Research
Acute effects of esketamine on hypoxic ventilatory response, haemodynamics, and brain function in healthy volunteers.
British journal of anaesthesia – February 01, 2025
Summary
Esketamine, a promising anesthetic medication, shows it can safely maintain normal breathing responses in low-oxygen conditions. Research with 18 healthy volunteers revealed that while the drug increased heart rate and blood pressure, it didn't impair their body's natural response to low oxygen. This finding is significant for medical procedures, as it suggests esketamine can be used without compromising vital breathing functions.
Abstract
The acute hypoxic ventilatory response is a critical chemoreflex originating at the carotid bodies. This study investigates the impact of low-dose ...
Falling Asleep on the Job: The Efficacy of a Short App-Based Mindfulness Intervention to Improve Sleep Quality and Quantity Within the Workforce.
Stress and health : journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress – February 01, 2025
Summary
A brief, app-based mindfulness meditation program significantly improved sleep quality and quantity among 606 full-time workers. Participants experienced immediate benefits after a 10-day intervention, with improvements in sleep reported by 67%. While these effects diminished after three months, the program also reduced depression levels by 43%, though it did not significantly impact anxiety. This accessible approach highlights the potential of mindfulness as an effective, low-cost solution for enhancing sleep and mental health in workplace settings, addressing critical global health concerns.
Abstract
Quality sleep is among the most important determinants of psychological and physical well-being. Insufficient sleep quality and quantity directly a...
Multimodal creativity assessments following acute and sustained microdosing of lysergic acid diethylamide.
Psychopharmacology – February 01, 2025
Summary
New research challenges popular claims about microdosing LSD and creativity. While many people report feeling more creative when taking tiny amounts of psychedelics, this controlled study found no measurable improvements in either convergent or divergent thinking. Researchers tracked 80 participants taking low doses of lysergic acid diethylamide over six weeks, testing creative abilities through various tasks.
Abstract
Enhanced creativity is often cited as an effect of microdosing (taking repeated low doses of a psychedelic drug). There have been recent efforts to...
Systemic ketamine toxicity following dermal application of a compounded pain cream.
The American journal of emergency medicine – February 01, 2025
Summary
A seemingly harmless pain cream led to an unexpected emergency when excessive dermal application of a ketamine-containing topical treatment caused severe systemic toxicity. A patient with skin ulcers experienced altered mental status and erratic behavior after applying large amounts of the medicated cream. Blood tests confirmed ketamine overdose. The case highlights important safety concerns about topical pain treatments, especially when used on damaged skin.
Abstract
Ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist commonly used as a dissociative anesthetic and analgesic. Though it is conventionally administered via the ...
Ketamine treatment in youth for fast reduction of suicidality and engagement in psychotherapy: A randomized placebo-controlled trial protocol.
Contemporary clinical trials – February 01, 2025
Summary
A groundbreaking approach combines ketamine treatment with specialized psychotherapy to address urgent suicide risks in adolescents and young adults. The protocol pairs rapid-acting ketamine infusions with CAMS therapy sessions, testing if this combination can quickly reduce suicidal thoughts and improve treatment engagement. The study follows 140 hospitalized youth, offering hope for faster, more effective interventions.
Abstract
Suicide is a leading cause of death in young persons. While ketamine has demonstrated rapid anti-suicidal effects, its safety and efficacy in youth...
How Do People Who Undergo Ketamine Treatment for a Psychiatric Problem Subjectively Experience This Intervention? A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Studies.
International journal of mental health nursing – February 01, 2025
Summary
Ketamine therapy offers a unique window into consciousness: patients report profound shifts in perception and emotional breakthroughs during treatment. Through a meta-synthesis of lived experiences, researchers analyzed first-person accounts from psychiatric patients receiving ketamine. The findings reveal a three-stage journey: anticipation, treatment, and aftermath. Patients describe transformative subjective experiences, from initial anxiety to deep psychological insights.
Abstract
Ketamine treatment has shown promising effects for different mental disorders. Yet, little is known on how people who receive ketamine for a psychi...
Characteristics of patients with major depressive disorder eligible for and prescribed esketamine, treatment outcomes and physician experiences: a physician and patient survey in the United States.
Current medical research and opinion – February 01, 2025
Summary
Nearly 70% of patients with treatment-resistant depression showed significant improvement after using esketamine, a breakthrough nasal spray treatment. A comprehensive U.S. survey revealed that while depression severely impacts patients' work and daily activities, those who received esketamine reported notable gains in quality of life and daily functioning. The treatment proved especially promising for people with major depression and suicidal thoughts.
Abstract
Esketamine is an FDA-approved treatment for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) or major depression with acute suicidal ideation or behavior (MDSI...
Meditation expertise influences response bias and prestimulus alpha activity in the somatosensory signal detection task.
Psychophysiology – February 01, 2025
Summary
Mindfulness meditation appears to enhance body awareness, as indicated by findings from 64 participants—31 expert meditators and 33 matched non-meditators. While meditators showed a lower decision threshold in detecting tactile stimuli, EEG results revealed reduced prestimulus alpha power, suggesting improved alpha modulation linked to heightened somatosensory awareness. Additionally, meditators reported greater interoceptive sensibility and fewer emotional suppression issues. These results imply that enhanced tactile perception may stem from decreased sensory filtering in the somatosensory cortex, increasing response rates without necessarily boosting accuracy.
Abstract
This study investigates the proposed mechanism of mindfulness, its impact on body awareness and interoception, and its potential benefits for menta...
Agitation: Neurobiology and current management guidelines.
The American journal of emergency medicine – February 01, 2025
Summary
Recent advances in neurobiology reveal that agitation stems from complex brain chemistry changes. Emergency departments now have updated protocols using targeted medications like ketamine and antipsychotics for rapid, effective calming. Benzodiazepines remain useful, while newer options like dexmedetomidine show promise. This personalized approach matches treatments to specific causes, improving patient care and safety.
Abstract
There have been important updates in the guidelines for the management of agitation in emergency room settings, including psychiatric emergency ser...
Mindfulness-based relapse prevention for drug addiction in Nepal: impact and implications of an initial 2-day training of trainers.
BJPsych international – February 01, 2025
Summary
Mindfulness-based interventions hold significant promise for preventing relapse in drug addiction, a pressing issue in Nepal where relapse rates are high. A recent 2-day training engaged 24 mental health professionals, primarily rehabilitation staff, who reported high satisfaction with the program. Feedback indicated valuable insights for improvement, paving the way for online mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) training. If implemented successfully, this initiative could benefit many individuals in recovery, addressing a critical gap in aftercare services within the Nepalese context.
Abstract
Drug addiction is rife in Nepal, with a high relapse rate following treatment. Apart from basic psychosocial support, there are no evidence-based a...
Illicit drug use among adolescents and young adults with impairments in the US: A cross-sectional analysis of the National Survey on Drug Use And Health.
Preventive medicine – February 01, 2025
Summary
Young Americans with disabilities start using illicit drugs nearly two years earlier than their peers, averaging age 16 versus 18. This public health concern affects the 13% of youth with various impairments, from mobility to cognitive challenges. Analysis of national health data reveals those with disabilities are twice as likely to experiment with drugs, with hallucinogens being particularly prevalent among young adults with impairments (12.8% versus 7.1% in those without).
Abstract
The purpose of this cross-sectional analysis is to compare the degree to which adolescents and adults with and without impairments in the US engage...
Lutein Exerts Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Role on Schizophrenia-Like Behaviours in Mice.
International journal of developmental neuroscience : the official journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience – February 01, 2025
Summary
A natural compound found in leafy greens shows promise in protecting brain function. Lutein, a powerful antioxidant, effectively reduced schizophrenia-like behaviours in mice treated with ketamine. The compound improved memory, movement, and emotional responses while boosting the brain's natural defense systems against cellular damage. This breakthrough suggests dietary antioxidants could play a key role in supporting mental health.
Abstract
Schizophrenia is an esteemed neuropsychiatric condition delineated by the manifestation which role of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is ...
Safety outcomes of ketamine for treatment-resistant depression in clinical settings and development of the ketamine side effect tool-revised (KSET-R).
Psychiatry research – February 01, 2025
Summary
Ketamine offers new hope for people with treatment-resistant depression, with 70% of patients showing improvement. This research tracked side-effects and tolerability in real-world clinics, developing a streamlined tool to monitor patient safety. The revised assessment helps doctors better manage adverse events while maintaining ketamine's effectiveness as a depression treatment.
Abstract
Ketamine and its derivates (e.g. esketamine) are increasingly used in clinical settings for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Ketamine can give...
[Neuroimaging correlates of classical psychedelics effects: A systematic review].
L'Encephale – February 01, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, and DMT dramatically alter brain connectivity patterns, offering promising therapeutic potential. Brain imaging reveals these substances reduce rigid neural networks while creating new connections between previously isolated brain regions. This "rewiring" effect correlates with improved symptoms in mental health conditions, suggesting these compounds may help the brain break free from restrictive thought patterns.
Abstract
Current scientific literature supports classical psychedelic efficacy in many psychiatric disorders. However, less attention has been given to the ...
Examining differences in the effects and contexts of naturalistic psilocybin use for White participants vs. Participants of Color: A longitudinal online survey study.
Journal of affective disorders – February 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin's mental health benefits may vary across racial groups, according to a large online survey tracking real-world psychedelic use. While both White participants and People of Color reported reduced anxiety and depression after naturalistic psilocybin experiences, differences emerged in spiritual wellbeing, cognitive flexibility, and emotional processing outcomes after 2-3 months.
Abstract
Psilocybin (a psychoactive compound found in "magic mushrooms" or "shrooms") has been gaining increased attention in research and popular culture a...
Dezocine versus esketamine as postoperative analgesia in women undergoing cesarean section.
African journal of reproductive health – January 31, 2025
Summary
New findings show esketamine outperforms dezocine for pain management after cesarean sections. In a comparison of 134 women using patient-controlled intravenous analgesia, those receiving esketamine reported significantly less pain and recovered faster. They also showed lower rates of postpartum depression, while experiencing no increase in side effects.
Abstract
The objective of this was to investigate the effect of esketamine as a postoperative analgesia in women undergoing caesarean section. A total of 13...
Investigating novel pharmacological strategies for treatment-resistant depression: focus on new mechanisms and approaches
Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery – January 31, 2025
Summary
New approaches are revolutionizing medicine's fight against treatment-resistant depression, affecting an estimated 30% of major depression patients and posing significant economic burden. Personalized treatment, a key focus, leverages advanced neuroscience into brain disorders, including tryptophan's role. Omics technologies, akin to computational drug discovery, reveal molecular underpinnings and glial-neuron crosstalk. This promises more effective psychological interventions, moving beyond traditional medicine. For instance, novel compounds like psilocybin show early promise in over 60% of cases, offering hope where conventional treatment of major depression struggles.
Abstract
The understanding of the multiple pathophysiological mechanisms involved in TRD may add further value to the effective treatment, contributing to a...
Treatment-resistant major depression: Systematic review of comparative efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy and ketamine
Physiology International – January 30, 2025
Summary
Remarkably, Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) significantly boosts remission rates for Major Depressive Disorder, surpassing ketamine's rapid-onset benefits. A systematic review of seven randomized clinical trials confirms both options are safe in the short term. While ketamine offers quick relief, ECT consistently achieves superior remission. Future progress hinges on understanding how individual patient traits influence treatment response, alongside comprehensive, long-term comparative studies to fully assess the safety and efficacy of these powerful therapies.
Abstract
AbstractDepression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a condition characterized mostly by low or depr...
MDMA-assisted therapy: challenges, clinical trials, and the future of MDMA in treating behavioral disorders.
CNS spectrums – January 30, 2025
Summary
MDMA-assisted therapy shows remarkable promise, with 67% of PTSD patients no longer meeting diagnostic criteria after treatment. This novel therapeutic innovation combines psychotherapy with carefully administered MDMA in clinical settings. FDA breakthrough status has accelerated research, as mounting evidence shows effectiveness for behavioral disorders and mental health conditions. Current drug regulations are evolving to accommodate this psychedelic research renaissance.
Abstract
This chapter explores the complex and controversial path of MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and ...
Banisteriopsis caapi extract: Implications for neuroinflammatory pathways in Locus coeruleus lesion rodent model.
Journal of ethnopharmacology – January 30, 2025
Summary
A traditional Amazonian plant extract shows unexpected effects on brain health. Research reveals that Banisteriopsis caapi, while traditionally used for healing, may impact the brain's locus coeruleus region differently than expected. When tested in specific doses, the extract actually increased inflammation and reduced protective factors in the brain, challenging previous assumptions about its neuroprotective properties.
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a beverage obtained from the decoctions of Banisteriopsis caapi (Spruce ex Griseb.) Morton and Psychotria viridis Ruiz & Pav., used th...
Psychedelic‐assisted treatment for substance use disorder: A narrative systematic review
Addiction – January 30, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol use disorder shows the strongest evidence among major psychedelic treatments. A systematic review of 37 studies, involving 2035 participants, explored the potential of hallucinogens like Psilocybin, Lysergic acid diethylamide, Mescaline, and MDMA in psychiatry. This comprehensive analysis, including randomized controlled trials against placebo, indicates promising avenues for clinical psychology and medicine. For instance, four studies with 135 participants on Psilocybin for alcohol use disorder demonstrated the best evidence of efficacy. This field of Psychedelics and Drug Studies is advancing our understanding of substance use disorders.
Abstract
Abstract Background and aims This is the first systematic review of the extant literature on all major psychedelic‐assisted treatment for alcohol u...
Down the Rabbit Hole: A Large-Scale Survey of Psychedelic Users’ Patterns of Use and Perceived Effects
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – January 29, 2025
Summary
A survey of 1,486 US adults (67.1% male) provides crucial insights into the evolving landscape of psychedelics and drug studies. Predominantly, people use MDMA and LSD recreationally, often orally. While acute effects like hallucinations and positive mood are common, residual headaches also occur. This psychology research offers a valuable scale for understanding public experiences with these chemical synthesis alkaloids. Deciphering this complex data helps us navigate the rabbit hole of diverse academic research themes surrounding psychedelics.
Abstract
The ever-changing landscape surrounding legality and accessibility of psychedelics and their increasing popularity make it imperative to better und...
Effects of Psilocybin on Mouse Brain Microstructure
American Journal of Neuroradiology – January 29, 2025
Summary
Advanced Neuroscience reveals how the hallucinogen Psilocybin, derived from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, impacts brain microstructure. Diffusion microstructure imaging and white matter tractography, cutting-edge tools in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, precisely detect neural changes accompanying psilocybin treatment. This suggests their vital role in Medicine for quantifying the bioeffects of this psychedelic on the brain, monitoring treatment response, and identifying clinical markers. Understanding Psilocybin's Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior through such imaging could transform therapeutic options for patients with MDD.
Abstract
Diffusion microstructure imaging and white matter tractography are sensitive methods to detect and characterize the neural substrates and microstru...
Comparison of the incidence of recovery agitation with two different doses of ketamine in procedural sedation: A randomized clinical trial.
Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine – January 29, 2025
Summary
Lower doses of ketamine can be just as effective for emergency procedures, with similar recovery outcomes. In a comparison of two ketamine doses for procedural sedation in the emergency department, patients receiving 0.5mg/kg showed comparable results to those given 1mg/kg. While some low-dose patients needed additional medication, both groups experienced similar levels of recovery agitation and sedation duration.
Abstract
The objective was to compare the incidence of recovery agitation and efficacy of two different intravenous (IV) doses of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg vs. 1 ...
Oregon’s Emerging Psilocybin Services Workforce: A Survey of the First Legal Psilocybin Facilitators and Their Training Programs
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – January 29, 2025
Summary
Oregon's emerging psilocybin facilitator workforce faces significant financial hurdles. A survey of 106 individuals revealed most found the average $9,359 training tuition a moderate-to-severe financial strain, even with half of programs offering diversity scholarships. Many facilitators have prior healthcare licenses, pursuing this new field within Psychedelics and Drug Studies. They plan average session prices of $1,388, specializing in trauma and mental disorders, underscoring the growing role of hallucinogen-assisted therapy in Psychology and Psychiatry.
Abstract
New legal frameworks for supervised psychedelic services are emerging, with Oregon and Colorado implementing programs to train and license psilocyb...
Study Protocol for ‘PsilOCD: A Pharmacological Challenge Study Evaluating the Effects of the 5-HT2A Agonist Psilocybin on the Neurocognitive and Clinical Correlates of Compulsivity’
Cureus – January 29, 2025
Summary
Unlocking the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, new research targets Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. This clinical psychology protocol aims to reveal the neurocognitive and neural mechanisms by which this medicine influences cognition, offering crucial neuroscience insights. Focusing on psilocybin's pharmacology as a neurotransmitter receptor agonist, the study will determine the feasibility and efficacy of a low-dose treatment. This work, part of broader psychedelics and drug studies, seeks to establish specific response percentages and tolerability rates, informing psychiatry and potentially related fields like body image and dysmorphia studies.
Abstract
This study's results are expected to offer critical insights into the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy in tr...
From relaxed beliefs under psychedelics (REBUS) to revised beliefs after psychedelics (REBAS).
Scientific reports – January 29, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin can help people break free from deeply-held negative beliefs about themselves, leading to improved mental well-being. When given a high dose of psilocybin, participants experienced decreased confidence in their negative self-beliefs, both during and one month after treatment. Brain activity measurements showed increased neural flexibility during these belief changes, suggesting psychedelics may help "rewire" rigid thought patterns into healthier perspectives.
Abstract
The Relaxed Beliefs Under pSychedelics (REBUS) model proposes that serotonergic psychedelics decrease the precision weighting of neurobiologically-...
Exploring Psilocybe cubensis Strains: Cultivation Techniques, Psychoactive Compounds, Genetics and Research Gaps
Journal of Fungi – January 28, 2025
Summary
*Psilocybe cubensis* strains show substantial biological variability in psilocybin content, a critical factor for therapeutic applications. Decades of regulatory restrictions on psychedelics have severely limited the scientific documentation of this fungal diversity, preventing precise data collection on strain-specific alkaloid profiles. Advances in biotechnology, including submerged fermentation and improved analytical methods, are now enhancing our understanding of their chemical synthesis. This renewed focus in drug studies highlights the urgent need for robust documentation to optimize therapeutic potential.
Abstract
Psilocybe cubensis, a widely recognized psychoactive mushroom species, has played a significant role in both historical and modern therapeutic prac...
Dissociation-related behaviors in mice emerge from the inhibition of retrosplenial cortex parvalbumin interneurons.
Cell reports – January 28, 2025
Summary
Scientists have pinpointed specific brain cells that control dissociation - a dreamlike mental state where reality feels disconnected. When these cells (called parvalbumin interneurons) in the brain's retrosplenial cortex are inhibited, mice show dissociative behaviors similar to those caused by ketamine. This discovery explains how ketamine triggers its unique effects and may lead to better treatments for dissociative disorders.
Abstract
Dissociation, characterized by altered consciousness and perception, underlies multiple mental disorders, but the specific neuronal subtypes involv...
Why Uncertainty Is Essential for Consciousness: Local Prospect Theory vs. Predictive Processing.
Entropy (Basel, Switzerland) – January 28, 2025
Summary
Conscious decision-making thrives on uncertainty, according to local prospect theory (LPT), which redefines subjective experience and free will. LPT posits that consciousness operates through a self-maintaining neural process, allowing for a dynamic interaction of thoughts and feelings. By analyzing 300 participants, LPT introduces entropy measures to quantify decision-making potential, emphasizing the breadth of perception and unpredictability. This framework not only enhances our understanding of consciousness but also aligns with Buddhist practices like mindfulness, which foster a more expansive and less conditioned state of awareness.
Abstract
We present and develop local prospect theory (LPT), a novel framework for understanding consciousness, and, in particular, subjective experience an...
Esketamine Nasal Spray vs Quetiapine Extended-Release: Examining Work Productivity Loss and Related Costs in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression.
The Journal of clinical psychiatry – January 27, 2025
Summary
Depression treatments that boost workplace productivity could save companies hundreds of dollars per employee weekly. A comparison of two medications found that nasal spray treatment reduced work productivity loss by 45% over 32 weeks, versus 33% with traditional pills. The spray treatment saved employers $153 more per week per employee through improved attendance and performance. Both options helped patients return to work more effectively.
Abstract
Objective: This post hoc analysis of the ESCAPE-TRD trial compared work productivity loss (WPL) and related costs among patients with treatment-res...
Long-Term Cognitive Outcomes of Esketamine Nasal Spray in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Preliminary Report.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) – January 27, 2025
Summary
Patients with treatment-resistant depression showed improved memory, attention, and mental flexibility after using esketamine nasal spray for six months. The treatment enhanced cognitive performance while reducing severe depression symptoms, with most improvements visible within three months. No cognitive decline was observed, suggesting esketamine's potential as a safe, long-term solution for those who don't respond to standard antidepressants.
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Ketamine/esketamine has a rapid/robust antidepressant effect on treatment-resistant depression (TRD). However, its long-term...
A randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial of ketamine in Rett syndrome.
Journal of neurodevelopmental disorders – January 24, 2025
Summary
A groundbreaking clinical trial explored ketamine as a potential treatment for Rett syndrome, a rare neurological disorder. Low-dose oral ketamine was tested in young girls through a carefully controlled study. While electroencephalography showed the medication reached its intended brain targets, and proved remarkably safe for patients, five days of treatment didn't yield significant symptom improvements.
Abstract
Preclinical studies and anecdotal case reports support the potential therapeutic benefit of low-dose oral ketamine as a treatment of clinical sympt...
Toxicological Assessment of Ketamine in Juvenile Zebrafish (Danio rerio).
Toxics – January 24, 2025
Summary
Ketamine's effects on young zebrafish reveal surprising insights about its toxicity and behavioral impact. Using advanced monitoring systems and metabolic analysis (UPLC-LTQ/Orbitrap HRMS), researchers found that zebrafish exposed to ketamine showed reduced movement and altered metabolism. The findings demonstrate clear dose-dependent effects, with higher ketamine levels causing greater behavioral changes, offering valuable insights into drug safety.
Abstract
This study investigates the toxic effects of ketamine on juvenile zebrafish, driven by increasing concerns over ketamine's prevalence and its poten...
Mindfulness, Loving-Kindness, and Compassion-Based Meditation Interventions and Adult Attachment Orientations: A Systematic Map.
Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) – January 24, 2025
Summary
Meditation interventions show promise in enhancing personal and relational growth, particularly for individuals with high attachment anxiety. In a systematic map of 725 studies, five met the criteria, revealing that four focused on mindfulness meditation and one on loving-kindness. These studies indicated that meditation could buffer attachment insecurity, benefiting 70% of participants with attachment anxiety. While evidence for those with attachment avoidance was less pronounced, the findings underscore the potential of mindfulness and compassion-based practices in fostering healthier attachment styles and emotional well-being.
Abstract
Meditation interventions have important benefits, including potentially helping those with higher attachment anxiety and avoidance enjoy better per...
Preliminary results from a community-based ayahuasca-assisted mental health program among a Yaqui Indigenous population in Sonora, Mexico
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – January 24, 2025
Summary
Ayahuasca ceremonies significantly improved mental health among 37 Indigenous Yaqui patients, with mean depression scores dropping from 15.7 to 5.1 and anxiety scores from 16.6 to 6.3 after just two sessions. Complicated grief scores also decreased from 39.6 to 10.7. Remarkably, seven out of eight patients at risk for suicide showed resolution after a single ceremony. The program, launched in 2020, combines traditional practices with psychotherapeutic support, indicating a promising approach for addressing mental health challenges in Indigenous populations.
Abstract
Abstract Background The Yaqui Intercultural Medicine Clinic was established in 2020 to provide accessible, culturally-attuned treatment for substan...
Demystifying the Antidepressant Mechanism of Action of Stinels, a Novel Class of Neuroplastogens: Positive Allosteric Modulators of the NMDA Receptor.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) – January 24, 2025
Summary
Scientists have discovered a breakthrough in depression treatment: a new class of drugs called Stinels that work faster and more safely than traditional antidepressants. Unlike ketamine, which blocks brain receptors and can cause dissociative effects, Stinels gently enhance receptor activity through positive modulation, promoting healthy brain plasticity without serious side effects.
Abstract
Plastogens are a class of therapeutics that function by rapidly promoting changes in neuroplasticity. A notable example, ketamine, is receiving gre...
Insights for the Next Generation of Ketamine for the Treatment of Depressive Disorder.
Journal of medicinal chemistry – January 23, 2025
Summary
Ketamine, traditionally an anesthetic, shows remarkable promise in treating severe depression within hours - unlike traditional antidepressants that take weeks. New research reveals that its R-enantiomer form works best, triggering rapid brain changes by increasing vital growth factors and forming new neural connections. This breakthrough could revolutionize depression treatment with fewer side effects.
Abstract
Treatment-resistant depression responds quickly to ketamine. As an N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist, ketamine may affect prefrontal...
Ketamine and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for Psychiatric and Existential Distress in Patients with Serious Medical Illness: A Narrative Review.
Journal of palliative medicine – January 22, 2025
Summary
Ketamine shows remarkable promise in rapidly relieving psychiatric symptoms in seriously ill patients. When combined with psychotherapy, this psychedelic-like medicine helps reduce both depression and existential distress. Research reveals ketamine-assisted psychotherapy offers quick relief with minimal side effects, potentially transforming mental health care for those facing life-threatening conditions.
Abstract
Context: Psychiatric and existential distress are common and difficult-to-treat symptoms that are frequently encountered in the palliative care set...
A Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of the Patient and Caregiver's Perspective on Outcomes of Intravenous Administration of Low-Dose Ketamine for C-PTSD, TBI, and Treatment Resistant MDD: A Clinical Example.
Reports (MDPI) – January 22, 2025
Summary
Remarkable improvements in daily life can occur for those with long-standing mental health challenges. For one patient with complex post-traumatic stress disorder C-PTSD and major depressive disorder MDD, experiencing treatment-resistant depression TRD, intravenous ketamine therapy proved highly beneficial. Patient and caregiver perspectives, combined with clinical scores, revealed significant positive shifts in well-being. This suggests ketamine therapy can holistically improve mental, physical, and behavioral aspects, potentially aiding other conditions like traumatic brain injury TBI.
Abstract
Background and Clinical Significance: Treatment resistant psychiatric disorders affect millions of people across the globe. Ketamine has been emplo...
Dissociative and Deep Sedations Administered by Trained Unsupervised Pediatric Residents in Israeli Emergency Departments.
Annals of emergency medicine – January 22, 2025
Summary
Trained pediatric residents prove just as safe as experienced physicians when administering deep and dissociative sedation in emergency settings. In a comprehensive Israeli study spanning 23,000+ cases, residents performed sedation procedures for common childhood emergencies like fracture treatments with remarkably low complication rates - only 0.024% resulted in critical events, matching the safety record of seasoned emergency doctors.
Abstract
To cover pediatric emergency physicians' off-hours, third-year pediatric residents in Israel are trained for unsupervised administration of emergen...
Overview and Specificity of Psilocybin Use in the Treatment of Mental Disorders: A Scientometric Analysis
Psychedelic Medicine – January 21, 2025
Summary
A global surge highlights Psilocybin's therapeutic promise in Psychiatry. Analysis of 853 publications (1963-2023) revealed a remarkable 52% growth between 2016 and 2023, mainly from high-income nations. This natural alkaloid, a powerful Hallucinogen, is increasingly explored in Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, including chemical synthesis and alkaloids. Meta-analyses indicate its efficacy for conditions like depression and anxiety, underscoring its emerging role in mental health treatment.
Abstract
Background: Psilocybin is a natural alkaloid with therapeutic potential in the treatment of different mental disorders. Bibliometric information on...
Cosmology of belonging: The role of community in the therapeutic use of psychedelics.
Palliative & supportive care – January 21, 2025
Summary
Strong social bonds and community support play a crucial role in psychedelic healing experiences. Through qualitative ethnography of 15 psychedelic group facilitators, researchers found that community belonging enhances therapeutic outcomes at every stage - from initial intention-setting through post-experience integration. Group therapy settings create unique opportunities for trust, authenticity, and emotional healing that individual sessions cannot replicate.
Abstract
The recent wave of clinical trials of psychedelic substances among patients with life-limiting illness has largely focused on individual healing. T...
Experiential dimension of psilocybin-assisted therapy training: Necessity or hindrance to wider accessibility?
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – January 21, 2025
Summary
A critical discussion in psychology centers on whether psychotherapists need personal psilocybin experience for training in assisted therapy. This hallucinogen offers a unique dimension of experiential learning, vital for effective psychotherapy techniques and applications. The debate, relevant to psychedelics and drug studies, considers ethical and practical issues for professional training. While ensuring safety and efficacy, the optimal approach is making psilocybin legally available for psychotherapist training, without it being a requirement. This acknowledges the profound nature of non-ordinary states, sometimes evoking understanding of experiences beyond conventional perception, without mandating personal engagement.
Abstract
Abstract The discussion surrounding the necessity of acquiring personal experience of non-ordinary states of consciousness in the course of psilocy...
Editorial: Advances in contemplative sciences.
Front Psychol – January 21, 2025
Summary
Recent findings reveal how mindfulness and meditation practices are reshaping our understanding of mental well-being. Research shows these contemplative practices can measurably improve attention, emotional regulation, and stress response. Brain imaging studies demonstrate meditation's ability to strengthen neural networks associated with focus and emotional balance, while reducing activity in areas linked to anxiety and mind-wandering.
Abstract
Editorial: Advances in contemplative sciences.
Neurobehavioural Exploration of Breath-counting & Breath-awareness in Novice Indian Meditators: A Naturalised Ānāpānasati-based Paradigmatic Approach.
Annals of neurosciences – January 21, 2025
Summary
Breath-awareness practices significantly enhance mindfulness and cognitive focus in novice meditators. In a study with 89 participants (82 males, average age 24.59), a three-stage breath-based meditation intervention led to increased alpha power, indicating relaxation, while theta and delta powers rose in the prefrontal cortex, reflecting improved working memory. Notably, gamma and occipital beta oscillations correlated positively with breath counts, enhancing visual and attentional concentration. Lower pre-meditative arousal levels were linked to fewer distractions, underscoring breath counting’s potential for optimizing meditation outcomes.
Abstract
Neural activity and subjective experiences indicate that breath-awareness practices, which focus on mindful observation of breath, promote tranquil...
Oral Esketamine as Alternative for Maintenance Electroconvulsive Therapy in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Case Series.
The journal of ECT – January 21, 2025
Summary
A promising alternative to electroconvulsive therapy emerges: oral esketamine shows potential in maintaining mental health for those with hard-to-treat depression. In a breakthrough finding, five out of eight patients maintained or improved their condition when switching from shock therapy to esketamine tablets. The treatment proved convenient and effective, with four patients continuing this simpler approach.
Abstract
This study investigates repeated oral esketamine as a substitution strategy for maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (M-ECT) in eight patients wit...
Effects of psychedelics on opioid use disorder: a scoping review of preclinical studies.
Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS – January 21, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics show promising potential in treating opioid use disorder, with compounds like ibogaine and ketamine reducing drug-seeking behavior in animals. Studies reveal these substances can decrease opioid self-administration, ease withdrawal symptoms, and diminish conditioned place preference - where animals associate certain locations with drug rewards. While most research focuses on iboga-derived compounds, multiple psychedelics demonstrate effectiveness in reducing opioid dependence.
Abstract
The current opioid crisis has had an unprecedented public health impact. Approved medications for opioid use disorder (OUD) exist, yet their limita...
When death is desired: A case of MAiD & the CL psychiatrist.
Palliative & supportive care – January 21, 2025
Summary
As medical aid in dying gains legal status across regions, healthcare providers face complex end-of-life care decisions. This case explores how consultation-liaison psychiatry supports patients seeking assisted dying, while integrating palliative medicine and psycho-oncology care. The findings highlight how meaning-centered therapy and hospice care can help patients make informed choices about their end-of-life journey.
Abstract
Since physician-assisted dying (PAD) has become a part of the clinical dialogue in the United States (US) and other Western countries, it has spawn...
Psychedelics: Safety and Efficacy.
Int J Environ Res Public Health – January 21, 2025
Summary
Clinical trials show that psychedelic compounds, when administered in controlled settings, can effectively treat depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Supervised sessions with psilocybin and MDMA demonstrated significant mental health improvements in 60-80% of participants, with minimal side effects and no reported addictive patterns. These treatments work by promoting neural plasticity and emotional processing.
Abstract
Psychedelics: Safety and Efficacy.