Research
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...
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...
Corrigendum to “Psychedelic therapy for depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis”. [J. Affect. Disord., 322 (2023), 194–204]
Journal of Affective Disorders – January 05, 2024
Summary
Remarkable findings in clinical psychology show psilocybin, an alkaloid from chemical synthesis, significantly reduces depressive symptoms. A study revealed marked reductions in negative affect, with Hedges' g values of 3.1 at one week, 2.7 at five weeks, and 2.0 at three months. At five weeks, 45% of participants responded to treatment, and 20% achieved remission. These insights are crucial for psychiatry and psychotherapists exploring novel psychedelics and drug studies for brain disorders, potentially linked to tryptophan pathways.
Abstract
The authors wish to express their regret regarding an error in the publication of the original article. In Table 3, titled “Psilocybin studies on d...
Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Severe Alcohol Use Disorder: Protocol for a Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, 7-month Parallel-Group Phase II Superiority Trial
Research Square (Research Square) – January 04, 2024
Summary
A promising new intervention aims to tackle severe alcohol use disorder. A double-blind, randomized controlled trial will involve 62 participants, exploring psilocybin-assisted therapy within a robust inpatient rehabilitation context. One group receives 30mg psilocybin, while another gets an active 5mg placebo, alongside counseling. This clinical psychology and psychiatry study, part of broader psychedelics and drug studies, will assess changes in drinking behavior and neurocognitive mechanisms, examining how this alkaloid influences neurotransmitter receptors. This medicine aims to offer a new path for those struggling with addiction.
Abstract
Abstract Background: A significant number of individuals with alcohol use disorder remain unresponsive to currently available treatments, which cal...
The antidepressant effects of vaporized N,N-Dimethyltryptamine: a preliminary report in treatment-resistant depression
OpenAlex – January 04, 2024
Summary
Vaporized DMT shows promise for treating treatment-resistant depression, with 83.33% of six participants responding positively after just one day. In a Phase 2a clinical trial, patients experienced a significant decrease in depression severity, with a mean reduction of 22 points on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale by Day 7 and 17 points by one month. Remarkably, 66.67% maintained their response at one month, while half sustained remission. These findings highlight DMT's potential as a rapid-acting antidepressant in psychiatric care.
Abstract
Abstract Introduction N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a naturally occurring psychedelic tryptamine contained in the indigenous ayahuasca brew has sho...
Modelling phenomenological differences in aetiologically distinct visual hallucinations using deep neural networks
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience – January 03, 2024
Summary
Visual hallucinations, despite a shared lack of sensory input, manifest profoundly different perceptual characteristics depending on their origin. A novel computational neuroscience approach, leveraging deep neural networks, explored these distinct experiences across three groups: individuals with neurodegenerative conditions (like Parkinson's disease or Lewy body dementia), visual loss, and those experiencing psychedelic effects. This cognitive science method identified three key phenomenological dimensions—realism, spontaneity, and complexity—that distinguish these hallucinations. By tuning model parameters, characteristic synthetic visual hallucinations were generated, accurately reflecting each group's unique perception.
Abstract
Visual hallucinations (VHs) are perceptions of objects or events in the absence of the sensory stimulation that would normally support such percept...
Spiritual health practitioners’ contributions to psychedelic assisted therapy: A qualitative analysis
PLoS ONE – January 02, 2024
Summary
Spiritual health practitioners offer unique expertise in psychedelic-assisted therapies, vital for Medicine and Health care. Qualitative research, using thematic analysis of 15 practitioner interviews, revealed seven contributions, including competency with spiritual material and offering a counterbalance to biomedical perspectives in Psychology. Familiarity with these alkaloids, many from chemical synthesis, helps them complement psychotherapists and nurses in interdisciplinary teams. This approach, informed by Psychedelics and Drug Studies and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, can establish rigorous standards for holistic treatment.
Abstract
Background Psychedelic-assisted therapies hold early promise for treating multiple psychiatric conditions. However, absent standards for the care, ...
Ketamine cystitis following ketamine therapy for treatment-resistant depression – case report
BMC Psychiatry – January 02, 2024
Summary
Ketamine, used therapeutically for depression, can cause ulcerative cystitis (KIC), a condition previously linked only to recreational use. A 28-year-old woman developed KIC symptoms after starting ketamine treatment, confirmed by urine analysis. This marks the first documented instance of KIC in a patient receiving therapeutic-dose ketamine, a complication seen in over 25% of recreational users. This discovery highlights a crucial consideration for patients and clinicians using this emerging antidepressant.
Abstract
Abstract Background Ketamine is a novel and exciting putative antidepressant medication for patients with treatment-resistant depression. A complic...
Sudarshan Kriya Yoga Breathing and a Meditation Program for Burnout Among Physicians: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
JAMA network open – January 02, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Physicians are exposed to high stress and strain that results in burnout, which affects them, their families, their patients, and the entire health...
Through the Looking Glass: Psychedelics As a Window into Mindfulness and Mind-Body Health.
J Integr Complement Med – January 02, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics may offer unique insights into mindfulness practices and their effects on mental and physical wellbeing. Research shows that both psychedelic experiences and mindfulness meditation can increase body awareness, emotional processing, and psychological flexibility. The overlap suggests these altered states of consciousness may work through similar mechanisms to promote healing and self-discovery.
Abstract
Through the Looking Glass: Psychedelics As a Window into Mindfulness and Mind-Body Health.
Use of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide by Major Depression Status.
JAMA psychiatry – January 01, 2024
Summary
Recent data reveals a striking trend: LSD use among adults with depression tripled from 2008 to 2019, rising from 0.5% to 1.8%. This increase was notably higher than among those without depression. Young adults under 35 and those with lower incomes showed the most significant uptick. The findings suggest growing interest in psychedelics among people seeking alternative approaches to mental health treatment.
Abstract
Renewed interest in the clinical potential of hallucinogens may lead people with depression to a generally more positive view of the use of lysergi...
Effects of Esketamine Combined with Dexmedetomidine on Early Postoperative Cognitive Function in Elderly Patients Undergoing Lumbar Spinal Surgery: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.
Drug design, development and therapy – January 01, 2024
Summary
Combining two specific medications shows promise in protecting brain function after surgery in older adults. A breakthrough clinical trial found that using esketamine with dexmedetomidine reduced mental confusion and cognitive decline in elderly spine surgery patients. The drug combination lowered neuroinflammatory markers and cut rates of postoperative cognitive dysfunction by nearly half compared to using either medication alone.
Abstract
Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common complication after surgery in elderly patients, and its prevalence can be up to 25.6% at one...
Evaluation of easy-to-implement anti-stress interventions in a series of N-of-1 trials: study protocol of the anti-stress intervention among physicians study.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Adverse effects of chronically high levels of stress on physical and mental health are well established. In physicians, the effects of elevated str...
Ahnak in the prefrontal cortex mediates behavioral correlates of stress resilience and rapid antidepressant action in mice.
Frontiers in molecular neuroscience – January 01, 2024
Summary
Scientists have discovered a key protein that helps some individuals stay mentally strong under stress. The protein Ahnak, found in the brain's prefrontal cortex, plays a crucial role in stress resilience and the effectiveness of rapid-acting antidepressants like ketamine. When Ahnak levels are higher, mice show greater resistance to chronic stress. Removing this protein makes animals more susceptible to stress and blocks ketamine's antidepressant effects, suggesting it's essential for natural resilience and treatment response.
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is a key neural node mediating behavioral responses to stress and the actions of ketamine, a fast-acting antidepressant...
Childhood adversity severity modulates the associations between adaptive psychological changes and amygdala volumetric changes in response to behavioral interventions.
Journal of affective disorders reports – January 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) has been shown to have detrimental impact on amygdala structure. Prior research found that adaptive psychologica...
Comparative Efficacy of Intravenous Ketamine and Tramadol in Reducing Postspinal Anesthesia Shivering in Urological Surgeries: A Triple-blind Randomized Clinical Trial.
Journal of research in pharmacy practice – January 01, 2024
Summary
Shivering after spinal anesthesia affects up to 60% of surgery patients, but new research shows promising solutions. When comparing intravenous ketamine and tramadol for preventing post-surgery shivers during urological procedures, tramadol emerged as the clear winner. It reduced shivering in 77% of patients, while causing fewer side effects than ketamine. This breakthrough offers surgeons a safer, more effective way to keep patients comfortable.
Abstract
Shivering is one of the most common complications due to disturbances in the thermoregulatory system after regional anesthesia, leading to adverse ...
Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on the well-being of healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
General psychiatry – January 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Growing evidence attests to the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), but their effectiveness for healthcare workers remains uncertai...
Effect of Continuous Infusion of Different Doses of Esketamine on the Bispectral Index During Sevoflurane Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Drug design, development and therapy – January 01, 2024
Summary
During surgery, precise monitoring of consciousness levels is crucial. New research shows that esketamine, when combined with sevoflurane anesthesia, can affect brain activity measurements. Using the bispectral index to track awareness, doctors found that controlled doses of esketamine increased brain wave patterns while maintaining safe sedation. This led to better pain control and stable vital signs, marking a promising advance in surgical anesthesia.
Abstract
To investigate and quantify the effect of continuous esketamine infusion at different doses on the bispectral index (BIS) during sevoflurane anesth...
Anhedonia and depression severity measures during ketamine administration in treatment-resistant depression.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2024
Summary
Ketamine shows promise in treating one of depression's most challenging symptoms - the inability to feel pleasure. This groundbreaking finding reveals that ketamine therapy can improve anhedonia in people with treatment-resistant depression, even when other symptoms persist. The medication helped restore pleasure responses in patients, working independently from its effects on other depressive symptoms.
Abstract
Anhedonia is a core symptom of depression characterized by a diminished ability to experience pleasure. Currently available treatments for depressi...
Ketamine for depressive symptoms: A retrospective chart review of a private ketamine clinic.
The South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa – January 01, 2024
Summary
Intravenous ketamine offers new hope for people with major depression, showing remarkable success in a South African clinic. Among 154 patients receiving ketamine infusions alongside their usual treatments, over 60% experienced significant improvement after completing the initial induction series. Half of the patients reported complete relief from suicidal thoughts, while one-third achieved full remission. Many continued with maintenance doses, showing no signs of dependency. Side effects were minimal, mainly limited to manageable nausea.
Abstract
There is currently no published evidence demonstrating the effectiveness and safety of subanaesthetic doses of ketamine, when administered intraven...
Conflict monitoring and emotional processing in 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and methamphetamine users - A comparative neurophysiological study.
NeuroImage. Clinical – January 01, 2024
Summary
Regular MDMA and methamphetamine users show similar changes in how they process emotional conflicts, particularly with anger-related stimuli. Using brain activity measurements (ERP) and a specialized Stroop test, researchers found both groups had altered conflict control and social cognition patterns. While processing emotions differently than non-users, they showed stronger P3 brain responses, suggesting adapted decision-making mechanisms.
Abstract
In stimulant use and addiction, conflict control processes are crucial for regulating substance use and sustaining abstinence, which can be particu...
Preoperative Anxiety's Impact on the Median Effective Dose of Esketamine for Alleviating Propofol Injection Pain in Patients Undergoing Painless abortion: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial.
Drug design, development and therapy – January 01, 2024
Summary
Anxiety before medical procedures can significantly impact pain sensitivity. New findings reveal that patients with higher anxiety levels need about 17% more esketamine to prevent pain during propofol injections in painless abortion procedures. This dose-response relationship helps anesthesiologists tailor medication levels, improving comfort while maintaining safety. No increase in side effects was observed with higher doses.
Abstract
Propofol injection pain (PIP) is a frequent adverse effect during anesthesia induction, impacting patient comfort and satisfaction. Esketamine has ...
Preliminary evidence for the importance of therapeutic alliance in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder.
European journal of psychotraumatology – January 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Background: MDMA-assisted psychotherapy (MDMA-AP) is a combined psychotherapeutic and pharmacologic intervention that shows promise in the treatmen...
Polydrug Use Typologies of Regular Ecstasy Users Visiting Electronic Dance Music Events: A Latent Class Analysis.
European addiction research – January 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Polydrug use patterns among young adults using ecstasy vary, as well as their willingness to change them. Polydrug use patterns are likely associat...
Incorporating biofeedback into the Mindfulness in Motion Intervention for health care professionals: Impact on sleep and stress.
Explore (New York, N.Y.) – January 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Health care providers (HCP) experience high stress and burnout rates. Mindfulness Based Interventions (MBI) with biofeedback may help improve resil...
Not all mindfulness is equal: certain facets of mindfulness have important implications for well-being and mental health across the lifespan.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
The connections between the five facets of mindfulness, well-being, and mental health across the lifespan have traditionally been investigated usin...
Preventing new substance use behaviors in youth: evaluation of a two-year comprehensive program.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2024
Summary
A two-year prevention program targeting youth substance use showed promising results through innovative outreach methods. Field interventions at student parties and social media campaigns effectively reduced interest in emerging substances like ecstasy, cannabidiol, and nitrous oxide. Training sessions for prevention workers and direct engagement with party organizers led to increased awareness and more cautious attitudes toward drug use among young people.
Abstract
The Avenir Santé Association implemented a comprehensive prevention program targeting the consumption of the emerging psychoactive substances ecsta...
Baseline monocyte count predicts symptom improvement during intravenous ketamine therapy in treatment-resistant depression: a single-arm open-label observational study.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2024
Summary
A simple blood test measuring immune cell counts may help predict who will respond best to ketamine therapy for hard-to-treat depression. Higher levels of monocytes—key players in inflammation and immunity—were linked to better treatment outcomes. In a study of 27 patients receiving ketamine infusions, those with elevated monocyte counts showed greater improvement in depression symptoms, with nearly 80% experiencing significant relief. This breakthrough suggests that basic blood work could help identify ideal candidates for this promising treatment.
Abstract
Neuroinflammatory processes in depression are associated with treatment resistance to conventional antidepressants. Ketamine is an effective new th...
[Targeting NMDAR/AMPAR: a promising pharmacotherapeutic approach for depressive disorders].
Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova – January 01, 2024
Summary
Recent breakthroughs reveal that glutamate, not just serotonin, plays a crucial role in depression treatment. While traditional antidepressants target serotonin pathways, rapid-acting alternatives like ketamine work by modulating NMDA and AMPA receptors in the brain. This dual-pathway approach shows remarkable promise in treating severe depression, especially in cases where conventional medications fall short.
Abstract
Depression is a leading cause of disability and reduced work capacity worldwide. The monoamine theory of the pathogenesis of depression has remaine...
Older adults in psychedelic-assisted therapy trials: A systematic review
Journal of Psychopharmacology – January 01, 2024
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy appears safe and well-tolerated for older adults, with no serious adverse events among the 10 participants for whom detailed safety data was available. This systematic review, using MEDLINE and other sources for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, analyzed 36 trials involving 1400 patients. Yet, only 19 (less than 1.4%) were aged 65 or older. While initial findings suggest these substances, often from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, modulating neurotransmitter receptors for behavioral influence, are safe, their potential in geriatric Psychology and Medicine warrants further exploration by psychotherapists.
Abstract
Background: Growing clinical interest in psychedelic-assisted therapies has led to a second wave of research involving psilocybin, lysergic acid di...
The application of virtual reality meditation and mind-body exercises among older adults.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Virtual reality (VR)-based mindfulness is a promising method to improve the health of older adults. Therefore, many attempts have been made to expl...
Expert opinions on implementation of MDMA-assisted therapy in Europe: critical appraisal towards training, clinical practice, and regulation.
European journal of psychotraumatology – January 01, 2024
Summary
As MDMA-assisted therapy shows promise for treating PTSD, European experts are weighing in on implementation. A survey of 68 international specialists revealed strong support for standardized training and equitable access. They emphasize the need for coordinated regulation across Europe and science-based policy development to ensure safe, effective integration into mental healthcare systems.
Abstract
Introduction: The positive results of MDMA from Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials in MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) for the treatment of post-traumati...
Predicting treatment response to ketamine in treatment-resistant depression using auditory mismatch negativity: Study protocol.
PloS one – January 01, 2024
Summary
Ketamine shows promise in rapidly treating severe depression, but doctors can't reliably predict which patients will benefit. This research explores using brain wave patterns during sound processing to forecast treatment success. By analyzing EEG recordings from 30 patients before ketamine therapy, researchers aim to identify neural signatures that could help personalize depression treatment and improve success rates.
Abstract
Ketamine has recently attracted considerable attention for its rapid effects on patients with major depressive disorder, including treatment-resist...
Synergistic psychedelic - NMDAR modulator treatment for neuropsychiatric disorders.
Molecular psychiatry – January 01, 2024
Summary
Combining psychedelics with specific brain receptor modulators may enhance mental health treatment while reducing unwanted effects. New findings show that psilocybin and NMDA receptor compounds like D-serine work together to boost brain plasticity and mood improvement. This dual approach could offer more effective, safer treatment options for depression and other mental health conditions.
Abstract
Modern research data suggest a therapeutic role for serotonergic psychedelics in depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders, although psychoto...
Case report: two cases of rhabdomyolysis following esketamine treatment.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2024
Summary
A concerning adverse drug reaction has emerged in two patients using esketamine, a promising treatment for depression. Both men developed rhabdomyolysis—a serious condition involving muscle tissue breakdown—after receiving the nasal medication for treatment-resistant depression. Following treatment discontinuation and supportive care, their muscle enzyme levels normalized and symptoms improved, marking the first documented cases of this ADR with esketamine.
Abstract
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. A considerable proportion of patients demonstrate a lack of ...
Three Decades of Research on the Development of Ibogaine Treatment of Substance Use Disorders: A Scientometric Analysis.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2024
Summary
Global interest in Ibogaine for substance use disorders is rapidly expanding. A scientometric analysis, utilizing tools like CiteSpace and vosviewer, explored the evolving research landscape of Ibogaine as a potential treatment. Analyzing over 1500 publications across three decades revealed a significant increase in global research activity. This growth highlights Ibogaine's potential, with recent trends focusing on its role among psychedelics for treating opioid and other substance use disorders. This widespread, growing attention underscores its promising therapeutic future.
Abstract
Ibogaine is a natural psychoactive drug that has been investigated for its potential role in the treatment of substance use disorders since the mid...
Use of Esketamine Nasal Spray in Patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression in Routine Practice: A Real-World French Study.
Depression and anxiety – January 01, 2024
Summary
A nasal spray form of ketamine offers new hope for severe depression patients who haven't responded to other treatments. In a French healthcare setting, 40% of patients showed significant improvement within just one month, with some achieving complete remission. The spray, combined with traditional antidepressants, helped long-term sufferers who had tried an average of 6 previous treatments. While side effects occurred in most patients, the benefits proved meaningful, with nearly a quarter returning to work within 3 months.
Abstract
The efficacy and safety of esketamine nasal spray (ESK) were established in registration trials in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TR...
Comparison Between Esketamine and Alfentanil for Hysteroscopy: A Prospective, Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.
Drug design, development and therapy – January 01, 2024
Summary
A breakthrough in women's healthcare: Esketamine combined with propofol proves safer and faster than traditional options for hysteroscopic procedures. The drug combo showed a 93% success rate, with significantly reduced risks of respiratory depression and blood pressure drops. Patients experienced quicker induction times and fewer side effects, making it an ideal choice for this common gynecological procedure.
Abstract
This study aimed to establish the 95% effective dose (ED95) of esketamine in combination with propofol for hysteroscopy and then to evaluate its ef...
Widespread reductions in cortical thickness following ketamine abuse.
Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN – January 01, 2024
Summary
Long-term ketamine misuse significantly alters brain structure, with heavy users showing widespread thinning in crucial brain regions. Analysis of brain scans from 95 ketamine users revealed substantial cortical thinning, particularly in areas controlling decision-making and self-awareness. Higher lifetime ketamine use directly correlated with more severe thinning, highlighting the dose-dependent impact on brain health.
Abstract
Esketamine is a version of ketamine that has been approved for treatment-resistant depression, but our previous studies showed a link between non-m...
Personality change in a trial of psilocybin therapy v. escitalopram treatment for depression.
Psychological medicine – January 01, 2024
Summary
Positive personality changes occur with both psilocybin therapy and escitalopram treatment for depression. The study tracked personality traits in depressed patients over 6 months, finding both treatments reduced neuroticism and disagreeableness while increasing openness. Psilocybin uniquely boosted absorption and conscientiousness. Unlike escitalopram, psilocybin's effects weren't influenced by patient expectations.
Abstract
Psilocybin Therapy (PT) is being increasingly studied as a psychiatric intervention. Personality relates to mental health and can be used to probe ...
Disembodiment and Affective Resonances in Esketamine Treatment of Depersonalized Depression Subtype: Two Case Studies.
Psychopathology – January 01, 2024
Summary
Surprising discovery: dissociative effects of esketamine may actually help treat certain types of depression. Two patients with depersonalized depression, marked by emotional numbness and disconnection from bodily sensations, showed remarkable improvement through esketamine therapy. The treatment temporarily disrupts rigid emotional patterns, enhancing bodily awareness and emotional responsiveness.
Abstract
Dissociative experiences are considered undesirable ketamine's adverse events. However, they might be crucial for ketamine's antidepressant effects...
Understanding the role of the NMDA receptor subunit, GluN2D, in mediating NMDA receptor antagonist-induced behavioral disruptions in male and female mice.
Journal of neuroscience research – January 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Noncompetitive NMDA receptor (NMDAR) antagonists like phencyclidine (PCP) and ketamine cause psychosis-like symptoms in healthy humans, exacerbate ...
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A novel framework for ketamine-assisted couple therapy.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2024
Summary
Psychedelic therapies are revolutionizing mental health treatment, and now they're transforming relationships too. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy shows promise in helping couples overcome relationship challenges while addressing individual mental health concerns. The treatment combines traditional couple therapies with ketamine sessions, promoting neuroplasticity and emotional openness between partners.
Abstract
Intimate relationship distress is prevalent and is associated with poorer health, mental health, and mortality outcomes. Evidence-based couple ther...
Ibogaine administration following repeated morphine administration upregulates myelination markers 2', 3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNP) and myelin basic protein (MBP) mRNA and protein expression in the internal capsule of Sprague Dawley rats.
Frontiers in neuroscience – January 01, 2024
Summary
A surprising finding reveals that a psychedelic medicine could help repair brain damage from addiction. Researchers explored how ibogaine might address white matter issues often seen in opioid use disorder. Using rats, they found that after opioid exposure, ibogaine significantly boosted markers for myelin, the protective sheath around nerve fibers. This suggests ibogaine helps oligodendrocytes repair white matter, offering a new mechanism for treating opioid use disorder and highlighting its potential as a psychedelic medicine.
Abstract
Ibogaine is a psychedelic alkaloid being investigated as a possible treatment for opioid use disorder. Ibogaine has a multi-receptor profile with a...
Identification of clerodane diterpene modifying cytochrome P450 (CYP728D26) in Salvia divinorum - en route to psychotropic salvinorin A biosynthesis.
Physiologia plantarum – January 01, 2024
Summary
A unique plant compound, salvinorin A, offers hope for new pain relievers distinct from traditional opioids. Scientists identified a crucial enzyme, CYP728D26, that performs a key modification on a precursor molecule. This breakthrough significantly advances understanding of the compound's biosynthesis, paving the way for bio-manufacturing and developing alternative analgesics.
Abstract
Salvia divinorum is a hallucinogenic plant native to the Oaxaca in Mexico. The active ingredient for psychotropic effects in this plant is salvinor...
Empowering understanding: navigating consent to ketamine treatment in adolescent mental health.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2024
Summary
Ketamine shows promise in treating severe adolescent depression, but obtaining proper consent presents unique ethical challenges. Healthcare providers must balance parental rights with young patients' growing autonomy when discussing this innovative treatment. The process requires clear communication about ketamine's rapid antidepressant effects, potential risks, and its current off-label status. Success hinges on informed consent from parents while ensuring meaningful assent from adolescents themselves.
Abstract
The rising prevalence of mental health disorders in adolescents, compounded by treatment resistance, underscores the need for innovative interventi...
"This is you teaching you:" Exploring providers' perspectives on experiential learning and enhancing patient safety and outcomes in ketamine-assisted therapy.
PloS one – January 01, 2024
Summary
Personal experience with psychedelics significantly enhances therapists' ability to support patients during ketamine therapy, according to healthcare providers at leading wellness clinics. Through in-depth interviews with eight trained therapists, researchers found that firsthand psychedelic experience helped practitioners better understand their clients' journeys and build stronger therapeutic relationships. Providers emphasized that formal experiential training would improve patient safety and treatment outcomes.
Abstract
This study explores therapists' perspectives on experiential learning, competencies, and training in ketamine-assisted therapy (KAT), a form of psy...
Deep CANALs: a deep learning approach to refining the canalization theory of psychopathology
Neuroscience of Consciousness – January 01, 2024
Summary
Psychedelic therapy helps treat various psychopathologies. Cognitive psychology and science posit psychedelics relax rigid, maladaptive beliefs. Refining this via artificial intelligence, a new model identifies two distinct ways beliefs are represented, revealing four specific pathologies from either excessive or insufficient rigidity in these constructs. This expanded epistemology guides psychotherapists toward tailored psychedelic interventions. Understanding neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior and the biochemical landscape promises a greater variety of therapeutic approaches, moving beyond simplistic representations.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic therapy has seen a resurgence of interest in the last decade, with promising clinical outcomes for the treatment of a variety ...
Valuing the Acute Subjective Experience
Perspectives in biology and medicine – January 01, 2024
Summary
A compelling idea emerges in **psychology**: experiences with **hallucinogens** like **psilocybin** and **MDMA** may hold intrinsic **value** (mathematics) beyond measurable therapeutic outcomes. While **medicine** and **mental health** research often focus on symptom alleviation or well-being increases, this essay challenges that narrow view. It explores how the acute subjective experience, impacting **consciousness**, could be profoundly valuable in itself. Drawing on aesthetics and **epistemology**, it offers **psychotherapists** and **social psychology** a richer understanding of these **psychedelics**, moving beyond solely outcome-based evaluations in **drug studies**.
Abstract
ABSTRACT: Psychedelics, including psilocybin, and other consciousness-altering compounds such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), currentl...
Psilocybin for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: A magic to treat a harmony of illusions?
Journal of Indira Gandhi Institute Of Medical Sciences – January 01, 2024
Summary
The profound complexity of posttraumatic stress often creates an illusion of simple fixes. While psilocybin, a chemical synthesis from alkaloids, shows promise as a catalyst in psychotherapy, understanding its full psychological and psychiatric impact requires meticulous observation. Much like using a MAGIC (telescope) to study distant phenomena, integrating insights from Psychedelics and Drug Studies and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies is vital. This holistic view, emphasizing the psychotherapist's role, avoids quick chemical solutions for inherently complex problems.
Abstract
Abstract A review of the literature on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suggests it to be a complex disorder with many contributing factors. Th...
Where do the symptoms come from in depression? Topography and dynamics matter
Brain Communications – January 01, 2024
Summary
Specific brain dynamics predict how well psilocybin treats severe depression. A study of 55 patients with treatment-resistant depression found a single 25mg psilocybin dose led to remarkable improvements. Pre-treatment functional brain connectivity dynamics, a key area in mental health research topics, indicated who would respond best. 70.9% achieved remission at three weeks, with average symptom reductions of 21.6 points. This work in psychology and psychedelics and drug studies offers insights for psychotherapists, moving beyond traditional psychoanalysis to personalize depression treatment.
Abstract
This scientific commentary refers to ‘Brain dynamics predictive of response to psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression’, by Vohryzek et al. (...
Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and urinary recovery of oral lysergic acid diethylamide administration in healthy participants.
British journal of clinical pharmacology – January 01, 2024
Summary
LSD's effects peak within 2 hours of ingestion, with higher doses leading to more intense and longer-lasting experiences. New research reveals how the body processes and eliminates this compound, tracking its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in 28 healthy volunteers. At doses of 85 and 170 micrograms, only 1% was eliminated unchanged in urine, while 16% converted to metabolites, showing efficient processing by the body.
Abstract
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is currently investigated for several neurological and psychiatric illnesses. Various studies have investigated th...
The Effects of Opioid-Free Anesthesia with Dexmedetomidine and Esketamine on Postoperative Anesthetic-Related Complications for Hip Surgery in the Elderly.
International journal of general medicine – January 01, 2024
Summary
Elderly patients recovering from hip surgery face 27% fewer complications when given innovative nonopioid anesthesia. A combination of dexmedetomidine and esketamine proved highly effective for geriatric patients, reducing nausea, breathing problems, and pain during recovery. This approach also provided better heart rate stability during surgery, marking a promising shift away from traditional opioid-based methods.
Abstract
The routine perioperative use of opioids has recently been questioned due to opioid-related side effects, which can be potentially harmful in geria...
Impact of Altered Gut Microbiota on Ketamine-Induced Conditioned Place Preference in Mice.
Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment – January 01, 2024
Summary
Your gut bacteria may influence drug addiction patterns. Scientists discovered that ketamine abuse significantly alters gut microbiota composition, affecting brain chemistry through the gut-brain axis. When mice received ketamine, their intestinal bacteria changed dramatically, leading to reduced GABRA1 (a key brain receptor) and increased BDNF levels. Notably, mice with depleted gut bacteria showed different responses to ketamine, suggesting that healthy gut microbiota could be crucial in addressing addiction.
Abstract
Ketamine is a drug of abuse worldwide and current treatments for ketamine abuse are inadequate. It is an urgent need to develop novel anti-addictiv...
N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)-Occasioned Familiarity and the Sense of Familiarity Questionnaire (SOF-Q).
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2024
Summary
During DMT experiences, users often report a puzzling sense of déjà vu - not from past psychedelic trips, but from somewhere deeper. Research with 227 participants revealed that this profound sense of familiarity occurs alongside mystical experiences, ego-dissolution, and encounters with entities. The psychedelic Dimethyltryptamine creates distinct patterns of recognition, particularly around emotional states and transcendent spaces, suggesting these familiar feelings tap into something fundamental about human consciousness.
Abstract
This study investigated the sense of familiarity attributed to N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) experiences. 227 naturalistic inhaled-DMT experiences ...
Hepatic injury and hepatic failure adverse events in 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine users reported to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2024
Summary
MDMA, often studied for PTSD treatment, shows remarkably few liver-related issues despite millions of annual doses. Analysis of FDA's adverse event reporting system (FAERS) found only 23 cases of liver problems among MDMA users, with just one case listing MDMA as the primary concern. Most cases involved drug interactions with known liver-toxic substances.
Abstract
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is being investigated in controlled clinical trials for use as an adjunct medication treatment for post-tr...
MDMA for treatment of PTSD and neurorehabilitation in military populations.
NeuroRehabilitation – January 01, 2024
Summary
MDMA-assisted therapy shows remarkable promise for military personnel, with clinical trials revealing up to 88% reduction in PTSD symptoms. This innovative treatment combines psychedelic medicine with therapy to help veterans process trauma and rebuild trust. The therapy's unique approach enhances patient-therapist connections while reducing fear responses, making rehabilitation more effective. Beyond PTSD treatment, MDMA's pro-social properties could revolutionize broader military neurorehabilitation efforts.
Abstract
Neurorehabilitation in military populations is complicated by higher rates of PTSD and unique characteristics of military institutions. These facto...
Clinical outcomes of ketamine in patients with traumatic brain injury: A systematic review.
International journal of critical illness and injury science – January 01, 2024
Summary
Ketamine, a powerful sedative and anesthesia medication, shows promise but mixed results in treating traumatic brain injury patients. When doctors need to sedate patients with head injuries for ventilation support, choosing the right medication is crucial. Analysis of 886 patients across multiple hospitals revealed that ketamine sometimes lowered dangerous brain pressure and improved blood flow, while in other cases it had opposite effects. Most patients tolerated the treatment well, with stable vital signs and brain function during sedation.
Abstract
The current literature provides contradictory results concerning the impact of ketamine-induced anesthesia on traumatic brain injury (TBI) outcomes...
A Comparative Study of Esketamine-Propofol and Sufentanil-Propofol for Analgesia and Sedation During Breast Minimally Invasive Rotary Resection with Local Anesthesia: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial.
Drug design, development and therapy – January 01, 2024
Summary
New findings show esketamine combined with propofol reduces breathing complications during minimally invasive breast tumor procedures. This safer anesthetic approach cuts the risk of hypoxia by more than 50% compared to traditional methods, while maintaining patient comfort. Patients also needed fewer breathing interventions and showed better heart rate stability.
Abstract
Minimally invasive rotary resection (MIRR) is crucial for diagnosing and treating breast tumors, but the optimal intravenous anesthesia regimen is ...
Facts and myths about use of esketamine for treatment-resistant depression: a narrative clinical review.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2024
Summary
Breakthrough nasal spray medication offers new hope for people who haven't responded to traditional antidepressants. Esketamine shows promising results for treatment-resistant depression, helping patients achieve remission when other medications fail. This targeted therapy works differently than standard treatments for major depressive disorder, providing rapid relief and supporting long-term recovery.
Abstract
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) occurs when at least two different antidepressants, taken at the right dosage, for adequate period of time and...