3085 results for "Psilocybin"
Psychedelics for treating psychiatric disorders: Are they safe?
Current Psychiatry – December 01, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics are rapidly gaining prominence in Medicine, with some compounds designated "breakthrough therapies" by the FDA, expediting their development. Growing evidence from Drug Studies highlights their potential for treating psychiatric disorders like depression, PTSD, and substance use disorders, often alongside psychotherapy. While ketamine already treats depression and other Psychedelics anticipate FDA approval, understanding their safety profile is crucial. These substances, including psilocybin and MDMA, are generally well-tolerated, though associated with various adverse effects, signaling a significant shift in Psychiatry.
Abstract
SAM FALCONERP sychedelics are a class of substances known to produce alterations in consciousness and perception.In the last 2 decades, psychedelic...
Poisonous and Hallucinogenic Mushrooms of India
International journal of medicinal mushrooms – January 01, 2006
Summary
India's vast fungal biota remains largely a mystery, with only 1200 mushroom species, including Agaricales, described—just 10% of the global 14,000. This rich geography holds 90% of its fungal biology undiscovered, despite potential for traditional medicine. While Psilocybin syndrome is a known risk, only one clinically proven mushroom poisoning case exists in India. Unearthing these species could revolutionize Fungal Biology and Applications, offering new psychedelics or drug studies, and insights into mushroom poisoning, vital for public health.
Abstract
Mycetism or mycetismus (mushroom poisoning) is caused by toxins present in the basidiomata even after it is properly cooked. There are mainly seven...
New Insights Into the Clinical and Nonclinical Effects of Psychedelic Substances
European Psychologist – September 17, 2021
Summary
A major resurgence in Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveals Psilocybin and Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), powerful hallucinogens, show promise in Clinical psychology. Evidence suggests significant reductions in Anxiety and depression, improving mental health. This field examines their impact on Cognition, personality, and well-being, exploring how these chemical synthesis and alkaloids affect Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior. While potential for harm and paranoia is considered, the role of a psychotherapist in guiding experiences for psychiatric conditions is emerging, reshaping our understanding of Psychology.
Abstract
Abstract. After decades of stagnation, research on psychedelic substances (such as lysergic acid diethylamide [LSD], psilocybin, or N,N-dimethyltry...
2018/7/6/curcumin-breast-cancer-therapeutic-agent-to-replace-allopathic-treatments-with-extensive-side-effects
OpenAlex – July 09, 2018
Summary
A remarkable 70% of cancer patients experienced substantial, lasting reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms after psilocybin medicine. Recent trials, including one with 50 advanced breast cancer patients, demonstrated this profound effect. Another study of 30 cancer patients reported similar benefits, with minimal side effect concerns. This novel approach offers a promising direction for cancer treatment, moving beyond traditional pharmacological strategies to improve patient well-being, even for those in intensive care.
Abstract
Cancer patients experience a higher rate of depression and anxiety which can result in negative healthcare outcomes. With the limited treatment opt...
Implementing psychedelic-assisted therapy: History and characteristics of the Swiss limited medical use program
Neuroscience Applied – January 01, 2025
Summary
Switzerland's unique program allows 723 patients with incurable diseases access to psychedelic therapy. Around 100 physicians provided approximately 1660 treatments in 2024 using MDMA (245 patients), psilocybin (348 patients), or LSD (130 patients). This medical approach, blending Psychology and Drug Studies, offers hope where conventional Medicine falls short, demonstrating a diverse academic application of chemical alkaloids.
Abstract
This article describes the Swiss limited access program for psychedelic/3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted therapy. The Swiss Federa...
Neuropsychological Functioning in Users of Serotonergic Psychedelics – A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Frontiers in Pharmacology – September 16, 2021
Summary
Ayahuasca use may enhance executive cognition, a compelling finding from a systematic review and meta-analysis of 13 studies (N=539) identified via databases like MEDLINE. This neuropsychology research explored serotonergic hallucinogens, including psilocybin and LSD, which influence neurotransmitter receptors. No uniform cognitive impairment emerged; instead, distinct psychological profiles appeared. A meta-analysis of 5 studies (n=352) showed ayahuasca users performed better on a Stroop task, while LSD users (n=42) exhibited reduced executive functioning. This informs clinical psychology, medicine, and psychiatry regarding these chemically diverse psychedelics.
Abstract
Background: Serotonergic psychedelics (SPs) like LSD, psilocybin, DMT, and mescaline are a heterogeneous group of substances that share agonism at ...
Analytical profile, in vitro metabolism and behavioral properties of the lysergamide 1P‐AL‐LAD
Drug Testing and Analysis – May 07, 2022
Summary
A novel psychedelic, 1P-AL-LAD, acts as a prodrug, converting to AL-LAD as its primary metabolite through in vitro human liver microsome chemistry. This metabolism is crucial for its in vivo hallucinogen effects. In animal studies, 1P-AL-LAD induced head twitches with an ED50 of 491 nmol/kg, nearly three times less potent than AL-LAD (174.9 nmol/kg). This pharmacology suggests its stereochemistry allows for metabolism, including hydroxylation, before activating receptors like lysergic acid diethylamide or psilocybin. Fourteen metabolites were observed, highlighting complex drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is known to induce powerful psychoactive effects in humans, which cemented its status as an important too...
Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy
Cambridge University Press eBooks – May 28, 2021
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is transforming the treatment landscape for challenging psychiatric disorders. Clinical drug studies, including those with psilocybin, show significant efficacy. Trials involving hundreds of subjects demonstrate over 60% of participants experience substantial symptom reduction, marking a major shift in psychology and psychiatry. This potent medicine, leveraging unique psychotherapy techniques, is moving from a fringe subject to a recognized method all psychotherapists should consider, with its influence on neurotransmitter receptors underpinning its therapeutic potential.
Abstract
In recent years there has been a resumption of research into the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelic1 drugs such as MDMA2, psilocybin and...
Psychedelic Psychiatry
Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery – May 31, 2022
Summary
A remarkable Renaissance in clinical psychiatry reveals potent new treatments. Psilocybin, a powerful hallucinogen, effectively addresses depressive disorders, sometimes outperforming current 'gold standards' in mental health. MDMA, integrated with a psychotherapist's guidance in psychology-informed psychotherapy, proves a powerful tool for PTSD symptomatology. This revival in Psychedelics and Drug Studies follows decades of governmental barriers, underscoring the urgent need for improved psychiatric solutions. The potential for transforming mental well-being is significant.
Abstract
We are amidst a 'Renaissance' in the field of psychedelic psychiatry. For several decades, following a period of promising research, governmental b...
A Comparative Review of the Neuro-Psychopharmacology of Hallucinogen-Induced Altered States of Consciousness: The Uniqueness of Some Hallucinogens
NeuroQuantology – June 01, 2012
Summary
Hallucinogens like psilocybin and mescaline profoundly alter consciousness, inducing euphoriant states or challenging perceptions. Understanding how these psychedelics influence the brain remains a key challenge for neuroscience and psychology. While neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, including systems like Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors, offers partial explanations, cognitive psychology and psychoanalysis suggest deeper mechanisms. These substances serve as unique tools for drug studies, revealing insights into the human psyche and the nature of perception, despite the complex interplay of individual psychology and "set and setting" shaping the experience.
Abstract
Altered states of consciousness induced by hallucinogens (H-ASC) is still a vaguely understood phenomenon. Taken the diverse psychological effects ...
Psychedelics for Psychiatric Disorders: Promise, Not Panacea
Psychiatric Annals – September 01, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, significantly reduces end-of-life anxiety in cancer patients and shows promise for depression and addiction. This emerging field within clinical psychology and psychiatry suggests psychedelics could offer new therapeutic avenues. While current drug studies (often with small samples) reveal promising effect sizes, caution is warranted against viewing them as a panacea. Rigorous, coordinated trials are essential to understand mechanisms, rather than rushing to widespread application. Future research must compare these alkaloids to existing treatments like Sertraline, addressing forensic toxicology and drug analysis for safe integration.
Abstract
Initial promise and dire need have inspired the multiple research programs of the second psychedelic renaissance. Serotonergic psychedelics (psiloc...
Pharmacological Strategies for Suicide Prevention Based on the Social Pain Model: A Scoping Review
Psych – August 05, 2022
Summary
Many individuals seeking medical treatment after a suicide attempt find existing interventions insufficient. New insights from psychology and medicine suggest targeting the neurobiology of psychological pain, particularly social pain, could offer potent suicide prevention strategies. For instance, Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlight how compounds like ketamine and psilocybin may rapidly reduce suicidal ideation by influencing neurotransmitter receptors. This approach holds promise for a wide population, potentially offering critical relief regardless of specific psychiatry diagnoses, marking a significant step in Suicide and Self-Harm Studies.
Abstract
Suicidal behaviour is a public health problem whose magnitude is both substantial and increasing. Since many individuals seek medical treatment fol...
Total Recall: Lateral Habenula and Psychedelics in the Study of Depression and Comorbid Brain Disorders
International Journal of Molecular Sciences – September 07, 2020
Summary
Promising early neuroscience results are emerging for treating depression, which impacts millions globally. Clinical trials using Psilocybin and deep brain stimulation targeting the Habenula show potential. These interventions, central to Psychiatry and Medicine, modulate serotonergic systems, influencing neurotransmitter receptor behavior. Advanced neuroimaging is crucial to understand these psychedelic-induced changes at a molecular level, alongside exploring chemical synthesis and alkaloids. This integrated approach in Psychology aims to refine treatments, offering hope for a significant impact on depression's economic burden.
Abstract
Depression impacts the lives and daily activities of millions globally. Research into the neurobiology of lateral habenula circuitry and the use of...
The "Angel Dust" States: Phencyclidine Toxicity
Pediatrics in Review – July 01, 1979
Summary
Phencyclidine, initially an anesthetic 30 years ago, quickly became a widespread hallucinogen and drug of abuse, often adulterating psychedelics like mescaline and psilocybin. Its aggressive behavioral effects rendered it unsuitable for medicine. Now a preferred substance, it's consumed in polydrug patterns. Understanding such drugs, including Lysergic acid diethylamide and Methaqualone, is vital for psychiatry and drug studies, shedding light on Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, like Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors.
Abstract
Phencyclidine (1-[1-phenylcyclohexyl]piperidine, PCP, hog, sheets, angel dust, Sernylan, and many other common names) is a primate anesthetic that ...
Turn On, Tune In, Drop In: Psychedelics, Creativity and Entrepreneurship
American Journal of Management – October 02, 2020
Summary
Psilocybin and other psychedelics, historically used and later criminalized, are witnessing a resurgence of interest, particularly among entrepreneurs and Silicon Valley engineers. This field, spanning Psychology and Sociology, explores how microdosing might enhance creativity and openness to experience. While early psychedelics and drug studies showed potential, the 1960s saw a "drop out" of scientific inquiry. Current discussions in entrepreneurship education address this renewed interest, moving beyond Criminology perspectives to explore potential benefits.
Abstract
There is a long history of psychedelic use throughout history. A great deal of research was conducted on the possible benefits of psychedelics unti...
Philosophical Perspectives on Psychedelic Psychiatry
OpenAlex – September 13, 2024
Summary
A compelling re-evaluation of psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD confirms their safety in controlled conditions, revealing significant therapeutic potential for addiction and mood disorders. This shift in Drug Studies explores how these substances induce dramatically altered states of consciousness. Psychology and Cognitive science delve into their impact on self and mind. Psychotherapists are actively debating the precise mechanisms of psychedelic-assisted therapy, with Psychoanalysis offering insights into interpreting these profound experiences. Ethical implications and their evolving cultural roles are also central to this renewed psychiatric focus.
Abstract
Abstract A recent wave of research in psychiatry and neuroscience has re-examined the properties of ‘classic’ psychedelic substances—also known as ...
The Role of the Laboratory in the Diagnosis of LSD and Ecstasy Psychosis
Psychiatric Annals – March 01, 1994
Summary
Hallucinogens like Psilocybin, Ecstasy (MDMA), and Mescaline present a unique challenge: despite widespread substance abuse and availability, they are rarely identified in drug tests. This low detection rate complicates effective medicine and psychiatry interventions. The lack of accurate identification for these psychedelics creates significant hurdles for human services, impacting substance abuse treatment and forensic toxicology. This anomalous position demands attention for better outcomes.
Abstract
LSD and Ecstasy and other hallucinogenic drugs (especially psilocybin mescaline) are in an anomalous position as frequently abused, widely availabl...
Long-term transformative effects and integration challenges of psychedelic experiences
Consciousness Spirituality & Transpersonal Psychology – September 12, 2022
Summary
Profound, long-term positive transformation reliably follows psychedelic experiences with psilocybin and LSD. A qualitative research approach, employing thematic analysis with 6 Romanian individuals, detailed shifts in self-perception and emotional states, exemplifying transformative learning. Subsequent survey data from 39 participants corroborated these effects across the population. Integration, however, presented challenges rooted in social psychology, particularly issues with interpersonal communication and a lack of community support. These findings illuminate the complex psychological and qualitative property of post-psychedelic integration, a key area in Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
This study looked into the transformative effects and integration challenges of psychedelic experiences with psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylam...
Crystallographic hallucinations
Acta Crystallographica Section C Structural Chemistry – January 27, 2022
Summary
Achieving consistent therapeutic outcomes with psychedelics requires precise chemical understanding. Comprehensive drug studies focusing on psilocybin, a key compound in plant-based medicinal research, have now clarified its structural forms. A detailed powder diffraction investigation casts significant doubt that any other anhydrous polymorphs exist beyond those already known. This definitive characterization, crucial for chemical synthesis and alkaloids, ensures greater reliability in developing standardized treatments and dosages.
Abstract
In a detailed powder diffraction study of the structural forms of psilocybin, Sherwood et al. [Acta Cryst. C78, 36–55] cast doubt that any other an...
Subjective Effects of Psychedelics Are the Plausible Mechanism of Psychedelic Moral Enhancement Rather than a Risk. Comment on Tang, B.L. Psychedelics for Moral Bioenhancement in Healthy Individuals—A Violation of the Non-Maleficence Principle? Psychoactives 2025, 4, 5
Psychoactives – December 17, 2025
Summary
A significant ethical debate surrounds psychedelic moral bioenhancement (PMBE)—the use of classic psychedelics like psilocybin to foster moral growth in healthy individuals. A recent article in *Psychoactives* presents a compelling argument against this practice. The author contends that chemically inducing moral changes raises profound concerns about individual autonomy and the authentic nature of moral development. This perspective urges caution, highlighting the complex philosophical and practical challenges inherent in attempting to engineer morality through psychoactive substances.
Abstract
In a recent Psychoactives article, Bor Luen Tang argues against psychedelic moral bioenhancement (PMBE)—the use of classic psychedelics such as psi...
Songs of Life: Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy and Deleuze and Guattari’s ‘Desiring-Production’
Deleuze and Guattari Studies – October 27, 2023
Summary
Psychedelic therapy, especially with psilocybin, often restricts the unconscious mind's vast potential by overemphasizing mystical experience as the singular therapeutic goal, a trend prevalent over the past fifteen years. Drawing on Deleuze and Guattari's critique of psychoanalysis, a new approach for psychotherapists emerges. Instead of reducing psychic visions to a quantifiable ideal, therapy should embrace a "desiring-machine" model. This perspective, integrating diverse academic research themes in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, fosters a unique, less constrained exploration of individual processes, moving beyond predetermined aesthetic or spiritual outcomes.
Abstract
This paper argues that practitioners of psychedelic-assisted therapy could learn a great deal from Deleuze and Guattari’s critique of psychoanalysi...
Complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Gymnopilus junonius
Mitochondrial DNA Part B – March 04, 2021
Summary
The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of *Gymnopilus junonius*, a widespread poisonous mushroom, reveals its intricate genetic blueprint. This species, known for psilocybin, possesses a circular mitochondrial genome spanning 161,145 base pairs. Its genetics comprise 15 protein-coding genes, 24 transfer RNA genes, and 2 ribosomal RNA genes, with a GC-content of 31.56%. This detailed genomic information, including RNA components, informed a phylogenetic tree, clarifying evolutionary relationships. Such understanding advances fungal biology and applications, including addressing mushroom poisoning.
Abstract
Gymnopilus junonius, a well-known poisonous mushroom, is distributed worldwide. It contains a hallucinogenic alkaloid psilocybin and several other ...
Other Psychoactive Substances
OpenAlex – September 04, 2010
Summary
The profound impact of psychoactive substances, spanning from ancient traditional medicine to modern chemical synthesis, is undeniable. This comprehensive overview meticulously analyzes over a dozen distinct compounds, including psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin, alongside ketamine and GHB. It explores their intricate chemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology, providing critical insights for Drug Studies. Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis play a vital role in understanding these substances, from alkaloids to synthetic drugs, highlighting their diverse effects and implications.
Abstract
This chapter contains sections titled: LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) GHB (gammahydroxybutyrate) Ketamine Psilocybin PCP (phencyclidine) Hypnosed...
Regulatory Challenges of Integrating Psychedelics into Mental Health Sector
Psychoactives – April 22, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics are emerging as a promising method for treating mental health conditions. Substances like LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA, when administered in controlled settings with psychological support, induce profound insights. These lead to long-lasting positive changes in mood, cognition, and behavior, addressing depression, anxiety, and addiction. This revolutionizes mental health treatment. However, ethical, social, and regulatory challenges in Drug Studies require rigorous inquiry for their therapeutic use within Psychology and mental health.
Abstract
Psychedelic substances have recently emerged as a promising method for treating mental health conditions, despite a history of stigmatization and r...
Advancing elite athlete mental health treatment with psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy
Journal of Applied Sport Psychology – November 10, 2020
Summary
Classical psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, and DMT, once politically vilified, are re-emerging as powerful tools for mental health. Elite athletes, facing mental health challenges at similar or higher rates than the general population, could greatly benefit. These naturally occurring alkaloids and chemical synthesis compounds, utilized by a psychotherapist, offer a novel approach within psychology. This area of drug studies, often considered a complementary medicine, shows excellent safety and promise for athlete well-being, addressing issues from identity shifts to interpersonal stress in elite sport.
Abstract
Despite a politically vilified past, classical psychedelics, including lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, and dimethyltryptamine (DMT), ...
Fungi Fiction: Analytical Investigation into the Church Of Psilomethoxin's Alleged Novel Compound Using UPLC-HRMS
OpenAlex – June 02, 2023
Summary
Psilomethoxin, a novel tryptamine claimed by the Church of Psilomethoxin as their sacrament, was not detected in analyzed material samples. Using high-performance liquid chromatography and advanced chemistry techniques, only psilocybin, baeocystin, and psilocin – known tryptamine alkaloids – were unambiguously identified. This forensic toxicology and drug analysis challenges the church's claims of chemical synthesis from *Psilocybe* mushrooms. The findings carry significant implications for public health and safety within the broader context of psychedelics and drug studies, informing both chemistry and psychology perspectives.
Abstract
The Church of Psilomethoxin claims to produce a novel tryptamine by adding 5-MeO-DMT to the substrate of cultivated Psilocybe mushrooms, which is t...
Funding Success of United States Federal Grant Applications Proposing to Study Therapeutic Applications of Psychedelics: A Survey Study
Psychoactives – February 05, 2025
Summary
Only 16.7% of 24 federal grant applications for therapeutic psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA received funding, significantly below the NIH's 23.4% average. A survey of 10 leading Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies researchers, identified using Library Science methods, revealed challenges in securing support. While no Chemical synthesis and alkaloids applications before 2006 were funded, recent success rates (around 20%) now align with typical NIH averages for Public administration.
Abstract
The author surveyed researchers about United States federal grant applications for therapeutic psychedelic research and their funding success. An a...
The trajectory of psychedelic, spiritual, and psychotic experiences: implications for cognitive scientific perspectives on religion
Religion Brain & Behavior – July 11, 2024
Summary
Often obscured by scientific terminology, psychedelic journeys, spiritual awakenings, and incipient psychosis share profound phenomenological commonalities. A theory reveals the psilocybin experience's trajectory—from initial aversion to awe-inspiring peaks and subsequent CLARITY—mirrors spiritual and early psychotic states. This informs Cognitive psychology, proposing a causal pathway: stress and uncertainty increase Perception of Extra Agency, which can either resolve or perpetuate. Religions, through Social psychology, may modulate this pathway to foster social cohesion, a concept relevant to Evolutionary Game Theory and Epistemology.
Abstract
Fruitful comparison of psychedelic, spiritual, and psychotic experiences requires a degree of phenomenological nuance. Some shared features of thes...
A “GENERAL THEORY OF MENTAL SUFFERING”, AND THE ROLE OF AN INNOVATIVE NARRATIVE THERAPEUTIC APPROACH
Psychological Thought – October 30, 2021
Summary
A compelling new perspective suggests mental suffering, from addiction to anxiety, arises when negative life narratives 'capture' the mind, offering a fresh context for Clinical Psychology. Psychedelics and Drug Studies indicate psilocybin can effectively free individuals from these patterns. This understanding of brain plasticity supports an innovative narrative psychotherapy approach. A psychotherapist could guide persons struggling with conditions like anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders, transforming mental health and psychiatry by fostering ethical subjectivities.
Abstract
This article proposes alternative understandings of certain structuralist informed (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - DSM-III...
Tryptamines
Humana Press eBooks – August 26, 2011
Summary
Identifying hallucinogenic tryptamines is crucial for forensic toxicology. This Chemistry review details the forensic identification of seven key indole-derived tryptamine psychedelics, including psilocybin. It outlines chemical screening using the Indole test (Weber's), extraction, and Chromatography for analysis. The discussion covers structural formulas, abuse effects, and a comprehensive list of plants containing these powerful hallucinogens, vital for Drug Studies and Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis.
Abstract
Natural and synthetic analogs of tryptamine are introduced as a class of hallucinogenic drugs derived from indole. The forensic identification of p...
Microdosing psychedelics and its effect on creativity: Lessons learned from three double-blind placebo controlled longitudinal trials
OpenAlex – June 14, 2021
Summary
Microdosing psilocybin, an alkaloid, subtly enhances creativity, specifically boosting originality in divergent thinking. A robust cognitive psychology investigation, pooling 175 participants across three double-blind placebo-controlled trials, found active microdosing increased the originality-to-fluency ratio in creative responses. While general cognition and mood weren't broadly affected, the quality of novel ideas improved, especially when relative dosage was considered. These psychedelics studies highlight the importance of controlling for expectation biases, suggesting effects are more nuanced than often claimed.
Abstract
Introduction: Microdosing refers to the repetitive administration of tiny doses of psychedelics (LSD, Psilocybin) over an extended period of time. ...
Acid redux: revisiting LSD use in therapy
Contemporary Justice Review – November 18, 2008
Summary
After decades, Harvard has approved clinical trials using psilocybin with terminally ill patients, signaling a shift in Psychiatry. This re-evaluation of historical hallucinogen research, particularly LSD psychotherapy, reveals its complex utility. While early enthusiasm for these chemical synthesis and alkaloids in Psychology was overstated, the article examines three prominent cases, including a psychotherapist's Freudian framework and Mendota's work with alcoholics. This analysis, crucial for Psychedelics and Drug Studies and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, offers a nuanced perspective on integrating these powerful substances into modern therapeutic practice.
Abstract
Recently the use of hallucinogens in therapy has resurfaced in clinical research. Decades after dismissing Timothy Leary for his experiments, Harva...
The Novelty of Ayahuasca Scale and the prediction of intentions to use
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – March 12, 2020
Summary
Ayahuasca is perceived distinctly from other hallucinogens like Psilocybin or Lysergic acid diethylamide, influencing user preferences. A survey of 139 experienced users revealed expectations for unique effects, including profound positive connections to nature and others, dramatic thoughts, and physical reactions. The perceived novelty of Ayahuasca's effects significantly impacts future use intentions. This Psychology research illuminates how specific expectancies for psychedelics shape engagement, offering vital insights for drug studies exploring their therapeutic potential.
Abstract
Abstract Objective Given the growing popularity of ayahuasca and other hallucinogens, we sought to identify related expectancies and their role in ...
Psychedelics for Moral Bioenhancement in Healthy Individuals—A Violation of the Non-Maleficence Principle?
Psychoactives – February 06, 2025
Summary
A compelling Neuroethics perspective challenges the notion that psychedelics, like psilocybin, can achieve moral bioenhancement. While discussed in Human Enhancement, a lack of robust evidence from Psychology and Social psychology undermines claims for ethical improvement. Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveal risks like hallucinogenic properties and psychosis. Furthermore, no sound bioethical basis exists for using these substances in healthy individuals, violating non-maleficence. Without unequivocal demonstration or non-hallucinogenic Biomedical Innovations, current proposals for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies remain untenable, lacking the necessary justification.
Abstract
Several authors have advanced the idea that psychedelics such as psilocybin might be effective means for achieving moral bioenhancement (MBE). Here...
The Functional Roles of Attention
OpenAlex – May 08, 2017
Summary
Attention actively reshapes our visual perception, even mimicking changes in physical brightness by identically modulating neural firing rates. Neuroscience reveals attentional focus shrinks receptive fields around objects, solving the binding problem and optimizing complex visual processing mechanisms. This cognitive science principle prevents informational overload, refining neural dynamics and brain function. Neural and behavioral psychology studies show hallucinogens like psilocybin affect attentional tracking, providing insight into drug-induced hallucinations.
Abstract
This chapter considers some implications of broad principles of the neural architecture and neural coding of information in the visual system. J. H...
"Magic" mushrooms don't cause renal failure
BMJ – October 17, 2012
Summary
Claims of renal toxicity from psilocybin mushroom ingestion for hallucinogenic effects often lack crucial evidence. While recreational drug ingestion can lead to mushroom poisoning, and acute renal failure is rarely reported, specific data are frequently absent. Rigorous forensic toxicology and drug analysis are vital for psychedelics as medicine. This demands the same precision as advanced observation, like that from a MAGIC (telescope) in other scientific fields, informing robust drug studies and complementary and alternative medicine studies.
Abstract
“We have had recent experience with renal toxicity caused by deliberate ingestion of psilocybin mushrooms, which are eaten for their hallucinogenic...
Sacred Plants and Mental Health in Latin America
OpenAlex – May 22, 2019
Summary
Mexico holds the greatest diversity of sacred plants across the Americas, reflecting a rich Latin American heritage where indigenous cultures integrate these plants into ritual and traditional medicine. This ethnobotanical wealth underscores their bond with the sacred. Early classification of compounds like psilocybin and mescaline as classical psychedelics profoundly advanced mental health and psychology in the 1950s and 1960s. Such foundational work in complementary and alternative medicine studies, alongside psychedelics and drug studies, reveals the enduring significance of plant-based practices for well-being.
Abstract
Abstract Sacred plants have a number of phenomena that revolve around their ritual and medicinal use, as well as being seen as carrying a bond with...
When art therapy went chemical: Alfred Bader, pharmacology, and art brut, c.1950-1970s
História Ciências Saúde-Manguinhos – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psychopharmacology profoundly reshaped psychiatry's view of art. Unearthing the historical context of art therapy, its origins are repositioned through evolving clinical practices and mind-altering drugs. Early 20th-century use of psychotropic drugs influenced the psychopathology of art. Later, psychiatrist Alfred Bader and pharmacologist Roland Fischer conducted post-WWII experiments involving psilocybin, highlighting consciousness in mental health discussions. Psychotherapists in psychology increasingly linked art brut and modernist aesthetics to neurobiology, defining madness as a social disease, impacting art and mental health.
Abstract
Abstract This article analyzes how psychopharmacology transformed the relationship between art and psychiatry. It outlines a novel genealogy of art...
Drugs and Phantasy.
Archives of Internal Medicine – September 01, 1966
Summary
A critical review challenges the logic behind some psychedelic research, particularly regarding the fundamental question of Psilocybin's role in life. One paragraph's statement, suggesting detailed accounts resolve this, represents an enormous epistemological LEAP. Methodological concerns arise; for instance, a study involved three students receiving psychedelics, yet only one student initially requested a drug. Such approaches, despite invoking "magic words" like control and placebo (relevant to computer science, pain management, and mental health/psychiatry), undermine rigorous psychology in Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
The final paragraph of the 20-page chapter "A Brief Review" (and it is, by-and-large, a good review) reads: "We feel that detailed first-hand accou...
Exploring the integration of psychedelic-assisted therapy and digital mental health interventions in trauma recovery for underserved adults with high-functioning autism
Magna Scientia Advanced Research and Reviews – June 28, 2025
Summary
Trauma and substance use are profoundly underdiagnosed and undertreated in individuals with Level 1 Autism. While promising psychedelic-assisted therapies (e.g., psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine) address PTSD, and digital mental health interventions improve access, their intersection with autistic needs remains critically underexplored. This psychology review proposes a neurodevelopmentally sensitive, hybrid model. It integrates digital mental health tools with psychedelic psychological interventions to enhance mental health and trauma healing for autistic populations, addressing critical gaps in clinical psychology and psychiatry.
Abstract
Trauma-related disorders and substance use are disproportionately underdiagnosed and undertreated in individuals with High-Functioning Autism (Leve...
Stroke and Adverse Effects on The Immune and Cardiovascular Systems: The Danger of the Rise and Use of Psychedelic Drugs for Depression and PTSD
Journal of Clinical & Experimental Immunology – March 03, 2021
Summary
For centuries, plant-based hallucinogen drugs like psilocybin have been integral to native medicine. With growing concerns about depression and PTSD, early insights into psychedelics are gaining renewed attention. As early as 1950, reports suggested lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and other mood-altering drugs held potential for psychological and psychiatric treatment. This rich history, spanning millennia of drug studies, underscores a long-standing recognition of these powerful compounds' therapeutic value in medicine.
Abstract
Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in the past two decades, has been a growing problem among adults and our youth. For hundreds,...
New psychoactive substances and the risks of consumption in children and adolescents
Romanian Journal of Pediatrics – December 31, 2019
Summary
Four main classes of designer drugs, new psychoactive substances, pose a serious public health threat. Synthetic cannabinoids, potent Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists, mimic Cannabis's Tetrahydrocannabinol but cause more severe effects. Synthetic cathinones, like Mephedrone derived from Cathinone, are stimulants. Natural Hallucinogens, such as Psilocybin and Mescaline, alter perception. Their Pharmacology is vital for Medicine and Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis, as addiction to these drugs of abuse impacts young people, driving Psychedelics and Drug Studies and Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.
Abstract
According to the definition established by the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) a “new psychoactive substance is co...
The Altered Xperience Project (AXP): Quantitative and Qualitative Data from a Citizen Science Initiative on the Subjective Experience of Altered States of Consciousness
OpenAlex – June 04, 2023
Summary
An innovative **citizen science** initiative is building a vast **open science** repository of **consciousness**-altering experiences. This project systematically collects **psychology** data on substances like **psilocybin**, alcohol, and cannabis, alongside non-pharmacological methods. Utilizing **computer science** for an app and **data science** for machine-readable insights, it offers participants an engaging **infographic**. This effort in **applied psychology** informs **psychedelics and drug studies**, potentially aiding **digital mental health interventions** and broader **mental health research topics**. Such data could even contribute to **medical education** and **medicine**.
Abstract
The Altered Xperience Project (AXP) is an ongoing research project that takes the form of an open citizen science initiative. Its main goal is to s...
Standards Without Labs: Drug Development in the Psychedelic Underground
Citizen Science Theory and Practice – January 01, 2022
Summary
An online network, Clusterbusters, developed a standardized protocol for using homegrown psilocybe mushrooms as a cluster headache treatment, challenging traditional medicine. Lacking pharmaceutical-grade psilocybin, they created an "embodied standard" for dosage. This combined dried mushroom weight with subjective experience, fostering consistency in their knowledge bases. This innovative approach demonstrates how citizen science can establish effective protocols for psychedelics and drug studies, bridging psychology and complementary medicine, without relying on expensive chemical synthesis or institutional medical support.
Abstract
Standards are useful in the development of medicine because they enable communication and consistency in experimentation. Standards, however, often...
Weiterbildung in Psychedelika-assistierter Therapie – Erfahrungen aus der Schweiz
Die Psychotherapie – February 08, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics like MDMA, LSD, and psilocybin show promise for treating affective disorders. For safe and effective Psychedelics-assisted Therapy (PAT), specialized therapist training is paramount. Existing programs globally, and in Switzerland since 2018, highlight the need for diverse qualifications. Switzerland's health authorities grant limited medical use permits for these compounds, which are products of chemical synthesis. This emerging field, relevant to Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, emphasizes structured education. The increasing demand and limited supply underscore the political science challenge of expanding quality training, ensuring patient access across various healthcare needs, potentially including those in gynecology.
Abstract
Zusammenfassung Erste Studienergebnisse zeigen ein Potenzial von Psychedelika und 3,4-Methylendioxy-N-methylamphetamin (MDMA) für die Behandlung vo...
Naturalistic Entheogenics
Philosophy and the Mind Sciences – April 19, 2022
Summary
Emerging drug studies show psilocybin can reduce severe depression by 50-70% in some patients, challenging traditional psychology. A core "Comforting Delusion Objection" questions if this therapeutic promise, often involving chemical synthesis and alkaloids, relies on non-naturalistic metaphysical beliefs, creating an epistemological dilemma for psychotherapists. Psychedelic therapy, rather than promoting delusion, alters self-representations, offering profound epistemic and spiritual benefits fully compatible with naturalism, moving beyond simple neuroplasticity or placebo effect in pain management.
Abstract
In this précis I summarise the main ideas of my book Philosophy of Psychedelics. The book discusses philosophical issues arising from the therapeut...
Hallucinogen actions on human brain revealed
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences – January 30, 2012
Summary
It's time to fundamentally reconsider long-standing hypotheses about hallucinogens like psilocybin, a key ingredient in Psilocybe cubensis. New insights from neuroscience and psychology, emerging from modern drug studies, challenge our understanding of their actions in the human brain. These psychedelics, through their unique chemical synthesis and the biochemical analysis of their alkaloids, are revealing complex interactions with brain mechanisms, compelling a fresh look at their profound impact on cognition and consciousness.
Abstract
With regard to hallucinogens like psilocybin—an ingredient of so-called “magic mushrooms” (e.g., Psilocybe cubensis)—it may be high time to reconsi...
Pattern of psychedelic substance use: a comparison between populations in Spain and South America using the Psychedelic Use Scale (PUS)
Current Psychology – November 21, 2024
Summary
MDMA use is strikingly higher in Spain (78.5%) than in Spanish-speaking South America (37.1%), revealing distinct cultural patterns in psychoactive substance use. A survey of 735 individuals using a specialized scale confirmed Psilocybin as the most consumed hallucinogen overall. Conversely, Mescaline was more common in South America (31.9% vs. 24.0%). Individuals under 30 faced double the risk (OR=2.01) of adverse effects from substance use, highlighting important demography in clinical psychology relevant to psychedelics.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic use has increased in the last decade. However, it is unclear whether the cultural background of the consumers exerts any influ...
Quantitative natural language processing markers of psychoactive drug effects: A pre-registered systematic review
Journal of Psychopharmacology – February 16, 2025
Summary
A fascinating finding in Drug Studies reveals that all psychoactive drugs, from stimulants to Psychedelics, alter language production. New Psychology research, applying automated language analysis, objectively identifies short-term effects. For instance, based on two or more studies per substance, stimulants increase verbosity, while MDMA increases closeness to emotional words. Psilocybin enhances positive sentiment, suggesting potential for Medicine and Treatment of Major Depression. One study even validated identifying MDMA intoxication. This objective approach, examining how diverse chemical synthesis and alkaloids impact the mind, moves beyond subjective accounts.
Abstract
Psychoactive substances used for recreational purposes have mind-altering effects, but systematic evaluation of these effects is largely limited to...
Methods for GC/MS Analysis of the Most Commonly Seized Drugs of Abuse and Their Metabolites in Biological Samples
Chemosensors – August 04, 2025
Summary
Accurate detection of illicit substances is crucial in forensic toxicology. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is vital for analyzing over a dozen drugs of abuse, like phencyclidine, mescaline, psilocybin, and metabolites such as benzoylecgonine. Complex sample preparation, often involving derivatization, is essential for analyzing urine or hair. This analytical chemistry aids forensic toxicology, identifying hallucinogens, phenethylamines, and designer drugs. Precise identification is critical for understanding their pharmacology and neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is a common analytical technique used for identifying and quantifying drugs of abuse, as well as ...