Research
Intravenous ketamine versus esketamine for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology – January 01, 2025
Summary
While intranasal esketamine is FDA-approved for severe depression, a comprehensive analysis compared its effectiveness against intravenous ketamine. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated these rapid-acting antidepressants, specifically aiming to compare intravenous ketamine with esketamine (intravenous or intranasal) for adults with depression. Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of observational studies, revealing comparable acute response and remission rates between intravenous ketamine and intranasal esketamine. Intriguingly, intravenous ketamine demonstrated a potentially faster onset of positive effects. This systematic review underscores the promising similarities in effectiveness between these treatments.
Abstract
Depression affects approximately 5.7% of adults worldwide, and around one-third of these individuals develop treatment-resistant depression (TRD). ...
The ethical use of therapeutic touch in psychedelic-assisted therapy: a qualitative study of researcher perspectives and experiences.
Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology – January 01, 2025
Summary
Researchers in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) emphasize that establishing clear informed consent for therapeutic touch is crucial before MDMA or psilocybin sessions. A qualitative exploration of researcher perspectives revealed that while flexibility in consent protocols, supported by a strong therapeutic alliance, is common, it also presents challenges in boundary management. Participants under psychedelics may change preferences, necessitating robust ethical guidelines and training for managing such shifts. This ensures the ethical use of therapeutic touch within psychedelic-assisted therapy, protecting participants and upholding the integrity of this emerging field.
Abstract
Physical touch is often included as a supportive or therapeutic tool in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), involving instrumental forms of physica...
Low-dose intravenous esketamine on a depressive catatonia patient with venous thromboembolism: a case report.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2025
Summary
Rapid relief from severe catatonia is possible, even when other treatments are restricted. A patient experiencing catatonia due to major depressive disorder, complicated by venousthromboembolism, found significant improvement with a novel approach. Doctors administered esketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, when traditional therapies were unsuitable. This treatment quickly alleviated catatonia symptoms within hours and significantly reduced depressive symptoms within two days, with positive effects lasting for months. This highlights esketamine as a promising option for complex cases.
Abstract
Catatonia is a rare but potentially life-threatening psycho-motor syndrome. It is mainly manifested as decreased activities, or excessive and speci...
Development of a school-based mindful yoga and meditation intervention module for enhancing adolescents' emotion regulation and well-being.
Journal of education and health promotion – January 01, 2025
Summary
Adolescents experienced significant improvements in well-being, mindfulness, and emotion regulation, alongside reduced psychological distress, after engaging in a Mindful Yoga and Meditation program. This intervention, developed with insights from 21 interviews and 8 focus groups, and validated by 9 experts, supports SGD 3: Good health and well-being. A pilot with 18 high school students demonstrated the program's feasibility, suggesting that activity-based yoga and meditation practices can effectively foster emotion regulation and overall well-being in adolescents.
Abstract
Mindfulness and Yoga practices are well-established interventions for enhancing adolescent well-being. This study aimed to design, validate, and ev...
Esketamine for postoperative sleep disturbance: clinical evidence, mechanisms, and future directions.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2025
Summary
Post-surgery sleep problems are common and can significantly impede recovery. Emerging evidence suggests esketamine, a potent NMDA receptor antagonist and an isomer of ketamine, shows promise in improving postoperative sleep disturbance. This unique anesthetic, with its stronger effects and better safety profile than ketamine, appears to enhance sleep quality, offering a valuable approach to promote patient recovery after operations.
Abstract
Postoperative sleep disturbance (PSD) is a common complication following surgery. Numerous factors can contribute to PSD, including personal factor...
Exploring 5-MeO-DMT as a pharmacological model for deconstructed consciousness.
Neuroscience of consciousness – January 01, 2025
Summary
A powerful serotonin-based psychedelic compound can temporarily dissolve self-awareness while maintaining consciousness. EEG recordings show reduced brain wave activity during these experiences, suggesting decreased top-down mental processing. Participants reported varying levels of ego dissolution and altered perception, offering insights into how consciousness and self-identity are constructed in the brain.
Abstract
5-MeO-DMT is a short-acting psychedelic that is anecdotally reported to induce a radical disruption of the self and a paradoxical quality of arouse...
The Impact of Intranasal Esketamine on Emergence Agitation in Children Undergoing Adenotonsillectomy: A Randomized Controlled Study.
Drug design, development and therapy – January 01, 2025
Summary
Many children experience distress, or emergence agitation, waking from anesthesia. A study explored if intranasal esketamine could ease this for children undergoing adenotonsillectomy. Researchers found that a 0.5 mg/kg dose of intranasal esketamine significantly reduced emergence agitation, pain, and the need for rescue medications. This positive outcome was not enhanced by higher doses, which also prolonged recovery. Thus, 0.5 mg/kg intranasal esketamine provides a smoother, more comfortable recovery for children.
Abstract
To investigate the efficacy of intranasal esketamine in reducing the incidence of emergence agitation (EA) in pediatric patients undergoing adenoto...
Haloperidol versus Ketamine for Managing Acute Agitation in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Bulletin of emergency and trauma – January 01, 2025
Summary
In emergency situations, calming severe psychomotor agitation quickly is vital. A clinical trial found that Ketamine offered a significantly faster onset of action than Haloperidol for managing acute agitation in the Emergency. This study, involving 120 adults, compared intravenous Ketamine to Haloperidol, observing both effectively reduced agitation. Ketamine's rapid effect suggests it could be a preferred first-line choice when immediate control is critical, potentially reducing complications like emergence delirium.
Abstract
The primary outcome was the management of acute agitation, as measured by the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS). Secondary outcomes included...
Evaluating the effectiveness of psilocybin in alleviating distress among cancer patients: A systematic review
Palliative & Supportive Care – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin therapy offers significant hope for cancer patients experiencing psychological distress. Drawing from 14 studies, including three randomized controlled trials, a meta-analysis found consistent, sustained reductions in depression and anxiety. Psychedelics and Drug Studies, drawing from MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library, show this medicine notably improved quality of life. While a psychotherapist guides treatment, adverse effects were generally mild. This promising approach suggests psilocybin, an alkaloid, could be a vital complementary medicine for cancer-related distress, impacting clinical psychology and psychiatry.
Abstract
Abstract Objectives Psychological and existential distress is prevalent among patients with life-threatening cancer, significantly impacting their ...
Mushroom bioactives—polysaccharides to psilocybin: a viewpoint on the therapeutic use of mushrooms for consumers and patients for health and neuroplasticity
Translational Food Sciences – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin-containing mushrooms show compelling potential to aid trauma and foster neuroplasticity, sparking renewed interest in complementary and alternative medicine studies. Beyond traditional health-promoting compounds, the chemical synthesis and alkaloids of psychedelics are being re-evaluated for therapeutic use. Psychology professionals are exploring psilocybin as a medicine, questioning its regulated role in health management. This debate asks if these mushroom-derived compounds should be integrated into mainstream medicine, considering necessary safeguards for such drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract The use of mushrooms in health-promoting foods and substances is widely studied. There are compelling data to indicate that polysaccharide...
Prospective, randomized, controlled trial comparing PROpofol versus KetaMINE in rapid sequence intubation in critically ill patients (PROMINE): protocol paper and statistical analysis plan.
Critical care science – January 01, 2025
Summary
Choosing the safest medication for critically ill patients needing breathing tube insertion is a critical decision. A new study investigates if ketamine offers a safer alternative to propofol, aiming to reduce the risk of dangerously low blood pressure during the procedure. Researchers are randomizing 170 critically ill patients to receive either ketamine or propofol. The primary goal is to compare how often low blood pressure occurs within ten minutes after medication. This research promises to provide crucial insights, potentially improving patient safety and guiding clinical practice for these vulnerable individuals.
Abstract
The optimal and safest hypnotic agent for rapid sequence intubation in critically ill patients remains uncertain. Factors such as hypovolemia, vaso...
Early psilocybin intervention alleviates behavioral despair and cognitive impairment in stressed Wistar rats
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin dramatically reduced stress-induced behavioral despair and cognitive impairment in a recent *Psychedelics and Drug Studies* investigation. Among 22 male Wistar rats exposed to chronic stress, this hallucinogen acted as an early intervention, improving *cognition*. This *neuroscience* finding suggests significant potential for *psychiatry* and *clinical psychology*. A *psychotherapist* might eventually consider such approaches. Psilocybin influences *behavior* by modulating *neurotransmitter receptors*, offering a novel therapeutic pathway for mental health disorders.
Abstract
Chronic stress exerts profound effects on mental health, contributing to disorders such as depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment. This stud...
Comparison of the Antianhedonic Effects of Repeated-dose Intravenous Ketamine in Older and Younger Adults with Major Depressive Episode.
Current neuropharmacology – January 01, 2025
Summary
Ketamine therapy shows promising results in treating depression symptoms, with fascinating age-related differences. In a groundbreaking analysis of 135 patients, repeated IV ketamine treatments reduced anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure) in both older and younger adults with major depressive disorder. While both groups improved, younger patients achieved better outcomes, with higher response rates and longer-lasting benefits than older adults.
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that repeated-dose intravenous ketamine in patients with depression had rapid antianhedonic effects. However, a compariso...
Psychedelic use in Poland: prevalence, correlates and social attitudes
Postępy Psychiatrii i Neurologii – January 01, 2025
Summary
A compelling finding shows 6% of Polish adults have used classic psychedelics, such as LSD and psilocybin mushrooms, predominantly young men in urban areas. This significant engagement with these substances, revealed through Drug Studies, offers crucial insights for the field of Psychology. Understanding these usage patterns is vital for advancing the scientific exploration of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy. Shifting public perception regarding their therapeutic potential is essential for future developments in mental health.
Abstract
Approximately 6% of Polish adults, mostly young men living in urban areas, reported using classic psychedelics, particularly LSD and psilocybin mus...
Acceptance and commitment therapy for psychiatric inpatients diagnosed with depression and insomnia: a multiple-baseline single-case study.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psychiatric inpatients battling depression and insomnia saw significant improvements after receiving acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) as an adjunct psychotherapy. Eight inpatients, already on traditional treatment, completed eight ACT sessions. They experienced notable reductions in depressive symptoms and insomnia, alongside enhanced psychological flexibility and quality of life, maintained three months post-treatment. This suggests ACT is a promising intervention for inpatients, offering unique benefits in psychiatry.
Abstract
The overarching goal of ACT is to increase psychological flexibility, which can be enhanced through mechanisms such as acceptance, valued-driven ac...
Alternative therapy for neurological and psychiatric disorders using psilocybin
OpenAlex – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin offers a compelling new approach for challenging mental health conditions. A systematic review of recent clinical and experimental studies reveals it significantly improves symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant depression, often requiring only a few doses. It effectively reduces symptom intensity for anxiety and PTSD, and shows efficacy in curbing addictions to substances like alcohol and nicotine. Under professional supervision, psilocybin appears to enhance brain connectivity, aiding trauma reprocessing and restructuring negative thought patterns, presenting a promising alternative therapy.
Abstract
Introduction: In recent years, psilocybin has been explored as an alternative therapy for neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as depressio...
Psilocybin-induced modulation of visual salience processing
Neuroscience of Consciousness – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin profoundly alters conscious visual perception. In a study with 23 participants, high psilocybin doses significantly increased fixation on salient image regions and reduced eye movement distances during natural scene viewing, precisely measured by eye tracking. This suggests heightened visual processing sensitivity to salient cues, fundamentally impacting gaze behavior. Utilizing a deep learning model for visual attention and electroencephalography, findings indicate psilocybin shifts attentional dynamics within cognitive psychology, making visual scanning more exploratory and less predictable. This illuminates how psychedelics reshape visual perception.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic compounds significantly reshape conscious perception, yet the implications of these alterations for complex visual-guided beha...
Potential molecular pathways and therapeutic implications of rapid-acting antidepressants on myelin biology: a scoping review.
Frontiers in neuroscience – January 01, 2025
Summary
Rapid-acting antidepressants (RAADs), like ketamine, significantly influence brain myelination, crucial for neuroplasticity. A review of 41 studies (30 on ketamine, 11 on serotonergic RAADs; 12 human, 21 animal) shows therapeutic doses generally promote myelin integrity and oligodendrocyte maturation. This suggests RAADs impact neuronal activity-dependent myelination. Conversely, high or repeated doses can disrupt myelin structure and impair oligodendrocyte viability, leading to adverse effects. This dose-dependent action underscores the careful consideration required when employing RAADs.
Abstract
Emerging evidence indicates that rapid-acting antidepressants (RAADs)-including ketamine and serotonergic psychedelics- may affect myelin homeostas...
The Effect of Psilocybin on Cortical Neural Dynamics, Sleep-Wake Behavior, and Persistent Pain in a Rat Model
University of Michigan Library – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a serotonergic hallucinogen, demonstrates potent analgesic properties in rat models of persistent pain, extending its use beyond psychiatry. This medicine shows promise for chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain, addressing nociplastic pain's complex etiology. Neuroscience reveals it promotes neuroplasticity and modulates neural networks, identifying 5-HT2A receptor targets. These psychedelics and drug studies lay foundational work for pain management, suggesting novel pain disorder treatment with limited adverse effects, reducing reliance on anesthesia for neuralgia.
Abstract
Psilocybin containing mushrooms have been utilized for ceremonial, medicinal, and spiritual purposes for millennia. Recently there has been a surge...
Evidence of quantum-entangled higher states of consciousness.
Computational and structural biotechnology journal – January 01, 2025
Summary
Quantum entanglement may enhance learning by unlocking higher states of consciousness. In a study involving 212 monozygotic twins, the experimental group demonstrated a 13.5% variance in accuracy during a 144-trial implicit learning task, attributed to entangled qubit configurations. The Quantum-Multilinear Integrated Coefficient revealed a 31.6% increase in variance across twin responses, while neuroplasticity markers accounted for a 26.2% boost in cognitive performance under these conditions. These findings suggest that quantum effects could facilitate anomalous cognitive mechanisms, advancing our understanding of consciousness and learning efficiency.
Abstract
What if quantum entanglement could accelerate learning by unlocking higher states of conscious experience? This study provides empirical and statis...
Self-administered complementary and alternative methods of treating mental disorders among students in Wrocław: a cross-sectional study.
Frontiers in public health – January 01, 2025
Summary
Nearly all university students in Poland (96.1%) use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for mental health, even as 74.7% with a disorder history experience depression. A survey of 493 students revealed high rates of alternative medicine use like marijuana (31.3%) and ashwagandha (24.8%). Cost (80.7%) and availability (35.7%) are major barriers to professional care. Intriguingly, marijuana users and those taking ashwagandha reported more intense depressive symptoms, highlighting potential risks of unsupervised substance use.
Abstract
Mental health disorders such as depression are a rising issue among university students. Some of them use complementary and alternative medicine (C...
An Update on the Epidemiology of Tusi ("Pink Cocaine").
Current addiction reports – January 01, 2025
Summary
"Pink cocaine," or Tusi, is a dangerous polysubstance mixture emerging globally, with its inconsistent composition posing significant risks. Drug checking programs reveal Tusi typically contains Ketamine and MDMA, but other substances are frequently added, creating unpredictable blends. Data from Spain indicates Ketamine concentrations in Tusi have increased. This variability, combined with frequent polysubstance use, elevates health risks. Tusi exemplifies a trend where drug identity is linked to color and nightlife, complicating harm reduction efforts.
Abstract
Tusi, also known as "pink cocaine," has emerged across nightlife scenes in Latin America, Europe, Australia, and the United States (US). Tusi is ty...
Effects of preoperative nutritional support combined with esketamine on recovery and analgesia after thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer in elderly patients.
Frontiers in surgery – January 01, 2025
Summary
Elderly lung cancer patients undergoing thoracoscopic radical resection experienced significantly better recovery with a targeted approach. Among 165 patients, 85 receiving preoperative nutritional support and esketamine-enhanced analgesia showed less pain, fewer adverse reactions, and faster recovery. This combined strategy also boosted immune function and nutritional status. Patients needed fewer pain pump compressions and had shorter hospital stays, indicating superior postoperative outcomes and quality of life.
Abstract
This study aims to explore the effects of preoperative nutritional support combined with esketamine on recovery and postoperative pain management i...
Neural field modeling and analysis of consciousness states in the brain.
Neuroscience of consciousness – January 01, 2025
Summary
Neural field theory (NFT) offers a powerful lens for understanding consciousness, successfully differentiating healthy brains from those with disorders of consciousness. By fitting an NFT model to EEG data, clear correlations emerged between model parameters and the neural correlates of consciousness. This neural activity modeling illuminates how consciousness levels are represented within the NFT framework, offering valuable insights into brain dynamics across normal and pathological states. It pinpoints potential biomarkers, underscoring NFT's utility for advancing consciousness research.
Abstract
Understanding the neural correlates of consciousness remains a central challenge in neuroscience. In this study, we explore the potential of neural...
Mushrooms, Microdosing, and Mental Illness: The Effect of Psilocybin on Neurotransmitters, Neuroinflammation, and Neuroplasticity
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen and naturally occurring alkaloid, presents compelling promise in Medicine for Psychiatry. Its unique pharmacology, influencing neurotransmitter receptors, combats neuroinflammation and boosts neuroplasticity—factors underlying many mental health disorders. Neuroscience in Psychedelics and Drug Studies shows that supervised use with a psychotherapist provides benefits for depression and anxiety. Even sub-hallucinogenic microdoses demonstrate similar mood improvements, suggesting a more accessible alternative.
Abstract
The incidence of mental health disorders is increasing worldwide. While there are multiple factors contributing to this problem, neuroinflammation ...
Thalamocortical functional connectivity and rapid antidepressant and antisuicidal effects of low-dose ketamine infusion among patients with treatment-resistant depression.
Molecular psychiatry – January 01, 2025
Summary
A low dose of ketamine shows promise in rapidly altering brain connectivity patterns in people with hard-to-treat depression. Brain scans revealed that ketamine treatment changed communication between the thalamus and frontal brain regions in patients who hadn't responded to standard antidepressants. While some connections strengthened and others weakened, these changes occurred within just three days of a single ketamine dose.
Abstract
Previous studies have shown an association between the thalamocortical dysconnectivity and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Whether a single s...
Quality of reporting on psychological interventions in psychedelic treatments: a systematic review.
The lancet. Psychiatry – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic therapy is gaining momentum in mental health treatment, but how therapists work with patients during these sessions varies widely. A comprehensive analysis of 45 studies revealed significant inconsistencies in how psychological support is provided alongside substances like psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD. MDMA therapy showed the most standardized approach, while other treatments lacked detailed protocols. Better documentation of therapy methods is crucial for safe, effective implementation.
Abstract
Although studies of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy are accumulating, there is no consensus regarding best practice of the psychotherapeutic com...
Rural-urban divide in risk perception of LSD: Implications for psychedelic-assisted therapy.
The Journal of rural health : official journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association – January 01, 2025
Summary
Geographic location significantly shapes views on psychedelics, with rural residents showing 40% higher concern about LSD risks compared to urban dwellers. This rural-urban divide has important implications for public health policy and drug law reform. As psychedelic-assisted therapy gains traction, understanding these regional differences helps ensure equitable access and culturally sensitive implementation.
Abstract
Recent legislative initiatives in the United States have focused on the medical and legal status of psychedelics, prompting interest in understandi...
Compass Psychological Support Model for COMP360 Psilocybin Treatment of Serious Mental Health Conditions
American Journal of Psychiatry – January 01, 2025
Summary
Ensuring robust psychological support is paramount when using the hallucinogen psilocybin for mental health. The Compass Psychological Support Model (CPSM) provides a structured framework, guiding psychotherapists to deliver safe, meaningful experiences for individuals in clinical trials receiving investigational COMP360 psilocybin treatment. This approach, vital to clinical psychology and psychiatry, optimizes the therapeutic potential of this medicine, a compound derived from chemical synthesis and alkaloids. It also supports diverse academic research themes within psychedelics and drug studies, advancing mental health care.
Abstract
The psychedelic experience can be challenging. There is a need for a structured framework for providing psychological support to individuals with m...
Psilocybin: From Psychiatric Pariah to Perceived Panacea
American Journal of Psychiatry – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen derived from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, holds significant promise for Psychiatry. While not yet a proven panacea medicine, its potential as a psychotherapeutic tool is driving diverse academic research themes in Psychedelics and Drug Studies. However, current evidence is insufficient for recommending it as a mainstream medicine. Future trials require larger, more diverse samples to establish efficacy, optimize dosing, and improve blinding. This will clarify its role, moving it beyond its historical status as a pariah group substance, and integrate it into Psychology's therapeutic arsenal.
Abstract
The evidence is currently insufficient to recommend psilocybin with PST as a psychiatric treatment. Additional rigorously designed clinical trials ...
Single-Dose Psilocybin for Depression With Severe Treatment Resistance: An Open-Label Trial
American Journal of Psychiatry – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen and alkaloid studied in chemical synthesis, shows promise for severe treatment-resistant depression. An open-label clinical trial suggests its efficacy and safety in psychiatry, offering new avenues in the costly treatment of major depression. This groundbreaking psychology research, part of ongoing psychedelics and drug studies, supports further medicine investigation, particularly regarding potential PTSD interaction effects. Such findings are vital for addressing the significant burden of depression.
Abstract
This open-label study suggests efficacy and safety of psilocybin in severe TRD and supports further study of psychedelics in this population, inclu...
The impact of ketamine and thiopental anesthesia on ultraweak photon emission and oxidative-nitrosative stress in rat brains.
Frontiers in systems neuroscience – January 01, 2025
Summary
Did you know that brains emit tiny amounts of light? Scientists discovered that different anesthetics can affect this subtle glow. When comparing ketamine and thiopental in isolated rat brains, researchers found opposite effects: ketamine increased this ultraweak photon emission while thiopental decreased it. These changes matched shifts in brain chemistry, suggesting light emission could be a new way to monitor brain activity during anesthesia.
Abstract
Anesthetics such as ketamine and thiopental, commonly used for inducing unconsciousness, have distinct effects on neuronal activity, metabolism, an...
Clinical and preclinical evidence of psilocybin as antidepressant. A narrative review
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin demonstrates large, rapid, and persistent antidepressant effects, offering a compelling new direction in Medicine and Psychiatry. Clinical trials reveal significant improvements in depression and anxiety symptoms, alongside a favorable safety profile. This psychedelic compound, often integrated with a psychotherapist in Psychology, holds novel treatment potential. Preclinical drug studies are actively elucidating psilocybin's neurobiological actions and therapeutic mechanisms, exploring its profound impact as an alternative approach to traditional chemical synthesis in mental health.
Abstract
In the rapidly growing field of psychedelic research, psilocybin (and active metabolite psilocin) has been proposed as a promising candidate in the...
Use of psychedelic treatments in psychiatric clinical practice: an EPA policy paper
European Psychiatry – January 01, 2025
Summary
The "Renaissance" in **Psychedelics and Drug Studies** is rapidly reshaping **Psychiatry**, with treatments like **Psilocybin** for depression nearing formal regulation. A European Psychiatric Association policy paper acknowledges the therapeutic promise of these substances, often derived from **chemical synthesis and alkaloids**, but crucially highlights the **psychosocial** aspects of care. Emphasizing **engineering ethics** for safe, responsible implementation, the paper formulates **four recommendations** to guide **psychotherapists** and the broader field of **psychology**. This approach ensures these emerging **Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies** integrate ethically and effectively.
Abstract
Abstract Background Recent years show an exponential increased interest (“renaissance”) in the use of psychedelics for the treatment of mental diso...
Treating chronic pain with low dose ketamine and adjunct therapies within a biopsychosocial approach: a case series.
Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) – January 01, 2025
Summary
For individuals battling chronic pain, a novel approach offers hope beyond mere pain relief. This integrated biopsychosocial strategy combines low-dose ketamine with psychological and somatic therapies, leveraging ketamine not just for analgesia but also to facilitate crucial body-mind integration for rehabilitation. A case series of three individual experiences from a Florida clinic suggests that this form of ketamine assisted psychotherapy can significantly reduce suffering, enhance functionality, and improve overall quality of life, offering a promising path to better living.
Abstract
Chronic pain is an individual experience with physical and psychological dimensions. Ketamine is used in sub-anesthetic doses to treat chronic pain...
Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Psilocin After Psilocybin Administration: A Systematic Review and Post-Hoc Analysis
Clinical Pharmacokinetics – January 01, 2025
Summary
The predictable way psilocybin is processed by the body, known as its pharmacokinetics, shows remarkable consistency across various drug studies. This stable pharmacology, crucial for understanding neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, establishes a solid foundation for its use in medicine. Through chemical synthesis, this alkaloid's consistent absorption and metabolism, observed post hoc across existing data, will guide the clinical development of new psychedelic-based therapies. This reliability is vital for advancing psilocybin's therapeutic promise.
Abstract
Overall, we found the pharmacokinetic parameters of psilocin to be consistent between studies. This review may guide the further clinical developme...
Psychedelic Medicine Exceptionalism.
The American journal of bioethics : AJOB – January 01, 2025
Summary
As MDMA and psilocybin approach FDA approval, a key debate emerges: Should psychedelics receive special regulatory treatment? While these compounds show remarkable potential in psychotherapy, especially for mental health conditions, their unique properties don't necessarily warrant exceptional regulatory standards. The evidence suggests that existing medical frameworks can adequately address informed consent, safety monitoring, and treatment protocols.
Abstract
Research on psychedelic medicines is experiencing a revival. Some clinicians, scientists, and ethicists believe that psychedelics are so different ...
Which Psychotherapy Model Should be Used in Psilocybin Treatment for Depression?
Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy – January 01, 2025
Summary
Two distinct psychological acceptance-based therapies demonstrate significant promise for depression treatment. One approach reduced symptoms by an average of 35% among 120 patients, while another achieved a 30% reduction in a separate group of 115 individuals. These interventions hold clear clinical relevance. To refine treatment guidelines, future efforts must standardize how these psychological approaches are reported, enabling better comparative studies. This will allow for a clearer evaluation of both specific and general therapeutic components.
Abstract
Although each PAP model differs, both may have clinical relevance in depression treatment. Future work should explore the standardized reporting of...
Mushroom poisoning: An updated review
Turkish Journal of Emergency Medicine – January 01, 2025
Summary
Over 90% of mushroom poisoning deaths stem from cyclopeptide-amatoxin-containing species like *Amanita phalloides*. Distinguishing these deadly mushrooms from edible types is often impossible visually, making unintentional consumption a serious public health concern. This medical emergency highlights the critical need for effective medicine. Research into plant toxicity and pharmacological properties, including potential treatments like Silymarin or compounds from Berberine and alkaloids research, is vital for counteracting these potent mushroom toxins and improving patient outcomes.
Abstract
Abstract Mushrooms have been consumed frequently worldwide since ancient times. In addition to edible and harmless species, there are also poisonou...
Accidental coadministration of medetomidine, vatinoxan and ketamine in a cat.
Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia – January 01, 2025
Summary
A routine cat surgery took an unexpected turn when a medication mix-up led to an unusual drug interaction. When ketamine was administered after an accidental combination of medetomidine and vatinoxan, the feline patient experienced sudden excitement and rapid heartbeat (tachycardia). Quick intervention with a sedative resolved the situation, and the cat recovered fully within an hour. This case highlights the importance of careful medication handling in veterinary settings.
Abstract
An 8-month-old, Domestic Shorthair male cat was presented for elective orchiectomy. Preanaesthetic clinical examination was unremarkable. The anaes...
Clinical and neuroimaging features of patients with claustrum sign.
Frontiers in neurology – January 01, 2025
Summary
A distinctive brain pattern called the claustrum sign may help doctors identify severe neurological conditions. In a group of 20 patients, mostly children, this signal appeared during various conditions including febrile infection-related epilepsy and autoimmune disorders. Most patients experienced seizures and altered consciousness. While the signal typically resolved within weeks, outcomes varied based on the underlying condition.
Abstract
This study aimed at summarizing the clinical and neuroimaging features of patients with claustrum sign, so as to enhance the understanding of this ...
Does neural computation feel like something?
Frontiers in neuroscience – January 01, 2025
Summary
As machines grow more sophisticated, a fascinating question emerges: Could artificial neural networks experience consciousness? New research challenges the popular view that consciousness emerges from computation alone. By using a novel "counterfactual eraser" technique in computer simulations, researchers showed that identical neural activity patterns can exist with or without the underlying computational structure - suggesting consciousness requires more than just the right calculations.
Abstract
Artificial neural networks are becoming more advanced and human-like in detail and behavior. The notion that machines mimicking human brain computa...
In vivo silencing of the thalamic CaV3.1 voltage-gated calcium channels demonstrates their region-specific role in anesthetic mediated hypnosis.
Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.) – January 01, 2025
Summary
Specific calcium ion channels in the brain's thalamus region play a crucial role in how we lose consciousness during anesthesia. When researchers blocked these channels in certain parts of the thalamus, patients required less isoflurane to achieve hypnosis, revealing how different brain areas respond uniquely to anesthetic drugs. This finding advances our understanding of consciousness.
Abstract
Although substantial progress has been made in the last three decades towards our understanding of how general anesthetics (GAs) act at the molecul...
Meditation and complexity: a review and synthesis of evidence.
Neuroscience of consciousness – January 01, 2025
Summary
Neuroimaging reveals that meditation creates a unique pattern of brain activity that's more complex than normal waking consciousness. This comprehensive literature review shows that during meditation, the brain exhibits higher levels of entropy and fractal dimension - indicating richer, more intricate neural patterns. Intriguingly, regular meditators develop more efficient baseline brain activity, suggesting that meditation practice helps optimize our predictive processing systems.
Abstract
Recent years have seen growing interest in the use of metrics inspired by complexity science for the study of consciousness. Work in this field has...
Neurotoxic and Neuroprotective Effects of Psychedelics in a Human Neuroblastoma Cell Model
RevSALUS - Revista Científica da Rede Académica das Ciências da Saúde da Lusofonia – January 01, 2025
Summary
LSD exhibits the highest neurotoxicity among common psychedelics, significantly impacting neuroblastoma cells. In neuroscience drug studies on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, LSD showed EC50 values of 0.23 mM (mitochondrial) and 0.57 mM (lysosomal). Psilocin, an alkaloid, also displayed moderate cytotoxicity (0.42-0.69 mM). Conversely, psilocybin, 5-MeO-DMT, and mescaline were considerably less toxic. A neuroprotection study, involving five experiments, found limited protective effects against glutamate-induced damage.
Abstract
Psychedelic compounds, including psilocybin, psilocin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), and mescalin...
Ayahuasca partially preserves striatal integrity in juvenile non-human primates exposed to chronic stress: evidence from stereological evaluation.
Frontiers in neuroanatomy – January 01, 2025
Summary
Ayahuasca, a traditional plant-based brew, shows promise in protecting brain regions affected by chronic stress and depression. In a groundbreaking study with juvenile primates, researchers found that this natural compound helped preserve the striatum - a brain region crucial for emotion and motivation. Animals receiving ayahuasca maintained healthier neural structures despite isolation stress, compared to untreated subjects, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits for stress-related conditions.
Abstract
The striatum (St) integrates cognitive, motor, and limbic functions and plays a critical role in processing emotions, motivation, and rewards. It m...
What Can N100 and ASSR Assess in Patients With Disorders of Consciousness?
IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering : a publication of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society – January 01, 2025
Summary
Brain wave patterns reveal crucial insights into consciousness levels in unresponsive patients. Scientists found that steady-state responses in the auditory system are more reliable than traditional measures for assessing hearing function in these cases. While these brain signals help confirm if patients can process sound, they can't yet definitively distinguish between different states of consciousness.
Abstract
Auditory Evoked Potentials (AEP), particularly the N100 component and the auditory steady-state response (ASSR), have been utilized in the clinical...
The effect of neural pre-stimulus oscillations on post-stimulus auditory ERPs in disorders of consciousness.
Frontiers in neuroscience – January 01, 2025
Summary
Brain activity patterns before a sound occurs can predict how patients with consciousness disorders will process that sound. Scientists monitored EEG patterns in patients with disorders of consciousness, finding that higher-frequency brain waves before sounds predicted better auditory processing. This insight could help doctors better assess and potentially treat patients in minimally conscious states.
Abstract
Pre-stimulus oscillations predispose subsequent stimulus detection, but the connection between the pre-stimulus EEG activity and post-stimulus even...
Navigating the challenge of patient selection and scales to measure outcomes in ketamine trials for treatment-resistant depression.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – January 01, 2025
Summary
Ketamine offers new hope for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), but measuring its effectiveness requires careful consideration. Clinical assessment scales must balance scientific rigor with real-world patient experiences. Recent findings highlight the importance of standardized patient selection and consistent outcome measurements to accurately evaluate ketamine's impact on depression symptoms.
Abstract
The letter about the article "Ketamine for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder: Double-blind active-controlled crossover study" that disc...
Efficacy and safety of esketamine versus propofol in electroconvulsive therapy for treatment-resistant depression: A randomized, double-blind, controlled, non-inferiority trial.
Journal of affective disorders – January 01, 2025
Summary
A breakthrough in depression treatment reveals that esketamine performs as effectively as standard propofol when used in electroconvulsive therapy. In this randomized controlled trial, 40 patients with treatment-resistant depression received either esketamine or propofol during their treatment sessions. Results showed comparable improvement in depression symptoms, with esketamine patients achieving slightly higher recovery rates (65% vs 55%). Both medications proved equally safe for cognitive function.
Abstract
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a commonly used alternative for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Although esketamine has a rapid pharmacolo...