Cureus
May 27, 2022
Robert Sotille, Herpreet Singh, Anne Weisman et al.
2 citations
Psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound, may relieve depression by promoting neuronal plasticity and altering brain network connectivity. Recent clinical trials suggest it effectively reduces symptoms in major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression. Cellular experiments in mice demonstrate psilocybin promotes neuritogenesis, potentially addressing the cellular root of depression. Human brain imaging shows psilocybin therapy enhances functional connectivity in intrinsic networks, leading to durable improvements in depressive symptoms. This review highlights psilocybin's promise as a psychotherapeutic that targets neuronal atrophy, a model supplanting the neurotransmitter deficit hypothesis.
Cureus
April 5, 2026
Jasbir Singh, Pranathi Mruthyunjaya
1 citation
A 28-year-old man with no prior psychiatric or substance use history developed catatonia—specifically mutism and inability to feed himself—for six months after his first use of psilocybin. Imaging and lab tests showed no abnormalities. This case is one of the earliest documented instances of catatonia triggered by psilocybin.
Cureus
March 15, 2026
Shruti Niraj, G Niraj, Rajesh Naithani
1 citation
A pilot randomized controlled trial with 76 healthcare professionals in India tested whether Transcendental Meditation (TM) is feasible and acceptable. Good engagement was observed: all participants in the TM group attended the initial instruction session, and 90% attended at least four of five follow-up sessions. About two-thirds reported TM was feasible or very feasible, with 79% self-reported adherence. At 12 weeks, the TM group showed reductions in anxiety and burnout scores and improvements in well-being compared to controls, but no statistically significant change in perceived stress. The findings suggest TM is a feasible and acceptable intervention, though results are preliminary.
Cureus
November 20, 2025
C.d. Bissell, Kenneth S. Rankin
1 citation
A 57-year-old woman with no known medical history presented with acute altered mental status after intranasal ketamine use, followed by back pain. She was obtunded and hypertensive, requiring intubation. CT angiography revealed a Type A aortic dissection extending from the aortic root to the left iliac artery, involving the carotid, mesenteric, and renal vessels. Despite initial conservative management and later surgery, she suffered intraoperative cardiac arrest and died. The case highlights that ketamine's sympathomimetic effects can precipitate aortic dissection in susceptible individuals.
Cureus
September 20, 2025
Jaisingh Rajput, Sandhya Narahari, Taha Bin Arif et al.
1 citation
A systematic review of studies published between 2017 and 2025 found strong evidence that using cannabis with high THC content significantly raises the risk of developing schizophrenia, especially among adolescents and people with a family vulnerability. THC also worsens positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms in those already diagnosed with schizophrenia. Cannabidiol (CBD) showed antipsychotic and neuroprotective properties and therapeutic potential, but clinical evidence remains limited, with most studies being small and lacking long-term follow-up. The review argues that distinguishing between cannabis components is essential for psychiatric discussions, and large controlled trials are needed to determine CBD's therapeutic limits.
Cureus
September 17, 2025
Arya Kermanshah, Margo Stapleton, Christine M Mauriello et al.
1 citation
A case report describes a patient who developed severe rhabdomyolysis—a condition involving rapid muscle breakdown—along with stage 3 acute kidney injury after using ayahuasca. The kidney injury was managed successfully without the need for renal replacement therapy (dialysis). The patient recovered fully with medical treatment, demonstrating that even severe complications from ayahuasca can be managed conservatively in some cases.
Cureus
June 1, 2025
Priyanka Saraswati, Satish Kanaujia, Ghanshyam Singh Thakur et al.
1 citation
A month-long yoga program combining pranayama (breath control) and meditation reduced stress and increased mindfulness and psychological flexibility in recreational athletes aged 18 to 45. Compared to a control group that received no treatment, the yoga group showed significantly lower stress levels and fewer negative emotional states, along with higher dispositional mindfulness. Stress reduction and mindfulness improvement strongly predicted everyday psychological flexibility skills. The findings suggest that regular yoga practice supports mental and emotional health beyond physical fitness, helping athletes manage stress and regulate emotions.
Cureus
June 1, 2025
Zakaria W Shkoukani, Praveen Gopi, Lauren Tate et al.
1 citation
Ketamine-induced uropathy (KIU) is a growing problem from recreational ketamine use that can progressively damage the urinary tract, yet many clinicians lack awareness and standardized approaches to manage it. In a region of the United Kingdom with high KIU incidence, secondary care professionals showed significantly greater awareness of KIU than primary care professionals, though familiarity with British Association of Urological Surgeons guidelines was limited overall. Primary care providers lacked confidence in managing KIU and often deferred to secondary services; many also believed law enforcement should be involved. High non-attendance rates (41.5%) underscored the need for early psychosocial support. General practitioners expressed strong interest in targeted education to improve community care.
Cureus
June 1, 2025
Amy Avakian, Zachary I Merhavy
1 citation
Ketamine, an anesthetic that blocks NMDA receptors, may offer new ways to manage Alzheimer's disease by improving communication between brain cells and reducing inflammation. The review describes how ketamine could help with depression and agitation that often accompany Alzheimer's, though these results are still preliminary and more research is needed to confirm its safety and effectiveness.
Cureus
May 20, 2025
Alistair J Clarke
1 citation
A systematic review examined whether patients diagnosed with a mental illness have elevated levels of the endogenous psychedelic compound bufotenine in their urine. The review found that bufotenine levels are higher in the urine of individuals with certain psychiatric disorders compared to healthy controls, suggesting a potential link between this neurochemical and mental health diagnoses. However, the evidence is limited by small sample sizes and methodological variability across studies, indicating that bufotenine may serve as a biomarker for some mental illnesses, but further research is needed to confirm these findings.
Cureus
April 1, 2025
Ciara Mimms, Kassandra Sotelo, Abdul Saboor Khaliq
1 citation
A systematic review of ten recent randomized controlled trials found that psychedelic-assisted therapies, including ketamine, esketamine, and psilocybin, significantly reduce depressive symptoms in treatment-resistant depression. Oral and intranasal esketamine and high-dose psilocybin showed sustained antidepressant effects. Some trials also reported functional improvements, such as better workplace productivity and cognitive stability, particularly with esketamine. The therapies were well tolerated with minimal cognitive side effects. Risk of bias was low in four studies and moderate in six due to open-label or observational extensions. The findings support psychedelic-assisted therapies as viable alternatives or adjuncts for treatment-resistant depression and emphasize the need to assess both clinical and functional outcomes.
Cureus
April 1, 2025
Zach Papadopoulos
1 citation
Ketamine acts as a rapid antidepressant primarily by blocking N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, though its effects also involve monoaminergic signaling, BDNF signaling, opioid receptor agonism, and neuroinflammation. Compared to SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants, ketamine shows greater efficacy, faster onset, and better tolerability but has a shorter duration of action and accessibility issues. In a head-to-head trial, ketamine matched electroconvulsive therapy in efficacy for non-psychotic depression while providing faster relief. Further research is needed to optimize dosing, improve accessibility, and address risks like bladder toxicity and addiction.
Cureus
April 1, 2025
Auriane Leslie Kouam Djembi, Marie-Anne Labaisse, Thibault Warlop et al.
1 citation
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare brain condition that can occur after childbirth, even in women with normal blood pressure. A case is reported of a first-time mother who developed severe neurological symptoms, including temporary blindness and memory loss, after delivery. Brain imaging showed swelling in unusual areas such as the temporal lobes, hippocampi, and thalami. Special MRI techniques helped distinguish PRES from early stroke, which is critical for proper treatment. The case demonstrates that PRES should be considered in postpartum patients with serious neurological symptoms, regardless of blood pressure or protein levels. Early recognition is important because the syndrome is reversible with timely care.
Cureus
March 17, 2025
Fejzic Dino
1 citation
Psilocybin, a psychedelic alkaloid from Psilocybe mushrooms, shows therapeutic potential for conditions including treatment-resistant depression and end-of-life distress. This review consolidates current data on its efficacy, safety, therapeutic effects, indications, contraindications, drug interactions, adverse reactions, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and dosing regimens. The evidence suggests psilocybin can produce rapid and sustained antidepressant effects, though its use requires careful screening and professional supervision due to risks such as anxiety, transient hypertension, and potential for adverse psychological reactions. The review provides a comprehensive pharmaceutical reference for clinicians and researchers.
Cureus
March 1, 2025
Spyridon Sotiropoulos, Theodora Plavoukou, George Georgoudis
1 citation
Adding Qigong to standard physiotherapy for chronic low back pain may reduce pain and disability more than adding strengthening exercises alone. In a four-week trial with 42 participants, both groups improved, but the Qigong group showed greater reductions in pain and disability, as well as improved proprioception. Kinesiophobia decreased similarly in both groups. The authors call for longer-term follow-up and larger trials to clarify whether Qigong offers distinct advantages over conventional exercise programs.
Cureus
March 1, 2025
Sean D Young, Josh Kim, Adam W. Hanley
1 citation
Mindfully listening to music, including improvisational jazz, can reduce chronic pain and anxiety more effectively than listening without mindfulness training. In a pilot study of 120 adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain, participants were randomly assigned to mindful listening or music education groups, each with either preferred music or jazz. Those in the mindful listening groups reported significantly greater reductions in pain intensity and anxiety. A clinically meaningful (20%) decrease in pain occurred more often in the mindful jazz (50%) and mindful music (41%) groups than in the jazz education (29%) and music education (26%) groups. The findings suggest that combining mindfulness with music listening enhances pain relief.
Cureus
December 1, 2024
Aarman P Jivraj, Katherine A Heimer, Christopher J Wukovits et al.
1 citation
An 86-year-old patient with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder and suicidal ideation was treated with intranasal esketamine (Spravato), representing one of the oldest documented cases. Under the supervision of a double board-certified adult and geriatric psychiatrist, the therapy led to positive treatment outcomes. The case highlights unique pharmacodynamic and clinical challenges in geriatric populations, including advanced age, comorbidities, and sensitivity to adverse effects. While most research focuses on people aged 65 and younger, this case contributes evidence on the safety and efficacy of intranasal esketamine for treatment-resistant depression in elderly patients and aims to inform future clinical guidelines.
Cureus
December 1, 2024
Ayesha Imtiaz, Bassam M Almutairy, Taghreed M Almutairi et al.
1 citation
A six-year-old child who accidentally swallowed six pieces of mace, a spice derived from the nutmeg plant, developed symptoms resembling serotonin syndrome and anticholinergic poisoning, including altered consciousness and respiratory acidosis. The child recovered with only supportive care and was discharged after 36 hours. Mace contains myristicin, which inhibits monoamine oxidase and is metabolized into a compound with psychedelic effects. Although nutmeg poisoning is more frequently reported, this case illustrates that mace ingestion can also cause serious toxicity, particularly in young children, and underscores the importance of preventing accidental exposures in homes.
Cureus
August 1, 2024
Sushanta Mohanty, Deepeshwar Singh, Amit Singh et al.
1 citation
Practicing the mind sound resonance technique (MSRT), a meditative relaxation approach, improved oxygenation in the right prefrontal cortex and altered heart rate variability—increasing low-frequency and decreasing high-frequency components—compared to baseline in college students aged 19–30. Fifty volunteers (30 women, 20 men) were split into MSRT and supine rest groups. MSRT also showed a significant difference from supine rest in the standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals of heart rate variability. Self-reported mindfulness and anxiety were measured before and after. The evidence suggests MSRT may help develop anxiety-related coping skills by promoting prefrontal cortex oxygenation and modulating heart rate variability.
Cureus
July 1, 2024
Cristian I Babos, Giovanni Zucchi, Augusto E Filimberti et al.
1 citation
Adding meditation and compassion-focused group therapy to standard care for patients with eating disorders, drug addiction, alcohol addiction, and depression improved acceptance, mindfulness awareness, self-compassion, and psychological distress within the group that received the extra therapy. However, at the end of the study, there were no statistically significant differences between the group receiving the added therapy and the group receiving standard care alone on any of the four measured scales. The comparison between groups was limited by data availability.
Cureus
July 1, 2024
Elliot Hernandez, David Dominguez, Raul Medina-Rioja et al.
1 citation
A 60-year-old man developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) two weeks after consuming ayahuasca, with no preceding infection or vaccination. He had progressive limb weakness, areflexia, and the acute motor-sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) variant. Initial treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin improved his strength, but ten days later he experienced a severe relapse requiring ventilatory support, consistent with treatment-related fluctuation. Retreatment with immunoglobulin led to improvement. This case suggests ayahuasca may be a trigger for GBS and highlights the possibility of treatment-related fluctuations in such patients.
Cureus
May 1, 2024
Melissa N Litenski, Aoife B O'Reardon, Nicole Pabon et al.
1 citation
A 23-year-old woman with chronic MDMA use disorder and childhood trauma developed severe psychosis and catatonia. Although initially suspected to be drug-induced psychosis, her history and symptoms led to a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder with psychotic features, worsened by MDMA use. Standard antipsychotics failed and worsened catatonia, requiring electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for improvement. Socioeconomic barriers disrupted follow-up care, resulting in an emergency department visit shortly after discharge. The case illustrates the complex interaction of substance use, psychiatric illness, and trauma, highlights ECT's effectiveness in severe psychosis, and underscores the need for comprehensive mental health services for vulnerable populations and further research on MDMA's psychiatric effects.
Cureus
April 1, 2024
Sultana Algin, Debasish Banik, Sm Atikur Rahman et al.
1 citation
A patient with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and severe suicidal ideation received three weekly intravenous ketamine infusions. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms and suicidal severity decreased rapidly after the first infusion, though symptoms temporarily increased after a stressful event. Subsequent infusions produced continued improvement, sustained through discharge and at six- and twelve-week follow-ups. The case suggests ketamine may reduce both resistant OCD symptoms and suicidal ideation, though further research is needed.
Cureus
March 1, 2024
Parameshwaran Ramakrishnan, Thomas M Brod, Thomas Lowder et al.
1 citation
Awe emerged as a powerful emotional response during empathic listening interactions between a psychiatrist and six patients, aged 32 to 72, lasting an average of 46 minutes. Both parties experienced feelings of awe and non-agency, highlighting the profound impact of these moments. The analysis revealed two key themes: mindfulness and transpersonal mindfulness. This framework underscores the importance of recognizing these emotions in clinical settings, paving the way for an evidence-based exploration of transcendence and metaphysics within phenomenological psychiatry.
Cureus
September 1, 2023
Javairia Ayyub, Sailaja Nandennagari, Dylan Edelbaum et al.
1 citation
Hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD) causes persistent visual distortions, most commonly after lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) use. A 28-year-old Caucasian male with a history of polysubstance use, including LSD and cannabis, developed classic HPPD symptoms seven months after stopping LSD. Diagnosis required ruling out other causes through laboratory and imaging tests. His symptoms did not improve with antipsychotics, indicating they were not solely due to mental illness. While alpha-2 adrenergic drugs like clonidine and benzodiazepines are considered first-line treatment, the patient showed improvement with lamotrigine, which is the gold standard for treating perceptual disturbances in time and space.