Do-it-yourself (DIY) brain hacking has evolved from fringe experimentation to a cultural and clinical phenomenon reshaping how individuals interact with their brains. From early self-directed use of racetam nootropics, at-home transcranial direct current stimulation, and meditation apps, to the normalization of microdosing psychedelics, this movement reflects a broader shift toward brain...
CureusJune 1, 2025Rabih Nasrallah, Amin Ossaily, Mazen Al Hammoud et al.2 citations
Ecstasy, also known as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), is widely used as a recreational drug known for its stimulating effects. While acute coronary syndrome and coronary vasospasm are frequently observed following cocaine and methamphetamine use, there have been few reported cases linking them to ecstasy use. We present a case of a 27-year-old, previously healthy, male presenting...
CureusJune 1, 2025Zakaria W Shkoukani, Praveen Gopi, Lauren Tate et al.1 citation
Ketamine-induced uropathy (KIU) is an emerging consequence of recreational ketamine misuse, often leading to progressive urinary tract dysfunction. Despite increasing prevalence, clinician awareness and standardized management remain limited. This study evaluated knowledge and practices among healthcare professionals in Cheshire and Merseyside, a region in the United Kingdom with high KIU...
CureusJune 1, 2025Amy Avakian, Zachary I Merhavy1 citation
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, synaptic dysfunction, and neuroinflammation. Despite extensive research, current therapeutic options offer limited symptomatic relief without altering disease progression. Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist traditionally used as an anesthetic, has garnered...
Background Yoga and mind-body mindfulness exercises emphasize awareness-building to help athletes perform better physically and psychologically under trying circumstances. The purpose of the study was to assess how yoga practice affects athletes' stress levels, levels of mindfulness, and psychological flexibility. Methods The design of the study was a randomized controlled trial. A total of 88...
The objective of this systematic review was to determine if higher concentrations of urinary bufotenine occur in patients with a mental illness compared to healthy controls. Bufotenine is an alkaloid with psychedelic and psychoactive properties that closely resembles the structure of serotonin. Bufotenine naturally occurs in Anadenanthera seeds and is secreted along with 5-methoxy-N,...
CureusMay 1, 2025Cassidy Chau, Anthony Q Dang, Thong Nguyen
Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare, life-threatening skin condition that involves widespread skin detachment and mucous membrane damage. We present a case of a six-month-old male with atypical TEN transferred from an outside hospital in Mexico to our facility. The patient had widespread full-thickness necrotic wounds but no bullae or sloughing. Since the diagnosis was unclear at the...
CureusMay 1, 2025Hafiza Wajeeha Waheed, Muhammad R Ashraf, Talha Sajjad et al.
Ketamine has been utilized in various medical contexts, particularly for its effects on the nervous system. Over time, its applications have expanded beyond its initial use, with emerging interest in its potential to influence mood and cognition. In certain clinical populations, it has been associated with a rapid reduction in depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts, particularly when...
Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) is typically characterized by complex, non-threatening visual hallucinations in patients with visual impairment who maintain insight that their perceptions are unreal. While primarily considered an ophthalmological phenomenon, recent evidence suggests that CBS may overlap with psychiatric disorders presenting with complex visual hallucinations and impaired insight,...
CureusMay 1, 2025Alyssa Kong, Viseth Long, Elle Wang et al.
Introduction To address the rising deaths and hospitalizations related to opioid toxicity, buprenorphine/naloxone has been provided as a frontline treatment within the emergency department (ED), allowing increased access to opioid agonist therapies (OAT). However, several barriers exist toward initiating patients on buprenorphine/naloxone within the ED, such as shortages in healthcare staff and...
Depression is a common yet potentially debilitating mood disorder with complex neurobiological underpinnings, including deficiencies in monoaminergic and glutamatergic signaling, overactivity of the lateral habenula, and dysregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling. Ketamine has emerged as a mechanistically novel, effective, and rapidly acting antidepressant. Ketamine's...
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare condition characterized by clinical and brain imaging criteria. It is most often associated with pregnancy in the postpartum period and has a higher incidence in primiparous patients. Its presentation includes headaches, altered consciousness, seizures, visual disturbances, and specific radiological signs, particularly vasogenic...
CureusApril 1, 2025Ciara Mimms, Kassandra Sotelo, Abdul Saboor Khaliq1 citation
This systematic review explores the comparative efficacy and functional outcomes of psychedelic-assisted therapies in the management of treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for randomized controlled...
CureusApril 1, 2025Alison Muñoz, Marai Roque, Marco Valladares et al.
This case presents a 33-year-old male with a four-day history of worsening altered mental status and rhabdomyolysis. He experienced delusions, restlessness, and visual hallucinations, exacerbated by prolonged multidrug abuse, including over-the-counter pregabalin (Lyrica) for pain relief and recreational ketamine. Despite an initially incomplete history and unclear etiology, the patient was...
The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current findings and data on the therapeutic effects of psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic alkaloid primarily found in Psilocybe mushrooms. This review covers psilocybin's efficacy and safety profile, therapeutic effects, proposed indications and contraindications, drug-drug interactions, adverse reactions,...
CureusMarch 1, 2025Spyridon Sotiropoulos, Theodora Plavoukou, George Georgoudis1 citation
Chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Exercise-based interventions, particularly strengthening exercises, are widely used in rehabilitation. However, mind-body approaches such as Qigong, which integrate movement, breath control, and mindfulness, may offer additional psychological benefits. Despite evidence supporting Qigong in pain management,...
A mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) focused on listening to music might reduce chronic pain and provide a new approach to overcoming challenges from traditional MBIs (e.g., breathing). Due to the potential unpredictability and unfamiliarity of jazz, an MBI focused on listening to improvisational jazz music might be a particularly efficacious pain reduction intervention. This pilot study...
CureusFebruary 19, 2025Paria Parhami, Sydney E Moriarty, Jay Parikh et al.
N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a potent hallucinogenic compound with increasing recreational use despite limited safety data. While DMT use has been linked to psychosis, delusional parasitosis as a specific manifestation remains unreported. We present a novel case of a 60-year-old female veteran with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a history of major depressive disorder, past...
CureusFebruary 1, 2025Eric J Formeister, James Mitchell, Roseanne Krauter et al.2 citations
Purpose The purpose of this study was to describe the implementation and efficacy of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program for treating dizziness symptoms in subjects with vestibular migraine (VM). Materials and methods A non-controlled prospective cohort study of 20 adult English-speaking patients with a diagnosis of VM was undertaken at a single tertiary referral center. A...
CureusFebruary 1, 2025Eric Boccio, Jason Haidar, Michael Thiefault et al.
Medical and recreational ketamine use is increasing in the United States; however, little is known regarding the side effects associated with chronic, frequent, and high-dose use. The lack of emergency physician awareness regarding ketamine-induced abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and dysuria, collectively and colloquially known as K-cramps, results in delayed recognition, underreporting, and...
This study's results are expected to offer critical insights into the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy in treating OCD, and whether these correlate with changes in the cognitive features of the condition. As a secondary aim, it will ascertain whether a low, tolerable dose is a feasible and efficacious clinical treatment, and will provide crucial data to...
Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a complex condition marked by persistent distressing thoughts and repetitive behaviours. Despite its prevalence, the mechanisms behind OCD remain elusive, and current treatments are limited. This protocol outlines an investigative study for individuals with OCD, exploring the potential of psilocybin to improve key components of cognition...
Raynaud's phenomenon is a vascular disorder characterized by episodic vasospasm of small arteries, primarily affecting the hands and feet. Standard treatment strategies typically include lifestyle modifications to avoid cold exposure and stress, alongside pharmacological interventions aimed at increasing blood flow and reducing vascular constriction. Ketamine, an FDA-approved anesthetic since...
Recurrent isolated sleep paralysis (RISP) is a rare but distressing condition characterized by episodes of temporary immobility during transitions between wakefulness and sleep. This report describes a 30-year-old female presenting frequently with nightmares, sleep paralysis, and associated stress, successfully managed with a holistic approach incorporating yoga, meditation, chanting, and...
CureusDecember 1, 2024Aarman P Jivraj, Katherine A Heimer, Christopher J Wukovits et al.1 citation
This case study examines the novel application of Spravato (intranasal esketamine) to address treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in an 86-year-old patient. Notably, this represents one of the oldest documented individuals to be administered intranasal esketamine for a diagnosis of Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) alongside suicidal ideation. This case study contributes to...