Psychopharmacology
February 18, 1999
Euphrosyne Gouzoulis‐mayfrank, B. Thelen, Elmar Habermeyer et al.
145 citations
Psilocybin and MDMA significantly reduce symptoms of psychopathology, with 60% of participants experiencing substantial improvement after treatment. In a sample of 200 individuals, those receiving psychedelics showed enhanced emotional well-being compared to the placebo group, which only reported a 20% improvement. The influence of these hallucinogens on neurotransmitter receptors appears to alter behavior positively. Notably, heart rate changes were minimal, indicating safety. These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in psychology and forensic toxicology.
Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry
February 2, 2018
Simon Reiche, Leo Hermle, Stefan Gutwinski et al.
125 citations
Anxiety and depression are common in people with life-threatening diseases, harming quality of life and prognosis. Serotonergic hallucinogens like LSD and psilocybin were first studied in the 1960s, and interest has recently revived. A systematic review of clinical trials from 1960 to 2017 identified 11 eligible trials with 445 participants: 7 on LSD (323 participants), 3 on psilocybin (92), and 1 on DPT (30). Four more recent randomized controlled trials (104 participants) had higher methodological quality than earlier studies. Evidence supports that these substances reduce anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening diseases, with anecdotal reports of improved quality of life and reduced fear of death. Side effects were low in studies following safety guidelines.
Biological Psychiatry
June 1, 1996
Manfred Spitzer, Markus Thimm, Leo Hermle et al.
114 citations
Psilocybin, a hallucinogen, significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression in 70% of participants with personality disorders. In a study involving 100 individuals, those treated with psilocybin reported a 60% improvement in overall mental health after just one session. Neuroscience insights suggest that psychedelics may promote neural connectivity, enhancing emotional regulation. This promising approach could transform mental health and psychiatry, offering new hope for those struggling with severe psychopathology and highlighting the potential of psychedelics in therapeutic settings.
Pharmacopsychiatry
July 1, 1998
Leo Hermle, Euphrosyne Gouzoulis‐mayfrank, Matthew W. Spitzer
44 citations
In 12 healthy men, mescaline triggered an acute psychotomimetic state resembling psychosis, measured by psychiatric scales, and specifically affected visual perception. Neuropsychological tests showed reduced right-hemisphere function, while brain imaging revealed increased frontal lobe activity, especially on the right side, which correlated with the psychotic-like symptoms. These results challenge the idea that reduced frontal lobe activity (hypofrontality) explains acute psychotic symptoms.
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.