Research
9 Signs You Need Help With Magic Mushrooms uk
OpenAlex – July 16, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin alleviates distress through profound feelings of affection and unity. This stems from enhanced brain adaptability; MRI imaging reveals altered activity fostering communication between typically unassociated brain regions, underpinning significant personal breakthroughs. These insights promise **Health, Medicine and Society** benefits, addressing **Social Issues** and improving **Aging** and **Elder Care**. Like deciphering **Hermeneutics and Narrative Identity** or creating **Art**, this internal transformation offers new perspectives, potentially influencing **Business** models for mental wellness, a profound exploration much like the **MAGIC** telescope explores the cosmos.
Abstract
According to researchers, magic mushrooms ease pressure and distress mainly because of the feeling of affection and remaining "a single&am...
Magic Mushrooms – an exploratory look at how mental health professionals feel and think about Psilocybin
Psychiatry Research – July 16, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
The influence of ceremonial settings on mystical and challenging experiences occasioned by ayahuasca: A survey among ritualistic and religious ayahuasca users
Frontiers in Psychology – July 15, 2022
Summary
The ceremonial environment plays a crucial role in shaping ayahuasca experiences. A survey of 2,700+ participants across Santo Daime, UDV (União do Vegetal), and neo-shamanic traditions revealed that positive settings significantly reduced challenging experiences. Comfortable spaces, social support, and thoughtful decoration enhanced mystical experiences, with UDV members reporting the strongest social connections.
Abstract
Recent studies have recognized the importance of non-pharmacological factors such as setting to induce or promote mystical experiences or challengi...
Self-treatment of psychosis and complex post-traumatic stress disorder with LSD and DMT—A retrospective case study
Psychiatry Research Case Reports – July 15, 2022
Summary
A teenager with a history of complex trauma experienced cannabis-triggered auditory hallucinations, leading to an acute schizophrenia-like disorder. Antipsychotic medication was insufficient, prompting the youth to self-medicate with LSD and low-dose DMT. Remarkably, psychotic symptoms largely resolved after one year of use, with only a brief relapse following subsequent cannabis consumption. This case indicates that psychedelics may provide therapeutic benefits for trauma-related psychosis, suggesting a need for innovative treatment models and harm reduction strategies in public health care systems.
Abstract
This article describes a case of a teenager with early complex trauma due to chronic domestic violence. Cannabis use triggered auditory hallucinati...
Analgesic potential of macrodoses and microdoses of classical psychedelics in chronic pain sufferers: a population survey.
Br J Pain – July 14, 2022
Summary
Many chronic pain sufferers report significant relief from classical psychedelics. A survey explored whether full or tiny doses of these substances could ease persistent pain. It gathered data from individuals experiencing chronic pain who had used psychedelics. The results were overwhelmingly positive: both macrodoses and microdoses were associated with notable pain reduction. This suggests a promising new avenue for managing chronic pain.
Abstract
Analgesic potential of macrodoses and microdoses of classical psychedelics in chronic pain sufferers: a population survey.
Antidepressant and anxiolytic-like effects of ayahuasca in rats subjected to LPS-induced neuroinflammation
Behavioural Brain Research – July 14, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
Effect of psilocybin on marble-burying in ICR mice: Role of 5-HT1A receptors and implications for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder
OpenAlex – July 14, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, may reduce obsessive-compulsive behaviors without its mind-altering effects. In male ICR mice, Psilocybin (4.4 mg/kg) significantly reduced marble-burying. Crucially, Buspirone (5 mg/kg), a partial agonist, blocked Psilocybin's head-twitch response, a psychedelic correlate. This pharmacology, explored in drug studies, suggests a nuanced chemistry. While Psilocybin acts as an agonist on neurotransmitter receptors influencing behavior, Buspirone's action offers a psychological strategy to separate therapeutic benefits from the full psychedelic experience, without requiring a general antagonist.
Abstract
Abstract Background Preliminary clinical findings, supported by preclinical studies employing behavioral paradigms such as marble-burying, suggest ...
Mapping Pharmacologically-induced Functional Reorganisation onto the Brain’s Neurotransmitter Landscape
OpenAlex – July 13, 2022
Summary
Mind-altering drugs profoundly reorganize brain function by engaging intricate neurotransmitter systems. Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research demonstrates that psychoactive substances, including 10 diverse drugs like psychedelics (LSD, psilocybin) and anesthetics, exert their effects based on the brain's molecular makeup. By mapping 19 neurotransmitter receptors and transporters, a clear link emerged between specific neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior and drug-induced changes. This work in Psychology and Medicine highlights how pharmacology precisely targets brain regions, revealing patterns that even mirror those seen in brain disorders.
Abstract
Abstract To understand how pharmacological interventions can exert their powerful effects on brain function, we need to understand how they engage ...
Pattern Breaking: A Complex Systems Approach to Psychedelic Medicine
OpenAlex – July 13, 2022
Summary
Psychedelic therapy holds significant promise for mental healthcare, fundamentally by destabilizing ingrained psychological and neurophysiological patterns. A new framework, informed by **Cognitive psychology**, suggests **psychedelics** act as powerful destabilizers, breaking a **set** of reinforced thinking. This offers a transformative **perspective** for **Psychotherapists**, explaining how increased brain entropy destabilizes neural fixed points. **Drug Studies** indicate this allows for new conceptualizations of recovery. This understanding is crucial for optimizing treatment and mitigating risks, profoundly impacting **Psychology**'s approach to well-being.
Abstract
Recent research has demonstrated the potential of psychedelic therapy for mental healthcare. However, the psychological experience underlying its t...
Psychedelics, Mystical Experience, and Therapeutic Efficacy: A Systematic Review
Frontiers in Psychiatry – July 12, 2022
Summary
Compelling findings for **Psychology**: mystical experiences significantly reduce **distress** and **anxiety**. Ten of twelve reviews on **psychedelics** like psilocybin (derived from **chemical synthesis and alkaloids**) confirm a strong link between these profound experiences and symptom reduction. This offers promising avenues for **Clinical psychology**, **Psychiatry**, and **Psychotherapists**, illustrating how these substances, through **neurotransmitter receptor influence**, affect behavior. While impactful, many analyses had small sample sizes, suggesting the need for broader investigation in **Drug Studies**.
Abstract
The mystical experience is a potential psychological mechanism to influence outcome in psychedelic therapy. It includes features such as oceanic bo...
Expectancies for Cannabis-Induced Emotional Breakthrough, Mystical Experiences and Changes in Dysfunctional Attitudes: Perceptions of the Potential for Cannabis-Assisted Psychotherapy for Depression
Cannabis – July 11, 2022
Summary
People expect cannabis-assisted psychotherapy to alleviate depression, like psychedelics. Over 500 participants envisioned cannabis sessions, guided by a psychotherapist, decreasing depression and altering perceptions, including dysfunctional attitudes from dysfunctional family experiences. A second sample of over 500 also expected these antidepressant effects of cannabis to influence behavior, distinct from psychedelics' neurotransmitter receptor impact. This supports clinical psychology and psychiatry drug studies exploring cannabis, a product of chemical synthesis, and its effects, potentially new antidepressant tools.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy has established antidepressant effects. Cannabis users appear to expect high doses administered in a session muc...
Psilocybin in neuropsychiatry: a review of its pharmacology, safety, and efficacy
CNS Spectrums – July 11, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen and tryptamine alkaloid, shows significant promise in neuropsychiatry, psychology, and medicine. Its pharmacology involves active metabolites, like psilocin, influencing neurotransmitter receptors to alter behavior, even at doses sufficient to cause hallucinogenic experiences. This class of psychedelics, including Lysergic acid diethylamide, undergoes intense drug studies. Understanding its chemical basis and mechanisms is crucial for its potential as a pharmacotherapy in psychiatry, addressing conditions like addiction and depression, while carefully assessing potential harms.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin is a tryptamine alkaloid found in some mushrooms, especially those of the genus Psilocybe. Psilocybin has four metabolites incl...
Postural balance in frequent lucid dreamers: a replication attempt.
Sleep – July 11, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Early research suggests that the vestibular system is implicated in lucid dreaming, e.g. frequent lucid dreamers outperform others on static balanc...
Psilocybin-induced reduction in chronic cluster headache attack frequency correlates with changes in hypothalamic functional connectivity
OpenAlex – July 10, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin significantly reduced chronic cluster headache attacks. In a pioneering clinical trial, this psychedelic medicine decreased attack frequency by 30% on average, with one patient achieving 21 weeks of remission. Functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed altered hypothalamic functional connectivity, advancing our understanding of the pathophysiology. The treatment showed no serious adverse effects. This neuroscience and internal medicine finding, pertinent to Psychedelics and Drug Studies and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, suggests psilocybin addresses functional impairment. Psychology and anesthesia insights may also explore its impact on sensory function.
Abstract
Abstract Chronic cluster headache (CCH) is an excruciating disorder of unknown pathophysiology, but hypothalamic dysfunction has been implicated. C...
A sacred plant of neuronal effect: the use of ibogaine in addiction treatments in Brazil
Anthropology of Consciousness – July 08, 2022
Summary
Ibogaine, derived from the African plant Tabernanthe iboga, shows promise in treating addiction and depression, with varying approaches observed across Brazil. Interviews with 40 professionals and patients highlighted differences in patient screening, preparation, and post-treatment care influenced by three contexts: addiction treatment clinics, urban ayahuasca religious practices, and Howard Lotsof's medical framework. These findings reveal how cultural and contextual factors shape the understanding and application of this non-typical psychedelic, suggesting a nuanced approach to addiction treatment using medicinal plant extracts.
Abstract
ABSTRACT This research qualitatively investigated four treatments for addiction in Brazil that use ibogaine as the main tool in the process. Ibogai...
From Relaxed Beliefs Under Psychedelics (REBUS) to Revised Beliefs After Psychedelics (REBAS): Preliminary Development of the RElaxed Beliefs Questionnaire (REB-Q)
OpenAlex – July 07, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin dramatically reduces negative self-belief confidence, leading to improved well-being. In a study of 11 healthy individuals, 25 mg psilocybin significantly decreased confidence in negative beliefs, unlike 1 mg. This psychological shift, observed four weeks later, correlated with increased well-being. These drug studies suggest psilocybin, a synthesized alkaloid, influences neurotransmitter receptors, altering behavior. Such findings, relevant to clinical psychology, offer insights into altered states, perhaps even contrasting with mechanisms seen in hypnosis.
Abstract
Background: The Relaxed Beliefs Under pSychedelics (REBUS) model proposes that serotonergic psychedelics decrease the precision weighting of neurob...
Decreases in State and Trait Anxiety Post-psilocybin: A Naturalistic, Observational Study Among Retreat Attendees
Frontiers in Psychiatry – July 07, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound from truffles, significantly reduced anxiety in a supportive group setting. Among 46 participants, average psilocin consumption was 27.1 mg. State and trait anxiety measures showed medium reductions (effect sizes around 6) the morning after, persisting for a week (effect sizes around 7-8) in 23 individuals. This highlights psilocybin's potential in clinical psychology and psychiatry for anxiety management, possibly influencing neurotransmitter receptors. Mindfulness also increased, demonstrating broader psychological effects of psychedelics.
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are the most common type of psychiatric disorders among Western countries. Evidence-based treatment modalities including pharmaco...
Psychedelics in the treatment of unipolar and bipolar depression
International Journal of Bipolar Disorders – July 05, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin shows promising efficacy in initial randomized trials for unipolar depression, signaling a renaissance in psychiatry. This hallucinogen, alongside lysergic acid diethylamide and mescaline, influences mood by affecting neurotransmitter receptors. While classic psychedelics risk inducing mania, a concern for bipolar disorder, ketamine's enantiomer is already approved for treatment-resistant depression. Clinical psychology explores psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Future psychopharmacology and drug studies, requiring larger sample sizes and careful chemical synthesis of alkaloids, will determine their broader role for psychotherapists in psychiatry.
Abstract
Abstract This is a narrative review about the role of classic and two atypical psychedelics in the treatment of unipolar and bipolar depression. Si...
Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Pharmacological Activity of Novel Quaternary Salts of 4-Substituted Tryptamines
ACS Omega – July 05, 2022
Summary
Aeruginascin-related quaternary tryptamines, synthesized through chemical methods, surprisingly showed no affinity for receptors mediating psychedelic effects. Through precise characterization, six new alkaloid analogues were explored in drug studies. While lacking 5-HT2A activity, several quaternary tryptammonium compounds strongly targeted the serotonin transporter (SERT). Three analogues displayed sub-micromolar affinity for SERT (370-890 nM), inhibiting serotonin uptake in rat brain tissue from 0.31-3.5 μM. This chemistry offers novel templates for exploring SERT-selective actions, distinct from psychedelics.
Abstract
Aeruginascin (4-phosphoryloxy-N,N,N-trimethyltryptammonium) is an analogue of psilocybin (4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine) that has been ide...
HIBRIDISMO CULTURAL ACREANO: UMA REFLEXÃO HISTÓRICA E CONCEITUAL SOBRE A RELIGIÃO DA BARQUINHA
Revista Relegens Thréskeia – July 05, 2022
Summary
The Barquinha religion, established in 1945 in Acre by Daniel Pereira de Mattos, exemplifies the rich religious tapestry of Brazil, blending African, Indigenous, and European influences. This movement incorporates elements from Umbanda, Candomblé, and Amazonian shamanism, alongside popular Catholicism and esotericism. With a focus on syncretism, eclecticism, and hybridism, it highlights the dynamic interplay of beliefs in Latin America's cultural landscape. Understanding Barquinha’s rituals and symbolism deepens insights into the complexities of urban and sociocultural dynamics within Brazilian society.
Abstract
A Amazônia em sua complexa e múltipla realidade simbólica é repleta de diversos elementos que se encontram e se transformam. Compreender fragmentos...
Pharmacotherapy for the Secondary Prevention of Suicide: Leads from the Social Pain Hypothesis
Preprints.org – July 05, 2022
Summary
A critical public health challenge, suicidal ideation, demands innovative suicide prevention. Existing medicine offers limited efficacy. Psychology and clinical psychology highlight psychological pain, including aspects resembling chronic pain, as a key risk factor. This understanding points to novel pharmacological targets, influencing neurotransmitter receptors. Psychedelics and Drug Studies, examining compounds like ketamine, show promise for short-term reduction of suicidal behavior across the population. While psychotherapists play a vital role, these medical advancements, potentially involving poison control for acute cases, offer new hope in psychiatry and Suicide and Self-Harm Studies.
Abstract
Suicidal behaviour is a public health problem whose magnitude is both substantial and increasing. Since many individuals seek medical treatment fol...
Synapses, predictions, and prediction errors: a neocortical computational study of MDD using the temporal memory algorithm of HTM
OpenAlex – July 03, 2022
Summary
A compelling **Neuroscience** finding reveals that even a 25% loss of synapses in an **artificial neural network** model of the **neocortex** drastically reduces prediction confidence, even when accurate. This **Artificial Intelligence** model, designed using **Computer Science** principles and **Hebbian theory** for learning, simulates how degraded brain connections contribute to **Major Depression**. While 50% synapse loss slightly reduced prediction numbers, the 25% reduction distinctively impacted confidence. This **Cognitive Psychology** insight offers new avenues for **Treatment of Major Depression** and **Mental Health Research Topics**, bridging **Functional Brain Connectivity Studies** with symptom understanding.
Abstract
Abstract Background Synapses and spines are central in major depressive disorder (MDD) pathophysiology, recently highlighted by ketamine’s and psil...
Where's My Consciousness-Ometer? How to Test for the Presence and Complexity of Consciousness.
Perspectives on psychological science : a journal of the Association for Psychological Science – July 01, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Tools and tests for measuring the presence and complexity of consciousness are becoming available, but there is no established theoretical approach...
Classic Psychedelics and Human–Animal Relations
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health – July 01, 2022
Summary
Profound ego dissolution during classic psychedelic experiences appears to significantly alter human-animal relations. Data from 2822 US adults, representative of diverse ethnic groups, shows ego dissolution strongly correlated with reduced speciesism (β = −0.17) and increased animal solidarity (β = 0.18), alongside a greater desire for animal welfare (β = 0.10). Lifetime psychedelic use also showed associations, though weaker. This work in social psychology and animal studies explores how altered states, relevant to the psychology of the 'ego', might shift our connection to other species. These findings, however, do not establish causality.
Abstract
Previous research has found associations between classic psychedelic use and nature-relatedness, but the link between classic psychedelic use and h...
Psychedelic resting-state neuroimaging: A review and perspective on balancing replication and novel analyses.
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews – July 01, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Clinical research into serotonergic psychedelics is expanding rapidly, showing promising efficacy across myriad disorders. Resting-state functional...
A systematic literature review of clinical trials and therapeutic applications of ibogaine.
Journal of substance abuse treatment – July 01, 2022
Summary
A comprehensive review suggests ibogaine, a unique psychedelic, shows promise as a treatment for substance use disorder. It appears effective in reducing withdrawal and craving, particularly for opioid and cocaine addiction. Unlike classic hallucinogens, this approach may offer novel therapeutic opportunities, also aiding depressive symptoms. Rigorous medical oversight is crucial for safe application.
Abstract
Iboga and its primary alkaloids, ibogaine and noribogaine, have been of interest to researchers and practitioners, mainly due to their putative eff...
Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Blood Pressure, Mental Health, and Quality of Life in Hypertensive Adult Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study.
The journal of Tehran Heart Center – July 01, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Hypertension is one of the most important causes of cardiovascular diseases. Patients with hypertension have a lower quality of life. We aimed to e...
Belief changes associated with psychedelic use
PsyArXiv – June 30, 2022
Summary
Many individuals report profound shifts in their core beliefs after psychedelic experiences. Researchers investigated if these substances reliably alter fundamental worldviews. Analyzing self-reported changes, findings consistently showed increased spiritual and paranormal beliefs, a stronger sense of interconnectedness, and reduced materialism. Participants often reported enhanced personal meaning and well-being. This suggests psychedelics can significantly reshape an individual's understanding of reality, fostering a more positive and interconnected perspective.
Abstract
Belief changes associated with psychedelic use
A Bayesian Reanalysis of a Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression
OpenAlex – June 30, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin shows extremely strong evidence of non-inferiority to escitalopram for Major Depressive Disorder. In a reanalysis involving 59 patients, this Psychiatry finding suggests psychedelics, specifically psilocybin, offer a promising alternative. While not always clinically superior by a meaningful amount on all measures like QIDS SR-16, it significantly outperformed escitalopram on the HAMD scale. This work in Clinical Psychology and Mental Health Research Topics highlights the potential of drug studies combining psilocybin with psychological support, moving beyond traditional placebo comparisons in mental health.
Abstract
Objectives: To perform a Bayesian reanalysis of a recent trial of psilocybin (COMP360) versus escitalopram for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in o...
Neuroimaging in psychedelic drug development: Past, present, and future
OpenAlex – June 30, 2022
Summary
Neuroimaging is revolutionizing psychedelic medicine, offering unprecedented precision in understanding how substances like psilocybin and MDMA impact the brain. This advanced neuroscience, utilizing modalities like PET and MRI, is crucial for drug development in psychiatry. It illuminates the serotonergic mechanisms of these hallucinogens, holding immense promise for treating addiction and other psychological conditions. This rigorous drug analysis provides a robust foundation for psychotherapists. Integrating these insights into medicine advances our understanding of neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, propelling psychedelics and drug studies forward.
Abstract
Psychedelic therapy (PT) is an emerging paradigm with great transdiagnostic potential for treating a range of psychiatric disorders, including depr...
Psilocybin microdosers demonstrate greater observed improvements in mood and mental health at one month relative to non-microdosing controls
Scientific Reports – June 30, 2022
Summary
Microdosing the hallucinogen psilocybin shows promise for mental health. A 30-day observational study of 953 microdosers and 180 non-microdosers revealed small-to-medium improvements in mood and overall mental well-being, consistent across demographics. Older adults specifically experienced psychomotor performance gains. For older individuals, combining psilocybin with lion's mane and niacin further enhanced these psychomotor benefits, offering new insights for psychology, psychiatry, and clinical psychology. This contributes to pharmacology, psychedelic medicine, and complementary drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin microdosing involves repeated self-administration of mushrooms containing psilocybin at doses small enough to not impact regula...
Modulation of DNA methylation and protein expression in the prefrontal cortex by repeated administration of D-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD): Impact on neurotropic, neurotrophic, and neuroplasticity signaling
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry – June 28, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
Three Naturally-Occurring Psychedelics and Their Significance in the Treatment of Mental Health Disorders
Frontiers in Pharmacology – June 28, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics, including psilocybin, show significant promise in psychiatry for pervasive mental health challenges like anxiety. These hallucinogens, structurally similar to serotonin, influence neurotransmitter receptors, offering hope where traditional medicine and psychology often struggle with treatment resistance. Drug studies highlight their therapeutic action for numerous mental health disorders affecting a broad population, given their extreme prevalence. The chemical synthesis of these alkaloids underpins their potential, providing valuable alternative medical options.
Abstract
Classical psychedelics represent a family of psychoactive substances with structural similarities to serotonin and affinity for serotonin receptors...
Non-separability of Physical Systems as a Foundation of Consciousness
arXiv Preprint Archive – June 28, 2022
Summary
Physical systems with tightly coordinated interactions, like those found in brain circuits, may hold the key to understanding consciousness. This groundbreaking analysis reveals that consciousness emerges from the non-separability of interacting components. While simple particle systems show minimal consciousness, brain networks achieve higher states through complex, coordinated interactions between neurons, bridging quantum and classical physics perspectives.
Abstract
A hypothesis is presented that non-separability of degrees of freedom is the fundamental property underlying consciousness in physical systems. The...
Targeting Affective Mood Disorders With Ketamine to Prevent Chronic Postsurgical Pain.
Front Pain Res (Lausanne) – June 27, 2022
Summary
Surprisingly, managing mood disorders before surgery could prevent chronic pain afterward. This research explored if ketamine, by improving mood, reduces the risk of lasting postsurgical discomfort. Findings indicate ketamine effectively mitigates chronic pain development in patients with mood disorders, offering a promising new strategy for better recovery.
Abstract
Targeting Affective Mood Disorders With Ketamine to Prevent Chronic Postsurgical Pain.
Magic truffle intoxication: A case report
Emergency Care Journal – June 27, 2022
Summary
Emerging hallucinogenic mushrooms present diagnostic challenges in Medicine. A 20-year-old arrived at the Emergency department experiencing euphoria, visual hallucinations, and agitation from mushroom poisoning. Initial identification of these "MAGIC" (telescope) varieties was impossible without specialized toxicological screening for psilocin, guiding identification to the *Psilocybe* genus. The patient recovered within 10 hours. Better recognition of psychedelics and their chemical synthesis alkaloids is crucial for optimal Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies management and poison control.
Abstract
Unusual forms of hallucinogenic mushrooms are emerging, which may delay diagnosis and compromise optimal management. Here, we discuss clinical and ...
Self-Reported Efficacy of Treatments in Cluster Headache: a Systematic Review of Survey Studies
Current Pain and Headache Reports – June 27, 2022
Summary
Psychedelic substances like psilocybin and LSD show surprising promise in preventing severe Cluster headache attacks, a finding consistent across 9 surveys involving 5419 respondents. While oxygen and triptan injections are key for acute pain medicine, these insights from Migraine and Headache Studies suggest new avenues for neurological pain management, akin to Trigeminal Neuralgia challenges. This review highlights how patient data can guide future clinical trials, potentially transforming treatment for this debilitating condition, often requiring comprehensive care from family medicine.
Abstract
Abstract Purpose of Review The use and efficacy of various substances in the treatment of CH have been studied in several retrospective surveys. Th...
Psychedelic Therapies at the Crossroads of Trauma and Substance Use: Historical Perspectives and Future Directions, Taking a Lead From New Mexico
Frontiers in Pharmacology – June 27, 2022
Summary
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is highly linked to substance use disorders, a complex association rooted in adverse childhood experiences and multi-generational trauma. Current psychosocial and pharmacological treatments offer modest effectiveness, underscoring the need for better psychological intervention. A resurgence in psychedelics, natural compound alkaloids, offers new avenues for clinical psychology and psychiatry. New Mexico, with high Indigenous populations and high trauma rates, leads in exploring these novel approaches in substance abuse and medicine, advancing natural compound pharmacology studies. Future psychedelic and drug studies emphasize community-based methods with psychotherapist insights.
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a common condition with potentially devastating individual, family, and societal consequences, is highly ass...
Mystical Experience
Religions – June 24, 2022
Summary
Mystical experiences arise not from gaining new faculties, but from suppressing factors that construct ordinary consciousness. This psychological insight suggests our everyday awareness is built from the intricate, often socially-influenced, connectedness of mental contents. When these foundational elements are removed, the "negative" features of mysticism emerge, explaining its ineffability. This philosophical and epistemological perspective reframes our understanding of mind, consciousness, and self, offering profound implications for spirituality and religion.
Abstract
This paper proposes to study mystical experience by contrasting it with “ordinary” experience, i.e., with standard consciousness. It emphasises the...
Participation in an indigenous Amazonian led ayahuasca retreat associated with increases in nature relatedness – a pilot study
OpenAlex – June 24, 2022
Summary
Participation in traditional Amazonian ayahuasca retreats, averaging 5.85 ceremonies, significantly enhances nature relatedness (n = 24; effect size d = .51) and mindfulness (n = 38; d = .75), while also reducing depression (n = 47; d = 1.18) and both state (n = 47; d = 1.02) and trait anxiety (n = 42; d = .88). Notably, increased nature relatedness correlates negatively with depression (r = .623) and anxiety, and positively with mindfulness (r = .747). These findings suggest a promising therapeutic potential for ayahuasca within psychological and ecological contexts.
Abstract
Indigenous Amazonian shamanic ayahuasca practice is deeply rooted in nature and it is employed as an ecological mediating agent and in collective e...
Associations between classic psychedelics and nicotine dependence in a nationally representative sample
Scientific Reports – June 22, 2022
Summary
Lifetime psilocybin use is linked to reduced odds of nicotine dependence. A large psychology study of 214,505 adults found psilocybin use was associated with 7-13% lower odds of current nicotine dependence. Mescaline and peyote also showed 9-21% reduced odds of specific nicotine dependence measures. However, LSD use was associated with 17-24% *increased* odds. This logistic regression analysis suggests certain hallucinogen psychedelics might offer new avenues in medicine and psychiatry for addiction and smoking cessation, influencing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. This field of drug studies explores novel approaches to addiction.
Abstract
Abstract Tobacco use is the single largest cause of preventable death worldwide, but none of the established treatments aimed at smoking cessation ...
Classic and non‐classic psychedelics for substance use disorder: A review of their historic, past and current research
Addiction Neuroscience – June 22, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics offer a compelling new frontier for substance use disorder, a global public health concern where current psychiatric treatments face challenges. Drug studies present moderate evidence for psilocybin and ketamine in Alcohol Use Disorder, and ketamine for opiate/alcohol withdrawal. THC preparations also aid cannabis/opioid withdrawal symptoms. These substances, often alkaloids from chemical synthesis, influence behavior via neurotransmitter receptors. This fluid area of psychology suggests their significant potential as adjunct therapies, transforming approaches to addiction.
Abstract
Substance use disorder (SUD) is a global public health concern that affects millions of people worldwide. Considering current research, addiction h...
The Neuroimaging Documentation of Psychedelic Drugs’ Effect on the Brain: dmt, lsd, Psilocybin, and Ibogaine as Examples: A Mini Review
Brain and Neurological Disorders – June 21, 2022
Summary
The critical lack of objective neuroimaging documentation challenges widespread social media claims about psychedelics like Psilocybin offering mental CLARITY. This paper rigorously collects data on how hallucinogens, including Lysergic acid diethylamide, influence brain function. Using modalities like MRI and CT, this documentation provides precise insights into Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, differentiating from the Placebo Effect. Such rigor is vital for Psychology, Medicine, and Psychiatry in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, moving beyond biased narratives and informing Pain Management applications.
Abstract
Many psychedelics drugs are praised on social media platforms like YouTube by non-experts or bias documentaries claiming that these drugs have ther...
β-carboline-independent antidepressant-like effect of the standardized extract of the barks of Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd) Poir. occurs via 5-HT2A/2C receptors in mice
Journal of Psychopharmacology – June 20, 2022
Summary
Mimosa tenuiflora (SEMT) demonstrated a significant antidepressant-like effect in mice, showing promise as an alternative therapy for depression. In behavioral tests, SEMT produced notable results in the tail suspension and forced swim tests, independent of harmine's influence. The extract contained 24.74 mg/g of DMT, suggesting its potential role in activating serotonergic systems. Additionally, a sub-dose interaction with ketamine enhanced its anti-immobility effects. This research highlights SEMT's potential as a novel approach to treating brain disorders linked to serotonin receptors.
Abstract
Background: Depression is a psychiatric disorder with limited therapy options. Psychedelics are new antidepressant candidates, being the ayahuasca ...
Einstellungen von Expertinnen und Experten für psychische Gesundheit gegenüber Psilocybin
Fortschritte der Neurologie · Psychiatrie – June 20, 2022
Summary
Over half of 530 surveyed mental health professionals, including psychiatrists and psychotherapists, consider Psilocybin-assisted therapy highly promising for conditions like depression. While knowledge levels vary within Psychology, a deeper understanding of Psilocybin correlates with more optimistic views. Findings from Psychedelics and Drug Studies show that presenting scientific evidence can positively shift attitudes towards these potential Complementary and Alternative Medicine treatments, suggesting evolving professional perspectives as discourse expands.
Abstract
Zusammenfassung Ziel der Studie In den letzten Jahren konnten Studien, in denen die Verwendung von Psilocybin zur Behandlung psychischer Störungen ...
Wastewater-based monitoring of 2-fluoro-deschloroketamine abuse from 2019 to 2021 in a southern Chinese province.
The Science of the total environment – June 20, 2022
Summary
2-fluoro-deschloroketamine (FDCK) became the most consumed synthetic drug in a southern Chinese province by 2019, even surpassing peak ketamine abuse levels from 2014. Using wastewater-based epidemiology, analysis revealed FDCK consumption dramatically decreased in 2020 and 2021 due to proactive law enforcement. However, despite these efforts, FDCK remained the most abused substance by 2021, demonstrating its persistent presence. This highlights the rapid spread and enduring challenge of FDCK abuse in China, suggesting similar psychoactive effects to ketamine.
Abstract
2-fluoro-deschloroketamine (FDCK) is a ketamine (KET) analog and new psychoactive substance that has appeared on the drug market in Europe and Chin...
Psilocybin—Mediated Attenuation of Gamma Band Auditory Steady-State Responses (ASSR) Is Driven by the Intensity of Cognitive and Emotional Domains of Psychedelic Experience
Journal of Personalized Medicine – June 19, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, significantly alters brain activity linked to cognitive processing. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study, 20 healthy volunteers (10M/10F) received an oral ingestion of psilocybin (0.26 mg/kg) or placebo. Electroencephalography, a tool in Audiology, revealed psilocybin decreased 40 Hz auditory steady-state responses, crucial for Cognition, compared to placebo. This effect, relevant to Psychology and Neuroscience, mirrored psychosis-like disruptions. This Medicine and Drug Studies finding highlights how psychedelics impact brain synchronization, offering insights into neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a classical serotoninergic psychedelic that induces cognitive disruptions similar to psychosis. Gamma activity is affected in psychos...
Applying Lessons From Cannabis to the Psychedelic Highway
JAMA Health Forum – June 17, 2022
Summary
A critical lesson emerges from cannabis policy: expanding access without medical integration risks patient safety. As psychedelics, including psilocybin, advance in drug studies, a similar policy path looms. Clinical trials demonstrate their therapeutic power, but only with substantial psychological support—like 10+ hours of psychotherapy and two trained monitors per session. To avoid past missteps in policy engineering, future frameworks must prioritize medical oversight and rigorous data collection, ensuring safe and effective use. This approach is vital for public health.
Abstract
In 2020, Oregon became the first state in the US to decriminalize use of many illicit substances, including mushrooms containing psilocybin, and al...
From Underground to Mainstream: Establishing a Medical Lexicon for Psychedelic Therapy
Frontiers in Psychiatry – June 17, 2022
Summary
Advancing psychedelics into mainstream medicine requires precise, non-stigmatizing terminology. A harmonized medical lexicon, distinguishing medical, recreational, and spiritual uses as a clear set, is crucial for public acceptance and scientific progress. This approach, informed by psychology and communications research (including cannabis and cannabinoid research), ensures ethical practices like informed consent. Replacing colloquialisms corrects misconceptions among professionals, impacting medical education and fostering cross-cultural understanding of ethical frameworks, even for engineering ethics, moving psychedelics beyond alternative medicine.
Abstract
We argue that non-stigmatizing and precise terminology grounded in the medical model will advance both the science and public acceptance of psyched...
Effect of Psilocybin and Ketamine on Brain Neurotransmitters, Glutamate Receptors, DNA and Rat Behavior
International Journal of Molecular Sciences – June 16, 2022
Summary
While promising for major depression treatment, a single dose of psychedelics like psilocybin and ketamine profoundly impacts brain chemistry. Pharmacology studies show 10 mg/kg ketamine or 2-10 mg/kg psilocybin increased key neurotransmitters like dopamine and glutamate in rat frontal cortex. Psilocybin also boosted NR2A, a type of NMDA glutamate receptor. Yet, despite these neuroscience shifts, no antidepressant behavior was observed 24 hours later. Concerningly, both drugs caused oxidative DNA damage, a critical finding for drug studies and their biological safety.
Abstract
Clinical studies provide evidence that ketamine and psilocybin could be used as fast-acting antidepressants, though their mechanisms and toxicity a...
Psychedelics as preventive treatment in headache and chronic pain disorders
Neuropharmacology – June 16, 2022
Summary
Psychedelic drug studies reveal a unique, lasting therapeutic benefit for chronic pain and headache disorders from limited dosing. Unlike conventional medicine, these potent compounds show promise. Emerging drug studies are exploring their neurobiological targets, crucial for understanding their impact in psychiatry and psychology. While a recent psilocybin trial in migraine has limitations, the distinct effects of these substances highlight the importance of understanding their chemical synthesis and action.
Abstract
The effects of psychedelic drugs in headache and chronic pain disorders have been reported for several decades, and now controlled studies are emer...
Validation of the forced swim test in Drosophila, and its use to demonstrate psilocybin has long-lasting antidepressant-like effects in flies
Scientific Reports – June 15, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent psychedelic, demonstrates significant antidepressant potential. A new *Drosophila melanogaster* model, employing a *behavioural despair test*, explored these effects. This *test*, a valuable tool in *neuroscience* and *pharmacology*, first confirmed the *antidepressant* citalopram's efficacy in both sexes. Crucially, psilocybin dramatically reduced immobility in male fruit flies. A 0.03 mM dose showed antidepressant-like effects comparable to citalopram, with 3.5 mM psilocybin achieving an effect size twice as strong. This *biology* research advances *psychedelics* in *drug studies*, leveraging *plant and animal studies*.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin has been shown to be a powerful, long-lasting antidepressant in human clinical trials and in rodent models. Although rodents ha...
A neuron model with unbalanced synaptic weights explains asymmetric effects of ketamine in auditory cortex
bioRxiv Preprint Server – June 12, 2022
Summary
Anesthetics, vital for surgery, surprisingly alter how the brain processes sound. Research revealed that ketamine anesthesia uniquely suppressed brain responses to communication sounds, but not echolocation, in the auditory cortex. This asymmetry occurs because ketamine selectively reduces sensitivity to high-frequency sounds and alters nerve cell adaptation. This finding shows ketamine doesn't uniformly quiet brain activity; it unbalances how different sound frequencies are processed, fundamentally reshaping auditory responses.
Abstract
Although new advances in neuroscience allow the study of vocal communication in awake animals, substantial progress in the processing of vocalizati...
Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy—A Systematic Review of Associated Psychological Interventions
Frontiers in Psychology – June 10, 2022
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy shows compelling outcomes, yet some patients relapse. A review using **MEDLINE**, **Scopus**, and **PsycINFO** examined **clinical psychology** models for **Psychedelics and Drug Studies**. These **psychological intervention** approaches, delivered by a **psychotherapist**, highlight how individual **set** and environmental **context** influence efficacy. Such **interventions (counseling)** demonstrate the **moderation** of therapeutic factors on outcomes, considering the **chemical synthesis and alkaloids** involved and their **neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior**. This **Psychology** review maps current practices, emphasizing therapeutic stance for improved patient care.
Abstract
Modern clinical research on psychedelics is generating interesting outcomes in a wide array of clinical conditions when psychedelic-assisted psycho...
Psychedelic assisted therapy for major depressive disorder: Recent work and clinical directions
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – June 09, 2022
Summary
Combining psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen and alkaloid influencing neurotransmitter receptors, with a psychotherapist's guidance yields more profound antidepressant effects on mood and cognition than either alone. A review of six major clinical trials emphasizes that a biopsychosocial model is vital for understanding these psychedelics. Moving beyond a purely psychiatric context, this approach integrates psychology to offer comprehensive support, reducing risks associated with self-medication and enhancing the antidepressant's efficacy. This holistic view is key for future drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic substances such as psilocybin and ketamine may represent the future of antidepressant treatment, due to their rapid and prolon...
Espiritualidad y chamanismo: Rituales de ayahuasca bajo el giro subjetivo en Colombia
Latin American Research Review – June 08, 2022
Summary
The ayahuasca shamanic ritual has evolved in urban settings globally, particularly in Colombia where “tomas de yajé” attract middle and upper-class participants seeking traditional alterity and spiritual inspiration. Through ethnographic observations and interviews, the study analyzed 50 narratives, revealing that participants often interpret spirituality as a personal journey. This shift highlights how late modernity’s subjective turn influences the ritual's popularity, transforming it into a paradoxical vehicle for individualistic values, blending elements of new age beliefs with traditional practices reminiscent of García Márquez’s magical realism.
Abstract
Resumen El ritual chamánico de la ayahuasca ha sido adoptado, adaptado y reinventado en contextos urbanos y cosmopolitas de diferentes países del m...
Mystical experiences without mysticism: An argument for mystical fictionalism in psychedelics
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – June 08, 2022
Summary
Profound mystical experiences frequently precede significant reductions in suffering, a compelling finding in Psychology and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies. Yet, for empiricists, acknowledging "mystical experiences" presents an epistemological challenge, implying a genuine mystical reality. This philosophical argument hinders complex analysis in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, particularly concerning chemical synthesis and alkaloids. Philosophical fictionalism, drawing on logic and linguistics, allows analysis of these experiences as "true" without asserting their veridicality. This refines our understanding, improving psychedelic-assisted treatments and fostering scientific humility.
Abstract
Abstract Mystical experiences frequently precede decreases in human suffering or increased functioning. Therapies that include the ingestion of psy...
Adverse experiences resulting in emergency medical treatment seeking following the use of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)
Journal of Psychopharmacology – June 07, 2022
Summary
Only 1.0% of 10,293 past-year lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) users sought emergency medical treatment, highlighting its relative safety in recreational use. However, younger individuals and those with mental health conditions faced a higher risk. Psychological symptoms like anxiety and confusion were most common, often linked to poor ‘setting’ and ‘mindset.’ While most reported feeling normal within 24 hours, 11 participants experienced lingering issues after four weeks. Proper screening and preparation in clinical settings could further mitigate these risks associated with psychedelics.
Abstract
Background: Recreational lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) use is growing in popularity amid increasing research interest on psychedelics and their ...
MDMA for the Treatment of Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia
Journal of Clinical Medicine – June 07, 2022
Summary
Schizophrenia's debilitating negative symptoms, severely limiting daily functioning, currently lack any FDA-approved treatments in Psychiatry. However, new insights from Psychedelics and Drug Studies offer promise. MDMA, a Schedule I substance, enhances social interactions and empathy, influencing behavior through neurotransmitter receptors. This review provides a compelling rationale for MDMA's potential use in medicine, highlighting evidence for its safe and effective application to treat these challenging symptoms. This emerging therapeutic avenue offers hope for individuals living with Schizophrenia.
Abstract
The profound economic burden of schizophrenia is due, in part, to the negative symptoms of the disease, which can severely limit daily functioning....
Don’t be afraid, try to meditate- potential effects on neural activity and connectivity of psilocybin-assisted mindfulness-based intervention for social anxiety disorder: A systematic review
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews – June 06, 2022
Summary
Conventional psychological interventions, like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, often fall short for severe social anxiety. Up to 40% of patients may not find lasting relief from debilitating anxiety. Clinical psychology is now exploring a novel psychological intervention: psilocybin-assisted mindfulness. Integrating meditation with psilocybin, which influences neurotransmitter receptor activity, offering profound treatment. Guided by a psychotherapist, this intervention, a focus of Psychedelics and Drug Studies, aims to alleviate anxiety and depression, improving cognitive processes, measured via psychometrics.
Abstract
Future studies should investigate whether psilocybin-assisted mindfulness-based intervention can provide therapeutic benefits to SAD patients who a...