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...
CureusDecember 1, 2024Ahmed Z Salama, Mohammad R Dabash, Abdullah Elayan et al.
Dissociation is a cognitive process that disrupts consciousness, identity, or memory. It is frequently used as a form of defense in response to significant stress or trauma. In serious situations, it might show as a dissociative disorder, which extremely impairs psychological functioning. Dissociative trance, a type of other specified dissociative disorder (OSDD), is characterized by an abrupt...
Meditation retreats are structured programs that immerse participants in focused meditation, mindfulness, and self-reflection over extended periods. Unlike conventional vacations, which prioritize relaxation, meditation retreats combine intensive practice with intentional rest, cultivating emotional regulation, mindfulness, and personal growth. These retreats have grown in popularity for their...
Memory, a fundamental aspect of human cognition and consciousness, is multifaceted and extends beyond traditional conceptualizations of mental recall. This review article explores memory through various lenses, including brain-based, body-based, and cellular mechanisms. At its core, memory involves the encoding, storage, and retrieval of information. Advances in neuroscience reveal that...
CureusNovember 1, 2024Bárbara L Mesquita, Daniela Jeremias, Ana Margarida Fraga et al.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to surprise us all with its aftermath. The connection between the virus and neuropsychiatric symptoms is thought to arise from both direct and indirect impacts on the brain, and various explanations have been proposed to account for these effects. This is a case of visual and persisting auditory hallucinations in a middle-aged man, with no previous psychiatric...
CureusNovember 1, 2024Catherine R La Spina, Patricia Pozo, Gisele J Wakim
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic neuropathic pain disorder often following trauma, associated with severe pain and autonomic disturbances in the affected limbs. Managing CRPS is challenging due to the lack of FDA-approved medications, often requiring off-label treatments. Traditional options like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids show limited...
CureusNovember 1, 2024Ayoyimika O Okunlola, Syahmina Sufrian, Temitope O Ajao et al.
Ketamine is increasingly used as a recreational drug. The report outlines the various multi-organ dysfunctions identified following chronic abuse in a 24-year-old patient with no significant past medical history and the subsequent patient management. Besides ketamine cessation, other treatments only provide suboptimal relief to the damage inflicted by the toxic ketamine metabolites.
CureusOctober 1, 2024Priyadarsini Samanta, Ipsa Mohapatra, Rituparna Mitra et al.6 citations
In recent years, Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) has become a major mental health concern among adolescents, with detrimental effects on social relationships, academic performance, and emotional well-being. The focus of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on improving self-awareness, emotional regulation, and cognitive flexibility has drawn interest in MBIs as possible therapeutic...
CureusOctober 1, 2024Sana Rahman, Samiya Saher, Anurag Raje et al.
Ketamine-induced uropathy (KIU) is a serious consequence of chronic ketamine abuse, presenting with complex renal and urinary symptoms. This study describes a 34-year-old female with a history of chronic ketamine abuse, resulting in stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD) and severe urological complications. Despite discontinuing ketamine use five years ago, she remains dependent on ureteral...
Cancer patients encounter not only the physical manifestations of their disease but also a range of psychological challenges, including anxiety, depression, and severe sleep disturbances. Research indicates that approximately 50% of cancer patients experience clinically significant levels of distress, which can adversely affect treatment outcomes and diminish their overall quality of life....
CureusSeptember 1, 2024Marina Nasr, Brian Assadi, Brianna C Weissman et al.3 citations
"2C," formally known as 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine, is an illicit drug that combines elements of ketamine, MDMA (ecstasy), methamphetamine, cocaine, and opioids. This report highlights the emergence of 2C compounds, a new class of illicit drugs recognized for their distinctive blend of hallucinogenic and stimulant properties. We present the case of a 22-year-old female who was admitted...
CureusSeptember 1, 2024Namita Sahu, Pradeep S Patil, Asmita - et al.2 citations
Nightmares are distressing dreams that evoke strong negative emotions, such as fear or anxiety, often leading to waking from sleep and subsequent sleep disruption. They are prevalent across various age groups, with significant psychological and physiological health implications. This review explores the nature of nightmares, distinguishing them from other sleep disturbances like night terrors...
CureusSeptember 1, 2024Kaustuv Das, Jayshree Sen, Aishwarya S Borode
Ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic primarily recognized for its antagonism of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, has gained significant attention for its rapid antidepressant effects and potential in treating mood disorders. However, recent research indicates that ketamine's influence extends beyond NMDA receptor inhibition, affecting α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid...
CureusSeptember 1, 2024N. Nguyen, Jessica Cao, Deborah Carlson et al.
Nitrous oxide (N2O) has a lengthy history of use as an anesthetic and has recently found popularity as a recreational euphoric hallucinogen. The odorless, colorless, non-flammable gas interferes with Vitamin B12 resulting in a cascade of effects, including hyperhomocysteinemia. It has long been proposed that hyperhomocysteinemia adversely affects the cardiovascular system, producing atherogenic...
CureusAugust 1, 2024Cristian I Babos, Daniel C Leucuta, Dan L Dumitrascu2 citations
Mind-body therapies have been found to be effective in a variety of pathologies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of meditation-based therapies in relieving the symptoms severity, quality of life, stress and other associated mood conditions, in individuals with chronic neuropathy of various etiologies. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials, involving adult...
The empirical evidence explicitly demonstrates that meditation practice enhances both brain functions and mental well-being. A meditative relaxation approach called the mind sound resonance technique (MSRT) has shown promising effects on children, adolescents, and people with psychological illnesses. This study aimed to investigate the effects of MSRT practice on brain hemodynamics, heart rate...
Background Athletes have a variety of obstacles that might shrink their chances of getting adequate rest, including competing and training times, travel, stress, academic responsibilities, and overtraining. Furthermore, athletes have been reported to have poor self-reports of their sleep length and quality. The study aims to assess the impact of yoga practice on sleep quality, stress, anxiety,...
CureusAugust 1, 2024Madalena Carvalho, Ana Teresa Guerra, Marta Moniz et al.
Background Painful procedures in the pediatric emergency department often require the use of sedation and analgesia to ensure adequate pain control, a right of children and adolescents. This study aims to describe the procedural sedation and analgesia with intravenous medications performed in a pediatric emergency department. Methods This is a retrospective descriptive study of intravenous...
CureusAugust 2024D Naresh, D Logesh, B Lakshmi Dorai et al.
Musical hallucinations (MH) represent a rare and complex auditory phenomenon where individuals perceive music without external stimuli. This case study explores auditory Charles Bonnet syndrome (ACBS) in a 51-year-old male with a history of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The patient reported hearing recognizable prayer chants, initially perceived as external sounds from a nearby temple....
This case report discusses the use of intravenous (IV) ketamine as a potential therapeutic agent for early-onset dementia. A 56-year-old female with a diagnosis of early-onset dementia showed significant cognitive decline despite trying and failing several standard treatments such as memantine, donepezil, and rivastigmine. Given the promising results of ketamine in other neurological and...
CureusJuly 1, 2024Oluwatosin O Arubuolawe, Ibrahim L Folorunsho, Adeniyi K Busari et al.2 citations
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a significant challenge in psychiatric practice, affecting a substantial proportion of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Traditional treatment modalities often fall short, necessitating the exploration of alternative therapies. This literature review examines the combined use of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and ketamine in treating...
CureusJuly 1, 2024Elliot Hernandez, David Dominguez, Raul Medina-Rioja et al.1 citation
We present the case of a 60-year-old male patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) who experienced treatment-related fluctuations (TRF) with a history of ayahuasca consumption. The patient presented to the neurological emergency department without a history of infection (upper respiratory tract or diarrhea) or vaccination in the past four weeks, but 14 days prior, the patient had consumed...
CureusJuly 1, 2024Cristian I Babos, Giovanni Zucchi, Augusto E Filimberti et al.1 citation
Introduction Our study aimed to compare meditation and compassion-based group therapy with the standard of care in patients with eating disorders, drug addiction, alcohol addiction, and depression, concerning acceptance, mindfulness awareness, self-compassion, and psychological distress. Methods A controlled designed study was performed, comparing meditation and compassion-focused group therapy...
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been one of the leading causes of neuropsychiatric disorders among children, which is why it is extremely essential to have a clear understanding of the disease and the new and upcoming treatment options available. Yoga has been one of the most recently explored and newer techniques that have been employed in the treatment of this disorder. It...
CureusJuly 1, 2024Sabastain F Forsah, Bibi Razak, Divine Besong Arrey Agbor et al.
Ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethyl-amphetamine, MDMA) is an illicit drug that has found widespread use. It is mostly used by adolescents and young adults, particularly during intense and prolonged dance parties for its mood-enhancing properties. Despite these pleasurable effects, users may have potentially serious side effects including death. One of the serious side effects is rhabdomyolysis,...