5439 results for "Psychedelics"
Case Report: Amplified psychoanalysis? Psychoanalysis, OCD and MDMA in a clinical case study
Frontiers in Psychology – March 11, 2026
Summary
MDMA-assisted therapy within a psychoanalytic framework shows promising potential for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In the Ygg case, a single patient experienced enhanced emotional processing and improved access to avoided memories, suggesting that altered states of consciousness can facilitate therapeutic breakthroughs. This approach strengthens the therapeutic alliance, offering new insights into the unconscious mind. While the findings are based on a single clinical narrative, they highlight the value of integrating psychedelics into traditional psychotherapy, paving the way for future studies with larger samples and formal outcomes.
Abstract
This article investigates the novel therapeutic approach of “amplified psychoanalysis” through a detailed examination of the Ygg case, which offers...
The Epidemiology of Recreational Use and Availability of DOC and DOI in the United States
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – October 09, 2025
Summary
The prevalence of recreational use and availability of the psychedelics DOC and DOI is strikingly low, with lifetime usage rates below 0.01% among the U.S. population. Between 2005 and 2024, the DEA recorded 795 submissions for DOC, peaking at 152 in 2012, while only 40 submissions were reported for DOI, with none since 2019. Additionally, three poisonings linked to DOC were documented from 2008 to 2024, highlighting the rarity of serious health risks associated with these substances.
Abstract
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proposed a rule in which they intend to place the psychedelic phenethylamines 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chloro...
Lessons learned from the regulatory alignment in ketamine, esketamine and arketamine clinical trials: A cross-sectional analysis of protocols from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Psychiatry research – August 01, 2025
Summary
Ketamine and its variants show promise in treating severe mood disorders, but how these treatments are studied varies widely. Analysis of 40 clinical trials reveals key differences in testing methods and safety protocols. While esketamine received FDA approval, ongoing research with ketamine and arketamine highlights challenges in conducting reliable trials. The main issue? Ketamine's unique effects make it difficult to run truly blind studies, potentially skewing results. Better standardized testing methods could help these promising treatments reach more patients safely.
Abstract
Ketamine and its enantiomers, esketamine and arketamine, have emerged as promising treatments for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). This cross-...
Attitudes and Perceptions of Portuguese Psychiatrists and Psychologists on the Clinical Use of Ketamine.
Acta medica portuguesa – May 02, 2025
Summary
Portuguese mental health professionals show cautious optimism about ketamine's potential in treating stubborn depression. In a nationwide survey, 59% of psychiatrists and psychologists expressed openness to using ketamine therapeutically, though only 36% felt well-informed about it. While psychiatrists showed more confidence in ketamine's treatment potential than psychologists, both groups want more training before using it with patients.
Abstract
Ketamine has garnered attention for its rapid efficacy in alleviating depressive symptoms in treatment-resistant depression, offering a novel mecha...
Intravenous psilocybin induces dose-dependent changes in functional network organization in rat cortex
Translational Psychiatry – March 25, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin creates a unique brain signature for non-ordinary states of consciousness. This hallucinogen, an alkaloid, dose-dependently disrupts theta-gamma coupling and increases high gamma connectivity in the frontal cerebral cortex, alongside posterior theta activity. Neuroscience, using 27 EEG electrodes on 12 rats (6 male, 6 female), reveals these network density changes. Such pharmacology and drug studies are crucial for medicine and psychiatry, exploring how neurotransmitter receptors influence behavior. Understanding these effects, beyond chemical synthesis, offers deep insights into psychology.
Abstract
Psilocybin produces an altered state of consciousness in humans and is associated with complex spatiotemporal changes in cortical networks. Given t...
Polysubstance Use Profiles Among the General Adult Population, United States, 2022.
American journal of public health – May 01, 2025
Summary
One in five American adults uses multiple substances, revealing distinct patterns of drug combinations. Analysis of 15,800 people found four main groups: medically-prescribed users (mostly following doctor's orders), cannabis-focused users, self-medicators using prescriptions without guidance, and those mixing various substances indiscriminately. Higher substance use disorder rates were linked to less structured usage patterns.
Abstract
Objectives. To characterize present-day polysubstance use patterns in the general adult population. Methods. From a 2022 nationally representative ...
Mushrooms, Microdosing, and Mental Illness: The Effect of Psilocybin on Neurotransmitters, Neuroinflammation, and Neuroplasticity.
Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment – January 01, 2025
Summary
Regular microdoses of psilocybin, the compound found in certain mushrooms, may help combat anxiety and depression by reducing brain inflammation and boosting neural connections. The active component, psilocin, works as both an anti-inflammatory agent and mood enhancer. Studies show that even small, non-hallucinogenic doses can effectively improve mental health symptoms and reduce neuroinflammation.
Abstract
The incidence of mental health disorders is increasing worldwide. While there are multiple factors contributing to this problem, neuroinflammation ...
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...
Unraveling the organellar genomic landscape of the therapeutic and entheogenic plant Mimosa tenuiflora: insights into genetic, structural, and evolutionary dynamics.
Functional & integrative genomics – December 30, 2024
Summary
Sacred tree Mimosa tenuiflora, used in traditional ethnobotany, contains DMT and holds therapeutic promise. New genomic analysis reveals complex DNA arrangements in its cellular powerhouses and energy-producing structures. Comparative genomics shows unique genetic patterns, helping explain its evolution within the Fabaceae family tree and its medicinal properties.
Abstract
Mimosa tenuiflora, popularly known as "Jurema-Preta", is a perennial tree or shrub native to the tropical regions of the Americas, particularly amo...
ALSUntangled #77: Psilocybin
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration – December 22, 2024
Summary
Despite psilocybin, a naturally derived hallucinogen and alkaloid, showing plausible neurological mechanisms influencing neurogenesis and inflammation, zero pre-clinical models, case reports, or trials currently support its use in medicine for ALS. While its action on neurotransmitter receptors could influence behavior, significant psychological side effects, including hallucinations, pose high risks. Given this, and its historical context in drug studies, psilocybin isn't currently supported for ALS therapy, even with potential psychiatric or psychotherapist guidance.
Abstract
ALSUntangled reviews alternate and off-label treatments prompted by patient interest. Here, we review psilocybin, a chemical derived from mushrooms...
Preliminary Evidence of Sleep Improvements Following Psilocybin Administration, and their Involvement in Antidepressant Therapeutic Action
Current Psychiatry Reports – November 01, 2024
Summary
Severe insomnia and sleep disturbances can hinder psilocybin's antidepressant effects in treating major depressive disorder. While clinical trials demonstrate large improvements in depressive symptoms, psilocybin's direct impact on sleep quality has been less explored in psychology and psychiatry. Preliminary clinical psychology data suggests both depression and sleep issues decrease after psilocybin use, though sleep improvements are smaller. This highlights a critical intersection for mental health research topics and medicine. Addressing sleep, perhaps related to tryptophan pathways, could optimize psychedelic-assisted therapy, leading to more effective strategies in drug studies and clinical trials for depression.
Abstract
Abstract Purpose of the study Psilocybin is a rapidly-emerging treatment for depression, yet its impact on sleep is not well understood. We sought ...
Psilocybin for major depressive disorder: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
Journal of Psychopharmacology – October 31, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a classic hallucinogen, significantly reduces depression symptoms. A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials, sourced from MEDLINE and Cochrane Library, revealed a large, clinically observable reduction (SMC: -1.24) in depressive symptomatology compared to placebo. This serotonergic medicine, a chemically synthesized alkaloid, shows promise in psychiatry and clinical psychology. Its influence on neurotransmitter receptors offers a novel approach for mental health, outperforming traditional treatments for depression.
Abstract
Background: Due to the unsatisfactory therapeutic effects of current antidepressants, research has been launched into alternative treatment approac...
A Phase 1 single ascending dose study of pure oral harmine in healthy volunteers.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – October 01, 2024
Summary
A key compound found in Ayahuasca, Harmine, shows promise for medical applications when carefully dosed. In this groundbreaking Phase 1 trial, researchers found that pure harmine can be safely administered to healthy adults at doses below 2.7mg per kg of body weight. Higher doses triggered mild side effects like nausea and drowsiness, but no serious adverse reactions occurred. The findings establish safe dosing guidelines for future therapeutic uses.
Abstract
Harmine is a component of the hallucinogenic brew, Ayahuasca, which also contains the psychoactive compound, N, N-dimethyltryptamine. Whether pharm...
Purging to Cleanse: A Qualitative Study of Ayahuasca Healing at a Drug Treatment Center in Peru.
Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs – September 01, 2024
Summary
In the Amazon rainforest, traditional healers view therapeutic vomiting as more than just a physical reaction - it's considered a powerful cleansing ritual. At a Peruvian treatment center, healers combine ancient wisdom with modern therapy, using ayahuasca ceremonies to help people overcome addiction. The purging process is seen as releasing both physical and emotional toxins, with practitioners reporting significant therapeutic benefits.
Abstract
Ayahuasca, an entheogen from the Amazon rainforest, has garnered growing interest for treating substance dependence. To date, there is little resea...
Long-term ayahuasca use is associated with preserved global cognitive function and improved memory: a cross-sectional study with ritual users.
European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience – March 01, 2025
Summary
Regular users of ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian brew made from Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis plants, show enhanced memory performance compared to newer users. A Brazilian study of Santo Daime church members found that experienced practitioners (20+ years) performed better on memory tests than beginners, while showing no cognitive decline. Long-term use appears to boost both verbal and visual memory.
Abstract
Although several studies have been conducted to elucidate the relationship between psychedelic consumption and cognition, few have focused on under...
Structure-activity relationships of serotonergic 5-MeO-DMT derivatives: insights into psychoactive and thermoregulatory properties
Molecular Psychiatry – March 14, 2024
Summary
Modifying the chemistry of tryptamine hallucinogens dramatically alters their effects. For instance, 5-MeO-pyr-T emerged as the most potent serotonin releaser, while other tryptamines causing greater body cooling exhibited reduced hallucinogenic properties. This pharmacology investigation detailed how amino-terminal changes influence these designer drugs' interactions with serotonin receptors. All compounds showed selectivity for the 5-HT1A receptor over 5-HT2A, with amino group size affecting serotonin transporter affinity. Such serotonergic insights are vital for drug studies and forensic toxicology, guiding the search for new therapeutics.
Abstract
Abstract Recent studies have sparked renewed interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for treating depression and other mental health ...
Exploring Novel Antidepressants Targeting G Protein-Coupled Receptors and Key Membrane Receptors Based on Molecular Structures.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) – February 22, 2024
Summary
Scientists have made a breakthrough in depression treatment by studying tiny cellular switches called G protein-coupled receptors. Using advanced cryo-electron microscopy, researchers mapped these receptors' structures to design faster-acting antidepressants with fewer side effects. Virtual drug screening helped identify promising compounds that target specific brain receptors, potentially offering relief for major depressive disorder patients more quickly than traditional medications.
Abstract
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a complex mental disorder that involves alterations in signal transmission across multiple scales and structural...
Psilocybin induces dose-dependent changes in functional network organization in rat cortex
OpenAlex – February 12, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly alters brain functional organization. Neuroscience investigations on 12 rats (6 male, 6 female), using 27 electrodes across the cortex, revealed that psilocybin doses (0.1-10 mg/kg) disrupted how theta and gamma brain waves synchronize. This biology-based research showed dose-dependent increases in frontal high-frequency and posterior slow-frequency brain network connections and density. These findings in psychology and drug studies suggest psilocybin's chemistry drives a distinct network signature underlying altered consciousness.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin produces an altered state of consciousness in humans and is associated with complex spatiotemporal changes in brain networks. G...
A choroid plexus apocrine secretion mechanism shapes CSF proteome and embryonic brain development.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology – January 16, 2024
Summary
The brain's protective fluid contains crucial proteins released through a newly discovered "cellular shedding" process. Scientists found that specialized cells in the choroid plexus release protein-rich cellular fragments into brain fluid, directly influencing neural development. When disrupted by maternal stress, illness, or certain drugs during pregnancy, this delicate process can alter brain development and affect future social behavior in offspring. This insight reveals how environmental factors during pregnancy may impact fetal brain formation.
Abstract
We discovered that apocrine secretion by embryonic choroid plexus (ChP) epithelial cells contributes to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteome and ...
Ayahuasca and its major component harmine promote antinociceptive effects in mouse models of acute and chronic pain.
Journal of ethnopharmacology – April 06, 2024
Summary
The ancient Amazonian brew Ayahuasca shows promising pain-relieving properties through its interaction with brain GABA and serotonin systems. Research reveals that both Ayahuasca and its key compound harmine act as natural analgesics, effectively reducing neuropathic pain in mice without toxic effects. Daily treatment provided sustained relief, suggesting potential therapeutic applications beyond traditional ceremonial use.
Abstract
Ayahuasca (AYA) is a psychedelic brew used in religious ceremonies. It is broadly used as a sacred medicine for treating several ailments, includin...
Ayahuasca ceremony leaders' perspectives on special considerations for eating disorders.
Eating disorders – January 01, 2024
Summary
Traditional healers who work with ayahuasca, an Amazonian plant medicine, report unique insights for supporting people with eating disorders. Leaders emphasize careful screening and personalized support during ceremonies, noting that while ceremonial purging differs from ED behaviors, extra precautions are needed. Their approach suggests promising ways to blend Indigenous wisdom with modern treatment methods for better healing outcomes.
Abstract
Eating disorders (EDs) are difficult conditions to resolve, necessitating novel treatments. Ayahuasca, a psychedelic plant medicine originating in ...
The G protein biased serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonist lisuride exerts anti-depressant drug-like activities in mice.
Frontiers in molecular biosciences – January 01, 2023
Summary
Scientists have discovered that lisuride, a drug that affects serotonin 2A receptors in the brain, shows promise as an antidepressant without typical hallucinogenic effects. Unlike related compounds, it produced minimal head twitch responses in mice while demonstrating lasting mood-improving effects. The drug reduced depression-like behaviors and increased sugar preference, with fewer serotonin-syndrome symptoms than similar medications.
Abstract
There is now evidence from multiple Phase II clinical trials that psychedelic drugs can exert long-lasting anxiolytic, anti-depressant, and anti-dr...
Preclinical models of treatment-resistant depression: challenges and perspectives.
Pharmacological reports : PR – December 01, 2023
Summary
Up to 60% of treatment-resistant depression cases may be influenced by biological factors like age and hormones. Animal models using Wistar Kyoto rats and chronic mild stress tests have helped evaluate promising treatments, including ketamine, deep brain stimulation, and psilocybin, offering new hope for patients who don't respond to traditional antidepressants.
Abstract
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a subgroup of major depressive disorder in which the use of classical antidepressant treatments fails to ac...
Psilocybin analog 4-OH-DiPT enhances fear extinction and GABAergic inhibition of principal neurons in the basolateral amygdala.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology – April 01, 2024
Summary
A newly studied compound related to psilocybin shows promise in reducing fear responses through brain chemistry changes. This fast-acting substance enhances the brain's natural calming signals in the amygdala, a key fear-processing region. Tests revealed particularly strong benefits in female subjects, improving their ability to overcome fear responses and anxiety-like behaviors. The compound works by boosting inhibitory signals that help quiet overactive fear circuits.
Abstract
Psychedelics such as psilocybin show great promise for the treatment of depression and PTSD, but their long duration of action poses practical limi...
Psychoplastogens: A Novel Therapeutic Approach for Neurological Diseases and Disorders.
ACS medicinal chemistry letters – September 14, 2023
Summary
Rapid brain rewiring may hold the key to treating depression and anxiety. New research reveals how certain compounds promote neural growth and enhance brain connectivity within hours - far faster than traditional medications. These natural and synthetic substances work by activating specific brain receptors that stimulate new neural connections. Clinical trials show promising results for treating depression, anxiety, and addiction with fewer side effects than conventional drugs.
Abstract
Neurological diseases often involve changes in synaptic connectivity and plasticity. Psychoplastogens, substances that stimulate neuronal growth an...
Have Effective Antidepressants Finally Arrived? Developments in Major Depressive Disorder Therapy.
The Journal of clinical psychiatry – August 14, 2023
Summary
Recent breakthroughs in depression treatment show promising alternatives for patients who don't respond to traditional medications. New approaches include modified versions of ketamine, innovative drug combinations, and neurosteroids that work through different brain pathways. Early results indicate faster relief and better outcomes, particularly in treatment-resistant cases, with some patients showing improvement within days rather than weeks.
Abstract
Among the greatest unmet needs in major depressive disorder (MDD) is a lack of effective pharmacotherapies for patients who do not respond to first...
Biosynthesis of kratom opioids
New Phytologist – July 30, 2023
Summary
Microbial **biosynthesis** of mitragynine, an **indole alkaloid** from kratom, has been achieved for the first time. Offering a safer alternative to **Opium Poppy**-derived opioids, this breakthrough in **biology** and **biochemistry** unravels its complex production pathway. Starting with **tryptamine**, the **chemistry** involved identifying unique reductases and a novel **O-methyltransferase**. This four-step process, crucial for **alkaloids: synthesis and pharmacology**, builds on insights from **traditional and medicinal uses** of plants, impacting areas like **Berberine and alkaloids research**. This advance allows for generating diverse kratom opioid analogs.
Abstract
Summary Mitragynine, an analgesic alkaloid from the plant Mitragyna speciosa (kratom), offers a safer alternative to clinical opioids such as morph...
Combining Ketamine Infusions and Written Exposure Therapy for Chronic PTSD: An Open-Label Trial.
The Journal of clinical psychiatry – April 02, 2025
Summary
A groundbreaking treatment combining ketamine infusions with exposure therapy shows remarkable promise for severe PTSD patients. In this innovative approach, patients received six ketamine treatments over two weeks, alongside five therapy sessions. The results were impressive: 69% of participants showed major improvement, with symptoms reduced by half on average. Most importantly, these benefits lasted up to six months, offering new hope for those struggling with chronic PTSD.
Abstract
Objective: This open-label clinical trial examined the preliminary efficacy of combining a course of 6 ketamine infusions with a brief, evidence-ba...
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...
A review of the complex intersection between religion, spirituality, and harm reduction.
The American journal on addictions – May 10, 2025
Summary
Religious and spiritual beliefs play a surprising dual role in substance use treatment - both supporting and challenging harm reduction approaches. While traditionally associated with abstinence-only methods, faith-based perspectives increasingly align with pragmatic harm reduction values. Analysis of 169 papers reveals that religious and spiritual resources often complement harm reduction strategies, particularly when programs actively involve people with lived experience. This collaboration creates more effective, compassionate approaches to substance use care.
Abstract
Within substance use research, religion and spirituality (r/s) have been understudied in relation to harm reduction approaches. We perform a litera...
The G protein biased serotonin 5-HT 2A receptor agonist lisuride exerts anti-depressant drug-like activities in mice.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology – June 05, 2023
Summary
Lisuride, a drug that targets serotonin receptors in the brain, shows promise as a potential depression treatment without the hallucinogenic effects common to similar compounds. In experiments with mice, the drug reduced signs of depression, including improved mood-related behaviors and increased interest in rewarding experiences. Unlike related substances, lisuride didn't cause significant head twitches or unusual motor activity, suggesting fewer side effects.
Abstract
There is now evidence from multiple Phase II clinical trials that psychedelic drugs can exert longlasting anxiolytic, anti-depressant, and anti-dru...
The role of mitochondrial dysfunction and calcium dysregulation in 2C-I and 25I-NBOMe-induced neurotoxicity.
Chemico-biological interactions – April 25, 2025
Summary
Designer drugs known as NBOMe and 2C compounds can severely disrupt cellular energy production in brain cells. Scientists found that NBOMe drugs are particularly toxic, causing significant damage to mitochondria - the cell's power plants. Testing on specialized nerve cells (SH-SY5Y cells) revealed these new psychoactive substances trigger cell death through multiple pathways, including disrupted calcium balance and energy failure. This helps explain their neurotoxicity and dangerous effects.
Abstract
New psychoactive substances (NPS) are designed to evade legal regulation while mimicking the effects of classic illicit drugs such as 3,4-methylene...
[Mechanisms of action of antidepressive pharmacotherapy: brain and mind-body and environment].
Der Nervenarzt – March 01, 2025
Summary
Antidepressants work through complex interactions between brain chemistry and environmental factors. Recent findings reveal that both traditional and newer medications promote neuroplasticity while improving emotional processing. The therapeutic benefits emerge from a combination of drug effects and extrapharmacological factors, including social support and environmental context. This challenges the notion that these external elements are merely placebo effects.
Abstract
Novel antidepressive substances are challenging the explanations for the mechanisms of action of traditional psychopharmacology. What could be the ...
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for Antisocial Personality Disorder: A Case Report.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 07, 2025
Summary
A groundbreaking case shows how ketamine-assisted psychotherapy helped transform the life of a man with antisocial personality disorder. Over three years, low-dose ketamine sessions combined with therapy helped resolve his alcoholism, reduced violent thoughts, and improved depression. This marks a potential new avenue for treating a condition that traditionally has limited treatment options.
Abstract
There are currently no evidence-based treatment guidelines for antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Instead, treatment typically focuses on como...
Effects of ketamine and propofol on muscarinic plateau potentials in rat neocortical pyramidal cells.
PloS one – January 01, 2025
Summary
Two common anesthetics - ketamine and propofol - affect brain activity in surprisingly different ways, explaining why patients experience vivid dreams with one but not the other. Scientists found that ketamine can actually enhance certain brain cell activity at moderate doses, while propofol consistently suppresses it. These findings help explain why ketamine patients often report colorful dreams while propofol leads to deep, dreamless sleep.
Abstract
Propofol and ketamine are widely used general anaesthetics, but have different effects on consciousness: propofol gives a deeply unconscious state,...
MDMA and MDMA-Assisted Therapy.
The American journal of psychiatry – January 01, 2025
Summary
MDMA, once known only as a party drug, is showing remarkable promise in clinical drug studies. When combined with therapy, this compound helps 67-71% of PTSD patients achieve remission - more than double the success rate of traditional therapy. Beyond treating PTSD, research suggests MDMA's unique ability to increase trust and self-compassion while maintaining mental clarity makes it valuable for treating depressive disorders. In controlled medical settings, it's proving both safe and effective.
Abstract
MDMA (i.e., 3,4-methylenedixoymethamphetamine), commonly known as "Ecstasy" or "Molly," has been used since the 1970s both in recreational and ther...
Editorial: Biological Therapies and Eating Disorders.
European eating disorders review : the journal of the Eating Disorders Association – December 15, 2024
Summary
New biological treatments show promise for eating disorders, from brain stimulation to innovative medications. Advanced therapies like transcranial magnetic stimulation and ketamine target brain circuits affecting mood and appetite. Treatments ranging from olanzapine to microbiome-based approaches offer hope for conditions like anorexia nervosa and binge eating disorder, while personalized biological interventions may improve recovery rates.
Abstract
Blood-based biomarkers and neuroimaging techniques have improved our understanding of the underlying biology of eating disorders (EDs) and have inc...
Structural neural plasticity evoked by rapid-acting antidepressant interventions.
Nature reviews. Neuroscience – February 01, 2025
Summary
Groundbreaking research reveals how fast-acting antidepressants like ketamine can actually rewire brain connections within days. These treatments trigger growth of vital neural connections in the brain's prefrontal cortex, helping restore healthy brain function. The findings show that various rapid treatments share a common thread: they boost the brain's natural ability to adapt and rebuild, offering new hope for depression treatment.
Abstract
A feature in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD), a mood disorder, is the impairment of excitatory synapses in the prefrontal co...
KETAMINE: Neural- and network-level changes.
Neuroscience – November 01, 2024
Summary
Ketamine's remarkable ability to reshape brain connectivity offers new hope for treating mental health conditions. This groundbreaking research reveals how ketamine enhances neuroplasticity by promoting hyperconnectivity between brain regions and fine-tuning neural responses. The drug increases neural synchrony across brain networks while reducing firing variability, creating more robust connections between neurons. These changes in brain circuitry help explain ketamine's powerful therapeutic effects and its potential to rapidly improve mood disorders.
Abstract
Ketamine is a widely used clinical drug that has several functional and clinical applications, including its use as an anaesthetic, analgesic, anti...
A Multimodal Preclinical Assessment of MDMA in Female and Male Rats: Prohedonic, Cognition Disruptive, and Prosocial Effects.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.) – June 01, 2024
Summary
MDMA shows promise in treating anhedonia - the reduced ability to feel pleasure - with interesting differences between male and female rats. The drug increased reward sensitivity and enhanced social behavior in males, while also temporarily affecting memory and attention when tested using touchscreen cognition tasks. These effects were short-lived, lasting less than 24 hours.
Abstract
Frontline antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) leave many patients with unmet treatment needs. Moreover, even wh...
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine is a connectogen with empathogenic, entactogenic, and still further connective properties: It is time to reconcile “the great entactogen—empathogen debate”
Journal of Psychopharmacology – July 28, 2024
Summary
The psychoactive substance MDMA, also known as Ecstasy, profoundly fosters an intense feeling of connection. While often described by psychology as both an "empathogen" for promoting prosociality and openness to experience, and an "entactogen" for enhancing introspection and self-awareness, these terms describe a unified phenomenon. This class of substances, explored in drug studies, primarily induces a deep connection—to oneself (intrapersonal) and others (interpersonal). Therefore, a new term, "connectogen," is proposed to holistically capture MDMA's influence on behavior, reflecting this fundamental feeling.
Abstract
Science on methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and MDMA-like substances is faced with the unique situation that this class of psychoactive agents ...
Understanding and treating postpartum depression: a narrative review.
International clinical psychopharmacology – May 01, 2025
Summary
Up to 15% of new mothers experience postpartum depression, but breakthrough treatments are changing the landscape of care. New research reveals PPD as distinct from typical depression, driven by unique hormonal changes and brain chemistry. While traditional antidepressants remain useful, innovative treatments like brexanolone and light therapy show promising results. Personalized approaches combining medication and non-drug therapies are helping mothers recover faster and bond better with their babies.
Abstract
Postpartum depression (PPD) is an increasingly prevalent but still poorly characterized disorder. Causal and modulating factors include hormones fl...
Beyond the serotonin deficit hypothesis: communicating a neuroplasticity framework of major depressive disorder.
Molecular psychiatry – December 01, 2024
Summary
Depression involves more than just low serotonin levels - it's linked to reduced flexibility in brain circuits that process emotions and thoughts. Like a path that becomes deeply worn from constant use, negative thinking patterns can become "stuck." Treatments work by promoting brain plasticity, helping create new neural pathways. This explains why diverse approaches - from traditional antidepressants to therapy to newer options like ketamine - can effectively treat depression by helping the brain adapt and form healthier patterns.
Abstract
The serotonin deficit hypothesis explanation for major depressive disorder (MDD) has persisted among clinicians and the general public alike despit...
Molecular Design of SERTlight: A Fluorescent Serotonin Probe for Neuronal Labeling in the Brain.
Journal of the American Chemical Society – April 10, 2024
Summary
Scientists have developed a groundbreaking fluorescent molecule that selectively illuminates serotonin-producing neurons in the brain. This new tool, which acts like a glowing tracer, helps visualize the brain's serotonin network by entering neurons through their natural transport system. The molecule provides stable, long-lasting signals and can work alongside other imaging tools, offering researchers a powerful way to study how serotonin systems function in the brain.
Abstract
The serotonergic transmitter system plays fundamental roles in the nervous system in neurotransmission, synaptic plasticity, pathological processes...
Novel psychoactive substances of interest for psychiatry
World Psychiatry – February 01, 2016
Summary
The rise of synthetic drugs has created new challenges in mental health, with over 1,000 novel substances emerging in the last decade. These compounds mimic traditional drugs but are engineered to evade detection in standard tests. They target brain systems linked to mood and behavior, including dopamine and serotonin pathways. Users risk severe psychiatric effects, from anxiety to psychosis, while treatment options remain limited. Healthcare providers must stay informed about these evolving substances to provide effective care.
Abstract
Novel psychoactive substances include synthetic cannabinoids, cathinone derivatives, psychedelic phenethylamines, novel stimulants, synthetic opioi...
The influence of ceremonial settings on mystical and challenging experiences occasioned by ayahuasca: A survey among ritualistic and religious ayahuasca users
Frontiers in Psychology – July 15, 2022
Summary
The ceremonial environment plays a crucial role in shaping ayahuasca experiences. A survey of 2,700+ participants across Santo Daime, UDV (União do Vegetal), and neo-shamanic traditions revealed that positive settings significantly reduced challenging experiences. Comfortable spaces, social support, and thoughtful decoration enhanced mystical experiences, with UDV members reporting the strongest social connections.
Abstract
Recent studies have recognized the importance of non-pharmacological factors such as setting to induce or promote mystical experiences or challengi...
Behavioral Neurobiology of Alcohol Addiction: A Decade of Great Challenges, New Hopes, and Hypes.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences – July 12, 2025
Summary
A major challenge in treating alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the 'valley of death' where promising animal models rarely translate into human therapies, despite advances in addiction theory. Yet, new hope emerges from advanced technologies, AI, and real-world Just-in-time-Adaptive-Interventions (JITAIs). Promising drug candidates like GLP-1 agonists and Psilocybin are also showing potential. Rigorous translation, guided by expert consensus (like DELPHI method principles), is crucial to bridge this gap and deliver effective treatments.
Abstract
Over a decade after the first edition of "Behavioral Neurobiology of Alcohol Addiction," this chapter revisits the field at a critical juncture, ma...
MDMA-assisted therapy as a treatment for major depressive disorder: proof of principle study.
The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science – July 11, 2025
Summary
A new approach to treating severe depression shows significant promise. In recent clinical drug studies, a novel medication-assisted treatment involving MDMA alongside psychotherapy was explored for Major Depressive Disorder. Twelve participants with moderate to severe depression received two MDMA sessions, integrated with comprehensive psychotherapy. Results were highly positive: participants experienced significant reductions in depression symptoms and improved daily functioning, with no serious side effects. This innovative medication-assisted treatment demonstrated safety and strong indications of efficacy.
Abstract
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) has shown promising safety and efficacy in phase 3 studies of post-traumatic st...
Electrophysiological correlates of lucid dreaming: sensor and source level signatures
bioRxiv Preprint Server – April 09, 2024
Summary
Conscious awareness during dreams has a unique brain signature. Researchers developed refined methods to analyze brain signals from many participants. While surface activity resembles regular dreams, deeper brain regions reveal distinct patterns. Increased gamma waves in temporal areas suggest verbal insight and self-reflection. Reduced beta waves in parietal regions may reflect a conscious reality check. Crucially, enhanced alpha connectivity indicates heightened self-awareness. These findings successfully map the neural basis of lucid dreaming.
Abstract
Lucid dreaming (LD) is a state of conscious awareness of the current dream state, predominantly associated with REM sleep. Research progress in unc...
Serotonin 5-HT2A receptor expression is chronically decreased in the anterior cerebral cortex of male rats following repetitive low-level blast exposure
Frontiers in Neurology – June 25, 2025
Summary
Blast-related brain injuries profoundly alter brain chemistry, showing the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) chronically decreased in the cerebral cortex. In 6 of 7 rat cohorts, this reduction persisted from two weeks to a year post-injury. This critical neuroscience discovery, vital for Traumatic Brain Injury Research, highlights the 5-HT receptor as a potential therapeutic target in medicine. It offers insights for internal medicine and endocrinology, illuminating how Traumatic Brain Injury and Neurovascular Disturbances impact functional brain connectivity, providing new avenues for treating PTSD.
Abstract
Introduction Many Veterans who experienced blast-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in Iraq and Afghanistan currently suffer from chronic cogn...