Frontiers in Psychiatry
June 11, 2024
Sandra Szafoni, Piotr Gręblowski, Klaudia Grabowska et al.
12 citations
Psilocybin, a psychedelic substance, is being tested in clinical trials as an adjunct to psychotherapy for patients with major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and substance use disorders (alcohol and nicotine dependence) that are resistant to traditional treatments. This article reviews current understanding of psilocybin, including data from clinical trials, its mechanism of action, safety profile, and associated risks.
Psychiatria polska
August 31, 2022
Sandra Szafoni, Gniewko Więckiewicz, Robert Pudlo et al.
9 citations
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD shows promise in clinical trials, with the FDA granting breakthrough therapy designation based on earlier results. The treatment combines MDMA's pharmacological effects—enhancing fear extinction, increasing oxytocin and trust, and reducing amygdala reactivity—with specific psychotherapeutic methods. If ongoing phase 3 trials meet efficacy criteria, FDA approval could come as early as 2022. The article reviews mechanisms of action, therapeutic rationale, and potential dangers of this approach, which revisits a previously banned psychoactive substance to address the limited effectiveness of current PTSD treatments.
Medicina
May 9, 2023
Gniewko Więckiewicz, Julia Marek, Iga Stokłosa et al.
5 citations
A large Polish survey of 1,117 drug users found that marijuana, MDMA, and hallucinogenic mushrooms are the most commonly used substances, while amphetamine use is the most common reason for seeking medical help. Over 41 percent of respondents were receiving psychiatric treatment, with depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and ADHD being the most frequent diagnoses. Compared to two years earlier, psilocybin and DMT use increased, heated tobacco product use rose, and the percentage receiving psychiatric help nearly doubled.
Frontiers in psychiatry
January 1, 2025
Julia Marek, Magdalena Domek-Gumprecht, Agata Macionga et al.
A biennial online survey of 2,447 people aged 13–63 in Poland found that marijuana is the most commonly used illicit psychoactive substance, though consumption is infrequent (35.6% use once every few months or less) and mainly occurs in social settings (50.2%) or at home (52.3%). Most respondents (83.6%) never tested substance composition, and 51.4% relied on visual estimation for dosing. Sixty percent had neglected daily responsibilities, and 16.8% faced legal issues. Nearly half had seen a psychiatrist, primarily for depression; of those, 41.1% had attempted suicide and 70.5% used illicit substances before their first consultation. Only 40% consistently disclosed substance use to a physician. Stimulant use and related medical consultations are rising, psychedelic use is declining, and solitary use now exceeds 25%.