European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology
November 1, 2022
Marco Solmi, Chaomei Chen, Charles Dauré et al.
55 citations
Over the past century, clinical research on psychedelics has evolved from an early focus on safety into a 'psychedelic renaissance' after the 1990s. A scientometric analysis of 31,687 documents from the Web of Science identified major research themes: hallucinogens/entheogens, entactogens, novel psychoactive substances (NPS), and dissociative substances. The field has shifted from basic science to clinical applications, including phase 2 and 3 trials and evidence synthesis. Recent trends include NPS, ketamine-associated brain changes, and ayahuasca-assisted psychotherapy. The USA and Canada lead in productivity, reflecting legislative influences. This translational evolution has already led to esketamine approval for depression and may lead to further approvals across mental and physical conditions. Toxicology screening tools for NPS are urgently needed and may follow a similar path.
Sci Rep
August 17, 2023
Anne Buot, Cecile Pallares, Alina Oganesyan et al.
28 citations
Classic psychedelics were the only substances reported to reduce obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms in a retrospective online survey of 174 people who used psychoactive drugs. Symptom reduction was linked to the intensity of acute effects, which correlated with dose. Therapeutic effects lasted from weeks to months, but no factor predicted their persistence. Frequency of subsequent use was predicted by the magnitude and persistence of the effect, though overall use was limited. The findings support the possibility that classic psychedelics can reduce OCD symptoms, but careful evaluation of effect persistence is still needed.
Annales Médico-psychologiques revue psychiatrique
September 28, 2021
Vincent Verroust, Rayyan Zafar, Meg J. Spriggs
16 citations
Psilocybin, a hallucinogen, shows promise in treating anorexia nervosa, with a recent study involving 30 participants indicating significant improvements. After therapy sessions incorporating psilocybin, 70% of participants reported reduced eating disorder symptoms, and 60% experienced weight gain within three months. This suggests potential for psychedelics in psychiatry and psychology, offering new avenues for those struggling with eating disorders. With growing interest in complementary and alternative medicine studies, psilocybin's role in psychoanalysis could reshape treatment approaches in mental health.
Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire)
January 17, 2024
Ewen Kervadec, Baptiste Fauvel, Lana Strika-Bruneau et al.
15 citations
A retrospective online survey of 160 individuals who had a psychedelic experience and a drinking habit found that the average number of drinking days per week and scores on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) decreased significantly afterward. Those who quit or reduced drinking had more severe alcohol use disorder and lower psychological flexibility before the session. The reduction in alcohol use was linked to the intensity of the mystical experience, and psychological flexibility increased more in participants who cut back on drinking. The findings suggest a naturalistic psychedelic experience may be associated with reduced alcohol use and dependency, possibly through mystical experiences and increased psychological flexibility.
Frontiers in Psychology
September 1, 2023
Zoë Dubus, Elise Grandgeorge, Vincent Verroust
3 citations
From the 1920s to the 1960s, French physicians administered mescaline, LSD, and psilocybin in highly controlled, anxious sessions often described by patients as torture, with only rare cases of recovery. The Sainte-Anne school dominated this research, framing hallucinogens as psychodysleptics (mind disruptors) rather than psychedelics, and using them as diagnostic tools within a biological, shock-oriented conception of therapy. Because researchers rarely determined optimal doses or attended to the administration context and patient relationship, clear therapeutic benefits were not demonstrated. These early negative representations continue to influence French health professionals' reluctance toward the current psychedelic renaissance.