Introduction Persons with schizophrenia are currently excluded from psychedelic-assisted therapy due to concerns about psychedelic-induced acute or persistent psychotic symptoms. However, meta-analytic evidence of the precise risk for psychedelic-induced de novo and exacerbation of psychosis in people with pre-existing psychotic disorders is lacking. Objectives We conducted an overview of...
Abstract The potential of psychedelic substances to treat mental illness is of significant clinical and societal interest, leading to academic and industry-based research to test their effects. Partly, such research was conducted to fulfil requirements of government agencies such as the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), that have started defining...
European PsychiatryApril 1, 2025P. Andres-Olivera, Janis V. de la Iglesia, E. Dominguez-Alvarez et al.
Introduction Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound, has shown potential in treating depression, especially in cases resistant to conventional treatments. This study systematically reviews the scientific literature to assess its efficacy and safety. Objectives The main objective of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effects of psilocybin for the treatment of depressive disorder through a...
European PsychiatryApril 1, 2025Lars Arvastson, Evangelos Papanastasiou, Karin Schmid et al.
IntroductionCurrent ketamine-based therapies for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) can induce dissociative symptoms. A novel oral prolonged-release ketamine formulation (KET01) results in a lower and delayed peak concentration of ketamine, and a higher concentration of the metabolites norketamine and hydroxynorketamine than after intravenous administration. KET01 has limited dissociative...
Abstract Several years ago, the first studies were conducted in which the effects of psychedelics in low doses were tested in healthy participants. These studies focused mainly on the acute effects of LSD. Questions that remained unanswered were whether low doses have lasting effects, as well as whether they can reduce symptoms of ADHD. To answer these questions, we conducted two studies,...
European PsychiatryApril 1, 2025Ilídio Oliveira, A. L. Stephany, M. L. Geremias et al.
Introduction Anxious depression (AxD) as an independent diagnostic has been controversial, with many suggesting it as a transient state and others highlighting evidence of a worse outcome, severity, and increased suicide risk. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) lists a related concept under 6A73, Mixed depressive and anxiety disorder. Previous literature on ketamine’s...
Introduction Nightmares have been linked to childhood trauma and an increased risk for mental health problems, such as depression. Meanwhile, there is a high comrobdity of nightmares and insomnia. Yet relatively few studies have compared the clinical presentations of nightmares in different clinical groups. Additionally, considering the close association between childhood trauma, insomnia, and...
European PsychiatryApril 1, 2025E. E. Morales Castellano, P. Rivero Rodríguez, Marina Martínez Grimal et al.
Introduction The relationship between psychosis and ayahuasca use is a topic of considerable interest and debate in the scientific and medical community. Ayahuasca is traditionally used in shamanic ceremonies in the Amazon, composed mainly of the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the leaves of Psychotria viridis, which contain DMT (dimethyltryptamine), a powerful hallucinogen. Ayahuasca induces...
European PsychiatryApril 1, 2025Cristina Serritella, Federica Ferraiuolo, Mark Piccirillo et al.
Introduction The effectiveness of Es-ketamine therapy in the treatment of psycho-pathological symptoms is the subject of growing interest in the scientific community. Through the use of validated psychometric instruments, this study aims to delineate more precisely the mechanisms of action and clinical potential of this therapy, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in psychiatry....
European PsychiatryApril 1, 2025T. Fernandes, J. G. Freire, M. C. Pais et al.
Introduction Functional neurological disorders (FND), also referred to as conversion disorder or psychogenic neurological disorders, are one of the most common and disabling conditions in the neurology practice field, with very limited treatment options. FNDs present with sensory and/or motor symptoms that can mimic other neurological conditions, but appear to be related to recognizable...
European PsychiatryApril 1, 2025C. Pinheiro Ramos, A. F. Reis, C. Batista et al.
IntroductionNitrous oxide (N2O) was first discovered in 1772 by Joseph Priestley. Since its anesthetic properties were realized in 1844, it has been used in the medical and dental fields. Nitrous oxide is also known as “laughing gas” or “nos”.Recent literature suggests that studying N2O is important, not only for understanding the pathophysiology of bipolar depression but also for exploring its...
European PsychiatryApril 1, 2025P. Fuentes-Pérez, P. Cordero Andrés, C. Ovejas-Catalán et al.
IntroductionThe association between cannabis use and cognitive functioning in individuals experiencing a first episode of psychosis (FEP) is inconsistent, with some studies reporting deterioration (Bogaty et al. J Psychiatr Res 2018; 99:22-32), others indicating improved performance (Rodríguez-Sánchez et al. Schizophr Res 2010; 124:142-151), and some finding no difference.ObjectivesThis study...
AbstractIntroductionCannabis-induced psychosis (CIP) is often assumed to resolve with sustained abstinence, although recent studies report adverse long-term outcomes, such as a high risk of diagnostic transition to schizophrenia. Cannabis is also known to increase relapse rate in individuals with psychotic disorders in general, and there is a lack of knowledge on optimal treatment of this...
European PsychiatryApril 1, 2025E. A. Ródenas Vera, S. Sabater, P. Alvarez et al.
IntroductionDepressive disorder is one of the health problems that carries the greatest burden of morbidity, with high prevalence and impact on people’s quality of life. It also affects the family environment and contributes to the social and economic burden on health systems (World Health Organization, depression, 2023). Currently, the treatment of depression has limitations and there is a...
IntroductionTreatment-resistant Depression (TRD) nowadays it is consider a public health problem. Studies had demonstrate that TRD has higher prevalence of psychiatric comorbid conditions, twice the utilization of outpatient health care resources, 3 times the number of inpatient bed-days, and 23% higher all-cause mortality. Esketamine, the S-enantiomer of ketamine, has been recently approved...
IntroductionFirefighters face routine occupational risks and high-stress environments. Accordingly, 96.4% are exposed to a potentially traumatizing event throughout their career (Nazari et al. Work 2020; 67(1):215-222). This is accompanied by high rates of trauma-related mental illnesses (TRMI) such as PTSD. First-line treatments of TRMI remain limited. A novel treatment that has emerged,...
AbstractI will present data from a range of Danish studies on both cannabis-induced psychosis and Danish epidemiological studies on the association between cannabis and psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. A deeper understanding of these associations is important. If the consistent association that we have observed for many decades is indeed causal, then cannabis is perhaps the single...
Abstract Background: Substance-induced psychosis is an acute psychotic condition occurring after substance use, where the psychotic symptoms are alleviated with abstinence. Some of those diagnosed with substance-induced psychosis later develop schizophrenia, and this transition occurs most often for psychosis induced by cannabis. This talk will present results from a register-based study...
IntroductionKetamine is widely recognized for its dissociative anesthetic properties, particularly in procedural sedation and severe pain management among children, adolescents, and young adults. Despite its noted applications, research investigating ketamine’s impact on mood and suicidality within this specific demographic remains limited. This retrospective review seeks to address this gap by...
Introduction One of the main mechanisms of action of LSD in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) is the activation of 5HT2A receptors. This triggers a cascade of neurochemical processes with the release of neurotransmitters and neurohormonal substances. The release of oxytocin in this process is well documented in pre-clinical studies, with recent evidence in healthy subjects. We have no...
The dissociative effects of ketamine and psychedelics might be associated with their rapid antidepressant properties, raising questions about whether these effects are necessary for their therapeutic action. Additionally, the distinct dissociative experiences often reported by patients in clinical trials may reveal whether they receive an active treatment or a placebo, potentially introducing...
Abstract Background Recent years show an exponential increased interest (“renaissance”) in the use of psychedelics for the treatment of mental disorders and broader. Some of these treatments, such as psilocybin for depression, are in the process of formal regulation by regulatory bodies in the US (FDA) and Europe (EMA), and as such on the brink of real-world implementation. In the slipstream of...
European PsychiatryAugust 27, 2024L. Carrión Expósito, G. Chauca Chauca, R. Galan Armenteros et al.
Introduction Major depressive disorder is a common psychiatric condition affecting around 264 million people worldwide (WHO: Depression Fact Sheet. [Apr;2021]). Despite pharmacological advances, many patients still do not respond to antidepressant treatment or do so partially. It is estimated that only 50-70% of patients respond to the initial antidepressant treatment according to the STAR-D...
Introduction Esketamine intranasal spray has been approved in both the USA and EU as a novel treatment in patients with treatment-resistant major depression (TRD) and for the management of acute depressive emergencies during the course of major depressive disorder (MDD). Real-world data on the effectiveness and safety of esketamine nasal spray in clinical use are limited. Objectives To...
Introduction While research on drug use motives has primarily focused on widely used substances like alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis, understanding the motivations behind MDMA use is crucial for developing targeted therapeutic, preventive, and harm reduction strategies. Objectives The objective of this study is to present the findings of an online survey that evaluates the motives behind the use...