BACKGROUND: Psychoactive serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonists are potent modulators of awareness. Influential theories propose that psychedelics alter whole-brain dynamics by increasing neural signal diversity and dynamic flexibility. Beyond temporal variability, it is an open question whether psychedelics impact the characteristics of transient neural state sequences themselves. AIMS: Our goal...
, is a highly selective κ-opioid receptor agonist and a rare example of a κ-opioid receptor-mediated psychedelic drug. Preclinical work of salvinorin A has shown promising effects in neuropsychiatric animal models. However, human studies remain heterogeneous and fragmented, highlighting the need for synthesis. Thus, we conducted a systematic review to synthesize available human studies of...
Negative self-referential emotions such as embarrassment and shame play a key role in the psychopathology of psychiatric disorders but are often insufficiently addressed by standard treatments. Psychedelics such as ayahuasca - an Amazonian plant decoction containing the psychedelic N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and harmala alkaloids, have been proposed to positively modulate self-referential...
The research, understanding, and implementation of psychedelic therapies is characterised by a layered complexity that arises from the dynamic interactions between pharmacological and extra-pharmacological factors, and the embeddedness of psychedelics within broader societal, legal, and regulatory systems ill-equipped to accommodate them. This complexity is compounded by an epistemic...
Classical psychedelics such as N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) modulate consciousness via serotonergic receptor agonism, and are increasingly investigated for their psychotherapeutic potential. When combined with the monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) inhibitor harmine-mimicking the pharmacological profile of ayahuasca-oral DMT induces a psychedelic experience lasting 4-5 h. While some neuroimaging...
Classical psychedelics such as N,N -dimethyltryptamine (DMT) modulate consciousness via serotonergic receptor agonism, and are increasingly investigated for their psychotherapeutic potential. When combined with the monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) inhibitor harmine—mimicking the pharmacological profile of ayahuasca—oral DMT induces a psychedelic experience lasting 4–5 h. While some neuroimaging...
Zusammenfassung Die Psychedelika-assistierte Therapie (PAT) hat sich in den letzten Jahren zu einem der dynamischsten Forschungsfelder der Psychiatrie entwickelt. Während die beste Evidenz bisher für depressive Störungen und posttraumatische Belastungsstörungen vorliegt, wird PAT zunehmend auch bei anderen nicht-psychotischen Störungen untersucht. Jenseits der Symptomlinderung rückt die...
Research on the therapeutic effects of psychedelics in psychiatry, commonly referred to as Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT), has expanded substantially in recent years. The context-dependent nature of psychedelics has sparked discussion about the importance of the psychotherapeutic environment in achieving beneficial outcomes. This study explores the contribution of psychotherapeutic factors...
Classical psychedelics such as N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) modulate consciousness via serotonergic receptor agonism, and are increasingly investigated for their psychotherapeutic potential. When combined with the monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) inhibitor harmine—mimicking the pharmacological profile of ayahuasca—oral DMT induces a psychedelic experience lasting 4–5 h. While some neuroimaging...
The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health provides case-by-case exemptions allowing physicians to provide psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) using psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), or 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methamphetamine (MDMA). The study provided an overview of PAT as currently provided in Switzerland under the regulatory framework of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH)....
Abstract Psilocybin has demonstrated promising antidepressant effects in depression and treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in controlled clinical trials. However, its effectiveness and safety in real-world therapeutic settings remain largely unknown. Although psilocybin is not yet approved as an antidepressant treatment, Switzerland’s unique legal framework allows its limited medical use for...
Abstract Classic serotonergic psychedelics are potent modulators of conscious awareness, yet the principles governing their effects on the temporal dynamics of brain activity remain unclear. Dominant theories propose that psychedelics increase the signal diversity and metastability of neural states, but whether this reflects a simple randomization of activity or a more structured reorganization...
Touch has long been an essential element in human communication and healing. In the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), the role of touch (and by extension, non-touch) presents complex ethical and practical challenges, particularly due to the heightened vulnerability of individuals in altered states of consciousness. Recent public discourse, including reports of boundary violations and...
Salvinorin A, the main psychoactive compound of Salvia divinorum, is a potent and selective kappa opioid receptor agonist. While human clinical trials remain limited, animal studies suggest potential therapeutic applications in neurological and psychiatric disorders. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to synthesize these preclinical findings, addressing three questions: (1) What is...
Background: Salvinorin A, the main psychoactive compound of Salvia divinorum, is a potent and selective kappa opioid receptor agonist. While human clinical trials remain limited, animal studies suggest potential therapeutic applications in neurological and psychiatric disorders. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to synthesize these preclinical findings, addressing three questions:...
While psychedelics are often claimed to enhance creativity, their precise effects on distinct stages of creative cognition remain poorly understood. This study investigated the acute effects of an ayahuasca-inspired formulation combining N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and harmine (DMT/HAR), as well as harmine alone (HAR), on micro-level (divergent/convergent thinking) and macro-level (creative...
Abstract Classical psychedelics such N,N -dimethyltryptamine (DMT), psilocybin, and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) modulate consciousness via serotonergic receptor agonism, and are increasingly investigated for their psychotherapeutic potential. When combined with the monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) inhibitor harmine—mimicking the pharmacological profile of ayahuasca—oral DMT induces a...
Mindfulness and compassion are therapeutically relevant and can be increased through different forms of meditation practices. However, meditation practice needs time and commitment. These resources are often limited in patients with mood disorders. Therefore, efficacious remedies that increase mindfulness and compassion could provide therapeutic options. This study aimed to investigate the...
Psychedelic substances exhibit complex interactions with the 'set and setting' of use, that is, the mental state of the user and the environment in which a psychedelic experience takes place. Despite these contextual variables' known importance, psychedelic research has lacked methodological rigor in reporting extra-pharmacological factors. This study aimed to generate consensus-based...
Psychedelics are known to profoundly alter perception and self-referential processing, yet their specific effects on face recognition -particularly with regard to the recognition of face familiarity-remain underexplored. This study investigates the effects of an ayahuasca-inspired novel DMT/HAR (N,N-dimethyltryptamine/Harmine) formulation and Harmine alone on face recognition and...
The growing interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) for treating psychiatric disorders such as treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and anxiety has led to an increasing demand for specialized training. In Switzerland, MDMA, psilocybin, and LSD are applied in the framework of limited medical use as exceptional treatment options since 2014. The Swiss Medical Association for Psychedelic...
Ayahuasca, a traditional psychoactive Amazonian brew, usually contains N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and β-carboline (harmine, harmaline, tetrahydroharmine) monoamine oxidase inhibitors. However, the pharmacological interactions between these compounds remain incompletely understood. In this study, we developed an ayahuasca-inspired formulation containing DMT and harmine, aiming to...
This article describes the Swiss limited access program for psychedelic/3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted therapy. The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health can issue authorizations for the limited medical use of otherwise prohibited substances. To be eligible, patients suffer from a mostly incurable disease, the prohibited substance can alleviate the suffering, and there are no...
Recent interest in the clinical use of psychedelics has highlighted plant-derived medicines like ayahuasca showing rapid-acting and sustainable therapeutic effects in various psychiatric conditions. This traditional Amazonian plant decoction contains N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and β-carboline alkaloids such as harmine. However, its use is often accompanied by distressing effects like nausea,...
The renewed interest in psychedelics as treatments for mental health disorders is often referred to as the "Psychedelic Renaissance." This article assesses whether this resurgence truly constitutes a paradigm shift in psychiatry, as some proponents claim, or if it should be viewed as an integration of existing therapeutic approaches. We explore historical contexts, noting that psychedelics were...