4971 results for "Psychedelics"
Behavioral effects of three synthetic tryptamine derivatives in rodents.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – April 04, 2025
Summary
New synthetic compounds targeting serotonin receptors reveal varied potential for misuse. Lab tests show that among three emerging hallucinogen-like substances, only 4-OH-MiPT produces effects similar to known drugs. Through drug discrimination testing in rodents, researchers found that while all compounds affected movement patterns, only one fully mimicked classical hallucinogen effects.
Abstract
New synthetic tryptamine derivatives have emerged in the underground market. They act on serotonin receptors mimicking the effects of hallucinogeni...
Identification of two lysergic acid diethylamide analogs, 1-(3-(trimethylsilyl) propionyl) lysergic acid diethylamide (1S-LSD) and 1-(2-thienoyl)-6-allyl-nor-d-lysergic acid diethylamide (1T-AL-LAD), in paper sheet products distributed on the internet.
Forensic toxicology – April 03, 2025
Summary
New psychoactive substances continue to evolve, with two novel LSD-like compounds discovered on blotter paper sold online. Scientists identified 1S-LSD and 1T-AL-LAD, previously unknown lysergamides that are chemical cousins of lysergic acid diethylamide. Using advanced analysis techniques, researchers confirmed these compounds' structures, marking their first documented appearance in Japan.
Abstract
Recently, numerous lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) analogs have emerged as designer drugs globally. These compounds are mainly distributed as shee...
Psilocybin Dispensaries and Online Health Claims in Canada
JAMA Network Open – April 01, 2025
Summary
Over a third of major Canadian cities contain unregulated psilocybin dispensaries, with 2.6% of Canadians living near one. A recent analysis identified 57 such businesses, many operating online and as chains. While 86.4% of websites advertise psilocybin products with mental health claims, only 9.1% warn against driving, and specific warnings for pregnancy or psychosis are also rare. This lack of clear guidance from the business sector, despite diverse product offerings, poses significant public health risks in the realm of psychedelics and medicine.
Abstract
Importance There is growing societal interest in and use of psilocybin. While psilocybin in Canada is illegal outside of clinical trials, there hav...
Premorbid characteristics of the SAPAP3 mouse model of obsessive-compulsive disorder: behavior, neuroplasticity, and psilocybin treatment
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – March 29, 2025
Summary
Juvenile mice modeling Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders display significant anxiety *before* grooming behaviors, informing Psychology. Using open field and elevated plus maze tests, these juvenile animals showed anxiety. Psilocybin (4.4 mg/kg) did not alleviate this, a key insight for Psychedelics and Drug Studies and Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior. Neuroscience reveals that while adult mice exhibited increased Synaptophysin and Gap-43 protein in the Hippocampus and Amygdala, reflecting synaptic plasticity and neuroplasticity, juvenile brains did not. SAPAP3 is a postsynaptic density scaffold protein, suggesting age-dependent adaptations.
Abstract
Abstract Background SAPAP3-knockout (SAPAP3-KO) mice develop excessive self-grooming behavior at 4-6 months of age, serving as a model for obsessiv...
Psilocybin-assisted therapy for relapse prevention in alcohol use disorder: a phase 2 randomized clinical trial
EClinicalMedicine – March 14, 2025
Summary
Individuals with Alcohol use disorder experienced a 70% reduction in heavy drinking days over 32 weeks, versus 40% in a control group, after psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. This compelling finding from a randomized controlled trial of 93 participants highlights psilocybin's potential in Medicine. Administered by a psychotherapist, this clinical trial demonstrates a novel approach for relapse prevention in Psychiatry. Psychedelics and drug studies, exploring compounds from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, offer new avenues for alcohol treatment, paralleling Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.
Abstract
Swiss National Science Foundation under the framework of Neuron Cofund, Swiss Neuromatrix Foundation, and Heffter Young Investigator Fellowship Award.
Extraction Yields of Psilocybin and Psilocin: A Short Review of Current Methods and Their Implications
Pharmaceuticals – March 07, 2025
Summary
Producing pharmaceutical-grade psilocybin, a promising psychedelic alkaloid, is challenging despite its therapeutic potential. A review of 25 studies, selected from 9152 publications, illuminates optimal extraction chemistry from Psilocybe mushrooms. Ultrasonic bath extraction proved most efficient, with polar solvents and precise temperature crucial for yield. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was the primary method for quantifying these compounds. This biochemical engineering insight standardizes protocols for quality psilocybin, advancing drug studies beyond chemical synthesis, ensuring purer alkaloids for pharmacology.
Abstract
The growing body of evidence supporting the therapeutic efficacy of psychoactive substances, like psilocybin, has driven significant interest in re...
Anhedonia: Current and future treatments
Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Reports – March 01, 2025
Summary
Traditional antidepressants often struggle against anhedonia, the inability to feel pleasure, which significantly impedes recovery from conditions like Major Depression. However, a diverse range of treatments offers hope. Newer pharmacological approaches, including Agomelatine and Psychedelics, show promise. Neuromodulation techniques like Vagus nerve stimulation and Transcranial direct-current stimulation provide effective Brain stimulation. Alongside advances in Medicine and Neuroscience, Psychological intervention and Clinical psychology strategies are vital for improving anhedonia, enhancing quality of life, and promoting sustained remission.
Abstract
Abstract Anhedonia is a transdiagnostic domain that leads to poor disorder outcome and low remission rates. This narrative review describes a broad...
Psilocybin Mushrooms and Public Health in Brazil: Insights from a Retrospective Analysis of Adverse Events and Their Implications for Regulatory Discussions.
International journal of medicinal mushrooms – January 01, 2025
Summary
Despite widespread concerns, psilocybin mushrooms showed remarkably low health risks in Brazil. Among 112,451 drug-related medical events, only 13 involved psilocybin mushrooms, with zero fatalities. While alcohol and cocaine led to numerous hospitalizations and deaths, psilocybin cases were mild and treatable. This data suggests current strict regulations may not match the actual public health risks of psilocybin mushrooms.
Abstract
Current drug policy classifies psilocybin, a compound found in psychoactive mushrooms, as having high abuse potential while overlooking its therape...
Insights into therapeutic potential and practical applications of natural toxins from poisonous mushrooms
Human & Experimental Toxicology – March 11, 2025
Summary
Despite only a small fraction of approximately 14,000 known mushroom species being toxic, these fungi offer surprising therapeutic potential. Advances in Fungal Biology and Pharmacology show that compounds like psilocybin, beta-glucans, and lectins exhibit immune-modulating, anticancer, and neuroprotective properties. This understanding bridges toxicology with modern medicine, opening new avenues for drug studies. Such bioactive compounds, moving beyond traditional medicine, could revolutionize treatment, demonstrating the complex biology behind even toxic psychedelics.
Abstract
Introduction Mushrooms, belonging to the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, comprise approximately 14,000 known species, among which a small fract...
Ayahuasca partially preserves striatal integrity in juvenile non-human primates exposed to chronic stress: evidence from stereological evaluation.
Frontiers in neuroanatomy – January 01, 2025
Summary
Ayahuasca, a traditional plant-based brew, shows promise in protecting brain regions affected by chronic stress and depression. In a groundbreaking study with juvenile primates, researchers found that this natural compound helped preserve the striatum - a brain region crucial for emotion and motivation. Animals receiving ayahuasca maintained healthier neural structures despite isolation stress, compared to untreated subjects, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits for stress-related conditions.
Abstract
The striatum (St) integrates cognitive, motor, and limbic functions and plays a critical role in processing emotions, motivation, and rewards. It m...
Impact of Psilocybin on Peripheral Cytokine Production
Psychedelic Medicine – February 28, 2024
Summary
A fascinating finding from Psychedelics and Drug Studies indicates that psilocybin, an alkaloid often obtained through chemical synthesis, can transiently increase peripheral cytokine production for up to one week. While this biological production isn't consistently observed across all patient populations, it suggests a systemic alteration. The interaction of psilocybin with the body's immune system warrants further investigation, highlighting how these compounds influence human physiology and potentially impact the body's natural chemical production.
Abstract
This preliminary study suggests that a transient increase in cytokine production ≤1-week postpsilocybin may be found, although not consistently acr...
Low-Dose LSD Alters Early and Late Event-Related Potentials to Emotional Faces.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.) – December 01, 2024
Summary
A tiny dose of LSD can change how our brains process emotional faces, according to groundbreaking EEG research. Scientists found that low-dose LSD altered brain responses when participants viewed neutral and happy faces, while responses to angry faces remained unchanged. This suggests the drug may subtly influence how we process social and emotional signals.
Abstract
Despite widespread popular interest in the use of low doses of Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) to improve mood, little is known about how these do...
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Evolving Guidelines for the Use of Touch During a Clinical Trial of Group Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy
Psychedelic Medicine – May 08, 2024
Summary
Establishing clear boundaries for therapeutic touch is critical in psilocybin-assisted therapy, a growing area in medicine and psychology. After two unexpected touch experiences across three initial group retreats in a clinical trial, psychotherapists refined guidelines for this potent hallucinogen. These updated protocols for psychedelics and drug studies now ensure safe, supportive haptic interactions, vital for effective psychotherapy techniques and applications. Such careful attention to facilitator behavior is paramount for participant well-being, especially when addressing sensitive topics like sexuality, and could be enhanced by future technology.
Abstract
For a new clinical trial testing a group retreat-based format of psilocybin-assisted therapy, our research team created an initial set of practice ...
Results From a Long-Term Observational Follow-Up Study of a Single Dose of Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depressive Disorder.
The Journal of clinical psychiatry – March 03, 2025
Summary
A single high-dose psilocybin treatment helped people with hard-to-treat depression stay well longer than lower doses. In this year-long observation, patients who received 25mg remained depression-free for about 189 days, compared to just 43 days for medium doses and 21 days for low doses. The treatment proved safe, with minimal side effects, offering hope for those who haven't responded to traditional antidepressants.
Abstract
Background: The largest randomized study of psilocybin to date demonstrated the efficacy of COMP360 25 mg (Compass Pathways' investigational propri...
Ayahuasca reverses ischemic stroke-induced neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.
Behavioural brain research – May 08, 2025
Summary
The traditional Amazonian brew Ayahuasca shows promise in protecting brain tissue after ischemic stroke by reducing harmful inflammation and oxidative damage. Lab studies revealed that treated rats experienced decreased inflammatory markers and improved antioxidant activity in key brain regions. The brew's neuroprotective effects were most notable in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, suggesting potential therapeutic value for stroke recovery.
Abstract
Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Survivors face disability and psychiatric sequelae resulting from ischemia-in...
Prevalence and Correlates of Lifetime Ecstasy/MDMA Use Among Asian American and Pacific Islander Adult Populations in the United States, 2015–2020
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – March 03, 2025
Summary
Over 1 in 20 Asian American and Pacific Islander adults (5.1%) have used Ecstasy/MDMA in their lifetime. Women showed 1.45 times higher odds of use than men, and those aged 26-34 had nearly twice the odds (1.99 times) compared to younger adults. Lifetime use of other substances like Cannabis (28.4 times higher odds) and Psychedelics such as LSD (3.82 times) or psilocybin (3.29 times) strongly correlated with MDMA use. These demographic insights are crucial for public health, medicine, and Psychiatry strategies, especially in Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis, and Gerontology.
Abstract
Little is known about ecstasy/MDMA use among Asian American and Pacific Islander populations. Research is important because AAPIs face unique cultu...
Cardiac effects of two hallucinogenic natural products, N,N-dimethyl-tryptamine and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyl-tryptamine.
Scientific reports – February 25, 2025
Summary
Two naturally occurring hallucinogens, DMT and 5-MeO-DMT, can directly affect heart muscle strength and rhythm by activating serotonin receptors. Research using human heart tissue and specialized transgenic mice revealed these compounds increase heart contractions and beat rate, though less powerfully than serotonin itself. The effects work through specific cardiac proteins like phospholamban.
Abstract
It is unclear whether hallucinogenic tryptamine derivatives namely N,N-dimethyl-tryptamine (DMT) and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyl-tryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) ...
Quantitative analysis of recreational psychoactive mushroom gummies in Portland, Oregon
Clinical Toxicology – February 20, 2025
Summary
Many recreational drug users are unknowingly consuming mislabeled psychoactive substances. Gummies marketed for recreation, often suggesting *Amanita muscaria* content, actually contain potent serotonergic tryptamines. Some products falsely claimed to be psilocybin-free. This widespread inaccuracy in labeling presents serious environmental health and toxicology concerns, increasing risks of mushroom poisoning and challenging poison control efforts. Such findings in psychedelics and drug studies highlight critical consumer safety gaps for plant-derived recreational drugs, which lack medical oversight.
Abstract
The labeling of psychoactive mushroom gummies we tested was overall inaccurate. Products suggesting Amanita muscaria content instead contained sero...
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for Parkinson's disease without depression: A case-report.
Journal of Parkinson's disease – March 01, 2025
Summary
A groundbreaking case shows how psilocybin-assisted therapy helped a woman with Parkinson's disease transform her outlook. After four therapeutic sessions, she showed remarkable improvement in accepting her condition, reduced anxiety, and enhanced quality of life. While motor symptoms stayed stable, her newfound resilience led to better treatment cooperation.
Abstract
BackgroundPsychedelic assisted psychotherapy (PAP) can improve treatment-resistant depression. Its usefulness in Parkinson's disease (PD) is unknow...
The effect of Psilocybe cubensis alkaloids on depressive-like behavior in mice exposed to maternal separation with respect to hippocampal gene expression and DNA methylation of Slc6a4 and Nr3c1.
Behavioural pharmacology – April 01, 2025
Summary
Magic mushroom compounds show promise in treating depression linked to early childhood stress. Researchers found that extracts from Psilocybe mushrooms reversed depression-like behaviors in mice separated from their mothers as infants. The treatment worked by changing gene activity in the brain's memory center, boosting serotonin signaling and improving stress responses. The effects lasted up to 10 days after a single dose.
Abstract
Maternal separation as an early life stress can lead to long-lasting deleterious effects on cognitive and behavioral functions, and the mood state....
Development of Psilocybe Mushroom Species Reference Material—Cultivation Parameters and Chemical Profiles
Journal of AOAC International – February 13, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin content in cultivated mushrooms varies dramatically, with *P. zapotecorum* showing 1.89% and *P. stuntzii* just 0.45%. This Fungal Biology effort successfully cultivated six Psilocybe species indoors from mycelium, a significant step for Psychedelics and Drug Studies. Using methods akin to Food science, the project chemically profiled these alkaloids, identifying psilocybin, psilocin, and others. Interestingly, storing fresh mushrooms at -20°C before freeze-drying drastically reduced psilocybin. This work advances our understanding of Psilocybin biology and potential applications.
Abstract
Abstract Background Psilocybin-containing mushrooms are gaining the attention of the scientific community due to the potential benefits offered by ...
Study Protocol for ‘PsilOCD: A Pharmacological Challenge Study Evaluating the Effects of the 5-HT2A Agonist Psilocybin on the Neurocognitive and Clinical Correlates of Compulsivity’
Cureus – January 29, 2025
Summary
Unlocking the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, new research targets Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. This clinical psychology protocol aims to reveal the neurocognitive and neural mechanisms by which this medicine influences cognition, offering crucial neuroscience insights. Focusing on psilocybin's pharmacology as a neurotransmitter receptor agonist, the study will determine the feasibility and efficacy of a low-dose treatment. This work, part of broader psychedelics and drug studies, seeks to establish specific response percentages and tolerability rates, informing psychiatry and potentially related fields like body image and dysmorphia studies.
Abstract
This study's results are expected to offer critical insights into the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy in tr...
Wood-loving magic mushrooms from Australia are saprotrophic invaders in the Northern Hemisphere
Fungal Systematics and Evolution – July 23, 2024
Summary
Magic mushrooms, producers of psilocybin for mental health applications, maintain full sexual compatibility despite vast intercontinental separation. Analyzing 89 genomes revealed Australasia as their origin, with minimal gene flow since differentiation. This persistence of sexual connectivity, challenging expectations for allopatric speciation in Fungal Biology, suggests unique evolutionary biology. Psilocybin genes exhibit high allelic diversity. Their global Ecology, facilitated by woodchip movement, underscores fascinating aspects of fungal biology and gene flow, relevant to Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Magic mushrooms are fungi that produce psilocybin, an entheogen with long-term cultural use and a breakthrough compound for treatment of mental hea...
Psilocybin-assisted massed cognitive processing therapy for chronic posttraumatic stress disorder: Protocol for an open-label pilot feasibility trial
PLoS ONE – January 17, 2025
Summary
Posttraumatic stress affects 3.9% of the population, often resisting standard cognitive behavioral therapies like cognitive processing therapy. A pilot in psychiatry is exploring if a single 25 mg dose of psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen from chemical synthesis and alkaloids studies, can enhance outcomes. Fifteen participants with chronic Posttraumatic stress will combine this psychedelic medicine with a week of intensive cognitive processing. This psychology-informed approach aims to improve cognition and offer a vital alternative. Digital mental health interventions will monitor progress.
Abstract
Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects 3.9% of the general population. While massed cognitive processing therapy (CPT) has demonst...
A critical evaluation of psilocybin-assisted therapy protocol components from clinical trial patients, facilitators, and caregivers.
Psychotherapy – January 13, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin-assisted therapy holds transformative promise for mental health, making rigorous protocol development crucial for psychiatry. A clinical trial with 10 patients, 7 psychotherapists, and 7 caregivers explored psychotherapy techniques. Findings from this psychology study highlight tailoring treatment protocols to individual needs and ensuring collaborative care, echoing principles in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. This deep dive into psychedelics and drug studies offers critical insights for clinical psychology, emphasizing intention-setting and navigating treatment transitions. Effective protocol application is paramount.
Abstract
Psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) is an experimental treatment with transformative promise. Developing standards for PAT psychotherapy protocols is...
Psilocybin-Assisted Group Psychotherapy + Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for Frontline Healthcare Provider COVID-19 Related Depression and Burnout: A Randomized Clinical Trial
OpenAlex – January 01, 2025
Summary
Frontline healthcare professionals facing burnout and depressive symptoms from COVID-19 experienced superior stress reduction with group psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. A randomized controlled trial of 25 physicians and nurses demonstrated that combining 25mg psilocybin with Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) significantly improved depressive symptoms and burnout compared to MBSR alone. This complementary medicine approach, integrating psychedelics and clinical psychology, offers a promising path for mental health in medicine, showing no serious adverse events.
Abstract
Abstract Objective This clinical trial sought to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of psilocybin and MBSR for frontline healthcare provi...
Early psilocybin intervention alleviates behavioral despair and cognitive impairment in stressed Wistar rats
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin dramatically reduced stress-induced behavioral despair and cognitive impairment in a recent *Psychedelics and Drug Studies* investigation. Among 22 male Wistar rats exposed to chronic stress, this hallucinogen acted as an early intervention, improving *cognition*. This *neuroscience* finding suggests significant potential for *psychiatry* and *clinical psychology*. A *psychotherapist* might eventually consider such approaches. Psilocybin influences *behavior* by modulating *neurotransmitter receptors*, offering a novel therapeutic pathway for mental health disorders.
Abstract
Chronic stress exerts profound effects on mental health, contributing to disorders such as depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment. This stud...
Multidimensional Personality Changes Following Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy in Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder: Results From a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
American Journal of Psychiatry – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin-assisted therapy profoundly shifts personality, offering new hope for alcohol use disorder. A randomized controlled trial with 150 participants showed those receiving psilocybin alongside a psychotherapist experienced durable changes in problematic personality traits, with 65% achieving significant reductions in alcohol dependence compared to a placebo. This suggests the psychedelic, an alkaloid influencing neurotransmitter receptors, helps normalize abnormal trait expression in addiction. This advance in psychology and psychiatry opens new avenues for clinical psychology, exploring how psilocybin impacts behavior and offers a novel approach to alcohol treatment.
Abstract
PAT elicited durable shifts in personality, suggesting normalization of abnormal personality trait expression in AUD. Further study is needed to cl...
Psilocybin: From Psychiatric Pariah to Perceived Panacea
American Journal of Psychiatry – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen derived from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, holds significant promise for Psychiatry. While not yet a proven panacea medicine, its potential as a psychotherapeutic tool is driving diverse academic research themes in Psychedelics and Drug Studies. However, current evidence is insufficient for recommending it as a mainstream medicine. Future trials require larger, more diverse samples to establish efficacy, optimize dosing, and improve blinding. This will clarify its role, moving it beyond its historical status as a pariah group substance, and integrate it into Psychology's therapeutic arsenal.
Abstract
The evidence is currently insufficient to recommend psilocybin with PST as a psychiatric treatment. Additional rigorously designed clinical trials ...
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for methamphetamine dependence: a case report involving daily methamphetamine use
Frontiers in Psychiatry – December 06, 2024
Summary
A 36-year-old daily Methamphetamine user achieved three months of abstinence and improved mental health following a single session of Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. This promising finding from a clinical trial in Psychiatry highlights the potential of this hallucinogen. As a field within Psychedelics and Drug Studies, the pharmacology of Psilocybin, a compound from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, suggests its Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior could revolutionize addiction medicine. A psychotherapist guided the patient's psychology, demonstrating a novel approach.
Abstract
Methamphetamine (MA) dependence leads to severe physical and psychological issues. Current treatments, including psychosocial therapies and residen...
Comparative antidepressant effects and safety of intravenous racemic ketamine, psilocybin and theta burst stimulation for major depressive disorder: A systematic review and network meta‐analyses of randomized controlled trials
Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Reports – December 01, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, and Ketamine, used in Anesthesia and Pharmacology, show superior antidepressant effects for Major depressive disorder compared to theta burst stimulation. A meta-analysis of 28 Randomized controlled trials revealed both drugs, central to Psychedelics and Drug Studies, surpassed Placebo. While Tolerability and Adverse effect profiles were similar, Ketamine demonstrated a rapid onset for Treatment of Major Depression. This Medicine review, relevant to Psychology and Psychiatry, suggests these agents hold significant promise, though further Internal medicine investigation into Psilocybin is warranted.
Abstract
Abstract The individual efficacy and safety of intravenous racemic (IV) ketamine, psilocybin, and theta burst stimulation (TBS) for major depressiv...
Psilocybin Therapy for Clinicians With Symptoms of Depression From Frontline Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic
JAMA Network Open – December 05, 2024
Summary
Frontline clinicians battling the mental health toll of the pandemic experienced significant relief from depression through a novel psychiatric intervention. In a randomized controlled trial of 30 medical professionals, including 50% women, psilocybin therapy combined with counseling led to a mean -21.33 point reduction in depression scores, compared to -9.33 for a control group. This promising finding suggests psychedelics could offer a powerful complementary medicine approach for severe mental health challenges, moving beyond traditional clinical psychology.
Abstract
Importance The psychological morbidity experienced by physicians, advanced practice practitioners (APPs), and nurses from working during the COVID-...
Ayahuasca: pharmacology, safety, and therapeutic effects.
CNS spectrums – November 20, 2024
Summary
Ancient Amazonian tribes discovered that combining two specific plants creates ayahuasca, a powerful hallucinogen containing dimethyltryptamine and harmine. Modern research shows this traditional medicine could revolutionize mental health treatment, with promising results for depression, anxiety, and addiction. Studies indicate it's generally safe when properly administered and may offer therapeutic benefits that surpass conventional treatments.
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a botanical hallucinogen traditionally used for therapeutic and ritual purposes by indigenous groups from Northwestern Amazonian count...
The Effect of Psilocybe cubensis on Spatial Memory and BDNF Expression in Male Rats Exposed to Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – November 13, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveal promising insights for chronic stress. An extract from *Psilocybe cubensis* (20 mg/kg) restored spatial learning and memory in rats experiencing chronic unpredictable mild stress, a model for psychological distress. This suggests a potential neurological and endocrinological pathway, as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, crucial for neuroscience, also increased. The timing of administration proved critical; a single dose 48 hours before training was most effective for memory, highlighting the complex neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. This chemical synthesis and alkaloids research offers hope for internal medicine applications.
Abstract
Psilocybin-containing mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms, drastically affect mental processing, cognitive functioning, and the mood state...
Continuous flow synthesis of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) analogues with therapeutic potential.
RSC medicinal chemistry – October 07, 2024
Summary
Scientists have developed a more efficient way to produce DMT and similar compounds that show promise for treating mental health conditions. Using an innovative "continuous flow" technique, researchers created these compounds more safely and sustainably than traditional methods. The process also successfully produced rizatriptan, an existing migraine medication, demonstrating its practical value for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Abstract
Herein, we describe the continuous flow synthesis and in-line extraction of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and several of its analogues using a Fisch...
Optimized psilocybin production in tryptophan catabolism‐repressed fungi
Microbial Biotechnology – November 01, 2024
Summary
A significant breakthrough in Biology and Chemistry has dramatically boosted psilocybin production, crucial for Psychedelics and Drug Studies. A mutant strain of *Aspergillus nidulans* was engineered, modifying its biochemistry to prevent tryptamine breakdown. This optimized fermentation process achieved a remarkable 10-fold increase in psilocybin yield, reaching 267 mg/L. This advance in chemical synthesis and alkaloids offers a sustainable, efficient method to produce psilocybin, a compound with high therapeutic potential for severe mental disorders.
Abstract
Abstract The high therapeutic potential of psilocybin, a prodrug of the psychotropic psilocin, holds great promise for the treatment of mental diso...
Psilocybin-assisted neurofeedback for the improvement of executive functions: a randomized semi-naturalistic-lab feasibility study
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences – October 21, 2024
Summary
Individuals receiving psilocybin-assisted neurofeedback reported significant self-reported improvements in daily executive functions, crucial for mental health and physical medicine and rehabilitation. This novel treatment, leveraging neuroplasticity and neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, involved 37 participants. The 18 individuals in the experimental group experienced substantial gains in working memory and inhibition (medium to high effect sizes). This development in Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies offers a new avenue for addressing anxiety and depression by enhancing neurocognitive processes, validated through psychometrics.
Abstract
Executive function deficits, common in psychiatric disorders, hinder daily activities and may be linked to diminished neural plasticity, affecting ...
A Case Report of Psilocybin-induced Psychosis in a Predisposed Patient
Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience – May 21, 2024
Summary
While Psilocybin shows promise as a medicine, a compelling case highlights its risks: one patient with depression, personality traits, and cannabis use developed psychosis, catatonia, and suicidality after months of heavy Psilocybin use. This potent hallucinogen, often studied in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, can trigger psychosis in predisposed individuals consuming high or repeated doses. This finding, crucial for Mental Health and Psychiatry, underscores the need for careful consideration in Psychology and Neuroscience. Understanding Psilocybin's effects, from chemical synthesis and alkaloids to clinical application, is vital for safe integration into modern Psychiatry.
Abstract
Psilocybin is gaining popularity as research shows potential benefits to those with anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. Indivi...
The Second Methylation in Psilocybin Biosynthesis Is Enabled by a Hydrogen Bonding Network Extending into the Secondary Sphere Surrounding the Methyltransferase Active Site
ChemBioChem – October 16, 2024
Summary
A single amino acid change in the *Psilocybe cubensis* enzyme PsiM, a methyltransferase, enables the crucial dimethylation step in psilocybin biosynthesis. This biochemistry insight reveals how a key modification within the active site allows for efficient methylation, utilizing a specific cofactor. Structural analysis of variants, crystallized as ternary complexes, showed 20-fold reduced substrate binding and 2-fold lower catalytic efficiency. This enzyme's unique chemistry and stereochemistry are vital for microbial natural products and biosynthesis, impacting future psychedelics and drug studies through chemical synthesis and analysis.
Abstract
Abstract The Psilocybe cubensis SAM‐dependent methyltransferase, PsiM, catalyzes the last step in the biosynthesis of psilocybin. Likely evolved fr...
Psilocybin and the glutamatergic pathway: implications for the treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases.
Pharmacological reports : PR – December 01, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin shows remarkable potential in treating depression by triggering a cascade of brain chemistry changes. The compound works by activating 5-HT2A receptors in the brain, which increases glutamate release. This boost in glutamate leads to higher GABA activity, creating a balanced brain state that helps alleviate depressive symptoms and promotes neural adaptability.
Abstract
In recent decades, psilocybin has gained attention as a potential drug for several mental disorders. Clinical and preclinical studies have provided...
The Neurocircuitry of Substance Use Disorder, Treatment, and Change: A Resource for Clinical Psychiatrists
American Journal of Psychiatry – October 09, 2024
Summary
Substance use disorder (SUD) often goes untreated in Psychiatry, despite its significant impact. A Neuroscience-driven approach highlights diverse treatments for addiction. Pharmacotherapy targets craving and withdrawal, interrupting substance use cycles. Psychology and Medicine also explore stress-response medications influencing neurotransmitter receptors. Promising new avenues leveraging neuroplasticity include transcranial magnetic stimulation, Ketamine, and Psilocybin. These Psychedelics and Drug Studies offer innovative strategies for substance abuse, informing comprehensive care.
Abstract
Substance use disorder (SUD) is common in psychiatric patients and has a negative impact on health and well-being. However, SUD often goes untreate...
Psilocybin for major depressive disorder: a systematic review of randomized controlled studies
Frontiers in Psychiatry – September 23, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a unique hallucinogen, significantly reduced anxiety symptoms in 80% of five randomized controlled trials involving 472 adult patients with major depressive disorder. It also improved depressive symptoms in 60% of these studies. Tolerability was favorable; discontinuation rates were similar (2–13% for psilocybin) to controls (4–21%). While suicidal ideation improved in one trial, headache was a common adverse effect. This finding holds promise for psychiatry, medicine, and clinical psychology, advancing psychedelics and drug studies.
Abstract
Objectives The purpose of this systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability...
Mechanisms of psilocybin on the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder
Journal of Psychopharmacology – October 03, 2024
Summary
For millions battling Posttraumatic stress, conventional treatments like pharmacotherapy or psychotherapist-led exposure therapy often prove inadequate. This debilitating condition, marked by altered mood, cognition, and heightened arousal, leaves many without relief. However, insights from clinical psychology and psychiatry are exploring psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, as a novel approach. This psychedelic compound's mechanism of action, examined against Posttraumatic stress neurobiology, suggests it could offer a crucial new avenue in drug studies, potentially alleviating anxiety and improving patient outcomes where current options fail.
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that can develop after a traumatic event, causing distressing symptoms, including intrusive re-...
Psilocybin increases optimistic engagement over time: computational modelling of behaviour in rats.
Translational psychiatry – September 30, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin helps rats maintain optimistic behavior by reducing their aversion to losses and improving their ability to adapt to changing situations. In a reward-based learning experiment, rats treated with psilocybin showed increased engagement and achieved better outcomes. The compound appears to work by adjusting how the brain updates beliefs and processes negative experiences, suggesting a mechanism for its antidepressant effects.
Abstract
Psilocybin has shown promise as a novel pharmacological intervention for treatment of depression, where post-acute effects of psilocybin treatment ...
Refractory CRPS pain treated with psilocybin: A case report
Clinical Case Reports – September 01, 2024
Summary
A single patient with severe, refractory chronic regional pain syndrome experienced significant relief and functional improvement after receiving psilocybin. This powerful hallucinogen, traditionally studied in psychedelics and drug studies, demonstrated its potential as a novel medicine for pain management. Unlike conventional anesthesia, its pharmacology may target different pain mechanisms and treatments. While the placebo effect is always a consideration, this case suggests a promising new avenue for chronic pain, warranting further exploration beyond this individual experience.
Abstract
Key Clinical Message Psilocybin shows promise as a treatment for CRPS, offering significant pain relief and functional improvement in a patient wit...
Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Brain Cancer Related Existential Distress: A Case-Report
Journal of Palliative Medicine – September 12, 2024
Summary
Remarkably, one patient with stage 4 brain cancer experienced partial relief from severe end-of-life distress through Psilocybin-assisted therapy. This innovative use of the hallucinogen, an alkaloid often produced via chemical synthesis, offers a new path in Medicine. While traditional Psychiatry often struggles with existentialism-related distress in cancer care, a psychotherapist guided this individual. This single case, part of emerging Psychedelics and Drug Studies, underscores Psilocybin's potential to alleviate profound distress, urging expanded access to this vital medicine.
Abstract
Introduction: Psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) has gained traction in palliative care as a treatment for existential distress in the last decade. ...
Pharmacokinetics of Psilocybin, a Tryptamine Alkaloid in Magic Mushroom ( Psilocybe cubensis ): A Systematic Review
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – September 10, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a Tryptamine alkaloid from traditional medicine sources, is a breakthrough therapy for major depressive disorder in Psychology. A review of 20 articles in Psychedelics and Drug Studies examined its pharmacokinetics: how the body processes it. This alkaloid, studied in Pharmacology and Chemical synthesis, acts as a prodrug, rapidly converting to psilocin. Its active form quickly peaks, with a 2-3 hour half-life, vital for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies.
Abstract
Psilocybin, a major indole alkaloid found in magic mushrooms (Psilocybe cubensis), has recently drawn attention as a breakthrough therapy to treat ...
The association between diverse psychological protocols and the efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy for clinical depressive symptoms: a Bayesian meta-analysis
Frontiers in Psychiatry – August 13, 2024
Summary
Surprisingly, the type of psychological support offered alongside psilocybin treatment doesn't significantly alter its effectiveness for clinical depression. A meta-analysis of 10 studies, involving 515 adult patients, explored how different psychotherapist approaches, from manualized directive to non-manualized supportive, impacted outcomes. Psilocybin, a psychedelic alkaloid, showed a strong standardized mean difference of 10.08 in reducing depressive symptoms. This suggests that while psilocybin-assisted therapy holds promise in psychiatry and clinical psychology, the specific psychological protocol may be less critical than previously thought in these Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies.
Abstract
Objective Psilocybin-assisted therapy has shown promising efficacy on clinical depressive symptoms. However, diverse psychological support or psych...
Identifying Three Psilocybin Use Patterns by Frequency and Quantity
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs – August 23, 2024
Summary
Use of Psilocybin, a powerful hallucinogen, is remarkably varied outside clinical settings. Research uncovered three distinct user profiles, differing significantly in consumption frequency, quantity, and associated demographics. This understanding is crucial for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, informing how this alkaloid might be developed as a future Medicine. Comprehensive insights into these patterns are essential, even for fields like forensic engineering, ensuring safe practices and preventing adverse events related to its chemical synthesis or use.
Abstract
Psilocybin use in nonclinical settings is heterogeneous. We identified three profiles that differed on frequency and quantity of use and their asso...
Clinical utility of fMRI in evaluating of LSD effect on pain-related brain networks in healthy subjects.
Heliyon – August 15, 2024
Summary
LSD shows promising potential in altering how our brains process pain, according to groundbreaking brain imaging research. Scientists used fMRI to observe brain activity while participants received either LSD or placebo. Advanced analysis techniques, including ALFF and ICA, revealed that LSD reduced activity in key pain-processing regions while enhancing functional connectivity in areas linked to pain modulation. This suggests LSD could influence pain perception through targeted brain network changes.
Abstract
We aimed to evaluate the effect of Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) on the pain neural network (PNN) in healthy subjects using functional magnetic ...
Psilocybin and chronic neuropathic pain: a systematic review
Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine – August 05, 2024
Summary
The alkaloid psilocybin holds encouraging potential for chronic pain management, including neuropathic pain. A review of 28 studies suggests its role in medicine and psychiatry, influencing neurotransmitter receptors for pain relief. While 76.2% of studies were low quality, some moderate evidence points to a 0.14 mg/kg dose. This emerging field of psychedelics and drug studies offers new avenues for pain management in psychology, despite current limitations.
Abstract
Background/Importance Chronic pain affects many people globally, requiring alternative management strategies. Psilocybin is gaining attention for i...
Psilocybin-assisted therapy and HIV-related shame
Scientific Reports – August 02, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin-assisted therapy significantly reduced HIV-related shame, a major mental health barrier. In a pilot clinical trial of 12 participants, psilocybin-assisted group therapy led to a large decrease in shame (median change of -5.5 points, effect size r = -0.75) over three months. This offers a new avenue for psychiatry and clinical psychology, as conventional medicine struggles with HIV-related shame, which often leads to increased drug use and sexual risk. While promising for HIV care, two participants experienced increased sexual abuse-related shame, highlighting careful psychotherapist consideration in psychedelics and drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract As a proposed mediator between stigma-related stressors and negative mental health outcomes, HIV-related shame has been predictive of incr...
Psilocybin in pharmacotherapy of obsessive-compulsive disorder
Pharmacological Reports – August 01, 2024
Summary
For up to 40% of individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), current pharmacotherapy is ineffective, creating a critical need for new medicine in psychiatry. Emerging neuroscience highlights psilocybin, a serotonergic and glutamatergic hallucinogen, as a promising alternative. This non-addictive psychedelic, explored in drug studies, influences neurotransmitter receptors, offering a novel approach to behavior modification. Its potential efficacy in psychology could transform addiction treatment and other conditions, including those addressed in body image and dysmorphia studies.
Abstract
Abstract Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic mental disease that affects approximately 2% of the population. Obsessions and compulsion...
Serotoninergic antidepressants combination in psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy: a case report
Frontiers in Psychiatry – July 16, 2024
Summary
Strikingly, a single patient with major depressive disorder safely received the hallucinogen Psilocybin, an alkaloid often produced by chemical synthesis, alongside two serotonergic antidepressants, duloxetine and vortioxetine. This challenges conventional psychiatry that mandates antidepressant discontinuation before psychedelics. Psilocybin medicine was well-tolerated; mild headaches were the only adverse effect. However, discontinuing duloxetine worsened his anxiety, underscoring the vital neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. This suggests concurrent antidepressant drug studies, possibly including mirtazapine, could enhance treatment accessibility in psychology, avoiding unnecessary discontinuation risks.
Abstract
Psilocybin has reemerged as a promising treatment for difficult-to-treat depression (DTD). Although there is limited evidence regarding interaction...
The rising use of cognitive enhancement drugs and predictors of use during COVID-19: findings from a cross-sectional survey of students and university staff in the UK.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2024
Summary
During COVID-19 lockdowns, UK universities saw a striking 42% increase in students using cognitive enhancement drugs like Modafinil. A survey of 736 students and staff revealed significant upticks in psychoactive drug use, including microdosing psychedelics, as people adapted to remote learning. Lower agreeableness and conscientiousness emerged as key personality factors predicting drug use.
Abstract
The use of psychoactive substances to increase cognitive performance while studying has been termed 'pharmacological cognitive enhancement' (PCE). ...
Psilocybin for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
Frontiers in Neuroscience – July 10, 2024
Summary
A compelling new medicine for Alzheimer's disease involves psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen and alkaloid from chemical synthesis. Neuroscience and Psychiatry reveal this psychedelic drug modulates the 5-HT2A receptor, enhancing neural plasticity and reducing inflammation. This action improves three cognitive functions—creativity, flexibility, and emotional recognition—while mitigating anxiety and depression in this debilitating disease. Psychology and Drug Studies are actively exploring its therapeutic potential, addressing its hallucinogenic effects. This innovative approach offers a promising direction for Alzheimer's management, highlighting psilocybin's role in disease treatment.
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) stands as a formidable neurodegenerative ailment and a prominent contributor to dementia. The scarcity of available therap...
Psilocybin Therapy for Females With Anorexia Nervosa: A Phase 1, Open-Label Feasibility Study
FOCUS The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry – July 01, 2024
Summary
A single 25-mg dose of synthetic psilocybin appears safe and tolerable for women with anorexia nervosa, a deadly illness lacking approved medicine. In an open-label study, 10 adult female participants, with a mean body mass index of 19.7 kg m<sup>-2</sup>, received this chemical synthesis and alkaloids compound. No serious adverse events occurred; only two participants experienced temporary hypoglycemia. This finding offers hope for psychiatry, especially since the Food and Drug Administration has no approved treatments for anorexia. Future Psychedelics and Drug Studies, considering sexuality, behavior, and technology, could further explore this medicine.
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a deadly illness with no proven treatments to reverse core symptoms and no medications approved by the US Food and Drug Ad...
Mushroom poisoning of Panaeolus subbalteatus from Ningxia, northwest China, with species identification and tryptamine detection.
Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology – August 28, 2024
Summary
In Northwest China, wild mushroom poisonings led to a breakthrough discovery: The hallucinogenic mushroom P. subbalteatus contains extremely high levels of natural tryptamines. Using advanced mass spectrometry, researchers identified psilocybin and psilocin in mushroom samples after several people experienced symptoms within 30 minutes of consumption. This data helps improve food safety and toxic mushroom identification.
Abstract
Mushroom poisoning is a significant contributor to foodborne disease outbreaks in China. This study focuses on two Panaeolus subbalteatus poisoning...
Effects of psilocybin on body weight, body composition, and metabolites in male and female mice.
Physiology & behavior – October 01, 2024
Summary
A single dose of psilocybin increased body weight in mice without affecting their food intake, revealing unexpected effects on metabolism. The compound led to higher body weight in both male and female mice, primarily by increasing lean muscle mass and water content. Even when researchers blocked certain serotonin receptors with ketanserin, the weight changes persisted. Blood tests showed altered metabolism markers, suggesting psilocybin may influence body composition through complex biological pathways.
Abstract
There is growing interest in the therapeutic potential of psilocybin for the treatment of a wide variety of medical problems, and even for the prom...
Unraveling psilocybin's therapeutic potential: behavioral and neuroplasticity insights in Wistar-Kyoto and Wistar male rat models of treatment-resistant depression.
Psychopharmacology – July 04, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin shows remarkable promise in treating stubborn depression by boosting brain plasticity and social behavior. In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers found that a single dose significantly improved social interaction and mood in both treatment-resistant and healthy rats. The compound triggered positive changes in key brain proteins BDNF and Arc, suggesting it helps rewire neural circuits for lasting therapeutic benefits.
Abstract
Our study aimed to unravel the unknown mechanisms behind the exceptional efficacy of Psilocybin (PSI) in treating treatment-resistant depression (T...