Clinical neuropharmacology
August 1, 1994
R B Rosse, J P Collins, M Fay-Mccarthy et al.
62 citations
Cocaine-induced psychosis and PCP-induced psychosis each resemble some symptoms of schizophrenia but differ in their specific features. In a retrospective study of 34 male crack-cocaine-dependent patients without other psychiatric disorders and 16 actively psychotic men with schizophrenia, certain First Rank Schneiderian Symptoms such as thought broadcasting and thought withdrawal were more common in the schizophrenic group. In a separate group of 22 cocaine addicts with past use of both cocaine and PCP, the frequency of these symptoms during intoxication was similar for both drugs.
Clinical neuropharmacology
Wei Xie, Le Wang, Zhe Peng et al.
6 citations
Preoperative nasal administration of low-dose esketamine or dexmedetomidine reduces emergence delirium after pediatric fiberoptic bronchoscopy. In a randomized trial of 126 children aged 1–6 years, emergence delirium occurred in 7.14% of those given 1.0 mg/kg esketamine and 18.6% of those given 1.0 μg/kg dexmedetomidine, compared with 48.78% in the saline control group. Both drugs also lowered postoperative pain intensity. Dexmedetomidine prolonged the time to awaken and open eyes in the recovery unit, while hemodynamics, oral secretions, and recovery-stay duration did not differ among groups.
Clinical neuropharmacology
Megan Ralston, Alim Osman, Pavan Suryadevara et al.
4 citations
A review of the current literature on ketamine for social withdrawal in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) found only two original studies and five case reports. The two studies showed mixed results: esketamine produced no statistically significant improvement, while intravenous ketamine alleviated social withdrawal symptoms, especially in the short term. Neither study reported many serious adverse events. The five case reports indicated decreased depressive symptoms and some evidence of improved social functioning. Evidence for improved social condition exists, but research is limited, and further studies with larger samples and varied doses and administration methods are needed.
Clinical neuropharmacology
Jiancheng Qiu, Yifei Gong, Xiucui Zhang et al.
4 citations
Adding mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) to standard treatment reduces depressive symptoms more than standard treatment alone in people with depression. In a randomized trial with 64 patients, those receiving MBCT plus conventional therapy showed greater decreases on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and lower levels of inflammatory markers tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-6, along with larger increases in quality of life scores, response execution, and serotonin. Brain potential measures also improved, with shorter latency and longer amplitude. The combination therapy appears to suppress inflammation and sharpen attention and response to target stimuli.
Clinical neuropharmacology
Ramiro Manzano-Nunez, Diego A Gomez, Catalina Toledo-Mendoza et al.
3 citations
A scoping review of five controlled clinical trials involving 112 healthy volunteers describes how psilocybin is processed in the body after oral administration. Peak psilocin concentrations in plasma ranged from 8.2 to 37.2 ng/mL, typically reached about two hours after dosing. The elimination half-life varied from 1.2 to 3.3 hours. A strong positive relationship between dose and maximum concentration was observed. No serious adverse events occurred. No studies reported pharmacokinetic data from patients with depression or those transitioning to palliative care, highlighting a gap in research on target populations.
Clinical neuropharmacology
Megan Jayne Ralston, Alim Osman
1 citation
Delta-8-THC, a cannabinoid gaining popularity, poses significant psychiatric risks including psychosis, mood lability, and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, particularly in individuals with preexisting conditions, despite being less intoxicating than delta-9-THC. A review of six case reports involving 9 patients, mostly males in their 20s with varied psychiatric histories, found that symptoms and clinical outcomes varied. The lack of FDA regulation and easy availability of delta-8-THC products heighten these risks, highlighting the need for more rigorous studies to inform regulatory actions.
Clinical neuropharmacology
June 19, 2026
Isabela Heroiu, Gia Han Le, Maria-Christina Sioufi et al.
Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, consistently and significantly reduced obsessive-compulsive disorder symptom severity by up to 50% to 60% across five studies, though the duration of effects ranged from a few hours to six weeks. Ketamine was generally well tolerated. The review included three randomized controlled trials and two open-label trials with variable routes of administration (intravenous, intramuscular, and oral) and dosing frequencies. Further research is needed to optimize ketamine treatment for sustained symptom reduction.
Clinical neuropharmacology
April 1, 2026
Jon E Grant, Sophia Boutouis, Margaret O'Brien et al.
A small open-label pilot study tested a single dose of psilocybin in nine adults aged 18 to 65 with both borderline personality disorder (BPD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Depressive symptoms significantly improved from baseline to four weeks after dosing, with average scores dropping from 28.56 to 17.22. However, BPD symptoms did not show a significant change. The findings suggest that BPD may not interfere with psilocybin's effect on depressive symptoms, but larger clinical trials are needed.
Clinical neuropharmacology
October 1, 1995
R B Rosse, J Mastropaolo, D M Sussman et al.
MK-801, a compound that blocks NMDA glutamate receptors, causes hyperactivity, repetitive behaviors, and explosive jumping (popping) in mice. A computerized system was developed to automatically measure popping and hyperactivity by detecting vertical platform movements. This method quantifies the number, force, and duration of jumps more precisely than human observation. The antipsychotic haloperidol significantly reduced both popping and hyperactivity caused by MK-801. The authors suggest this automated approach could improve preclinical screening of potential antipsychotic drugs and help clarify the mechanisms behind MK-801-induced behaviors.
Clinical neuropharmacology
June 1, 1995
A L Halberstadt
The long-standing assumption that schizophrenia stems from chronic dopamine hyperactivity is questioned by a review of evidence. Direct examinations of schizophrenic brains have not found elevated dopamine levels, altered dopamine-related enzymes, or increased dopamine receptor concentrations or affinity, meaning no direct observations link psychosis to increased dopamine activity. The anesthetic drug phencyclidine (PCP), which induces psychosis-like states, acts as a glutamate antagonist, and glutamatergic abnormalities have been detected in schizophrenic brains. This evidence suggests that glutamate hypofunction may be involved in psychotic pathology, and a functional link exists between glutamate and dopamine systems. The review concludes that dysfunctional glutamatergic pathways are involved in psychotic pathology.
Clinical neuropharmacology
June 1, 1993
A Hitri, D A O'Connor, J M Cohen et al.
MK-801, a high-affinity analogue of phencyclidine (PCP), was given to mice to stimulate behaviors resembling those seen in schizophrenia. Apomorphine, a dopamine agonist, was also given to a separate group of mice for comparison. Visual observation showed that apomorphine caused intense gnawing and sniffing, while MK-801 did not produce gnawing. Automated measurements revealed frequent differences between the behaviors induced by the two drugs. The authors suggest that a compound which reduces PCP-stimulated behaviors but not apomorphine-stimulated ones might be an effective antipsychotic with fewer side effects than current dopamine-blocking drugs.