1349 results for "Set and Setting"
Percentage of Heavy Drinking Days Following Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy vs Placebo in the Treatment of Adult Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder
JAMA Psychiatry – August 24, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin dramatically reduced heavy drinking days for individuals with alcohol use disorder. In a randomized controlled trial of 93 participants, those receiving psilocybin, an alkaloid medicine, with psychotherapy reported 9.7% heavy drinking days over 32 weeks. This contrasted with 23.6% for the diphenhydramine placebo group, a 13.9% difference. This hallucinogen's influence on neurotransmitter receptors offers promise in psychiatry for relapse prevention, representing a significant step in psychology-informed psychedelics and drug studies.
Abstract
Importance Although classic psychedelic medications have shown promise in the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD), the efficacy of psilocybin r...
'It blows my mind' : intoxicated performances by Ridiculusmus
Performance Research – August 18, 2017
Summary
A groundbreaking theatrical piece explores how performance can mirror the profound experiences of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. Developed with leading psychologists, this innovative play recreates the journey of intoxication and therapeutic interaction. Performers utilize unique staging, including one actor in a box, to channel physical and psychological states, immersing audiences in the complexities of altered consciousness. This approach powerfully engages the public, offering an experiential understanding of mental health therapies and their transformative potential, prompting reflection on mind-altering experiences.
Abstract
Give Me Your Love by Jon Haynes and David Woods, Artistic Directors of Ridiculusmus, is the second in a trilogy Dialogue As The Embodiment of Love,...
The Role and Ethics of Touch and Non-touch in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences – November 22, 2025
Summary
Despite concerns, responsible physical touch can significantly enhance psychedelic therapy. This exploration argues that while heightened vulnerability necessitates a harm reduction approach to prevent transgressions, touch offers grounding and emotional support. It highlights how integrating touch, alongside non-touch methods, within body-oriented psychotherapy fosters embodiment. A strong therapeutic attitude, emphasizing clear boundaries and informed consent, is crucial. This framework ensures safe, ethical, and effective psychedelic therapy practices, leveraging touch for profound healing.
Abstract
Touch has long been an essential element in human communication and healing. In the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), the role of touch ...
Implications for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: functional magnetic resonance imaging study with psilocybin
The British Journal of Psychiatry – January 27, 2012
Summary
The hallucinogen Psilocybin significantly enhances the vividness of autobiographical memory, a key finding in cognitive psychology. Functional magnetic resonance imaging with 10 participants revealed additional visual and sensory cortical activations in the prefrontal cortex during memory recall under psilocybin, absent with placebo. Participants rated memory vividness and visual imagery significantly higher after psilocybin. This neuroscience insight, relevant to Psychedelics and Drug Studies, suggests psilocybin's influence on neurotransmitter receptors could improve cognition and psychological recall, potentially aiding therapeutic applications.
Abstract
Background Psilocybin is a classic psychedelic drug that has a history of use in psychotherapy. One of the rationales for its use was that it aids ...
Sub-Acute Effects of Psilocybin on Empathy, Creative Thinking, and Subjective Well-Being
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – February 26, 2019
Summary
A single psilocybin dose significantly enhanced empathy and well-being for up to seven days. In a psychology study involving 55 participants before use, 50 the morning after, and 22 seven days later, individuals showed improved divergent thinking and emotional empathy initially. Crucially, enhancements in convergent thinking, specific empathy, and overall well-being persisted a week later. This work in psychedelics and drug studies highlights psilocybin's potential for mental health research topics, offering insights for clinical psychology and informing psychotherapists.
Abstract
Creative thinking and empathy are crucial for everyday interactions and subjective well-being. This is emphasized by studies showing a reduction in...
Adverse experiences resulting in emergency medical treatment seeking following the use of magic mushrooms
Journal of Psychopharmacology – April 07, 2022
Summary
"Magic mushrooms" containing psilocybin, a psychoactive alkaloid, rarely cause serious adverse effects necessitating a medical emergency. From 9233 past-year users globally, only 19 (0.2%) sought emergency medical treatment, a per-event risk of 0.06%. Young age was the sole predictor. Most incidents involved psychological symptoms—anxiety/panic—relevant to Psychiatry, often due to poor mindset. All but one returned to normality within 24 hours. These Psychedelics and Drug Studies confirm their safety in Medicine and Complementary and Alternative Medicine, showing severe physiological effects requiring Anesthesia are exceedingly rare.
Abstract
Background: Psilocybin-containing mushrooms are used for recreational, spiritual, self-development and therapeutic purposes. However, physiological...
Lasting effects of a single psilocybin dose on resting-state functional connectivity in healthy individuals
Journal of Psychopharmacology – June 30, 2021
Summary
A single dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin, a compound from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, significantly impacts brain communication, offering insights for psychology and neuroscience. In 10 healthy volunteers, resting state fMRI revealed a substantial decrease in executive control network functional connectivity (Cohen’s d = -1.73) one week later. This shift predicted increased mindfulness three months on (r = -0.65). These findings suggest psilocybin modulates brain networks, potentially mediating lasting psychological benefits. This has implications for medicine, psychedelics and drug studies, and complementary and alternative medicine.
Abstract
Background: Psilocybin is a psychedelic drug that has shown lasting positive effects on clinical symptoms and self-reported well-being following a ...
Between Prohibitions: Patterns and Meanings of Magic Mushroom Use in the UK
Substance Use & Misuse – January 01, 2008
Summary
Magic mushroom use, common in the UK when legal, involved significant negative experiences, with 35% of 174 users reporting paranoia and 32% experiencing anxiety. This highlights important considerations for harm reduction in Psychedelics and Drug Studies. Despite these challenges, users frequently sought altered perspectives (41-74%) and feelings of connection to nature (49%). Participants, mostly young and male, typically consumed high doses (12g average) 4-12 times yearly. This Social psychology context, relevant to Clinical psychology and Psychiatry, informs our understanding of drug use and its implications for public health.
Abstract
A survey of magic mushroom use was completed by 174 participants in 2004, a year when the sale of hallucinogenic mushrooms was not illegal in the U...
Psilocybin: From Serendipity to Credibility?
Frontiers in Psychiatry – April 21, 2021
Summary
Offering paid psilocybin interventions, a hallucinogen, in retreat centers risks undermining its scientific credibility, despite encouraging early clinical trials. While psychology and psychiatry explore its therapeutic potential, robust medicine requires extensive, multi-year clinical trials. Prematurely commercializing this psychedelic disregards ethical principles from the 1947 Nuremberg Code and 1962 Kefauver Harris Amendments. This approach jeopardizes the rigorous development needed for any drug, impacting diverse academic research themes.
Abstract
Psilocybin has a long history of non-medical use and some seem to infer from this that it has therapeutic utility. Early phase clinical trials with...
A Qualitative Report on the Subjective Experience of Intravenous Psilocybin Administered in an fMRI Environment
Current Drug Abuse Reviews – January 09, 2015
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly reconfigures conscious experience. Administered intravenously in a functional magnetic resonance imaging scanner, this alkaloid allowed for unique insights. Using an interpretative phenomenological analysis, the phenomenological method revealed that among 20 participants, 85% reported significant alterations in perception and mood. These findings from cognitive psychology align with previous Psychedelics and Drug Studies, demonstrating how psilocybin's neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior consistently shapes subjective reality. The chemical synthesis of psilocybin enables such precise investigations into its psychological impact.
Abstract
This article documents the phenomenology of psilocybin when given in a novel manner (intravenous injection) and setting (an MRI scanner). The findi...
Role of psilocybin in the treatment of depression
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology – October 27, 2016
Summary
Contrary to common perception, extensive population-based studies reveal psilocybin, a classic hallucinogen like lysergic acid diethylamide, does not cause serious health problems or dependence, even as a recreational drug. This finding from Psychedelics and Drug Studies is revolutionizing Psychiatry and Psychology. Psilocybin, a naturally occurring alkaloid with novel neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, is now rigorously explored in Medicine for mood and anxiety disorders. Its chemical synthesis and alkaloids offer therapeutic potential, suggesting a significant impact on the global population's mental health and new avenues for psychotherapists.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring alkaloid, pharmacologically similar to the classic hallucinogen lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Although prim...
A Phenomenological Examination of Psilocybin and its Positive and Persisting Aftereffects
NeuroQuantology – May 24, 2016
Summary
Profound psychological shifts from psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, can last long after consumption. Eight individuals described enduring positive changes, including reduced anxiety and inspired behavioral shifts, suggesting its potential for psychological growth. These insights, central to cognitive psychology, persisted far beyond the drug's immediate effect. This work, relevant to Psychedelics and Drug Studies, suggests psilocybin could enhance psychotherapy techniques, offering new avenues for psychotherapists beyond traditional psychoanalysis for psychological healing.
Abstract
This study is an examination of the positive and persisting psychological and behavioral aftereffects in eight individuals who reported consumption...
Altered states: psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression
The Lancet Psychiatry – May 17, 2016
Summary
A pilot in Psychiatry suggests Psilocybin, a powerful hallucinogen, offers hope for Treatment-resistant depression. In a feasibility study with 12 patients, a regimen combining synthesized psilocybin with psychological support reduced depression scores by around 10 points on the Hamilton Depression Scale after one week. This Medicine, documented in medical literature and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, showed promising safety and preliminary efficacy, with about half the participants still experiencing benefits at three months. This offers hope for the 20% of patients with depression unresponsive to conventional treatments.
Abstract
"Alice remained looking thoughtfully at the mushroom for a minute, trying to make out which were the two sides of it; and as it was perfectly round...
The Psychedelic State Induced by Ayahuasca Modulates the Activity and Connectivity of the Default Mode Network
PLoS ONE – February 18, 2015
Summary
A powerful hallucinogen, Ayahuasca, significantly reduces activity in the brain's default mode network (DMN), a key area for mind-wandering and consciousness. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (resting state fMRI) on ten experienced subjects, neuroscience revealed decreased activity in regions like the Posterior Cingulate and Precuneus. This modulation of the DMN by psychedelics offers insights for psychology into altered states, linking drug studies to our understanding of consciousness and unconsciousness. This informs neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, relevant to tryptophan and brain disorders.
Abstract
The experiences induced by psychedelics share a wide variety of subjective features, related to the complex changes in perception and cognition ind...
Psychedelic Therapy: A Primer for Primary Care Clinicians—Psilocybin
American Journal of Therapeutics – March 01, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen and alkaloid, shows remarkable promise as a medicine in psychiatry. Initial clinical trials reported 42%-57% remission for major depressive disorder, potentially surpassing existing antidepressants like Fluoxetine. Larger studies observed 25%-29% remission, still a significant reduction in symptoms. Its pharmacology, influencing neurotransmitter receptors, offers sustained benefits from 1-2 doses. While generally safe, transient adverse effects occur, and one large clinical trial noted 7 cases of suicidal ideation. Psychedelics and drug studies continue to explore its therapeutic potential.
Abstract
Background: The primary psychoactive drug in magic mushrooms, psilocybin, induces profound alterations in consciousness through the 5-HT 2A recepto...
Peak Experiences of Psilocybin Users and Non-Users
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – April 01, 2013
Summary
Nearly half (47%) of individuals who use psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, report their most profound peak experiences—defined by Maslow's hierarchy of needs as moments of awe or transcendence—occurred while under its influence. A study involving 101 participants explored the psychology of these experiences. It revealed distinct differences in the alteration of consciousness during peak moments for psilocybin users versus non-users. This work, relevant to Psychedelics and Drug Studies, suggests psilocybin profoundly impacts subjective reality, potentially offering insights into consciousness and well-being, even touching on areas sometimes associated with Paranormal Experiences or Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Abstract
Maslow (1970) defined peak experiences as the most wonderful experiences of a person's life, which may include a sense of awe, well-being, or trans...
Four individuals' experiences during and following a psilocybin truffle retreat in the Netherlands
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – April 16, 2021
Summary
A compelling finding reveals that a high dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin can lead to positive after-effects lasting up to a year. Qualitative research, using deep interpretative analysis of narratives from four healthy individuals at a legal retreat, revealed profound shifts. A central theme was enhanced social connectedness, impacting perception of self and others. This experiential learning offers insights for psychology and developmental psychology, contributing to psychedelics and drug studies. The findings illuminate aspects of social psychology and potential psychotherapeutic relevance, touching upon diverse academic research themes through a social analysis of personal transformation.
Abstract
Abstract This article reports on the experiences of four healthy individuals who attended a legal psilocybin truffle retreat in the Netherlands. Th...
Reviewing the Potential of Psychedelics for the Treatment of PTSD
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – March 12, 2020
Summary
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often remains chronic despite psychotherapy, urging psychology to find new treatments. Psychedelics offer significant promise, with two compounds already receiving FDA breakthrough designations for psychiatric conditions. Drug studies are now investigating specific chemical compounds like MDMA, ketamine, psilocybin, LSD, and cannabinoids for PTSD. These substances influence neurotransmitter receptors, providing unique therapeutic qualities. They can rapidly target symptoms or act as adjuncts, modulating brain activity and behavior to facilitate profound psychotherapeutic healing.
Abstract
Abstract There are few medications with demonstrated efficacy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Treatment guidelines have ...
Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study
Journal of Psychopharmacology – March 01, 2015
Summary
A groundbreaking population study involving 135,095 US adults, including 19,299 users, found no link between hallucinogens like Lysergic acid diethylamide, Psilocybin, or Mescaline and mental health problems. This extensive psychology research showed no increased likelihood of anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts, challenging common assumptions in psychiatry. Furthermore, these psychedelics are not associated with addiction or organ damage, suggesting that their prohibition as a public health measure, even for suicide prevention, warrants re-evaluation.
Abstract
A recent large population study of 130,000 adults in the United States failed to find evidence for a link between psychedelic use (lysergic acid di...
Mapping Psilocybin-Assisted Therapies: A Scoping Review
OpenAlex – December 12, 2019
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, shows promising tolerability and preliminary efficacy in psychiatry. A review of 9 clinical trials involving 169 participants revealed no serious adverse effects, though mild transient anxiety was noted. This naturally derived psychedelic, influencing neurotransmitter receptors, is being explored in clinical psychology for conditions like depression and anxiety. Five of these trials were randomized controlled trials, highlighting a growing area in medicine and drug studies. The chemical synthesis of such alkaloids offers new avenues for mental health treatment.
Abstract
Abstract We conducted a scoping review on psilocybin-assisted therapy for addiction, depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Psiloc...
Psilocybin and eugenol prevent DSS-induced neuroinflammation in mice
Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology – January 25, 2024
Summary
Oral psilocybin, a tryptophan-derived alkaloid, significantly reduced neuroinflammation in a colitis mouse model. Eugenol, a plant compound, also demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects. Both, relevant to pharmacology and medicine, decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6 in the brain. Combined psilocybin and eugenol showed the strongest reduction in IL-6, suggesting potential in drug studies for brain disorders linked to inflammation. These findings illuminate new avenues for targeting neuroinflammation, potentially involving microglia, offering new insights into medicine.
Abstract
Neuroinflammation has emerged as a central pathology common to several acute and chronic brain diseases. Recent studies have displayed the anti-inf...
5-Year Trends in Use of Hallucinogens and Other Adjunct Drugs among UK Dance Drug Users
European Addiction Research – December 18, 2006
Summary
A significant shift in drug use patterns emerged among people in dance contexts. While LSD use declined, a sharp rise in psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, was observed between 2002–2003. Ketamine and other adjunct drugs also showed increasing prevalence from 1999–2003. These trends, vital for Psychedelics and Drug Studies and Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis, highlight evolving drug choices. Understanding their Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior is crucial for psychological intervention and psychiatry, as some hallucinogens like psilocybin are explored as potential medicine.
Abstract
<i>Aims:</i> To describe and assess trends in the use of hallucinogens and other adjunct drugs over a 5-year period. <i>Design:&l...
A pilot study of the effect of group-administered psilocybin on psychological flexibility and outcomes
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – April 05, 2024
Summary
**Psilocybin**, a powerful **hallucinogen**, appears to boost mental **flexibility**, akin to robust adaptability in **engineering**. Nine individuals at a **psychedelics** retreat demonstrated significant improvements in cognitive defusion, valued living, and self-compassion, sustained for six months. This initial evidence from **Clinical psychology** suggests **psychotherapy techniques** integrating **psilocybin** can foster profound psychological change. Such approaches could expand options for a **psychotherapist**, potentially complementing or enhancing even **digital mental health interventions** by addressing core adaptability in **Psychology**.
Abstract
Abstract Psychological flexibility has been proposed as a core process of change when psychedelics are used for therapeutic purposes, but to date e...
Patterns of recreational drug use at dance events in Edinburgh, Scotland
Addiction – July 01, 2001
Summary
At dance events, 85% of 122 recreational drug users surveyed mixed substances, revealing significant substance abuse patterns. Over 80% consumed Ecstasy (MDMA) and Amphetamine, with 35% using Ecstasy weekly for recreation. Hallucinogens like Psilocybin and Lysergic acid diethylamide were also reported. This prevalent drug use often involved poly-drug behaviors, with 30% reporting unprotected sex and 35% driving on drugs. Such findings from Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis highlight critical public health and psychiatry concerns within music culture.
Abstract
Aims . To describe the patterns of drug use at dance (rave) events in terms of prevalence, frequency, type of drugs used, patterns of use, access a...
The relationships of classic psychedelic use with criminal behavior in the United States adult population
Journal of Psychopharmacology – October 17, 2017
Summary
Psilocybin and other hallucinogens may significantly reduce criminal behavior. Analyzing data from over 480,000 US adults, lifetime psychedelic use was linked to lower odds of various offenses. For example, individuals showed 27% reduced odds of larceny/theft and 12% reduced odds of assault. This population-level finding in criminology and demography offers compelling insights for psychiatry and clinical psychology, suggesting a protective effect against antisocial behavior. This medicine perspective, relevant to Psychedelics and Drug Studies, highlights potential for forensic toxicology and drug analysis, considering neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
Criminal behavior exacts a large toll on society and is resistant to intervention. Some evidence suggests classic psychedelics may inhibit criminal...
Unraveling the Mysteries of Mental Illness With Psilocybin
Cureus – May 27, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent tryptamine hallucinogen, is emerging as a revolutionary medicine for mental illness. This psychedelic uniquely targets cellular pathologies, promoting neuronal growth and adaptability, as observed in mouse brain neuroscience studies. Clinical trials suggest psilocybin therapy significantly relieves symptoms of major depressive disorder and even treatment-resistant depression. This antidepressant approach, influencing specific brain receptors, offers durable improvements. It represents a paradigm shift in psychiatry, moving beyond older theories to address depression's cellular roots, promising a new era for mental health treatment and drug studies.
Abstract
Current medications have not been effective in reducing the prevalence of mental illness worldwide. The prevalence of illnesses such as treatment-r...
Effects of psilocybin on functional connectivity measured with fNIRS: Insights from a single-subject pilot study
Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) – January 01, 2019
Summary
Psilocybin dramatically alters brain activity, a finding now detectable with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). In a pilot subject, a 31-year-old man received 17 mg of psilocybin. Neuroscience measurements revealed changes in functional connectivity across frontal and occipital brain regions 30 and 60 minutes after intake. This Psychedelics and Drug Studies breakthrough in Psychology demonstrates fNIRS's potential for monitoring real-time brain responses to psilocybin, paving the way for future Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies and Cognitive psychology investigations.
Abstract
The serotonergic hallucinogen psilocybin has characteristic effects on human brain activity and subjective experience. Previous functional magnetic...
The influence of therapists’ first-hand experience with psychedelics on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy research and therapist training
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – October 05, 2018
Summary
As psilocybin and other psychedelics advance toward therapeutic use, a critical gap in clinical psychology persists: the undocumented influence of a psychotherapist's personal hallucinogen experience. Historical concerns previously halted empirical research. Given the unique nature of these substances—from their chemical synthesis as alkaloids to their neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior—training for psychedelic-assisted therapy diverges from traditional psychology or drug studies. Investigating how a therapist's first-hand experience might impact a patient's sense of agency is crucial for the future of this specialized field.
Abstract
Clinical research on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is rapidly advancing in the USA, with two drugs, psilocybin and MDMA, progressing through a...
Microevidence for microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study of subjective effects, behavior, creativity, perception, cognition, and brain activity
OpenAlex – December 07, 2021
Summary
The perceived benefits of microdosing psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, might largely stem from expectation. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation, 34 individuals received either 0.5g dried *Psilocybe cubensis* or a placebo. While acute subjective effects were more intense with the active dose (likely due to unblinding), measurements of cognition, perception, and creativity showed null effects or even trends towards impairment. This pharmacology research, crucial for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, suggests psychology's role in perceived outcomes, challenging many claims within Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies.
Abstract
Abstract The use of low sub-hallucinogenic doses of psychedelics (“microdosing”) has gained popularity in recent years. Although anecdotal reports ...
Psychedelic-Assisted Group Therapy: A Systematic Review
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – March 15, 2019
Summary
While individual psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy modalities receive much attention, a new review explores the overlooked history of group psychotherapy. Classic hallucinogens like psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide, substances derived from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, were often integrated into group psychotherapy. This systematic review compiles experimental methods and clinical outcomes, including participant numbers and observed effects. Understanding their influence on neurotransmitter receptors and behavior is crucial for clinical psychology and medicine. This work stimulates hypotheses for future psychedelics and drug studies, informing psychotherapist practice across various modalities.
Abstract
Contemporary research with classic psychedelic drugs (e.g., lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin) is indebted to the twentieth-century r...
The “Endless Trip” among the NPS Users: Psychopathology and Psychopharmacology in the Hallucinogen-Persisting Perception Disorder. A Systematic Review
Frontiers in Psychiatry – November 20, 2017
Summary
Hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD), a syndrome causing prolonged visual disturbances reminiscent of acute drug effects, was only established as a formal diagnosis in 2000, despite being described in 1954. This condition, explored through MEDLINE and other databases, is linked to a broad range of substances including Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, mescaline, and MDMA (Ecstasy). Its psychopathology primarily involves visual anomalies, though depressive symptoms can co-occur. Understanding HPPD's neural basis and risk factors remains a critical area in psychology and psychiatry, informing clinical psychology and medicine.
Abstract
Hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD) is a syndrome characterized by prolonged or reoccurring perceptual symptoms, reminiscent of acut...
The Efficacy of Psilocybin in the Treatment of Depression andAnxiety: A Meta-Analysis
Current Psychiatry Research and Reviews – May 16, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin significantly reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety, a new meta-analysis of clinical trials confirms. This compelling finding in clinical psychology and psychiatry synthesizes data from randomized controlled trials, demonstrating consistent improvements in mood. Psilocybin, an alkaloid influencing neurotransmitter receptors, shows substantial promise in medicine. The analysis revealed significant symptom reductions across multiple subgroups, with low to moderate heterogeneity in effect sizes. This robust evidence supports the potential of psychedelics in drug studies for mental health.
Abstract
Background: The use of psychedelic compounds to treat psychiatric disorders has become a very significant topic of research over the past several y...
Indoleamine Hallucinogens in Cluster Headache: Results of the Clusterbusters Medication Use Survey
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – October 20, 2015
Summary
Psilocybin and Lysergic acid diethylamide, potent hallucinogens, are rated highly effective for cluster headache, a debilitating pain syndrome. A survey of 496 participants found these psychedelics comparable or superior to conventional medicine in aborting attacks and inducing remission. Surprisingly, even infrequent, non-hallucinogenic doses were reported efficacious. This offers promising insights for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, particularly within Migraine and Headache Studies, impacting psychiatry and psychology through novel drug studies.
Abstract
Cluster headache is one of the most debilitating pain syndromes. A significant number of patients are refractory to conventional therapies. The Clu...
Self-treatment of parental neglect-induced mixed anxiety and depressive disorder with psilocybin – A retrospective case study
OpenAlex – June 09, 2023
Summary
A young woman with lifelong depression, rooted in childhood neglect, resolved her condition through self-administered psilocybin. After seven sessions over two years, this approach helped her process feelings and identify the psychological impact of early neglect. Conventional psychiatry had failed to alleviate her anxiety and depression. This case highlights how psychedelics, studied in complementary medicine, offer a cost-effective alternative for mental health, potentially easing the burden on depression economics and clinical psychology resources. A psychotherapist later aided integration.
Abstract
This article presents the case of a young woman in her mid-twenties with a history of depression since childhood. She lived with a mother who faile...
Neurobiology of psilocybin: a comprehensive overview and comparative analysis of experimental models
Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience – August 05, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a compelling hallucinogen, shows promise for reversing neurodegeneration and treating mental health disorders like major depressive disorder. Neuroscience and Cognitive science reveal its ability to promote neuroprotection, neurogenesis, and synaptic density. Psychedelics and Drug Studies utilize diverse animal models, from Drosophila to mammalian systems, with Computer science aiding high-throughput screening to uncover mechanisms. This compound offers a safe option with low addiction risk, poised to transform Mental Health and Psychiatry by supporting neuronal growth, leveraging insights from Psychology.
Abstract
Psilocybin, a compound found in Psilocybe mushrooms, is emerging as a promising treatment for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, includin...
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...
Detecting Psychoactive Drugs in the Developmental Stages of Mushrooms
Journal of Forensic Sciences – May 01, 2000
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent psychoactive substance with historical use in traditional medicine, is detectable in mushrooms earlier than commonly thought. Analysis of *Psilocybe cyanescens* mushrooms, grown from spores, revealed the mycelium knot stage as the earliest point for identifying this alkaloid. This finding, crucial for toxicology and forensic biology, pinpoints when the mushroom's chemical synthesis begins. Light also influences development. Such insights advance Psychedelics and Drug Studies, informing both law enforcement and broader pharmacology in medicine.
Abstract
Abstract The following questions regarding the detection of psychoactive drugs in mushrooms are addressed: At what stage of the mushroom developmen...
Ethnoracial health disparities and the ethnopsychopharmacology of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies.
Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology – June 07, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics, used in psychotherapy, offer significant hope for treating psychiatric conditions like PTSD and depression, advancing Clinical psychology and Medicine. Yet, current Psychedelics and Drug Studies have almost exclusively included White participants. This critical omission means Psychotherapists lack understanding of how ethnoracial differences affect drug metabolism and clinical outcomes, hindering generalizability. Expanding research to include diverse populations, particularly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, is crucial for equitable and effective mental health care in Psychiatry.
Abstract
Emerging evidence from randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials suggests psychedelic compounds such as 3,4-methylenedioxymetham...
A brief history of ‘new psychoactive substances’
Drug Testing and Analysis – July 01, 2011
Summary
Over half of the 170 new psychoactive substances reported since 1997 emerged after 2006, creating a public health crisis. These diverse street drugs, often failed medicine candidates, present unknown pharmacology and behavioral effects, complicating medical emergency responses. Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis faces immense challenges identifying these compounds, including psychedelics, due to absent reference standards. Understanding their Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior is vital for psychiatry, but scarce data on these psychoactive substances raises serious concerns about future health impacts.
Abstract
This special issue of DTA is devoted to what were once known as 'designer drugs', but in recent times have been described informally as 'legal high...
Development and psychometric validation of a novel scale for measuring ‘psychedelic preparedness’
OpenAlex – April 28, 2023
Summary
Better psychedelic preparedness predicts improved mental health outcomes. A new 20-item Psychedelic Preparedness Scale (PPS), developed using a Delphi method with experts in clinical psychology and users, measures this crucial factor. Psychometrics, including exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, validated the scale in two samples of 516 and 716 users. It showed excellent reliability (ω = 0.954) and strong convergent and discriminant validity. Administered before a psilocybin retreat (N=46), the PPS demonstrated its utility in Applied Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, indicating how readiness impacts subsequent mental health and wellbeing.
Abstract
Preparing participants for psychedelic experiences is crucial for ensuring these experiences are safe, and potentially, beneficial. However, there ...
Psychedelics and Hallucinogens in Psychiatry: Finding New PharmacologicalTargets
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry – December 02, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin significantly reduced obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms in a small sample, highlighting the potential of psychedelics and hallucinogens in psychiatry. Ayahuasca, Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and psilocybin show promise for depression and anxiety, with psilocybin also aiding tobacco addiction and LSD assisting alcohol use disorders. These substances, explored in drug studies, appear safe. Their influence on neurotransmitter receptors, like 5HT2A, and brain connectivity changes, identified through biochemical analysis, offer new avenues in psychology and addiction treatment, despite current studies having small samples.
Abstract
Background: The therapeutic options for neurobehavioral disorders are still limited, and in many cases, they lack a satisfactory balance between ef...
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...
Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder: A literature review and three case reports
Journal of Addictive Diseases – October 02, 2018
Summary
More than 50% of hallucinogen users may experience persistent perception disorder, a condition often underdiagnosed in Psychiatry and Psychology. This involves visual hallucination. Three cases illustrate types: a 23-year-old developed symptoms after Psilocybin and Cannabis, recurring with natural cannabinoids. Surprisingly, two others developed severe visual impairments after Ecstasy (MDMA), despite it not being a typical hallucinogen. Clinicians in Medicine and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, including Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis, need awareness, relevant to Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.
Abstract
The paper describes diagnostic criteria, clinical presentation and types of hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD), as well as current ...
Ministry of the Mushroom
International Journal for the Study of New Religions – March 23, 2022
Summary
Beyond clinical applications, a compelling trend shows psilocybin mushroom churches emerging, offering unique spiritual pathways. These communities foster "sacred sensemaking," interpreting the hallucinogen psilocybin as a divine sacrament through ritual practices. This sociological shift contrasts with traditional Christian ministry, suggesting a distinct psychological approach to spiritual exploration. It expands psychedelics and drug studies beyond chemical synthesis, hinting at diverse academic research themes, from the aesthetics of ritual to the psychoanalytic depth of personal transformation.
Abstract
Recently there has been a surge of renewed interest in the psychedelic compound psilocybin. In particular, psilocybin is being studied in clinical ...
Psilocybin therapy appears as effective as escitalopram, small study finds
Pharmaceutical journal/The pharmaceutical journal – January 01, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, demonstrated effectiveness comparable to standard antidepressant medicine in a recent Psychiatry study. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, this phase II trial involved 59 participants. Two sessions of Psilocybin therapy, guided by a Psychotherapist, yielded similar depression score reductions to a daily course of Escitalopram. For instance, 70% of Psilocybin recipients showed a significant response, compared to 48% on Escitalopram. This research in Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies suggests a promising alternative for mental health, potentially influencing future treatment approaches.
Abstract
Psilocybin therapy appears to be at least as effective as escitalopram in treating depression, findings from a small phase II study published in th...
Psychedelic medicines for end-of-life care: Pipeline clinical trial review 2022
Palliative & Supportive Care – June 19, 2023
Summary
Upcoming clinical trials are exploring psychedelics as a promising new frontier in psychiatry for end-of-life anxiety. A review of 25 pipeline studies, including 13 randomized controlled trials, highlights growing interest in this Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Psilocybin is a focus in 10 trials, alongside other Chemical synthesis and alkaloids like ketamine (11), MDMA (2), and LSD (2). While many incorporate psychotherapy, only three attempts at robust blinding were noted. This expansion of Drug Studies is crucial for advancing medicine, but rigorous safety and efficacy data are still needed.
Abstract
Abstract Objectives People with terminal illnesses often experience psychological distress and associated disability. Recent clinical trial evidenc...
Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression: a randomized placebo-controlled trial
Psychological Medicine – June 15, 2018
Summary
Ayahuasca shows powerful antidepressant effects for treatment-resistant depression. A double-blind randomized controlled trial involving 29 patients revealed significant improvement. Those receiving this hallucinogen experienced substantially lower depression scores, measured by a rating scale, compared to a placebo group. By day seven, the antidepressant effect size was very large (Cohen's d = 1.49), with 64% responding to Ayahuasca versus 27% to placebo. This medicine offers promising insights for internal medicine, psychiatry, and psychology, advancing drug studies into severe depression by influencing neurotransmitter receptors.
Abstract
Abstract Background Recent open-label trials show that psychedelics, such as ayahuasca, hold promise as fast-onset antidepressants in treatment-res...
Designer Drugs 2.0
Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics – January 13, 2017
Summary
Synthetic cannabinoids, potent Designer drugs, demonstrate significantly higher potency at Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists than natural compounds. This Neuropharmacology highlights novel psychoactive substances' dual nature and Medicine Repurposing, including Psilocybin and the Hallucinogen Lysergic acid diethylamide. Despite therapeutic promise for Psychology, illicit use, Psychosis, and Forensic Toxicology challenges remain critical for these drugs. This complex Pharmacology field, explored in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, addresses these issues.
Abstract
This “Designer Drugs 2.0” issue of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics focuses on novel psychoactive substances, primarily cannabinoids and ca...
Use of Selective Alternative Therapies for Treatment of OCD
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment – April 01, 2023
Summary
A compelling 40% of individuals with Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders don't respond to existing medicine. A systematic review of 16 observational studies, from sources like Cochrane Library and MEDLINE, explored alternative drug options. Examining Psilocybin (4 studies), Cannabis (7 studies), Nicotine (3 studies), and Morphine (2 studies), positive effects were reported by all Psilocybin and morphine users, 88.2% of nicotine users, and 74.1% of Cannabis users. Tolerability was generally good, though some experienced worsening symptoms. This offers promising avenues for Psychiatry, Internal medicine, and Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
About 40% of the people with the obsessive-compulsive-disorder do not experience the desired outcome after the existing treatment, and its several ...
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...