Neuropharmacology
November 1, 2018
Henrik Jungaberle, Sascha Thal, Andrea Zeuch et al.
70 citations
A review of 77 studies with 9876 participants examined how psychedelics and entactogens relate to positive psychology—the study of healthy functioning, well-being, and eudaemonia. The substances produced acute and long-term effects on mood, well-being, prosocial behaviors, empathy, cognitive flexibility, creativity, openness, value orientations, nature-relatedness, spirituality, self-transcendence, and mindfulness-related capabilities. Evidence is preliminary due to methodological restrictions. Longitudinal data on both positive and adverse effects are lacking, so more rigorous, standardized measures from positive psychology should be applied in less biased populations with prospective longitudinal designs to assess the benefit-risk ratio.
Fortschritte der Neurologie · Psychiatrie
July 1, 2017
Tomislav Majić, Henrik Jungaberle, Timo Torsten Schmidt et al.
10 citations
The use of serotonergic hallucinogens (psychedelics) such as LSD and psilocybin, and entactogens such as MDMA, in psychotherapy has recently gained increasing scientific interest. This review summarizes current evidence on substance-assisted psychotherapy with serotonergic psychoactive substances. A selective literature search in PubMed and the Cochrane Library identified studies since 2000 examining these substances in psychotherapy. Indications studied include alcohol dependence (LSD and psilocybin), nicotine dependence (psilocybin), anxiety and depression in life-threatening physical illness (LSD and psilocybin), obsessive-compulsive disorder (psilocybin), treatment-resistant major depression (psilocybin), and post-traumatic stress disorder (MDMA). Dependence disorders, PTSD, and anxiety and depression in life-threatening physical illness are the best-evaluated indications. Evidence suggests efficacy with relatively good tolerability, but further studies are needed to assess these substances as future options for certain treatment-resistant mental disorders.