3085 results for "Psilocybin"
Novel treatments for anorexia nervosa: Insights from neuroplasticity research
European Eating Disorders Review – October 12, 2023
Summary
Deficiencies in brain neuroplasticity are central to Anorexia nervosa, a severe eating disorder. This compelling insight from clinical psychology and psychiatry is reshaping mental health research topics. Psychotherapists and medical professionals are exploring novel treatments for anorexia. These include psychopharmacological agents like ketamine or psilocybin, alongside psychotherapeutic strategies like imagery rescripting and yoga. Addressing neuroplasticity offers promising avenues for improving Eating Disorders and Behaviors, moving beyond traditional diet and metabolism studies. Future investigations will require large sample sizes to confirm these pathways.
Abstract
Abstract Objective Treatment for anorexia nervosa (AN) remains challenging; there are no approved psychopharmacological interventions and psychothe...
Neuroimaging in psychedelic drug development: past, present, and future.
Molecular psychiatry – September 01, 2023
Summary
Brain scans reveal how psychedelic medicines like psilocybin and LSD work to treat mental health conditions. Modern imaging techniques show these drugs temporarily alter brain connectivity and receptor activity, particularly affecting serotonin systems. This helps explain their therapeutic effects on depression, PTSD, and addiction, while guiding the development of safer, more effective treatments.
Abstract
Psychedelic therapy (PT) is an emerging paradigm with great transdiagnostic potential for treating psychiatric disorders, including depression, add...
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...
Use of Psychedelics for Pain: A Scoping Review.
Anesthesiology – October 01, 2023
Summary
Psychedelic compounds may offer new hope for pain management, showing promising results in treating severe headaches and cancer-related discomfort. Through their unique interaction with serotonin receptors and anti-inflammatory properties, substances like LSD and psilocybin appear to alter pain perception in meaningful ways. Analysis of multiple studies reveals positive outcomes, particularly for headache disorders and cancer pain, suggesting these compounds could provide relief where traditional painkillers fall short.
Abstract
Chronic pain is a public health concern that affects approximately 1.5 billion people globally. Conventional therapeutic agents including opioid an...
Associations between individual hallucinogens and hallucinogen misuse among U.S. Adults who recently initiated hallucinogen use.
Addictive behaviors reports – December 01, 2023
Summary
Among hallucinogens, PCP shows the strongest link to substance abuse, with users six times more likely to develop dependence compared to other psychedelic substances. Analysis of 5,000+ recent hallucinogen users revealed varying risks: LSD showed moderate risk, while ketamine and mescaline had limited association with abuse. MDMA and psilocybin weren't significantly linked to dependence, suggesting different risk profiles among psychedelics.
Abstract
Hallucinogen dependence and abuse are DSM-IV diagnoses that are associated with significant morbidity, yet the specific hallucinogens that are most...
A Proposal to Study the Safety and Efficacy of Psilocybe cubensis in Preclinical and Clinical Studies as a Therapeutic Alternative for Major Depressive Disorder
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – August 18, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a natural alkaloid, offers breakthrough potential for major depressive disorder, contrasting with current antidepressants' modest effects. A comprehensive project in Medicine and Psychiatry will conduct preclinical research, assessing toxicity and characterizing *Psilocybe cubensis* via chemical synthesis and alkaloid analysis. Subsequent clinical trials in Pharmacology will evaluate safety in healthy adults, then efficacy in patients with major depressive disorder, comparing two single doses (with assisted psychotherapy, reflecting Psychology) against traditional care. This advances Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
The pharmacological treatment of depression consists of taking antidepressant drugs for prolonged periods; its modest therapeutic effect can often ...
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...
Psychedelic medicines for end-of-life care: Pipeline clinical trial review 2022.
Palliative & supportive care – August 01, 2023
Summary
Promising research reveals psychedelics may help reduce existential distress in palliative care. A comprehensive review identified 25 clinical trials exploring how substances like psilocybin and ketamine could support end-of-life care. Most studies combine psychedelics with therapy, showing potential to ease depression and anxiety in terminal patients.
Abstract
People with terminal illnesses often experience psychological distress and associated disability. Recent clinical trial evidence has stimulated int...
The Canadian Psychedelic Survey: Characteristics, Patterns of Use, and Access in a Large Sample of People Who Use Psychedelic Drugs.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.) – June 01, 2023
Summary
A groundbreaking survey reveals that 82% of psychedelic users in Canada report intense positive experiences, with many citing mental well-being and personal growth as key motivations. The nationwide study of 2,045 participants found psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD as the most common substances used. Notably, even among those who faced challenging experiences, over half found value in the difficulty afterward.
Abstract
Recent years have seen a resurgence in clinical interest in, and increased public acceptance of, psychedelic drugs in Canada. However, our understa...
Microbiome–Gut–Brain Axis Modulation: New Approaches in Treatment of Neuropsychological and Gastrointestinal Functional Disorders
ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters – May 11, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) may offer novel approaches in medicine by influencing our gut microbiome. New Neuroscience insights reveal how over ten serotonin receptor agonists can promote beneficial spore-forming bacteria in the digestive system. This interaction, central to the Gut–brain axis, highlights the profound connection between gut microbiota and health, potentially impacting mental well-being and brain disorders. By modulating the gut's microscopic inhabitants, this strategy could open new avenues in drug studies, addressing conditions linked to tryptophan pathways.
Abstract
The gut-brain axis (GBA) refers to the sophisticated bidirectional communication system connecting the digestive system with the central nervous sy...
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...
Henri Michaux's program for the psychedelic humanities
Frontiers in Psychology – May 16, 2023
Summary
Henri Michaux, a 20th-century French artist, spent a decade from the mid-1950s as a psychonaut, creating five books, dozens of drawings, and a half-hour film charting his profound experiences with mescaline, psilocybin, and LSD. His work, a cornerstone for the emerging psychedelic humanities, offers unparalleled insights into creativity, the politics of psychedelics, and psychedelic mysticism. Michaux's unique esthetic reconstruction illuminates psychological phenomena like altered perception and even déjà vu, contributing significantly to diverse academic research themes including Religious Studies, Spiritual Practices, psychoanalysis, and drug studies.
Abstract
This article presents an analytical reading of the extraordinarily rich cultural production around drugs by the 20th-century French poet, writer, c...
Global species diversity and distribution of the psychedelic fungal genus Panaeolus
Heliyon – May 17, 2023
Summary
A critical knowledge gap exists for the *Panaeolus genus*, a significant source of *psilocybin*. A comprehensive review of *Fungal Biology and Applications* revealed substantial missing data regarding their *global biodiversity* and geographical *distribution*. Essential information for species *identification* is often unavailable, hindering our understanding of their true *ecology* and the *chemical synthesis and alkaloids* they produce. This deficiency impedes effective regulation of these fungi, increasingly vital in *Psychedelics and Drug Studies*. Fully characterizing their *biology* and *biodiversity* remains a pressing challenge.
Abstract
Psychedelic fungi have received considerable attention recently due to their promising treatment potential of several psychiatric disorders and med...
The Need for Psychiatric Treatment among Polish Users of Psychoactive Substances Is Increasing: This and Other Results from the Newest PolDrugs Survey
Medicina – May 09, 2023
Summary
A recent Polish survey of 1117 individuals revealed a near doubling in the percentage receiving psychiatric help in the past two years, with 41.7 percent currently in treatment for conditions like anxiety. Examining demographics and psychoactive substance use, the survey, disseminated via digital platforms, highlighted increases in psilocybin and other hallucinogen use. Marijuana remains a commonly used substance, underscoring ongoing needs in behavioral health and medicine. Understanding these trends is crucial for preventing harm and informing psychiatry and psychology practices.
Abstract
Background and Objectives: PolDrugs is the largest Polish naturalistic nationwide survey to present basic demographic and epidemiological data that...
[Drugs in the Developmental Stage (Psychotropics)].
PubMed – May 01, 2023
Summary
A compelling new trend in drug development sees single medicines, like Psilocybin, investigated for multiple diseases concurrently. Despite past pharmaceutical withdrawals from neuroscience, innovative psychopharmacology is ushering in a new dawn. This involves novel drug mechanisms offering promise across various neuropsychopharmacological disorders, from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to other complex psychiatric conditions. Such developments are reshaping pharmaceutical studies and practices, revitalizing drug development in psychology and medicine. This marks a significant shift in pharmacology.
Abstract
In recent years, it is common for a single drug to be developed for multiple diseases almost simultaneously, e.g., pimavanserin and psilocybin. Alt...
Role of Psychedelics in Treatment-Resistant Depression.
The Psychiatric clinics of North America – June 01, 2023
Summary
Breakthrough findings show that psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD offer new hope for people who haven't responded to conventional depression treatments. Clinical trials reveal that a single guided session with these compounds can provide significant relief lasting months. The pharmacology behind this involves both DMT-containing ayahuasca and synthetic options like MDMA, which help rewire neural pathways linked to mood.
Abstract
There is increasing interest in exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Classic psychedelics (...
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The need for establishing best practices and gold standards in psychedelic medicine.
Journal of affective disorders – July 01, 2023
Summary
As psychedelic medicines enter mainstream healthcare, establishing rigorous treatment protocols becomes crucial. MDMA and psilocybin therapies show promising results for mental health conditions, while ketamine and esketamine are already helping patients. Medical experts are developing gold standards to ensure these powerful tools are used safely and effectively, focusing on proper dosing, therapeutic settings, and clinician training.
Abstract
Psychedelic substances are under investigation in several drug development programs. Controlled clinical trials are providing evidence for safe and...
Psychedelic Treatments for Substance Use Disorder and Substance Misuse: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – March 18, 2023
Summary
Promising insights emerge for psychedelic medicine in psychiatry. A review of seven studies (across 10 papers) on psilocybin, ayahuasca, and other hallucinogens for substance dependence and abuse revealed positive trends in reducing craving and promoting abstinence. While these powerful chemical compounds influence neurotransmitter receptors, current clinical psychology data on specific substance use disorders remains limited. Rigorous investigation is vital to fully understand these psychedelics' role in addiction treatment and their influence on behavior.
Abstract
Renewed interest in psychedelic substances in the 21st century has seen the exploration of psychedelic treatments for various psychiatric disorders...
The Bright Side of Psychedelics: Latest Advances and Challenges in Neuropharmacology
International Journal of Molecular Sciences – January 10, 2023
Summary
Growing interest in Psilocybin, Mescaline, and Lysergic acid diethylamide for psychiatric disorders is prompting a re-evaluation in medicine. This neuropharmacology review synthesizes extensive pharmacology and psychology research, exploring ethnobotanical uses and the chemical synthesis of these hallucinogen alkaloids. It details their neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, examining affinity and binding modes. The review also discusses numerous clinical studies evaluating efficacy for conditions like depression, comparing them to current psychiatry treatments. Understanding these mechanisms advances drug studies.
Abstract
The need to identify effective therapies for the treatment of psychiatric disorders is a particularly important issue in modern societies. In addit...
Psychedelic drug abuse potential assessment for new drug applications and controlled substance scheduling: A United States perspective
Journal of Psychopharmacology – January 01, 2023
Summary
Evaluating hallucinogens for medicine and psychiatry requires tailored substance abuse assessments. While many nonclinical techniques, including neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, adapt well to psychedelics, standard human abuse trials need modification. For instance, psilocybin has extensive existing data, offering crucial context for drug scheduling. Conversely, novel hallucinogens lack this baseline for forensic toxicology and drug analysis. Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies advocate for flexible approaches, ensuring safety and valid outcomes in pharmaceutical development, especially given their non-reinforcing nature, distinct from typical drugs of abuse.
Abstract
Background: Psychedelics are an increasingly active area of research and pharmaceutical development. This includes abuse potential assessment to be...
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy and Psychedelic Science: A Review and Perspective on Opportunities in Neurosurgery and Neuro-Oncology
Neurosurgery – December 08, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics like Psilocybin are profoundly re-emerging as potential medicine, showing promise for over a dozen neuropsychiatric conditions including severe Mood and Anxiety disorders. These hallucinogenic compounds influence brain function, acting as neuroplastogens to fundamentally alter behavior. This resurgence in drug studies highlights their potential to revolutionize Psychiatry, offering new hope for patients with complex mental health issues. Psychedelic-assisted therapy, often guided by a psychotherapist, aims to improve quality of life and brain function. This transformative approach is fostering multidisciplinary collaboration in medicine.
Abstract
After a decades-long pause, psychedelics are again being intensely investigated for treating a wide range of neuropsychiatric ailments including de...
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...
Default Mode Network Modulation by Psychedelics: A Systematic Review
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – October 21, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin profoundly alter brain activity, consistently disrupting the Default Mode Network (DMN), a key brain region for self-referencing and linked to various psychological conditions. This acute modulation of the DMN, crucial in neuroscience and drug studies, involves increased connectivity across brain networks. Understanding the chemical synthesis of these compounds and their psychological effects, perhaps alongside insights from nicotinic acetylcholine receptors studies and computational analyses, is vital to fully grasp their impact on brain function.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelics are a unique class of drug that commonly produce vivid hallucinations as well as profound psychological and mystical experien...
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...
3,4-Methylenedioxy methamphetamine, synthetic cathinones and psychedelics: From recreational to novel psychotherapeutic drugs
Frontiers in Psychiatry – October 03, 2022
Summary
Psychoactive substances offer a promising alternative for psychiatric disorders resistant to conventional medicine. MDMA, Psilocybin, and Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) have shown successful outcomes in clinical tests for conditions like PTSD and treatment-resistant depression. This field of Psychiatry and Medicine is exploring both classical psychedelics and hallucinogens like Mescaline, alongside newer recreational drugs such as Mephedrone and synthetic cannabinoids. Pharmacology and Drug Studies investigate their neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. This review examines these compounds, often analyzed in Forensic Toxicology, for overcoming traditional drug treatment limitations.
Abstract
The utility of classical drugs used to treat psychiatric disorders (e.g., antidepressants, anxiolytics) is often limited by issues of lack of effic...
Use of psychedelics in the Czech Republic: results of recent population surveys.
Central European journal of public health – September 01, 2022
Summary
Nearly one-third of Czech adults have experienced psychedelics or cannabis, with younger males being the predominant users. Recent population surveys reveal that 350,000-430,000 people have tried classical hallucinogens like LSD or psilocybin, while cannabis use is significantly higher at 2.1 million users. Current substance use patterns show similar demographic trends, highlighting shifting attitudes toward psychedelic substances.
Abstract
Different psychoactive substances are widely used in today's society. So far limited data are available on the use of psychedelics in the general p...
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 ...
Effects of classic psychedelic drugs on turbulent signatures in brain dynamics
Network Neuroscience – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics profoundly reorganize brain activity. Using a novel framework akin to analyzing turbulent patterns, new insights reveal how compounds like LSD and psilocybin alter brain dynamics. They consistently and distinctively influence a key network involved in self-reflection, effectively "compressing" the brain's functional organization. This understanding of how these powerful chemical substances influence brain hierarchy offers significant implications for developing new psychological treatments.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic drugs show promise as safe and effective treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders, yet their mechanisms of action are not ful...
Animal Behavior in Psychedelic Research.
Pharmacological reviews – October 01, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics show remarkable effects on animal behavior, offering insights into their therapeutic potential. Research reveals that compounds like LSD and psilocybin affect rodents' motor activity, anxiety levels, and social interactions. While animals display clear behavioral changes, including reduced repetitive actions and decreased anxiety-like symptoms, these responses vary based on testing conditions. The findings help bridge understanding between brain chemistry and potential therapeutic applications.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy holds great promise in the treatment of mental health disorders. Research into 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor (...
The use of classic psychedelics among adults: a Danish online survey study
Nordic Journal of Psychiatry – September 29, 2022
Summary
DMT demonstrated significantly greater positive effects than LSD and psilocybin, offering key insights for Clinical Psychology. Among Danish adults, classic psychedelics were primarily used therapeutically or spiritually, with users reporting lasting positive impacts. However, this area of Psychedelics and Drug Studies also revealed an association with hazardous alcohol use. Such findings underscore the complex interplay for Psychology and Psychiatry, highlighting diverse academic research themes.
Abstract
Classic psychedelics were mostly used therapeutically or spiritually and had self-reported positive persisting effects, but were also associated wi...
Towards an understanding of psychedelic-induced neuroplasticity.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology – January 01, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin can rewire the brain's neural connections, particularly in areas controlling mood and memory. These substances trigger rapid growth of new neural connections and enhance brain plasticity, especially in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. This helps explain why a single treatment can lead to lasting positive changes in depression and anxiety that persist for months.
Abstract
Classic psychedelics, such as LSD, psilocybin, and the DMT-containing beverage ayahuasca, show some potential to treat depression, anxiety, and add...
Neuroplasticity and Psychedelics: a comprehensive examination of classic and non-classic compounds in pre and clinical models
arXiv Preprint Archive – November 29, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin can rewire brain connections after just one dose, unlike traditional psychiatric medications. These compounds boost the brain's natural plasticity, helping neurons form new pathways and adapt to change. Studies show they create a window of enhanced learning and adaptation, leading to lasting improvements in mood and behavior.
Abstract
Neuroplasticity, the ability of the nervous system to adapt throughout an organism's lifespan, offers potential as both a biomarker and treatment t...
Isness: Using Multi-Person VR to Design Peak Mystical-Type Experiences Comparable to Psychedelics
arXiv Preprint Archive – February 03, 2020
Summary
Virtual reality can induce profound mystical experiences similar to those triggered by psychedelic substances, without the need for drugs. A groundbreaking human-computer interaction (cs.HC) experiment showed that carefully designed VR environments can create transformative group experiences where participants perceive themselves as pure energy, fostering deep feelings of connection and transcendence. Data from 57 participants revealed emotional responses matching those reported in clinical studies of psilocybin and LSD.
Abstract
Studies combining psychotherapy with psychedelic drugs (PsiDs) have demonstrated positive outcomes that are often associated with PsiDs' ability to...
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: Alternative and Potential Therapeutic Options for Treating Mood and Anxiety Disorders
Molecules – April 13, 2022
Summary
For thousands of years, psychedelics like psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide held spiritual and medicinal value in ancient cultures. Now, a new wave of drug studies explores these hallucinogens as neuropharmaceuticals. Evidence suggests their potential for treating anxiety and addiction, offering a promising alternative in psychiatry and psychology. These compounds, affecting neurotransmitter systems, exhibit low toxicity and abuse potential, making them attractive for psychotherapeutic interventions and modern medicine.
Abstract
The word “psychedelic” (psyche (i.e., the mind or soul) and delos (i.e., to show)) has Greek origin and was first coined by psychiatrist Humphry Os...
Psychedelics, Mystical Experience, and Therapeutic Efficacy: A Systematic Review
Frontiers in Psychiatry – July 12, 2022
Summary
Compelling findings for **Psychology**: mystical experiences significantly reduce **distress** and **anxiety**. Ten of twelve reviews on **psychedelics** like psilocybin (derived from **chemical synthesis and alkaloids**) confirm a strong link between these profound experiences and symptom reduction. This offers promising avenues for **Clinical psychology**, **Psychiatry**, and **Psychotherapists**, illustrating how these substances, through **neurotransmitter receptor influence**, affect behavior. While impactful, many analyses had small sample sizes, suggesting the need for broader investigation in **Drug Studies**.
Abstract
The mystical experience is a potential psychological mechanism to influence outcome in psychedelic therapy. It includes features such as oceanic bo...
Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Compounds for Substance Use Disorders
Preprints.org – October 17, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics are re-emerging as powerful therapeutics for substance use disorders, a major challenge in Psychology and Medicine. Despite historical barriers, renewed interest focuses on compounds like psilocybin, ketamine, LSD, and MDMA. This review examines emerging evidence for these substances, along with ayahuasca, ibogaine, and peyote, in addiction treatment. Their unique chemical synthesis and influence on neurotransmitter receptors offer novel pathways. These drug studies aim for more holistic approaches, enhancing patient adherence and therapeutic efficacy, moving beyond traditional paradigms.
Abstract
Psychedelics have recently (re)emerged as therapeutics of high potential for multiple mental health conditions, including substance use disorders (...
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...
Alterations to self consciousness during mindfulness meditation and Flotation REST a comparative study
OpenAlex – June 30, 2023
Summary
Mystical experiences, often associated with psychedelics, can also arise from mindfulness meditation and flotation therapy. These psychological interventions consistently showed ego-dissolution scores exceeding ego-inflation. Mystical Experience Questionnaire scores fell between those induced by low and high dose psilocybin, highlighting profound altered states of consciousness. An individual's openness to experience predicted these shifts, suggesting a key personality trait in accessing such mental health benefits. This offers valuable insight for clinical psychology and drug studies, exploring consciousness beyond neurotransmitter receptor influence.
Abstract
Flotation-Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST) and mindfulness meditation (MM) are known to induce altered states of consciousness (ASC...
Brain dynamics of classical psychedelics show paradoxical hierarchical flattening with increased complexity
OpenAlex – December 22, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics uniquely flatten the brain's functional hierarchy, a crucial insight for Neuroscience and Psychology. Unlike reduced consciousness, three serotonergic psychedelics—psilocybin, LSD, and DMT—were found to shift the brain towards thermodynamic equilibrium while increasing neural activity complexity. This discovery, vital for Cognitive science and Cognitive psychology, and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, suggests a distinct mechanism. It shows how brain network functional diversity changes, offering new perspectives for Mental Health Research Topics, informed by Biophysics and Computer science. This work refines our understanding of consciousness.
Abstract
Despite divergent behavioral and phenomenological profiles, both psychedelic states and reduced states of consciousness have been associated with a...
A Spectrum of Selves Reinforced in Multilevel Coherence: A Contextual Behavioural Response to the Challenges of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Development
Frontiers in Psychiatry – December 07, 2021
Summary
The FDA's fast-tracking of two psychedelics, including psilocybin, signals a critical need for refined psychological intervention. A novel psychological flexibility model, adapting Contextual Behavioural Science, offers psychotherapists a robust framework for psychedelic-assisted therapy. This approach addresses unique challenges within the therapeutic context, integrating diverse self-perspectives into a "Spectrum of Selves." By aligning biological mechanisms with desired behavioral changes, it aims to enhance the efficacy of these compounds from drug studies, broadening treatment benefits and reducing relapse. This comprehensive behaviour therapy framework touches on cognitive psychology.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapy research for depression and PTSD has been fast tracked in the United States with the Food and Drugs Administration (FD...
The Intersection of Psychedelics and Sleep: Exploring the Impacts on Sleep Architecture, Dream States, and Therapeutic Implications
ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science – May 15, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, LSD, and DMT profoundly alter **sleep architecture**, impacting **dream** recall. One investigation with 75 participants observed a 30% reduction in REM latency and a 20% increase in dream vividness. These **alkaloids**, products of complex **chemical synthesis**, demonstrate **neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior**, offering new insights into **psychology**. The **intersection** of these **drug studies** and fundamental **sleep** processes reveals therapeutic potential for sleep disorders, a critical area for understanding human consciousness.
Abstract
The interplay between psychedelics, such as psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and sleep is an emerging are...
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...
Potential therapeutic effects of psychedelics in small doses: Is there a role for microdosing in psychiatry?
International review of neurobiology – January 01, 2025
Summary
Remarkably, very small doses of psychedelics like lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin show promise in psychiatry. Studies reveal subtle impacts on neurobiology and physiology, positively influencing mood and cognition. These small doses can also affect one's subjective state, demonstrating potential in reducing symptoms of depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Abstract
Clinical trials using full doses of psychedelics have provided preliminary evidence supporting their safety and efficacy in treating a variety of p...
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...
Psychedelics, Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy and Employees’ Wellbeing
Journal of Management Inquiry – August 28, 2024
Summary
Breakthroughs in Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlight the potential of compounds like psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide for mental health. Nearly 100 companies are developing these substances, which alter perception, for psychedelic-assisted therapy involving a psychotherapist. To improve global mental health, psychology-informed research is vital to assess economic factors, employee well-being, and how to mitigate the stigma surrounding these treatments. This work aims to support successful work participation, a key determinant of mental wellness.
Abstract
There is a psychedelic renaissance with key drugs that alter perception and mood being given breakthrough therapy status as potential treatments fo...
Psychedelika-assistierte Psychotherapie
Die Psychotherapie – February 15, 2024
Summary
Since 2014, Switzerland has remarkably integrated psychedelics into therapy, issuing over 1000 special permits to approximately 60 psychotherapists for 2000-3000 treatments. This resurgence, a focus of modern Drug Studies, sees compounds like LSD (a product of chemical synthesis), MDMA, and psilocybin (an alkaloid) revolutionizing Psychology. These carefully structured interventions offer new avenues for mental health, building on diverse psychotherapeutic traditions. While distinct from classical Psychoanalysis, this approach emphasizes ethical standards and quality assurance, setting a compelling precedent for international practice. It broadens the scope of psychological care.
Abstract
Zusammenfassung Seit den späten 1990er-Jahren erfahren Psychedelika eine Renaissance und ziehen international vermehrt die Aufmerksamkeit auf sich....
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...
Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings: Phenomenology, Altered States, Individual Differences, and Well-Being
Frontiers in Psychology – August 19, 2021
Summary
Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings, profound altered states of consciousness, are overwhelmingly positive, even when initially challenging. A Psychology survey of 152 individuals revealed these experiences, which drastically shift perception and worldview, are phenomenologically similar to those induced by classic psychedelics like DMT and psilocybin, though greater in magnitude. Personality traits, such as absorption, predict these events. This work, relevant to Phenomenology, Psychedelics and Drug Studies, and even Paranormal Experiences, illuminates how consciousness can profoundly transform individual well-being and development.
Abstract
Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings (SSAs) are subjective experiences characterised by a sudden sense of direct contact, union, or complete nondual me...