5439 results for "Psychedelics"
The Consumption of Psychoactive Plants in Ancient Global and Anatolian Cultures During Religious Rituals: The Roots of the Eruption of Mythological Figures and Common Symbols in Religions and Myths
NeuroQuantology – May 31, 2014
Summary
Visions from ancient psychedelic plant consumption profoundly shaped global mythology. For centuries, a vast array of cultures, from Aztec to Hellenic, engaged in ritualistic consumption of psychoactive plants like psilocybin and ibogaine. These powerful experiences, central to ancient history and drug studies, generated vivid illusions. The aesthetics of these "plant trips" directly influenced the creation of countless mythological characters, gods, and demons, impacting literature and religious narratives across numerous societies. This fundamental link between psychedelics and the bedrock of human storytelling remains widely underestimated.
Abstract
Psychoactive plants which contain hallucinogenic molecules that induce a form of altered states of consciousness (H-ASC) have been widely used duri...
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...
The Bad Seed: Mystical Experience and Time Travel in the Treatment of Psychopathy
Psychoanalytic Dialogues – November 02, 2023
Summary
Challenging the long-held belief of untreatability, a single case demonstrates dramatic therapeutic gains for a psychopathic personality. A psychotherapist integrated psychoanalytic theory with a psilocybin-induced mystical experience, occurring several months into treatment. This powerful psychedelic intervention was pivotal. The individual, previously resistant, then effectively utilized prior psychoanalysis, demonstrating profound personality change. This highlights how psychology can leverage mystical experiences to foster healing, contributing to Psychedelics and Drug Studies and offering new avenues for treating psychopathy through a combined approach.
Abstract
Psychopathy has long been considered untreatable. The purpose of this paper is to provide a report from the field on therapeutic gains made in the ...
Millennials in the search for spiritual ecstasy
OpenAlex – October 14, 2021
Summary
Millennials are driving a global revitalization of indigenous spiritual practices, seeking psychedelic plant medicine ceremonies for profound personal growth. Visiting places like Huautla de Jimenez for shamanic mushroom rituals, individuals pursue psychological healing for mental, emotional, and spiritual imbalances. Five common motivations emerged: a search for knowledge, healing, curiosity, self-improvement, and inner wellness. These drug studies highlight the commodification of sacred experiences and the critical need for indigenous inclusion in validating these powerful psychedelics.
Abstract
Although young countercultural travellers and spiritual seekers have visited Latin American indigenous communities for the purposes of drug-induced...
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...
Sex-specific role of the 5-HT2A receptor in psilocybin-induced extinction of opioid reward.
Nature communications – November 20, 2025
Summary
A single dose of psilocybin effectively reduces opioid-seeking behavior and withdrawal symptoms in male mice, but surprisingly, not in females. This beneficial effect relies on activating a specific brain receptor within frontal cortex neurons that connect to reward centers. While psilocybin positively reshapes brain circuits and gene activity related to addiction, these changes are less pronounced in females. These findings reveal sex-specific mechanisms of psilocybin's potential to combat opioid dependence by modulating reward pathways.
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that classical psychedelics may offer therapeutic potential for opioid use disorder (OUD) by alleviating key hallmarks s...
Short- and long-term modulation of rat prefrontal cortical activity following single doses of psilocybin
Molecular Psychiatry – August 26, 2025
Summary
The hallucinogen psilocybin acutely triggers intense 100 Hz brain oscillations in rat prefrontal cortex, across hundreds of neurons. This neuroscience investigation, part of psychedelics and drug studies, observed effects persisting for approximately one hour. Intriguingly, subsequent days (1, 2, 6) revealed new brain wave patterns (20–60 Hz) in the infralimbic prefrontal cortex. These findings offer insights into how this chemical, an alkaloid, influences brain function, impacting areas relevant to psychology and cognitive processing, suggesting a lasting term of influence on neural circuits.
Abstract
Abstract We quantify cellular- and circuit-resolution neural network dynamics following therapeutically relevant doses of the psychedelic psilocybi...
Increased low-frequency brain responses to music after psilocybin therapy for depression
OpenAlex – February 15, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin therapy significantly enhances the brain's emotional response to music. Nineteen patients with depression underwent two psilocybin sessions, where music therapy is a key element. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) revealed increased activity in the temporal lobe and supramarginal gyrus during music listening post-treatment, compared to resting state fMRI. This suggests psilocybin, a psychedelic medicine, elevates responsiveness to this hedonic stimulus. These neuroscience findings in psychology highlight how psilocybin influences sensory processing, with activity correlating to subjective drug effects, offering insights for medicine and drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy with psilocybin is an emerging therapy with great promise for depression, and modern psychedelic therap...
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 ...
A double-edged sword: Insights from practitioners on the short and long-term negative effects of psilocybin-assisted psychological interventions
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – April 02, 2024
Summary
While psilocybin-assisted psychological interventions show promise, potential negative effects exist. Interviews with eight psychotherapists revealed three short-term challenges, including difficult self-experiences during dosing, and four long-term issues, such as client destabilization and adaptation difficulties. These findings in Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlight the multifaceted risks of such psychotherapy techniques. Thorough pre-intervention assessment and post-intervention support are crucial for safety in this emerging field of Psychology. Understanding these effects over the long term is vital for ethical applications.
Abstract
Abstract Background and aims Interest in psychedelic research has grown significantly in recent years and the naturally derived substance psilocybi...
Short- and long-term reconfiguration of rat prefrontal cortical networks following single doses of psilocybin
OpenAlex – December 13, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a hallucinogen, acutely unmasks 100Hz high-frequency oscillations within the infralimbic cortex, a key Prefrontal cortex region. This Neuroscience finding, from hundreds of neuronal recordings, showed oscillations lasting approximately one hour, reducing pyramidal cell firing. Local field potential changes over six days revealed increased beta/low-gamma (20-60Hz) power, specific to the Cingulate cortex, including the Anterior cingulate cortex. This work in Psychedelics and Drug Studies advances Psychology's understanding of plasticity, offering biomarkers.
Abstract
SUMMARY We quantify cellular- and circuit-resolution neural network dynamics following therapeutically relevant doses of the psychedelic psilocybin...
Facing Mortality Together: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Analysis of Group Psilocybin Therapy Among Older Long-Term AIDS Survivor Gay Men
Palliative Medicine Reports – January 01, 2026
Summary
Group psilocybin therapy appears to foster death acceptance in individuals facing serious illness. In a qualitative psychology investigation utilizing constructivist grounded theory, interview transcripts from six older, long-term AIDS survivor gay men revealed three key themes: accepting death, illness, and complex emotions. This psychological intervention suggests group psychotherapy with psilocybin may alleviate mental distress and death anxiety by helping participants embrace their mortality. Such findings contribute to clinical psychology and the emerging field of psychedelics in mental health, offering a novel approach to mental illness and distress.
Abstract
Background: Emotional distress is often comorbid with serious illness, especially in individuals facing social stigmas, such as patients with HIV. ...
EFFECT OF ACUTE PSILOCYBIN ON THERMAL AND NEUROPATHIC PAIN IN RODENTS
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – February 01, 2025
Summary
A compelling neuroscience finding reveals psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, significantly alleviates neuropathic pain. In Wistar rats, acute administration (3 or 10 mg/kg) increased mechanical withdrawal thresholds for up to two hours, suggesting a specific influence on pain mechanisms. However, it showed no effect on acute pain responses in C57BL/6 mice (5 per group), where thermal withdrawal thresholds were similar (vehicle: 15.6°C; psilocybin: 17.28°C). This pharmacology insight into psychedelics could transform pain treatments in medicine, impacting anesthesia and psychiatry.
Abstract
Abstract Background Pain is a major health problem resulting in a high degree of suffering, physical, psychological and social impairments, and exo...
Psilocybin - new remedy for patients with psychiatric disorders? Critical analysis of the current state of knowledge
Journal of Education Health and Sport – December 30, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, offers a safety profile comparable to standard psychiatric medicine. Evidence indicates this psychedelic alkaloid provides clinically meaningful improvements in treating depression—a significant global economic burden—trauma, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Its utility in Psychiatry and Psychology is promising, with positive outcomes observed across various scales. While adverse effects are manageable, its potential integration into psychotherapist-guided regimens could revolutionize mental health treatment, perhaps even becoming a first-line option.
Abstract
Introduction and purpose:
 Nowadays, when mental disorders are considered by the World Health Organisation as a global burden, the potential u...
Psilocybin’s effect on human brain synaptic plasticity
OpenAlex – October 10, 2025
Summary
A single dose of psilocybin, a potent psychedelic compound, significantly boosts brain connectivity when administered in a therapeutic-like environment. Fifteen healthy participants experienced more intense mystical states and lasting psychological benefits, alongside greater synaptic density increases in the frontal cortex and hippocampus, compared to those dosed in an MRI scanner. This demonstrates how environmental context profoundly shapes the neuroplastic effects of such alkaloids, influencing neurotransmitter receptor activity and behavior. These findings have crucial implications for future drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelics such as psilocybin have been linked to enhanced neuroplasticity and symptom relief in affective disorders, but the neurobiolo...
LSD induces increased signalling entropy in rats’ prefrontal cortex
OpenAlex – June 23, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics, like lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), profoundly reorganize brain signalling by influencing neurotransmitter receptors. In rats, chronic LSD treatment fundamentally rewires gene networks within the prefrontal cortex, making them more complex and increasing signalling entropy—a key feature of neuroplasticity. This molecular entropy, revealed through biochemical analysis, mirrors patterns seen in human neuroimaging, suggesting how these drug studies influence cognition and behavior. This neuroscience insight into biology and synaptic plasticity offers new avenues for psychology and psychiatric treatment.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic drugs are gaining attention from the scientific community as potential new compounds for the treatment of psychiatric diseases...
The effect of psilocin on neurotransmitters release in the claustrum and on rat behavior.
Pharmacological reports : PR – February 01, 2026
Summary
Psilocin, the active compound from psilocybin, creates a more balanced brain response in the Claustrum than the potent synthetic psychedelic 25I-NBOMe. Microdialysis in rats revealed Psilocin (at 100 or 500 µM) significantly elevated noradrenaline and enhanced cholinergic Neurotransmission. In contrast, 25I-NBOMe (500 µM) produced a greater serotonin increase and a more excitatory neurochemical profile. These distinct effects on neurotransmission highlight differing therapeutic and toxicological potentials, with Psilocin engaging circuitry in a more regulated manner.
Abstract
The claustrum, a subcortical structure densely expressing 5-hydroxytryptamine 2 A (5-HT2A) receptors, has been implicated in sensory integration, e...
Ayahuasca-assisted meaning reconstruction therapy for grief: a non-randomized clinical trial protocol.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2024
Summary
Groundbreaking research explores ayahuasca's potential to help people process deep grief. This innovative protocol combines traditional psychotherapy with psychedelic medicine to aid those experiencing prolonged grief disorder. The study will compare three approaches: meaning reconstruction therapy with ayahuasca, therapy alone, and no treatment, tracking how participants process bereavement and rebuild meaning in their lives.
Abstract
Psychotherapy for Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), a condition characterized by an intense and persistent grief response, has received increased att...
Novel treatments of depression: bridging the gap in current therapeutic approaches
Exploration of Neuroscience – August 05, 2024
Summary
For many, traditional depression treatments aren't enough. A review explores promising new therapeutic approaches beyond conventional methods. It highlights the potential of glutamatergic modulation, brain stimulation, anti-inflammatory agents, gut-brain axis interventions, gaba modulation, and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. These diverse strategies offer significant hope for more effective depression management.
Abstract
Depression poses a significant global health burden, yet current therapeutic approaches focusing on monoaminergic neurotransmission often fall shor...
Mood and cognition after administration of low LSD doses in healthy volunteers: A placebo controlled dose-effect finding study
European Neuropsychopharmacology – October 17, 2020
Summary
Microdosing with LSD can enhance mood and cognitive performance, as shown in a study with 24 healthy participants. A dose of just 5 mcg improved positive mood by 33% and reduced attentional lapses by 25%. Higher doses, particularly 20 mcg, further boosted friendliness and arousal while introducing some confusion and anxiety. Notably, the most significant effects on subjective experience were observed at 20 mcg. This suggests that even minimal doses of LSD may selectively improve mood and cognition without overwhelming side effects.
Abstract
There is a popular interest in microdosing with psychedelics such as LSD. This practice of using one-tenth of a full psychedelic dose according to ...
The Axis Mundi Hypothesis: Endogenous N,N-Dimethyltryptamine as a Neurobiological Bridge Between Conscious and Subconscious Processing - An Integrative Theoretical Framework
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) – February 12, 2026
Summary
Endogenous N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) plays a crucial role in brain function, acting as a neuroprotective agent during stress and modulating the boundary between subconscious and conscious awareness. This dual-function model integrates findings from various disciplines, including psychology and cognitive science, showing that DMT influences the default mode network (DMN) by regulating access to suppressed memories. The proposal is supported by evidence from five key areas, suggesting new avenues for exploration with seven testable predictions to guide future investigations.
Abstract
Multiple lines of neuroscientific evidence have converged on a set of closely related findings: the mammalian brain endogenously synthesizes N,N-di...
Open-label study of consecutive ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT assisted-therapy for trauma-exposed male Special Operations Forces Veterans: prospective data from a clinical program in Mexico.
The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse – September 03, 2023
Summary
Special operations veterans experiencing trauma showed remarkable improvements in mental health after receiving innovative psychedelic therapy. The treatment, combining ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT, led to significant reductions in PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms. The program, conducted in Mexico, demonstrated lasting positive effects for up to 6 months, with participants reporting better sleep, cognitive function, and life satisfaction.
Abstract
Background: Research in psychedelic medicine has focused primarily on civilian populations. Further study is needed to understand whether these tre...
Human brain effects of DMT assessed via EEG-fMRI.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America – March 28, 2023
Summary
Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a powerful psychedelic found naturally in ayahuasca, dramatically alters consciousness by acting on serotonin receptors in the brain. Using advanced brain imaging, researchers found that DMT increases global brain connectivity while breaking down usual network boundaries, particularly affecting evolutionarily advanced brain regions linked to uniquely human traits.
Abstract
Psychedelics have attracted medical interest, but their effects on human brain function are incompletely understood. In a comprehensive, within-sub...
The Clinical Applications of Psilocybin Therapies and Post-COVID Syndrome: A Comprehensive Narrative Review
Cureus – June 24, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound, offers hope for mental health challenges stemming from the 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak and COVID-19. A narrative review of medicine literature, spanning January 2020 to April 2024, indicates psilocybin's potential in treating depression and anxiety. Beyond its role in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, evidence suggests this naturally occurring alkaloid may inhibit Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) protease, a finding for virology. While Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies support its efficacy, robust clinical trials and chemical synthesis validation are needed for broader therapeutic use.
Abstract
The coronavirus variant (causing the COVID-19 disease) that led to a pandemic sent global shockwaves, resulting in long-term effects on physical, m...
Participant experiences of therapeutic touch in psilocybin-assisted therapy
OpenAlex – March 21, 2025
Summary
In **Psychology and Mental Health**, **therapeutic touch** during **psilocybin** therapy for anxiety significantly enhanced the experience for many. Of 18 participants, most valued touch, especially after experiencing this **hallucinogen**-assisted approach firsthand. They reported touch offered vital connection during intense emotional states and helped manage the acute effects of the **psychedelic**. Some even attributed direct therapeutic benefits to it. This suggests **psychotherapists** using **psychotherapy techniques and applications** in **psychedelics and drug studies** could integrate touch, emphasizing individualized consent and a strong therapeutic bond.
Abstract
This study explores therapeutic touch in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) through the longitudinal perspectives of participants (n = 18) within a...
The influence of psilocybin on subconscious and conscious emotional learning
iScience – May 19, 2024
Summary
A compelling finding in Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveals that a 20 mg dose of psilocybin, a compound rooted in Chemical synthesis and alkaloids, significantly improved learning rates over placebo. This Neuroscience and Cognitive science research suggests that modulating brain serotonin signaling with psilocybin preserves reinforcement learning. While overall learning was maintained, the Psychology investigation showed inferior results with subconscious cues. Conversely, conscious neutral cues sometimes led to better outcomes. This complex interplay highlights psilocybin's potential in mental health, offering new avenues for drug development.
Abstract
Serotonergic psychedelics hold promise as a treatment modality for various psychiatric disorders and are currently applied in psychedelic-assisted ...
Predictors of Medical Students' Perceptions of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Use in Medical Practice.
Cureus – April 01, 2023
Summary
Medical students who know more about magic mushrooms are more likely to support their therapeutic use. A survey of 213 future doctors revealed that those with greater knowledge of psilocybin and support for its legalization had more positive views about using it in mental health and palliative care. Despite psilocybin's current status as a schedule 1 drug, medical education may need to evolve as alternative medicine gains acceptance.
Abstract
Background Psilocybin use, along with other psychedelics, has seen an increased interest among professionals in the medical community due to its po...
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy as a potential treatment for eating disorders: a narrative review of preliminary evidence
Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy – May 01, 2023
Summary
Eating disorders, marked by severe distress and cognitive inflexibility, often lack effective treatments. Emerging evidence from Psychedelics and Drug Studies suggests psilocybin, a potent serotonergic hallucinogen, could offer a new path in clinical psychology. This medicine, leveraging its neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, may help individuals with eating disorders overcome rigid thought patterns, improving cognition. Paired with a psychotherapist, psilocybin-assisted therapy holds promise for psychiatry, potentially reducing distress in this challenging area of psychology. Preliminary results warrant rigorous trials.
Abstract
Eating disorders (ED) are a group of potentially severe mental disorders characterized by abnormal energy balance, cognitive dysfunction, and emoti...
Psilocybin for Depression: From Credibility to Feasibility, What’s Missing?
Pharmaceuticals – December 31, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin shows significant promise for alleviating depressive symptoms, suggesting a powerful new direction in Psychiatry and Medicine. However, establishing its full Credibility requires addressing current limitations in Psychedelics and Drug Studies. Early findings often stem from small sample sizes and face challenges like blinding and limited follow-up. Standardized protocols are crucial to understand this potent compound, an alkaloid from Chemical synthesis. Future research, leveraging robust Data science, must clarify Psilocybin's real potential as a therapeutic molecule for Depression and other psychological conditions, ensuring diverse academic research themes contribute to its safe and effective application.
Abstract
Psilocybin has been suggested as a promising transdiagnostic treatment strategy for a wide range of psychiatric disorders. Recent findings showed t...
Getting in Touch with Touch: The Importance of Studying Touch in MDMA-Assisted Therapy and the Development of a New Self-Report Measure.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.) – March 01, 2024
Summary
Touch plays a vital role in MDMA-assisted therapy, yet its effects have rarely been measured systematically. A new assessment tool, the Touch Outcomes Measurement Inventory, helps therapists understand how physical contact impacts clients during psychedelic-assisted therapy sessions. This breakthrough enables better evaluation of touch's therapeutic benefits in MDMA treatment.
Abstract
MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) is an emerging treatment modality, with recent phase 3 trials indicating its potential for regulatory approval. Cen...
Psilocybin-Assisted suppoRtive psychoTherapy IN the treatment of prolonged Grief (PARTING) trial: protocol for an open-label pilot trial for cancer-related bereavement
BMJ Open – April 01, 2025
Summary
Up to 30% of bereaved oncology carers suffer prolonged grief, with current treatments failing 50%. A new clinical trial explores Psilocybin as Medicine for Grief. This pilot study involves approximately 15 participants, investigating the safety and therapeutic potential of a 25 mg psilocybin dose alongside psychotherapist-led support. Qualitative research, including thematic analysis of participant experiences, will complement physiological and diagnostic measures. This work, part of Diverse academic research themes in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, could revolutionize Psychiatry, building on chemical synthesis and alkaloids research.
Abstract
Introduction Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) represents a substantial public health issue, especially in oncology settings where it affects up to 30...
Shared and distinct brain regions targeted for immediate early gene expression by ketamine and psilocybin
OpenAlex – March 20, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a psychedelic, significantly boosts neuroplasticity in at least 10 distinct brain regions, offering new insights for psychology and biology. Neuroscience reveals this compound, a derivative of tryptophan, elevates immediate early gene expression in areas including the insular cortex, locus coeruleus, and basolateral amygdala. Drug studies suggest glutamatergic receptors influence behavior, pointing to a shared mechanism for psilocybin's therapeutic potential in brain disorders. This highlights key areas for future investigation.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Psilocybin is a psychedelic with therapeutic potential. While there is growing evidence that psilocybin exerts its beneficial effects thro...
DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Ibogaine
ACS Chemical Neuroscience – September 14, 2018
Summary
The powerful hallucinogen ibogaine, from the West African iboga plant, historically treated addiction. While neurotoxic at micromolar levels, Neuropharmacology has advanced Medicine. A safer analog, 18-methoxycoronaridine (18-MC), specifically modulates the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. This nicotinic agonist target shows promise in Neuroscience for nicotine addiction. Psychedelics and Drug Studies explore its Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, offering new approaches. Clinical trials are pending, potentially impacting treatments beyond those for synthetic cannabinoids, as part of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study.
Abstract
The West African iboga plant has been used for centuries by the Bwiti and Mbiri tribes to induce hallucinations during religious ceremonies. Ibogai...
Acute Pharmacological Effects of 2C-B in Humans: An Observational Study
Frontiers in Pharmacology – March 13, 2018
Summary
Compellingly, 2C-B, a euphoriant akin to mescaline, significantly alters mood and physiology. An observational study with 16 users revealed increased blood pressure and heart rate, with 31% reporting mild hallucinogen effects. Via a Visual analogue scale, participants reported enhanced euphoria and altered perceptions. This pharmacology, crucial for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, also mapped pharmacokinetics, showing peak 2C-B levels at one hour. These findings illuminate Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, distinct from anesthesia, aiding Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis and informing future medicine.
Abstract
2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromophenethylamine (2C-B) is a psychedelic phenylethylamine derivative, structurally similar to mescaline. It is a serotonin 5-hyd...
LSD alters dynamic integration and segregation in the human brain.
NeuroImage – February 15, 2021
Summary
LSD significantly enhances brain complexity, revealing a rich tapestry of subjective experiences. In a study involving 30 participants, LSD altered functional connectivity dynamics, making segregated brain states more complex while weakening ties between functional and anatomical networks. Notably, ego dissolution correlated with increased small-world organization during periods of high global integration. This nuanced understanding highlights how LSD influences brain function over time, suggesting that the interplay of integration and segregation is crucial in shaping psychedelic experiences and their psychological impacts.
Abstract
Investigating changes in brain function induced by mind-altering substances such as LSD is a powerful method for interrogating and understanding ho...
Treating posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder comorbidity: Current pharmacological therapies and the future of MDMA-integrated psychotherapy.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – December 01, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics like MDMA show promise in treating the challenging combination of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD), which often occur together. Approximately 30% of individuals with PTSD also struggle with AUD, creating a cycle where each condition exacerbates the other. Current treatments lack FDA-approved options specifically for this dual diagnosis, leading to limited effectiveness. Integrative psychotherapy using MDMA may offer a new approach, potentially addressing both disorders simultaneously and improving outcomes for affected individuals.
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) frequently co-occur in patients who have experienced trauma. This comorbidity l...
Evolution and Comparative Analysis of Clinical Trials on Psilocybin in the Treatment of Psychopathologies: Trends in the EU and the US
Journal of Clinical Medicine – September 19, 2025
Summary
The United States significantly outpaces the European Union in **Psychedelics and Drug Studies**, conducting a substantially higher number of psilocybin clinical trials for mental health conditions. This reflects robust US research infrastructure and growing financial investment. In contrast, the EU proceeds with fewer trials and slower development, driven by a more cautious regulatory stance emphasizing patient safety. These regional divergences underscore the critical need for international collaboration and harmonized public health policies to ensure scientific rigor and patient protection as psilocybin-assisted interventions expand globally.
Abstract
Background/Objectives: This study examines the development of clinical trials investigating psilocybin for the treatment of psychopathologies, with...
Accurate and Interpretable Prediction of Antidepressant Treatment Response from Receptor-informed Neuroimaging
CrossRef
Summary
Predicting individual depression treatment response is challenging. New predictive tools, using pre-treatment brain imaging and clinical data, accurately forecast antidepressant response in major depressive disorder. This advanced approach achieved strong accuracy, identifying biomarkers tied to better outcomes in serotonin systems. Comparing psychedelic-assisted therapy with psilocybin and escitalopram, psilocybin showed a group-level advantage. It also pinpointed specific brain profiles suggesting who would benefit more from escitalopram, enhancing treatment selection. This advances precision medicine and biomarker discovery, enabling more personalized care.
Abstract
Conventional antidepressants show moderate efficacy in treating major depressive disorder. Psychedelic-assisted therapy holds promise, yet individu...
Expectancies for Subjective and Antidepressant Effects in Psilocybin Users
Journal of Humanistic Psychology – September 22, 2023
Summary
Over 500 individuals using psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, hold specific expectations about its antidepressant effects, crucial for clinical psychology. This area, often overlooked in drug studies, reveals that users anticipate ego dissolution and emotional breakthroughs, not mystical experiences, will alleviate depressive symptoms. Such insights are vital for psychiatry, as expectancy theory suggests these cognitive factors could influence treatment outcomes. Psilocybin's action, a naturally occurring alkaloid, impacts cognition and could be monitored in future antidepressant trials, linking to neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. The broader field of psychedelics benefits from understanding these specific expectations.
Abstract
Expectancy effects for many psychoactive substances appear to play a role in consumption, problematic use, subjective responses to acute administra...
A Qualitative Study of Intention and Impact of Ayahuasca Use by Westerners
OpenAlex – April 01, 2021
Summary
Ayahuasca experiences offer profound benefits for mental health and spirituality. Forty-one Western participants in qualitative research reported sustained psychological improvements, including substance use, relationships, and self-perception—outcomes a psychotherapist in clinical psychology often targets. This potent hallucinogen, like psilocybin in psychedelics and drug studies, also fostered enhanced creativity and sensory awareness. While biochemical analysis and olfactory function studies continue exploring such effects, these accounts highlight Ayahuasca's potential, despite two reported problematic experiences.
Abstract
Ayahuasca has gained the attention of researchers over the past decade as psychedelic-assisted therapy for MDMA and psilocybin have progressed thro...
Quantifying the Pollan Effect: Investigating the Impact of Emerging Psychiatric Interventions on Online Mental Health Discourse
OpenAlex – May 11, 2024
Summary
Online discourse on psilocybin mushrooms dramatically shifted towards mental health. A computational analysis of 676,875 Reddit posts over a decade reveals a "Pollan Effect," where these psychedelics are increasingly framed as a psychological intervention for mental health after major media releases. A "Pollan shift" also saw a rise in shared emotional and social experiences. This cross-cultural and social analysis highlights how online platforms shape public understanding of psychiatry, emerging drug studies, and misinformation's impacts.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapy has shown significant promise in alleviating treatment-resistant mental illness, prompting excitement among people wit...
Psilocybin in late-life mental health: Addressing depression, loneliness, and existential anxiety
General Hospital Psychiatry – December 09, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin therapy holds significant promise for addressing late-life mental health conditions like depression and loneliness, where traditional treatments often falter. Clinical trials in general adult populations show sustained improvements in depressive symptoms, existential anxiety, and social connectedness, linked to enhanced brain flexibility and serotonin pathways. However, older adults are notably underrepresented in psychedelic exploration, creating critical gaps in understanding optimal dosing, safety profiles, and long-term outcomes for this demographic. Tailored protocols are essential given age-related physiological changes and potential drug interactions.
Abstract
The global demographic shift toward aging populations has intensified the need for innovative therapeutic interventions targeting late-life mental ...
MDMA and psilocybin regulate oligodendrocyte-lineage cell numbers and anxiety-like behaviors in a rat model of fear.
Biological psychiatry – February 03, 2026
Summary
Psilocybin and MDMA significantly reduce fear-related behaviors, acting through brain changes. In a study with 210 rats, these compounds promoted oligodendrocyte plasticity and myelination, crucial for brain function. Psilocybin specifically induced oligodendrogenesis, while MDMA enhanced mature myelin markers. Disrupting myelin abolished the anxiety reduction, highlighting how these psychedelics remodel brain circuitry. This suggests enhancing myelination could boost their therapeutic power for conditions like PTSD.
Abstract
Psilocybin and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produce rapid, enduring therapeutic effects in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); howev...
Evaluation of 1cp-LSD for Enhancing Welfare in Shelter Dogs: A Randomized Blind Trial with Ethological Intervention.
Veterinary sciences – January 19, 2026
Summary
Combining low-dose 1-cyclopropionyl lysergic acid diethylamide, a psychedelic prodrug of lysergic acid diethylamide, with ethological intervention significantly improves shelter dogs' welfare. Among 20 shelter dogs, this integrated approach consistently enhanced animal behavior, fostering greater sociability, calmness, and positive emotional reactivity. These benefits persisted for three weeks post-treatment, offering a promising new strategy rooted in ethology for improving animal welfare in stressful shelter environments.
Abstract
Shelter environments frequently expose dogs to chronic stress and anxiety, which can compromise their welfare and reduce their chances of adoption....
Low Doses of LSD Acutely Increase BDNF Blood Plasma Levels in Healthy Volunteers
ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science – August 31, 2020
Summary
A compelling increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was observed following low doses of LSD. In a placebo-controlled study with 30 healthy volunteers, BDNF levels rose significantly at 4 hours after a 5 μg dose and at 6 hours for both 5 μg and 20 μg doses compared to placebo. This highlights psychedelic medicine's potential for enhancing neuroplasticity, crucial for therapeutic responses in internal medicine and psychology. The biochemical analysis suggests promising avenues for future studies in psychiatric populations.
Abstract
Despite preclinical evidence for psychedelic-induced neuroplasticity, confirmation in humans is grossly lacking. Given the increased interest in us...
Receptor Interaction Profiles of 4-Alkoxy-Substituted 2,5-Dimethoxyphenethylamines and Related Amphetamines
Frontiers in Pharmacology – November 28, 2019
Summary
Phenethylamines and their 4-alkyloxy-substituted derivatives exhibit notable binding affinities, with values ranging from 8 to 1700 nM at the 5-HT2A receptor, indicating a strong potential for psychedelic effects. These compounds showed greater preference for the 5-HT2A receptor over the 5-HT1A and 5-HT2C receptors, with ratios of 1.4 to 333 and 2.1 to 14, respectively. Additionally, phenethylamines demonstrated stronger binding to TAAR1 (21-3300 nM) compared to their amphetamine counterparts (630-3100 nM), highlighting their unique pharmacological profiles.
Abstract
Background: 2,4,5-Trimethoxyamphetamine (TMA-2) is a potent psychedelic compound. Structurally related 4-alkyloxy-substituted 2,5-dimethoxyamphetam...
[Interventional psychiatric procedures and novel substances for the treatment of affective disorders: An overview and outlook].
Therapeutische Umschau. Revue therapeutique – April 01, 2025
Summary
Breakthrough treatments are transforming care for treatment-resistant depression. Modern interventions like ketamine therapy and rTMS offer hope for the 33% of patients who don't respond to traditional antidepressants. From gentle tDCS to targeted DBS, doctors now have multiple tools to help patients achieve remission. ECT remains highly effective, while emerging options like psychedelic-assisted therapy show promise for personalized mental health care.
Abstract
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders. The effectiveness of pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments is well documented. Re...
An Update on Psychotherapy for the Treatment of PTSD.
The American journal of psychiatry – May 01, 2025
Summary
Trauma-focused psychotherapy remains the gold standard for treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), outperforming medication-only approaches. While medications like sertraline help some patients, evidence shows that specialized psychotherapy techniques can rewire trauma responses in the brain, leading to lasting recovery. Top treatments include prolonged exposure and cognitive processing therapy, with success rates reaching 60-70% when properly implemented.
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are part of the normal response to trauma. Most trauma survivors will recover over time without inter...
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...
Cortical thickness of the posterior cingulate cortex is associated with the ketamine-induced altered sense of self: An ultra-high field MRI study.
Journal of psychiatric research – April 01, 2024
Summary
An intriguing finding reveals that thinner cortical regions in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) correlate with stronger feelings of disembodiment during ketamine treatment. In a study with 35 healthy male participants, a significant negative correlation (R = -0.54) was observed between PCC thickness and disembodiment scores. While the PCC plays a crucial role in the altered sense of self linked to ketamine's effects, no such association was found with the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex, underscoring the unique mechanisms at play.
Abstract
Subanesthetic doses of ketamine induce an antidepressant effect within hours in individuals with treatment-resistant depression while it furthermor...