Research
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...
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...
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...
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
Measuring consciousness is becoming increasingly sophisticated, with various tools aimed at assessing its presence and complexity. A taxonomy categorizes these measurements into three subtypes: neural (brain activity), behavioral (actions), and creative correlates (expressive outputs). By analyzing 50 different tests, insights into the nature of consciousness can emerge, potentially influencing philosophical perspectives like materialism and panpsychism. This approach bridges empirical data with philosophical inquiry, enhancing our understanding of consciousness as a profound aspect of human experience.
Abstract
Tools and tests for measuring the presence and complexity of consciousness are becoming available, but there is no established theoretical approach...
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
Mindfulness meditation significantly improves health for patients with hypertension. In a study of 80 women, those who participated in a 12-week mindfulness-based stress reduction program experienced an average drop in systolic blood pressure from 142.82 mmHg to 133.7 mmHg and diastolic pressure from 86.12 mmHg to 79.15 mmHg. Additionally, participants reported enhanced mental health, with notable reductions in stress, anxiety, and depression, alongside improvements in overall quality of life. These findings highlight the benefits of mindfulness for managing hypertension and promoting well-being.
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...
Psychedelic resting-state neuroimaging: A review and perspective on balancing replication and novel analyses.
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews – July 01, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD are showing significant promise in treating various disorders, with 42 studies evaluating their effects using resting-state fMRI. Notably, two datasets underpin over half of the research, revealing a lack of consistency in data processing across studies. Methodological variations lead to ambiguity in terminology related to outcomes. Emphasizing the need for standardized approaches, this body of work highlights that advancing our understanding of psychedelics’ brain mechanisms requires both innovative methods and rigorous replication to ensure reliable findings.
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...
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...
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...
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
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
Psychedelics can significantly enhance cognitive flexibility, with studies showing up to a 60% improvement in problem-solving abilities among participants. This effect is linked to neuroplasticity and changes in neurotransmitter receptor activity, particularly in the prefrontal cortex. Additionally, the modulation of brain chemistry through psychedelics influences behaviors related to mood and cognition. In one study with 200 participants, those exposed to music during psychedelic experiences reported a 75% increase in emotional connectivity, highlighting the interplay of biochemistry and environmental factors in shaping brain function.
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...
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...
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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
Neuropsychological effect on long-term Ayahuasca use
Counseling And Psychological Services Dissertations (Georgia State University) – June 02, 2022
Summary
Long-term use of Ayahuasca appears to have minimal lasting effects on neuropsychological functioning. In a study involving 25 participants—12 chronic users from União do Vegetal and 13 non-users—no significant differences in brain connectivity were observed within the default mode network, comprising critical areas like the medial prefrontal cortex. Interestingly, sleepiness was positively associated with activity in the right medial prefrontal cortex and angular gyrus. These findings suggest that while Ayahuasca is gaining popularity for therapeutic purposes, its long-term impact on neurological health may be limited.
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic tea used in religious ritual ceremonies in eastern parts of South America. Ayahuasca is becoming more popular in west...
Models of Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Contemporary Assessment and an Introduction to EMBARK, a Transdiagnostic, Trans-Drug Model
Frontiers in Psychology – June 02, 2022
Summary
Effective psychedelic assisted therapy hinges on robust psychological support. Existing psychotherapy models for psychedelic drug use often lack comprehensive ethical guidance and standardized therapist training. A new framework, EMBARK, addresses these gaps. It offers a transdiagnostic, trans-drug approach, providing clear guidance for interventions and improving research utilization. This model enhances how psychedelic assisted therapy integrates with existing psychotherapy models, ensuring comprehensive support and optimizing outcomes with psychedelic drugs.
Abstract
The current standard of care in most uses of psychedelic medicines for the treatment of psychiatric indications includes the provision of a support...
Ayahuasca comes to the city!
Mundo Amazónico – June 02, 2022
Summary
Ayahuasca has transformed from an Indigenous Amazonian ritual to a global phenomenon, attracting Western participants and generating a booming ayahuasca tourism industry, particularly in Peru. Since the early 1990s, the number of Colombian taitas (indigenous healers) conducting ceremonies in cities like Bogotá has surged to over fifty. This paradoxical spread highlights how traditional cultures have both suffered and benefited from globalization, as healers navigate socio-economic changes and ethical dilemmas while adapting their practices for new markets in the face of mainstream colonization.
Abstract
Ayahuasca has spread from indigenous Amazonia to the industrialized world, in the form of ceremonies catering to Westerners, a corpus of academic s...
Optimization through a Box–Behnken Experimental Design of the Microwave-Assisted Extraction of the Psychoactive Compounds in Hallucinogenic Fungi (Psylocibe cubensis)
Journal of Fungi – June 02, 2022
Summary
The therapeutic potential of hallucinogenic fungi's alkaloids, like psilocin and psilocybin, is driving interest in psychedelics and drug studies. A new extraction (chemistry) method now efficiently isolates these compounds from *Psilocybe cubensis*. Employing a Box–Behnken design, optimal conditions were established: 50 °C, 60% methanol, a 0.6g:10mL ratio, and 5 minutes. This advance in chemical synthesis and alkaloids supports further biology and toxicology research, providing a practical methodology for studying their pharmacology.
Abstract
Hallucinogenic fungi, mainly those from the Psilocybe genus, are being increasingly consumed even though there is no control on their culture condi...
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy: A Systematic Narrative Review of the Literature
Journal of Pain Research – June 01, 2022
Summary
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy offers rapid, sustained relief for mental health conditions. A systematic review, more rigorous than a simple narrative review, analyzed 17 articles from sources like MEDLINE, involving 603 participants. This medicine, combined with a psychotherapist's guidance, significantly reduces anxiety and depressive symptoms, aiding the treatment of Major Depression. While brain disorders research, including tryptophan studies, is ongoing in psychiatry, this approach presents a promising new mental health research topic. Further randomized controlled trials are crucial.
Abstract
Sandra J Drozdz,1 Akash Goel,1â 3 Matthew W McGarr,4 Joel Katz,3,5â 7 Paul Ritvo,5,7 Gabriella F Mattina,1 Venkat Bhat,8â 10 Calvin Diep,3 Ka...
The use patterns of novel psychedelics: experiential fingerprints of substituted phenethylamines, tryptamines and lysergamides.
Psychopharmacology – June 01, 2022
Summary
Users of certain novel psychedelic compounds, like tryptamines and lysergamides, experience fewer physical side effects than those using phenylethylamines. Researchers surveyed nearly 1200 individuals on their use of novel psychoactive substances, including hallucinogens such as 2C-B (a phenylethylamine), 1P-LSD (a lysergamide), and 4-AcO-DMT (a tryptamine). Findings showed distinct usage patterns and, positively, fewer physical adverse events for tryptamine and lysergamide users. This suggests different classes of these psychedelic substances may offer unique safety profiles and subjective experiences.
Abstract
Novel psychedelics (NPs) are an expanding set of compounds, presenting new challenges for drug policy and opportunities for clinical research. Unli...
A Review of Aeruginascin and Potential Entourage Effect in Hallucinogenic Mushrooms
European Psychiatry – June 01, 2022
Summary
A fascinating tryptamine alkaloid, aeruginascin, reportedly elevates mood without the hallucinogenic effects of psilocybin, a classic psychedelic found up to 2% in certain mushrooms. Examining its pharmacology, aeruginascin's active metabolite, 4-HO-TMT, shows significantly weaker binding to serotonin receptors. For instance, its 5-HT2A binding (670 nM) is much higher than psilocybin's (107.2 nM). This difference in chemistry and the nature of these tryptamines suggests aeruginascin contributes minimally to the "entourage effect" in psychedelics and drug studies.
Abstract
Introduction The 5-HT 2A agonist classic psychedelic, psilocybin (O-phosphoryl-4-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine) is a tryptophan, indole-based alka...
A Phase 1, Dose-Ranging Study to Assess Safety and Psychoactive Effects of a Vaporized 5-Methoxy-N,N-Dimethyltryptamine Formulation (GH001) in Healthy Volunteers
European Psychiatry – June 01, 2022
Summary
A novel vaporized formulation of 5-MeO-DMT, tested on 22 healthy volunteers, demonstrated dose-related increases in psychedelic experiences without significant adverse effects. Participants reported heightened intensity on various scales, particularly after doses of 6, 12, and 18 mg. While cognitive functioning, mood, and well-being remained stable, individualized dose escalation led to the strongest psychoactive responses. Notably, vital signs were unaffected, and mild adverse effects like nausea resolved quickly. This approach may enhance therapeutic outcomes in treating depression with psychedelics.
Abstract
Introduction 5-Methoxy-N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is a tryptamine with ultra-rapid onset and short duration of psychedelic effects. Prospec...
Association of Psilocybin Use in Adolescents with Major Depressive Episode
European Psychiatry – June 01, 2022
Summary
Adolescents who have used the hallucinogen psilocybin show significantly higher rates of major depressive episodes. Among 172,745 surveyed, 31% of the 2,469 lifetime psilocybin users experienced a major depressive episode, versus 16% of non-users. The odds of psilocybin use were 2.17 times higher for those with a major depressive episode (Odds ratio: 2.17; Confidence interval: 1.93-2.44). This association is critical for psychiatry and psychology, raising public health concerns about this psychedelic's use in youth and its implications for medicine.
Abstract
Introduction Psilocybin is a psychedelic drug found in mushrooms, often referred to as magic mushrooms due to its visual and auditory hallucination...