L'Encephale
August 1, 2021
L Berkovitch, B Roméo, L Karila et al.
25 citations
A systematic review of 25 studies found that psychedelics (psilocybin, ayahuasca, and LSD) produce a quick and substantial reduction in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and addiction that lasts for several months, sometimes after a single dose. Studies included randomized controlled trials, open-label trials, and long-term follow-ups, with no severe adverse events reported. However, most studies were descriptive or open-label with small sample sizes. The evidence suggests psychedelics are promising treatments that are well tolerated, but effects need confirmation in larger trials and comparison with standard care.
L'Encephale
October 1, 2023
R Ouchene, N El Habchi, A Demina et al.
24 citations
Lucid dreaming therapy (LDT) appears effective in reducing nightmare frequency among adults with chronic and recurring nightmares, based on a systematic review of four randomized controlled trials, two case series, and five case reports. Nightmares affect 2% to 8% of the general population and can lead to serious psychiatric and physical consequences. No studies were identified in children. The review notes that while the included studies have limited internal validity, the initial results are encouraging, though larger and more rigorous research is needed to better assess LDT's utility for nightmares.
L'Encephale
August 1, 2024
Fabrice Berna, Amaury C Mengin, Philippe Huguelet et al.
7 citations
A systematic review of 18 studies with 1272 participants examined whether mindfulness meditation increases spirituality or religiosity as measured by validated scales. Four scales (FACIT-sp, INSPIRIT, DSES, DUREL) contained items on spirituality, religion, and mysticism—elements critics consider risky for sectarian drift. A few studies found significant increases in spirituality scores after mindfulness meditation, but the clinical relevance of these changes is uncertain; control groups showed smaller changes. The review concludes that a pragmatic harm-reduction approach is more appropriate than banning mindfulness-based practices, and that the debate over secularism in French psychotherapy requires further research.
L'Encephale
June 1, 2022
H Bottemanne, A Baldacci, C Muller et al.
7 citations
Ketamine, a fast-acting antidepressant, produces dissociative effects and promotes brain plasticity. Although preliminary studies suggest combining it with psychotherapy may be beneficial, clinical antidepressant use rarely includes per- and post-infusion therapy. The psychodysleptic experiences and synaptogenic effects could enhance cognitive behavioral therapy. This article proposes a practical protocol for Ketamine Augmented Psychotherapy (KAP), synthesizing literature and clinical experience. It details four steps: preparation, administration, integration, and prolongation, and discusses limits and prospects for mood disorder management.
L'Encephale
May 23, 2025
Maroussia Dumenil, Gabriel Cordova, Wissam El-Hage
1 citation
A Mexican student in France with recurrent unipolar depression experienced incomplete relief from Escitalopram over two years, with side effects including nausea, fatigue, and numbness. After two supervised psilocybin sessions in Mexico in summer 2020, he achieved full remission of depressive symptoms and remained antidepressant-free through 2020. A 2021 double-blind trial with 59 subjects reported 70% of psilocybin-treated patients had over 50% reduction in depression, versus 48% on Escitalopram. Psilocybin, a 5-HT2A agonist, reduces amygdala reactivity to negative emotions and alters brain connectivity. The case suggests psilocybin may help treatment-resistant depression, though larger studies are needed.
L'Encephale
April 9, 2026
Amel Bouloufa, Sarah Delcourte, Thomas Delannay et al.
Major depressive disorder affects over 350 million people worldwide, and about one-third of patients do not achieve remission with standard antidepressants, a condition known as treatment-resistant depression. Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) modulates the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor and the glutamatergic system, which are involved in neuroplasticity, and early clinical studies suggest rapid and sustained antidepressant responses. Clinical trials are underway to test LSD's safety and efficacy for major depressive disorder, though methodological challenges include creating meaningful placebos and the need for specialized therapist training. LSD-assisted therapy remains experimental, but its therapeutic potential is increasingly recognized given the limitations of current treatments for treatment-resistant depression.
L'Encephale
August 1, 2025
Andreas Rosén Rasmussen, Helene Stephensen, Julie Nordgaard et al.
A French translation of the Examination of Anomalous Fantasy and Imagination (EAFI) is presented, along with an introduction to the phenomenology of imagination and its experiential alterations. The EAFI's interrater reliability was tested in a diagnostically heterogeneous sample of 20 inpatients, yielding agreement from 0.6 to 1.0 with an average κ of 0.84, and internal consistency (Cronbach's α) above 0.88. The anomalies of imagination explored by the EAFI are suggested to reflect an alteration of the structure of consciousness and belong to a fundamental, generative layer of psychopathology, with potential relevance for differential diagnosis, especially in first-contact patients.
L'Encephale
April 4, 2025
George A Michael, Sara Salgues, Geoffrey Duran
Complex bodily hallucinations are common, with 96.6% of a general population sample of 623 participants reporting at least one. A new short scale assessing four themes—delusional parasitosis, feeling of presence, autoscopic phenomena, and body distortions—shows good internal consistency, 3-month test-retest reliability, and convergent validity. The data best fit a hierarchical model linking the four themes to a higher-order factor tentatively identified as bodily self-consciousness. Combinations of themes were more frequent than isolated reports, each of which occurred in less than 5% of the sample. The scale balances specificity and sensitivity when using the 90th percentile of the total score as a classification criterion, making it suitable for clinical and research use.
L'Encephale
February 1, 2025
Doriane Dost, Amine Benyamina, Laurent Karila
A systematic review of neuroimaging studies on psychedelics found that these substances reduce functional network integration, increase connectivity between brain networks, and expand the repertoire of functional connectivity patterns. Thalamic gating and emotional processing are also impaired. These changes correlate with symptom improvement in clinical populations. Despite these findings, understanding of psychedelic effects remains incomplete, and no unifying neurocognitive theory has emerged to explain the phenomena.