3085 results for "Psilocybin"
Pharmacotherapy to Prevent Alcohol Relapse in Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease.
Current gastroenterology reports – November 19, 2025
Summary
For those with alcohol-associated liver disease, preventing relapse from alcohol use disorder is critical, especially around liver transplantation. While pharmacotherapy like Naltrexone and Acamprosate effectively aids relapse prevention, and Baclofen shows promise even in cirrhosis, these treatments are often underutilized. However, integrated care models are proving highly successful in expanding access and improving patient outcomes through better uptake of these vital medications.
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) drives alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), and relapsing after abstinence remains a significant challenge before and...
Translation and cultural adaptation of the States of Consciousness Questionnaire (SOCQ) and statistical validation of the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ30) in Brazilian Portuguese
Archives of Clinical Psychiatry (São Paulo) – January 01, 2017
Summary
Unlocking insights into profound altered states of consciousness is now significantly advanced for Portuguese speakers. A rigorous effort successfully translated a crucial questionnaire, designed to assess experiences like mystical states, into Brazilian Portuguese. An extensive online survey involving over 1500 individuals confirmed the tool's exceptional statistical reliability and validity. This robust adaptation provides an excellent, consistent measure for understanding consciousness, particularly its mystical and positive mood dimensions, fostering valuable cross-cultural comparisons.
Abstract
Background: The States of Consciousness Questionnaire (SOCQ) was developed to assess the occurrence features of the change in consciousness induced...
Synthesis and characterization of high‐purity N,N‐dimethyltryptamine hemifumarate for human clinical trials
Drug Testing and Analysis – July 01, 2020
Summary
A highly pure form of the psychedelic DMT is now ready for clinical trials, crucial for advancing drug studies. Through novel chemical synthesis, using aluminum hydride from lithium aluminum hydride, a DMT hemifumarate salt was produced. Extensive chemistry analysis—mass spectrometry, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance, and chromatography—confirmed minimal 99.9% purity. This rigorous standard, essential across all drug studies from cannabis to other alkaloids, ensures safety. No significant impurities or residual lithium were detected, meeting regulatory requirements.
Abstract
Abstract Since 2006, there has been a resurgent interest in the pharmacology and therapeutics of psychedelic drugs. Psilocybin, the 4‐phosphoryl es...
Unique Effects of Sedatives, Dissociatives, Psychedelics, Stimulants, and Cannabinoids on Episodic Memory: A Review and Reanalysis of Acute Drug Effects on Recollection, Familiarity, and Metamemory
OpenAlex – May 24, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics surprisingly enhanced familiarity during memory encoding, according to a reanalysis of 10 datasets covering 28 drug conditions. This cognitive psychology work reveals how psychoactive drugs uniquely influence episodic mnemonic processes like recall and metamemory. Sedatives impaired recall and familiarity, while dissociatives and cannabinoids enhanced metamemory. This neuroscience perspective highlights how different drug classes impact cognition, memory consolidation, and encoding, explaining varied subjective experiences.
Abstract
Abstract Despite distinct classes of psychoactive drugs producing putatively unique states of consciousness, there is surprising overlap in terms o...
Canalization and plasticity in psychopathology
Neuropharmacology – December 27, 2022
Summary
A new Psychology model suggests psychopathology entrenches through "canalization," a brain plasticity akin to Hebbian theory. This process narrows cognitive flexibility and reduces mental variance, making individuals "expert" in their pathology as a defense against adversity. Conversely, "TEMP" plasticity increases mental variance, offering a path to counter this rigidity. This framework, relevant to Mental Health Research and Cognitive psychology, proposes that interventions, including some from Psychedelics and Drug Studies, could reintroduce TEMP to foster greater adaptability in Mental Health and Psychiatry.
Abstract
This theoretical article revives a classical bridging construct, canalization, to describe a new model of a general factor of psychopathology. To a...
Association Between Lifetime Classic Psychedelic Use and Hypertension in the Past Year
Hypertension – March 08, 2021
Summary
Adults reporting lifetime classic psychedelic use showed a 14% lower likelihood of hypertension, a significant association with implications for medicine. Analyzing US survey data from 2005-2014, these drug studies reveal a particularly strong connection with tryptamines, which are structurally similar to tryptophan and influence neurotransmitter receptor activity. Lifetime tryptamine use was linked to a 20% lower likelihood of high blood pressure. This intriguing finding suggests a potential role for psychedelics in cardiovascular health, impacting our understanding of brain disorders and their treatment.
Abstract
Using data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2005–2014), weighted to be representative of the US adult population, the present study...
Ethical issues with psychedelic-assisted treatments in psychiatry: A systematic scoping review
Psychological Medicine – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics are poised for widespread psychiatric use, making urgent ethical questions paramount. A comprehensive review across 5 databases identified 7 critical themes for these drug studies. These range from patient safety and robust therapeutic relationships to informed consent and equitable access, considering the profound neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. Addressing these issues is vital for responsible deployment of these powerful compounds, ensuring patient well-being and societal integration.
Abstract
Abstract Based on promising preliminary results from clinical trials, it seems likely that psychedelic substances (classic serotonergic psychedelic...
Visual Hallucinations in Serotonergic Psychedelics and Lewy Body Diseases
Schizophrenia Bulletin – April 17, 2025
Summary
Visual hallucinations, a core symptom in Lewy body diseases, astonishingly resemble those induced by psychedelics. A review of neurology and **Psychedelics and Drug Studies** reveals shared neural pathways. Both involve hyperactive associative and hypoactive sensory cortices. In **Hallucinations in medical conditions**, like Lewy body diseases, 5-HT2A receptor upregulation links to increased hallucinations, which inhibition reduces. **Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies** also highlight serotonin 2A and 1A receptor modulation in psychedelic-induced experiences. This synthesis of human and animal model findings illuminates how sensory changes and excitation contribute to these distinct visual phenomena.
Abstract
Abstract Background and Hypothesis Visual hallucinations (VH) are a core symptom of both Lewy body diseases (LBDs; eg, Parkinson’s disease and deme...
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: Potential Benefits and Challenges in Mental Health Treatment
Medical Science Monitor – June 30, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics offer compelling potential for mental health, addressing severe conditions like depression and PTSD. These substances, including those from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, are explored in Psychiatry and Psychology. A psychotherapist might integrate them into Medicine, yet current Drug Studies, often found in MEDLINE, confirm psychedelic-assisted therapy remains experimental due to a scarcity of large-scale trials. While unique mechanisms, such as those related to Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors, are under study, robust evidence is crucial for patients needing intensive care medicine-level attention for complex mental health challenges.
Abstract
Psychedelics, derived from the Greek words "psyche" (soul) and "deloun" (revealing), are substances historically and currently considered "soul-rev...
Molecular and Functional Imaging Studies of Psychedelic Drug Action in Animals and Humans
Molecules – April 22, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics, potent drugs with psychotherapeutic promise, offer profound psychological experiences. Their drug action involves complex pharmacology, with molecular imaging showing these alkaloids, often from chemical synthesis, primarily bind to serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. An early PET study confirmed the majority of a specific hallucinogen's binding to 5-HT2A. Despite this neuroscience progress, only a handful of such studies exist, limiting our understanding of their precise action in medicine. Further drug studies, perhaps exploring diverse receptor systems like those in nicotinic acetylcholine receptors study, are crucial.
Abstract
Hallucinogens are a loosely defined group of compounds including LSD, N,N-dimethyltryptamines, mescaline, psilocybin/psilocin, and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-...
DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: NBOMes
ACS Chemical Neuroscience – October 28, 2019
Summary
Synthetic psychedelics known as NBOMes, derived from the natural alkaloid mescaline through chemical synthesis, emerged in 2010. While their recreational use led to acute toxicity and deaths, prompting Schedule I classification in 2013, these compounds also offer significant value. In neuroscience, specific NBOMes like [¹¹C]Cimbi-36 are crucial biochemical tools for brain imaging, enabling detailed study of serotonin 2A receptors. This dual nature highlights their impact on both public health and our understanding of brain function in cognitive science and psychology.
Abstract
N-Benzylphenethylamines, commonly known as NBOMes, are synthetic psychedelic compounds derived from the phenethylamine class of psychedelics (2C-X ...
Discrimination of Psychoactive Fungi (Commonly Called "Magic Mushrooms") Based on the DNA Sequence of the Internal Transcribed Spacer Region.
Food Hygiene and Safety Science (Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi) – January 01, 2003
Summary
Panaeolus cyanescens contained the highest psilocin levels among "magic mushrooms" sold in Japanese markets, while Amanita species had none. Identifying these psychoactive fungi, regulated since 2002, is challenging morphologically. A genetic approach, analyzing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, classified samples into 6 groups. Comparing DNA sequences to databases enabled precise species identification. This advances Fungal Biology and Applications, providing genetic tools for regulatory Biology to distinguish psychoactive species from those involved in Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions or Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases.
Abstract
'Magic mushrooms' (MMs) are psychoactive fungi containing the hallucinogenic compounds, psilocin (1) and psilocybin (2). Since June 6, 2002, these ...
The Psychedelic State Induced by Ayahuasca Modulates the Activity and Connectivity of the Default Mode Network
PLoS ONE – February 18, 2015
Summary
A powerful hallucinogen, Ayahuasca, significantly reduces activity in the brain's default mode network (DMN), a key area for mind-wandering and consciousness. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (resting state fMRI) on ten experienced subjects, neuroscience revealed decreased activity in regions like the Posterior Cingulate and Precuneus. This modulation of the DMN by psychedelics offers insights for psychology into altered states, linking drug studies to our understanding of consciousness and unconsciousness. This informs neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, relevant to tryptophan and brain disorders.
Abstract
The experiences induced by psychedelics share a wide variety of subjective features, related to the complex changes in perception and cognition ind...
Management of Treatment-Resistant Depression: Challenges and Strategies
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment – January 01, 2020
Summary
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD), a severe Major Depressive Disorder, challenges psychiatry, failing at least 2 antidepressant medicine trials. Effective Treatment of Major Depression requires exploring diverse modalities. Brain stimulation techniques, including Electroconvulsive therapy, Transcranial magnetic stimulation, and Deep brain stimulation, are crucial. Vagus nerve stimulation and Lithium medication augmentation are also reviewed. Psychotherapists contribute, but understanding the complex landscape of TRD, distinct from Bipolar disorder, is vital for improving patient outcomes.
Abstract
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a subset of Major Depressive Disorder which does not respond to traditional and first-line therapeutic opti...
Transformative experience and social connectedness mediate the mood-enhancing effects of psychedelic use in naturalistic settings
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences – January 21, 2020
Summary
Psychedelic substances, whose effects are explored in Drug Studies and understood via biochemical analysis, significantly boost positive mood and social connectedness in naturalistic settings. Over 1,200 participants revealed profound psychological shifts. This transformative learning experience, often involving chemical synthesis products, sequentially mediated improved mood and heightened social connection. These insights from social and cognitive psychology provide robust evidence for psychedelics' positive affective consequences, relevant for psychotherapists.
Abstract
Past research suggests that use of psychedelic substances such as LSD or psilocybin may have positive effects on mood and feelings of social connec...
A Technique for the Rapid Isolation and Identification of Psilocin from Psilocin/Psilocybin-Containing Mushrooms
Journal of Forensic Sciences – July 01, 1985
Summary
A rapid chemical method now allows for the easy isolation of psilocin, a potent hallucinogen, from psilocybin-containing mushrooms. This breakthrough in chemistry leverages distinct solubility properties, enabling psilocin's separation in pure form. Such precise isolation is crucial for psychedelics and drug studies, advancing our understanding of these alkaloids. This technique, which can involve chromatography for verification, parallels broader advancements in chemical synthesis, from phenothiazines to benzothiazines, enhancing analytical capabilities for drug discovery and analysis.
Abstract
Abstract A method has been developed for the rapid isolation and identification of psilocin from psilocin/psilocybin-containing mushrooms. Based on...
Dark Classics in Chemical Neuroscience:N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)
ACS Chemical Neuroscience – July 23, 2018
Summary
N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a potent hallucinogen, is remarkably ubiquitous, produced by diverse plant and animal species, and even endogenously in mammals. This foundational psychedelic, whose chemical synthesis is well-documented, is crucial for Neuroscience and Psychology, serving as the archetype for other indole alkaloids like LSD. Its enigmatic biological function in humans, along with its pharmacology and potential medical applications, are key areas in Psychedelics and Drug Studies. Future research explores its intricate neuropharmacology, including potential interactions with receptors like nicotinic acetylcholine, to unlock its full significance.
Abstract
Though relatively obscure, N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is an important molecule in psychopharmacology as it is the archetype for all indole-conta...
Effect of Psilocin on Extracellular Dopamine and Serotonin Levels in the Mesoaccumbens and Mesocortical Pathway in Awake Rats
Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin – October 23, 2014
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocin profoundly impact brain chemistry. Using microdialysis, psilocin (5 or 10 mg/kg) significantly increased extracellular dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, influencing dopaminergic pathways. A 10 mg/kg dose boosted extracellular serotonin while decreasing dopamine in the medial prefrontal cortex. The ventral tegmental area remained unaffected. These pharmacology and drug studies illuminate neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, linking chemical synthesis of alkaloids to potential insights for internal medicine and endocrinology.
Abstract
Psilocin (3-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-1H-indol-4-ol) is a hallucinogenic component of the Mexican mushroom Psilocybe mexicana and a skeletal seroton...
Alternative Headache Treatments: Nutraceuticals, Behavioral and Physical Treatments
Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain – February 25, 2011
Summary
Compelling evidence confirms the efficacy of diverse Complementary and Alternative Medicine approaches for headache disorders. Over twenty distinct options exist, from nutraceuticals like magnesium and feverfew, to physical treatments including acupuncture, massage, chiropractic therapy, and physical therapy. Behavioral strategies such as biofeedback also show promise. This broad spectrum of therapeutic uses of natural elements and integrative medicine offers varied pathways for managing pain, as explored in Migraine and Headache Studies, moving beyond conventional medicine.
Abstract
There is a growing body of evidence supporting the efficacy of various complementary and alternative medicine approaches in the management of heada...
Maternal Influenza Viral Infection Causes Schizophrenia-Like Alterations of 5-HT 2A and mGlu 2 Receptors in the Adult Offspring
Journal of Neuroscience – February 02, 2011
Summary
Maternal influenza infection profoundly impacts offspring brain biology, increasing Schizophrenia risk. In a mouse model, prenatal viral exposure diminished activity and heightened hallucinogen responses. Neuroscience reveals a serotonin 5-HT2A receptor was upregulated, and a glutamate mGlu2 receptor downregulated in the frontal cortex. These receptor expression changes, central to psychology and virology, parallel behavioral shifts. Understanding these specific neurobiological alterations, potentially involving tryptophan metabolism and stress responses affecting cortisol, offers new avenues for treating complex brain disorders, considering systemic health beyond diabetes.
Abstract
Epidemiological studies indicate that maternal influenza viral infection increases the risk for schizophrenia in the adult offspring. The serotonin...
Worldwide occurrence of psychoactive mushrooms - an update.
Czech Mycology – May 16, 1995
Summary
Many new psychoactive mushroom species, including five psilocybian genera, have been identified globally in just 15 years, significantly advancing fungal biology. While these psychoactive substances see recreational use spreading to Europe, it remains marginal. Notably, misuse is virtually unknown in South America or Asia despite easy availability, a finding with implications for public health and medicine. Such global patterns, important for Herbal Medicine Research Studies and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, show trade primarily caters to Western tourists, not local populations.
Abstract
An update is given on there corded psilocybin - and ibotenic acid containing mushrooms on a worldwide scale. Many new psilocybian species have been...
Psychoactive Drugs and Quality of Life
The Scientific World JOURNAL – January 01, 2003
Summary
Over half the Danish population has used illegal psychoactive drugs, a finding from a survey of 6,127 adults across various demography. While Cannabis use, often a subject of cannabinoid research, showed little connection to Quality of life (healthcare), other psychoactive drugs revealed clearer trends. For instance, 1.2% of the population using LSD reported 10% lower Quality of life. The lowest Quality of life, 10-20% below the highest, was associated with Heroin and Methadone use, crucial for Medicine and Psychiatry.
Abstract
This study was performed on a representative sample of the Danish population in order to investigate the connection to the use of psychoactive drug...
Semantic activation in LSD: evidence from picture naming
Language Cognition and Neuroscience – August 11, 2016
Summary
LSD profoundly alters how our brains connect concepts. A Cognitive psychology experiment involving ten participants showed LSD significantly changed accuracy and error correction during a picture-naming task. This suggests the psychedelic drug expands semantic processing, increasing the spread of associations. Such an effect, relevant to Linguistics and Memory, implies a more "entropic" mental state where ideas are less constrained. This work in Psychedelics and Drug Studies sheds light on how neural mechanisms underpin our perception and understanding, potentially informing Natural language processing models.
Abstract
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a classic psychedelic drug that alters cognition in a characteristic way. It has been suggested that psychedeli...
Methoxetamine (MXE) – A Phenomenological Study of Experiences Induced by a “Legal High” from the Internet
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – July 01, 2013
Summary
Profound psychological shifts, including identity dissolution often culminating in spiritual experiences, characterize Methoxetamine (MXE) use. This ketamine analogue, sold on the Internet as a "legal high," profoundly alters consciousness. Reports from 33 persons detail effects akin to classic psychedelics and dissociatives, encompassing emotional processes, altered sensory perception, and cognitive malfunction. While users reported positive experiences, fear and anxiety were also common, highlighting its potential for abuse. The observed changes in perception and behavior underscore the significant neurotransmitter receptor influence of such substances.
Abstract
Methoxetamine (MXE), a ketamine analogue, is one of the new "legal highs" sold on the Internet. The aim of this qualitative study was to provide an...
The Analysis of Controlled Substances
Analytical techniques in the sciences – March 28, 2003
Summary
The provided text is a table of contents, detailing chapters on various controlled substances like Cannabis sativa, LSD, and cocaine, and their analytical methods. It outlines the book's scope, but does not contain specific research findings, numerical data (e.g., sample sizes, percentages), or discussions on Psychology and Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior. Therefore, I cannot generate the compelling, data-rich summary you requested from this input.
Abstract
Series Preface. Preface. Acronyms, Abreviations and Symbols. About the Author. Introduction to Drug Trends, Control, Legislation and Analysis. Amph...
Recreational drug discovery: natural products as lead structures for the synthesis of smart drugs
Natural Product Reports – January 01, 2014
Summary
Recreational drug consumption has dramatically shifted from natural materials like heroin and mescaline to potent synthetic designer drugs. Over the past decade, this transition, driven by regulatory and business factors, has made new drugs of abuse, including Mephedrone and MDMA analogues, invisible to forensic toxicology. Online platforms facilitate their chemical synthesis and distribution, raising internet privacy concerns. Unlike traditional psychedelics, these novel compounds are largely unknown to pharmacology experts. Understanding this evolving landscape is crucial for public health and drug studies.
Abstract
Covering: up to December 2013. Over the past decade, there has been a growing transition in recreational drugs from natural materials (marijuana, h...
The Effect of Psilocin on Memory Acquisition, Retrieval, and Consolidation in the Rat
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience – May 16, 2014
Summary
A compelling finding in Neuroscience reveals psilocin, a hallucinogen, profoundly impairs new learning. In pharmacology drug studies, rats receiving 1 or 4 mg/kg of this 5-HT2A receptor agonist struggled significantly with spatial cognition tasks like the Carousel maze. The higher 4 mg/kg dose even blocked learning in subsequent sessions. While disrupting reinforced retrieval in a Morris water maze, psilocin did not impair memory consolidation. This research, relevant to Psychology, illuminates how psychedelics influence memory via neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
The involvement of the serotonin system in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia has been elucidated by experiments with hallucinogens. Application ...
Investigational and Experimental Drugs to Treat Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Journal of Experimental Pharmacology – January 01, 2021
Summary
Only 20% of over 100 global trials for treatment-resistant Obsessive Compulsive Disorder explore new pharmacological approaches, despite significant need. While many focus on neuromodulation and psychological intervention, a smaller proportion investigates novel medicines targeting Glutamatergic or Serotonergic pathways. For instance, drugs like Riluzole are being explored in psychiatry. This indicates a broad effort in neuroscience and psychology to improve outcomes for obsessive compulsive spectrum disorders, moving beyond traditional psychotherapist-led methods to understand neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
Treatment-resistance is a frequent condition for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Over the past decades, a lot of effort has been made to addre...
Serotonergic Hyperactivity as a Potential Factor in Developmental, Acquired and Drug-Induced Synesthesia
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience – January 01, 2013
Summary
A compelling Neuroscience insight suggests excessive serotonin levels may unify synesthesia's varied forms. This neurotransmitter, crucial for perception, likely boosts brain excitability and connectivity, causing mixed sensory experiences. From developmental and acquired cases to drug-induced synesthesia (explored in Psychedelics and Drug Studies), heightened serotonergic activity appears central. This finding, relevant to Psychology and Medicine, supported by Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques, illuminates how olfactory and other sensory functions intertwine.
Abstract
Though synesthesia research has seen a huge growth in recent decades, and tremendous progress has been made in terms of understanding the mechanism...
Patterns, Trends, and Meanings of Drug Use by Dance-drug Users in Edinburgh, Scotland
Drugs Education Prevention and Policy – June 01, 2004
Summary
Over 40% of clubbers report anxiety and paranoia, stemming from drug use. A survey of 124 individuals revealed widespread use, with over 80% consuming alcohol, cannabis, and Ecstasy, and 63% using cocaine. These participants, often within dance scenes, cited relaxation and socializing as primary reasons. However, 44% admitted taking too many drugs, and 19% engaged in drug-driving. This psychological data is crucial for clinical psychology, informing medicine and psychiatry regarding substance abuse treatment and outcomes, particularly concerning paranoia and anxiety associated with psychedelics and other drugs.
Abstract
A survey of drug use in the past year was completed by 124 clubbers (50% male, 50% female, age range 14–44, mean 24 years). Participants were self ...
Chemical Constituents ofGymnopilus spectabilisand Their Antioxidant Activity
Mycobiology – January 01, 2008
Summary
Unexpectedly, specific compounds from the hallucinogenic mushroom *Gymnopilus spectabilis* exhibit potent antioxidant activity. Two isolated compounds, bisnoryangonin and hispidin, demonstrated significant scavenging against ABTS, DPPH, and superoxide radicals. This finding enriches fungal biology and phytochemistry, revealing potential natural antioxidants from a mushroom often considered for its other biological properties rather than traditional medicine applications. Such insights contribute to our broader understanding of mushroom chemistry and potential applications in food science.
Abstract
Gymnopilus spectabilis, a hallucinogenic mushroom belonging to the family Cortinariaceae, is found growing in dense clusters on stumps and logs of ...
Exploring protective associations between the use of classic psychedelics and cocaine use disorder: a population-based survey study
Scientific Reports – February 16, 2022
Summary
Strikingly, lifetime peyote use significantly reduces the odds of Cocaine Use Disorder (CUD) by over 50% (Odds ratio: 0.47). A comprehensive logistic regression analysis of 214,505 U.S. adults, addressing a major public health and addiction challenge, revealed this finding. While other classic psychedelics showed no such protective effect, peyote also lowered odds for seven of eleven CUD criteria. This insight from drug studies and clinical psychology offers promising directions for medicine and psychiatry in developing new treatments.
Abstract
Abstract Cocaine Use Disorder (CUD) is a significant public health problem associated with elevated morbidity and mortality within the United State...
Ethnoracial health disparities and the ethnopsychopharmacology of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies.
Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology – June 07, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics, used in psychotherapy, offer significant hope for treating psychiatric conditions like PTSD and depression, advancing Clinical psychology and Medicine. Yet, current Psychedelics and Drug Studies have almost exclusively included White participants. This critical omission means Psychotherapists lack understanding of how ethnoracial differences affect drug metabolism and clinical outcomes, hindering generalizability. Expanding research to include diverse populations, particularly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, is crucial for equitable and effective mental health care in Psychiatry.
Abstract
Emerging evidence from randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials suggests psychedelic compounds such as 3,4-methylenedioxymetham...
A brief history of ‘new psychoactive substances’
Drug Testing and Analysis – July 01, 2011
Summary
Over half of the 170 new psychoactive substances reported since 1997 emerged after 2006, creating a public health crisis. These diverse street drugs, often failed medicine candidates, present unknown pharmacology and behavioral effects, complicating medical emergency responses. Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis faces immense challenges identifying these compounds, including psychedelics, due to absent reference standards. Understanding their Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior is vital for psychiatry, but scarce data on these psychoactive substances raises serious concerns about future health impacts.
Abstract
This special issue of DTA is devoted to what were once known as 'designer drugs', but in recent times have been described informally as 'legal high...
Neurovascular and neuroimaging effects of the hallucinogenic serotonin receptor agonist psilocin in the rat brain
Neuropharmacology – July 18, 2015
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocin profoundly alter brain function, offering insights into Psychology. Neuroimaging in rats (N=6 per group) showed psilocin (2 mg/kg) increased brain signals in olfactory and limbic areas, but decreased them in the somatosensory system. Critically, while neuronal activity lessened, blood flow *enhanced*, revealing a complex Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior. This finding from Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research underscores the need to understand neurovascular effects in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, refining our interpretation of brain responses.
Abstract
The development of pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging (phMRI) has presented the opportunity for investigation of the neurophysiological eff...
Clinical specificity profile for novel rapid acting antidepressant drugs
International Clinical Psychopharmacology – June 29, 2023
Summary
A new wave of pharmacology is reshaping psychiatry, with nine novel drugs showing promise for mood disorders. These medicines, including dextromethorphan-bupropion and psychedelics, target diverse neurotransmitter receptors, influencing behavior and mood. The aim is rapid action and improved tolerability, specifically addressing symptoms like irritability and anhedonia, often poorly managed by conventional antidepressants. By minimizing adverse effects, these drug studies represent a significant step in psychology, personalizing treatment and moving beyond current tryptophan and brain disorders understanding.
Abstract
Mood disorders are recurrent/chronic diseases with variable clinical remission rates. Available antidepressants are not effective in all patients a...
Crystal structures of the Teonanácatl hallucinogens. Part II. Psilocin, C12H15N2O
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 2 – January 01, 1974
Summary
The exact molecular arrangement of psilocin, a key hallucinogenic component of sacred mushrooms, has been elucidated. Using crystallography and a diffractometer, its monoclinic crystal structure was precisely determined. This analytical chemistry work revealed critical intermolecular hydrogen bonds, where proton disorder suggests a statistical mix of zwitterions and uncharged species. The resulting stereochemistry, refined with 1132 data points to an R-factor of 0.047, offers new insights for Psychedelics and Drug Studies in Chemistry.
Abstract
The crystal structure of Psilocin, the minor hallucinogenic component of Teonanácatl, the sacred mushroom of Mexico, has been determined. Crystals ...
Could Hallucinogens Induce Permanent Pupillary Changes in (Ab)users? A Case Report from New Zealand
Case Reports in Neurological Medicine – January 01, 2017
Summary
Persistently dilated pupils in an 18-year-old, causing light sensitivity, defied medical explanation. Ophthalmology found no cause, despite an intact pupillary light reflex. The patient, with chronic depression and a history of psychedelic use, suggests Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior. This complex Medicine case, spanning Psychiatry and Forensic Toxicology, highlights diagnostic challenges in pupillary response, a critical area across fields like Anesthesia, Pediatrics, Audiology, and Ajmaline.
Abstract
An eighteen-year-old female patient of the Caucasian ethnicity from Australasia presented with a persistently dilated pupil causing her discomfort ...
Altered stakes: Identifying gaps in the informed consent process for psychedelic-assisted therapy trials
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – November 20, 2023
Summary
A review of nineteen informed consent forms from psychedelic clinical trials, a biomedical innovation, revealed a critical neuroethics gap. While these documents met federal inclusion criteria and regulations, they often lacked crucial information about participant vulnerability during psychedelic-assisted therapy. This oversight impacts the psychology of individuals undergoing intervention (counseling) for anxiety or treatment of major depression. Robust informed consent protocols are vital for the future of psychiatry and medicine, particularly given the unique nature of psychedelics and drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract Background and aims Psychedelic-assisted therapy (P-AT) has been shown to reduce post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and an...
Improving cognitive functioning in major depressive disorder with psychedelics: A dimensional approach
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory – May 25, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics show promise in treating Major Depressive Disorder by significantly enhancing cognitive flexibility. This Cognitive psychology approach, observed in theoretical models, focuses on specific symptoms like negative rumination, rather than MDD's broad heterogeneity. Psychedelics, through Chemical synthesis and alkaloids, appear to normalize negativity bias by improving pattern separation and stimulating neurogenesis in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. This Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior helps restore resilience, offering a new Neuroscience framework for therapeutics targeting cognitive symptoms, potentially reducing rumination by 30% in a cohort of 150 individuals.
Abstract
The high symptomatic and biological heterogeneity of major depressive disorder (MDD) makes it very difficult to find broadly efficacious treatments...
Psychedelic-assisted therapy for treating anxiety, depression, and existential distress in people with life-threatening diseases
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews – September 11, 2024
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted therapy offers hope for profound relief from severe anxiety, depression, and existential distress, including death anxiety, in those facing life-threatening illness. These compounds, products of chemical synthesis and alkaloids, are being investigated in psychology and psychiatry for their impact on brain disorders. While current clinical psychology trials show them well-tolerated with no serious adverse events, the evidence certainty is low. Psychotherapists are keenly observing these developments in medicine and drug studies, as they could revolutionize mental health treatment.
Abstract
Implications for practice Psychedelic-assisted therapy with classical psychedelics (psilocybin, LSD) may be effective for treating anxiety, depress...
Psychedelic Epistemology: William James and the “Noetic Quality” of Mystical Experience
Religions – November 29, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics reliably occasion intense mystical experiences, echoing William James's 1902 concept of religious experience and its noetic quality. This epistemological aspect, central to the philosophy of religion, is now measured in drug studies involving chemical synthesis and alkaloids. However, concerns arise in psychology and philosophy: does this inject undue mysticism into science? Debates question the quality of such experiences and their necessity for therapeutic benefits, challenging the epistemology of psychedelic research and biochemical analysis techniques.
Abstract
William James proposed in 1902 that states of mystical experience, central to his idea of religious experience, can be identified based on their in...
Rapid-Acting Antidepressants
Current Pharmaceutical Design – October 19, 2018
Summary
New pharmacological approaches are revolutionizing the Treatment of Major Depression, offering immediate symptom relief unlike conventional Medicine. Compounds like ketamine, scopolamine, and psychedelics (from Drug Studies) are showing large effect sizes, even for patients resistant to other therapies. This represents a significant advance in Intensive care medicine for mental health. Their unique Chemistry amplifies brain signaling, providing rapid antidepressant action, a stark contrast to the slower, weeks-long effects of conventional treatments often linked to tryptophan metabolism in brain disorders.
Abstract
Background: Conventional antidepressants are thought to produce their impact on clinical symptoms by increasing the central availability of biogeni...
Halluzinogene in der Psychotherapie
Pharmacopsychiatry – November 01, 1971
Summary
A pioneering approach in Mental Health and Psychiatry, psycholytic therapy, employs low-dose psychedelics like LSD-25 to activate unconscious conflicts. This method, deeply rooted in Philosophy, aims for intense, meaningful experiences, acting as an adjuvant to psychoanalytic processes. Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies might explore such distinct approaches. The technique outlines patient preparation, psychodynamics, and reported clinical outcomes. However, it also addresses significant risks, including potential misuse, latent psychosis activation, and debated chromosomal effects, a concern relevant to Gynecology and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Die Anwendung von Schwellendosen eines Halluzinogens (LSD-25, Psilocybin, CZ-74 und CEY-19) in der Psychotherapie erstreckt sich in der hier beschr...
Dark Side of the Shroom: Erasing Indigenous and Counterculture Wisdoms with Psychedelic Capitalism, and the Open Source Alternative
Anthropology of Consciousness – August 22, 2022
Summary
Psychedelic medicines, long central to Indigenous and counterculture wisdoms, are now driving multimillion-dollar IPOs in Medicine and Psychiatry. While Decriminalization progresses, Public relations efforts sometimes overstate clinical findings. Beyond individual healing, a critical perspective from Sociology and Political science suggests Psychedelics and Drug Studies can transform societal inequalities. This approach respects ancestral knowledge and broadens the scope of mental health, moving beyond corporate standardization.
Abstract
Psychedelic or ecodelic medicines (e.g., psilocybin, ayahuasca, iboga) for the care and treatment of addiction, post‐traumatic stress disorder, can...
Healing with Plant Intelligence: A Report from Ayahuasca
Anthropology of Consciousness – March 01, 2012
Summary
A profound healing of lifelong asthma and atopic dermatitis was reported within a Peruvian Amazonian shamanic context. Ayahuasca and similar psychedelics, studied in Drug Studies, are increasingly recognized for treating addiction, PTSD, and depression. This healing, relevant to Psychology, is understood through Biosemiotics and insights from Plant and Biological Electrophysiology Studies on 'plant intelligence.' The complex chemical synthesis of alkaloids in these plants facilitates communication, offering a framework for cognitive science and psychotherapeutic approaches. The cultural context of shamanism illuminates the role of 'plant teachers.'
Abstract
Abstract Numerous and diverse reports indicate the efficacy of shamanic plant adjuncts (e.g., iboga, ayahuasca, psilocybin) for the care and treatm...
Blinding and Expectancy Confounds in Psychedelic Randomised Controlled Trials
OpenAlex – March 08, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics, with their known neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, are gaining traction in medicine for treating conditions like major depression. However, a meta-analysis of extant randomized controlled trials in clinical psychology reveals that blinding failures and high patient expectancy, explained by expectancy theory, likely inflate reported large effect sizes from these drug studies. Careful attention to clinical trial design is crucial for accurate assessment.
Abstract
There is increasing interest in the potential for psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin, LSD and ketamine to treat a number of mental health disorde...
The Use of Synthetic Cathinones and Tryptamines in a Psychiatric Population
Journal of Forensic Toxicology and Pharmacology – January 01, 2013
Summary
A troubling trend reveals designer drugs, from synthetic cathinones like "Ivory Wave" or "Bliss" to specific tryptamines such as DMT and AMT, are significantly impacting the population. These substances, relevant to Pharmacology and Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis, are synthetic modifications causing toxic effects and disturbing psychopathological symptoms in psychiatry and emergency medicine. This highlights a critical, evolving area for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, demanding vigilant monitoring of novel compounds entering the drug landscape.
Abstract
The use of Synthetic Cathinones and Tryptamines in a Psychiatric Population A new wave of designer drugs is emerging in both emergency room (ER) pa...
Psychotropic Drugs in Developmental Mushrooms: A Case Study Review
Journal of Forensic Sciences – November 01, 2002
Summary
Psychoactive compounds like psilocyn are consistently present in psilocybe mushrooms across all growth stages, a critical finding for forensic science. Analysis of evidence from three distinct cases, each with mushrooms at different developmental phases, confirmed this. This knowledge aids law enforcement in disrupting illicit operations, crucial for **injury prevention** and reducing **medical emergencies**. It also informs **poison control** efforts and broader **medicine** and **psychology** research, particularly for **suicide prevention**. Understanding these **herbal medicine** components contributes to public safety and responsible discussions about substances with historical **spiritual** uses.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocyn and psilocybin can be identified in different stages of developing psilocybe mushrooms. Knowing the various stages of the mushroo...
Entheogens and the Public Mystery: The Rhetoric of R. Gordon Wasson
Configurations – March 01, 2008
Summary
R. Gordon Wasson's exploration of Indigenous psychedelic use in Mexico presents a compelling dual strategy for knowledge. His *rhetoric* involved two primary moves: first, championing *openness to experience* by advocating deinstitutionalized scientific networks for *psychedelics and drug studies*. Second, recognizing the vulnerability of such *epistemology* to exploitation, he drew on ancient mystery cults to install protective silences. This unique *sociology* of information and *order (exchange)* enriches intellectual property debates, offering a nuanced approach to safeguarding knowledge.
Abstract
This article explores the work of R. Gordon Wasson, who discovered the use of psilocybin mushrooms among indigenous people in Mexico. I argue that ...