Research
Psychedelika-assistierte Psychotherapie
Die Psychotherapie – February 15, 2024
Summary
Since 2014, Switzerland has remarkably integrated psychedelics into therapy, issuing over 1000 special permits to approximately 60 psychotherapists for 2000-3000 treatments. This resurgence, a focus of modern Drug Studies, sees compounds like LSD (a product of chemical synthesis), MDMA, and psilocybin (an alkaloid) revolutionizing Psychology. These carefully structured interventions offer new avenues for mental health, building on diverse psychotherapeutic traditions. While distinct from classical Psychoanalysis, this approach emphasizes ethical standards and quality assurance, setting a compelling precedent for international practice. It broadens the scope of psychological care.
Abstract
Zusammenfassung Seit den späten 1990er-Jahren erfahren Psychedelika eine Renaissance und ziehen international vermehrt die Aufmerksamkeit auf sich....
Giving consent to the ineffable
Neuroethics – February 15, 2024
Summary
A key ethical question in psychedelic therapy is whether patients can truly consent to its transformative nature. It's argued that patients *can* give informed consent. Despite not anticipating every detail, individuals understand their desire to change a negative status quo and that this therapy offers an effective path. This enables a value-aligned choice, empowering patients to embrace positive personal growth.
Abstract
A psychedelic renaissance is currently taking place in mental healthcare. The number of psychedelic-assisted therapy trials is growing steadily, an...
Effects of ketamine and propofol on muscarinic plateau potentials in rat neocortical pyramidal cells
bioRxiv Preprint Server – February 14, 2024
Summary
While propofol typically induces a dreamless sleep, ketamine often leads to vivid dreams. Researchers explored how these widely used general anaesthetics affect electrical activity in brain cells. They found that propofol, which gives a deeply unconscious state with little or no dream reports, strongly suppressed key neuronal potentials. Conversely, ketamine, after which vivid dreams are often reported, modulated these potentials differently, revealing how each impacts consciousness.
Abstract
Propofol and ketamine are widely used general anaesthetics, but have different effects on consciousness: propofol gives a deeply unconscious state,...
Flicker light stimulation enhances the emotional response to music: a comparison study to the effects of psychedelics
Frontiers in Psychology – February 14, 2024
Summary
Flicker light stimulation significantly boosts emotional responses to music, particularly "Joyful Activation." Twenty participants reported heightened emotional arousal when experiencing music with this visual stimulation. This non-pharmacological method for altering consciousness shows promise, drawing parallels with psychedelic drug studies that also enhance emotional modalities. Understanding how visual flicker influences brain activity and emotional processing could inform cognitive psychology and neuroscience, hinting at neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, a realm often explored through biochemical analysis.
Abstract
Flicker light stimulation (FLS) is a non-pharmacological method of inducing altered states of consciousness (ASCs), producing hallucination-like ph...
[Psychedelics in the field of chronic pain. A path to explore?].
Revue medicale suisse – February 14, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Psychedelics are emerging as a therapeutic innovation in psychiatry and their use in chronic pain is worth exploring. In fact, they can modulate th...
Natural Product Synthesis in the 21st Century: Beyond the Mountain Top
ACS Central Science – February 14, 2024
Summary
Humanity's ancient curiosity about natural products, like alkaloids such as morphine, profoundly shaped medicine and fundamental chemistry. The premise of chemical synthesis emerged to overcome natural supply limits, revealing insights into organic chemistry. Though the field contracted about 20 years ago, advanced synthetic organic chemistry is poised for a resurgence. Future developments, integrating nanotechnology, biochemical engineering, and microbial natural products and biosynthesis, promise to transform how we create and utilize these vital compounds, delivering on their original potential.
Abstract
Research into natural products emerged from humanity's curiosity about the nature of matter and its role in the materia medica of diverse civilizat...
Validation of the Imperial Psychedelic Predictor Scale
PsyArXiv – February 13, 2024
Summary
Accurately predicting individual responses to psychedelics is crucial for their safe and effective use. Researchers developed a new assessment tool to identify factors influencing these experiences. They tested this scale on participants, correlating its scores with reported psychedelic effects. Findings positively confirmed the tool's ability to reliably predict various aspects of psychedelic journeys, making it a valuable resource for future research and therapeutic applications.
Abstract
Validation of the Imperial Psychedelic Predictor Scale
PAM trial protocol: a randomised feasibility study of psychedelic microdosing-assisted meaning-centred psychotherapy in advanced stage cancer patients.
Pilot and feasibility studies – February 12, 2024
Summary
New research explores an innovative approach to easing end-of-life distress in advanced cancer patients by combining meaning-centered psychotherapy with low-dose psychedelics. The protocol examines whether microdosing lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) alongside therapy can help reduce anxiety and depression. This groundbreaking New Zealand study includes both indigenous and non-indigenous participants, marking a culturally inclusive approach to mental health care.
Abstract
An advanced cancer diagnosis can be associated with a significant profile of distress. Psychedelic compounds have shown clinically significant effe...
Psilocybin induces dose-dependent changes in functional network organization in rat cortex
OpenAlex – February 12, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly alters brain functional organization. Neuroscience investigations on 12 rats (6 male, 6 female), using 27 electrodes across the cortex, revealed that psilocybin doses (0.1-10 mg/kg) disrupted how theta and gamma brain waves synchronize. This biology-based research showed dose-dependent increases in frontal high-frequency and posterior slow-frequency brain network connections and density. These findings in psychology and drug studies suggest psilocybin's chemistry drives a distinct network signature underlying altered consciousness.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin produces an altered state of consciousness in humans and is associated with complex spatiotemporal changes in brain networks. G...
The endogenous opioid system in the medial prefrontal cortex mediates ketamine's antidepressant-like actions.
Translational psychiatry – February 12, 2024
Summary
Ketamine's remarkable antidepressant effects are linked to natural opioid activity in the brain's prefrontal cortex. Scientists discovered that ketamine boosts levels of β-endorphin (our body's natural feel-good chemical) and activates opioid receptors in this key brain region. When researchers blocked these opioid signals, ketamine's mood-lifting effects disappeared, revealing how this promising treatment works to fight depression.
Abstract
Recent studies have implicated the endogenous opioid system in the antidepressant actions of ketamine, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear...
Psychedelic Microdosing among Young Adults from Southern California
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – February 10, 2024
Summary
Nearly one in five young adults attempting psychedelic microdosing actually take standard, psychoactive doses, risking adverse effects. Among 2,396 young adults, only 3% (74 individuals) had ever microdosed, despite 12% awareness. Psilocybin (70%) and lysergic acid diethylamide (57%) were the most common hallucinogens. This underscores the need for Medicine, Psychiatry, and Psychology to provide clear guidance on these chemical synthesis and alkaloids, for both Clinical Psychology and broader Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Despite common depictions in the media, there is little scientific evidence on microdosing psychedelic drugs. We assessed awareness, prevalence, an...
Emotion regulation effects of Ayahuasca in experienced subjects during implicit aversive stimulation: An fMRI study.
Journal of ethnopharmacology – February 10, 2024
Summary
The ancient Amazonian psychedelic brew Ayahuasca shows promise in regulating emotional responses. Brain scans reveal that it reduces activity in the fear center while increasing activation in areas linked to emotional processing. Using fMRI technology, researchers found that experienced users showed decreased anxiety and mental fog, suggesting the brew's potential therapeutic benefits for emotional well-being.
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a beverage used in Amazonian traditional medicine and it has been part of the human experience for millennia as well as other differen...
Antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like activities and acute toxicity evaluation of the Psilocybe cubensis mushroom in experimental models in mice.
Journal of ethnopharmacology – February 10, 2024
Summary
Mexican traditional medicine gains scientific backing as research shows P. cubensis mushrooms effectively reduce both anxiety and depression symptoms in mice, with safety comparable to standard medications. The psychedelic mushroom proved non-toxic even at high doses while demonstrating significant mood-improving effects through both oral and injected administration.
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) diseases can be diverse and usually present with comorbidity, as in the case of depression and anxiety. Despite altern...
Altered States and Social Bonds: Effects of MDMA and Serotonergic Psychedelics on Social Behavior as a Mechanism Underlying Substance-Assisted Therapy
Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging – February 09, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveal that MDMA and serotonergic hallucinogens uniquely foster prosocial behavior, crucial for mental health. Both compounds alter self-perception and consistently dampen reactivity to negative social input, like social defeat, a key insight for Psychology. Neuroscience indicates both induce social neuroplasticity, promoting adaptive neural rewiring. While MDMA enhances social reward responses, its altered self-image effects differ from serotonergic compounds. Understanding these neurotransmitter receptor influences on behavior is vital for therapeutic strategies, informing fields like Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis about their distinct mechanisms.
Abstract
There has been renewed interest in the use of 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) and serotonergic psychedelics in the treatment of multiple ...
Ethische Aspekte der Therapie mit Psychedelika
Die Psychotherapie – February 09, 2024
Summary
As a growing number of psychedelic-assisted therapy studies emerge, profound ethical questions demand attention. Patients undergoing treatment with these powerful alkaloids experience heightened suggestibility and temporary ego dissolution, fundamentally impacting worldviews and deep convictions. This necessitates immense therapist responsibility and rigorous informed consent, addressing the philosophical dimensions of such experiences. Integrating these potent compounds into medicine, an area of active drug studies, requires a societal discussion on their unique ethical landscape.
Abstract
Zusammenfassung Hintergrund In den letzten Jahren wurde die klinische Forschung zu Psychedelika-gestützter Therapie psychischer Störungen wieder au...
Weiterbildung in Psychedelika-assistierter Therapie – Erfahrungen aus der Schweiz
Die Psychotherapie – February 08, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics like MDMA, LSD, and psilocybin show promise for treating affective disorders. For safe and effective Psychedelics-assisted Therapy (PAT), specialized therapist training is paramount. Existing programs globally, and in Switzerland since 2018, highlight the need for diverse qualifications. Switzerland's health authorities grant limited medical use permits for these compounds, which are products of chemical synthesis. This emerging field, relevant to Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, emphasizes structured education. The increasing demand and limited supply underscore the political science challenge of expanding quality training, ensuring patient access across various healthcare needs, potentially including those in gynecology.
Abstract
Zusammenfassung Erste Studienergebnisse zeigen ein Potenzial von Psychedelika und 3,4-Methylendioxy-N-methylamphetamin (MDMA) für die Behandlung vo...
Development and psychometric validation of a novel scale for measuring 'psychedelic preparedness'.
Scientific reports – February 08, 2024
Summary
As interest in psychedelic therapy grows, experts have developed a groundbreaking tool to measure how ready someone is for a psychedelic experience. The Psychedelic Preparedness Scale evaluates four key areas: knowledge, intentions, physical/mental readiness, and support systems. Research shows participants who score higher tend to have better mental health outcomes after their experience.
Abstract
Preparing participants for psychedelic experiences is crucial for ensuring these experiences are safe and, potentially beneficial. However, there i...
Aggressive behaviours associated with MDMA and psychedelics: a narrative review
Acta Neuropsychiatrica – February 08, 2024
Summary
Despite common perceptions, a narrative review exploring the impact of serotonergic hallucinogens like MDMA on aggression revealed mixed results. Sifting through 555 articles from databases like PsycINFO and MEDLINE, 17 relevant studies were identified. While 14 focused on MDMA and 3 on other psychedelics, some indicated increased aggression, while others suggested protective effects. This complex picture in clinical psychology highlights the need for clearer definitions and standardized measures to understand these substances' full influence on behavior.
Abstract
Abstract Objective: Monoamine neurotransmitters play a role in aggression, especially when altered by illicit substances. However, some literature ...
Evaluation of the Indazole Analogs of 5-MeO-DMT and Related Tryptamines as Serotonin Receptor 2 Agonists.
ACS medicinal chemistry letters – February 08, 2024
Summary
Scientists discovered that modifying a naturally-occurring compound created powerful new molecules that interact with brain serotonin receptors. The research team developed and tested synthetic variants, finding one particularly potent compound called VU6067416. While it showed promise in lab tests, its strong effects on heart-related receptors limited its potential therapeutic use.
Abstract
Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a novel set of substituted indazole-ethanamines and indazole-tetrahydropyridines as potent ...
Psilocybin-induced changes in neural reactivity to alcohol and emotional cues in patients with alcohol use disorder: an fMRI pilot study
Scientific Reports – February 07, 2024
Summary
A single 25 mg dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin significantly diminishes alcohol craving. In 11 patients with alcohol use disorder (5 receiving psilocybin, 6 a placebo), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) revealed profound changes. Psilocybin, an alkaloid often from chemical synthesis, increased prefrontal cortex activity while decreasing insular cortex engagement, impacting cue reactivity. This neuroscience and psychology finding suggests improved emotional regulation. The supramarginal gyrus also showed unique changes. Such insights into neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior are vital for medicine, drug studies, and even audiology.
Abstract
Abstract This pilot study investigated psilocybin-induced changes in neural reactivity to alcohol and emotional cues in patients with alcohol use d...
Membrane Permeation of Psychedelic Tryptamines by Dynamic Simulations.
Biochemistry – February 07, 2024
Summary
How do psychedelics reach the brain? Dynamic simulations reveal psychedelic tryptamines efficiently cross cell membranes. This computational work modeled molecular interactions, confirming specific mechanisms that enable their rapid permeation. The findings offer a clearer understanding of how these compounds access neural targets and exert their profound effects.
Abstract
Membrane Permeation of Psychedelic Tryptamines by Dynamic Simulations.
Effects of External Stimulation on Psychedelic State Neurodynamics.
ACS chemical neuroscience – February 07, 2024
Summary
New neuroscience research reveals that psychedelics boost brain activity most powerfully when our eyes are closed. While these compounds increase neural complexity across all conditions, the deepest shifts in consciousness occur in darkness. Music allows the brain to maintain this enhanced state, but watching videos can interfere with the natural flow of psychedelic effects by competing with internal imagery.
Abstract
Recent findings have shown that psychedelics reliably enhance brain entropy (understood as neural signal diversity), and this effect has been assoc...
Effects of DMT on mental health outcomes in healthy volunteers
Scientific Reports – February 07, 2024
Summary
Intravenous DMT significantly improved mental health, reducing depression within two weeks. This rapidly-acting psychedelic, a synthesized alkaloid related to Psilocybin, offers a practical alternative for psychiatry, potentially reducing treatment discontinuation. In a placebo-controlled group of 13, Neuroticism also decreased. Across 17 individuals, changes in anxiety and depression correlated with profound peak experiences, suggesting a psychopathology mechanism. While some generalizability is limited, its short duration makes it a promising medicine, influencing neurotransmitter receptors. This clinical psychology development could transform mental health.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin, a serotonergic psychedelic, is being increasingly researched in clinical studies for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. T...
Effect of Bulky N-Dibenzofuranylmethyl Substitution on the 5-HT2 Receptor Affinity and Efficacy of a Psychedelic Phenethylamine.
ACS chemical neuroscience – February 07, 2024
Summary
Surprisingly, attaching very large chemical groups to certain drug molecules can significantly boost their potency. Researchers investigated how bulky N-substituents on phenethylamine derivatives affect their interaction with serotonin receptors. They synthesized new compounds, testing their 5-HT2 receptor binding and 5-HT2 receptor agonism. Findings revealed that specific bulky N-substituents dramatically increased affinity, with one compound showing 40x higher binding to 5-HT2C receptors. Molecular docking poses illuminated how these large groups fit precisely into the receptor, offering insights for designing more effective compounds.
Abstract
The introduction of arylmethyl substituents on the amine nitrogen atom of phenethylamines and tryptamines often results in profound increases in th...
Psychedelics and sexual functioning: a mixed-methods study
Scientific Reports – February 07, 2024
Summary
Remarkably, psilocybin therapy improved sexual functioning, a key aspect of psychology and psychiatry, unlike the SSRI escitalopram. Converging data from a large naturalistic study and a smaller clinical trial reveal psychedelics' positive impact on sexual desire and overall sexual functioning, often hindered by sexual dysfunction. This work in clinical psychology suggests that neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, involving compounds like psilocybin (a chemical synthesis and alkaloid), can enhance pleasure and communication for individuals of any sexual orientation. This opens new avenues in psychedelics and drug studies for wellbeing.
Abstract
Abstract Do psychedelics affect sexual functioning postacutely? Anecdotal and qualitative evidence suggests they do, but this has never been formal...
Lasting dynamic effects of the psychedelic 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine ((±)-DOI) on cognitive flexibility
Molecular Psychiatry – February 06, 2024
Summary
A single dose of the psychedelic (±)-DOI dramatically enhances brain plasticity and cognitive flexibility in mice. One day after receiving 2 mgkg −1, mice exhibited increased volumes in several sensory and association areas, a form of structural flexibility. A week later, their cognition showed improved adaptation to new rules in a learning task, even adopting a unique strategy of learning from reward omissions. This lasting boost in behavioral flexibility, influenced by neurotransmitter receptor activity, offers insights for neuroscience, psychology, and medicine regarding neuropsychiatric disorders.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic drugs can aid fast and lasting remission from various neuropsychiatric disorders, though the underlying mechanisms remain uncl...
A Systematic Review of Interventions for Demoralization in Patients with Chronic Diseases
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine – February 05, 2024
Summary
Demoralization profoundly impacts quality of life for patients with chronic diseases, a critical mental health concern in medicine. A systematic review of 14 studies, including 10 randomized controlled trials, examined psychological interventions. Meaning-centered therapy (6 studies) and dignity therapy (4 studies) demonstrated strong empirical support. Other interventions, like psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, were also explored. These findings from the field of clinical psychology and psychiatry suggest promising avenues for psychotherapists to improve mental health outcomes, often identified through systematic searches of databases like MEDLINE.
Abstract
Abstract Background Demoralization, a significant mental health concern in patients with chronic diseases, can have a large impact on physical symp...
Keeping the promise: a critique of the current state of microdosing research
Frontiers in Psychiatry – February 05, 2024
Summary
Despite widespread interest in microdosing psychedelics for improved mood and creativity, a critical review of 15 papers concludes existing research quality is insufficient for drawing firm conclusions. Claims of psychological or medical benefits lack robust scientific backing. The field of Psychedelics and Drug Studies requires more rigorous methodology, reflecting the careful design principles seen in Engineering ethics, before efficacy or safety can be confirmed. Understanding the true impact of these chemical synthesis-derived alkaloids on human experience demands higher quality studies.
Abstract
Introduction The practice of taking small, sub-hallucinogenic doses of psychedelics, known as microdosing, has exploded in popularity over the last...
Modulation of long-term potentiation following microdoses of LSD captured by thalamo-cortical modelling in a randomised, controlled trial.
BMC neuroscience – February 05, 2024
Summary
Tiny doses of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) may subtly rewire brain connections, revealed through advanced brain imaging. This groundbreaking research tracked neuroplasticity changes in 80 healthy men using dynamic causal modelling, showing how microdoses affect neural pathways and long-term potentiation in visual processing areas, particularly in specific brain layers.
Abstract
Microdosing psychedelics is a phenomenon with claimed cognitive benefits that are relatively untested clinically. Pre-clinically, psychedelics have...
Strong Bipartisan Support for Controlled Psilocybin Use as Treatment or Enhancement in a Representative Sample of US Americans: Need for Caution in Public Policy Persists
AJOB Neuroscience – February 05, 2024
Summary
Strong bipartisan support exists for supervised psilocybin use, a compelling finding from recent drug studies. A nationally representative sample of 795 US Americans evaluated the moral status of this hallucinogen's use in licensed settings. Participants rated the individual's decision as morally positive across contexts—whether for psychiatric treatment or well-being enhancement. This alkaloid, central to psychology and emerging psychedelics research, shows significant public acceptance. Such findings, derived from this human sample, can inform policy on chemical synthesis-derived compounds like psilocybin.
Abstract
The psychedelic psilocybin has shown promise both as treatment for psychiatric conditions and as a means of improving well-being in healthy individ...
Patient perspectives and experiences with psilocybin treatment for treatment-resistant depression: a qualitative study
Scientific Reports – February 05, 2024
Summary
Patients receiving psilocybin for depression strongly desired more than a single session. Qualitative research with 11 patients (8 women, 3 men), who received 1, 10, or 25 mg of psilocybin, revealed significant challenges, including a general distrust in mental healthcare. Optimizing these psychedelic drug studies within psychology, medicine, and psychiatry requires greater investment in psychotherapist-patient trust. Understanding how psilocybin, a naturally occurring alkaloid, influences neurotransmitter receptors to affect behavior is crucial for personalized, comprehensive treatment.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin is the most researched classic psychedelic for Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD). While optimizing set and setting are consi...
Perceptions and attitudes towards psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy among health professionals, patients, and the public: A systematic review
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – February 05, 2024
Summary
Knowledge about psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is generally low across health professionals, patients, and the public. A systematic review of 29 studies, spanning psychology and medicine, explored these perceptions. Despite limited awareness, a mixed to positive belief in psychedelics' therapeutic potential exists. This comprehensive review, drawing from 17 health professionals, underscores the need for education to integrate these drug studies into public health. Databases like MEDLINE informed this work, highlighting concerns about implementation and legal status for psychotherapist-led treatments.
Abstract
Abstract Background and aims Scientific interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics has been experiencing significant growth. Understandi...
Psilocybin-enhanced fear extinction linked to bidirectional modulation of cortical ensembles
OpenAlex – February 04, 2024
Summary
A single dose of psilocybin dramatically boosts behavioral flexibility. Neuroscience reveals this psychedelic compound, an alkaloid with Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, acutely suppresses fear-active neurons while later recruiting extinction-active neurons. Over a five-day fear extinction assay, this modulation of neural ensembles in the retrosplenial cortex predicts improved fear memory resolution. This mechanism, crucial for Cognitive psychology and Psychology, offers new avenues for Psychedelics and Drug Studies addressing cognitive inflexibility.
Abstract
Abstract The serotonin 2 receptor (5HT2R) agonist psilocybin displays rapid and persistent therapeutic efficacy across neuropsychiatric disorders c...
Effects of hallucinogenic drugs on the human heart
Frontiers in Pharmacology – February 02, 2024
Summary
Beyond their known central nervous system effects, hallucinogens like Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and Psilocybin also profoundly impact heart function. Pharmacology reveals these psychedelics, often products of intricate chemical synthesis and alkaloids, stimulate serotonin receptors, influencing heart rate (chronotropic action) and contraction strength. This includes substances such as Ergotamine and other Lysergic acid derivatives. Understanding this complex chemistry is vital for medicine and drug studies, highlighting a significant neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior and physiology.
Abstract
Hallucinogenic drugs are used because they have effects on the central nervous system. Their hallucinogenic effects probably occur via stimulation ...
Nursing in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: new opportunities and future prospects
British Journal of Mental Health Nursing – February 02, 2024
Summary
The rise of psychedelic-assisted therapy is opening up new professional avenues for nurses. Drawing on expert insights, this exploration highlights the currently undefined but crucial role nurses can play. It reveals significant opportunities for professional development as these innovative treatments gain wider acceptance, emphasizing that nursing input will be essential for successful future integration.
Abstract
This article looks at the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and the nurse's role within that – something which is currently unex...
Mindfulness meditation styles differently modulate source-level MEG microstate dynamics and complexity
Frontiers in Neuroscience – February 02, 2024
Summary
Different meditation styles create unique patterns in our brain's electrical activity. Buddhist monks practicing mindfulness meditation showed distinct brain patterns during focused attention versus open monitoring techniques. Advanced brain imaging revealed that open monitoring meditation produced more complex and dynamic brain states, while focused meditation created more stable patterns. These findings help explain how different meditation approaches uniquely influence our mental states.
Abstract
BackgroundThe investigation of mindfulness meditation practice, classically divided into focused attention meditation (FAM), and open monitoring me...
An energizing microintervention: How mindfulness fosters subjective vitality through regulatory processes and flow experience at work.
Journal of occupational health psychology – February 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Can adopting one's morning routines influence employees' experiences throughout the day? To answer this focal question, we examine the daily effect...
Established sensitization of ethanol-induced locomotor activity is not reversed by psilocybin or the 5-HT2A receptor agonist TCB-2 in male DBA/2J mice.
Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior – February 01, 2024
Summary
While psilocybin shows promise for treating alcohol disorders, new research reveals it doesn't reverse established behavioral patterns in mice repeatedly exposed to ethanol. Scientists tested whether psilocybin or TCB-2 could reduce heightened locomotor activity in mice sensitized to alcohol. Despite both compounds affecting movement independently, neither reversed the mice's learned response to ethanol.
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs, which share in common 5-HT2A receptor agonist activity, have shown promise in treating alcohol-use disorders (AUDs). Repeated ex...
Magnesium-ibogaine therapy in veterans with traumatic brain injuries.
Nature medicine – February 01, 2024
Summary
Veterans with traumatic brain injuries saw significant improvements from a unique treatment combining a plant-derived compound with magnesium. This approach, tested in 30 male veterans, addressed functional impairments, PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Positive changes in functioning, PTSD, depression, and anxiety were observed immediately and at one month, with no serious adverse events.
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of disability. Sequelae can include functional impairments and psychiatric syndromes such as post-t...
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, psychedelic methodologies, and the impregnable value of the subjective—a new and evolving approach
Frontiers in Psychiatry – February 01, 2024
Summary
Ketamine, a legally prescribed medicine, offers profound potential in psychiatry. Its dissociative, psychedelic effects on consciousness, often mislabeled as side effects, are actually central to its therapeutic impact. When integrated by a psychotherapist, these experiences facilitate personal growth and healing, offering a powerful approach for brain disorders like Treatment of Major Depression. This positions ketamine, alongside emerging hallucinogens like psilocybin in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, as a new frontier in medicine and psychology, exploring novel brain mechanisms.
Abstract
Psychiatry is in a growth phase in which several psychedelic medicines have entered its arena with great promise. Of these, presently, ketamine is ...
Exploring the Efficacy of Ketamine as an Anesthetic and Antidepressant in Postpartum Depression: A Case Study Analysis.
Cureus – February 01, 2024
Summary
Ketamine, traditionally used in anesthesia, shows remarkable potential in preventing postpartum depression. In a groundbreaking case, a mother who received ketamine during two C-section deliveries experienced no depression symptoms, while her other two births without ketamine led to significant postnatal depression. This suggests ketamine could serve as both an anesthetic and protective agent for maternal mental health, offering a single-treatment approach that's more efficient than traditional anti-depressants.
Abstract
Postpartum depression is a common mental health disorder that affects women within six months after giving birth. It is characterized by sadness, a...
[Narcotic Use under Probation and Parole Supervision - A longitudinal Study of Risk-group-specific Recidivism under Abstinence Conditions].
Gesundheitswesen (Bundesverband der Arzte des Offentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes (Germany)) – February 01, 2024
Summary
Drug testing over 14 years revealed surprising patterns among probationers and parolees: while only 2.7% tested positive for narcotics, women were more likely than men to use amphetamines. Cannabis (3.7%) and opiates (2.4%) were most common among 18-35 year olds. The study analyzed 13,500 tests from 380 people, offering valuable insights into substance use patterns during court-supervised release.
Abstract
The aim of this long-term study was to record substance-specific prevalences of illegal use of narcotics despite court-imposed abstinence requireme...
Determination of psilocybin and psilocin content in multiple Psilocybe cubensis mushroom strains using liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry.
Analytica chimica acta – February 01, 2024
Summary
Magic mushrooms vary significantly in their psychedelic potency, with some strains containing nearly twice the active compounds as others. Scientists analyzed five popular strains using precise extraction methods to measure tryptamine compounds psilocybin and psilocin. The Creeper strain proved most potent at 1.36%, while Thai Cubensis contained 0.88% of these indoleamine compounds.
Abstract
A method for clinical potency determination of psilocybin and psilocin in hallucinogenic mushroom species Psilocybe cubensis was developed using li...
Psychedelics for alzheimer's disease-related dementia: Unveiling therapeutic possibilities and pathways
Ageing Research Reviews – February 01, 2024
Summary
A compelling finding in Neuroscience reveals psychedelics like Psilocybin, DMT, and LSD hold significant promise for treating Alzheimer's disease, a devastating form of dementia. These powerful chemical compounds, with a rich historical context, modulate neurotransmitter receptors to enhance neural plasticity and combat disease progression. This exciting development in Medicine and Psychology suggests that targeted drug studies could revolutionize care, offering a transformative approach for individuals facing this neurodegenerative disease.
Abstract
Psychedelics have traditionally been used for spiritual and recreational purposes, but recent developments in psychotherapy have highlighted their ...
The effect of casing and gypsum on the yield and psychoactive tryptamine content of Psilocybe cubensis (Earle) Singer.
Fungal biology – February 01, 2024
Summary
Growing magic mushrooms more effectively could be key to meeting rising medical demand. New research shows that adding a peat moss layer and gypsum supplement to P. cubensis cultivation dramatically improves yields. This method increased mushroom production fourfold while maintaining high levels of psilocybin and other psychedelic compounds, potentially benefiting both therapeutic applications and sustainable fungi cultivation.
Abstract
Psychedelic fungi have experienced a surge in interest in recent years. Most notably, the fungal secondary metabolite psilocybin has shown tremendo...
Matrix Effects of Urine Marker Substances in LC-MS/MS Analysis of Drug of Abuse.
Therapeutic drug monitoring – February 01, 2024
Summary
Drug testing accuracy faces an unexpected challenge: common chemicals in urine can interfere with results. Scientists found that polyethylene glycol (PEG), used in urine marking systems, can mask drug detection signals. However, when PEG levels are kept low, testing remains reliable, with accuracy rates above 85% for most substances. This finding helps labs maintain trustworthy drug screening results.
Abstract
Analysis of drug abuse is frequently performed using high-performance liquid chromatography with an MS/MS detector and electrospray ionization. In ...
A Neuroanatomic and Pathophysiologic Framework for Novel Pharmacological Approaches to the Treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.
Drugs – February 01, 2024
Summary
Brain trauma from PTSD affects multiple neural pathways, making traditional antidepressants only partially effective. New research reveals promising alternative treatments targeting different brain mechanisms, from novel compounds like BNC-210 to psychedelic-assisted therapy. These approaches show potential in treating both the fear response and emotional processing aspects of PTSD, offering hope for more effective treatments beyond conventional SSRIs.
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating disorder inflicting high degrees of symptomatic and socioeconomic burdens. The development ...
Analytical and behavioral characterization of N-ethyl-N-isopropyllysergamide (EIPLA), an isomer of N6 -ethylnorlysergic acid N,N-diethylamide (ETH-LAD).
Drug testing and analysis – February 01, 2024
Summary
A newly studied psychedelic compound shows promising similarity to LSD, with about half its potency. Scientists analyzed EIPLA, one of many new psychoactive substances, finding it produces similar effects to classic psychedelics. Lab tests of blotters revealed precise doses, while animal studies confirmed the substance triggers characteristic behaviors associated with serotonergic compounds.
Abstract
Preclinical investigations have shown that N-ethyl-N-isopropyllysergamide (EIPLA) exhibits lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)-like properties, which ...
The impact of psychedelics on patients with alcohol use disorder: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Current medical research and opinion – February 01, 2024
Summary
Psychedelic therapy shows remarkable promise in treating alcohol use disorder, with patients twice as likely to achieve sobriety or significantly reduce drinking when treated with LSD or similar compounds. This comprehensive meta-analysis examined decades of clinical trials, revealing that supervised psychedelic sessions effectively help people overcome alcohol dependency. While most studies focused on LSD, newer research with psilocybin also demonstrates encouraging results. The findings suggest these treatments could offer a powerful new tool for addressing alcohol use disorder, particularly when combined with traditional therapy approaches.
Abstract
Critique the available systematic review and de novo assessment of the role of psychedelics in the treatment of alcohol use disorder. A systematic ...
Ensuring the affordable becomes accessible-lessons from ketamine, a new treatment for severe depression.
The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry – February 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
In this paper, the case study of ketamine as a new treatment for severe depression is used to outline the challenges of repurposing established med...
Hypothetical biosynthetic pathways of pharmaceutically potential hallucinogenic metabolites in Myristicaceae, mechanistic convergence and co-evolutionary trends in plants and humans.
Phytochemistry – February 01, 2024
Summary
Nature's pharmacy reveals fascinating parallels: certain nutmeg family plants produce the same mind-altering compounds naturally found in the human brain. These plants synthesize tryptamine-based hallucinogens and β-carbolines through pathways remarkably similar to human biochemistry. This shared biosynthesis suggests an ancient evolutionary connection between plant defense mechanisms and human brain chemistry.
Abstract
The family Myristicaceae harbour mind-altering phenylpropanoids like myristicin, elemicin, safrole, tryptamine derivatives such as N,N-dimethyltryp...
Serotonergic Psychedelics: A Comparative Review of Efficacy, Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Binding Profile
Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging – February 01, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin shows promise for depression, a compelling finding in the burgeoning field of Psychedelics and Drug Studies. This review explores hallucinogens like Lysergic acid diethylamide and Mescaline, examining their pharmacology, including pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. These compounds, often from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, exert serotonergic effects through neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. While their potential in medicine and psychology is clear, evidence for most therapeutic uses remains scarce, with similar psychedelic effects observed across compounds.
Abstract
Psychedelic compounds, including psilocybin, LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), DMT (N,N -dimethyltryptamine), and 5-MeO-DMT (5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyl...
Effects of 7-minute practices of breathing and meditation on stress reduction.
PsyCh journal – February 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
We compared the effects of 7-min practices of breathing and meditation on perceived stress reduction and related affective outcomes (active emotion...
Mindful awareness and resilience skills for adolescents (MARS-A): a mixed-methods study of a mindfulness-based intervention for a heterogeneous adolescent clinical population.
International journal of adolescent medicine and health – February 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Mindful Awareness and Resilience Skills for Adolescents (MARS-A) is a mindfulness-based intervention adapted for the adolescent population. While p...
Unique Effects of (R)-Ketamine Compared to (S)-Ketamine on EEG Theta Power in Rats.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) – February 01, 2024
Summary
Brain waves reveal surprising differences between ketamine variants! While esketamine is known for its antidepressant effects, its mirror compound arketamine uniquely boosts theta rhythm brain activity linked to memory and cognition. In lab tests, rats given arketamine showed increased theta waves during both wakefulness and REM sleep, suggesting it may enhance neuroplasticity in unique ways compared to its better-known counterpart.
Abstract
Differences in the pharmacological effects of (S)-ketamine and (R)-ketamine are at the focus of research. Clinical data and our rat studies confirm...
Do the therapeutic effects of psilocybin involve actions in the gut?
Trends in pharmacological sciences – February 01, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin's therapeutic benefits may start in an unexpected place: your gut. New evidence suggests this psychedelic compound works along the gut-brain axis, activating serotonin receptors in both the digestive system and brain. Through the vagus nerve pathway, these actions may enhance neuroplasticity and improve mental health. The gut's high concentration of serotonin receptors could be key to understanding how psychedelics create positive changes.
Abstract
The psychedelic compound psilocybin has recently emerged as a therapeutic intervention for various mental health conditions. Psilocybin is a potent...
Comparison of Dexmedetomidine and Ketamine in Serratus Anterior Plane Block for Postoperative Pain Control in Thoracotomy Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Anesthesiology and pain medicine – February 01, 2024
Summary
Pain control breakthroughs: Adding ketamine to nerve blocks proves more effective than dexmedetomidine for managing post-thoracotomy pain. In this 74-patient trial, both medications helped reduce discomfort when added to standard nerve blocks, but ketamine showed superior pain control at key intervals. Patients receiving ketamine reported significantly lower pain scores, particularly in the first 24 hours after surgery.
Abstract
Postoperative pain control after thoracotomy is very important, and if not controlled, it can cause severe complications. This study aimed to compa...
Ketamine in Chronic Pain: A Review.
Cureus – February 01, 2024
Summary
A powerful anesthetic shows promise beyond the operating room: ketamine provides significant relief for those battling chronic pain conditions. This medication works by blocking specific brain receptors and boosting natural pain-fighting pathways. Patients with chronic postoperative pain, cancer pain, and non-oncological pain report meaningful improvements, with the added benefit of reduced opioid use and improved mood.
Abstract
Ketamine has been used in the treatment of several pain syndromes, particularly those with a relevant neuropathic component. Sub-anesthetic doses o...
The impact of ketamine on outcomes in critically ill patients: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Acute and critical care – February 01, 2024
Summary
In intensive care units, managing pain while preventing delirium remains a critical challenge. Ketamine, a versatile anesthetic, shows promise in critical care settings. Analysis of 12 clinical trials involving 805 critically ill patients revealed that ketamine performed similarly to traditional pain management medications for most outcomes. Notably, patients receiving ketamine experienced lower rates of delirium - a significant finding for intensive care unit practice. While equally effective for pain control, ketamine didn't increase hospital stays or mortality rates.
Abstract
This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effects of ketamine in critically ill intensive care unit (ICU) patients. We searched for randomized contro...
Effectiveness of Ketamine for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Clinical neuropsychiatry – February 01, 2024
Summary
Recent findings show ketamine could offer new hope for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients. Analysis of 10 clinical trials revealed significant symptom improvements in participants receiving ketamine treatment, with benefits lasting up to 4 weeks. The drug proved particularly effective at reducing core PTSD symptoms when administered through controlled infusions, offering a promising alternative for those who haven't responded to conventional treatments.
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an enduring condition characterized by a chronic course and impairments across several areas. Despite its ...