European Psychiatry
November 17, 2023
L. Silva, L. Bravo
1 citation
LSD, a semi-synthetic hallucinogen first synthesized in 1938, was briefly used in psychiatry for alcoholism, neurosis, and psychosomatic disorders before its international prohibition in the 1970s. This non-systematic review found evidence that LSD may help treat drug and alcohol dependence and anxiety associated with life-threatening diseases. Modern neuroimaging shows LSD alters brain blood flow, electrical activity, and network communication patterns. Preclinical evidence indicates psychedelics affect neuroplasticity after both acute and chronic administration. When administered safely in a supervised psychotherapeutic setting, LSD may have potential for certain psychiatric conditions, warranting larger controlled studies.
January 1, 2025
Henrique Tofoli Vieira Machado, Geovana Mendes de Seixas, L. Silva et al.
Psilocybin, when given under professional supervision, shows promise for treating difficult-to-treat conditions such as treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, and substance dependence. In patients with treatment-resistant depression, a few doses significantly improved symptoms. For anxiety and PTSD, psilocybin reduced symptom intensity and improved emotional well-being. It also helped reduce addictions to alcohol and nicotine. The proposed mechanism is that psilocybin enhances brain connectivity, aiding trauma reprocessing and restructuring negative thought patterns. More research is needed to fully understand its mechanisms, effects, and risks.
European Psychiatry
June 1, 2022
L. Silva, L. Bravo
Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic tea containing monoamine oxidase inhibitors and DMT, shows potential benefits for psychiatric symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and drug addiction. In a randomized placebo-controlled trial, ayahuasca had a significant antidepressant effect compared to placebo. Long-term use was associated with structural brain alterations in medial regions, with no evidence of increased psychopathology or impaired neuropsychological functioning. Prolonged psychotic reactions among users are rare, and causal links to ayahuasca are difficult to establish. More controlled double-blinded studies with larger populations are needed to clarify therapeutic potentials and side effects.