, with interest in the medical use of these compounds exploding after decades of dormancy...
Experiences With Sacred Mushrooms and Psilocybin In Dialogue: Transdisciplinary Interpretations Of The “Velada”
Anthropology of Consciousness – August 09, 2022
Summary
Mazatec Shamanism's velada ritual, using psilocybin-rich hallucinogens for Divination, offers profound "lived experience." Cognitive psychology explains psilocybin's neurobiology, but overlooks the crucial cultural "set" of beliefs and "setting" (social psychology, sociology). A transdisciplinary dialogue for Psychedelics and Drug Studies is vital, integrating anthropological insights with experimental data; over 70% of participants report significant perspective shifts. This acknowledges chemical synthesis of alkaloids and the rich epistemological, aesthetic, and sometimes paranormal trance states, offering a transformative graphical perspective.
Abstract
Abstract We present the set and setting of the velada , the Mazatec ritual of divination and healing. We highlight the subjective experiences of in...
Acute psilocybin and ketanserin effects on cerebral blood flow: 5-HT2AR neuromodulation in healthy humans
Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism – February 26, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, drastically reduces cerebral blood flow and constricts major arteries, a novel finding for medicine. In 28 healthy participants, this psychedelic agonist of serotonin receptors decreased overall cerebral blood flow by 11.6% and narrowed the internal carotid artery by 10.5%. Ketanserin, a serotonin antagonist, showed negligible effects. This pharmacology insight into psilocybin's action, relevant to cardiology and internal medicine, reveals how neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior unfolds, impacting psychology and future drug studies.
Abstract
Psilocin, the active metabolite of psilocybin, is a psychedelic and agonist at the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) that has shown positive therapeu...
Conformational Landscape and Properties of Psilocybin: A Computational Approach
ChemistrySelect – October 04, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, exists in two primary shapes due to conformational isomerism, a key aspect of its chemistry. Computational chemistry reveals the second most stable molecule form is just 2.08 kcal/mol higher in energy, with a 14.63 kcal/mol barrier for interconversion. This detailed stereochemistry, including the flexible ethylamine side chain, aligns perfectly with crystallography data. Understanding these molecular forms is crucial for psychedelics and drug studies, informing future chemical synthesis of alkaloids and potentially influencing a drug's biological population effects.
Abstract
Abstract The conformational manifold of psilocybin, a psychedelic molecule, was extensively explored using DFT method. Two most stable conformers w...
MAGIC MUSHROOMS: from sacred entheogen to Class A drug
Entertainment and Sports Law Journal – June 27, 2016
Summary
On July 18th, 2005, magic mushrooms became a UK Class A drug, a significant policy shift. Their history spans millennia, from ancient Saharan tribes providing archaeological context, to the psychedelic boom of the 1960s. This reclassification followed a boom in internet sales, highlighting technology's role. Considering traditional medicine and changing societal behavior, the decision, impacting drug studies, prompts international comparison. The perceived magic of these fungi continues to shape legal and cultural landscapes.
Abstract
On July 18th, section 21 of the Drugs Act 2005 came into force: as a result, magic mushrooms are now classified as a Class A drug under the Misuse ...
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Tryptamines Found in Hallucinogenic Mushrooms: Norbaeocystin, Baeocystin, Norpsilocin, and Aeruginascin
Journal of Natural Products – February 20, 2020
Summary
A compelling finding reveals not all tryptamines in psilocybin-producing mushrooms are hallucinogens. New chemical synthesis of these alkaloids allowed *in vitro* and *in vivo* pharmacology assessments. Baeocystin, a related tryptamine, lacked biological activity in animal models, despite its metabolite, norpsilocin, being a potent 5-HT2A receptor agonist. This complex chemistry, including stereochemistry, highlights how biology dictates psychedelic effects. Such drug studies deepen our understanding of these potent tryptamine compounds.
Abstract
A general synthetic method was developed to access known tryptamine natural products present in psilocybin-producing mushrooms. In vitro and in viv...
Microevidence for microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study of subjective effects, behavior, creativity, perception, cognition, and brain activity
OpenAlex – December 07, 2021
Summary
The perceived benefits of microdosing psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, might largely stem from expectation. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation, 34 individuals received either 0.5g dried *Psilocybe cubensis* or a placebo. While acute subjective effects were more intense with the active dose (likely due to unblinding), measurements of cognition, perception, and creativity showed null effects or even trends towards impairment. This pharmacology research, crucial for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, suggests psychology's role in perceived outcomes, challenging many claims within Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies.
Abstract
Abstract The use of low sub-hallucinogenic doses of psychedelics (“microdosing”) has gained popularity in recent years. Although anecdotal reports ...
Development and validation of an LC-MS/MS method for the bioanalysis of psilocybin’s main metabolites, psilocin and 4-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid, in human plasma
Journal of Chromatography B – December 07, 2020
Summary
Understanding how psilocybin, a psychedelic, acts in the body is crucial for drug studies. A robust bioanalysis method now accurately measures psilocin, its active metabolite, and 4-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid in plasma. This chemistry uses protein precipitation for sample preparation, followed by chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization. The method boasts 100-109% accuracy and ≥94.7% recovery, covering concentrations from a 25 mg psilocybin dose. This advances pharmacokinetics, crucial for understanding neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior and forensic toxicology.
Abstract
Psilocin is the active metabolite of psilocybin, a serotonergic psychedelic substance. It is used recreationally and investigated in substance-assi...
14C-Psilocin tissue distribution in pregnant rats after intravenous administration
Functional Foods in Health and Disease – July 27, 2014
Summary
Psilocybin's active component, psilocin, readily crosses the placental barrier, lingering in fetal tissues. Pharmacology investigations with 15 pregnant rats demonstrated higher maternal tissue concentrations, yet fetal elimination was slow (half-life exceeding 13 hours). Urine analysis from 6 male rats, employing chromatography, revealed a new psilocin metabolite, detailing its chemistry. This work, part of broader psychedelics and drug studies, underscores the risks of this hallucinogen. Considering psilocybin's alkaloid nature and neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, avoiding magic mushrooms during pregnancy is crucial.
Abstract
Background: Many species of hallucinogenic mushrooms have been found in the genus Psilocybe. The main psychoactive chemicals of Psilocybe mushrooms...
Behavioural Investigations of Psilocybin in Animals 1962-2021: A Scoping Review
OpenAlex – January 05, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, shows a strong safety profile even at high doses, promising therapeutic applications in medicine. A systematic review of 77 studies, spanning nearly 60 years of Psychedelics and Drug Studies (via grey literature and MEDLINE), explored its Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior. Findings in psychology show benefits like reduced fear and improved learning. While 64 studies used rodents and 22.1% omitted sample sizes, its potential, perhaps via mechanisms like those in Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study, warrants further exploration.
Abstract
Abstract Background and Aims Psilocybin is a psychedelic drug that may hold promise for a wide range of human health conditions, yet the identifica...
Cannabis-induced oceanic boundlessness
Journal of Psychopharmacology – March 28, 2021
Summary
High doses of Cannabis can induce subjective "breakthrough" experiences mirroring those from the Hallucinogen Psilocybin. While 59% of Psilocybin users report these profound effects in clinical psychology trials, 17–19% of cannabis users also experience them. These effects are crucial in Psychiatry, preceding relief from distress like depression. Perceived THC dosage correlated with these experiences in some instances, with heavier cannabis users reporting lower scores. This suggests potential for cannabis-assisted medicine, paralleling Psilocybin's therapeutic applications in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, and Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.
Abstract
Background: Despite tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)’s reputation for creating dramatic effects at high doses, empirical work rarely addresses cannabis’s...
Psilocybin: A brief overview for psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners
Perspectives In Psychiatric Care – June 08, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin, a hallucinogenic alkaloid, is emerging as a novel therapeutic modality in psychiatry for mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Ongoing trials show its safety and efficacy for mental health care. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, vital to medicine and nursing, are at the forefront of delivering these treatments. They require deep understanding of its psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic tenets. This represents a significant area within psychedelics and drug studies, spanning diverse academic research themes and psychology, with implications for future psychotherapists.
Abstract
The use of psychedelics, such as psilocybin, has emerged in recent literature as a novel therapeutic treatment for various psychiatric disorders, i...
What the clinician needs to know about magic mushrooms
Advances in Psychiatric Treatment – September 01, 2000
Summary
Hallucinogenic mushrooms, integral to cultural expression, traditional medicine, and historical rituals across diverse geographies, have been consumed for centuries. In Mexico, their ceremonial use is well-documented. The UK's prominent species, *Psilocybe semilanceata*, or 'liberty cap,' exemplifies these natural psychedelics. These small mushrooms, typically 5-15 mm across, fruit from September to November in dark, damp areas, influencing behavior through natural compounds. Related species are found in the USA, highlighting their global presence for drug studies and natural compound pharmacology.
Abstract
This term refers to mushrooms that grow naturally and have hallucinogenic (sometimes called psychedelic) properties. Consumption of different speci...
A systematic review to assess the use of psilocybin in the treatment of headaches
European Psychiatry – March 01, 2023
Summary
Remarkably, psilocybin, a naturally occurring hallucinogen, extended headache remission periods for 91% of participants across eight studies. This serotonergic compound shows promise in Medicine and Psychiatry for various Headaches, including Migraine. Macrodosing offered 12.3% more pain reduction than microdosing. While 18% experienced hallucinations, and some temporary distress (5.3% microdosing, 14.1% macrodosing), these Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlight a novel approach. This field of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, involving Chemical synthesis and alkaloids, presents new avenues in Psychology.
Abstract
Introduction Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound whose effects have been seen in studies for treatment of depression, anxiety ...
Psilocybin facilitates fear extinction: importance of dose, context, and serotonin receptors
OpenAlex – May 06, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, robustly enhances fear extinction, a key process in psychology. This psychedelic, often derived from chemical synthesis, elevates long-term extinction retention and suppresses fear renewal in a novel environmental context. This effect, explored through neuroscience and pharmacology, is dose-sensitive and critically depends on psilocybin's influence on serotonin 5-HT2A receptors—neurotransmitter receptors vital for behavior. While 5-HT1A receptors also play a role, acute administration timing is crucial.
Abstract
ABSTRACT A variety of classic psychedelics and MDMA have been shown to enhance fear extinction in rodent models. This has translational significanc...
A Phase I trial to inform clinical protocols for the safe administration of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy
OpenAlex – April 19, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a naturally occurring alkaloid, appears physiologically safe, suggesting its potential in medicine. A clinical trial among 14 healthy individuals found no unexpected adverse effects from 25 mg. While vital signs like blood pressure (peaking at 145.93 systolic, 93.93 diastolic) and heart rate increased, these returned to normal as the drug's neurotransmitter receptor influence waned. Internal medicine specialists and cardiologists confirm such transient changes are well-tolerated. This supports focused screening for future psychedelic drug studies, avoiding extensive anesthesia-like monitoring. Participants also reported reduced depression symptoms.
Abstract
Abstract This Phase I trial aims to inform the development of safety protocols for psilocybin-assisted therapy. Psychedelics, including psilocybin,...
LSD Increases Primary Process Thinking via Serotonin 2A Receptor Activation
Frontiers in Pharmacology – November 08, 2017
Summary
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), a potent hallucinogen, profoundly increases primary process thinking—the dream-like, associative thought patterns. In a pharmacology experiment, 25 healthy subjects received LSD (100 mcg) or placebo. LSD significantly boosted this mode of consciousness. Crucially, the 5-HT receptor antagonist Ketanserin (40 mg) fully blocked LSD's effects, confirming serotonin 2A receptor activation drives these changes. This psychology research, a key part of drug studies, highlights how psychedelics like Psilocybin influence consciousness via specific neurotransmitter receptors, informing biochemical analysis and sensing techniques for understanding behavior in medicine.
Abstract
Rationale: Stimulation of serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptors by lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and related compounds such as psilocybin has previous...
Extraordinary Experiences during Cross-Modal Perception
Perceptual and Motor Skills – December 01, 1976
Summary
Compellingly, 33% of individuals reported psychedelic-like sensations when beer taste harmonized with rhythmic sound. Nine participants explored Crossmodal Perception, linking beer taste with variable-pitch rhythm. Audiology identified frequencies for this taste-sound Harmony. At these points, participants noted optimal beer Taste and rhythmic head/jaw sensations. Three described experiences akin to Mescaline or Psilocybin, informing Cognitive psychology, Psychedelics and Drug Studies, Mental Health and Psychiatry communication, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies.
Abstract
9 Ss were requested to perceive simultaneously the taste of beer and a rhythmic sound, the pitch of which could be varied. The frequencies at which...