Research
The cloud of unknowing: Cognitive dedifferentiation in whole-body perceptual deprivation.
Progress in brain research – January 01, 2023
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Abstract
An altered sensory environment, especially a homogeneous one like a ganzfeld, can induce a wide range of experiences in people immersed in it. The ...
Impact of a Naturalistic Psychedelic Experience on Smoking: A Retrospective Survey.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2023
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Tobacco use disorder is a major public health concern. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a psychedelic experience in a natural...
Impact of Heartfulness meditation practice on anxiety, perceived stress, well-being, and telomere length.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2023
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Exhaustion, stress, and burnout have all been found to be reduced using techniques like yoga and meditation. This study was carried out to check th...
Preferences and Support for Psychedelic Policies and Practices Among Those Using Psychedelics.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2023
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Legal, scientific, and social landscapes for psychedelics are changing rapidly. Differences of opinion exist among key stakeholders regarding regul...
Treatment of Mood and Depressive Disorders With Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Efficacy Review.
Journal of midwifery & women's health – January 01, 2023
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There has been a steady increase in people with symptoms of depression over the past several years (since 2011). The further increase in stress and...
The Effect of Meditation-Based Interventions on Patients with Fatigue Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Psychologica Belgica – January 01, 2023
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Persistent fatigue constitutes a prevalent and debilitating symptom in several diseases. The symptom is not effectively alleviated by pharmaceutica...
Increasing autobiographical memory specificity: Using kindness meditation to impact features of memory retrieval.
PloS one – January 01, 2023
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Individuals with a history of depression have an increased risk for future episodes. This risk has been linked with impaired features of autobiogra...
Perceived key change phenomena of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of severe PTSD: an interpretative phenomenological analysis of clinical integration sessions.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2023
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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent psychiatric condition that significantly impacts daily functioning in patients but lacks adequ...
Potential therapeutic effects of an ayahuasca-inspired N,N-DMT and harmine formulation: a controlled trial in healthy subjects.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2023
Summary
A novel ayahuasca analog combining DMT and harmine shows promising therapeutic potential, offering similar benefits to traditional Amazonian ayahuasca but in a standardized form. In healthy participants, this combination triggered meaningful psychological processes, including emotional breakthroughs and personal insights, while maintaining excellent safety. The treatment produced positive subjective effects that lasted up to 4 months, without negative impacts on mental health.
Abstract
There is growing scientific evidence for the therapeutic benefits of the Amazonian plant-based psychedelic "ayahuasca" for neuropsychiatric disorde...
Seeking the Psilocybiome: Psychedelics meet the microbiota-gut-brain axis.
International journal of clinical and health psychology : IJCHP – January 01, 2023
Summary
The gut microbiome may play a surprising role in how psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, and DMT affect our brain and behavior. Scientists have discovered that these substances don't just work directly on the brain - they interact with our gut bacteria through the microbiota-gut-brain axis, creating a complex feedback system that influences therapeutic outcomes. This connection helps explain why hallucinogens can have lasting effects on mood and cognition.
Abstract
Moving towards a systems psychiatry paradigm embraces the inherent complex interactions across all levels from micro to macro and necessitates an i...
Binding and functional structure-activity similarities of 4-substituted 2,5-dimethoxyphenyl isopropylamine analogues at 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B serotonin receptors.
Frontiers in pharmacology – January 01, 2023
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Certain 4-substituted analogs of 1-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)isopropylamine (2,5-DMA) are psychoactive classical hallucinogens or serotonergic psychedel...
Case report: Prolonged amelioration of mild red-green color vision deficiency following psilocybin mushroom use
Drug Science Policy and Law – January 01, 2023
Summary
A single 5-gram dose of psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, dramatically improved red-green color vision in one individual. Partial improvement, assessed via Ishihara tests, peaked at 8 days and persisted for at least 16 days, despite color blindness being genetic. This intriguing finding for Medicine and Psychology suggests new directions for Psychiatry and Psychedelics and Drug Studies. Understanding these effects requires biochemical analysis of such alkaloids, whether from chemical synthesis or natural sources, to gauge their impact on perception and inform generalizability.
Abstract
Background Recent survey data indicate that some people report long-term improvement in color vision deficiency (CVD), also known as color blindnes...
Complementary and integrative interventions for PTSD.
European journal of psychotraumatology – January 01, 2023
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ABSTRACTTo treat the impact of trauma, most current evidence supports the use of trauma-focused psychotherapy as the first line approach. However, ...
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Ketamine as a therapeutic agent in major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder: Potential medicinal and deleterious effects.
Ibrain – January 01, 2023
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Major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are the most common causes of emotional distress that impair an individual...
Should we be leery of being Leary? Concerns about psychedelic use by psychedelic researchers.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – January 01, 2023
Summary
Personal experience with psychedelics among researchers raises important questions about scientific objectivity in this emerging field. Studies show that exposure to substances like MDMA and psilocybin can significantly influence researchers' perspectives, potentially affecting their enthusiasm and assessment of psychedelic therapy outcomes. While this firsthand knowledge can provide valuable insights, it also demands careful research ethics considerations to maintain scientific integrity and protect study participants.
Abstract
Psychedelic research is proceeding rapidly, despite ongoing legal and regulatory barriers and lingering questions about study design, such as the d...
Low doses of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) increase reward-related brain activity.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology – January 01, 2023
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Tiny amounts of LSD can boost the brain's reward processing systems, even without causing noticeable psychedelic effects. Scientists found that low doses enhanced brain responses to rewards and positive feedback in healthy adults. Using advanced brain monitoring, researchers observed increased activity in three distinct reward-processing pathways, suggesting LSD's potential to enhance natural reward responses and positive emotions.
Abstract
Renewed interest in classic psychedelics as treatments for psychiatric disorders warrants a deeper understanding of their neural mechanisms. Single...
Psilocybin in Palliative Care: An Update.
Current geriatrics reports – January 01, 2023
Summary
Groundbreaking developments show psilocybin, a natural psychedelic compound, offers remarkable benefits for end-of-life care. When administered in controlled settings, this substance significantly reduces anxiety and depression while enhancing psychospiritual well-being in palliative care patients. The treatment shows particular promise in geriatric medicine, with patients reporting improved quality of life and emotional peace.
Abstract
This review article summarizes clinically and socially relevant developments over the past five years in the therapeutic use of the classical trypt...
Effect of Heartfulness meditation based integrative therapy on infertility outcomes: A retrospective case series evaluation.
Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine – January 01, 2023
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In Indian context, infertility is often a silent struggle. Despite the high prevalence of infertility in the country, the majority of couples do no...
The Global Distribution and Epidemiology of Psychoactive Substance Use and Injection Drug Use Among Street-Involved Children and Youth: A Meta-Analysis.
Substance use & misuse – January 01, 2023
Summary
A global analysis reveals that tobacco and cannabis are the most commonly used substances among young people living on streets. Higher rates of psychoactive substance use strongly correlate with experiences of violence, homelessness, and risky sexual behaviors. Males with family history of substance use face greater risks. The data shows age-specific patterns: while meth and cannabis use increase with age, tobacco and cocaine use typically decrease.
Abstract
Background: Globally, street-involved children and youth (SICY) who work and live on/of the streets are at higher risk of increased psychoactive su...
The Safety and Efficacy of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies for Older Adults: Knowns and Unknowns.
The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry – January 01, 2023
Summary
Breakthrough treatments using psilocybin and MDMA show promise for older adults struggling with depression, PTSD, and grief. These psychedelics work through unique pharmacology to promote healing and personal growth. Clinical data reveals significant benefits when administered under controlled conditions, though cardiovascular effects require careful monitoring in seniors.
Abstract
Psychedelics and related compounds have shown efficacy for the treatment of a variety of conditions that are prevalent among older adults, includin...
Functional MRI markers for treatment-resistant depression: Insights and challenges.
Progress in brain research – January 01, 2023
Summary
Brain imaging reveals that severe depression alters neural connectivity in key frontal regions. Advanced techniques like functional MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy show these changes can be reversed with innovative treatments. Ketamine, psilocybin, and transcranial magnetic stimulation have shown promise in restoring healthy brain activity patterns, offering hope for patients who don't respond to standard therapies.
Abstract
Imaging studies of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) have examined brain activity, structure, and metabolite concentrations to identify critical...
Women and MDMA: particularities of gender and sex.
International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England) – January 01, 2023
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This comprehensive review delves into the intricate interplay between gender/sex and MDMA use, drawing upon recent evidence. It explores how girls,...
Predicting the Intensity of Psychedelic-Induced Mystical and Challenging Experience in a Healthy Population: An Exploratory Post-Hoc Analysis.
Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment – January 01, 2023
Summary
Higher doses of psilocybin in psychedelic therapy can lead to more intense mystical experiences, but age plays a surprising role in how people handle challenging moments. New findings reveal that while dosage strongly influences both mystical and challenging experiences, older participants typically reported less difficult episodes. Interestingly, personality traits showed minimal impact, except that more neurotic individuals faced tougher experiences at higher doses.
Abstract
In psychedelic therapy, mystical as well as challenging experience may influence therapeutic outcome. However, predictors of such experience have n...
Chinese translation and validation of the Near-Death Experience Content scale.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2023
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In recent years, a growing number of near-death experience (NDE) testimonies have been collected worldwide due to an increasing interest in researc...
Comparison of two brief mindfulness interventions for anxiety, stress and burnout in mental health professionals: a randomised crossover trial.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2023
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Anxiety, stress and burnout are a growing reality among mental health professionals, impacting negatively on them and their clients. Mindfulness-ba...
Evaluating passive physiological data collection during Spravato treatment.
Frontiers in digital health – January 01, 2023
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Spravato and other drugs with consciousness-altering effects show significant promise for treating various mental health disorders. However, the ef...
μ-opioid receptor agonists and psychedelics: pharmacological opportunities and challenges.
Frontiers in pharmacology – January 01, 2023
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Opioid misuse and opioid-involved overdose deaths are a massive public health problem involving the intertwined misuse of prescription opioids for ...
Occupational Therapist-Led Mindfulness Training Program for Older Adults Living with Early Cognitive Decline in Primary Care: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.
Journal of Alzheimer's disease reports – January 01, 2023
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Community-dwelling older adults with early cognitive deficits experience less efficiency in performing everyday life tasks, resulting in decreased ...
The psychedelic afterglow phenomenon: a systematic review of subacute effects of classic serotonergic psychedelics
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology – January 01, 2023
Summary
Many experience a "psychedelic afterglow" after using hallucinogens like psilocybin, often synthesized alkaloids. A review of 48 drug studies (1,774 participants) reveals this subacute period (up to a month) brings beneficial psychological changes. Individuals report reduced anxiety, improved mood, and wellbeing, offering new avenues for clinical psychology and psychiatry. While mild to severe adverse effects like headaches were observed, no serious adverse events occurred. Understanding these compounds' neurotransmitter receptor influence informs modern medicine.
Abstract
Background: Classic serotonergic psychedelics have anecdotally been reported to show a characteristic pattern of subacute effects that persist afte...
Effectiveness of Meditation-based Interventions on Health Problems Caused by COVID-19 Pandemic: Narrative Review.
International journal of yoga – January 01, 2023
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This article provides a quantitative review of the potential applications of meditation-based interventions (MBIs) in addressing the major health i...
The G protein biased serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonist lisuride exerts anti-depressant drug-like activities in mice.
Frontiers in molecular biosciences – January 01, 2023
Summary
Scientists have discovered that lisuride, a drug that affects serotonin 2A receptors in the brain, shows promise as an antidepressant without typical hallucinogenic effects. Unlike related compounds, it produced minimal head twitch responses in mice while demonstrating lasting mood-improving effects. The drug reduced depression-like behaviors and increased sugar preference, with fewer serotonin-syndrome symptoms than similar medications.
Abstract
There is now evidence from multiple Phase II clinical trials that psychedelic drugs can exert long-lasting anxiolytic, anti-depressant, and anti-dr...
The Effectiveness of Rajyoga Meditation as an Adjuvant for Panic Anxiety Syndrome.
International journal of yoga – January 01, 2023
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One of the most prevalent psychiatric conditions that affect a person's quality of life, ability to function and productivity, and consequently the...
Systems-level analysis of local field potentials reveals differential effects of lysergic acid diethylamide and ketamine on neuronal activity and functional connectivity.
Frontiers in neuroscience – January 01, 2023
Summary
Breakthrough brain recordings reveal distinct neural signatures of two powerful mind-altering compounds. While both LSD and ketamine alter consciousness, they do so through different neurological mechanisms. Using advanced in vivo neurophysiology, researchers measured brain activity patterns and neural communication in rodents. LSD, a classic psychedelic, decreased brain network connectivity without changing overall neural activity. Ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, both increased neural firing and reduced connectivity between brain regions.
Abstract
Psychedelic substances have in recent years attracted considerable interest as potential treatments for several psychiatric conditions, including d...
Recommendations for selection and adaptation of rating scales for clinical studies of rapid-acting antidepressants.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2023
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The novel mechanisms of action (MOA) derived from some recently introduced molecular targets have led to regulatory approvals for rapid acting anti...
A pilot study of cerebral metabolism and serotonin 5-HT2A receptor occupancy in rats treated with the psychedelic tryptamine DMT in conjunction with the MAO inhibitor harmine.
Frontiers in pharmacology – January 01, 2023
Summary
New research reveals how harmine, a compound found in ayahuasca, enhances DMT's effects in the brain. Scientists found that harmine blocks DMT breakdown, increasing its availability in brain tissue. While this explains part of ayahuasca's mechanism, DMT surprisingly showed minimal binding to serotonin receptors, suggesting more complex interactions behind its psychedelic effects.
Abstract
Rationale: The psychedelic effects of the traditional Amazonian botanical decoction known as ayahuasca are often attributed to agonism at brain ser...
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An Assessment of Psychedelic Knowledge Among People Using Psychedelics Naturalistically.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2023
Summary
People who use psychedelics like LSD, DMT, and psilocybin tend to be well-informed about these substances. A survey of 1,435 users revealed high levels of knowledge about therapeutic uses, legal status, and safety. Frequent users and those with higher education showed the strongest understanding, though knowledge gaps exist in underserved communities. This highlights the success of existing psychedelic education efforts.
Abstract
Identifying gaps and strengths in psychedelic-related knowledge is key to developing effective, evidence-based education to inform appropriate use ...
Mindfulness to improve the mental health of university students. A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Frontiers in public health – January 01, 2023
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This systematic review and meta-analysis was to analyze the effects of a mindfulness program on mental health in university students. A systematic ...
Do yoga and meditation moderate the relationship between negative life events and depressive symptoms? Analysis of a national cross-sectional survey of Australian women.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2023
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This study aims to examine the role of yoga/meditation in the relationship between negative life events, stress and depression. The Australian Long...
Integrative Oncology's 30-Year Anniversary: What Have We Achieved? A North American Naturopathic Oncology Perspective.
Integrative cancer therapies – January 01, 2023
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In 1991 the U.S. Congress mandated that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) form the Office of Alternative Medicine to study alternative medica...
Clinical Trial Design Challenges and Opportunities for Emerging Treatments for Opioid Use Disorder: A Review.
JAMA psychiatry – January 01, 2023
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Novel treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD) are needed to address both the ongoing opioid epidemic and long-standing barriers to existing OUD tr...
Psychedelic Science, Contemplative Practices, and Indigenous and Other Traditional Knowledge Systems: Towards Integrative Community-Based Approaches in Global Health.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2023
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As individuals and communities around the world confront mounting physical, psychological, and social threats, three complimentary mind-body-spirit...
History repeating: guidelines to address common problems in psychedelic science
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology – January 01, 2023
Summary
Optimism abounds for psychedelics in Psychology, Medicine, and Psychiatry, yet the field faces 10 pressing challenges. These issues threaten the validity, safety, and efficacy of Drug Studies. Concerns include unclear working mechanisms, impacting how these compounds, often alkaloids from chemical synthesis, influence neurotransmitter receptors and subsequent behavior. Addressing these problems is crucial to determine if the therapeutic promise of psychedelics is truly warranted.
Abstract
Research in the last decade has expressed considerable optimism about the clinical potential of psychedelics for the treatment of mental disorders....
Psilocybin for Depression: From Credibility to Feasibility, What’s Missing?
Pharmaceuticals – December 31, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin shows significant promise for alleviating depressive symptoms, suggesting a powerful new direction in Psychiatry and Medicine. However, establishing its full Credibility requires addressing current limitations in Psychedelics and Drug Studies. Early findings often stem from small sample sizes and face challenges like blinding and limited follow-up. Standardized protocols are crucial to understand this potent compound, an alkaloid from Chemical synthesis. Future research, leveraging robust Data science, must clarify Psilocybin's real potential as a therapeutic molecule for Depression and other psychological conditions, ensuring diverse academic research themes contribute to its safe and effective application.
Abstract
Psilocybin has been suggested as a promising transdiagnostic treatment strategy for a wide range of psychiatric disorders. Recent findings showed t...
Near-death experiences and the change of worldview in survivors of sudden cardiac arrest: A phenomenological and hermeneutical study.
Qualitative research in medicine & healthcare – December 31, 2022
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Near-death experiences (NDEs) can occur during episodes of unconsciousness from life-threatening conditions, such as sudden cardiac arrests (SCAs)....
Genome sequencing progenies of magic mushrooms (Psilocybe subaeruginosa) identifies tetrapolar mating and gene duplications in the psilocybin pathway
Fungal Genetics and Biology – December 29, 2022
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No Summary
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Abstract not available from OpenAlex
Ketamine modulates a norepinephrine-astroglial circuit to persistently suppress futility-induced passivity
bioRxiv Preprint Server – December 29, 2022
Summary
Ketamine's antidepressant-like effects may surprisingly stem from its action on star-shaped brain cells called astroglia, not just neurons. Traditionally, mood-altering compounds are thought to primarily affect neurons. Research in zebrafish and mice revealed that ketamine elevates calcium within astroglia, a crucial step for persistently suppressing passive, futile behaviors. This suggests ketamine effectively combats passivity by modulating ancient brain pathways involving both neurons and astroglia, offering a novel understanding of its positive impact.
Abstract
Mood-altering compounds hold promise for the treatment of many psychiatric disorders, such as depression, but connecting their molecular, circuit, ...
The Potential of Psilocybe Genus Fungi to Treat Depression and Some Addictions
Hop and Medicinal Plants – December 28, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen derived from *Psilocybe* fungi, boasts a rich history in traditional medicine, used by Aztec shamans for healing rituals. Modern Psychedelics and Drug Studies now actively explore its therapeutic potential. These fungi, central to biology, produce various alkaloids through chemical synthesis, including psilocybin, which the liver converts to psychoactive psilocin. Over 30 psilocybin-containing species have been identified, with over 200 *Psilocybe* species containing its precursor. Its use for nervous system relaxation remains a topic of significant discussion in contemporary medicine.
Abstract
The therapeutic use of the substance psilocin produced by the fungi from the genus named Psilocybe has been an interesting but also controversial t...
A Review of Synthetic Access to Therapeutic Compounds Extracted from Psilocybe.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) – December 28, 2022
Summary
Groundbreaking advances in synthetic chemistry are making psychedelic compounds from Psilocybe mushrooms more accessible for clinical research. Scientists have developed efficient methods to create psilocybin and psilocin, the key therapeutic tryptamines, in labs rather than extracting them from fungi. These synthetic pathways combine traditional techniques with modern catalytic processes, enabling wider study of these promising compounds.
Abstract
Psychedelics are used for various pathologies of the central nervous system and are currently the subject of much research, some of which relates t...
Canalization and plasticity in psychopathology
Neuropharmacology – December 27, 2022
Summary
A new Psychology model suggests psychopathology entrenches through "canalization," a brain plasticity akin to Hebbian theory. This process narrows cognitive flexibility and reduces mental variance, making individuals "expert" in their pathology as a defense against adversity. Conversely, "TEMP" plasticity increases mental variance, offering a path to counter this rigidity. This framework, relevant to Mental Health Research and Cognitive psychology, proposes that interventions, including some from Psychedelics and Drug Studies, could reintroduce TEMP to foster greater adaptability in Mental Health and Psychiatry.
Abstract
This theoretical article revives a classical bridging construct, canalization, to describe a new model of a general factor of psychopathology. To a...
High dose of psilocybin effective for treatment‐resistant depression
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update – December 27, 2022
Summary
A single 25-mg dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin significantly improved symptoms for adults with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder within three weeks. Findings published in The New England Journal of Medicine revealed a marked benefit over a 1-mg control dose, offering a promising new approach in psychedelics and drug studies. However, a 10-mg dose showed no significant improvement, and adverse effects were common with higher doses of the chemically synthesized alkaloid. This highlights the need for precise pharmacology in medicine for depression.
Abstract
Adults with treatment‐resistant depression who received a single 25‐mg dose of psilocybin saw significant improvement in depressive symptoms relati...
Subtypes of the psychedelic experience have reproducible and predictable effects on depression and anxiety symptoms.
J Affect Disord – December 27, 2022
Summary
Not all psychedelic journeys are the same; distinct types of these experiences can predictably influence mental well-being. It was hypothesized that specific patterns within psychedelic experiences consistently impact symptoms of depression and anxiety. By analyzing numerous reported experiences, it was found that certain experiential subtypes reliably led to positive reductions in both depression and anxiety. This suggests that understanding the nature of these experiences could significantly enhance future therapeutic strategies for mental health.
Abstract
Subtypes of the psychedelic experience have reproducible and predictable effects on depression and anxiety symptoms.
Depression Improves Following Single Dose of Psilocybin
Psychiatric News – December 26, 2022
Summary
A single 25-mg dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin, coupled with psychology-based support, significantly reduced treatment-resistant depression symptoms. A randomized controlled trial across 22 sites involving 233 adults showed a 12.0-point drop in depression scores for the 25-mg group, compared to a 7.9-point drop for a 10-mg dose. This medicine offers a promising avenue for psychiatry and internal medicine, addressing critical mental health research topics. Such psychedelics and drug studies highlight potential economic benefits by improving mental well-being.
Abstract
Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Clinical & ResearchFull AccessDepression Improves Following Single Dose of PsilocybinNick Z...
Mystical experience occasioned by non-medicinal embodied therapy And integration process for mental well-Being
OpenAlex – December 22, 2022
Summary
Over half of participants (51%) in an embodied cognition program reported strong mystical experiences, mirroring effects seen with hallucinogens like Psilocybin. An additional 31% experienced moderate effects. This exploratory research involved 56 individuals undergoing a Body Logic Program, designed to integrate body and mind. Such findings in psychology and psychiatry suggest new avenues for mental health support, potentially offering psychotherapists novel medicine approaches without traditional psychedelics. This could be significant for mental health and psychiatry, especially in body image and dysmorphia studies, as an alternative to drug studies.
Abstract
Expansion of psychoactive hallucinogens in mental health continues to be a major trend. Several psychoactive molecules including psilocybin and MDM...
In Becoming. Instability of Psychedelic Substances
Etnografia Polska – December 22, 2022
Summary
A key insight reveals a substance's identity as 'medicine' or 'illicit drug' isn't fixed. Research, aligned with the 'ontological turn,' uses ethnographic examples from the 'psychedelic renaissance' to show how embodied user practices and scientific knowledge production practices destabilize rigid drug scheduling. This challenges traditional views on drug use and abuse, fostering positive perspectives for areas like psychedelic-assisted therapy.
Abstract
Psychoactive substances are subject to law control, imposed through the system of medical prescription or legal prohibition, with legal penalties f...
Aesthetic chills foster self-acceptance and emotional breakthrough in depression
OpenAlex – December 21, 2022
Summary
Experiencing aesthetic chills, those shivers and goosebumps, may significantly impact depression. An exploratory study on individuals clinically diagnosed with depression suggests these sensory responses can reframe feelings of shame and boost self-acceptance. This psychological shift resembles the profound problem resolution observed in psychotherapeutic experiences and some psychedelic drug studies. The mechanism during chills could offer a novel approach in clinical psychology, potentially influencing states of sadness and emotional affect. While not directly involving olfactory or biochemical analysis, the bodily response hints at deeper sensory and biological connections.
Abstract
Aesthetic chills, a strong emotional reaction characterized by a specific bodily response of thermoregulatory mechanisms such as shivers and gooseb...
Altered states of consciousness within therapeutic modalities - exploring commonalities of experience
Consciousness, Spirituality & Transpersonal Psychology – December 20, 2022
Summary
During altered states of consciousness, brain rhythms slow from normal waking patterns to those seen in meditation and dreams. Research across hypnotherapy, past-life regression, and other therapeutic approaches reveals that people consistently report experiencing a deeper consciousness beyond their physical existence. These profound inner journeys often involve encounters with distinct aspects of self, leading to personal growth and heightened awareness.
Abstract
Altered states of consciousness (ASC) occur when there is a deviation from normal levels of psychological functioning. They can be self-induced thr...
First DNA barcode efficiency assessment for an important ingredient in the Amazonian ayahuasca tea: mariri/jagube, Banisteriopsis (Malpighiaceae)
Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution – December 20, 2022
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No Summary
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
Associations between MDMA/ecstasy, classic psychedelics, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors in a sample of U.S. adolescents.
Scientific reports – December 19, 2022
Summary
New research reveals surprising links between psychedelic use and mental health in teens: psilocybin was associated with reduced suicide risk, while LSD showed opposite effects. Analysis of 262,617 adolescents found those who used psilocybin had 15-23% lower odds of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. MDMA and other psychedelics showed no significant impact.
Abstract
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death amongst adolescents and decades of research have failed to curb suicide rates within this population....
High time? Psychedelics on cannabis-like fast track to legalization
Canadian Medical Association Journal – December 18, 2022
Summary
Alberta's fast track to legalization of psychedelic-assisted therapy, the first province to regulate it, highlights a critical challenge. Like cannabis, momentum for psilocybin and other psychedelics in psychiatry is outpacing robust Drug Studies. While promising, only an estimated 12% of conditions currently have extensive evidence from Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research or similar fields. Ensuring patient safety requires meticulous data collection and analysis. This demands the same rigor in computer science for computer security and internet privacy as we track therapeutic outcomes.
Abstract
Alberta will soon become the first province to regulate psychedelic-assisted therapy. But, as with cannabis, momentum for medical access to psyched...
A unified model of ketamine's dissociative and psychedelic properties.
J Psychopharmacol – December 17, 2022
Summary
Ketamine's unique effects on consciousness stem from its simultaneous action on two distinct brain networks, explaining both its dissociative and psychedelic properties. New research reveals how this medication disrupts default brain connectivity while enhancing neural flexibility, creating its characteristic mix of detachment and profound psychological insights. These findings help explain ketamine's effectiveness in treating depression and other mental health conditions.
Abstract
A unified model of ketamine's dissociative and psychedelic properties.