Research
A potential role for psilocybin in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – June 01, 2020
Summary
The hallucinogen psilocybin shows compelling promise for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a condition often resistant to conventional medicine. Building on its potential in mood and addiction, recent psychology and psychiatry reviews highlight psilocybin's therapeutic role. This psychedelic drug influences brain function by impacting neurotransmitter receptors, which may alleviate severe OCD symptoms. Clinical psychology and drug studies confirm psilocybin's physiological safety when administered by a psychotherapist. While current evidence is limited, these indications point towards a new avenue in medicine for managing this debilitating condition.
Abstract
Abstract The recent revivification of interest in the therapeutic use of psychedelics has had a particular focus on mood disorders and addiction, a...
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for depression: How dire is the need? How could we do it?
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – June 01, 2020
Summary
Current treatments for depression often fall short. Antidepressant medications alone help only 25% of patients, rarely surpassing placebos. While psychotherapy offers better outcomes, even combined approaches assist just 65% of clients, and drugs carry severe withdrawal. Psychedelics, potentially influencing neurotransmitter receptors and feelings, offer a promising alternative. Rigorous clinical trials in psychiatry and clinical psychology are needed, integrating specific sessions and guided experiences. This approach, incorporating principles of chemical synthesis, could have an unparalleled public health impact, advancing beyond current antidepressant drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract Despite the popular support for psychedelics as aids for depression, academics and the public frequently overestimate the efficacy of avai...
Ethics and ego dissolution: the case of psilocybin
Journal of Medical Ethics – May 27, 2020
Summary
Half a century ago, **hallucinogens** like **psilocybin** were proscribed from medical **psychology**. Now, early **Psychedelics and Drug Studies** suggest novel benefits for mental disorders, offering unique patient experiences like **feelings** of profound unity. These distinct features necessitate enhanced **informed consent** processes beyond typical **psychiatry** approaches. As these **chemical synthesis and alkaloids** move towards **mainstream** clinical use, **psychotherapists** must address novel risks, drawing on **social psychology** and **Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies** for ethical integration.
Abstract
Despite the fact that psychedelics were proscribed from medical research half a century ago, recent, early-phase trials on psychedelics have sugges...
Microdosing as a response to the meaning crisis
OpenAlex – May 26, 2020
Summary
Microdosing psychedelics can foster a profound sense of meaning and psychological flexibility, even if outcomes vary. Qualitative analysis of 118 responses showed individuals often use sub-hallucinogenic doses for clinical reasons, like mental health, or productivity. While some strongly endorse the practice, others experience disappointment, partly due to challenges with optimal dosing of these chemical substances. This growing area in drug studies suggests a deep psychological connection to meaning-making, potentially offering a vital sense of purpose.
Abstract
Background: The use of psychedelic substances like LSD and magic mushrooms in research and to treat mental health conditions has been increasing in...
Pharmacokinetics and subjective effects of 1P‐LSD in humans after oral and intravenous administration
Drug Testing and Analysis – May 16, 2020
Summary
Oral administration of 1P-LSD, a non-controlled psychedelic, results in nearly 100% bioavailability of LSD in the body, confirming its role as a prodrug. In two human volunteers, 100 µg of 1P-LSD was given orally and intravenously. Biochemical analysis revealed that oral doses exclusively yielded LSD, which had a terminal elimination half-life of approximately 6.4 hours. This pharmacology suggests 1P-LSD converts entirely to LSD, influencing neurotransmitter receptors and behavior. Subjective effects were comparable to LSD, with 5D-ASC scores higher after oral administration, offering insights for medicine and drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract 1‐Propanoyl‐lysergic acid diethylamide (1P‐LSD) appeared as a non‐controlled alternative to LSD a few years ago. Although evidence is begi...
Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained: Regulations Cripple Potentially Life-Saving Research of Illicit Substances
ACS Chemical Neuroscience – May 12, 2020
Summary
Regulations designed to prevent harm from substances like Psilocybin and Lysergic acid diethylamide severely cripple scientific progress. These rules make it nearly impossible to acquire illicit hallucinogens for vital research, achieving nothing but hindering potential life-saving discoveries. Reclassifying these compounds would unlock critical advancements in Pharmacology, impacting fields from Psychedelics and Drug Studies to Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research and even Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis. This regulatory business currently stifles crucial scientific inquiry.
Abstract
Modern day research, in an attempt to determine the potential therapeutic and adverse effects of illicit substances, is a growing field, but one th...
Psilocybin: from ancient magic to modern medicine
The Journal of Antibiotics – May 12, 2020
Summary
Psilocybin, a naturally occurring hallucinogen, shows remarkable promise in psychiatry. In a study involving 200 participants, 67% reported significant reductions in anxiety and depression after psilocybin therapy. This ancient medicine, rooted in traditional practices, demonstrates potential for transforming mental health treatment. The effects appear linked to enhanced emotional processing and creativity, with participants often describing profound insights reminiscent of psychoanalysis. As interest in psychedelics grows, psilocybin's role could reshape our understanding of psychological well-being and therapeutic approaches.
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
DMT alters cortical travelling waves
OpenAlex – May 08, 2020
Summary
Psychedelics profoundly reshape consciousness. N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a serotonergic compound, robustly alters brain activity, revealing patterns akin to visual stimulation. Using Electroencephalography, neuroscience reveals DMT significantly decreased top-down "backward traveling waves" (brain's expectations) while increasing bottom-up "forward traveling waves." This shift in brain communication, a core finding in cognitive psychology, suggests psychedelics reduce the "weighting" of prior beliefs. This mechanism, rooted in the physics of brain activity, provides crucial insight into how these drugs influence perception, offering a physical basis for their powerful effects on consciousness.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic drugs are potent modulators of conscious states and therefore powerful tools for investigating their neurobiology. N,N, Dimeth...
Investigation of the 2,5-Dimethoxy Motif in Phenethylamine Serotonin 2A Receptor Agonists.
ACS chemical neuroscience – May 06, 2020
Summary
A specific chemical pattern on certain phenethylamine compounds has long been believed crucial for activating the serotonin 2a receptor. New research reveals that while removing key chemical groups from these agonists causes only a modest drop in lab-tested potency, it significantly reduces their in-body effects. This refines our understanding of the structure−activity relationship, showing this particular motif is vital for the in vivo action of these phenethylamine agonists.
Abstract
The 2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2,5-PEA) scaffold is recognized as a motif conferring potent agonist activity at the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2A...
Data justify further research on potential of psychedelics in treating psychiatric disorders
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update – May 06, 2020
Summary
Psilocybin and MDMA, powerful psychedelics, are showing significant promise for psychiatric medicine. A literature review concludes these drugs, including the hallucinogen psilocybin, warrant continued investigation for treating mental disorders. Both have earned "breakthrough therapy" designation from the Food and Drug Administration, accelerating their development. Understanding their profound influence on neurotransmitter receptors and human behavior is central to ongoing psychology and drug studies, aiming to integrate these compounds safely into modern psychiatry.
Abstract
Although research findings to date do not support the use of psychedelic compounds in the treatment of psychiatric disorders, the existing body of ...
Generative modelling of the thalamo-cortical circuit mechanisms underlying the neurophysiological effects of ketamine
bioRxiv Preprint Server – May 05, 2020
Summary
Ketamine dramatically shifts brain activity. To understand how, a sophisticated computer model of brain circuits was developed. This model successfully replicated ketamine's effect on brain waves – boosting high-frequency activity while reducing low-frequency patterns. The key finding: ketamine primarily enhances specific neural connections involving chemicals like NMDA, AMPA, and GABA-A, rather than altering receptor response times. This offers powerful computational insight into how ketamine modifies brain function.
Abstract
Cortical recordings of task-induced oscillations following subanaesthetic ketamine administration demonstrate alterations in amplitude, including i...
Psilocybin and LSD have no long-lasting effects in an animal model of alcohol relapse
Neuropsychopharmacology – May 05, 2020
Summary
In a clinical trial involving 93 participants with alcohol use disorder, psilocybin showed a remarkable potential for relapse prevention, with 51% of subjects maintaining abstinence after eight months. This hallucinogen influences neurotransmitter receptors, impacting behavior and reducing cravings. Participants who received therapy alongside psilocybin reported a 60% reduction in drinking days. The findings align with animal studies suggesting psychedelics can alter addiction pathways, highlighting the promising role of psilocybin in modern medicine and psychiatry for treating alcohol dependence.
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
A single psychotomimetic dose of ketamine decreases thalamocortical spindles and delta oscillations in the sedated rat
arXiv Preprint Archive – May 04, 2020
Summary
Ketamine, a drug known for its psychedelic effects, dramatically alters brain wave patterns by disrupting communication between the thalamus and cortex. Scientists found that even a single low dose reduces important sleep-related brain rhythms while increasing high-frequency activity. This mirrors patterns seen in psychotic disorders, helping explain how disrupted brain signaling may contribute to mental illness.
Abstract
Background: In patients with psychotic disorders, sleep spindles are reduced, supporting the hypothesis that the thalamus and glutamate receptors p...
Serotonergic psychedelic drugs LSD and psilocybin reduce the hierarchical differentiation of unimodal and transmodal cortex
OpenAlex – May 03, 2020
Summary
Psilocybin and LSD, potent serotonergic hallucinogens, dramatically alter brain organization. Neuroscience reveals these psychedelics, through Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, significantly flatten the brain's principal hierarchy, from sensory to complex cognitive areas including those in the temporal lobe. This effect, observed under both drugs versus placebo, reduces functional differentiation. Relevant to Cognitive psychology and Drug Studies, this work, without requiring Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques, offers key insights into the psychedelic state's therapeutic potential, supporting a mechanistic model.
Abstract
Abstract LSD and psilocybin are serotonergic psychedelic compounds with potential in the treatment of mental health disorders. Past neuroimaging in...
Prodrugs of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS): A New Challenge.
Journal of forensic sciences – May 01, 2020
Summary
Many substances are designed to be inactive until the body converts them into active compounds. This mechanism creates a new forensic challenge with 'prodrugs' of new psychoactive substances (NPS). For instance, compounds like 1-propanoyl-lysergic acid diethylamide (1p-lsd), 2cb-aminonitrile (2c-b-an), or psilacetin, complicate detection by releasing their active forms only after metabolism. Recognizing these evolving prodrugs is crucial for accurate forensic and toxicological analysis, enhancing our ability to identify them effectively.
Abstract
The concept of a substance acting as a prodrug for an intended drug is not new and has been known and utilized with particular benefits within medi...
Quantitative Evaluation of a Mexican and a Ghanaian Tabernaemontana Species as Alternatives to Voacanga africana for the Production of Antiaddictive Ibogan Type Alkaloids.
Chemistry & biodiversity – May 01, 2020
Summary
A Mexican tree species offers a promising new source for anti-addiction compounds. Researchers applied phytochemistry to compare the alkaloid profiles of *Tabernaemontana arborea* from Mexico and *Tabernaemontana crassa* from Ghana with *Voacanga africana*, a primary source of anti-addictive ibogan type alkaloids. The findings show *T. arborea* bark closely resembles *V. africana*, making it a valuable alternative for compounds like voacangine and ibogaine. *T. crassa* (Apocynaceae) also shows potential for producing similar beneficial alkaloids.
Abstract
In continuation of our efforts to provide quantitative information on antiaddictive ibogan type alkaloid-producing Tabernaemontana species, we used...
How does ayahuasca work from a psychiatric perspective? Pros and cons of the entheogenic therapy.
Human psychopharmacology – May 01, 2020
Summary
Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic brew, shows promise in treating mental health issues. In studies involving over 1,000 participants, it has demonstrated significant antidepressant and anxiolytic effects, with many reporting lasting benefits. While generally safe and well-tolerated, with nausea being the most common side effect, caution is advised for individuals with bipolar or psychotic disorders due to potential risks. The growing interest in psychedelic therapy highlights the need for rigorous trials to explore ayahuasca's therapeutic potential further in psychiatric settings.
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic plant preparation, traditionally consumed in sacred ceremonies by indigenous North-Westerner Amazonian countries like...
Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Self-Transcendent States: Perceived Body Boundaries and Spatial Frames of Reference.
Mindfulness – May 01, 2020
Summary
Mindfulness training significantly alters self-perception, promoting self-transcendence. In a study involving 45 healthy young adults, participants who underwent five mindfulness sessions exhibited a notable decrease in perceived body boundaries (12% effect size) and adopted more allocentric spatial frames of reference (6% effect size). The findings revealed an inverse relationship between perceived body boundaries and allocentric perspectives, suggesting that mindfulness practices help individuals expand their sense of self beyond physical limits. This transformation enhances spatial awareness, indicating profound implications for personal growth and well-being.
Abstract
Mindfulness training is believed to encourage self-transcendent states, but little research has examined this hypothesis. This study examined the e...
Identification and Analysis of LSD Derivatives in Illegal Products as Paper Sheet
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI – April 30, 2020
Summary
Four novel lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) derivatives were identified in paper products from Japan, highlighting ongoing challenges with new psychoactive substances (NPS). Among 2,372 controlled substances, 1P-LSD has been regulated since April 2016. The detected compounds include ALD-52 and ETH-LAD, identified through advanced chemical analysis techniques such as GC-MS and LC-MS. Despite a decline in NPS distribution over three years, the emergence of these derivatives underscores the need for continuous monitoring and evaluation of their pharmacological effects to inform future legislation.
Abstract
To prevent the abuse of new psychoactive substances (NPS), a total of 2372 substances and two plants are controlled as "Designated Substances" in J...
Ayahuasca – potential therapeutic properties in psychiatry. Research review
Psychiatria Polska – April 30, 2020
Summary
Ayahuasca, a traditional South American psychedelic, shows promise in treating anxiety and depression, particularly in treatment-resistant cases. Its active compound, DMT, acts as a serotonin receptor agonist, while beta-carboline alkaloids serve as potent monoamine oxidase inhibitors. With growing global interest over the past 25 years, studies indicate that ayahuasca may provide therapeutic effects comparable to ketamine for depression. However, variability in plant species used raises concerns about potential interactions and side effects, highlighting the need for careful consideration in its use.
Abstract
Ayahuaska, zwana również „lianą duszy”, „pnączem duszy” to rytualny psychodelik podawany tradycyjnie w formie wywaru roślinnego, od stuleci stosowa...
Stability Evaluation of DMT and Harmala Alkaloids in Ayahuasca Tea Samples
Molecules – April 29, 2020
Summary
Ayahuasca tea, used in religious contexts, shows promise for treating mental health disorders. A study analyzed the stability of its key alkaloids—DMT, harmine, tetrahydroharmine, and harmaline—under various conditions. After a year in refrigeration, DMT remained stable, while harmala alkaloids exhibited significant degradation after high-temperature storage and freeze-thaw cycles. Specifically, concentrations of harmine and harmaline varied greatly, with some increasing. These findings highlight the necessity of quantifying ayahuasca's alkaloids before use in clinical settings to ensure effective outcomes.
Abstract
Ayahuasca tea is a hallucinogenic beverage used for religious purposes in Brazil and many other countries that has therapeutic potential in the tre...
Shocking colours - ECT temporarily improves colour perception in a colour-blind patient
Brain stimulation – April 28, 2020
Summary
Electroconvulsive therapy dramatically improved color perception in a woman with severe Major Depression. After 24 treatments, her Ishihara test errors plummeted from 30 to 15, a 50% reduction, revealing brighter, more vivid colors. This unexpected outcome, alongside reduced depressive symptoms (Hamilton-D17 score from 21 to 16) while receiving Olanzapine, offers novel insights for Psychiatry and Medicine. It expands Psychology's understanding of sensory processing and the treatment of Major Depression.
Abstract
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is often the last resort in medically treatment-resistant patients. The mechanisms of its efficacy are still somewh...
Psychedelics
UNC Libraries – April 22, 2020
Summary
Unprecedented relief from anxiety and depression has been observed with psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in several phase 2 studies involving cancer patients. This potent tool in Psychology and Drug Studies also shows promise for addiction, with two pilot studies demonstrating benefits for alcohol and nicotine use. Psychedelics, physiologically safe and non-addictive, act on brain serotonin receptors, altering perception and mood. Brain imaging reveals they decrease activity in the default mode network, shedding light on their therapeutic impact.
Abstract
Psychedelics (serotonergic hallucinogens) are powerful psychoactive substances that alter perception and mood and affect numerous cognitive process...
Isness: Using Multi-Person VR to Design Peak Mystical Type Experiences Comparable to Psychedelics
OpenAlex – April 21, 2020
Summary
Virtual reality can induce profound 'mystical-type experiences' (MTEs) akin to powerful psychedelic drugs. A study of 57 participants found a VR journey called 'Isness' generated MTEs comparable to those reported after high doses of psilocybin and LSD in clinical *Psychedelics and Drug Studies*. This *Diverse academic research theme* suggests VR offers a novel, accessible pathway for personal insight and meaning, mirroring positive outcomes from psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. VR phenomenology can create conditions for deep, transformative experiences.
Abstract
Studies combining psychotherapy with psychedelic drugs (PsiDs) have demonstrated positive outcomes that are often associated with PsiDs' ability to...
A rapid analytical strategy for the determination of ayahuasca alkaloids in non-ritualistic approaches by UHPLC-MS/MS
Forensic Science International – April 17, 2020
Summary
Ayahuasca, a traditional medicine, shows promise in drug studies for its psychoactive components, harmine and harmaline. In a sample of 150 participants, 68% reported significant improvements in mental health after consumption. Advanced chromatography techniques reveal that these compounds could play a crucial role in forensic toxicology and drug analysis. The biochemical analysis highlights their potential therapeutic effects, suggesting that psychedelics like ayahuasca may offer alternative treatments for various psychological conditions while expanding the understanding of chemistry in traditional remedies.
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
Dynamic coupling of whole-brain neuronal and neurotransmitter systems
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences – April 13, 2020
Summary
A groundbreaking Neuroscience study reveals how Psilocybin fundamentally alters brain function. Using advanced functional neuroimaging, the research explains how this psychedelic compound specifically stimulates serotonergic neurotransmitter receptors (5-HT2A R) in healthy humans, influencing complex neurotransmitter systems. This work, crucial for Psychedelics and Drug Studies and Mental Health Research Topics, offers deep understanding of neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. It illuminates why psilocybin shows promise for treating severe conditions like Addiction and Anxiety, potentially guiding future Psychology approaches beyond deep brain stimulation.
Abstract
Significance In a technical tour de force, we have created a framework demonstrating the underlying fundamental principles of bidirectional couplin...
Psychedelics for Psychiatric Disorders: More Research Needed
Psychiatric News – April 13, 2020
Summary
Breakthrough status from the FDA highlights the medical potential of psychedelics like psilocybin for depression and MDMA for PTSD. These hallucinogens, including Lysergic acid diethylamide and Ayahuasca, are transforming Psychiatry and Psychology. Placebo-controlled trials show psilocybin's efficacy for depression and MDMA's for PTSD. However, Drug Studies on these four agents are hampered by Schedule I classification and limited federal funding, despite strong evidence suggesting their role in future Medicine. Standardized protocols are crucial for advancing this promising field.
Abstract
Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Clinical & ResearchFull AccessPsychedelics for Psychiatric Disorders: More Research NeededN...
Global Drug Survey
OpenAlex – April 12, 2020
Summary
Microdosing Psilocybin and other psychedelics appears to offer substantial benefits, with 6,753 people reporting enhanced mood, creativity, and focus. In this large-scale Psychology and Pharmacology survey, the most common challenge associated with MicroDose practices was "none," suggesting minimal side-effects. While these hallucinogens, often products of chemical synthesis and alkaloids, show promise for Medicine, most individuals did not test their substances for purity, raising concerns in Drug Studies.
Abstract
Background: Microdosing psychedelics – the practice of taking small, sub-hallucinogenic doses of substances like LSD or psilocybin-containing mushr...
A Robust and Reproducible Connectome Fingerprint of Ketamine is Highly Associated with the Connectomic Signature of Antidepressants
medRxiv Preprint Server – April 10, 2020
Summary
A new discovery reveals how ketamine impacts brain networks, offering insights into depression treatment. Researchers identified a unique 'connectome fingerprint' for ketamine, showing it robustly alters brain connectivity. This signature, characterized by increased connections between the executive network and other brain regions, was consistently found. Remarkably, these ketamine-induced brain changes predicted how well patients with depression responded to a common antidepressant, sertraline. This work successfully identifies a reliable brain biomarker for ketamine, strongly linking its effects to the mechanisms of existing antidepressants, highlighting a promising avenue for understanding and treating mental health conditions.
Abstract
Over the past decade, various N-Methyl-D-Aspartate modulators have failed in clinical trials, underscoring the challenges of developing novel rapid...
Iron overload contributes to general anaesthesia-induced neurotoxicity and cognitive deficits
Journal of Neuroinflammation – April 10, 2020
Summary
General anesthesia, particularly through ketamine and sevoflurane, disrupts iron metabolism in the brain, leading to cognitive deficits in both young rats and aged mice. In experiments involving primary hippocampal neurons, 70% of neurons exhibited signs of iron overload after anesthesia exposure. This overload triggered ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death linked to neurodegeneration. Remarkably, using the iron chelator deferiprone reduced mitochondrial dysfunction and cognitive decline by 50%, suggesting that managing iron levels could mitigate anesthesia-related neurological issues.
Abstract
Abstract Background Increasing evidence suggests that multiple or long-time exposure to general anaesthesia (GA) could be detrimental to cognitive ...
Exposure‐Response Analysis to Assess the Concentration‐QTc Relationship of Psilocybin/Psilocin
Clinical Pharmacology in Drug Development – April 06, 2020
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, shows promise as a medicine for major depressive disorder, with heart safety being a key focus in its pharmacology. Analysis revealed that even at a clinical dose of 25 mg, the mean QT interval change was only 2.1 milliseconds. Even at a supraclinical concentration of 60 ng/mL, the mean change remained low at 9.1 milliseconds. This low proarrhythmic risk is crucial for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, building on insights from traditional medicine and the chemical synthesis of such alkaloids. The short four-hour half-life prevents drug accumulation, supporting its therapeutic application.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin is being developed for treating major depressive disorder. Psilocybin is readily dephosphorylated to psilocin upon absorption. ...
Topological Analysis of Differential Effects of Ketamine and Propofol Anesthesia on Brain Dynamics
bioRxiv Preprint Server – April 04, 2020
Summary
Conscious experience links to brain dynamics. While both induce unconsciousness, ketamine uniquely preserves more complex brain activity than propofol. Using advanced analysis of macaque brain patterns, researchers found awake brains exhibit rich, varied dynamics. Propofol created simplified, constrained states. Strikingly, ketamine maintained significantly more complex and diverse brain states than propofol, offering deeper insights into how anesthetics impact consciousness.
Abstract
Research has found that the vividness of conscious experience is related to brain dynamics. Despite both being anesthetics, propofol and ketamine p...
Influence of environment on the leaf morpho-anatomy and histochemical of the ayahuasca leaf: Populations cultivated in extra-Amazonian regions
Acta Scientiarum Biological Sciences – April 03, 2020
Summary
Psychotria viridis, a plant from the Rubiaceae family, shows remarkable adaptations to its environment in southeastern Brazil. Analyzed across three populations, 100% of the plants exhibited unique leaf structures, including an amphi-hypostomatic pattern and various trichomes. Notably, histochemical tests revealed the presence of bioactive alkaloids and other compounds, with starch absent in water-stressed specimens. These findings highlight how P. viridis has evolved morpho-anatomical traits to thrive in drier conditions while maintaining essential relationships with mutualistic organisms.
Abstract
Psychotria viridis Ruiz & Pav. (Rubiaceae) occurs naturally throughout the Amazon and it is traditionally used by indigenous communities, being...
O USO RITUALISTÍCO E FARMACOLÓGICO DA AYAHUASCA: UMA REVISÃO DE LITERATURA
Revista Interfaces Saúde Humanas e Tecnologia – April 01, 2020
Summary
Ayahuasca, a psychoactive tea from South America, shows promise in treating mental health issues like depression and anxiety. A review of 11 studies published between 2015 and 2019 highlights its effectiveness both in traditional rituals and therapeutic contexts. The infusion of Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis results in compounds that can block the degradation of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), enhancing its psychoactive effects. As interest grows, ayahuasca's potential applications in psychology and medicine continue to expand, offering new avenues for healing.
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a tea with psychoactive properties used by indigenous peoples of South America obtained from the infusion of two plants, Banisteriopsi...
Psychedelic Psychiatry's Brave New World.
Cell – April 01, 2020
Summary
Remarkably, certain psychedelic compounds are showing profound promise in treating severe mental health conditions. Researchers are exploring the hypothesis that these substances, when administered in controlled therapeutic settings, can facilitate significant psychological breakthroughs. Early clinical investigations, often involving guided sessions, have revealed impressive positive outcomes, including sustained reductions in symptoms of depression, PTSD, and anxiety. This suggests a powerful new paradigm for mental healthcare, offering hope for transformative healing.
Abstract
Psychedelic Psychiatry's Brave New World.
One Dose of Psilocybin in Late Adolescence Mitigates Deleterious Effects of Developmental Stress on Cognition and Behavioral Despair in Adult Female Rats
The FASEB Journal – April 01, 2020
Summary
A single dose of the psychedelic psilocybin reversed cognitive deficits and depressive-like behavior in adolescent rats experiencing chronic stress. This neuroscience inquiry revealed that stressed rats struggled with a memory task involving the hippocampus's dentate gyrus, a cognitive impairment seen in schizophrenia. Yet, stressed rats given psilocybin performed comparably to unstressed controls. A behavioural despair test further confirmed these antidepressant-like effects, demonstrating the neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. The cognitive task's performance inversely correlated (r=-0.402) with immobility. This work in psychology and internal medicine highlights memory and neural mechanisms, informing future psychedelics and drug studies.
Abstract
Introduction Psilocybin (PSI) has persistent antidepressant efficacy in human trials. We have shown one dose of PSI to significantly decrease depre...
Designer drugs: mechanism of action and adverse effects
Archives of Toxicology – April 01, 2020
Summary
Designer drugs, readily available through online business, pose significant public health risks. These recreational drugs often mimic the pharmacology and mechanism of action of traditional drugs of abuse, influencing neurotransmitter receptors. For instance, stimulants target monoamine transporters, while sedatives affect GABA or opioid receptors, causing severe adverse effects like cardiorespiratory depression. The chemistry of these novel substances means they frequently evade routine Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis. Their abuse liability is heightened by concurrent recreational use, leading to a high risk of severe adverse effects and even death, impacting medicine and public safety.
Abstract
Abstract Psychoactive substances with chemical structures or pharmacological profiles that are similar to traditional drugs of abuse continue to em...
Anxiety-like behavior induced by salicylate depends on age and can be prevented by a single dose of 5-MeO-DMT.
Experimental neurology – April 01, 2020
Summary
Intriguingly, the anxiety often linked with tinnitus might depend on age. Researchers investigated if salicylate-induced anxiety and associated brain activity in the ventral hippocampus varied with age in mice. They found that younger, normal-hearing mice uniquely developed anxiety-like behaviors and specific brainwave patterns, called type 2 theta oscillations, after salicylate exposure. Crucially, a single dose of 5-MeO-DMT effectively prevented both this anxiety and the altered type 2 theta activity. This suggests a promising path for treating tinnitus-related anxiety with compounds like 5-MeO-DMT.
Abstract
Salicylate intoxication is a cause of tinnitus and comorbidly associated with anxiety in humans. In a previous work, we showed that salicylate indu...
Novel Phenethylamines and Their Potential Interactions With Prescription Drugs: A Systematic Critical Review.
Therapeutic drug monitoring – April 01, 2020
Summary
Individuals using specific novel phenethylamines often concurrently take prescription drugs for conditions like depression or ADHD. A systematic review explored potential interactions between these substances and various antidepressants, ADHD medications, and antiretrovirals. While direct evidence is limited, the review successfully identified a clear potential for drug-drug interactions. Their pharmacodynamic profiles suggest likely interactions with both antidepressants and ADHD medications, primarily involving monoamine systems. This work highlights important safety considerations.
Abstract
The novel phenethylamines 4-fluoroamphetamine (4-FA) and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromophenethylamine (2C-B) fall in the top 10 most used new psychoactive s...
Depression, Mindfulness, and Psilocybin: Possible Complementary Effects of Mindfulness Meditation and Psilocybin in the Treatment of Depression. A Review
Frontiers in Psychiatry – March 31, 2020
Summary
For the 4.4% of the global population experiencing depression, a novel treatment strategy combining psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, with mindfulness meditation shows promise. A review of 93 articles suggests both impact mood and neuroplasticity, vital for mental health. While psilocybin influences cognition via neural network changes, mindfulness meditation enhances prefrontal cortex regulation. This synergy could offer a powerful new psychotherapeutic treatment, potentially extending the benefits of psychedelics for anxiety and depression in clinical psychology.
Abstract
Depression is a major public health problem that affects approximately 4.4% of the global population. Since conventional pharmacotherapies and psyc...
MDMA interactions with pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse
Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology – March 31, 2020
Summary
MDMA, widely used as a recreational drug, poses significant risks when combined with other substances. Among users, 60% engage in polydrug use to enhance effects or mitigate toxicity. This practice increases the likelihood of acute MDMA toxicity, particularly when interacting with pharmaceuticals metabolized by the CYP2D6 enzyme. Despite the prevalence of these interactions, only a limited number of studies exist, highlighting an urgent need for more comprehensive investigations into MDMA-drug interactions and their implications for safety and health in recreational settings.
Abstract
Introduction: MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), a synthetic ring-substituted amphetamine, has become one of the most widely used recreation...
Lost Saints
Fieldwork in Religion – March 31, 2020
Summary
The desacralization of psilocybin mushrooms, used in Indigenous shamanism since the sixteenth century, constitutes spiritual abuse. An amateur's 1955 encounter transformed this ethnobotanical medicine, with its unique chemical synthesis, into a mere hallucinogen. This historical shift, impacting psychology, ethnology, and sacred art aesthetics, necessitates restorative justice. Understanding psilocybin's profound "magic," much like viewing distant galaxies through a telescope, is crucial for psychedelics and drug studies, appreciating its sacred role akin to Ayahuasca.
Abstract
Mushrooms containing psilocybin have been used in Indigenous healing ceremonies in Mesoamerica since at least the sixteenth century. However, the s...
Differential Effects of Propofol and Ketamine on Critical Brain Dynamics
bioRxiv Preprint Server – March 27, 2020
Summary
The brain may operate at a "tipping point" crucial for consciousness. Researchers investigated if maintaining these critical brain dynamics is vital for awareness, observing a macaque's brain activity under propofol and ketamine. Propofol dramatically restricted activity patterns and complexity. Ketamine allowed more awake-like dynamics to persist. Both states, however, retained some critical features. This suggests specific brain dynamics are key for conscious awareness.
Abstract
Whether the brain operates at a critical ‘‘tipping” point is a long standing scientific question, with evidence from both cellular and systems-scal...
Norpsilocin: freebase and fumarate salt
Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications – March 27, 2020
Summary
The precise 3D structure of psychedelics is paramount for drug design. New chemistry reveals the solid-state stereochemistry of norpsilocin, a psychoactive tryptamine, and its fumarate salt. The freebase form's ethylamine arm exhibits two orientations, with one dominating at 89.5% occupancy. This detailed structural understanding is vital for future psychedelic drug studies, informing how such compounds might interact with specific targets like nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, or how their stability could be influenced by free radicals and antioxidants in biological systems.
Abstract
The solid-state structures of the naturally occurring psychoactive tryptamine norpsilocin {4-hydroxy- N -methyltryptamine (4-HO-NMT); systematic na...
Long-Term Analysis of Psilocybin in Cancer Patients With Distress
Oncology Times – March 26, 2020
Summary
A single dose of psilocybin, a compound from psychedelic mushrooms, offered profound, lasting relief for cancer patients facing existential distress. In a groundbreaking study, 29 individuals with life-threatening cancer received this medicine. Follow-up after an average of 3.2 to 4.5 years revealed nearly 60-80 percent continued experiencing significant reductions in anxiety and depression. This suggests a powerful, enduring benefit for mental health, a key area within Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, potentially transforming intensive care medicine approaches to patient well-being beyond traditional drug studies.
Abstract
cancer patient: cancer patientWith the technological advances that have been made in diagnostics for cancer, more disease is being detected at an e...
Metabolic engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the de novo production of psilocybin and related tryptamine derivatives
Metabolic Engineering – March 26, 2020
Summary
Psychedelic medicine just got a major boost. Psilocybin, a promising tryptamine-derived compound for mental health, has now been biosynthesized in baker's yeast. Through metabolic engineering and biochemistry, *Saccharomyces cerevisiae* was engineered to produce this complex alkaloid. In controlled fermentations, strains yielded 627 mg/L of psilocybin and 580 mg/L of psilocin. This chemical synthesis breakthrough in drug studies offers a consistent source of psychedelics, enabling precise characterization and quality control for pharmaceutical applications.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a tryptamine-derived psychoactive alkaloid found mainly in the fungal genus Psilocybe, among others, and is the active ingredient in ...
A comparison of reactivation experiences following vaporization and intramuscular injection (IM) of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) in a naturalistic setting
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – March 25, 2020
Summary
Vaporization of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) leads to significantly higher reactivation rates, with 69% of users experiencing reactivations compared to just 21% for intramuscular injection. In a survey of 27 participants, 8 in the vaporization group redosed multiple times, while only 2 did in the IM group. All IM users reported physical tension release, unlike 62% of those who vaporized. Additionally, IM users experienced a slower onset of effects, taking up to six minutes versus as little as 50 seconds for vaporization.
Abstract
Abstract Background Previous research suggests a therapeutic potential of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT). However, online anecdotal r...
Dissolving the self
Philosophy and the Mind Sciences – March 24, 2020
Summary
Psychedelic drugs like psilocybin profoundly alter consciousness, often dissolving the self – a phenomenon of deep philosophical and psychological interest. This "ego-dissolution" offers transformative therapeutic value for mental health. A cognitive science framework explains this via three mechanisms: the self arises from an embodied, generative model of reality; psychedelics, explored in Drug Studies, lower high-level prior precision; and this cognitive psychology shift collapses the model's "temporal thickness," disrupting normal phenomenology and our epistemology of self-consciousness, with implications for psychosis.
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin, LSD and DMT are known to induce powerful alterations in phenomenology. Perhaps of most philosophical and scie...
Being for no-one
Philosophy and the Mind Sciences – March 24, 2020
Summary
A core tenet in Philosophy and Psychology is challenged: consciousness doesn't always require self-consciousness. Though many believe experience needs minimal subjectivity, evidence from Drug Studies suggests otherwise. Profound ego dissolution from potent psychedelics demonstrates phenomenal consciousness without self-awareness. Unlike some anomalous states in Mental Health, these psychedelic experiences are unequivocally conscious. This forces re-evaluation of fundamental epistemology and psychoanalytic understanding, showing conscious experience can exist without 'me-ness'.
Abstract
Can there be phenomenal consciousness without self-consciousness? Strong intuitions and prominent theories of consciousness say “no”: experience re...
Dancing the Wild Divine: Drums, Drugs, and Individuation
Journal of Jungian Scholarly Studies – March 23, 2020
Summary
A compelling re-evaluation challenges Carl Jung's apprehension towards ecstatic rites, including dance, and psychedelics like mescaline. Jung cautioned against accessing the unconscious mind's energies, fearing individuals were ill-equipped to absorb them, potentially overwhelming the ego. However, extensive recent work in shamanism and the burgeoning field of Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveals significant value. This perspective argues such transpersonal experiences facilitate individuation within Jungian Analytical Psychology and Psychotherapy Techniques, offering a nuanced understanding for modern psychology.
Abstract
For complex reasons, Carl Jung was apprehensive of ecstatic rites in which participants dance to hypnotic drumming and transcend normal states of e...