Research
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 ...
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 ...
Preliminary evidence of psychological improvements and increased maternal-fetal attachment associated with a mindfulness sleep programme: secondary analysis of uncontrolled data in 11 pregnant women with insomnia disorder.
Journal of sleep research – February 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Treating insomnia during pregnancy improves sleep and depressed mood. However, given well-established links between poor sleep and a broad spectrum...
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Methoxetamine and its metabolites: Postmortem determination in body fluids of human cadaver.
Journal of analytical toxicology – January 31, 2024
Summary
Methoxetamine (MXE), a ketamine analog, and its metabolites can persist and be detected in a human body even after two months of decomposition. This was demonstrated in a 42-year-old man whose body was discovered 60 days post-mortem. Toxicological analysis revealed MXE concentrations of 3.6 ng/mL in blood, 70.5 ng/mL in urine, and 18.0 ng/mL in gastric content. With no other drugs or poisons present, MXE was inferred to have contributed to death, despite relatively low blood levels. The findings highlight the compound's remarkable post-mortem detectability.
Abstract
We report the forensic case of a 42-year-old man, a known drug user, who died at home and whose body was only discovered 2 months later. Autopsy wa...
Web-Based Mindfulness Meditation as an Adjunct to Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Public Safety Personnel: Mixed Methods Feasibility Evaluation Study.
JMIR formative research – January 30, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Public safety personnel (PSP) are individuals who work to ensure the safety and security of communities (eg, correctional workers, firefighters, pa...
Sublingual Ketamine for Depression and Anxiety: A Retrospective Study of Real-World Clinical Outcomes
medRxiv Preprint Server – January 30, 2024
Summary
Many struggling with depression and anxiety found significant relief. A treatment involving repeated at-home sublingual ketamine was explored for these conditions. It showed notable symptom reduction and a favorable safety profile, with minimal adverse effects and no long-term use concerns. This suggests a promising, well-tolerated mental health option.
Abstract
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of repeated at-home ketamine treatments for depression, generalized anxiety, and social anxiety and assess ...
Making Sense of Psychedelics in the CNS
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – January 30, 2024
Summary
Modern science is unlocking the ancient power of psychedelic compounds, revealing their profound effects across four distinct biological levels—molecular to system-wide. Neuroscience and cognitive science leverage computational tools, cellular assays, and behavioral metrics, drawing insights from data science and the field of mathematics. Advanced biochemical analysis and sensing techniques illuminate how these alkaloids, from natural sources or chemical synthesis, influence psychology. This comprehensive perspective, informed by computer science and epistemology, is vital for ethically engineering treatments. Ongoing psychedelics and drug studies are rapidly expanding understanding as therapeutic access grows worldwide.
Abstract
Abstract For centuries, ancient lineages have consumed psychedelic compounds from natural sources. In the modern era, scientists have since harness...
The Impact of Psilocybin on High Glucose/Lipid-Induced Changes in INS-1 Cell Viability and Dedifferentiation
Genes – January 29, 2024
Summary
A potent hallucinogen, psilocybin, significantly protects pancreatic cells. In cell biology experiments using an INS-1 832/13 rat insulinoma cell line, psilocybin pretreatment reduced β-cell loss and dedifferentiation under high glucose-high lipid conditions. This chemistry, acting on serotonin receptors, modulated apoptotic biomarkers and key genes, improving cell viability. These biological insights, part of broader Psychedelics and Drug Studies, highlight psilocybin's potential for pancreatic function and diabetes intervention, suggesting new avenues for drug development.
Abstract
Serotonin emerges as a pivotal factor influencing the growth and functionality of β-cells. Psilocybin, a natural compound derived from mushrooms of...
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for cancer patients
International Journal of Whole Person Care – January 29, 2024
Summary
Compelling evidence indicates Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, guided by a psychotherapist, offers a safe and effective treatment for profound demoralization and death anxiety in patients with advanced cancer. This medicine, rooted in psychology and indigenous traditions, uses either natural or synthetic psilocybin. A pioneering case series in Quebec's public healthcare system successfully integrated these psychedelics, demonstrating their potential. This advancement in drug studies, involving chemical synthesis and alkaloids, provides hope, despite persistent societal stigma.
Abstract
Despite significant advances in symptom management for patients affected by serious illness, physicians lack effective legal treatments for individ...
Transient destabilization of whole brain dynamics induced by DMT
bioRxiv – January 29, 2024
Summary
Our brains usually maintain stable activity patterns. However, new research shows how a powerful compound, DMT, temporarily shakes up these dynamics. Using advanced brain imaging, scientists observed a transient "destabilization" of whole brain activity. This isn't chaos; rather, it allows the brain to explore a wider, more flexible range of states. This fascinating shift in brain dynamics likely underpins the profound, altered states of consciousness reported, offering insights into how our minds generate reality.
Abstract
Transient destabilization of whole brain dynamics induced by DMT
Transient peripheral blood transcriptomic response to ketamine treatment in children with ADNP syndrome
medRxiv Preprint Server – January 29, 2024
Summary
Ketamine treatment for a rare neurodevelopmental disorder, ADNP syndrome, profoundly alters blood gene activity. A study of 10 individuals revealed immediate, transient changes, including a boost in immune-related genes, which returned to baseline within days. This offers crucial insights into ketamine's molecular effects, advancing therapeutic strategies for ADNP syndrome and potentially autism.
Abstract
Activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP) syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder resulting in intellectual disability, developmenta...
Third-Generation Antipsychotics and Lurasidone in the Treatment of Substance-Induced Psychoses: A Narrative Review.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) – January 29, 2024
Summary
Modern antipsychotic medications show promise in treating psychosis triggered by substance use. Newer drugs like aripiprazole, brexpiprazole, and lurasidone work differently than older treatments, offering better outcomes with fewer side effects. These medications effectively manage hallucinations and delusions while helping patients who struggle with both psychosis and substance use disorders. They're particularly effective for psychosis caused by stimulants and cannabis.
Abstract
This narrative review explores the efficacy and tolerability of third-generation antipsychotics (TGAs)-aripiprazole, cariprazine, brexpiprazole, an...
Intensity of Psychoactive Substance Use Affects the Occurrence of Prodromal Symptoms of Psychosis.
Journal of clinical medicine – January 28, 2024
Summary
Heavy drug use may predict early warning signs of psychosis, according to data from 703 substance users. Higher scores on drug addiction screenings (DUDIT) strongly correlated with increased prodromal symptoms - early indicators that can precede serious mental health conditions. Cannabis, MDMA, and amphetamine users who started earlier in life showed greater risk of developing these concerning symptoms. The findings highlight the link between substance intensity and psychological vulnerability.
Abstract
Psychosis is defined as a series of symptoms that impair the mind and lead to a kind of loss of reference to reality. Development of psychosis is u...
The Effects of Psilocybin on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation in THP-1 Human Macrophages
Psychoactives – January 28, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin significantly reduces inflammation in a dose-dependent manner, offering new insights for Psychedelics and Drug Studies. When a THP1 cell line, stimulated with 500 ng/mL Lipopolysaccharide to induce inflammation, was exposed to psilocybin, it inversely correlated with proinflammatory cytokine production. This suggests psilocybin's potential to modulate neuroinflammation, a key mechanism in Neurodegeneration Mechanisms and various brain disorders linked to tryptophan metabolism.
Abstract
Psilocybin, an innate compound produced by mushrooms belonging to the Psilocybe genus, is primarily known for its agonistic effects on the serotoni...
Psilocybin-assisted therapy for severe alcohol use disorder: protocol for a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, 7-month parallel-group phase II superiority trial.
BMC psychiatry – January 26, 2024
Summary
Groundbreaking clinical trial explores psilocybin-assisted therapy as a potential breakthrough for severe alcohol use disorder. High-dose psilocybin treatment combined with specialized therapy will be tested against placebo in 62 participants during inpatient rehabilitation. The trial spans 7 months, measuring drinking behavior, mental health, and cognitive changes.
Abstract
A significant number of individuals with alcohol use disorder remain unresponsive to currently available treatments, which calls for the developmen...
Persons With Spinal Cord Injury Report Peripherally Dominant Serotonin-Like Syndrome After Use of Serotonergic Psychedelics
Neurotrauma Reports – January 26, 2024
Summary
Many with spinal cord injuries are exploring psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD. A key insight reveals they often experience intense muscle spasms and other sensitivities, suggesting a unique, peripherally dominant serotonin-like reaction. Understanding this phenomenon is vital for developing protocols to safely harness the therapeutic potential of these compounds, including MDMA, for this population.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) may treat various mental health conditions. Despite its promising therapeutic signal across mental health outcom...
The mechanistic divide in psychedelic neuroscience: An unbridgeable gap?
Neurotherapeutics – January 25, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD work through two distinct pathways in the brain - molecular changes at the cellular level and broader network-level effects on consciousness. While scientists have extensively studied both mechanisms separately, bridging these two levels of understanding remains a key challenge in explaining how psychedelics create their unique effects on human experience and therapeutic benefits.
Abstract
The mechanistic divide in psychedelic neuroscience: An unbridgeable gap?
Psilocybin and eugenol prevent DSS-induced neuroinflammation in mice
Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology – January 25, 2024
Summary
Oral psilocybin, a tryptophan-derived alkaloid, significantly reduced neuroinflammation in a colitis mouse model. Eugenol, a plant compound, also demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects. Both, relevant to pharmacology and medicine, decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6 in the brain. Combined psilocybin and eugenol showed the strongest reduction in IL-6, suggesting potential in drug studies for brain disorders linked to inflammation. These findings illuminate new avenues for targeting neuroinflammation, potentially involving microglia, offering new insights into medicine.
Abstract
Neuroinflammation has emerged as a central pathology common to several acute and chronic brain diseases. Recent studies have displayed the anti-inf...
Opioid use disorder: current trends and potential treatments
Frontiers in Public Health – January 25, 2024
Summary
Opioid overdose deaths are at an all-time high, revealing current medicine's limitations against Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Despite increased buprenorphine and naloxone access, and harm reduction strategies, this public health crisis persists. Novel approaches are urgently needed beyond existing Opiate Substitution Treatment. Future strategies, including psychedelics and other interventional therapies, are being explored. These aim to not only prevent opioid overdose fatalities but also attenuate OUD and address co-occurring psychiatric conditions, offering more durable solutions for public health.
Abstract
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a major public health threat, contributing to morbidity and mortality from addiction, overdose, and related medical co...
EFECTOS PSICOLÓGICOS DE LA PSILOCIBINA EN PACIENTES CON CÁNCER TERMICO: Una revisión del alcance
OpenAlex – January 24, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, significantly reduces depression and anxiety for terminal cancer patients. A review of medical and pharmaceutic literature, encompassing 9 articles from an initial 340 in databases like MEDLINE, confirms its effectiveness as a medicine. In controlled health care settings, the drug reaction is well-tolerated with minimal adverse effects. This highlights psilocybin's potential in psychology and psychiatry, driving psychedelics and drug studies. Such alternative medicine approaches, often indexed in scientific literature like PsycINFO, offer new perspectives beyond traditional pain management.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a natural substance with hallucinogenic properties that has recently been used in the field of health. It is an alkaloid that, when a...
Nurse Who Had MERS-CoV Complications with A Near-Death Experience during Pregnancy: A Narrative Analysis.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) – January 24, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
According to prevailing views in neuroscience, near-death experiences (NDE) occurring after severe head trauma, critical illness, or coma are often...
Listening to music during intranasal (es)ketamine therapy in patients with treatment-resistant depression correlates with better tolerability and reduced anxiety
Frontiers in Psychiatry – January 23, 2024
Summary
Listening to music during ketamine therapy for depression dramatically reduces anxiety, from 1.4 points to 0.4 points on a scale. Evaluating 494 sessions from 37 patients showed music also lowered maximal systolic blood pressure (137.9 mmHg vs. 140.3 mmHg) and allowed for higher ketamine doses (131.5 mg vs. 116.7 mg). Dissociation levels were stable or slightly higher (3 points vs. 2.4 points). Music appears to improve tolerability, potentially optimizing treatment without affecting overall depression score changes.
Abstract
BackgroundAlthough the effectiveness of (es)ketamine for therapy-resistant depression (TRD) has been established, potential treatment-limiting fact...
Effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program on depression, emotion regulation, and sleep problems: A randomized controlled trial study on depressed elderly.
BMC public health – January 23, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Entering old age is associated with various physical and psychological disabilities. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the effect of...
Social acceptability of psilocybin-assisted therapy for existential distress at the end of life: A population-based survey
Palliative Medicine – January 22, 2024
Summary
Nearly 80% of Canadians embrace psilocybin-assisted therapy as a reasonable medical choice for existential distress at the end of life. A survey of 2800 adults across four provinces found 79.3% considered it acceptable, with 84.8% advocating for public health coverage. A significant 63.3% also favored legalizing psilocybin for medical purposes. This high social acceptability suggests a growing openness to this emerging form of medicine within palliative and end-of-life care, influencing future psychology and psychiatry practices.
Abstract
Background: Internationally, there is a growing interest in the potential benefits of psilocybin-assisted therapy to treat existential distress at ...
Assessing expectancy and suggestibility in a trial of escitalopram v. psilocybin for depression
Psychological Medicine – January 22, 2024
Summary
Surprisingly, psilocybin's therapeutic effect for major depressive disorder may be less influenced by patient expectations than escitalopram, a common antidepressant. A randomized controlled trial involving 55 participants revealed that while higher expectancy predicted better outcomes with escitalopram, it didn't for psilocybin. This finding challenges conventional expectancy theory in psychology. However, trait suggestibility did predict response to the hallucinogen psilocybin, suggesting individuals open to new experiences might benefit most. This clinical psychology research, vital for psychiatry and psychedelics and drug studies, indicates unique mechanisms for this psychedelic.
Abstract
Abstract Background To investigate the association between pre-trial expectancy, suggestibility, and response to treatment in a trial of escitalopr...
Neural Geometrodynamics, Complexity, and Plasticity: A Psychedelics Perspective
Entropy – January 22, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics profoundly enhance brain plasticity, fostering a more fluid and adaptable neural state. Drawing from Neuroscience, Physics, and Statistical Physics, a framework reveals how these compounds, often alkaloids, flatten the brain's complex dynamical landscape. This increases the entropy and complexity of neural dynamics, disrupting rigid patterns and promoting novel cognitive states. The influence on Neurotransmitter Receptors is central to this shift, offering a holistic perspective on their acute effects and long-term potential for psychological well-being and behavioral change.
Abstract
We explore the intersection of neural dynamics and the effects of psychedelics in light of distinct timescales in a framework integrating concepts ...
Pharmacotherapy of Psychological Disorders Using Psychedelic Drugs: A Treatise for Psychiatrists
Current Psychiatry Research and Reviews – January 21, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics, including psilocybin and MDMA, are re-emerging in Psychiatry as potent Medicine for mental illness. Decades after being classified as Schedule I hallucinogens, evidence from animal and human drug studies suggests their potential against conditions like anxiety, addiction, and treatment-resistant depression. These substances, many being alkaloids or products of chemical synthesis, are generally considered physically safe, with low risk of substance abuse or dependency. Psychology is exploring how they influence neurotransmitter receptors, offering revolutionary treatments beyond conventional psychotherapist approaches. Careful management is crucial to ensure their medical role.
Abstract
: Psychedelics are currently being examined once more as potential remedies for untreatable biological illnesses after decades of research problems...
Development of enantioselective high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantitative determination of 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) and its phase-1 metabolites in human biological fluids.
Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis – January 20, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
In the present study enantioselective high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods were developed for the qua...
Psilocybin biphasically modulates cortical and behavioral activity in mice
OpenAlex – January 20, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a serotonergic hallucinogen, dramatically reshapes how the brain processes sound. Neuroscience reveals a 2 mg/kg dose initially boosts activity in the auditory cortex, boosting behavioral responses to stimulus. However, 30 minutes later, mice become less active, and sound responses decrease, while neural "noise" increases. Intriguingly, neuronal selectivity for sounds remains stable. This work illuminates how psilocybin modulates intrinsic versus stimulus-driven activity in the sensory system, potentially explaining hallucinations without disrupting core perception, with implications for areas like the visual cortex and neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
SUMMARY Psilocybin is a serotonergic psychedelic believed to have therapeutic potential for neuropsychiatric conditions. Despite well-documented pr...
Out-of-body illusion induced by visual-vestibular stimulation.
iScience – January 19, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) are characterized by the subjective feeling of being located outside one's physical body and perceiving one's own bo...
Psilocybe cubensis extract potently prevents fear memory recall and freezing behavior in short- but not long-term in a rat model of posttraumatic stress disorder.
Behavioral Neuroscience – January 18, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, an alkaloid from Psilocybe cubensis, profoundly reduced anxiety and increased pain tolerance long-term in male rats exhibiting PTSD-like behaviors. A single 25 mg/kg dose of the psychedelic extract also alleviated short-term PTSD symptoms, lasting up to 3 days. This work, advancing Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, highlights the therapeutic potential of compounds derived from chemical synthesis for mental health.
Abstract
Psilocybe cubensis is a species of psilocybin mushroom (magic mushroom) of moderate potency whose principal active compounds are psilocybin and psi...
Rewarding Effects of the Hallucinogen 4-AcO-DMT Administration and Withdrawal in Rats: A Challenge to the Opponent-Process Theory.
Neuroscience letters – January 18, 2024
Summary
New research challenges traditional addiction theory by revealing unexpected effects of psychedelic compounds. Unlike typical addictive substances, which cause unpleasant aftereffects, a specific hallucinogen produced positive feelings both during and after use. Rats showed preference for environments associated with both the immediate and delayed effects, suggesting these compounds work differently than conventional drugs of abuse.
Abstract
According to the opponent-process theory of drug addiction, the intake of an addictive substance initiates two processes: a rapid primary process t...
Ketamine Produces Antidepressant Effects by Inhibiting Histone Deacetylases and Upregulating Hippocampal Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in a Diisopropyl Fluorophosphate-Based Rat Model of Gulf War Illness.
The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics – January 17, 2024
Summary
Ketamine shows promise in treating Gulf War veterans' depression by boosting vital brain proteins. The drug works by adjusting chemical tags on DNA, increasing levels of BDNF - a protein crucial for brain health. Tests in rats revealed ketamine restored normal brain cell connections and improved mood-related brain changes linked to Gulf War exposure. This breakthrough suggests a new treatment path for veterans struggling with Gulf War Illness.
Abstract
Approximately one-third of Gulf War veterans suffer from Gulf War Illness (GWI), which encompasses mood disorders and depressive symptoms. Deployme...
Reduction of alcohol use and increase in psychological flexibility after a naturalistic psychedelic experience: a retrospective survey.
Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire) – January 17, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Alcohol use can be significantly associated with negative social, professional, and health outcomes. Even more so, alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a ...
High-resolution tracking of unconfined zebrafish behavior reveals stimulatory and anxiolytic effects of psilocybin
Molecular Psychiatry – January 17, 2024
Summary
A compelling Neuroscience finding reveals the hallucinogen Psilocybin acts as an anxiolytic. In larval zebrafish, a model for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, it facilitated exploration and prevented stress responses. This research, crucial for Psychology, shows psilocybin inhibits serotonin neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus. Understanding this serotonergic neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, like insights from Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study, is vital for drug development to potentially avoid issues like desensitization.
Abstract
Abstract Serotonergic psychedelics are emerging therapeutics for psychiatric disorders, yet their underlying mechanisms of action in the brain rema...
A choroid plexus apocrine secretion mechanism shapes CSF proteome and embryonic brain development.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology – January 16, 2024
Summary
The brain's protective fluid contains crucial proteins released through a newly discovered "cellular shedding" process. Scientists found that specialized cells in the choroid plexus release protein-rich cellular fragments into brain fluid, directly influencing neural development. When disrupted by maternal stress, illness, or certain drugs during pregnancy, this delicate process can alter brain development and affect future social behavior in offspring. This insight reveals how environmental factors during pregnancy may impact fetal brain formation.
Abstract
We discovered that apocrine secretion by embryonic choroid plexus (ChP) epithelial cells contributes to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteome and ...
Abstract C001: A pilot study of palliadelic treatment with psilocybin to reduce psychological distress and improve quality of life in patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Cancer Research – January 16, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin-assisted therapy has shown significant, rapid improvement in anxiety, depression, and quality of life for cancer patients. Now, an initial study is exploring this psychedelic medicine within palliative care for advanced pancreatic cancer. With a planned 12 subjects, this oncology research aims to determine how practical and safe psilocybin is for reducing mental health distress. A single 25mg psilocybin dose, combined with counseling, will assess changes in brain activity and quality of life, potentially offering a new approach to managing severe cancer-related distress.
Abstract
Abstract Background: Psychological distress is a common reaction to a cancer diagnosis and its treatment. Distress impacts quality of life, adheren...
Modern Psychedelic Microdosing Research on Mental Health: A Systematic Review.
The primary care companion for CNS disorders – January 16, 2024
Summary
Regular microdosing of psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin shows promise for mental wellness, with users reporting improved mood and focus. Analysis of multiple studies reveals consistent benefits for daily functioning, though some participants experienced mild discomfort. Positive expectations often aligned with better outcomes in controlled trials.
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the relationship between psychedelic microdosing and its effects on mental health, aiming to understand if microdosing ca...
Validation of the Danish Translation of the Revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ30) and Possible Impact of Setting, Dose and Intention
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – January 15, 2024
Summary
A Danish questionnaire assessing mystical experiences, relevant to Psychology and Clinical psychology, demonstrated excellent reliability. This tool, crucial for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, was validated using psilocybin, a psychedelic alkaloid. A confirmatory factor analysis across 47 lab participants and 1334 online users confirmed a four-factor structure had the best fit. This robust measure of Mysticism correlated with psilocybin dose and spiritual intention, but not setting, confirming its validity for understanding profound psychedelic experiences.
Abstract
Research suggests positive changes in both well-being and psychiatric symptoms following a psychedelic experience. One explanation may be the abili...
Synthetic surprise as the foundation of the psychedelic experience
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews – January 15, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin profoundly alter consciousness, a surprising effect potentially explained by a "synthetic surprise" mechanism. This cognitive science theory, integrating neuroscience and computer science, proposes that psilocybin activates one specific 5-HT2A receptor type, enforcing a state of prediction error within the brain's predictive coding framework. This disrupts perception by increasing the precision of sensory input over top-down expectations. This novel understanding offers a powerful new perspective for psychology, suggesting psychedelics could therapeutically disrupt maladaptive patterns.
Abstract
Psychedelic agents, such as LSD and psilocybin, induce marked alterations in consciousness via activation of the 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2ARs). We hyp...
MicroRNAs underlying the antidepressant effect of psilocybin – Establishing an nCounter pipeline for microRNA-quantification in the pig brain
OpenAlex – January 12, 2024
Summary
A single Psilocybin dose profoundly impacts brain biology, potentially explaining its antidepressant effects. Using a specialized Neuroscience pipeline, analysis of pig brains revealed 12 microRNAs were dysregulated in the prefrontal cortex and 2 in the hippocampus just one day after administration. Seven days later, 4 microRNAs remained altered in the hippocampus. Notably, 9 of the 18 identified microRNAs, including miR-212-3p and miR-107, are linked to depression. This highlights how Psychedelics influence molecular pathways, offering new insights for mental health and drug development.
Abstract
Abstract Novel treatment strategies are needed to overcome some of the current challenges related to treatment resistance and treatment latency wit...
Microdosing psychedelics and the risk of cardiac fibrosis and valvulopathy: Comparison to known cardiotoxins
Journal of Psychopharmacology – January 12, 2024
Summary
Microdosing psychedelics, popular in psychology, carries unknown long-term cardiac health risks. Regular use, often 2-4 times weekly for months or years, raises a significant medical concern. Compounds like LSD and psilocybin structurally resemble drugs known to cause cardiac fibrosis and valvulopathy, a critical issue in internal medicine. This risk stems from their neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, specifically the 5-HT2B receptor. Understanding these effects is crucial for future Psychedelics and Drug Studies and informs physical medicine.
Abstract
Though microdosing psychedelics has become increasingly popular, its long-term effects on cardiac health remain unknown. Microdosing most commonly ...
Psychedelics, epilepsy, and seizures: a review
Frontiers in Pharmacology – January 12, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics are proving clinically efficacious for various neurological and psychiatric disorders, yet all clinical trials exclude individuals with epilepsy or a history of seizures. This significant population, often overlooked in drug studies, faces exclusion without evidence that these compounds, many being alkaloids, induce seizures. Analysis of several cases suggests these substances, influencing behavior via neurotransmitter receptors, are safe in controlled clinical settings, even promoting seizure remission for some. This challenges current medicine, suggesting a broader role for psychedelic therapy.
Abstract
Psychedelic compounds have been utilized by humans for centuries for medicinal, religious, and tribal purposes. Clinical trial data starting from t...
Perceptual Modifying Compounds and Their Potential Therapeutic Applications in Neuropsychiatric Disorders.
ACS medicinal chemistry letters – January 11, 2024
Summary
Breakthrough research reveals how psychedelic compounds reshape brain circuits to combat depression, anxiety, and addiction. These substances promote neural growth and enhance brain plasticity by activating key cellular pathways. Working through the brain's command center, they strengthen connections in areas controlling mood and fear, offering rapid relief where traditional treatments often fall short.
Abstract
Psychedelic compounds, including ketamine and LSD, have gained renewed interest as potential treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders. These compo...
Enhanced visual contrast suppression during peak psilocybin effects: A psychophysical study
OpenAlex – January 11, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin profoundly alters visual perception, intensifying a phenomenon called surround suppression. Participants (n=6) reported stronger suppression of a visual stimulus's perceived contrast after 25mg of this hallucinogen compared to placebo. This effect, crucial for understanding visual cortex function in psychology, correlated positively with subjective 'visual hallucinations.' This suggests a neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. Given weakened surround suppression in major depressive disorder, these insights into psilocybin's impact on perception offer a compelling avenue for psychedelic therapies.
Abstract
In visual perception, an effect known as surround suppression occurs wherein the apparent contrast of a center stimulus is reduced when it is prese...
Knowledge gaps in psychedelic medicalisation: Clinical studies and regulatory aspects.
Neurosci Appl – January 11, 2024
Summary
Despite growing interest in psychedelics for therapy, significant knowledge gaps currently impede their medical integration. An examination reveals inconsistencies in clinical trial data regarding optimal dosing and patient populations. Furthermore, varied regulatory frameworks across regions create hurdles for developing these promising treatments. Bridging these gaps is essential to unlock the full therapeutic potential and ensure safe access to these innovative medical options.
Abstract
Knowledge gaps in psychedelic medicalisation: Clinical studies and regulatory aspects.
Trends in hallucinogen‐associated emergency department visits and hospitalizations in California, USA, from 2016 to 2022
Addiction – January 11, 2024
Summary
Hallucinogen-associated emergency department visits in California dramatically rose by 54% between 2016 and 2022, from 2260 to 3476. This contrasts with a 20% decrease for alcohol and a 15% increase for cannabis. Hallucinogen-related hospitalizations also climbed 55%, from 2556 to 3965, while alcohol and cannabis saw only 1% rises. These trends underscore evolving demands on Medicine and Psychiatry for mental health services, prompting critical consideration in Psychedelics and Drug Studies and Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.
Abstract
Abstract Background and aims Hallucinogens encompass a diverse range of compounds of increasing scientific and public interest. Risks associated wi...
Effects of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD on self-experience
PLoS ONE – January 10, 2024
Summary
MDMA-assisted therapy dramatically improved self-experience and emotional coping for 90 participants in a randomized controlled trial. Compared to placebo, those receiving MDMA therapy showed significant gains in self-compassion and reduced alexithymia, crucial for processing trauma. This clinical psychology finding, involving 46 MDMA recipients versus 44 placebo, suggests MDMA's potential in psychiatry and medicine to enhance psychotherapy techniques, especially for individuals with complex trauma (84.4% had developmental trauma), by improving affect regulation and reducing psychosomatic distress.
Abstract
Introduction There is a resurgence of interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MD...
Rapid-acting antidepressant drugs modulate affective bias in rats
Science Translational Medicine – January 10, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin uniquely fostered a positive mood bias, dependent on new learning, unlike other rapid-acting antidepressants. Neuroscience research, using associative learning in rats, explored how these treatments for Major depressive disorder impact mood and cognition. Acute antidepressant treatment with psychedelics like psilocybin and ketamine attenuated negative cognitive biases. Low doses reversed this bias within 24 hours. Psilocybin alone induced a positive bias. Ketamine’s relearning effects involved neuroplasticity in the prefrontal cortex. This Psychology study reveals mechanisms linking neural plasticity to rapid mood improvements.
Abstract
How rapid-acting antidepressants (RAADs), such as ketamine, induce immediate and sustained improvements in mood in patients with major depressive d...
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD: Growing evidence for memory effects mediating treatment efficacy.
Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry – January 10, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
The application of MDMA in conjunction with psychotherapy has in recent years seen a resurgence of clinical, scientific, and public interest in the...
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EFEITOS PSICOLÓGICOS DA PSILOCIBINA EM PORTADORES DE CÂNCER TERMINAL: Uma revisão de escopo
Psicologia e Saúde em Debate – January 10, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a natural hallucinogen, significantly reduces anxiety and depression in terminal cancer patients. A review of scientific literature, analyzing 9 articles from an initial 340, consistently points to its effectiveness. This substance, relevant to medicine, psychiatry, and clinical psychology, is well-tolerated under psychotherapist guidance. Its potential within psychology and mental health, particularly in psychedelics and drug studies, offers a promising therapeutic avenue. Diverse academic research themes are exploring these applications.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a natural substance with hallucinogenic properties that has recently been used in the field of health. It is an alkaloid that, when a...
Aesthetic chills mitigate maladaptive cognition in depression
BMC Psychiatry – January 10, 2024
Summary
Profound emotional "chills" can positively reshape core self-beliefs in individuals with depression. A clinical psychology investigation involving 96 patients with major depressive disorder found that experiencing aesthetic chills, often characterized by shivers, shifted their negative self-schema. This psychological intervention, influencing cognitive processes, shows parallels to the profound mental shifts observed in psychedelics and drug studies. Such experiences offer a non-pharmacological treatment avenue for mental health, potentially aiding in depression management.
Abstract
Abstract Background Depression is a major global health challenge, affecting over 300 million people worldwide. Current pharmacological and psychot...
Phylogenomics of the psychoactive mushroom genus Psilocybe and evolution of the psilocybin biosynthetic gene cluster
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences – January 09, 2024
Summary
The psychedelic alkaloid psilocybin, driving Psychedelics and Drug Studies, first evolved in the mushroom genus Psilocybe around 67 million years ago. Evolutionary biology indicates its biosynthetic gene cluster transferred horizontally 4 to 5 times to other fungi between 40 and 9 million years ago. Using 71 fungal metagenomes, Phylogenetics of 2,983 gene families reveals Psilocybe's deep Biology. Two distinct psilocybin gene cluster arrangements correspond to major clades, suggesting independent acquisitions of this alkaloid's chemical synthesis, impacting Fungal Biology and Applications.
Abstract
Psychoactive mushrooms in the genus Psilocybe have immense cultural value and have been used for centuries in Mesoamerica. Despite the recent surge...
Safety, feasibility, tolerability, and clinical effects of repeated psilocybin dosing combined with non-directive support in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: protocol for a randomized, waitlist-controlled trial with blinded ratings
Frontiers in Psychiatry – January 09, 2024
Summary
A new clinical trial is investigating psilocybin as a medicine for severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), an Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorder. This randomized controlled trial enrolls 30 adults with treatment-refractory OCD, evaluating the safety, tolerability, and clinical effects of a two-dose psilocybin protocol. Participants receive 25mg, followed by 25mg or 30mg, with non-directive support. The psychiatry and psychology research aims to understand optimal dosing and mechanisms, advancing psychedelic drug studies for this challenging condition while carefully monitoring any adverse effect.
Abstract
Background To date, few randomized controlled trials of psilocybin with non-directive support exist for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Result...
In vivo validation of psilacetin as a prodrug yielding modestly lower peripheral psilocin exposure than psilocybin
Frontiers in Psychiatry – January 08, 2024
Summary
The long-assumed chemistry of psilacetin, an unscheduled hallucinogen, is now confirmed: it acts as a prodrug for psilocin in vivo. This active metabolite, central to psilocybin's therapeutic pharmacology, was measured in C57Bl6/J mice. Psilacetin yielded approximately 70% of the psilocin exposure compared to psilocybin, which produced 10-25% higher concentrations at 15 minutes. These psychedelics and drug studies offer valuable insight, suggesting psilacetin is a viable alternative for exploring neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
Introduction The use of the psychedelic compound psilocybin in conjunction with psychotherapy has shown promising results in the treatment of psych...
Psychedelic-like Activity of Norpsilocin Analogues
ACS Chemical Neuroscience – January 08, 2024
Summary
Norpsilocin, a primary metabolite of psychedelic mushrooms, typically lacks psychedelic effects *in vivo*, despite being a potent serotonin 2A receptor agonist *in vitro*. Its poor brain permeability was hypothesized. Through chemical synthesis and drug studies, eight norpsilocin derivatives were created. Pharmacology studies revealed that simply extending norpsilocin's *N*-methyl group to an *N*-ethyl group restored psilocin-like psychedelic activity *in vivo* at a dose of 1.4 mg/kg. Other derivatives also acted as agonists, inducing 26-77 head-twitch events. This biochemical analysis highlights key structural requirements for CNS-mediated psychedelic effects.
Abstract
Primary metabolites of mushroom tryptamines, psilocybin and baeocystin (i.e., psilocin and norpsilocin), exhibit potent agonist activity at the ser...
Psilocybin Promotes Cell-Type-Specific Changes in the Orbitofrontal Cortex Revealed by Single-Nucleus RNA-seq
OpenAlex – January 07, 2024
Summary
A single dose of the hallucinogen Psilocybin profoundly impacts brain function, a key finding in Neuroscience. This psychedelic, explored in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, induces long-term genetic and functional changes in neurons within the orbitofrontal cortex, a region crucial for Psychology and vulnerable in brain disorders. These changes, affecting excitatory and inhibitory neurons, collectively reduce circuit activity. Blocking the 5-HT 2A receptor, central to Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, in specific neurons reversed these effects, highlighting psilocybin's precise mechanisms.
Abstract
Abstract Recent clinical breakthroughs hold great promise for the application of psilocybin in the treatments of psychological disorders, such as d...
Behavioural Investigations of Psilocybin in Animals 1962-2021: A Scoping Review
OpenAlex – January 05, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, shows a strong safety profile even at high doses, promising therapeutic applications in medicine. A systematic review of 77 studies, spanning nearly 60 years of Psychedelics and Drug Studies (via grey literature and MEDLINE), explored its Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior. Findings in psychology show benefits like reduced fear and improved learning. While 64 studies used rodents and 22.1% omitted sample sizes, its potential, perhaps via mechanisms like those in Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study, warrants further exploration.
Abstract
Abstract Background and Aims Psilocybin is a psychedelic drug that may hold promise for a wide range of human health conditions, yet the identifica...
Neural Mechanisms of Resting-State Networks and the Amygdala Underlying the Cognitive and Emotional Effects of Psilocybin
Biological Psychiatry – January 05, 2024
Summary
Temporary amygdala signal reduction fundamentally alters resting-state functional connectivity in the brain, profoundly impacting cognition and perception. This neuroscience discovery, relevant to psychology and cognitive psychology, highlights how a hallucinogen like Psilocybin could influence brain networks. Understanding these neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior mechanisms, perhaps through chemical synthesis and alkaloids, is crucial for psychedelics and drug studies. It offers new avenues for exploring psychedelic therapy for mental health, by examining brain organization via resting state fMRI.
Abstract
Our findings suggest that temporary amygdala signal attenuation is associated with mechanistic changes to resting-state network connectivity. These...
5-HT2A Receptor Knockout Mice Show Sex-Dependent Differences following Acute Noribogaine Administration.
International journal of molecular sciences – January 05, 2024
Summary
Remarkably, the effects of a specific psychedelic compound can differ significantly between males and females. Researchers explored if noribogaine, a potent psychedelic, acts via the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor. Using mice, they found noribogaine's impact on locomotion, immediate early genes (IEG), and glutamate receptors varied by sex and genetic makeup. Crucially, noribogaine reduced NMDA-mediated signaling in male wild-type mice, an effect absent in mice lacking the 5-HT2A receptor. This highlights the receptor's vital role in how noribogaine influences brain activity.
Abstract
Noribogaine (noribo) is the primary metabolite from ibogaine, an atypical psychedelic alkaloid isolated from the root bark of the African shrub Tab...