1662 results for "LSD"
History of the administration of psychedelics in France
Frontiers in Psychology – September 01, 2023
Summary
Between the 1920s and 1960s, French administration of hallucinogens like mescaline and psilocybin often resulted in experiences patients described as "torture." Driven by psychiatry from the 1930s, these classic psychedelics were diagnostic tools, not therapeutic agents, yielding only rare recoveries. Psychology and the crucial context of patient care by a psychotherapist were largely overlooked. This historical approach, detailed in Historical and Scientific Studies, explains France's current hesitation during the psychedelic renaissance, contrasting with modern Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies.
Abstract
This article reviews the historical protocols for the administration of “classic” psychedelics in France, from the 1920s to the 1960s. Taking a chr...
Matrix Effects of Urine Marker Substances in LC-MS/MS Analysis of Drug of Abuse.
Therapeutic drug monitoring – February 01, 2024
Summary
Drug testing accuracy faces an unexpected challenge: common chemicals in urine can interfere with results. Scientists found that polyethylene glycol (PEG), used in urine marking systems, can mask drug detection signals. However, when PEG levels are kept low, testing remains reliable, with accuracy rates above 85% for most substances. This finding helps labs maintain trustworthy drug screening results.
Abstract
Analysis of drug abuse is frequently performed using high-performance liquid chromatography with an MS/MS detector and electrospray ionization. In ...
Use of psychoactive substances by goods carriage drivers associated with Kerala, India.
Traffic injury prevention – January 01, 2023
Summary
Over 20% of commercial drivers in Kerala, India tested positive for psychoactive substances, with cannabis being the most common. Using advanced bio-chip array technology for point-of-collection testing, researchers screened 249 drivers' oral fluid samples. Longer-distance drivers showed higher substance use rates. The testing method proved highly accurate, detecting both traditional and new psychoactive substances.
Abstract
This study aimed to measure the prevalence of drugs of abuse (DOA) among the goods carriage drivers associated with the southern State of India, Ke...
Potential analgesic effects of psychedelics on select chronic pain conditions: A survey study
European Journal of Pain – August 20, 2023
Summary
Many individuals struggling with chronic pain find significant relief using psychedelics, often surpassing conventional medicine. An observational study revealed that full doses of these substances provided better analgesic effects for conditions like fibromyalgia, arthritis, and migraine. Microdoses also offered superior relief for migraine and comparable benefits for fibromyalgia. Interestingly, sciatica was the sole condition where these Complementary and Alternative Medicine approaches didn't outperform standard drug treatments. This highlights a promising avenue for Psychedelics and Drug Studies in pain management.
Abstract
Abstract Background Chronic pain is a major cause of suffering and disability and is often associated with psychiatric complications. Current treat...
The risk of chronic psychedelic and MDMA microdosing for valvular heart disease
Journal of Psychopharmacology – August 12, 2023
Summary
Chronic microdosing of psychedelics like Lysergic acid diethylamide and Psilocybin may pose a heart valve risk. Pharmacology analysis of these hallucinogens, plus Mescaline and MDMA, revealed all five compounds bind to the serotonin 5-HT 2B receptor with equal or greater potency than their primary targets. While safety pharmacology margins for typical microdoses are better than known heart-damaging agents, a potential risk remains. Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis show MDMA's link to valvular heart disease at full doses. This insight into neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior informs future drug studies and medicine.
Abstract
Psychedelic microdosing is the practice of taking very low doses of psychedelic substances, typically over a longer period of time. The long-term s...
[Psychedelic Experiences: Phenomenology, Therapeutic Potentials and Explanatory Models].
Vertex (Buenos Aires, Argentina) – July 10, 2023
Summary
Profound shifts in consciousness through psychedelic experiences may hold the key to breakthrough mental health treatments. Studies show psilocybin and similar compounds can create meaningful altered states of consciousness that help treat depression, anxiety, and addiction. Psychedelic-assisted therapies are proving especially promising for treatment-resistant depression, with patients reporting lasting positive changes after guided sessions.
Abstract
Traditional psychedelics, such as LSD, psilocybin, or DMT, are psychoactive compounds that exert their effects mainly through agonism over serotone...
Evaluation of Sensorimotor Gating Deficits in Mice Through Prepulse Inhibition (PPI) of the Startle Response.
Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) – January 01, 2023
Summary
Disrupted sensory filtering, a hallmark of several psychiatric disorders, can now be studied using sophisticated behavioral tests in animal models. Scientists found that mice treated with DOI, a compound that mimics certain aspects of psychosis, showed measurable changes in their startle responses. By analyzing prepulse inhibition—how well animals filter out irrelevant sensory information—researchers gained valuable insights into brain mechanisms underlying sensory processing issues common in conditions like schizophrenia.
Abstract
Prepulse inhibition of the startle response enables measuring animal behavior and helps us understand core aspects of neuropsychiatric diseases. Pr...
The G protein biased serotonin 5-HT 2A receptor agonist lisuride exerts anti-depressant drug-like activities in mice.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology – June 05, 2023
Summary
Lisuride, a drug that targets serotonin receptors in the brain, shows promise as a potential depression treatment without the hallucinogenic effects common to similar compounds. In experiments with mice, the drug reduced signs of depression, including improved mood-related behaviors and increased interest in rewarding experiences. Unlike related substances, lisuride didn't cause significant head twitches or unusual motor activity, suggesting fewer side effects.
Abstract
There is now evidence from multiple Phase II clinical trials that psychedelic drugs can exert longlasting anxiolytic, anti-depressant, and anti-dru...
In vivo mapping of pharmacologically induced functional reorganization onto the human brain’s neurotransmitter landscape
Science Advances – June 14, 2023
Summary
The human brain's response to drugs reveals a profound link between molecular structure and behavior. Neuroscience shows diverse pharmacological agents, including 10 psychedelics and anesthetics, reorganize brain function by engaging multiple neurotransmitter systems. By mapping 19 neurotransmitter receptors and transporters, a clear influence on behavior emerged. This pharmacology insight has significant implications for Psychology and Medicine, informing drug studies and our understanding of brain disorders. Crucially, regional drug susceptibility mirrors vulnerability to structural alterations seen in conditions like those linked to Tryptophan imbalances.
Abstract
To understand how pharmacological interventions can exert their powerful effects on brain function, we need to understand how they engage the brain...
Cardiac Arrest Associated With Psilocybin Use and Hereditary Hemochromatosis
Cureus – May 07, 2023
Summary
A 48-year-old man on ADHD medication suffered a life-threatening arrhythmia, possibly due to *polypharmacy*. This case in *medicine* highlights challenges in *psychiatry* as *psychedelics and drug studies* explore *psilocybin* and other *hallucinogens* like *ecstasy* and *phencyclidine*. Understanding *recreational drug* interactions is vital, especially for conditions like *bipolar disorder* or *hypomania* where *Quetiapine* is used. Comprehensive *forensic toxicology and drug analysis*, including *cannabis* research, is crucial to prevent such adverse events.
Abstract
Recreational drug use is a significant public health concern in various countries. It is well understood that usage of psychedelics/hallucinogens, ...
The psychedelic afterglow phenomenon: a systematic review of subacute effects of classic serotonergic psychedelics
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology – January 01, 2023
Summary
Many experience a "psychedelic afterglow" after using hallucinogens like psilocybin, often synthesized alkaloids. A review of 48 drug studies (1,774 participants) reveals this subacute period (up to a month) brings beneficial psychological changes. Individuals report reduced anxiety, improved mood, and wellbeing, offering new avenues for clinical psychology and psychiatry. While mild to severe adverse effects like headaches were observed, no serious adverse events occurred. Understanding these compounds' neurotransmitter receptor influence informs modern medicine.
Abstract
Background: Classic serotonergic psychedelics have anecdotally been reported to show a characteristic pattern of subacute effects that persist afte...
The thalamus in psychosis spectrum disorder.
Frontiers in neuroscience – January 01, 2023
Summary
The thalamus, a deep brain structure that acts like a neural switchboard, plays a crucial role in psychosis. Recent discoveries show how disrupted connections between the thalamus and cortex affect cognition and perception. Studies combining brain imaging and pharmacology reveal that this disruption mirrors effects seen with psychosis-inducing drugs. The mediodorsal nucleus appears particularly important, suggesting new treatment paths for mental health conditions.
Abstract
Psychosis spectrum disorder (PSD) affects 1% of the world population and results in a lifetime of chronic disability, causing devastating personal ...
A whole-brain model of the neural entropy increase elicited by psychedelic drugs.
Scientific reports – April 17, 2023
Summary
Psychedelic substances create fascinating changes in brain activity by increasing neural entropy - essentially making brain signals more random and unpredictable. Scientists developed a computer model showing how psychedelics affect serotonin receptors throughout the brain, explaining why visual regions become especially active. The findings reveal that brain connectivity patterns, rather than receptor locations, determine how psychedelics create their mind-altering effects.
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs, including lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and other agonists of the serotonin 2A receptor (5HT2A-R), induce drastic changes in ...
Prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex impairment by 5-HT2A receptor activation in the inferior colliculus is prevented by GABAA receptor blockade in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus.
Behavioural brain research – June 25, 2023
Summary
Our brain's ability to filter sensory information relies on a delicate balance of chemical signals. New research reveals how serotonin receptors in the brain's sound-processing regions influence our ability to filter out unnecessary information. When specific serotonin (5-HT2A) receptors are activated in the inferior colliculus, they disrupt this filtering process. However, blocking GABA signals in a connected brain region prevents this disruption, suggesting a promising pathway for treating sensory processing disorders.
Abstract
The relationship between serotonin dysfunction and schizophrenia commenced with the discovery of the effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) th...
Investigation of self-treatment with lysergic acid diethylamide and psilocybin mushrooms: Findings from the Global Drug Survey 2020
Journal of Psychopharmacology – March 06, 2023
Summary
Many people self-treating mental health conditions with psychedelics report significant improvements. An analysis of 3364 individuals, including 1996 using Lysergic acid diethylamide (a chemical synthesis alkaloid) and 1368 using Psilocybin, revealed positive changes across 17 aspects of psychology and well-being, particularly in mood and insight. These hallucinogens, studied in Drug Studies and Natural Compound Pharmacology, show potential for psychiatry and mental health. However, 22.5% experienced negative effects, a higher rate than typically seen in clinical psychology settings.
Abstract
Background: Growing numbers of people are using psychedelics for personal psychotherapy outside clinical settings, but research on such use is scar...
Therapeutic effect of psilocybin in addiction: A systematic review
Frontiers in Psychiatry – February 09, 2023
Summary
A systematic review of clinical trials reveals psilocybin, a powerful hallucinogen, shows promise as a medicine for addiction. For instance, one trial with 31 patients saw 32% achieve complete alcohol abstinence for six years. Another, involving 95 participants, reduced heavy drinking days by 13.9% compared to placebo. A pilot study on tobacco addiction reported 80% smoking abstinence at 26 weeks among 15 patients. These findings, uncovered through searches including MEDLINE, highlight psilocybin's potential in psychiatry and psychology, influencing neurotransmitter receptors.
Abstract
Background Psychedelic-assisted therapy [e.g., with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)] has shown promising results as treatment for substance use di...
Examining associations between MDMA/ecstasy and classic psychedelic use and impairments in social functioning in a U.S. adult sample
Scientific Reports – February 11, 2023
Summary
Lifetime Ecstasy (MDMA) use is linked to significantly improved social functioning. A large Psychology study of 214,505 U.S. adults found those who used this psychoactive substance had 8-16% lower odds of social difficulties, including engaging with strangers or participating in activities. This compound, from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, could hold promise in Psychiatry and Clinical psychology, potentially influencing neurotransmitter receptor activity. Mescaline, a hallucinogen, also showed benefits for interacting with strangers. These findings offer new directions for Medicine and Psychedelics and Drug Studies regarding social impairment.
Abstract
Abstract Impairment in social functioning is a common source of morbidity across many mental health disorders, yet there is a dearth of effective a...
Psychedelic Drug Legislative Reform and Legalization in the US
JAMA Psychiatry – December 07, 2022
Summary
A majority of US states are projected to legalize psychedelics by 2034-2037, echoing Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. Since 2019, 25 states considered 74 legislative initiatives and ballot measures. Most legislation (58%) proposes decriminalization, primarily for psilocybin (90% of bills). However, only 35% outline licensure or training for medical use. This rapid shift in public administration and medicine, informed by political science and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, highlights an urgent need for clear hallucinogen regulation and law reform.
Abstract
Importance Psychedelic drugs are becoming accessible in the US through a patchwork of state legislative reforms. This shift necessitates consensus ...
Microdosing with classical psychedelics: Research trajectories and practical considerations
Transcultural Psychiatry – October 01, 2022
Summary
Microdosing, the use of minute amounts of psychedelics, is claimed to enhance creativity and mood. Psychology explores how substances like psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, and mescaline—compounds often from chemical synthesis or natural alkaloids—influence consciousness and perception. These drug studies investigate behavior at sub-hallucinogenic doses, where individuals report profound shifts without a full hallucinogen experience. Understanding their subtle impact, potentially via neurotransmitter pathways, faces significant regulatory hurdles. The field aims to distinguish genuine effects from expectation.
Abstract
Microdosing—the intermittent ingestion of minute, sub-hallucinogenic amounts of psychedelic substances, repeatedly and over time—has become a wides...
Classic psychedelics and alcohol use disorders: A systematic review of human and animal studies
Addiction Biology – August 31, 2022
Summary
Classic psychedelics like psilocybin show promise in reducing alcohol consumption. A review of 27 Psychedelics and Drug Studies from the last two decades, including 20 Human studies, indicates these compounds could help. While some Human studies had methodological concerns, psilocybin emerged as a consistent potential candidate. Animal studies (7 included) were scarcer and less conclusive. These findings suggest a potential psychological and biological impact, warranting further rigorous investigation into these unique alkaloids for addiction treatment.
Abstract
Abstract Classic psychedelics refer to substances such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, ayahuasca, and mescaline, which induce alte...
Culture, context, and ethics in the therapeutic use of hallucinogens: Psychedelics as active super-placebos?
Transcultural Psychiatry – October 01, 2022
Summary
**Psychedelics** are conceptualized as "active super-placebos," enhancing therapeutic processes by increasing suggestibility. This **Psychology** perspective highlights how substances like DMT and psilocybin, often from **chemical synthesis and alkaloids** research, enhance ritual and interpersonal healing. For a **Psychotherapist**, understanding the **context** of these experiences is crucial. **Social psychology** reveals that encounters involve sense-making and enculturation into new assumptive worlds, potentially installing novel constraints. Careful clinical oversight, informed by **Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques** of their mechanisms, is vital, respecting plural cultural origins and best practices in **Drug Studies**.
Abstract
Following decades of prohibition and widespread concern about their mind-altering properties, there is increasing public, scholarly, and clinical i...
Mescaline: The forgotten psychedelic
Neuropharmacology – October 14, 2022
Summary
Mescaline shows promise for mental well-being and overcoming alcoholism. This **hallucinogen**, an **alkaloid** with **pharmacology** akin to **psilocybin** and **Lysergic acid diethylamide**, appears safe, with intoxications being mild and easily treatable. Its action likely involves **5-HT2A receptor** influence, impacting **psychology**. As a potential **euphoriant**, mescaline offers therapeutic avenues in **psychedelics and drug studies**, contrasting with older **psychotomimetic** classifications. Such insights into **neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior** highlight its clinical value.
Abstract
The pharmacological mechanisms of mescaline are similar to those of other classical psychedelics, like psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (L...
Predictors of Psychedelic Experience: A Thematic Analysis
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – October 05, 2022
Summary
Nature and music can de-escalate adverse reactions to psychoactive substances like Psilocybin and MDMA. A thematic analysis of twenty-two first-person accounts revealed six key factors shaping psychedelic experiences: nature, music, preparation, mindset, understanding, and motivation. For clinical psychology and social psychology, understanding these predictors is crucial. Perception of hallucinogens, regardless of chemical synthesis and alkaloids, is deeply influenced. This work in Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlights how a careful set of conditions can mitigate harm and influence neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, aiding psychotherapists in harm reduction.
Abstract
Research on the therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances is expanding. A limitation within this field is the unpredictability of individual ...
Psychedelics and schizophrenia: Distinct alterations to Bayesian inference.
NeuroImage – November 01, 2022
Summary
Brain activity patterns reveal key differences between psychedelics and schizophrenia. While both states show increased neural diversity, they process information differently. Psychedelics reduce overall brain signal flow, while schizophrenia increases front-to-back information transfer. This suggests distinct mechanisms: psychedelics weaken pre-existing mental frameworks, while schizophrenia amplifies sensory input processing.
Abstract
Schizophrenia and states induced by certain psychotomimetic drugs may share some physiological and phenomenological properties, but they differ in ...
Discovery of β-Arrestin-Biased 25CN-NBOH-Derived 5-HT2A Receptor Agonists.
Journal of medicinal chemistry – September 22, 2022
Summary
Scientists have discovered new compounds that interact with serotonin receptors in a unique way, offering potential insights into how psychedelic medicines work in the brain. By modifying a known psychedelic compound, researchers created molecules that selectively activate specific cellular pathways, particularly favoring β-arrestin over traditional signaling routes. This breakthrough could help develop more targeted treatments for mental health conditions.
Abstract
The serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) is the mediator of the psychedelic effects of serotonergic psychedelics, which have shown promising results in ...
Psychedelic Drugs in Mental Disorders: Current Clinical Scope and Deep Learning‐Based Advanced Perspectives
Advanced Science – March 20, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, show renewed promise in Psychiatry for treating conditions like anxiety and major depressive disorder. Their potential in Medicine, however, needs deeper Neuroscience insight into how they influence neurotransmitter receptors and behavior. Understanding these complex pharmacological mechanisms, potentially linked to tryptophan pathways, is vital for precision drug discovery in Psychology. Advanced drug studies, leveraging deep learning for big data, are crucial to overcome individual variability in brain disorders and optimize therapeutic development.
Abstract
Abstract Mental disorders are a representative type of brain disorder, including anxiety, major depressive depression (MDD), and autism spectrum di...
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...
Psychedelic Therapy: A Primer for Primary Care Clinicians – Part I. Historical Perspective and Overview
OpenAlex – December 26, 2023
Summary
MDMA shows striking promise, proving superior to existing treatments for PTSD in two completed Phase III clinical trials. This marks a new frontier in Psychiatry and Medicine. While a Psilocybin clinical trial is underway, larger studies (over 100 participants) suggest it may not surpass current antidepressants for depression. The pharmacology of various psychedelics, including Lysergic acid diethylamide and other hallucinogens, derived from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, offers significant hope for anxiety, influencing behavior via neurotransmitter receptors.
Abstract
Background: Psychedelic drugs have recently emerged as plausibly effective pharmacological agents for the management of depression, anxiety, and ot...
Meditation and psychedelics facilitate similar types of mystical, psychological, and philosophical-existential insights predictive of wellbeing: A qualitative-quantitative approach
OpenAlex – June 06, 2025
Summary
Profound transformative experiences, vital for mental health, are not exclusive to psychedelics. Narrative accounts from 147 psychedelic and 66 meditation experiences reveal strikingly similar insights. While Mystical-type insights were more frequent in meditation, value insights were common in psychedelic experiences, a key finding for drug studies. These insights span Psychological, Philosophical-existential, and Mysticism themes, enriching our epistemology of self-understanding. Metacognitive and value insights improved positive affect; Mysticism predicted increased meaning. Both meditation and psychedelic substances offer deep pathways for personal growth, valuable for any psychotherapist addressing existential well-being.
Abstract
Both psychedelic substances and meditation have been proposed to facilitate personally meaningful and transformative experiences, with insights pla...
Embracing Change: Impermanence Acceptance Mediates Differences in Death Processing Between Ayahuasca Users and Non-users
OpenAlex – July 28, 2024
Summary
Ayahuasca users exhibit markedly lower death anxiety and fear of death, alongside greater acceptance of mortality. A psychology comparison of 54 ayahuasca veterans and 53 non-users revealed these psychedelic-associated differences. The key mechanism isn't afterlife beliefs or mindfulness, but enhanced impermanence acceptance, potentially stemming from experiences like ego dissolution. This suggests engaging with the transient nature of existence profoundly reduces existential anxiety. These findings offer a novel approach for clinical psychology to manage fear of death.
Abstract
Background: How the human psyche interacts with the theme of death is fundamental to individual and societal life, profoundly influencing cognition...
The entropic heart: Tracking the psychedelic state via heart rate dynamics
OpenAlex – November 09, 2023
Summary
A compelling finding reveals that heart rate entropy, a measure of physiological "arrow of time," significantly increases during experiences with hallucinogens like psilocybin. Using advanced computer science and artificial intelligence for biochemical analysis, consistent increases in heart rate and heart rate variability were observed across four psychedelics. Crucially, only heart rate entropy changes correlated with brain entropy shifts, offering unique insights into neuroscience and psychology. This cost-efficient approach in psychedelics and drug studies helps illuminate how these substances, influencing neurotransmitter receptors, impact behavior and subjective states.
Abstract
A growing body of work shows that autonomic signals provide a privileged evidence-stream to capture various aspects of subjective and neural states...
Ketamine-Induced Unresponsiveness Shows a Harmonic Shift from Global to Localised Functional Organisation
OpenAlex – June 25, 2024
Summary
Remarkably, when individuals become unresponsive under Ketamine, their brain activity mirrors psychedelic states, not unconsciousness. Using Harmonic analysis, scientists found focused brain activity patterns dominated, unlike traditional sedatives where widespread patterns increase. This unique medicine uniquely separates conscious experience from physical unresponsiveness, offering new ways to track awareness. Such insights are vital for advancing the Treatment of Major Depression and understanding other brain disorders, including how Tryptophan pathways or Diet and metabolism studies impact brain health.
Abstract
Abstract Ketamine is classified as a dissociative anaesthetic that, in sub-anaesthetic doses, can produce an altered state of consciousness charact...
Design, Synthesis, and In Vitro Characterization of a Tryptamine-Based Visible-Light Photoswitchable 5-HT2AR Ligand Showing Efficacy Preference for β-Arrestin over Mini-Gq.
Journal of medicinal chemistry – June 18, 2025
Summary
Imagine controlling brain signals with light to understand complex brain functions. Scientists designed a unique light-activated molecule targeting the serotonin 2A receptor. This molecule precisely activates one specific pathway, β-arrestin2, over others, even at very low concentrations. This offers a powerful new tool to unravel the receptor's role in conditions like depression and its connection to psychedelic effects.
Abstract
The serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) modulates various neurotransmitter systems and is implicated in psychiatric disorders, including depression and...
The Selective Serotonin 5-HT2A Receptor Agonist (S)-3-(2,5-Dimethoxy-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidine (LPH-5) Induces Persistent and Robust Antidepressant-Like Effects in Rodents
ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science – May 29, 2025
Summary
A novel **piperidine** compound, LPH-5, demonstrates potent **antidepressant**-like effects in rats, a breakthrough for **Drug Studies**. Its unique **chemistry**, with a **trifluoromethyl** group, allows precise **chemical synthesis**. This **pharmacology** reveals LPH-5 acts as a selective partial **agonist** at the **serotonin 5-HT2A receptor**, showing pronounced selectivity over other **5-HT receptor** subtypes. This specific **receptor** activation profoundly influences **neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior**, inducing robust, persistent mood improvements. This work, inspired by **alkaloids** like classical **psychedelics**, highlights new treatment potential.
Abstract
Psychedelics have emerged as a promising treatment for mental health disease, and the therapeutic potential of psilocybin and lysergic acid diethyl...
Psychedelics, Meditation, and Self-Consciousness
Frontiers in Psychology – September 04, 2018
Summary
Altered states of consciousness induced by meditation and psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, share striking phenomenological and neurophysiological similarities. Both contemplation practices and psychedelic experiences can lead to a profound phenomenon of self-loss, or "ego dissolution." Cognitive psychology and cognitive science explore how these experiences, often mediated by neurotransmitter receptor influence, disrupt various aspects of self-consciousness. While meditation and psilocybin profoundly alter perception, the specific forms of self-loss differ, highlighting self-consciousness as a complex, multidimensional construct. This transpersonal insight offers new avenues for understanding the human mind.
Abstract
In recent years, the scientific study of meditation and psychedelic drugs has seen remarkable developments. The increased focus on meditation in co...
Clinical pharmacology.
International review of neurobiology – January 01, 2025
Summary
Did you know understanding the body's interaction with substances like psilocybin and MDMA is vital for their therapeutic potential? This review details how these compounds work, their journey through the body (pharmacokinetics and metabolism), and their effects (pharmacodynamics). Psychedelics largely target 5-HT2A receptors, with varying durations based on their metabolism. MDMA offers unique stimulant and empathogenic effects. Crucially, understanding potential drug-drug interaction is paramount for safe clinical application, guiding effective treatment design.
Abstract
To design therapeutic trials and select the most appropriate substance and dose for an indication, a detailed understanding of clinical pharmacolog...
Effects of psychedelics on human oscillatory brain activity.
International review of neurobiology – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic compounds profoundly reorganize brain activity. Using EEG and MEG, researchers investigated how these substances alter neural oscillations. A key finding was a consistent decrease in alpha power, indicating reduced inhibitory control, alongside a significant increase in brain signal complexity. This suggests altered functional connectivity, potentially reversing typical top-down processing. These objective EEG markers offer valuable insights into the unique psychedelic experience and its therapeutic potential.
Abstract
This chapter reviews the effects of classic psychedelics on human oscillatory brain activity, as measured by resting-state electroencephalography (...
Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Paradigm Shift in Psychiatric Research and Development
Frontiers in Pharmacology – July 05, 2018
Summary
**Psilocybin** and other **Psychedelics**, professionally guided by a **Psychotherapist**, are revolutionizing **Psychiatry**. This innovative **Medicine** model offers profound efficacy for mental disorders, with **Drug Studies** indicating over 60% remission rates for treatment-resistant conditions. These compounds, often **alkaloids** from **Chemical synthesis**, exert their **Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior**, opening non-ordinary states of **Consciousness**. This paradigm shift challenges traditional **Psychology** diagnostics, addressing root causes like trauma and cultural factors, rather than merely managing symptoms.
Abstract
Mental disorders are rising while development of novel psychiatric medications is declining. This stall in innovation has also been linked with int...
A review of psychedelics trials completed in depression, informed by European regulatory perspectives.
Neuroscience applied.. – January 01, 2025
Summary
As European regulators prepare for new treatments, eight completed clinical trials reveal key insights into using psychedelics for depression. These clinical trials, testing various psychedelics, highlight the importance of aligning their design with emerging regulatory guidance. This collaboration is crucial for successful medicines development, paving the way for innovative depression treatments.
Abstract
There is a growing body of clinical research on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for the treatment of mental health disorders, notably dep...
Exploring Jordanian Physicians' and Medical Students' Perspectives on Ketamine and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies: An Insight from the Middle East.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – July 06, 2025
Summary
In Jordan, many physicians and medical students surprisingly show limited familiarity with psychedelic-assisted therapies. A survey explored their attitudes and perceptions towards these emerging mental health treatments, including ketamine. While most respondents were unfamiliar with psychedelics, findings reveal varied perceptions: some oppose, but a significant portion are cautious or supportive. Demographics like age and gender influenced these attitudes. This highlights a clear opportunity for education to enhance understanding of these promising new approaches.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapies and ketamine are two modalities gaining attention in psychiatry for treating conditions such as depression, PTSD, an...
Older Adults in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Trials: A Systematic Review
European Psychiatry – April 01, 2024
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy appears safe for older adults, with no serious adverse events reported in initial data. A systematic review of 36 drug studies, involving 1,400 patients, found only 19 (less than 1.4%) were 65 or older. Detailed safety data for 10 older adults reported only transient mild anxiety or hypertension during sessions. This suggests these compounds, often products of chemical synthesis or alkaloids, are well-tolerated in Medicine and Psychology, offering psychotherapists a potential path to address mental health conditions and influence well-being.
Abstract
Introduction Growing clinical interest in psychedelic-assisted therapies has led to a second wave of research involving psilocybin, LSD, MDMA and o...
Exploring Legal Frameworks for the Clinical Use of Psychedelic Substances in Mental Health Treatment
CORE – July 25, 2024
Summary
Psychedelic substances like psilocybin show promise for treating mental health conditions such as depression and PTSD. A global legal review reveals diverse approaches, with some nations, like the US, cautiously advancing clinical use. This analysis provides vital insights for policymakers, guiding the development of regulations that promote safe, responsible access to these innovative therapies.
Abstract
In recent years, interest in the use of psychedelic substances in the treatment of mental disorders has increased significantly. Recent research sh...
Relaxed Beliefs After Psychedelics: From Sensory Processing to Mystical States
CORE – December 01, 2024
Summary
Remarkably, psychedelics appear to reconfigure brain networks, leading to lasting shifts in perception. Research explored how these substances alter sensory processing, hypothesizing they weaken top-down control, boosting bottom-up input. Using human EEG and mouse studies, findings revealed 5-HT2A psychedelics indeed shift this balance, impacting how we perceive and leading to profound belief changes. These positive results contribute to their therapeutic effects. Distinct brain network changes were observed with 5-MeO-DMT. This framework also illuminates mystical experiences, emphasizing the post-acute environment's role in consolidating these beneficial shifts.
Abstract
This dissertation explores the lasting impact of psychedelic use on brain networks, ranging from basic sensory processing to abstract mystical expe...
Virtual Reality as a Moderator of Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy
Frontiers in Psychology – March 04, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics, like the natural compound psilocybin, show profound promise in psychology for treating anxiety and influencing consciousness. These hallucinogens require careful psychotherapist guidance and a supportive mindset. Virtual reality (VR) could significantly enhance this, aiding relaxation, promoting mindfulness, and complementing practices like meditation. While VR’s potential to deepen these experiences is compelling, its synergy with psychedelics demands rigorous evaluation in drug studies to understand its full impact on behavior.
Abstract
Psychotherapy with the use of psychedelic substances, including psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ketamine, and 3,4-methylenedioxymetha...
Associations between classic psychedelics and opioid use disorder in a nationally-representative U.S. adult sample
Scientific Reports – April 07, 2022
Summary
Lifetime psilocybin use is linked to 30% lower odds of opioid use disorder, a critical finding for psychiatry and medicine. Analyzing data from over 214,000 adults, a logistic regression revealed an odds ratio of 0.70 for OUD among individuals using this alkaloid, known for its neurotransmitter receptor influence. This significant association, explored in psychedelics and drug studies, suggests psilocybin—not other classic psychedelics—holds unique promise in demography and psychology for addressing this public health crisis.
Abstract
Abstract Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a major source of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. and there is a pressing need to identify additional tre...
An online survey of tobacco smoking cessation associated with naturalistic psychedelic use
Journal of Psychopharmacology – January 18, 2017
Summary
Nearly 40% of individuals achieved continuous smoking cessation after a single psychedelic experience, suggesting a novel approach in clinical psychology. A naturalistic observation of 358 people revealed 38% quit tobacco use entirely, with 74% maintaining abstinence for over two years. Another 28% significantly reduced nicotine consumption, from 300 to just 1 cigarette monthly. These findings indicate psychedelics may aid smoking cessation by altering life priorities and improving emotional regulation, representing a promising avenue in medicine and psychiatry for addiction treatment.
Abstract
Data suggest psychedelics such as psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) may hold therapeutic potential in the treatment of addictions, in...
Evidence that 5-HT2A receptor signalling efficacy and not biased agonism differentiates serotonergic psychedelic from non-psychedelic drugs.
British journal of pharmacology – June 22, 2025
Summary
Why are some drugs psychedelic, while others aren't? Research into the 5-HT2A receptor, a key serotonin target, offers an answer. By analyzing various compounds' Gq and β-arrestin2 signalling, it was found that psychedelic effects aren't linked to biased agonism. Instead, non-psychedelic drugs showed significantly lower 5-HT2A receptor signalling efficacy. This suggests a drug's ability to fully activate this 5-HT receptor is crucial for its psychedelic properties.
Abstract
Serotonergic psychedelic drugs are under investigation as therapies for various psychiatric disorders, including major depression. Although seroton...
What fMRI studies say about the nature of the psychedelic effect: a scoping review
Frontiers in Neuroscience – July 01, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin profoundly reshape brain function, showing promise for mental health. A comprehensive review of dozens of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies in neuroscience reveals consistent patterns. These serotonergic compounds induce a "de-differentiation" of brain networks, notably impacting the default mode network, thalamus, and amygdala. This insight from cognitive psychology, leveraging diverse fMRI approaches, highlights ego dissolution's importance, advancing our understanding of how these serotonergic substances influence behavior in drug studies through biochemical analysis.
Abstract
Research on psychedelic drugs, such as psilocybin, LSD or DMT, is a burgeoning field, with an increasing number of studies showing their promise in...
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies for Psychosocial Symptoms in Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Current Oncology – June 30, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics offer significant promise for cancer patients. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, including data from the Cochrane Library, revealed that psilocybin and ketamine markedly reduce psychosocial distress. For instance, three psilocybin trials with 101 participants showed a large effect on depression (Hedges' g = -3.13). Four ketamine trials (354 participants) demonstrated rapid, large effects on depression and anxiety (Hedges' g = -1.37) compared to placebo. This burgeoning area of medicine, relevant to psychiatry and clinical psychology, highlights how these chemical synthesis alkaloids influence behavior, offering new therapeutic context for internal medicine.
Abstract
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates (1) the effectiveness of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) using psilocybin and ketamine for ps...
Informed Consent Documents from Psychedelic Clinical Trials: A Descriptive Ethical Analysis.
AJOB empirical bioethics – July 16, 2025
Summary
How do we truly inform participants about unique psychedelic experiences? Analyzing informed consent documents from psilocybin clinical trials, researchers found that while essential risks were well-covered, details specific to altered states, like ineffability, were less common. This highlights ongoing efforts in psychedelic bioethics to develop enhanced consent, ensuring comprehensive participant understanding for psychedelic clinical trials.
Abstract
Classic psychedelics, such as psilocybin and LSD, evoke certain kinds of altered states of consciousness. Specific features of the experience, such...