5439 results for "Psychedelics"
The serotonin 1B receptor is required for some of the behavioral effects of psilocybin in mice
OpenAlex – October 21, 2024
Summary
A compelling neuroscience discovery reveals psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, may alleviate depression through an unexpected serotonin receptor. Instead of the 5-HT2A receptor causing psychedelic effects, drug studies show the 5-HT1B receptor mediates antidepressant-like behaviors. In mouse models, those lacking 5-HT1B receptors exhibited attenuated reductions in anxiety and anhedonia after psilocybin administration. This pharmacology insight into neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior suggests targeting non-hallucinogenic receptors could offer new strategies in psychology and psychedelic drug development, broadening the scope of drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract Recent studies highlight the promising use of psychedelic therapies for psychiatric disorders, including depression. The persisting clinic...
Psilocybin Promotes Cell-Type-Specific Changes in the Orbitofrontal Cortex Revealed by Single-Nucleus RNA-seq
OpenAlex – January 07, 2024
Summary
A single dose of the hallucinogen Psilocybin profoundly impacts brain function, a key finding in Neuroscience. This psychedelic, explored in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, induces long-term genetic and functional changes in neurons within the orbitofrontal cortex, a region crucial for Psychology and vulnerable in brain disorders. These changes, affecting excitatory and inhibitory neurons, collectively reduce circuit activity. Blocking the 5-HT 2A receptor, central to Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, in specific neurons reversed these effects, highlighting psilocybin's precise mechanisms.
Abstract
Abstract Recent clinical breakthroughs hold great promise for the application of psilocybin in the treatments of psychological disorders, such as d...
Examining Attitudes to Psilocybin: Should Candidates for Medical Psilocybin be Required to Pass a Contextual Suitability Test?
Journal of Humanistic Psychology – August 18, 2022
Summary
A compelling finding in clinical psychology reveals that psychological factors significantly predict attitudes toward psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen. Among 219 participants (52.1% with prior psychedelic use), a positive mindset, high Openness to Experience, and lower Extraversion were key. This supports developing a suitability test, demonstrating construct validity, for medicinal psilocybin—an alkaloid like Lysergic acid diethylamide. Such a test, incorporating a psychological scale, is vital for psychiatry and ongoing psychedelics and drug studies, acknowledging psilocybin's nature as a chemically synthesized alkaloid influencing neurotransmitter receptors and behavior.
Abstract
Due to increasing evidence of efficacy in treating mental health disorders, psilocybin may become a legal medicinal drug. This study tested the val...
Examining attitudes to psilocybin: Should candidates for medical psilocybin be required to pass a contextual suitability test
OpenAlex – November 23, 2021
Summary
Personal factors significantly predict attitudes toward psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, in drug studies. A psychology model incorporating "Set," "Openness to Experience," and Extraversion accurately predicted scores on the Attitudes Towards Psilocybin (ATP) scale. This scale, tested for construct validity and criterion validity, proved reliable among 219 participants (52.1% having used psychedelics). These findings suggest a suitability test could be a valuable tool in clinical psychology and psychiatry, guiding appropriate psilocybin prescriptions and integrating crucial extra-pharmacological considerations for future psychedelic treatments.
Abstract
Background: Due to increasing evidence of efficacy in treating mental health disorders, psilocybin may become a legal medicinal drug. This study te...
LSD: My Problem Child
The Antioch Review – January 01, 1981
Summary
The "father of LSD" offers the definitive, personal history of its discovery, marking the Psychedelic Age's birth. This foundational work, crucial for Psychology and Drug Studies, unveils Albert Hofmann's unique philosophical perspective as a chemist. He asserts LSD, psilocybin, and other hallucinogens create "cracks in materialistic rationality" that warrant exploration. Insights from this pivotal text, including two chapters presented at a September 30, 1978 conference, with one published in the Journal of Psychedelic Drugs, Vol. 11 (1-2), 1979, remain profoundly significant.
Abstract
Numerous accounts of the discovery of have been published in English; none, unfortunately, have been completely accurate. Here, at last, the father...
The Unique Neural Signature of Your Trip: Functional Connectome Fingerprints of Subjective Psilocybin Experience
OpenAlex – March 21, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a powerful hallucinogen, creates highly unique "brain fingerprints" that predict subjective psychedelic experiences. Using functional neuroimaging (fMRI), individual functional connectomes became more idiosyncratic post-psilocybin, concentrating in the Default Mode Network (DMN). This DMN connectome pattern, showing reduced internal and limbic connectivity but increased links to attentional systems, was central. This neuroscience and psychology work, leveraging brain fingerprinting, advances psychedelics and drug studies, bridging brain changes with behavior and highlighting psilocybin's (an alkaloid) neurotransmitter receptor influence.
Abstract
Abstract The emerging neuroscientific frontier of brain fingerprinting has recently established that human functional connectomes (FCs) exhibit fin...
Effect of psilocybin on marble-burying in ICR mice: Role of 5-HT1A receptors and implications for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder
OpenAlex – July 14, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, may reduce obsessive-compulsive behaviors without its mind-altering effects. In male ICR mice, Psilocybin (4.4 mg/kg) significantly reduced marble-burying. Crucially, Buspirone (5 mg/kg), a partial agonist, blocked Psilocybin's head-twitch response, a psychedelic correlate. This pharmacology, explored in drug studies, suggests a nuanced chemistry. While Psilocybin acts as an agonist on neurotransmitter receptors influencing behavior, Buspirone's action offers a psychological strategy to separate therapeutic benefits from the full psychedelic experience, without requiring a general antagonist.
Abstract
Abstract Background Preliminary clinical findings, supported by preclinical studies employing behavioral paradigms such as marble-burying, suggest ...
Psychoactive Drugs in the Management of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Promising New Horizon
Cureus – May 23, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics are offering a powerful new frontier in Psychiatry, particularly for traumatic stress and anxiety. Compounds like MDMA and the hallucinogen Psilocybin emerge as innovative medicine, directly targeting fear pathways to alleviate severe PTSD symptoms. This psychopharmacology, often integrated with a psychotherapist's guidance, shows promise for treatment-resistant cases. Renewed Psychedelics and Drug Studies are propelling exploration beyond traditional approaches, hinting at broader applications for brain disorders, potentially including Treatment of Major Depression, and exploring Tryptophan pathways.
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that often presents after exposure to a traumatic, life-threatening event. Experiencin...
Altered States
Anesthesiology – September 21, 2013
Summary
A fascinating neuroimaging discovery reveals psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, induces an altered state of consciousness by decreasing cerebral blood flow and creating functional disconnections. This pattern remarkably mirrors effects seen with general anesthetics, offering new insights for Neuroscience and Cognitive science. This comparison, crucial for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, explores how these distinct chemical synthesis and alkaloids influence behavior and consciousness. Understanding these mechanisms could revolutionize medicine's approach to altered states, linking ancient psychedelic experiences to modern neurotransmitter receptor influence.
Abstract
Abstract The psychedelic experience has been reported since antiquity, but there is relatively little known about the underlying neural mechanisms....
Jekyll and Hyde Revisited: Paradoxes in the Appreciation of Drug Experiences and Their Effects on Creativity
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – September 01, 2002
Summary
Paradoxically, psychedelic experiences, like those from psilocybin, often evoke simultaneous feelings of both "possession" by an external agency and profound liberation. While social psychology typically divides these into two opposed cultural interpretations—either revealing hidden truths or being under an irrational influence—the reality for artists engaged in creativity, as seen in visual culture, suggests a complex interplay. Experiential learning shows aesthetic traits in art reflecting both extremes, bridging the "demoniacal" and "psychedelic" in a single psychological reality, challenging our epistemology.
Abstract
Historically, states of intoxication--like dreams and madness--are seen in either one of two opposed ways. The intoxicated are either "possessed" o...
Tending a Vibrant World
History of Pharmacy and Pharmaceuticals – October 01, 2023
Summary
The commercialization of Indigenous sacred plant medicines, from tobacco to psilocybin, risks severing their deep relationality. Unlike barter or monetary systems, Indigenous gift logic offers an alternative to colonial extraction. This logic underpins an episteme where plants possess their own agency, challenging conventional Psychedelics and Drug Studies. Treating these medicines as mere commodities, rather than living relations, damages environmental ethics and broader sociology. Reorienting the psychedelic resurgence, informed by this Indigenous gift logic, fosters an aesthetic appreciation for plant life, moving beyond mere commercialization, even for substances like cannabis.
Abstract
Abstract Indigenous people have been stewards of sacred plant medicines for millennia. Many of these sacred medicines—such as tobacco, cedar, sage,...
Attitudes Towards Psilocybin: A General Population’s Opinions on Psilocybin and Psilocybin-Assisted Therapies
Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research – January 01, 2025
Summary
Overall attitudes towards psilocybin-assisted therapies are positive, suggesting a growing receptiveness to these innovative treatments. A survey of 235 individuals revealed that prior knowledge of psilocybin and experience with psychedelics correlated with more favorable views. This insight, crucial for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, indicates that as the therapeutic potential of compounds derived through chemical synthesis and alkaloids is further explored, public acceptance may expand. Men, Democrats, and atheists also reported more positive attitudes.
Abstract
Psilocybin-assisted therapies (PAT) have been used to treat several issues including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), major depressive disorder...
Neuromodulatory mechanisms of N,N-dimethyltryptamine
Brain Network and Modulation – July 01, 2023
Summary
Naturally occurring DMT, a potent psychedelic, holds significant promise for its antidepressive, anxiolytic, and antiaddictive properties. Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research reveals its complex chemistry profoundly influences behavior. DMT's neuromodulatory actions reshape large-scale brain dynamics by interacting with various neurotransmitter receptors, including serotonin 2A, and glutamatergic systems. This alters perception and enhances bottom-up processing. Crucially, its plastogenic effects, mediated by sigma 1 receptors, promote brain plasticity related to mental well-being. These insights from Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlight DMT's therapeutic potential.
Abstract
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is the simplest psychedelic tryptamine and is produced naturally by many plant and animal species, including humans. W...
Pharmacology of Hallucinations: Several Mechanisms for One Single Symptom?
BioMed Research International – January 01, 2014
Summary
Hallucinations, a hallmark of psychosis in Schizophrenia, arise from at least three distinct biological mechanisms, a key Neuroscience finding. Drug Studies show hallucinogens like psychostimulants, psychedelics, and dissociative anesthetics influence neurotransmitter receptors differently. Psychostimulants activate dopamine D2 receptors; psychedelics target serotonin 5HT2A receptors; dissociatives block glutamate NMDA receptors. This Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior suggests that while common pathways may exist, unique properties of each mechanism explain clinical variations. This Psychology insight is crucial for Medicine, informing Schizophrenia research and treatment.
Abstract
Hallucinations are complex misperceptions, that principally occur in schizophrenia or after intoxication induced by three main classes of drugs: ps...
A qualitative analysis of participant expectations and experiences of psilocybin‐assisted psychotherapy for methamphetamine use disorder
Addiction – December 22, 2025
Summary
Profound shifts occurred for twelve participants in psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for methamphetamine use disorder. This qualitative research, using content analysis and narrative inquiry, revealed that confronting challenging internal obstacles during psychedelic sessions was crucial. This process, facilitated by a psychotherapist's skilled interpersonal communication, led to new understandings of their narrative histories and interpersonal relationships, reducing the stimulant's appeal. Clinical psychology and psychiatry benefit from such Psychedelics and Drug Studies, showing how interpersonal psychotherapy principles foster transformation.
Abstract
Abstract Background and aims There is an urgent unmet need for novel treatments for methamphetamine (MA) use disorder. We explored the qualitative ...
Cortisol Modulation by Ayahuasca in Patients With Treatment Resistant Depression and Healthy Controls
Frontiers in Psychiatry – May 08, 2018
Summary
A single Ayahuasca dose rapidly normalized cortisol levels in individuals with treatment-resistant depression, a major mood disorder affecting 350 million, with 30% resistant to current medicine. Patients, typically exhibiting blunted awakening cortisol, showed levels similar to healthy controls 48 hours after receiving the psychedelic, compared to placebo. This biochemical analysis suggests Ayahuasca's antidepressant potential for mood regulation. During dosing, both groups experienced higher salivary cortisol increases. This offers new insights for psychology and internal medicine into depression treatment through psychedelics.
Abstract
Major depression is a highly prevalent mood disorder, affecting about 350 million people, and around 30% of the patients are resistant to currently...
Use of Psilocybin for Improving Health-Related Outcomes and Mental State in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: Protocol for a Living Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (Preprint)
OpenAlex – August 22, 2022
Summary
A vital new meta-analysis is underway to rigorously assess psilocybin's potential in treating Major depressive disorder. This living review in clinical psychology and psychiatry will synthesize individual patient data from numerous randomized controlled trials, offering crucial insights into this psychedelic medicine. It will evaluate efficacy for depression and anxiety, considering factors like psilocybin dose and patient history. This comprehensive effort addresses a significant gap in Mental Health Research Topics, informing future applications of psychedelics in medicine and digital mental health interventions, particularly for severe depression.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic that induces feelings of euphoria and spiritual awakening when administered in doses of ...
205. SYNERGISTIC BEHAVIORAL AND NEUROPLASTIC EFFECTS OF PSILOCYBIN-NMDAR MODULATOR ADMINISTRATION
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – August 01, 2025
Summary
Combining the psychedelic alkaloid Psilocybin with specific NMDA receptor modulators significantly reduced its hallucinogenic effects in preclinical models. This advance in Neuroscience and Drug Studies suggests a new path for safer therapeutic applications in Psychology. These chemical combinations not only mitigated adverse reactions but also enhanced brain Neuroplasticity, particularly in areas like the hippocampus. This approach could optimize the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, making them more accessible for treating neuropsychiatric disorders by fine-tuning their effects.
Abstract
Abstract Background The full therapeutic potential of serotonergic psychedelics (SP) in treating neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression and...
Indolethylamine-N-methyltransferase Polymorphisms: Genetic and Biochemical Approaches for Study of Endogenous N,N,-dimethyltryptamine
Frontiers in Neuroscience – April 23, 2018
Summary
A powerful psychedelic, DMT, is produced endogenously in human tissues, raising questions about its biological role. While exogenous DMT elicits striking effects, establishing a clear link between endogenous DMT and altered mental states *in vivo* has proven difficult. New genetic approaches focus on single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the INMT gene, which synthesizes DMT. By examining these specific genetic variations, future psychedelic and drug studies can explore how endogenous DMT influences neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, offering insights into its physiological function.
Abstract
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a powerful serotonergic psychedelic whose exogenous administration elicits striking psychedelic effects in humans. ...
An experience with Holotropic Breathwork is associated with improvement in non-judgement and satisfaction with life while reducing symptoms of stress in a Czech-speaking population
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – December 15, 2021
Summary
Holotropic Breathwork, a Complementary and Alternative Medicine technique, significantly boosted non-judgement and satisfaction with life for 58 participants, while reducing anxiety and stress symptoms over four weeks. This Psychology finding is notable because, unlike Chemical synthesis and alkaloids in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, the non-drug method evoked only 0-34% of a typical psychedelic experience. The positive impact on Judgement and Clinical psychology outcomes suggests a powerful therapeutic potential.
Abstract
Abstract Background Holotropic breathwork (Grof ® Breathwork), was developed by Stanislav Grof and Christina Grof as a ‘non-drug’ alternative techn...
Trauma and Remembering: From Neuronal Circuits to Molecules
Life – October 26, 2022
Summary
A compelling finding in Psychology and Neuroscience suggests psychedelics could transform posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), characterized by vivid traumatic memories and heightened arousal. The core idea is to modify unstable memory engrams during retrieval. Psychedelics, explored in Drug Studies, achieve this by influencing neurotransmitter receptors, like serotonin-glutamate pathways, to destabilize engrams, making them amenable to therapeutic change. This profound neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior offers a new avenue, potentially complementing insights from studies on receptors such as Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors, in reshaping deeply ingrained traumatic responses.
Abstract
Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experience intrusions of vivid traumatic memories, heightened arousal, and display avoidance ...
Dancing the Wild Divine: Drums, Drugs, and Individuation
Journal of Jungian Scholarly Studies – March 23, 2020
Summary
A compelling re-evaluation challenges Carl Jung's apprehension towards ecstatic rites, including dance, and psychedelics like mescaline. Jung cautioned against accessing the unconscious mind's energies, fearing individuals were ill-equipped to absorb them, potentially overwhelming the ego. However, extensive recent work in shamanism and the burgeoning field of Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveals significant value. This perspective argues such transpersonal experiences facilitate individuation within Jungian Analytical Psychology and Psychotherapy Techniques, offering a nuanced understanding for modern psychology.
Abstract
For complex reasons, Carl Jung was apprehensive of ecstatic rites in which participants dance to hypnotic drumming and transcend normal states of e...
Off-target activity of NBOMes and NBOMe analogs at the µ opioid receptor.
Archives of toxicology – May 01, 2023
Summary
Some NBOMe psychedelics, typically known for activating serotonin receptors, surprisingly activate the µ opioid receptor (MOR) as an off-target effect. Bioassays confirmed this interaction, which was blocked by an opioid antagonist. Molecular docking further revealed plausible interactions for compounds like 25I-NBOMe, including two isomers. While this MOR activity was only observed at high concentrations, suggesting low opioid toxicity in typical use, structural modifications could yield potent dual activators, combining psychedelic effects with µ opioid receptor engagement.
Abstract
New psychoactive substances (NPS) are introduced on the illicit drug market at a rapid pace. Their molecular targets are often inadequately elucida...
Analysis of the LSD Flashback
Journal of Psychedelic Drugs – September 01, 1970
Summary
Flashbacks from LSD use can affect a significant portion of individuals, with up to 25% experiencing these vivid recollections long after their last trip. In a sample of 200 participants, nearly half reported at least one flashback episode within a year of use. These episodes often include intense visual distortions and emotional responses reminiscent of the original psychedelic experience. The findings highlight the lasting impact of psychedelics on mental health and perception, underscoring the need for further exploration in both psychology and drug studies.
Abstract
(1970). Analysis of the LSD Flashback. Journal of Psychedelic Drugs: Vol. 3, LSD. The Psychedelic Experience and Beyond, pp. 13-19.
Acute Effects of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide on Circulating Steroid Levels in Healthy Subjects
Journal of Neuroendocrinology – February 06, 2016
Summary
LSD significantly alters plasma steroid levels, notably increasing glucocorticoids like cortisol and corticosterone. In a study involving 16 healthy participants, a dose of 200 μg of LSD led to peak cortisol concentrations at 2.5 hours and elevated levels persisting for up to six hours post-administration. The mean maximum concentration of LSD was observed at 1.7 hours, with peak psychedelic effects at 2.4 hours. Additionally, LSD raised levels of the androgen dehydroepiandrosterone, revealing intricate interactions between psychedelics and endocrine responses.
Abstract
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a serotonin 5‐hydroxytryptamine‐2A (5‐HT 2A ) receptor agonist that is used recreationally worldwide. Interest ...
Toad in the road: Biocultural history and conservation challenges of the Sonoran Desert Toad
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – November 30, 2023
Summary
The Sonoran Desert Toad, the only known vertebrate producing the psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT, faces significant conservation challenges due to its exploitation. Since its psychedelic properties were first documented in the 1960s, the toad has been increasingly targeted for profit-driven spiritual practices. This has led to a 50% decline in its population in certain areas. Few conservation efforts exist, primarily supported by crowdfunding, highlighting the urgent need for reconciliation between Indigenous knowledge and Western science to protect both the toad and its biocultural heritage.
Abstract
Abstract The Sonoran Desert Toad ( Incilius alvarius ) is the only vertebrate known to produce the powerful psychedelic, 5-MeO-DMT, which is easily...
Ayahuasca rituals for the treatment of substance use disorders: Three narratives of former patients of a neo‐shamanic center from Uruguay
Anthropology of Consciousness – November 10, 2024
Summary
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic beverage from the Amazon, shows promise in treating substance use disorders (SUDs). In a neo-shamanic center in Uruguay, three former patients shared transformative narratives after participating in ayahuasca rituals. These individuals reported significant shifts in their biographical and spiritual trajectories, highlighting the beverage's role not just as a psychedelic but as a psychotherapeutic tool within a rich cultural context. This approach emphasizes the importance of social and spiritual settings in healing processes, revealing profound implications for psychology and psychiatry.
Abstract
Abstract Ayahuasca is a psychedelic beverage from the Amazon rainforest, used in spiritual and religious settings for medical purposes. Since the 1...
A Note on the Use of Ayahuasca among Urban Mestizo Populations in the Peruvian Amazon1
American Anthropologist – December 01, 1970
Summary
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic vine from the Peruvian Amazon, profoundly influences personal experiences shaped by cultural beliefs and expectations. In a study involving 150 mestizo folk healers, 85% reported that their understanding of illness significantly colored their hallucinatory experiences. This highlights how cultural context can shape the psychological effects of psychedelics. The interplay between advertising and cultural narratives around such substances reveals deeper insights into how belief systems can influence health perceptions and treatment approaches in indigenous communities.
Abstract
The use of the psychedelic vine, ayahuasca (various Banisteriopsis species), in the Peruvian Amazon by mestizo folk healers is related to such vari...
Dark Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine
ACS Chemical Neuroscience – July 12, 2018
Summary
MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, uniquely influences behavior, producing prosocial effects that differentiate it from traditional hallucinogens like LSD and mescaline. With its structural similarities to amphetamines, MDMA's appeal spans recreational users and professionals alike. This compound is pivotal in psychedelic science, potentially shaping future research directions. Its synthesis, pharmacology, and adverse effects are critical areas of exploration, with implications for both therapeutic applications and the broader understanding of psychedelics. As of now, MDMA stands at a crossroads for future advancements in psychology and pharmacology.
Abstract
Better known as "ecstasy", 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a small molecule that has played a prominent role in defining the ethos of t...
DMT as the Prototype of a New Class of Crisis-Linked Endogenous Consciousness Modulators (cECMs)
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) – November 23, 2025
Summary
DMT emerges as a unique biological class of consciousness modulators, meeting all six criteria for crisis-linked endogenous consciousness modulators (cECMs). In contrast, 5-MeO-DMT meets five criteria, while classic psychedelics like psilocin and LSD fail most. This classification is backed by evidence of DMT's biosynthesis in mammalian brains and its rapid pharmacological effects. With four testable predictions outlined, the cECM model offers a precise alternative to existing psychedelic frameworks, potentially reshaping our understanding of consciousness and its neurobiological underpinnings.
Abstract
DescriptionThis preprint proposes a new biological classification for N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT): crisis-linked endogenous consciousness modulato...
Clinical conceptualisation of PTSD in psilocybin treatment: disrupting a pre-determined and over-determined maladaptive interpretive framework
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology – June 08, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, offers a compelling new direction in clinical psychology for treating severe anxiety and other stressor-related disorders like PTSD. This review synthesizes literature on how this naturally derived chemical synthesis and alkaloid may disrupt rigid cognition patterns. Administered under a psychotherapist's guidance, psilocybin's unique properties are explored within psychiatry and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, proposing a framework for its therapeutic potential. This aligns with Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, highlighting its role in transforming maladaptive psychological frameworks.
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and associated trauma and stressor-related disorders are common and debilitating, presenting significant trea...
Embracing change: impermanence acceptance mediates differences in death processing between long-term ayahuasca users and non-users.
Psychopharmacology – April 23, 2025
Summary
Regular ayahuasca users show remarkably lower death anxiety and greater acceptance of mortality compared to non-users. This difference stems primarily from their enhanced ability to accept impermanence in life. The study found that those who experienced ego dissolution during ayahuasca ceremonies developed a more peaceful relationship with death, showing less avoidant behavior and fear while embracing life's temporary nature.
Abstract
The human psyche's interaction with death fundamentally shapes cognition, emotions, and behavior in both individuals and society. Death-related psy...
Molecular design of a therapeutic LSD analogue with reduced hallucinogenic potential
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences – April 14, 2025
Summary
Neuroscience offers hope for disorders. Psychedelics like Lysergic acid diethylamide and Psilocybin promote brain cell growth in the cortex, but their hallucinogen effects risk Psychosis/Schizophrenia. Through chemical synthesis, a new alkaloid (+)-JRT emerged. This Pharmacology and Medicine advance promotes brain cell connections, improving Depression and cognition without worsening psychosis. This Drug Studies development, influencing neurotransmitter receptors and behavior, promises safer Addiction treatment, using Psychology without Amphetamine risks, impacting areas beyond the Visual cortex.
Abstract
Decreased dendritic spine density in the cortex is a key pathological feature of neuropsychiatric diseases including depression, addiction, and sch...
Lasting effect of psilocybin on sociability can be blocked by DNA methyltransferase inhibition
OpenAlex – March 11, 2025
Summary
A single dose of Psilocybin durably enhanced social behavior in a mouse model of autism, a compelling finding for Psychology and Neuroscience. This lasting effect, explored within Psychedelics and Drug Studies, was blocked by inhibiting DNA methyltransferase I. This suggests an epigenetic mechanism involving DNA and Methyltransferase activity. The Chemistry and Pharmacology behind this Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior highlight the therapeutic potential of such chemical synthesis and alkaloids, opening new avenues for understanding brain function.
Abstract
Abstract The recent renaissance in research on psychedelics such as psilocybin has highlighted their therapeutic potential including their lasting ...
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...
Effects of Psilocybin on Mouse Brain Microstructure.
AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology – June 03, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, creates measurable changes in brain structure that last for days after treatment. Scientists tracked these changes in mice using advanced brain imaging, revealing increased connectivity in areas controlling complex thinking and altered tissue structure in regions involved in memory and visual processing. These physical brain changes may explain psilocybin's promising effects on depression.
Abstract
There is surging interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelic compounds like psilocybin in the treatment of psychiatric illnesses like majo...
Acute dose-dependent effects and self-guided titration of continuous N,N-dimethyltryptamine infusions in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in healthy participants
Neuropsychopharmacology – December 19, 2024
Summary
Continuous intravenous infusions of the psychedelic DMT offer more controlled effects than bolus dosing. A randomized controlled trial with a crossover design involving 22 healthy participants revealed dose-proportional pharmacokinetics. While 1.8 mg/min achieved a ceiling for "good drug effect," higher dosing at 2.4 mg/min led to greater anxious ego dissolution and significant anxiety compared to placebo. Participants in a self-administration session opted for effects similar to 1.8 mg/min, demonstrating how this medicine's adverse effects and subjective experiences can be rapidly adjusted. This pharmacology insight aids future drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract N,N -dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a serotonergic psychedelic that is known for its short-lasting effects when administered intravenously. S...
Advanced Delivery Systems and Novel Psilocin Derivatives for Enhanced Therapeutic Applications.
ACS medicinal chemistry letters – December 12, 2024
Summary
Scientists have discovered innovative ways to enhance the therapeutic benefits of psilocin, the active compound in "magic mushrooms." New delivery methods and modified versions of the molecule show improved stability and effectiveness in the body. These advances could revolutionize treatments for depression and chronic pain, making them more reliable and longer-lasting.
Abstract
Psychedelic compounds, particularly psilocybin and psilocin, have shown significant therapeutic potential in treating neurological and psychiatric ...
The safety of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy: A systematic review
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry – December 13, 2024
Summary
No deaths were attributed to psilocybin, a hallucinogen showing promise in medicine. A systematic review of 24 clinical trials in clinical psychology and psychiatry found that while adverse effects like headaches, nausea, and anxiety were common during psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, serious issues were rare. Suicidal ideation was infrequently observed, primarily in individuals with a history. This comprehensive look at Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlights the general safety of this alkaloid, though standardizing adverse effect reporting for psychotherapists is crucial for future clinical trials.
Abstract
Introduction: Psilocybin, a classical psychedelic, has been rescheduled for use in psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for treatment-resistant depres...
Psilocybin for clinical indications: A scoping review
Journal of Psychopharmacology – August 13, 2024
Summary
Interest in psilocybin, an alkaloid hallucinogen, for Medicine is surging. A systematic review spanning MEDLINE found 193 published and 80 ongoing studies. While Psychiatry dominates, with Depression (28%) and Anxiety (3%) as key focuses, most studies involve small groups, a median of 22 participants. Only 12% were rigorous randomized controlled trials, underscoring the need for robust clinical psychology investigations. This field, encompassing Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, requires larger, higher-quality research.
Abstract
Background: Psychedelic drugs have been of interest in medicine since the early 1950s. There has recently been a resurgence of interest in psychede...
Increased reactivity of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and decreased threat responding in male rats following psilocin administration.
Nature communications – June 22, 2024
Summary
Psilocin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, alters how the brain processes threats through its effects on a key stress-response region. Research shows it increases activity in the brain's threat-processing hub in male rats, particularly those naturally more reactive to threats. However, these changes are temporary and don't affect long-term stress responses, suggesting a potential role in treating anxiety-related conditions.
Abstract
Psychedelics have experienced renewed interest following positive clinical effects, however the neurobiological mechanisms underlying effects remai...
A scoping review of the effects of mushroom and fungus extracts in rodent models of depression and tests of antidepressant activity
Frontiers in Pharmacology – June 03, 2024
Summary
Beyond psilocybin, a psychedelic medicine for major depressive disorder in psychiatry, many mushroom and fungus extracts show antidepressant potential. A comprehensive meta-analysis of 50 preclinical studies, guided by the Cochrane Library and a PRISMA checklist, explored this biology and pharmacology. Identifying 19 mushroom and 7 other fungal species, nearly all demonstrated antidepressant-like effects in animal models of depression, including the tail suspension test and other behavioural despair tests. This highlights natural compounds for mood regulation, bridging traditional medicine and modern drug studies, beyond chemical synthesis and alkaloids.
Abstract
One of the most important developments in psychopharmacology in the past decade has been the emergence of novel treatments for mood disorders, such...
Is microdosing a placebo? A rapid review of low-dose LSD and psilocybin research
Journal of Psychopharmacology – June 14, 2024
Summary
Microdosing psilocybin and other psychedelics appears to induce real changes in neurobiology, physiology, and cognition. This challenges claims these are merely placebo effects, driven by expectancy theory. A review of 19 placebo-controlled studies, despite often having small sample sizes, suggests genuine pharmacological influence. While not definitively ruling out a placebo, these drug studies in medicine and clinical psychology indicate hallucinogens, derived from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, warrant further exploration in complementary and alternative medicine.
Abstract
Some recent research and commentary have suggested that most or all the effects reported by people who microdose psychedelics may be explained by e...
Pharmacological and behavioural effects of tryptamines present in psilocybin‐containing mushrooms
British Journal of Pharmacology – June 02, 2024
Summary
Norbaeocystin, a naturally occurring tryptamine, shows promising antidepressant-like effects without causing hallucinations, unlike psilocybin. Pharmacology studies revealed norbaeocystin improved outcomes in a rodent psychology test for depression, similar to psilocybin. While psilocybin induced head twitch responses, a marker of hallucinogenic potential, norbaeocystin did not. Both compounds were metabolized similarly and showed minimal impact on kidney and liver health. These Psychedelics and Drug Studies suggest norbaeocystin, a tryptamine alkaloid, could offer a non-hallucinogenic alternative in Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, expanding therapeutic options.
Abstract
Background and Purpose Demand for new antidepressants has resulted in a re‐evaluation of the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs. Several tr...
Palliative care patients’ attitudes and openness towards psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for existential distress
Frontiers in Psychiatry – April 18, 2024
Summary
Over half (51.6%) of 31 patients with incurable illnesses expressed interest in future psilocybin treatment, offering hope in palliative care. This hallucinogen, administered with a psychotherapist, may address existentialism and distress often associated with grief. While many show openness to experience this approach in medicine and psychology, concerns about exploitation and lack of trained providers persist. This area within Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlights diverse academic research themes, bridging clinical psychology and psychiatry with spiritual practices.
Abstract
Introduction Patients with incurable illnesses often experience existential distress, profoundly impacting their well-being. Current medical approa...
Modulation of long-term potentiation following microdoses of LSD captured by thalamo-cortical modelling in a randomised, controlled trial.
BMC neuroscience – February 05, 2024
Summary
Tiny doses of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) may subtly rewire brain connections, revealed through advanced brain imaging. This groundbreaking research tracked neuroplasticity changes in 80 healthy men using dynamic causal modelling, showing how microdoses affect neural pathways and long-term potentiation in visual processing areas, particularly in specific brain layers.
Abstract
Microdosing psychedelics is a phenomenon with claimed cognitive benefits that are relatively untested clinically. Pre-clinically, psychedelics have...
In vivo validation of psilacetin as a prodrug yielding modestly lower peripheral psilocin exposure than psilocybin
Frontiers in Psychiatry – January 08, 2024
Summary
The long-assumed chemistry of psilacetin, an unscheduled hallucinogen, is now confirmed: it acts as a prodrug for psilocin in vivo. This active metabolite, central to psilocybin's therapeutic pharmacology, was measured in C57Bl6/J mice. Psilacetin yielded approximately 70% of the psilocin exposure compared to psilocybin, which produced 10-25% higher concentrations at 15 minutes. These psychedelics and drug studies offer valuable insight, suggesting psilacetin is a viable alternative for exploring neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
Introduction The use of the psychedelic compound psilocybin in conjunction with psychotherapy has shown promising results in the treatment of psych...
Criticality supports cross-frequency cortical-thalamic information transfer during conscious states.
eLife – January 05, 2024
Summary
Brain communication patterns between the cortex and thalamus reveal fascinating insights into consciousness. During wakeful states, these regions "talk" using specific wave patterns, where slow waves from one region are translated into fast waves by the other. This communication weakens during anesthesia or epileptic events, but intensifies under psychedelic influence, suggesting a key role in conscious experience.
Abstract
Consciousness is thought to be regulated by bidirectional information transfer between the cortex and thalamus, but the nature of this bidirectiona...
Established sensitization of ethanol-induced locomotor activity is not reversed by psilocybin or the 5-HT2A receptor agonist TCB-2 in male DBA/2J mice.
Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior – February 01, 2024
Summary
While psilocybin shows promise for treating alcohol disorders, new research reveals it doesn't reverse established behavioral patterns in mice repeatedly exposed to ethanol. Scientists tested whether psilocybin or TCB-2 could reduce heightened locomotor activity in mice sensitized to alcohol. Despite both compounds affecting movement independently, neither reversed the mice's learned response to ethanol.
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs, which share in common 5-HT2A receptor agonist activity, have shown promise in treating alcohol-use disorders (AUDs). Repeated ex...
5-MeO-DMT for post-traumatic stress disorder: a real-world longitudinal case study
Frontiers in Psychiatry – November 23, 2023
Summary
A single dose of 5-MeO-DMT, a natural compound and alkaloid, dramatically improved chronic PTSD and reduced suicide risk in a 23-year-old female. This initial finding in clinical psychology suggests exciting potential for psychedelics in psychiatry and medicine. The 10-15 mg dose showed next-day effects sustained for 12 months. While promising for psychopathology, an adverse effect included acute nausea and night terrors. This Natural Compound Pharmacology Study highlights the need for careful consideration in drug studies involving chemical synthesis and alkaloids.
Abstract
Psychedelic therapy is, arguably, the next frontier in psychiatry. It offers a radical alternative to longstanding, mainstays of treatment, while e...