Cureus
July 1, 2024
Oluwatosin 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...
Cureus
July 1, 2024
Elliot 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...
Cureus
July 1, 2024
Cristian 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...
Cureus
July 1, 2024
Indushree Manjunath, Varun Channappa, Aditya Karthikeyan
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...
Cureus
July 1, 2024
Sabastain 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,...
Cureus
July 1, 2024
Vijay Bhalerao, Shashank Gotarkar, Deepak Vishwakarma et al.
Sleep paralysis (SP) is a phenomenon wherein individuals awaken from deep sleep but are unable to move or speak, often experiencing vivid hallucinations. This condition, attributed to the persistence of muscle atonia from rapid eye movement (REM) sleep into wakefulness, is associated with factors like sleep deprivation and irregular sleep patterns. While isolated episodes of SP are generally...
Cureus
June 23, 2024
Effect of Heartfulness Meditation on Oxidative Stress and Mindfulness in Healthy Participants.
Cureus
June 1, 2024
David Mestre, Alexandra Paula, Francisco P Gil et al.
Opioid dependence is a common problem, and therapeutic alternatives are scarce and ineffective. Ibogaine, illegal in several countries, has been reported as a possible therapy in alternative clinics and it is also used as a recreational drug, despite its cardiotoxic potential, including QT prolongation. We report a case of long QT leading to multiple episodes of cardiac arrest after a single...
Cureus
May 1, 2024
Zach Hart, Thomas Anderson, Hanna Fanous et al.
2 citations
We report the case of a 64-year-old female with a history of hypothyroidism and isolated parotid sarcoidosis who presented with acute-onset chest pain and dyspnea. Echocardiogram demonstrated transiently reduced ejection fraction with apical hypokinesis, without evidence of obstructive coronary lesions on angiography, compatible with stress-induced cardiomyopathy. She received a ketamine...
Cureus
May 1, 2024
Melissa N Litenski, Aoife B O'Reardon, Nicole Pabon et al.
1 citation
MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), also known as Ecstasy, is a synthetic amphetamine with hallucinogenic and stimulant properties, which has become increasingly favored as a substance for recreational use. Despite its deceptive reputation as "safe," chronic MDMA use is associated with neuropsychiatric complications, including psychosis. We describe a case of a 23-year-old woman with...
Cureus
May 1, 2024
Shaeraine Raaj, Mian Saad Ahmed, Emma Warren et al.
The abuse of inhalants like nitrous oxide (N2O), readily available worldwide, has remained a prominent public health problem during the last few decades. Literature reveals increased use during the previous pandemic, particularly regarding recreational use. There is limited evidence-based data available to relate the abuse of N2O with psychosis. Therefore, this case report of a 22-year-old...
Cureus
April 1, 2024
Dapkupar Wankhar, Archana Prabu Kumar, Venugopal Vijayakumar et al.
9 citations
Elevated blood pressure is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Available evidence on mind-body medicine (MBM) techniques on blood pressure is inconclusive and provides conflicting results. The objective of the current systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the effect of MBM techniques on blood pressure in patients with cardiovascular disease. Randomized...
Cureus
April 1, 2024
Mitchell B. Liester, Rachel Wilkenson, Barry Patterson et al.
3 citations
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD) are common mental disorders that are challenging to treat. Ketamine is an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist that has shown promise as a rapid-acting antidepressant when administered intravenously. BPD symptoms have also been demonstrated to improve with repeated intravenous administration of ketamine, and a...
Cureus
April 1, 2024
Ashraf F Hanna, Danielle Bolling, Mariam Tadros
3 citations
Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) is a rare autoimmune condition marked by extremely painful muscle spasms, stiffness, and rigidity throughout the body. Its rarity often translates to limited treatment options for patients and, occasionally, challenges in obtaining a definitive diagnosis. SPS also impacts patients' mental health, social and economic involvement, and overall quality of life. A...
Cureus
April 1, 2024
Sultana Algin, Debasish Banik, Sm Atikur Rahman et al.
1 citation
Treatment of resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) typically results in insufficient symptom alleviation, and even long-term medication often fails to have the intended effect. Ketamine is a potent non-competitive antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Studies have shown that low-dose ketamine infusion results in a considerable reduction in obsessive-compulsive symptoms...
Cureus
March 1, 2024
Reena Sheth, Esha Parikh, Kunmilayo Olayeye et al.
4 citations
Ayahuasca is an original Amazonian brew made from the vines and leaves of Psychotroa viridis and Banisteriopsis caapi. Both P. viridis and B. caapi give this brew its unique psychedelic properties which have been revered over centuries. In recent years, ayahuasca has gained attention as a potential therapeutic tool for mental health disorders, including substance abuse and depression. The...
Cureus
March 1, 2024
Shaan I Chaudhri, Amina Amin, Binay K Panjiyar et al.
2 citations
Ketamine has been repeatedly demonstrated to be an effective treatment in the management of patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). An important question is whether it is equally or more effective than the current gold standard of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), as the adverse effects of ECT can lead to memory loss and neurocognitive deficits. A literature search was conducted for...
Cureus
March 1, 2024
Parameshwaran Ramakrishnan, Thomas M Brod, Thomas Lowder et al.
1 citation
Background "Awe" is typically an inspiring emotional response to perceptually vast stimuli signifying the transcendence beyond all cognitive frames of reference when we encounter the unexpected. Physicians' experience of awe in clinical care interactions has not been studied in an empirical, evidence-based way. We aim to present a focused study of awe in a psychiatrist's empathic listening (EL)...
Cureus
February 26, 2024
Yatika Chadha, Ragini Patil, Saket Toshniwal et al.
2 citations
Trance and possession disorder (TPD) is an intriguing and complex phenomenon in the realm of psychology and psychiatry. Trance is characterized by a state of temporary marked alteration in the state of consciousness without replacement by an alternate identity, with either a narrowing of awareness of immediate surroundings or behaviors that are beyond one's control. Possession is defined as an...
Cureus
February 1, 2024
Suneeta Kumari, Hassan A Chaudhry, Adam Sagot et al.
13 citations
The expansive spectrum of major depressive disorder (MDD) continues to pose challenges for psychiatrists to treat effectively. Oral antidepressant (OAD) medications that alter monoamine neurotransmitters, mainly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), have been the mainstay of therapy for decades. Although these drugs have been...
Cureus
February 1, 2024
Ana Faísco, Rita Dinis, Tânia Seixas et al.
8 citations
Ketamine has been used in the treatment of several pain syndromes, particularly those with a relevant neuropathic component. Sub-anesthetic doses of ketamine produce a potent analgesic effect, due to its inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and enhancement of descending inhibitory pathways. Its short-term analgesic effect is well-documented perioperatively, with an associated reduction...
Cureus
February 1, 2024
Richard C. Todd
This investigation centered on the hypnagogic and hypnopompic wake-sleep/sleep-wake transition states and the associated exploration of hypnagogic and hypnopompic experiences (HHEs), and sleep paralysis (SP) on psychiatric exacerbation and paradoxical masking. The study aims to discern causality by examining how these sleep-related experiences may contribute to the emergence or exacerbation of...
Cureus
2024
Mahmoud T Hefnawy, Basma E Amer, Samar A Amer et al.
8 citations
Sleep paralysis (SP) is a mixed state of consciousness and sleep, combining features of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep with those of wakefulness. The exact cause of SP is unknown, and its prevalence varies among the studies. We aim to identify SP's global prevalence, the affected population's characteristics, and the SP's clinical picture. We searched three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of...
Cureus
2024
Vishwa Sree Yadla, Patil Nj, Prabhakar Kamarthy et al.
5 citations
Individuals wrestling with panic disorder (PD) know all too well its debilitating impact. Sudden, intense fear episodes disrupt lives and erode well-being. Fortunately, integrating complementary therapies like yoga with standard treatment offers a glimmer of hope for improved outcomes. Yoga's unique blend of physical postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), and meditative practices...
Cureus
2024
Konstantina Dimou, Agapi L Batiridou, Fotios Tatsis et al.
In the intensive care unit (ICU), patients often experience fragmented memories, primarily comprising dreams and illusions. These experiences can impact psychosocial well-being, correlating with post-traumatic stress symptoms and heightened anxiety. Understanding these phenomena is crucial for holistic care. To systematically explore patients' perspectives concerning the recollection of dreams...