Research Society and Development
September 24, 2023
Nicole Schuitmaker
3 citations
A scoping review of 13 qualitative studies on Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy (PAT) published between 2017 and 2021 identified six themes: the influence of set and setting; PAT was personalized and meaningful; PAT can be highly emotive; transcendental experiences; reduction of symptoms and long-lasting changes; and boundaries and responsibility. The literature revealed numerous interrelated therapeutic elements that may contribute to a meaningful experience during PAT, potentially playing a role in attaining long-lasting positive therapeutic outcomes. The studies were varied and highlighted the usefulness of further exploring PAT.
Research Society and Development
December 13, 2023
Caíque Gois Cardoso, Milena de Barros Viana
2 citations
A systematic review of 46 experimental studies examined the effects of psychedelic substances on cognitive functions in healthy volunteers. MDMA was the most studied drug (18 articles), followed by psilocybin (14 articles), LSD (6 articles), ayahuasca (2 articles), DMT (1 article), and other psychedelics including S-ketamine, mescaline, MDE, and ibogaine (8 articles). No serious adverse effects were reported from the use of these substances, but the authors conclude that rigorous assessment of long-term risks and benefits through neuropsychological evaluations is still needed.
Research Society and Development
March 16, 2022
Alexandre Machado de Moura, Marcela Barboza de Melo Aragão, Dário César de Oliveira Conceição et al.
2 citations
Ayahuasca, a psychoactive beverage made from two Amazonian plants, shows rapid and sustained antidepressant effects in patients with recurrent depressive disorder, including those with suicidal thoughts. A review of eight clinical studies published between 2015 and 2021 found that six examined ayahuasca for treating recurrent depression and two investigated its link to reducing suicide risk in such patients. The beverage improved depression symptoms, whether or not linked to suicidal ideation. The authors note that current treatments have side effects and slow symptom remission, so alternative therapies deserve consideration, but larger, longer-term studies are needed to confirm efficacy and safety.
Research Society and Development
April 11, 2024
Jéssica de Sá Azevedo, Aline da Silva Guerra
1 citation
Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition causing deficits in interpersonal interaction and communication, often leading to social anxiety. The lack of effective pharmacological treatments with few side effects has drawn attention to alternative approaches. MDMA, the active compound in Ecstasy, increases serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin release, promoting feelings of affection and prosocial intentions, which may facilitate social interaction. This scoping review of literature from 1986 to 2023 describes the history of clinical research with psychedelics, particularly MDMA, and its influence on treating social anxiety in adults with autism. Results from reviewed studies showed significant improvements in social anxiety symptoms. MDMA was authorized in Australia for treating PTSD, suggesting promise for treating social anxiety in autism.
Research Society and Development
November 30, 2022
Ana Karoline Pontes Da Silva, Sabrina Da Silva Barbosa, Natasha Silva
1 citation
A review of scientific studies from 2016 to 2022 examined evidence for antidepressant effects of ayahuasca tea. From an initial 1,402 articles, 4 were selected for analysis. The review concluded that ayahuasca shows promise as a plant-based resource for treating depression, but more in-depth studies are needed.
Research Society and Development
August 22, 2021
Myla Christie Araújo Custódio Bonifácio, Pietra Bruna Batrbosa Bento, Kaynara Trevisan et al.
1 citation
Psilocybin acts on the human body and shows therapeutic potential as a primary or adjunctive treatment for depression and anxiety, particularly in palliative-care patients facing end-of-life distress and in those unresponsive to conventional therapy. Recent studies also suggest it may help treat long-term psychiatric sequelae of COVID-19. The available literature indicates that psilocybin improves quality of life, alters self-perception, fosters a sense of unity with the environment, and induces spiritual experiences—effects especially valuable for these patient groups. It also produces few or no side effects. This review supports the hypothesis of psilocybin's therapeutic use for depression and anxiety in populations most likely to benefit from psychedelic therapy.
Research Society and Development
August 19, 2021
Frederico Marques Silveira, Amanda Pereira Mendes, Mayara Rodrigues Dos Santos et al.
1 citation
Cancer affects patients beyond the physical dimension, impacting their entire biopsychosocial context and increasing susceptibility to psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety. This integrative review examined three studies published between 2010 and 2021 on the use of psilocybin, a substance found in mushroom species, as an alternative therapy for cancer patients with anxiety or depression. The studies indicate that psilocybin, administered in conjunction with psychotherapy, can produce rapid, sustained, and lasting improvement, often after a single dose. All analyzed studies showed effectiveness, suggesting psilocybin may serve as an alternative for patients who do not respond to conventional treatments, potentially becoming a definitive therapeutic modality for psychological distress due to cancer.
Research Society and Development
March 19, 2020
Gleibson Do Nascimento Silva, Carlos José Trindade Da Rocha, João Batista Santiago Ramos
1 citation
The article analyzes decoloniality and ecological epistemology, emphasizing the non-human as a means of emancipation from hegemonic scientific thought. Based on a bibliographic research and discussions from a master's-level epistemology course on Amazonian anthropic studies, it draws primarily on Enrique Dussel and Boaventura de Sousa Santos, with analysis via systematic bibliographic narrative. Theoretically inspired by João Batista Santiago Ramos's work on human utopia, it focuses on the notion of an ecology of knowledges from an anthropic perspective as necessary to overcome colonialist knowledge production. It argues for extending perspectives beyond human cultures to include non-humans as subjects of knowledge, countering modern science's ontological dualism.
Research Society and Development
November 4, 2023
João Marcelo Defanti Zonaro, Tiago Emanoel Melo Pereira, Renan Chaparro Rodrigues Alves Barbosa Coelho
Cannabis use is linked to earlier and more severe schizophrenia, especially in people with genetic vulnerability or early heavy exposure to high concentrations. About 26.6% of schizophrenia patients have cannabis use disorder. The association involves a multifactorial genetic-behavioral relationship: early and excessive exposure to high THC concentrations, along with family history and gene polymorphisms, increases vulnerability to earlier and more severe schizophrenia onset and psychotic events. Cannabis use leads to more severe symptoms, earlier disease onset, higher relapse rates, earlier first hospital admission, and recurrent psychotic episodes, likely through THC's interaction with the endocannabinoid system.
Research Society and Development
July 31, 2021
Henrique da Cunha Santos, Cássio Ilan Soares Medeiros
A review of the literature on psychedelic therapy finds that its resurgence occurs amid social transformations and unmet demands in psychotherapy. After searching PubMed and Scielo with the descriptor 'psychedelic therapy', 43 articles were identified, but only 7 met the inclusion criteria of being in English or Portuguese, published in the last 20 years, and relevant to the research question. Analysis of these texts indicates great prospects and potential for psychedelic therapy, with its revival taking place in a context of shifting societal attitudes and gaps in existing psychotherapeutic approaches.