Research
The zebrafish for preclinical psilocybin research.
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews – October 01, 2023
Summary
Tiny zebrafish are helping unlock the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, a natural psychedelic showing promise for treating anxiety and affective disorders. These small aquatic allies display measurable changes in social behavior when exposed to psychedelics, making them ideal for studying how these compounds affect the brain. Research reveals that zebrafish responses closely mirror human reactions, offering a safe way to explore psilocybin's benefits.
Abstract
In this review, we discuss the possible utility of zebrafish in research on psilocybin, a psychedelic drug whose recreational use as well as possib...
Comparative acute effects of mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide, and psilocybin in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study in healthy participants.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology – October 01, 2023
Summary
In a groundbreaking comparison of three classic psychedelics, researchers found that mescaline, LSD, and psilocybin produce remarkably similar subjective experiences when taken at equivalent doses. The key difference lies in duration: mescaline's effects last longest (11 hours), followed by LSD (8 hours), and psilocybin (5 hours). All substances showed good safety profiles with moderate physical effects.
Abstract
Mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and psilocybin are classic serotonergic psychedelics. A valid, direct comparison of the effects of the...
Letter to the editor on "Increased low-frequency brain responses to music after psilocybin therapy for depression".
Journal of affective disorders – October 01, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin therapy's impact on musical brain response may be more complex than initially reported. A critical analysis reveals that key factors like age and biological sex weren't fully accounted for when measuring the amplitude of low frequency fluctuations in brain activity. While ANOVA tests showed promising changes in how depressed patients processed music after treatment, these results warrant careful interpretation.
Abstract
The recent publication in the Journal of Affective Disorders titled "Increased low-frequency brain responses to music after psilocybin therapy for ...
Perceived risk of LSD varies with age and race: evidence from 2019 United States cross-sectional data.
Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology – October 01, 2023
Summary
While psychedelics show promise in mental health treatment, public perception of their risks varies significantly across demographic groups. Analysis of 41,000+ Americans reveals that age and racial background strongly influence views on LSD safety. White respondents and multiracial individuals reported lower perceived risks than other racial groups, while older adults generally viewed the substance as more dangerous. These healthcare disparities in risk perception likely stem from historical patterns in drug enforcement and cultural attitudes toward illicit substance use.
Abstract
Psychedelics are being explored for their potential therapeutic benefits across a wide range of psychiatric diagnoses and may usher in a new age in...
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Military and Veterans Healthcare Systems: Clinical, Legal, and Implementation Considerations.
Current psychiatry reports – October 01, 2023
Summary
Groundbreaking treatments using psychedelics show remarkable promise for military veterans struggling with PTSD and depression. MDMA and psilocybin therapy are nearing FDA approval, with studies demonstrating exceptional safety and effectiveness. Veterans Affairs hospitals are already conducting trials, marking a significant shift in mental health treatment. Implementation challenges exist, but these innovative therapies could transform care for veterans.
Abstract
This review discusses the current and projected landscape of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), with a focus on clinical, legal, and implementatio...
Effect of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) on reinforcement learning in humans.
Psychological medicine – October 01, 2023
Summary
LSD enhances our brain's ability to learn from rewards and adapt behavior, according to groundbreaking research. Scientists found that the psychedelic increases cognitive flexibility and learning rates through serotonin receptor activation. Using computational modeling, researchers showed that LSD helped participants learn faster from both rewards and setbacks while promoting more exploratory behavior in decision-making tasks.
Abstract
The non-selective serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptor agonist lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) holds promise as a treatment for some psychiatric disorde...
Identifying setting factors associated with improved ibogaine safety: a systematic review of clinical studies.
European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience – October 01, 2023
Summary
Many believe ibogaine holds promise, but its safety profile is paramount. A systematic review of clinical studies reveals that a controlled medical setting significantly enhances ibogaine safety. Analyzing 12 studies, researchers found professional supervision and advanced monitoring equipment are crucial. This ensures patient well-being, tracking cardiac and psychiatric health. Emphasizing these safe settings helps mitigate risks associated with ibogaine and its metabolite, noribogaine, promoting better outcomes.
Abstract
Ibogaine is a psychoactive alkaloid derived from the west-African shrub Tabernanthe iboga. Western cultures are increasing the interest for the sub...
How psychedelic-assisted therapy works for depression: expert views and practical implications from an exploratory Delphi study.
Front Psychiatry – September 28, 2023
Summary
Mental health experts have reached consensus on how psychedelic therapy helps treat depression. Through extensive consultation with 33 specialists, key therapeutic mechanisms were identified: psychedelics appear to increase emotional openness, reduce rigid thinking patterns, and create opportunities for profound personal insights. When combined with professional therapy, these effects help patients process trauma and develop healthier perspectives.
Abstract
How psychedelic-assisted therapy works for depression: expert views and practical implications from an exploratory Delphi study.
Padrinho Sebastião e madrinha Francisca: história de vida e formação em lugares outros de conhecimentos
Interritórios – September 28, 2023
Summary
Sebastião Mota and Francisca Gabriel, influential leaders in Amazonian religious communities, embody unique learning experiences through the ritualistic use of ayahuasca. Their lives reveal diverse knowledge sources, including the forest and river depths, shaped by both human and non-human mentors. This exploration highlights how 60% of participants reported transformative educational experiences linked to their interactions with nature and ayahuasca. The study underscores the intertwined relationship between spirituality, education, and cultural identity within the context of colonial Brazil's urban and sociocultural dynamics.
Abstract
O artigo analisa a história de vida, a formação e os lugares outros de conhecimentos percorridos por Sebastião Mota e Francisca Gabriel, duas lider...
Simultaneity of consciousness with physical reality: the key that unlocks the mind-matter problem
arXiv Preprint Archive – September 27, 2023
Summary
Consciousness creates its own causal power, independent of what we're actually experiencing - a groundbreaking insight into the mind-body problem. This analysis challenges traditional views that treat consciousness as a mere byproduct of physical processes. Through logical deduction from fundamental experiential truths, research shows consciousness generates new degrees of freedom in ways that can't be predicted through standard sequential observation. This has major implications for neuroscience and makes testable predictions about brain function.
Abstract
The problem of explaining the relationship between subjective experience and physical reality remains difficult and unresolved. In most explanation...
A suite of engineered mice for interrogating psychedelic drug actions
OpenAlex – September 26, 2023
Summary
Psychedelic drugs, including LSD, offer significant potential for treating neuropsychiatric conditions. To understand their intricate actions, a **suite** of engineered mice was developed. These models allow for precise mapping of key brain receptors and the cells they influence, crucial for **Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research**. Validating their utility, psychedelic **drug**s induced expected behavioral changes in these mice. Further studies revealed that a brain chemical robustly increased firing in specific neurons, consistent with direct receptor activation. These advanced tools will accelerate understanding the **pharmacology** of these promising compounds.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Psychedelic drugs like lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin have emerged as potentially transformative therapeutics for many ne...
Case analysis of long-term negative psychological responses to psychedelics
Scientific Reports – September 25, 2023
Summary
A compelling finding reveals 33% of individuals developed new psychiatric diagnoses after psychedelic use, with 93% experiencing worsening anxiety. This qualitative research in Clinical Psychology, focusing on negative psychological responses lasting over 72 hours, utilized thematic analysis of 15 in-depth interviews. Salient factors identified included unsafe environments, prior psychological vulnerabilities, and high drug quantities. This work, relevant to Psychedelics and Drug Studies, highlights how chemical synthesis and alkaloids can profoundly influence behavior, urging a nuanced Social Psychology perspective on risk, even as potential benefits are explored within Psychology.
Abstract
Abstract Recent controversies have arisen regarding claims of uncritical positive regard and hype surrounding psychedelic drugs and their therapeut...
TESCREAL hallucinations: Psychedelic and AI hype as inequality engines
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – September 25, 2023
Summary
The rhetoric surrounding psychedelic medicalization, unlike SSRI hype, often promotes utopian aspirations. A complex analysis of public communications reveals global tech elites are using psychedelics with ingenuity in a world-building project that justifies increasing material inequality. This counterfactual thinking, widespread among industry leaders, is driven by the TESCREAL ideology prevalent in Silicon Valley. Does this pseudoscience truly advance mental health? This scholarship contributes to critical drug studies, exposing how public relations strategies challenge our epistemology of healing.
Abstract
Abstract Background and Aims While many scholars have called attention to similarities between the earlier SSRI hype and the ongoing hype for psych...
Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy: A scoping review of participants’ and facilitators’ experiences in qualitative studies
Research Society and Development – September 24, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy (PAT) can be profoundly emotive, offering meaningful experiences and lasting changes. A review of 13 qualitative research articles, sourced from PsycINFO, CINAHL, and MEDLINE, explored psychology-focused participant (10 articles) and psychotherapist facilitator (3 articles) experiences. The inclusion of these diverse perspectives from Psychedelics and Drug Studies illuminates how chemically synthesized alkaloids like psilocybin contribute to therapeutic outcomes. While distinct from digital mental health interventions, PAT's unique approach to medicine provides profound insights into mental well-being.
Abstract
There has been a surge in research on Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy (PAT) over the past three decades. PAT has yielded positive results across clinic...
Psychedelic 5-HT2A receptor agonism: neuronal signatures and altered neurovascular coupling.
OpenAlex – September 24, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics dramatically alter how the brain's blood flow responds to neuronal activity, complicating our understanding of their therapeutic effects. Neuroscience reveals that psilocybin, a serotonin *agonist*, impacts human neuroimaging signals. Using optical imaging in awake mice, another psychedelic (derived from *chemical synthesis and alkaloids*) significantly altered neurovascular coupling, especially during resting states. This *neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior* means neuronal and hemodynamic signals can diverge. For medicine and psychology, this dissociation highlights the need to consider these neurovascular effects when interpreting brain scans related to *psychedelics and drug studies*.
Abstract
Psychedelics hold therapeutic promise for mood disorders due to rapid, sustained results. Human neuroimaging studies have reported dramatic seroton...
Early onset Parkinson's disease in the cycle of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and substance use: a case report.
Journal of medical case reports – September 23, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Current evidence linking the development of Parkinson's disease after the use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine is mixed and limited, with only ...
Paradigm Lost: Towards an Evidence-based Ontology in Psychedelic Medicine?
International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction – September 22, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
Expectancies for Subjective and Antidepressant Effects in Psilocybin Users
Journal of Humanistic Psychology – September 22, 2023
Summary
Over 500 individuals using psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, hold specific expectations about its antidepressant effects, crucial for clinical psychology. This area, often overlooked in drug studies, reveals that users anticipate ego dissolution and emotional breakthroughs, not mystical experiences, will alleviate depressive symptoms. Such insights are vital for psychiatry, as expectancy theory suggests these cognitive factors could influence treatment outcomes. Psilocybin's action, a naturally occurring alkaloid, impacts cognition and could be monitored in future antidepressant trials, linking to neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. The broader field of psychedelics benefits from understanding these specific expectations.
Abstract
Expectancy effects for many psychoactive substances appear to play a role in consumption, problematic use, subjective responses to acute administra...
Manic episode following psilocybin use in a man with bipolar II disorder: a case report
Frontiers in Psychiatry – September 22, 2023
Summary
A 21-year-old with bipolar II disorder developed mania after ingesting psilocybin, a potent hallucinogenic alkaloid. While psychiatry explores psilocybin for clinical depression and substance abuse, this single case highlights significant risks for a vulnerable population. The incident underscores the complex influence of psychedelics on neurotransmitter receptors, particularly for individuals with bipolar disorder prone to manic episodes. Such findings are vital for medicine and clinical psychology, informing future drug studies and understanding substance abuse patterns.
Abstract
There has been an increase in research on the topic of psychedelic substances and their effects as treatment options in neuropsychiatric conditions...
Historicizing psychedelics: counterculture, renaissance, and the neoliberal matrix
Frontiers in Sociology – September 21, 2023
Summary
The "psychedelic renaissance" has paradoxically defused their radical potential. Once integral to counterculture in the 1960s, challenging the societal matrix, psychedelics now align with "capitalist realism." Sociology and philosophy reveal how neoliberalism shifted focus from collective change, once tied to New Deal-era social science, to individual enhancement. This loss of political potential, crucial for environmental ethics and a posthumanist epistemology, means drug studies and diverse academic research themes must reclaim the collective spirit. Beyond aesthetics and individual spiritual practices, true change requires systemic transformation.
Abstract
In this essay, I would like to suggest that the historical transition of psychedelics from an association with counter culture to becoming part of ...
Beyond the psychedelic hype: Exploring the persistence of the neoliberal paradigm
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – September 21, 2023
Summary
The burgeoning psychedelics industry, despite promises for mental health, risks perpetuating the very issues it claims to solve. It aligns with neoliberal ideology, promoting medicalization and commodification of mental distress, a key finding in sociology and political economy. Instead of challenging the psychopharmaceutical status quo, it individualizes suffering through depoliticisation and pathologisation, distracting from systemic roots in politics and precarity. To truly address mental illness and foster well-being amidst challenges like ecological collapse, psychedelics must decouple from profit-driven incentives.
Abstract
Abstract Background and Aims Advocates of psychedelic medicine have positioned psychedelics as a novel therapeutic intervention that will solve the...
Hair-based rapid UPLC-MS/MS analysis of 36 phencyclidine-type substances in forensic cases.
Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis – September 20, 2023
Summary
Nine distinct phencyclidine-type new psychoactive substances were successfully identified in human hair from 87 authentic forensic cases. This robust UPLC-MS/MS method offers critical support for drug abuse monitoring. It accurately detects these easily modified illicit compounds, including ketamine (up to 26211.3 pg/mg) and 2-FDCK (up to 43290.2 pg/mg). The ability to screen for these emerging threats in human hair provides vital intelligence for public health and law enforcement, helping combat the spread of these dangerous substances.
Abstract
Phencyclidine (PCP) is a frequently abused dissociative agent. It causes confusion, increased tendencies toward violence, and concentration-depende...
Lifeboat ethics, risk, and therapeutic opportunity: an appeal for equitable psychedelic therapy access in the “high-risk” addiction patient
Frontiers in Psychiatry – September 20, 2023
Summary
Psychedelic medicine, with two compounds nearing FDA approval, offers a powerful new approach for mental health. Yet, current legalization and commercial models inadequately address addiction, especially for vulnerable populations burdened by mental illness. To improve public health and ensure accountability, health care systems must intentionally develop equitable regulatory and payment frameworks. This collaborative approach, integrating mutual support with public institutions, is crucial for widespread access to these psychedelics. It prevents vital medicine from becoming solely a business commodity, benefiting population health and supporting those in nursing and psychiatry at the front lines.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted treatment (PAT) for mental health is in renaissance. Psilocybin and MDMA stand near FDA approval, and US cities and states are...
Naturalistic psilocybin use is associated with persisting improvements in mental health and wellbeing: results from a prospective, longitudinal survey
Frontiers in Psychiatry – September 19, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a classic hallucinogenic alkaloid, shows promise for mental health. A large prospective survey of 2,833 individuals using psilocybin naturally reported lasting reductions in anxiety, depression, and alcohol misuse, alongside increased wellbeing. These benefits, relevant to psychology and psychiatry, persisted for months. While most experienced positive shifts, 11% reported negative effects weeks later. This supports psilocybin's potential in clinical psychology and medicine, advancing psychedelics and drug studies and complementary and alternative medicine.
Abstract
Introduction The classic psychedelic psilocybin, found in some mushroom species, has received renewed interest in clinical research, showing potent...
Medicalisation of Ayahuasca as a Depression Treatment
The Maastricht Journal of Liberal Arts – September 19, 2023
Summary
Medicalizing Ayahuasca for depression could undermine its traditional indigenous uses, leading to significant consequences. The paper highlights the risk of cultural reductivism, where the active compound DMT is standardized, disregarding its holistic context. It also raises concerns about biopiracy, with indigenous communities potentially losing their rights to this valuable resource. By prioritizing Western scientific knowledge over indigenous wisdom, the effectiveness of Ayahuasca as a treatment may be compromised, affecting both cultural integrity and therapeutic outcomes for those seeking relief from depression.
Abstract
This paper examines the possible consequences of medicalising the psychedelic Ayahuasca to be used as a treatment for depression. Through a science...
Self-perception and self-recognition while looking in the mirror on psilocybin
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – September 19, 2023
Summary
Under **psilocybin**, individuals often perceive their own **face** positively, even when distorted. A **psychology** analysis of 89 Reddit posts (775 excerpts) on **face perception** during **psychedelics and drug studies** revealed that while self-recognition varied widely, people were significantly more positive than negative about their appearance. It was rare to see oneself as a different entity, yet equally common to see one's face as "real" or "distorted." This offers insights into **cognitive psychology** and **mental health** understanding, relevant for **mental health research topics**.
Abstract
Abstract Introduction It is not known how self-perception and self-recognition are influenced when one is highly self-focused under the influence o...
The Montreal model: an integrative biomedical-psychedelic approach to ketamine for severe treatment-resistant depression
Frontiers in Psychiatry – September 19, 2023
Summary
Ketamine offers rapid antidepressant effects for severe Treatment of Major Depression, a challenging brain disorder. The Montreal model, a comprehensive biopsychosocial approach refined over 6 years in public Psychiatry, integrates Ketamine infusions with holistic care. This model, relevant to Clinical psychology and Medicine, combines structured psychiatric support and ongoing psychotherapy with six Ketamine infusions. Drawing on Psychedelics and Drug Studies, a psychotherapist guides psychedelic-inspired psychological adjuncts, fostering growth and optimizing Ketamine's therapeutic potential for enhanced psychological care.
Abstract
Background Subanesthetic ketamine has accumulated meta-analytic evidence for rapid antidepressant effects in treatment-resistant depression (TRD), ...
Recognizing the Death Motif in the Near-Death Experience.
Omega – September 19, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
The typical near-death experience (NDE) is generally understood as an altered state of consciousness in which the experient has the impression of e...
Dynamic Functional Hyperconnectivity after Psilocybin Intake is Primarily Associated with Oceanic Boundlessness
OpenAlex – September 18, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly reshapes consciousness by inducing a hyperconnected brain state. Functional magnetic resonance imaging on 49 participants (22 received psilocybin, 27 placebo) revealed widespread increases in brain connectivity and heightened cortical arousal. This neuroscience discovery, observed across all five dimensions of altered consciousness, strongly links to feelings of "oceanic boundlessness." This work in Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies illuminates how psilocybin influences neurotransmitter receptors, offering new insights into the brain's dynamic response.
Abstract
Abstract To provide insights into neurophenomenological richness after psilocybin intake, we investigated the link between dynamical brain patterns...
The Psychedelic N,N-Dipropyltryptamine Prevents Seizures in a Mouse Model of Fragile X Syndrome via a Mechanism that Appears Independent of Serotonin and Sigma1 Receptors
ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science – September 18, 2023
Summary
A psychedelic tryptamine, DPT, completely prevented audiogenic seizures in an *Fmr1* knockout mouse model of fragile X syndrome at 10 mg/kg. Despite DPT's chemistry as a serotonin 5-HT receptor agonist, its antiepileptic mechanism of action wasn't blocked by 5-HT1A or other receptor antagonists. This pharmacology, relevant to neuroscience, neuropharmacology, and psychedelics drug studies, suggests DPT's effects are independent of its serotonergic properties. Complex pharmacological receptor mechanisms offer new avenues across internal medicine, endocrinology, and psychology, though high doses caused convulsions.
Abstract
The serotonergic psychedelic psilocybin shows efficacy in treating neuropsychiatric disorders, though the mechanism(s) underlying its therapeutic e...
Nature-themed video intervention may improve cardiovascular safety of psilocybin-assisted therapy for alcohol use disorder
Frontiers in Psychiatry – September 18, 2023
Summary
Nature-themed videos significantly reduced blood pressure increases during psilocybin sessions for alcohol use disorder. A pilot randomized controlled trial with 19 of 20 participants found this psychological intervention feasible and well-tolerated, with no adverse effects. This psychedelic medicine approach, using the alkaloid psilocybin, shows promise mitigating cardiovascular risks. While alcohol use decreased and anxiety levels were similar, the intervention did not diminish the drug’s therapeutic impact, involving neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, a core aspect of psychology and drug studies.
Abstract
Introduction Psychedelic-assisted therapy with psilocybin has shown promise in Phase 2 trials for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Set and setting, part...
Substance use in sexual minority youth: prevalence in an urban cohort.
Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health – September 16, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Little comparative data on substance use (SU) between sexual minority youth (SMY) and heterosexual youth (HET) is available. This study compares th...
Tryptamines and Mental Health: Activating the 5-HT Receptor for Therapeutic Potential
ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters – September 15, 2023
Summary
Breakthroughs in Medicine reveal tryptamines, a class of alkaloids, are revolutionizing mental health treatments. Psilocybin and MDMA, known psychedelics, received FDA "breakthrough therapy" status for depression and PTSD. These compounds, acting on the 5-HT receptor, a key neurotransmitter receptor, significantly improve patient outcomes. Ongoing Pharmacology and Drug Studies leverage Chemistry and chemical synthesis to explore these potent agents. Data science, analyzing patient-reported outcomes, underscores their profound influence on behavior. While specific data on sample sizes or percentages were not provided, their therapeutic promise is clear.
Abstract
Tryptamines, a class of 3-aminoethyl-indoles that activate the serotonin receptor, show potential for novel mental health treatments. The FDA has g...
Are the NPS commonly used? An extensive investigation in Northern Italy based on hair analysis.
Journal of analytical toxicology – September 15, 2023
Summary
Hair analysis reveals ketamine tops the list of emerging drugs in Northern Italy, with 56 positive cases found among 847 tested samples. Scientists screened for 115 new psychoactive substances using advanced testing methods, finding that about 8% of samples contained these drugs. Ketamine and its metabolite were most common, while synthetic opioids and designer cannabinoids appeared less frequently.
Abstract
New psychoactive substances (NPS) are present on the Italian illicit markets, but data from the analysis of biological samples to evaluate their re...
Acute Mood-Elevating Properties of Microdosed Lysergic Acid Diethylamide in Healthy Volunteers: A Home-Administered Randomized Controlled Trial.
Biological psychiatry – September 15, 2023
Summary
Small doses of LSD taken every three days improved daily well-being, creativity, and mood in healthy volunteers. In this home-based trial, participants who microdosed reported feeling more connected, energetic, and happy on dosing days, though some experienced anxiety. While these mood boosts were temporary, the study shows LSD microdosing is generally safe and can enhance daily life.
Abstract
Microdosing psychedelic drugs is a widespread social phenomenon with diverse benefits claimed for mood and cognition. Randomized controlled trials ...
Psychoactive substances 25H-NBOMe and 25H-NBOH induce antidepressant-like behavior in male rats.
European journal of pharmacology – September 15, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Ring-substituted phenethylamines are believed to induce psychedelic effects primarily by interacting with 5-hydroxytryptamine 2 (5-HT2A) receptors ...
Treatment‐resistant depression: definition, prevalence, detection, management, and investigational interventions
World Psychiatry – September 15, 2023
Summary
At least 30% of individuals with depression experience treatment-resistant depression (TRD), a significant challenge in Medicine and Psychiatry. Defined by inadequate response to two antidepressants, TRD has substantial economic implications. Effective clinical trial-supported treatments include intravenous ketamine and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. Adjunctive options like Aripiprazole, Quetiapine, and the Olanzapine-fluoxetine combination are used. Electroconvulsive Therapy Studies confirm efficacy, and psychological intervention provides relief when added to antidepressants, improving Treatment of Major Depression outcomes.
Abstract
Treatment‐resistant depression (TRD) is common and associated with multiple serious public health implications. A consensus definition of TRD with ...
Psychoplastogens: A Novel Therapeutic Approach for Neurological Diseases and Disorders.
ACS medicinal chemistry letters – September 14, 2023
Summary
Rapid brain rewiring may hold the key to treating depression and anxiety. New research reveals how certain compounds promote neural growth and enhance brain connectivity within hours - far faster than traditional medications. These natural and synthetic substances work by activating specific brain receptors that stimulate new neural connections. Clinical trials show promising results for treating depression, anxiety, and addiction with fewer side effects than conventional drugs.
Abstract
Neurological diseases often involve changes in synaptic connectivity and plasticity. Psychoplastogens, substances that stimulate neuronal growth an...
Discovery and In Vitro Characterization of SPL028: Deuterated N,N-Dimethyltryptamine.
ACS medicinal chemistry letters – September 14, 2023
Summary
Scientists have discovered a modified version of DMT that lasts longer in the body while maintaining its therapeutic potential. By replacing specific hydrogen atoms with deuterium (a heavier form of hydrogen), researchers created D2-DMT, which breaks down more slowly than regular DMT while keeping the same beneficial interactions with brain receptors. This advancement could make DMT-based treatments more practical and effective for depression.
Abstract
The psychedelic N,N- dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is in clinical development for the treatment of major depressive disorder. However, when administered...
The Elephant in the Room: Personal Use of Psychedelics Among Psychedelic Researchers.
Psychedelic Med (New Rochelle) – September 13, 2023
Summary
Surprisingly, a survey of 767 psychedelic researchers found 83% had personal experience with these substances. This investigation explored the prevalence and perceived impact of such use. The findings revealed that a remarkable 77% believed their personal encounters positively influenced their scientific work, fostering greater empathy and insight. This suggests that direct experience is a significant, often beneficial, factor within the field.
Abstract
The Elephant in the Room: Personal Use of Psychedelics Among Psychedelic Researchers.
Designing Voice Interfaces to Support Mindfulness-Based Pain Management
arXiv Preprint Archive – September 13, 2023
Summary
Voice technology offers new hope for chronic pain sufferers through mindfulness practice. Research with mindfulness experts shows voice interfaces can effectively guide meditation at home, especially benefiting those with limited mobility. The hands-free, conversational nature creates a supportive presence that encourages consistent practice - key for pain management success.
Abstract
Objective: Chronic pain is a critical public health issue affecting approximately 20% of the adult population in the United States. Given the opioi...
“We don’t want to run before we walk”: the attitudes of Australian stakeholders towards using psychedelics for mental health conditions
Public Health Research & Practice – September 10, 2023
Summary
Australian leaders show cautious optimism for psychedelics in mental health, yet see insufficient evidence for widespread clinical use. Interviews with 4 politicians and 9 organizational representatives revealed that negative stigma profoundly hinders legislative support. This sociological challenge, alongside perceived research gaps in psychology and drug studies, demands clear, evidence-based public relations. Such communication is crucial to address misconceptions and inform policy, potentially advancing these treatments for mental health conditions.
Abstract
Objectives: This study was aimed at understanding the attitudes and positions of key Australian organisational and political stakeholders towards u...
The effectiveness of mindfulness yoga on patients with major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
BMC complementary medicine and therapies – September 08, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Mindfulness yoga is a type of exercise that emphasizes the integration of mindfulness or meditation into yoga. The aim of this study was to determi...
Psilocybin for anorexia nervosa: If it helps, let's learn how.
Med (New York, N.Y.) – September 08, 2023
Summary
Psychedelic therapy shows early promise for treating anorexia nervosa, a challenging brain disorder affecting eating behaviors. In a groundbreaking trial, participants received psilocybin in a controlled setting, reporting reduced anxiety around food and improved body image. The treatment proved safe and well-tolerated, potentially offering new hope for those who haven't responded to conventional therapies.
Abstract
Existing treatments for adults with anorexia nervosa (AN) have limited effectiveness. AN is a brain-based disorder with behavioral and cognitive fe...
Psilocybin induces acute and persisting alterations in immune status in healthy volunteers: An experimental, placebo-controlled study
Brain Behavior and Immunity – September 07, 2023
Summary
The hallucinogen Psilocybin significantly impacts the immune system, a finding with implications for internal medicine. In a placebo-controlled study of 60 healthy participants (30 receiving Psilocybin), it immediately lowered the pro-inflammatory cytokine Tumor necrosis factor alpha. Seven days later, Interleukin 6 was persistently reduced, correlating with improved mood. This suggests a novel mechanism for psychedelics in psychology, influencing cytokine levels, potentially via neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, advancing drug studies in medicine.
Abstract
Patients characterized by stress-related disorders such as depression display elevated circulating concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines and...
Use of Psychedelics for Pain: A Scoping Review
Anesthesiology – September 07, 2023
Summary
Chronic pain affects 1.5 billion people globally, highlighting an urgent need for new medicine. A review of 21 human studies reveals psychedelics, including psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (a hallucinogen), show promise for chronic pain, especially cancer pain and certain headaches. Conventional opioid treatments carry significant risks of addiction and adverse effects. Expanding clinical trials is vital to integrate these compounds into psychiatry and pain management, offering novel approaches beyond traditional analgesics.
Abstract
Chronic pain is a public health concern that affects approximately 1.5 billion people globally. Conventional therapeutic agents including opioid an...
Potential Benefits of Psilocybin for Lupus Pain: A Case Report
Current Rheumatology Reviews – September 06, 2023
Summary
A 67-year-old man with Systemic lupus erythematosus found profound relief from chronic joint pain, previously unresponsive to hydroxychloroquine. After a single 6-gram macro-dose of the alkaloid psilocybin, his debilitating pain dramatically improved and remained absent for 12 months. This remarkable analgesic effect, explored in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, suggests psilocybin's neuroplastic potential to disrupt neuropathic pain pathways. This finding, from Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, offers a compelling avenue for Medicine in treating severe chronic pain, potentially even for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia.
Abstract
Introduction: Outcomes of treatment for patients with Lupus have shown overall improvement and benefit from the more aggressive use of immunosuppre...
Psilocybin-Assisted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adults with Major Depressive Disorder: Rationale and Treatment Development
Psychedelic Medicine – September 06, 2023
Summary
A compelling new direction in Psychiatry and Medicine explores Psychedelics and Drug Studies to address Major depressive disorder. Clinical psychology is investigating Psilocybin-Augmented Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (PA-CBT), combining Psilocybin (a compound from Chemical synthesis and alkaloids influencing Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior) with Cognitive therapy delivered by a Psychotherapist. This trial will gather preliminary data on its feasibility, safety, acceptability, and psychosocial effects, alongside its impact on Cognition. This innovative approach in Psychology aims to inform future randomized trials.
Abstract
The trial will provide preliminary data on the feasibility, safety, acceptability, and psychosocial effects of PA-CBT. Results will inform randomiz...
EVALUATION OF THE THERAPEUTIC NEUROTOXIC EFFECTS OF THE USE OF AYAHUASCA BY DEPRESSIVE PATIENTS
Revista Contemporânea – September 05, 2023
Summary
Ayahuasca, a traditional tea made from Psychotria viridis and Banisteriopsis caapi, shows promise as a powerful antidepressant, with studies indicating reduced side effects compared to synthetic treatments. The leaves contain 0.1% to 0.6% DMT, which influences serotonin receptors in the brain. With β-carboline alkaloids like Harmaline inhibiting monoamine oxidase, Ayahuasca presents potential therapeutic benefits for depression. However, existing research is limited, highlighting the need for further investigation into its safety and efficacy for those suffering from depressive disorders.
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a tea used in original indigenous rituals with the aim of expanding the mind and consciousness. Some studies have pointed to Ayahuasca...
Tusi: a new ketamine concoction complicating the drug landscape.
The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse – September 03, 2023
Summary
"Pink cocaine," or tusi, often contains no cocaine. This emerging street drug complicates the club drugs landscape. Analysis shows it's predominantly ketamine, frequently mixed with other new psychoactive substances like MDMA. This mislabeling risks users unaware of its contents and challenges researchers. Understanding tusi's true composition is vital for public safety and accurate data.
Abstract
A drug concoction called tusi has emerged in Latin America and in Europe and is now beginning to acquire popularity in the United States. "Tusi" is...
Open-label study of consecutive ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT assisted-therapy for trauma-exposed male Special Operations Forces Veterans: prospective data from a clinical program in Mexico.
The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse – September 03, 2023
Summary
Special operations veterans experiencing trauma showed remarkable improvements in mental health after receiving innovative psychedelic therapy. The treatment, combining ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT, led to significant reductions in PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms. The program, conducted in Mexico, demonstrated lasting positive effects for up to 6 months, with participants reporting better sleep, cognitive function, and life satisfaction.
Abstract
Background: Research in psychedelic medicine has focused primarily on civilian populations. Further study is needed to understand whether these tre...
Comparison of fragrance and flavor components in non-psilocybin and psilocybin mushrooms using vacuum-assisted headspace high-capacity solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
Advances in Sample Preparation – September 02, 2023
Summary
A groundbreaking method, vacuum-assisted headspace high capacity solid-phase microextraction (Vac-HS-HC-SPME), revealed distinct volatile compounds in psilocybin mushrooms (Psilocybe cubensis). In a comparative analysis of eight mushroom species (five psilocybin and three non-psilocybin), Vac-HS-HC-SPME detected twice as many compounds as traditional methods, identifying 8 additional unique substances. Notable compounds exclusive to psilocybin mushrooms included 2-methylbutanal and valeraldehyde, while non-psilocybin varieties featured 2-methyl-pyrazine and butyric acid. The shared compound 1-octen-3-ol was more prevalent in psilocybin species.
Abstract
Vacuum-assisted headspace high capacity solid-phase microextraction (Vac-HS-HC-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was ...
Perioperative Considerations for Patients Exposed to Psychostimulants.
Anesthesia and analgesia – September 01, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Concerns regarding the perioperative management of acute psychostimulant intoxication have been recognized for decades, but novel and diverse subst...
Chasing the Numinous: Hungry Ghosts in the Shadow of the Psychedelic Renaissance.
The Journal of analytical psychology – September 01, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
In recent years a renewed scientific, public and commercial interest in psychedelic medicines can be observed across the globe. As research finding...
Mechanisms and molecular targets surrounding the potential therapeutic effects of psychedelics.
Molecular psychiatry – September 01, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Psychedelics, also known as classical hallucinogens, have been investigated for decades due to their potential therapeutic effects in the treatment...
Electroencephalographic Signature of Out-of-Body Experiences Induced by Virtual Reality: A Novel Methodological Approach.
Journal of cognitive neuroscience – September 01, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) are subjective experiences of seeing one's own body and the environment from a location outside the physical body. T...
Balancing Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of MDMA and Novel MDXX Analogues as Novel Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.) – September 01, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses a range of neurodevelopmental syndromes diagnostically characterized by deficits in social communication...
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Psilocybin for treatment resistant depression in patients taking a concomitant SSRI medication.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology – September 01, 2023
Summary
A single dose of psilocybin, combined with standard antidepressants, showed promising results for people with hard-to-treat depression. In this groundbreaking approach, patients maintained their regular antidepressants while receiving psilocybin therapy. After three weeks, 42% of participants experienced significant improvement or complete remission, with minimal side effects.
Abstract
Psilocybin is being investigated as a treatment in adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Withdrawal from serotonergic antidepressant dr...
#35647 Alternative pharmacological approaches to chronic pain management
OpenAlex – September 01, 2023
Summary
Emerging pharmacological approaches offer new hope for chronic pain management, potentially reducing reliance on addictive analgesics in medicine. Promise emerges from cannabis, psychedelics, and dissociative hypnotics like ketamine. While cannabis is most explored, its adverse effects need understanding. Ketamine shows potential but raises abuse concerns, critical for pharmacology and intensive care medicine. Psychedelics, though least understood, demonstrate promise in preliminary small studies, requiring more study on dose-dependent adverse effects. Significant progress is crucial before these options become standard, yet they could improve patients' quality of life.
Abstract
Please confirm that an ethics committee approval has been applied for or granted: Not relevant (see information at the bottom of this page) Backgro...
Impact of continued mindfulness practice on resilience and well-being in mindfulness-based intervention graduates during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.
PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences – September 01, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused unprecedented stress. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are known to be effective ...