979 results for "Mindfulness"
Psychedelic drugs and the law: What’s next?
Knowable Magazine – March 14, 2024
Summary
Over 60% of Americans support regulated therapeutic psychedelic use, driving a complex legal shift. Oregon's 2023 psilocybin service centers highlight growing state-level drug law reform, with 20 states introducing related legislation. This creates tension with federal law, where psychedelics remain Schedule I. While 5.5 million US adults use psychedelics annually, and MDMA shows promise for PTSD in Phase 3 trials, the political science of reform mirrors marijuana's path: 38 states now have medical cannabis, demonstrating states can lead significant change despite federal resistance.
Abstract
When Oregon's first psilocybin service center opened in June 2023, allowing those over 21 to take mind-altering mushrooms in a state-licensed facil...
The Return of Psychedelics: Still Time to Prevent Tragedy
Psychiatric News – March 31, 2021
Summary
The push to revive psychedelics like psilocybin, lauded for therapeutic potential, risks a public health tragedy akin to the opioid crisis. Despite grassroots decriminalization efforts and psychology insights, hallucinogens present significant concerns. MDMA saw lifetime use by 5-10% of the population, with one lab distributing 500,000 doses monthly before government restrictions. Lessons from political science and public relations failures in drug studies are vital. Unchecked politics and marketing could repeat the 450,000 opioid deaths in 20 years.
Abstract
Back to table of contents Previous article Next article ViewpointsFull AccessThe Return of Psychedelics: Still Time to Prevent TragedyStanley N. Ca...
Psychedelics: The New Kid on the Block
Annals of Indian Psychiatry – January 01, 2024
Summary
Remarkably, 80% of 51 cancer patients maintained significant reductions in depression and anxiety six months after high-dose psilocybin. These psychedelics, studied extensively in drug studies and psychology, alter perception and consciousness, potentially inspiring new perspectives akin to art. Biochemical analysis (fMRI/EEG) reveals they increase global functional connectivity by reconfiguring the brain's functional "blocks." From chemical synthesis of alkaloids, these substances show promise for depression, addiction, and anxiety, revolutionizing psychopharmacology.
Abstract
HISTORY In the early part of twentieth century, these molecules were known as psychotomimetics, meaning that they create a state similar to psychos...
Study-related adverse events.
OPAL (Open@LaTrobe) (La Trobe University) – September 19, 2025
Summary
Combining psilocybin with mindfulness significantly reduced depressive symptoms in healthcare workers experiencing burnout. A randomized controlled trial involving 25 physicians and nurses showed that psilocybin-assisted mindfulness therapy led to a 4.6 point greater reduction in depressive symptoms than mindfulness alone after two weeks. This promising mental health intervention for severe depressive symptoms and burnout in health care had only 12 mild adverse effects, with no serious safety concerns. This clinical trial suggests a novel approach in psychiatry.
Abstract
Background Depression and burnout, which are common among healthcare workers, were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mindfulness-Based Stress R...
Geometric Meditation-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Case Study
arXiv Preprint Archive – April 10, 2019
Summary
A novel meditation technique combining geometric patterns with cognitive behavioral therapy showed promising results in treating severe OCD. The approach helped a patient significantly reduce intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors through eight weekly sessions. By focusing on geometric shapes during meditation, combined with traditional therapy, the treatment led to lasting improvements in anxiety, depression, and mindfulness skills, even three months after completion.
Abstract
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), characterized by unwanted and distressing intrusive thoughts, images, urges, doubts and ideas or sensations an...
Multidimensional Analysis of Twin Sets During an Intensive Week-Long Meditation Retreat: A Pilot Study.
Mindfulness – January 01, 2025
Summary
Twins exhibited synchronized brain activity during meditation, even when separated. This pilot explored how mind-body practices influence individuals. Using quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG), gene expression, and metabolomics, positive shifts in brain activity, gene expression, and metabolites were observed. Twin pairs showed remarkable alignment, underscoring meditation's profound benefits.
Abstract
Meditation has long been known to promote health. We utilized a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the impact of mind-body interventions on ...
Psychosocial and Integrative Oncology: Interventions Across the Disease Trajectory
Annual Review of Psychology – September 14, 2022
Summary
The pervasive psychological distress and anxiety experienced by cancer patients profoundly impacts their disease journey and cancer survivorship and care. Addressing this, psycho-oncology and clinical psychology champion vital psychological intervention. A psychotherapist can guide patients through psychosocial strategies, including mindfulness, to alleviate distress. Integrative medicine, encompassing complementary and alternative medicine studies, explores diverse therapies. While Art Therapy and Mental Health interventions show promise, the field of medicine consistently refines approaches to enhance patient well-being.
Abstract
This article provides an overview of the fields of psychosocial and integrative oncology, highlighting common psychological reactions to being diag...
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...
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy and Psychedelic Science: A Review and Perspective on Opportunities in Neurosurgery and Neuro-Oncology
Neurosurgery – December 08, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics like Psilocybin are profoundly re-emerging as potential medicine, showing promise for over a dozen neuropsychiatric conditions including severe Mood and Anxiety disorders. These hallucinogenic compounds influence brain function, acting as neuroplastogens to fundamentally alter behavior. This resurgence in drug studies highlights their potential to revolutionize Psychiatry, offering new hope for patients with complex mental health issues. Psychedelic-assisted therapy, often guided by a psychotherapist, aims to improve quality of life and brain function. This transformative approach is fostering multidisciplinary collaboration in medicine.
Abstract
After a decades-long pause, psychedelics are again being intensely investigated for treating a wide range of neuropsychiatric ailments including de...
Culture, context, and ethics in the therapeutic use of hallucinogens: Psychedelics as active super-placebos?
Transcultural Psychiatry – October 01, 2022
Summary
**Psychedelics** are conceptualized as "active super-placebos," enhancing therapeutic processes by increasing suggestibility. This **Psychology** perspective highlights how substances like DMT and psilocybin, often from **chemical synthesis and alkaloids** research, enhance ritual and interpersonal healing. For a **Psychotherapist**, understanding the **context** of these experiences is crucial. **Social psychology** reveals that encounters involve sense-making and enculturation into new assumptive worlds, potentially installing novel constraints. Careful clinical oversight, informed by **Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques** of their mechanisms, is vital, respecting plural cultural origins and best practices in **Drug Studies**.
Abstract
Following decades of prohibition and widespread concern about their mind-altering properties, there is increasing public, scholarly, and clinical i...
Resilient Stress Reactivity Profiles Predict Mental Health Gains from Online Contemplative Training: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Journal of personalized medicine – May 04, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Low-dose app-based contemplative interventions for mental health are increasingly popular, but heterogeneity in intervention responses indicates th...
LSD alters dynamic integration and segregation in the human brain.
NeuroImage – February 15, 2021
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Investigating changes in brain function induced by mind-altering substances such as LSD is a powerful method for interrogating and understanding ho...
The Impact of a 4-Domain Wellness-Initiative Curriculum on Internal Medicine Resident Physicians.
HCA healthcare journal of medicine – January 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
There is a trend toward fostering well-being, or the state of being happy and healthy, within the medical community. Historically, resident physici...
Mapping Pharmacologically-induced Functional Reorganisation onto the Brain’s Neurotransmitter Landscape
OpenAlex – July 13, 2022
Summary
Mind-altering drugs profoundly reorganize brain function by engaging intricate neurotransmitter systems. Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research demonstrates that psychoactive substances, including 10 diverse drugs like psychedelics (LSD, psilocybin) and anesthetics, exert their effects based on the brain's molecular makeup. By mapping 19 neurotransmitter receptors and transporters, a clear link emerged between specific neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior and drug-induced changes. This work in Psychology and Medicine highlights how pharmacology precisely targets brain regions, revealing patterns that even mirror those seen in brain disorders.
Abstract
Abstract To understand how pharmacological interventions can exert their powerful effects on brain function, we need to understand how they engage ...
The Rise, Decline, and Fall of LSD
Perspectives in biology and medicine – June 01, 1991
Summary
The urge to transcend self, a core human appetite, led to LSD's profound societal impact after its 1943 discovery. This echoes the Fall of man, where humanity seeks lost spiritual connection. Ancient cultures, as seen in the 3,500-year-old Rig-Veda, integrated natural psychoactive agents into their Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices. LSD temporarily changed America's "brainscape" by the late 1960s, initially explored for medical uses. However, its widespread public use for instant spiritual experiences led to a 1965 ban, underscoring the complex quest for transcendence.
Abstract
THE RISE, DECLINE, AND FALL OF LSD ROBERT F. ULRICH and BERNARD M. PATTEN* The urge to transcend self-conscious selfhood is ... a principal appetit...
When art therapy went chemical: Alfred Bader, pharmacology, and art brut, c.1950-1970s
História Ciências Saúde-Manguinhos – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psychopharmacology profoundly reshaped psychiatry's view of art. Unearthing the historical context of art therapy, its origins are repositioned through evolving clinical practices and mind-altering drugs. Early 20th-century use of psychotropic drugs influenced the psychopathology of art. Later, psychiatrist Alfred Bader and pharmacologist Roland Fischer conducted post-WWII experiments involving psilocybin, highlighting consciousness in mental health discussions. Psychotherapists in psychology increasingly linked art brut and modernist aesthetics to neurobiology, defining madness as a social disease, impacting art and mental health.
Abstract
Abstract This article analyzes how psychopharmacology transformed the relationship between art and psychiatry. It outlines a novel genealogy of art...
Psilocybin and Psilocin
OpenAlex – March 09, 2000
Summary
Psilocybin mushrooms are notably more popular than LSD among college students, with 15% reporting use compared to just 5% for LSD. These "mind-revealing" mushrooms, containing psilocybin and psilocin, have a long history, used ritualistically by Mexican Native Americans for thousands of years. Modern recreational appeal extends to younger demographics; a California survey found 3.4% of seventh graders and 8.8% of eleventh graders had used them, often cultivated at home from readily available spores.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin and psilocin are indolealkylamines present in Central American Psilocybe species of mushrooms and in Panaeolus mushroom species...
To use or not to use: an update on licit and illicit ketamine use
Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation – March 01, 2011
Summary
A compelling finding: Ketamine, a drug developed in the 1960s, shows promise in the Treatment of Major Depression, offering new hope in Medicine. Its pharmacology, however, also presents significant risks. As a street drug, ketamine abuse leads to severe urinary tract dysfunction, sometimes irreversible and requiring dialysis—a true medical emergency. Hallucinogenic effects and mind-body dissociation are also notable. Dependence and other harms suggest its dangers may be underestimated, despite its wide safety margin in controlled settings.
Abstract
Ketamine, a derivative of phencyclidine that was developed in the 1960s, is an anesthetic and analgesic with hallucinogenic effects. In this paper,...
Accelerated recovery using magnesium ibogaine: characterizing the subjective experience of its rapid healing from neuropsychiatric disorders.
Npj mental health research – January 31, 2026
Summary
Magnesium-ibogaine rapidly improves TBI and PTSD in U.S. Special Operations veterans. Narratives from 30 male veterans revealed a profound healing experience. Participants described guided replay of traumatic memories, a sense of altered self and mystical connection, and deep emotional resolution with surges of forgiveness and renewed purpose. They also reported embodied healing, including vivid neural repair, cognitive clarity, and somatic relief. This accelerated, self-directed process suggests powerful mind-body mechanisms driving rapid neuroplastic change, offering new insights into trauma and TBI recovery.
Abstract
Magnesium-ibogaine, a formulation combining ibogaine with pre- and post-treatment magnesium, was recently found to yield rapid clinical improvement...
Task-invariant networks interfere with and task-specific networks support memory formation: An fMRI meta-analysis.
Imaging neuroscience (Cambridge, Mass.) – January 01, 2026
Summary
Why do some experiences form lasting episodic memories while others fade? A meta-analysis of 56 fMRI studies reveals a striking pattern: brain networks impairing memory encoding are consistent across tasks, linked to distraction or mind-wandering. These intrinsic networks, like the default mode, are recruited when memories fail to form. Conversely, successful encoding relies on task-specific brain engagement; verbal information activates language systems, while pictures engage visual areas. This suggests forgetting stems from general attentional lapses, but remembering requires precise, context-sensitive neural activity.
Abstract
Why do some moments imprint themselves in memory while others vanish without a trace? This meta-analysis identifies a dissociation in large-scale b...
A low dose of lysergic acid diethylamide decreases pain perception in healthy volunteers
Journal of Psychopharmacology – August 25, 2020
Summary
A dose of 20 µg of Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) significantly enhanced pain tolerance during a Cold Pressor Test, allowing participants to withstand cold water for longer while reducing their perceived pain and discomfort. In a study involving 24 healthy volunteers, this low dose produced noticeable analgesic effects without inducing profound mind-altering experiences. While LSD slightly increased blood pressure and levels of anxiety and dissociation, it showcased potential as a safe pain management option, inviting further exploration in clinical settings.
Abstract
Background: Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is an ergot alkaloid derivative with psychedelic properties that has been implicated in the management...
Natural language analysis of the structure of altered states of consciousness
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – May 17, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics like salvia and ketamine show remarkable similarities in content to non-drug methods of inducing altered states of consciousness (ASC), based on an analysis of 300 narrative reports. Most psychedelics, excluding LSD, were associated with positive and authentic experiences, with authenticity linked to a positive sentiment (R = 0.68). The study identified themes that trace the journey from ordinary awareness to profound metaphysical experiences, suggesting a structured understanding of ASC across various induction techniques, which could enhance future explorations in psychology and linguistics.
Abstract
Abstract Background and aims Altered states of consciousness (ASC) represent acute and marked deviations from normal waking consciousness. Investig...
Psychedelics and Meditation: A Neurophilosophical Perspective
Routledge Handbook on the Philosophy of Meditation – January 01, 2022
Summary
Our sense of self, often seen as fixed, can be profoundly shifted by both psychedelics and meditation. A neurophilosophical perspective reveals deep commonalities. Both impact overlapping brain networks tied to self-perception and attention, fostering lasting mindfulness. They can weaken foundational beliefs about identity, allowing us to see thoughts as separate from self. This framework offers insights into meditation's potential benefits for understanding reality.
Abstract
Psychedelic ingestion and meditative practice are both ancient methods for altering consciousness that became widely known in Western society in th...
The Effect of Yoga on Cancer-Related Fatigue and Quality of Life Among Racially and Ethnically Diverse Cancer Survivors: A Secondary Data Analysis.
Journal of integrative and complementary medicine – June 04, 2025
Summary
Yoga practice shows promising benefits for diverse cancer survivors, helping reduce fatigue and improve quality of life. A 4-week mindfulness-based yoga program combining gentle movement, meditation, and breathing techniques helped participants feel better physically and emotionally. Among diverse participants, 86% found the program beneficial for managing symptoms, with notable improvements in physical well-being and fatigue reduction.
Abstract
Introduction: Survivors from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds tend to experience cancer-related fatigue (CRF) at higher rates than non-H...
Shannon entropy of brain functional complex networks under the influence of the psychedelic Ayahuasca
arXiv Preprint Archive – November 01, 2016
Summary
Psychedelic Ayahuasca increases brain network complexity, supporting ancient wisdom about "mind expansion" with modern neuroscience. Brain scans revealed that this Amazonian brew creates more diverse neural connections while strengthening local brain networks. The changes in brain organization showed higher Shannon entropy, indicating more dynamic and flexible thought patterns during the psychedelic experience.
Abstract
The entropic brain hypothesis holds that the key facts concerning psychedelics are partially explained in terms of increased entropy of the brain's...
A thematic analysis of MDMA-related harm and harm reduction experiences and knowledge in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Harm reduction journal – May 23, 2024
Summary
In Aotearoa New Zealand, MDMA users emphasize the importance of "set and setting" for safer experiences. Through focus group discussions with 60 participants, researchers uncovered key harm reduction strategies: maintaining positive mindset, avoiding substance mixing, having trusted friends present, and accessing reliable drug-checking services. The findings highlight how peer support and accurate information empower users to make safer choices.
Abstract
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a popular drug worldwide and use is prevalent in Aotearoa New Zealand. Although associated with some signif...
Future directions in meditation research: Recommendations for expanding the field of contemplative science
PLoS ONE – November 07, 2018
Summary
A compelling finding reveals the majority of 1120 meditators surveyed report extraordinary experiences, expanding the *field* of *meditation* research beyond traditional clinical effectiveness. While *Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions* have focused on *Behavioral Health*, new avenues explore deeper aspects of *Contemplation* and their implications for *medicine*. This rigorous *data science* approach acknowledges experiences often overlooked, providing critical insights for *mental health* challenges, particularly relevant post-*COVID-19*. Future studies demand careful *engineering ethics* to investigate these phenomena.
Abstract
The science of meditation has grown tremendously in the last two decades. Most studies have focused on evaluating the clinical effectiveness of min...
Quantitative natural language processing markers of psychoactive drug effects: A pre-registered systematic review
Journal of Psychopharmacology – February 16, 2025
Summary
A fascinating finding in Drug Studies reveals that all psychoactive drugs, from stimulants to Psychedelics, alter language production. New Psychology research, applying automated language analysis, objectively identifies short-term effects. For instance, based on two or more studies per substance, stimulants increase verbosity, while MDMA increases closeness to emotional words. Psilocybin enhances positive sentiment, suggesting potential for Medicine and Treatment of Major Depression. One study even validated identifying MDMA intoxication. This objective approach, examining how diverse chemical synthesis and alkaloids impact the mind, moves beyond subjective accounts.
Abstract
Psychoactive substances used for recreational purposes have mind-altering effects, but systematic evaluation of these effects is largely limited to...
Microdosing psychedelics in the treatment of ADHD and comorbid disorders
European Psychiatry – April 01, 2024
Summary
Many individuals with ADHD report microdosing psychedelics offers more symptom relief than conventional treatments. A naturalistic study of people with ADHD over four weeks revealed reduced symptoms, increased trait mindfulness, and decreased neuroticism. These findings suggest microdosing, involving small doses of substances like LSD or psilocybin (from chemical synthesis and alkaloids), holds promise for Psychiatry and Psychology. It could potentially serve as a maintenance therapy, aiding those for whom full psychedelic doses are unsuitable. Ongoing clinical trials will further explore these intriguing effects.
Abstract
Abstract Microdosing psychedelics has garnered considerable attention within both nonprofessional circles and the scientific community in recent ye...
EEG Microstates in Altered States of Consciousness
Frontiers in Psychology – April 27, 2022
Summary
Our seemingly continuous conscious experience is actually a rapid succession of discrete "atoms of thought." Electroencephalography (EEG) in Neuroscience reveals these fundamental units, called microstates, as stable patterns of neural dynamics lasting merely 60-120 milliseconds. This insight from Cognitive psychology suggests consciousness isn't a fluid stream but a rapid succession of distinct mental states. Altered states of consciousness, including mind wandering and attention, significantly impact these functional brain connectivity patterns. Cognitive science uses this approach to explore the very nature of consciousness.
Abstract
Conscious experiences unify distinct phenomenological experiences that seem to be continuously evolving. Yet, empirical evidence shows that conscio...
Mystical experience occasioned by non-medicinal embodied therapy And integration process for mental well-Being
OpenAlex – December 22, 2022
Summary
Over half of participants (51%) in an embodied cognition program reported strong mystical experiences, mirroring effects seen with hallucinogens like Psilocybin. An additional 31% experienced moderate effects. This exploratory research involved 56 individuals undergoing a Body Logic Program, designed to integrate body and mind. Such findings in psychology and psychiatry suggest new avenues for mental health support, potentially offering psychotherapists novel medicine approaches without traditional psychedelics. This could be significant for mental health and psychiatry, especially in body image and dysmorphia studies, as an alternative to drug studies.
Abstract
Expansion of psychoactive hallucinogens in mental health continues to be a major trend. Several psychoactive molecules including psilocybin and MDM...
Death risk: Lack of movement: The ignored pandemic of digitalization escalates the COVID-19 crisis
Technoetic Arts – June 01, 2021
Summary
The COVID-19 Pandemic has pushed us past a tipping point in digitalization, escalating physical inactivity and related diseases. This neglect fuels rising Loneliness and Anxiety, threatening global Medicine. Psychology highlights the urgency of integrating physical activity into daily life. Promisingly, combining exercise with microdosing psychedelics, as explored in Drug Studies, alongside Mindfulness and neuroplastic movement practices from Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, offers a sustainable path forward. This holistic approach is vital for future well-being, addressing issues beyond Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies.
Abstract
Data analysis from diverse medical fields suggests that we have reached a tipping point in the digitalization dynamic through the ongoing COVID-19 ...
Managing psychological distress in women with breast cancer: A systematic review of intervention trends in the past decade.
Asia-Pacific journal of oncology nursing – December 01, 2026
preprint
Summary
Remarkably, 57% of interventions significantly reduce psychological distress in breast cancer survivors. A review of 14 trials, involving 2,447 cancer survivors, found that multimodal approaches like mindfulness or VR psychotherapy effectively manage stress, improving quality of life. These interventions achieved small to large effects (Cohen's d = 0.44-1.54). Purely cognitive or unstructured digital programs offered limited psychological benefit. Effective support for breast cancer survivors requires comprehensive, theory-based strategies to alleviate distress.
Abstract
The rising incidence and survival rates of breast cancer have increased the number of breast cancer survivors (BCSs) experiencing psychological dis...
Prospective examination of the therapeutic role of psychological flexibility and cognitive reappraisal in the ceremonial use of ayahuasca
Journal of Psychopharmacology – March 01, 2022
Summary
Ayahuasca therapy significantly boosts mood and psychological flexibility. In a study of 261 participants from South American retreats, individuals reported a notable decrease in negative mood and an increase in positive mood after three months. Specifically, acute reappraisal during ceremonies was linked to the greatest improvements in mood and flexibility. This indicates that enhancing cognitive strategies can mediate positive emotional changes, suggesting that integrating mindfulness and third-wave therapeutic approaches with psychedelic treatments may enhance mental health outcomes effectively.
Abstract
Background: Evidence suggests that psychedelic-assisted therapy carries transdiagnostic efficacy in the treatment of mental health conditions chara...
Treating psychological trauma: Special populations, symptoms, and innovative models of care.
Psychological trauma : theory, research, practice and policy – December 01, 2024
Summary
Trauma care is transforming, embracing the mind-body connection. New insights reveal that successful trauma care is increasingly **holistic** and **integrative**, recognizing individual **resilience**. Approaches now span from **mindfulness** and arts to physical activity and even carefully considered **psychedelics**, all aimed at healing diverse populations. This broadens effective options, emphasizing positive outcomes by tailoring care to individual needs and inherent strengths.
Abstract
Trauma treatment continues to evolve, with a wider range of options than ever before. In recent years, trauma treatments have become more holistic ...
Psychedelic-assisted Therapy as a Promising Treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Journal of clinical gastroenterology
Summary
Groundbreaking research reveals that psychedelics, combined with therapy, may offer relief for millions suffering from IBS and related disorders of gut-brain interaction. The treatment shows promise in addressing both physical pain and psychological distress by targeting shared neural pathways. Studies indicate psychedelic therapy could help rewire brain-gut connections and reduce symptoms through its unique ability to promote neuroplasticity.
Abstract
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is prevalent and can be disabling. Many patients remain symptomatic despite behavioral and medical therapies. Psyche...
Discovery and Structure–Activity Relationships of 2,5-Dimethoxyphenylpiperidines as Selective Serotonin 5-HT2A Receptor Agonists
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry – April 22, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics show promise for mental health, influencing behavior via neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. Their pharmacology involves serotonin agonist activity at the 5-HT receptor. Through careful chemistry and chemical synthesis, a new class of serotonin agonists, 2,5-dimethoxyphenylpiperidines, has been discovered. Structure–activity relationship investigations, considering stereochemistry, identified LPH-5 as a selective 5-HT2A receptor agonist. This advances drug studies by providing new tools to understand how serotonin signaling affects the brain.
Abstract
Classical psychedelics such as psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) are showing promising results in clin...
Unveiling the Psychedelic Journey: An Appraisal of Psilocybin as a Profound Antidepressant Therapy.
Molecular biotechnology – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, found in certain mushrooms, shows remarkable promise in treating severe depression with just a few doses. Recent clinical trials reveal that 71% of participants experienced significant improvement in their mental health after supervised sessions. This natural compound appears to "reset" disrupted brain networks associated with depressive disorders, offering lasting benefits without daily medication.
Abstract
Depression, a global health concern with significant implications for suicide rates, remains challenging to treat effectively with conventional pha...
Meditation and complexity: a review and synthesis of evidence.
Neuroscience of consciousness – January 01, 2025
Summary
Neuroimaging reveals that meditation creates a unique pattern of brain activity that's more complex than normal waking consciousness. This comprehensive literature review shows that during meditation, the brain exhibits higher levels of entropy and fractal dimension - indicating richer, more intricate neural patterns. Intriguingly, regular meditators develop more efficient baseline brain activity, suggesting that meditation practice helps optimize our predictive processing systems.
Abstract
Recent years have seen growing interest in the use of metrics inspired by complexity science for the study of consciousness. Work in this field has...
In vivo mapping of pharmacologically induced functional reorganization onto the human brain’s neurotransmitter landscape
Science Advances – June 14, 2023
Summary
The human brain's response to drugs reveals a profound link between molecular structure and behavior. Neuroscience shows diverse pharmacological agents, including 10 psychedelics and anesthetics, reorganize brain function by engaging multiple neurotransmitter systems. By mapping 19 neurotransmitter receptors and transporters, a clear influence on behavior emerged. This pharmacology insight has significant implications for Psychology and Medicine, informing drug studies and our understanding of brain disorders. Crucially, regional drug susceptibility mirrors vulnerability to structural alterations seen in conditions like those linked to Tryptophan imbalances.
Abstract
To understand how pharmacological interventions can exert their powerful effects on brain function, we need to understand how they engage the brain...
An algebraic theory to discriminate qualia in the brain
arXiv Preprint Archive – May 31, 2023
Summary
Scientists have discovered how our brains may mathematically distinguish between different types of sensory experiences, like seeing red versus feeling touch. Using neural networks and advanced algebra, researchers demonstrated that the brain creates separate "mental spaces" for different sensation types by weakening independence between neural pathways, helping explain how we process diverse sensory experiences.
Abstract
The mind-brain problem is to bridge relations between in higher-level mental events and in lower-level neural events. To address this, some mathema...
Treatment Advances in Perinatal Depression: Innovations and Promising Approaches.
Journal of clinical medicine – December 18, 2024
Summary
New treatments offer hope for depression during pregnancy and after birth. Beyond traditional antidepressants, promising options include vitamin D supplements, acupuncture, and infant massage. Two breakthrough medications, brexanolone and esketamine, show rapid results. Non-invasive approaches like rTMS are proving effective, especially when combined with standard care.
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Psychotherapy and antidepressants are the standard treatment for depression during pregnancy or postpartum. However, several...
From antidepressants and psychotherapy to oxytocin, vagus nerve stimulation, ketamine and psychedelics: how established and novel treatments can improve social functioning in major depression.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2024
Summary
Social impairments in major depressive disorder can be as debilitating as mood symptoms. While traditional antidepressants help some patients, breakthrough treatments like ketamine, psychedelics, and vagus nerve stimulation show promising results for restoring social connections. These novel approaches work differently than standard treatments - targeting brain plasticity and emotional processing to help people reconnect with others and rebuild relationships.
Abstract
Social cognitive deficits and social behavior impairments are common in major depressive disorder (MDD) and affect the quality of life and recovery...
Phenomenological assessment of psychedelics induced experiences: Translation and validation of the German Challenging Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) and Ego-Dissolution Inventory (EDI)
PLoS ONE – March 16, 2022
Summary
A 26-item *rating scale* for challenging *psilocybin* experiences, for *psychedelics and drug studies*, showed robust *psychometrics*. *Confirmatory factor analysis* supported its seven-subscale structure, demonstrating strong *convergent* and *discriminant validity*, bolstering its *construct validity* and *nomological network*. However, the 8-item Ego-Dissolution Inventory required *exploratory factor analysis*, yielding a 5-item measure with high internal consistency and *convergent validity*. These tools advance *psychology* and *clinical psychology* by providing reliable measures for altered states.
Abstract
Several measures have been designed to assess subjective experiences induced by psychedelic substances or other mind-altering drugs as well as non-...
The perceptions of cancer health-care practitioners in New Zealand and the USA toward psychedelic-assisted therapy with cancer patients: A cross-sectional survey
Palliative & Supportive Care – November 03, 2022
Summary
Health care practitioners widely recognize the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy as an intervention for cancer patients experiencing anxiety and distress. Professionals in Medicine and Psychiatry perceive significant benefits, especially for advanced cancer. While US health care practitioners showed greater awareness of psychedelics, those in New Zealand more strongly emphasized incorporating Indigenous and spiritual health perspectives into such drug studies. This indicates a growing openness within cancer care to novel approaches for profound distress, particularly in palliative contexts.
Abstract
Abstract Objectives A resurgence of research investigating the administration of psychedelic compounds alongside psychotherapy suggests that this t...
Peculiar plants and fantastic fungi: An ethnobotanical study of the use of hallucinogenic plants and mushrooms in Slovenia
PLoS ONE – January 07, 2021
Summary
Most individuals using hallucinogens seek personal growth, not problematic drug use. A study of 68 users revealed 91% consumed Psilocybin-containing mushrooms, with 50% using no other natural psychedelics. Initial use, often in their 20s and driven by curiosity, involved 26 different plants. This pattern, observed in Slovenia, highlights the complex psychology behind ethnobotany and these substances. It shifts drug studies' focus, suggesting motivations beyond recreation, relevant to traditional medicine and the inherent biochemical makeup of these alkaloids.
Abstract
The present study examined the patterns of use among a sample of 68 users of hallucinogenic plants and mushrooms in Slovenia. In compiling the list...
Cross-Species Evidence for Psilocin-Induced Visual Distortions: Apparent Motion Is Perceived by Both Humans and Rats.
Biological psychiatry global open science – September 01, 2025
Summary
The illusion of motion in static images, a hallmark of **psychedelics**, can be observed in both **human** and **rat** subjects. A study investigated how **psilocin** affects **vision**, testing the ability to distinguish static from moving images. Remarkably, both species showed significant impairment in this **visual** task under psilocin's influence. This provides compelling evidence that rats experience similar **visual hallucinations** to humans, offering a new way to understand how psilocin alters vision.
Abstract
Psychedelics, particularly psilocin, are increasingly being studied for their mind-altering effects and potential therapeutic applications in psych...
Species identification and chemical analysis of psychoactive fungi in the Hawaiian islands.
Journal of ethnopharmacology – September 01, 1993
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Several fungi species collected in the Hawaiian Islands have been reported to be psychoactive. Previous chemical analyses together with the present...
Dhyana yoga, the path of meditative being: Psychotherapeutic insights from the east.
Asian journal of psychiatry – June 01, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Eastern spiritual traditions offer insights into the mind-body approaches to enhance health and well-being. These insights focus on self-awareness ...
Epigenetic Echoes: Bridging Nature, Nurture, and Healing Across Generations.
International journal of molecular sciences – March 27, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Trauma can impact individuals within a generation (intragenerational) and future generations (transgenerational) through a complex interplay of bio...
Global landscape and hotspot analysis of meditation research in cancer: a bibliometric study.
Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice – April 05, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Meditation is well known for its positive effects on recovery and quality of life enhancement among cancer patients. Meditation as an adjuvant ther...
Validation of the Spanish Version of the Body Awareness Questionnaire (BAQ) and an Exploration of Its Relationship to Meditation and Embodiment Variables.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) – March 14, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Purposes: The Body Awareness Questionnaire (BAQ) has been considered the best available measure of body awareness, but it is not currently availabl...
ENIGMA-Meditation: Worldwide Consortium for Neuroscientific Investigations of Meditation Practices.
Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging – April 01, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Meditation is a family of ancient and contemporary contemplative mind-body practices that can modulate psychological processes, awareness, and ment...
Yoga as a Contemplative Practice and Its Contribution to Participatory Self-Knowledge and Student Retention: A Scoping Review of the First-Year Undergraduate Student Transition.
International journal of environmental research and public health – July 07, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Contemplative pedagogy, specifically yoga, introduced into the higher education curriculum has the potential to develop and entrain intellectual, e...
Serotonin Transporter (SLC6A4) and FK506-Binding Protein 5 (FKBP5) Genotype and Methylation Relationships with Response to Meditation in Veterans with PTSD.
Molecular neurobiology – November 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Meditation-based interventions are novel and effective non-pharmacologic treatments for veterans with PTSD. We examined relationships between treat...
Peace through health: traditional medicine meditation in the prevention of collective stress, violence, and war.
Frontiers in public health – January 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
In the midst of global armed conflicts, notably the Israel-Hamas and Ukraine-Russia wars, there is an urgent need for innovative public health stra...
Journeying to Ixtlan: Ethics of Psychedelic Medicine and Research for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias.
AJOB neuroscience – January 01, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
In this paper, we examine the case of psychedelic medicine for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD). These "mind-altering" drugs are...
The integration of meditation into higher education: a systematic literature review.
Journal of American college health : J of ACH – January 15, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Objective: Reviewed empirical studies involving meditation-related interventions for college and university students during the past decade. Method...
Meditation and guided imagery show reduction in chronic stress and increase in mental health-related quality of life for college students.
Journal of American college health : J of ACH – January 13, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Objective: To explore the effects of guided imagery with progressive deep muscle relaxation (PDMR) and meditation programs on chronic stress percep...
Effect of meditation or escitalopram on work performance in patients with anxiety disorders.
Journal of affective disorders – November 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
This study aimed to 1) examine how psychopharmacotherapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) influence absenteeism and job performance am...