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Ann Berger

8 papers in the library · 279 citations · publishing 2022-2025

Papers

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Effects of a combined nature-based and audio-based virtual mindfulness intervention on stress and wellbeing of COVID-19 healthcare workers: a randomized controlled trial.

PeerJ 2025 Polycarpe Bagereka, Rezvan Ameli, Ninet Sinaii et al.

The global COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent transition to an endemic phase has highly increased psychosocial distress among healthcare workers. This chronic stress may culminate into burnout, which has been associated with impaired patient care and increased medical errors. Exposure to nature-based programs have been shown to reduce levels of perceived stress and promote well-being....

National Institutes of Health psilocybin research speaker series: State of the science, regulatory and policy landscape, research gaps, and opportunities.

Neuropharmacology June 1, 2023 Dan Xi, Ann Berger, David Shurtleff et al. 11 citations

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) convened a seminal first ever psychedelic drug substance-focused speaker series, from April 22 to June 10, 2021, titled the "NIH Psilocybin Research Speaker Series." This speaker series provided evidence-based scientific information to the public and the scientific community. Its aims were to assess the current state of the science, the regulatory...

Are psychedelic medicines the reset for chronic pain? Preliminary findings and research needs

Neuropharmacology April 2, 2023 Farah Z Zia, Michael H. Baumann, Sean J Belouin et al. 28 citations

Chronic pain is a leading cause of disability, reduced productivity, healthcare seeking behavior, and a contributor to opioid overdose in the United States. For many people, pain can be satisfactorily managed by existing medicines and comprehensive psychosocial treatments. For others, available treatments are either ineffective or not acceptable, due to side effects and concerns about risks....

Psilocybin-assisted therapy improves psycho-social-spiritual well-being in cancer patients.

Journal of Affective Disorders February 15, 2023 Sarah Shnayder, Rezvan Ameli, Ninet Sinaii et al. 67 citations

While psychedelics have been shown to improve psycho-spiritual well-being, the underlying elements of this change are not well-characterized. The NIH-HEALS posits that psycho-social-spiritual change occurs through the factors of Connection, Reflection & Introspection, and Trust & Acceptance. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in NIH-HEALS scores in a cancer population with major...

Psychedelic Science, Contemplative Practices, and Indigenous and Other Traditional Knowledge Systems: Towards Integrative Community-Based Approaches in Global Health.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 2023 Julian Urrutia, Brian T Anderson, Sean J Belouin et al. 21 citations

As individuals and communities around the world confront mounting physical, psychological, and social threats, three complimentary mind-body-spirit pathways toward health, wellbeing, and human flourishing remain underappreciated within conventional practice among the biomedical, public health, and policy communities. This paper reviews literature on psychedelic science, contemplative practices,...

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy to treat psychiatric and existential distress in life-threatening medical illnesses and palliative care.

Neuropharmacology September 15, 2022 S Ross, M Agrawal, Roland R. Griffiths et al. 69 citations

Psychiatric and existential distress commonly occur in advanced cancer and other serious, life-threatening or end-of-life medical illnesses and are associated with poor medical and psychiatric outcomes. Currently available treatment modalities in this patient population, including medication and psychotherapy, are limited in effectiveness, especially regarding existential distress. The lack of...

Psychedelic drug abuse potential assessment research for new drug applications and Controlled Substances Act scheduling

Neuropharmacology August 17, 2022 Jack E Henningfield, Marion A Coe, Roland R. Griffiths et al. 34 citations

New medicines containing classic hallucinogenic and entactogenic psychedelic substance are under development for various psychiatric and neurological disorders. Many of these, including psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) are Schedule I controlled substances of the United States Controlled Substances Act (US CSA), and similarly controlled...

Policy considerations that support equitable access to responsible, accountable, safe, and ethical uses of psychedelic medicines

Neuropharmacology August 13, 2022 Ingrid Donato, Veronica Magar, Sean J Belouin et al. 49 citations

There is mounting evidence suggesting psychedelic and entactogen medicines (namely psilocybin and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine [MDMA]), in conjunction with proper psychosocial support, hold the potential to provide safe, rapid acting, and robust clinical improvements with durable effects. In the US, both psilocybin and MDMA have been granted Breakthrough Therapy designations by the US Food...