Asian Journal of Psychiatry - The Consciousness Library

Sex-specific vulnerabilities in cannabis-induced psychosis: A scoping review.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry July 8, 2026 Valerio Ricci, Domenico de Berardis, Giovanni Martinotti et al.

BACKGROUND Cannabis-induced psychosis presents complex sex-based disparities that challenge traditional epidemiological patterns. While males demonstrate higher cannabis use rates, emerging evidence reveals paradoxical vulnerability patterns where females may show heightened susceptibility to cannabis-related psychotic outcomes despite lower consumption rates. OBJECTIVE To map evidence for...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2026.105086

Esketamine in treatment-resistant depression with and without comorbid borderline personality disorder: A real-world longitudinal study of suicidal ideation and self-harm.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry June 1, 2026 Fabiola Raffone, Filippo Mazzoni, Arianna De Ciechi et al. 3 citations

Suicidal ideation and deliberate self-harm are frequent and persistent in treatment-resistant depression (TRD), particularly when comorbid borderline personality disorder (BPD) is present. Real-world evidence on antisuicidal outcomes during intranasal esketamine in this population remains limited. In this multicentre prospective observational study, 90 outpatients with TRD received intranasal...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2026.104983 Full text Esketamine Treatment-resistant depression Borderline personality disorder Self-harm +2

Ketamine infusion combined with accelerated sequential theta burst stimulation in multi-therapy-resistant bipolar depression: A case report.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry June 1, 2026 Hariprasad Ganapathy Vijayakumar, Varsha Shamanna, Harsh Pathak et al. 1 citation

Treatment resistance in bipolar depression is one of the most challenging clinical conditions to treat in psychiatry. We present a case of an elderly gentleman with chronic Multi-Therapy Resistant Bipolar Depression (MTRBD), where ketamine, a preferential NMDAR blocker on cortical GABAergic interneurons, is used adjunctively with sequential theta burst stimulation (sTBS) to achieve remission....

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2026.104994 Full text Neuroplasticity Brain stimulation Depressive episode Neuromodulation +1

Breathing and the brain: Pranayama, an ancient self-directed approach to neuromodulation.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry 2026 Hemant Bhargav, Urvakhsh Meherwan Mehta, Ashish Kumar et al.

This paper explores pranayama, the ancient yogic practice of breath control, as a promising natural method of neuromodulation. Pranayama aims to regulate the flow of prana (life force) to enhance mental clarity, emotional balance, and physiological resilience. We synthesize evidence from clinical, neuroimaging, and psychophysiological studies, illustrating how various pranayama techniques -...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2025.104788 Full text Meditation Pranayama Autonomic Breathing +1

Treatment approaches and efficacy in psychedelic-induced psychosis: A systematic review.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry June 26, 2025 Adi Sulstarova, Luise Scheuerlein, Silvia Monari et al. 4 citations

Psychedelics are increasingly used in the general population, yet they are associated with increased risk of psychosis in a minority of users that can experience psychedelic-induced psychosis (<1 % in controlled trial settings). In contrast, the evidence regarding the treatment of psychedelics-induced psychosis remains to date scarce. We conducted a PRISMA 2020-compliant systematic review...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2025.104604 Full text LSD Psilocybin Hallucinogens Haloperidol +10

Enhancing student mental health through Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) toward curricular and cultural integration.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry June 20, 2025 Zalik Nuryana, Xiaoyu Ni, Herdian et al. 1 citation

Student mental health is receiving increasing attention due to escalating academic, social, and emotional pressures, particularly in Asian educational contexts. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), has shown consistent effectiveness in alleviating anxiety, enhancing emotional regulation, and fostering psychological resilience among students. While the systematic review by Hue et al....

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2025.104598 Full text Mbsr Asian education Curriculum integration Student mental health +13

Advances in the study of NMDA receptors in depression pathogenesis and the antidepressant efficacy of their antagonists.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry June 1, 2025 Mingrui Chen, Jingyan Jin, Hongsheng Bi et al. 12 citations

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDA receptors) play a crucial role as ionotropic glutamate receptors in regulating neuroplasticity, learning, memory, and a range of psychiatric disorders. Studies indicate that dysfunction of NMDA receptors is a key pathological mechanism in depression, where abnormal activation can result in neuronal excitotoxicity, excessive extracellular calcium ion...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2025.104502 Full text Antidepressants Glutamatergic Nmda receptor antagonists Nmda receptors +4

A systematic review of mindfulness-based stress reduction in the management of anxiety disorders among adolescents and young adults aged 13-26.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry June 1, 2025 Vern Chie Hue, Yan-Li Siaw, Azmawaty Mohamad Nor 11 citations

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has shown potential in reducing anxiety-related symptoms. This systematic review examines the effectiveness of MBSR in treating anxiety disorders in individuals aged 13-26. The review addresses three key themes: "The Prevalence and Impact of Anxiety Disorders in Everyday Life," "The Efficacy and Effectiveness of MBSR in the Management of Anxiety...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2025.104497 Full text Anxiety among adolescents Anxiety disorders Counselling methods Mindfulness-based stress reduction

Dhyana yoga, the path of meditative being: Psychotherapeutic insights from the east.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry June 1, 2025 Matcheri S Keshavan, Hemant Bhargav 4 citations

Eastern spiritual traditions offer insights into the mind-body approaches to enhance health and well-being. These insights focus on self-awareness (the path of knowledge), intrinsically motivated and selfless action (karma yoga) and on faith and compassion (Bhakti yoga). Yogic meditative practices (Dhyana yoga), developed by ancient Hindu and other eastern traditions, are effective tools to...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2025.104483 Full text Meditation Mindfulness Being Mind-body techniques

Linguistic and psychometric adaptation of the Equanimity Scale-16 (ES-16) for Hindi speaking population.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry June 1, 2025 Prateek Yadav, Neha Sharma, Harpreet Singh et al.

The Equanimity Scale (ES-16) is a psychometric tool developed to measure an individual's level of equanimity, which refers to a state of psychological stability and composure, especially under stress. Given the importance of cross-cultural research in psychology, translating the ES-16 into different languages is essential. This study aimed to translate the Equanimity Scale-16 into Hindi and...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2025.104490 Full text Mindfulness Equanimity Hindi-scale Non-attachment +1

Oral ketamine for rapid reduction of suicidal ideation in major depressive disorder: A midazolam-controlled randomized clinical trial.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry April 1, 2025 Asif Seraj, Mohammed Reyazuddin, R K Gaur et al. 11 citations

The simplest, most convenient, and least expensive way to treat depressed and suicidal patients with ketamine is to administer racemic ketamine by the oral route. We describe the first active-controlled randomized clinical trial of oral racemic ketamine for suicidal ideation associated with depression. Adult patients with major depressive disorder and expressed suicidal ideation were randomized...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2025.104413 Full text Major depressive disorder Adverse effects Midazolam Oral ketamine +7

Ketamine: An emerging agent in the management of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry April 1, 2025 Nathan Menke, Elizabeth Hoffman, Kelsey Gaylor et al. 4 citations

Ketamine's unique pharmacological profile, safety, modulation of multiple neurotransmitter systems, and ability to produce neuroplastic changes make it a subject of study with implications for a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders beyond its traditional use as an anesthetic agent. This article aims to provide an overview of the pharmacology of ketamine and briefly discuss its emerging use...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.104351 Full text Cannabis Addiction treatment Substance dependence Mental health interventions +10

Systematic review of parenteral ketamine for managing acute agitation in emergency settings.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry 2025 Christopher Peter, Satish Suhas, Guru S Gowda et al. 6 citations

Agitation, a significant psychiatric issue often linked to conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression, invariably pose challenges in emergency settings. Acute agitation occurs in 2.6 % of emergency cases and up to 12.2 % among patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. With limited available options for effective management of acute agitation, ketamine is...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.104344 Full text Aggression Emergency medicine Psychiatric emergencies Sedation +2

Abnormal resting-state functional connectivity of the right anterior cingulate cortex in chronic ketamine users and its correlation with cognitive impairments.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry December 1, 2024 Jun Zhong, Fengchun Wu, Huawang Wu et al. 1 citation

Chronic ketamine use leads to cognitive impairments, however, the neural mechanisms underpinning these impairments are still unclear. Many studies showed Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)is strongly involved in cognition and drug addiction, as supported by our previous studies. The objective of this study was to assess the variations in resting-state functional connectivity (FC) changes in the...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.104199 Full text Chronic ketamine use Cognitive impairments Functional connectivity Brain connectivity +3

Exploring the regulatory framework of psychedelics in the US & Europe.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry December 1, 2024 Hitesh Kumar Behera, Ramesh Joga, Sravani Yerram et al.

Psychedelic drug therapy has gained prominence for its potential in treating various mental health conditions, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety. Psychedelic treatment differs from conventional psychiatric approaches in mode of action, legal status, and treatment approach. This work delves into the therapeutic potential, mechanisms, and regulatory...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.104242 Full text DMT Ketamine LSD MDMA +9

Psychoactive substances for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry November 1, 2024 Zifan Zhen, Xueqiang Sun, Shiying Yuan et al. 8 citations

In the contemporary landscape of psychiatric medicine, critical advancements have been noted in the utilization of psychoactive substances such as hallucinogens, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and ketamine for the treatment of severe mental health disorders. This review provides a detailed evaluation of these substances, focusing on their mechanisms of action and the profound...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.104193 Full text Ketamine MDMA Neuropsychiatric disorders Psychedelics hallucinogens +6

Ketamine-dependent patients with persistent psychosis have higher neurofilament light chain levels than patients with schizophrenia.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry October 1, 2024 An-Nie Chung, Ming-Chyi Huang, Tung-Hsia Liu et al. 5 citations

Ketamine can induce persisting psychosis in a subset of individuals who use it chronically and heavily. Previously, we found that the psychopathology and cognitive impairments in patients with ketamine dependence (KD) exhibiting persistent psychosis (KPP) bear resemblances with schizophrenia, albeit with less severity in those with no persistent psychosis (KNP). Furthermore, we also showed that...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.104167 Full text Ketamine dependence Ketamine psychosis Neurofilament light chain Persistent psychosis +4

A randomised, open-label, pragmatic pilot comparison of oral and intravenous ketamine in treatment-resistant depression.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry September 1, 2024 Pn Suresh Kumar, Vikas Menon, Chittaranjan Andrade 12 citations

For depression, ketamine is more conveniently administered by oral than by intravenous (iv) routes. The relative antidepressant efficacy of oral vs iv ketamine is unknown. To assess the acute efficacy and the persistence of improvement with open-label oral versus iv ketamine in outpatients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Adults with TRD were randomized to oral (N=30) or IV (N=31)...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.104171 Full text Treatment-resistant depression Intravenous ketamine Major depression Oral ketamine +5

Treatment-emergent symptoms during short-term ketamine administration in treatment-resistant bipolar depression: A retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry September 1, 2024 Michał Pastuszak, Wiesław Jerzy Cubała, Aleksander Kwaśny 8 citations

Symptoms that emerge during pharmacological treatment of bipolar depression are frequently observed, underscoring the necessity for comprehensive treatment monitoring. This observational study sought to observe the correlation of eight intravenous ketamine infusions with treatment-emergent depressive symptoms in treatment-resistant bipolar depression patients who maintained their baseline...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.104159 Full text Bipolar depression Bipolar disorder Treatment-emergent symptoms Ketamine therapy +2

Potential effect of ketamine in treatment for dextromethorphan use disorder exploding in Japanese young population.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry September 1, 2024 Kaori Ishii, Kyoji Okita 1 citation

In Japan, the landscape of clinical practice for substance use disorder is changing significantly, primarily due to an increase in patients using over-the-counter drugs. A major concern is the rising number of patients misusing dextromethorphan (DXM). These patients with DXM use disorders often have severe trauma-related and mood symptoms, and therefore try to cope with those symptoms by...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.104164 Full text Anxiety Dextromethorphan Over-the-counter medication Self medication +11

Efficacy and safety of peri-partum Esketamine for prevention of post-partum depression in women undergoing caesarian section: A meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry July 1, 2024 Muhammad Anas Nayyer, Suchna Meeral Khan, Mohammad Umer et al. 14 citations

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a psychiatric condition affecting women post-childbirth. Medication combined with psychotherapy, is the current protocol for its treatment. A meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4 to explore the efficacy and safety of peri-partum administration of esketamine for preventing PPD. After searching several databases to retrieve the relevant RCTs, seven were...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.104090 Full text Esketamine Meta-analysis Postnatal depression Postpartum depression +1

Single arketamine in treatment resistant depression: Presentation of 3 cases with regard to sick-leave duration.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry June 1, 2024 Adam Włodarczyk, Jakub Słupski, Joanna Szarmach et al. 12 citations

Ketamine is the prototypal rapid-acting antidepressant (RAAD) for TRD with approved indication for esketamine-nasal spray (ESK-NS). Distinctly, arketamine (R-KET) demonstrates enhanced antidepressant effects and neuroplasticity changes compared to esketamine, with fewer dissociative side effects and abuse potential. This study focuses on R-ketamine's therapeutic implications, safety, and...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.104016 Full text Follow-up Sick-leave Mental health Treatment-resistant depression trd +7

Know thyself (Jnana Yoga): Psychotherapeutic insights from the east.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry February 1, 2024 Matcheri S Keshavan, Hemant Bhargav 12 citations

Humans have asked themselves the question "who am I" from ancient times. Vedic, upanishadic and buddhist philosophers have pointed out over millennia the illusive nature of the individual self, and posit either a no-self, or a universal Self. Vedantic scholars also posit the illusory nature of the universe (Maya) and suggest that the only reality is the knower (Brahman), a view resonating with...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2023.103907 Full text Mindfulness Eastern Metacognition Self

Early onset psychosis and cannabis use: Prevalence, clinical presentation and influence of daily use.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry May 27, 2021 M. Pardo, J. Matalí, Jenym Sivoli et al.

Most of the studies examining the impact of cannabis use in first episode psychosis (FEP) have been carried out in samples with adult-onset FEP. Data in persons with early onset psychosis (EOP) is scarce. The aims of the study were: To describe the prevalence of lifetime cannabis use, current use, and daily use in patients with EOP compared to healthy controls. To study the differences in...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102714

From schizophrenia to sainthood - Tajuddin Fakir.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry 2021 Amruta Huddar, Tasneem Raja, Sanjeev Jain et al.

This paper discusses the case of Tajuddin, a patient in the mental asylum of Nagpur towards the end of the 19th century. Discussions are based on hospital records and annual reports and relevant literature review of the life and times of Tajuddin. Hospital and associated records indicate that Tajuddin was thought to be suffering from cannabis psychosis. He was released from the British army for...

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102465 Full text Sainthood and psychia

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