Pharmaceuticals
August 12, 2021
Gniewko Więckiewicz, Iga Stokłosa, Magdalena Piegza et al.
30 citations
Depression remains a clinical challenge despite many available treatments. Recently, formerly illicit substances such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, and dimethyltryptamine (DMT) have drawn scientific interest. This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines and searched PubMed and the Cochrane Library, identifying 10 relevant papers. Most selected studies showed a significant correlation between psilocybin and DMT use and reduction in depression symptom intensity. The authors conclude that psilocybin and DMT could be useful in depression treatment, but further observations are still required.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
January 19, 2023
Iga Stokłosa, Gniewko Więckiewicz, Maciej Stokłosa et al.
25 citations
No single effective drug for alcohol abuse has been identified, despite centuries of effort, due to the complexity of alcohol dependence. Psychotherapy remains the main treatment, with few FDA-approved medications—acamprosate, disulfiram, and naltrexone—and nalmefene approved by the EMA available to augment it. Recent reports suggest baclofen, topiramate, varenicline, and gabapentin may be useful. Clinical trials with psilocybin and MDMA show promise as breakthroughs, but much more research is needed before new pharmacological treatments become widely available.
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.
Alpha psychiatry
March 1, 2024
Anna Famuła, Jakub Radoszewski, Tomasz Czerwiec et al.
8 citations
Ketamine, long used as an anesthetic, is being investigated as a treatment for substance use disorder (SUD). This narrative review examines how ketamine may work through effects on glutamate signaling, neuroplasticity, and reward pathways. The psychotropic and dissociative properties of ketamine are considered for their role in therapeutic outcomes and patient experience. The review calls for more research to understand ketamine's potential and to develop personalized addiction 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
July 11, 2023
Gniewko Więckiewicz, Iga Stokłosa, Maciej Stokłosa et al.
2 citations
More than half of adults with ADHD continue to experience symptoms, and undiagnosed individuals often use psychoactive substances to cope. In an online survey of 438 adults diagnosed with ADHD, the most commonly used stimulants were alcohol, marijuana, MDMA, amphetamine/methamphetamine, and psilocybin; methylphenidate was the most frequently used drug among patients. After treatment with psychostimulants, most respondents, especially males, reported a decrease in hyperactivity symptoms. The authors conclude that clinicians should actively screen for ADHD in patients who use psychoactive substances.
Psychiatria polska
October 31, 2022
Gniewko Więckiewicz, Dariusz Danel, Magdalena Piegza et al.
2 citations
MDMA is commonly used worldwide, but little is known about recreational users' demographics and health. A survey of 304 Polish adults who use MDMA found the drug is widespread among young adults across genders and places of residence. Users take MDMA in pill or crystal form, rarely test drugs from dealers, and most feel MDMA has positively affected their lives. MDMA is seldom used alone; users rate their health higher than those using other psychoactive substances.
Journal of clinical medicine
January 28, 2024
Gniewko Więckiewicz, Iga Florczyk, Maciej Stokłosa et al.
1 citation
Among 703 users of illegal psychoactive substances surveyed online, intensity of substance use correlated positively with the risk and severity of prodromal psychosis symptoms. Early exposure to psychoactive substances increased the risk of heavy use in adulthood and more frequent prodromal states. The most popular drugs were tetrahydrocannabinol-containing products, MDMA, amphetamines, and LSD. 39.8% of respondents had been treated by a psychiatrist. A significant correlation was found between the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test and the Prodromal Questionnaire Brief Version scores.
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%.