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Psychopharmacology

ISSN 1432-2072

491 papers in the library · 18,759 citations · publishing 1971-2026

Papers

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Long-term follow-up outcomes of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of PTSD: a longitudinal pooled analysis of six phase 2 trials.

Psychopharmacology August 1, 2020 Lisa Jerome, Allison A. Feduccia, Julie B. Wang et al. 163 citations Retracted

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic condition that has wide-ranging negative effects on an individual's health and interpersonal relationships. Treatments with long-term benefits are needed to promote the safety and well-being of those suffering from PTSD. To examine long-term change in PTSD symptoms and additional benefits/harms after 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine...

Subjective features of the psilocybin experience that may account for its self-administration by humans: a double-blind comparison of psilocybin and dextromethorphan.

Psychopharmacology August 1, 2020 Theresa M. Carbonaro, Matthew W Johnson, Roland R. Griffiths 51 citations

Although both psilocybin and dextromethorphan (DXM) produce psychedelic-like subjective effects, rates of non-medical use of psilocybin are consistently greater than DXM. New data are presented from a study of psilocybin and DXM relevant to understanding the features of psilocybin subjective effects that may account for its higher rates of non-medical use. Single, acute oral doses of psilocybin...

Modulatory effects of ayahuasca on personality structure in a traditional framework

Psychopharmacology July 23, 2020 Nige Netzband, Simon Ruffell, Sabriya Linton et al. 56 citations

Abstract Abstract Ayahuasca is a psychoactive plant brew containing dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). It originates from the Amazon basin, where it is used primarily for ceremonial purposes. Ayahuasca tourists are now entering certain communities seeking alternative physical or psychological healing, as well as spiritual growth. Rationale Recent evidence has...

Ayahuasca blocks the reinstatement of methylphenidate-induced conditioned place preference in mice: behavioral and brain Fos expression evaluations

Psychopharmacology July 16, 2020 Henrique Sousa Reis, Isa R S Rodrigues, Alexia Anjos-Santos et al. 21 citations

RationaleAccumulating evidence suggests that ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic beverage used in traditional Amazonian communities for ritualistic and curative purposes, has been associated with reduced rates of substance use disorders. However, the brain mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of ayahuasca have not yet been fully elucidated.ObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to...

Perceived outcomes of psychedelic microdosing as self-managed therapies for mental and substance use disorders.

Psychopharmacology May 1, 2020 Toby Lea, Nicole Amada, Henrik Jungaberle et al.

The regular consumption of very small doses of psychedelic drugs (known as microdosing) has been a source of growing media and community attention in recent years. However, there is currently limited clinical and social research evidence on the potential role of microdosing as therapies for mental and substance use disorders. This paper examined subjective experiences of microdosing...

Kappa opioid agonists reduce oxycodone self-administration in male rhesus monkeys.

Psychopharmacology May 1, 2020 C Austin Zamarripa, Jennifer E Naylor, Sally L Huskinson et al.

Combinations of mu and kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonists have been proposed as potential analgesic formulations with reduced abuse liability. The current studies extend previous work by investigating the typical KOR agonist, salvinorin A, and the atypical KOR agonist, nalfurafine, as deterrents of oxycodone self-administration using a progressive ratio (PR) schedule of reinforcement. In...

Tripping on nothing: placebo psychedelics and contextual factors

Psychopharmacology March 7, 2020 Jay A. Olson, Léah Suissa-Rocheleau, Michael Lifshitz et al. 148 citations

RationaleIs it possible to have a psychedelic experience from a placebo alone? Most psychedelic studies find few effects in the placebo control group, yet these effects may have been obscured by the study design, setting, or analysis decisions.ObjectiveWe examined individual variation in placebo effects in a naturalistic environment resembling a typical psychedelic party.MethodsThirty-three...

4-MeO-PCP and 3-MeO-PCMo, new dissociative drugs, produce rewarding and reinforcing effects through activation of mesolimbic dopamine pathway and alteration of accumbal CREB, deltaFosB, and BDNF levels.

Psychopharmacology March 1, 2020 Arvie Abiero, Chrislean Jun Botanas, Raly James Custodio et al.

A high number of synthetic dissociative drugs continue to be available through online stores, leading to their misuse. Recent inclusions in this category are 4-MeO-PCP and 3-MeO-PCMo, analogs of phencyclidine. Although the dissociative effects of these drugs and their recreational use have been reported, no studies have investigated their abuse potential. To examine their rewarding and...

Therapeutic potential of ayahuasca in grief: a prospective, observational study

Psychopharmacology January 14, 2020 Débora González, Jordi Cantillo, Irene Hidalgo Pérez et al. 73 citations

Abstract Rationale Recent studies have assessed the therapeutic potential of ayahuasca for the treatment of depression with promising preliminary results . Objectives Here, we examine the course of grief over 1 year of follow-up in a bereaved sample that attended a center in Peru to participate in indigenous Shipibo ayahuasca ceremonies. We also explore the roles of experiential avoidance and...

Ayahuasca’s ‘afterglow’: improved mindfulness and cognitive flexibility in ayahuasca drinkers

Psychopharmacology January 11, 2020 Ashleigh Murphy-Beiner, Kirstie Soar 142 citations

The present study supports ayahuasca's ability to enhance mindfulness and further reports changes in cognitive flexibility in the 'afterglow' period occur, suggesting both could be possible psychological mechanisms concerning the psychotherapeutic effects of ayahuasca. Given psychological gains occurred regardless of prior ayahuasca use suggests potentially therapeutic effects for both naïve...

Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of low dose lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in healthy older volunteers

Psychopharmacology December 18, 2019 Neiloufar Family, Émeline L. Maillet, Luke T. J. Williams et al. 142 citations

Abstract Abstract Research has shown that psychedelics, such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), have profound anti-inflammatory properties mediated by 5-HT 2A receptor signaling, supporting their evaluation as a therapeutic for neuroinflammation associated with neurodegenerative disease. Objective This study evaluated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of orally...

Prospective examination of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine inhalation: effects on salivary IL-6, cortisol levels, affect, and non-judgment

Psychopharmacology December 10, 2019 Malin V. Uthaug, Rafael Lancelotta, Attila Szabo et al. 116 citations

Abstract Rationale 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine is a psychotropic substance found in various plant and animal species and is synthetically produced. 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine is used in naturalistic settings for spiritual exploration, recreation, or to address negative affect and mood problems. However, scientific knowledge on the effects of 5- methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine in...

Embedding existential psychology within psychedelic science: reduced death anxiety as a mediator of the therapeutic effects of psychedelics

Psychopharmacology November 29, 2019 Sam G. Moreton, Luke Szalla, Rachel E. Menzies et al. 77 citations

Psychedelic therapies can engender enduring improvements in psychological well-being. However, relatively little is known about the psychological mechanisms through which the salutary effects of psychedelics emerge. Through integrating extant research on psychedelics with contemporary existential psychology, we present a novel hypothesis that reduced death anxiety may be a key mechanism...

Locomotor effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and its deuterated form in mice: psychostimulant effects, stereotypy, and sensitization

Psychopharmacology November 15, 2019 Michael D. Berquist, Sebastian Leth-Petersen, J. Kristensen et al.

There is a renewed interest in the use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) for treating psychiatric conditions. Although MDMA has entered phase II clinical trials and shows promise as an adjunct treatment, there is an extensive literature detailing the potential neurotoxicity and adverse neurobehavioral effects associated with MDMA use. Previous research indicates that the adverse...

Replication and extension of a model predicting response to psilocybin.

Psychopharmacology November 1, 2019 Suzanne L. Russ, R L Carhart-Harris, Geoffrey Maruyama et al. 75 citations

Recent research demonstrated the potential of psychedelic drugs as treatment for depression and death-related anxiety and as an enhancement for well-being. While generally positive, responses to psychedelic drugs can vary according to traits, setting, and mental state (set) before and during ingestion. Most earlier models explain minimal response variation, primarily related to dosage and...

MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of PTSD: study design and rationale for phase 3 trials based on pooled analysis of six phase 2 randomized controlled trials.

Psychopharmacology September 1, 2019 Michael C Mithoefer, Allison A. Feduccia, Lisa Jerome et al. 364 citations Retracted

Posttraumatic stress disorder is a prevalent mental health condition with substantial impact on daily functioning that lacks sufficient treatment options. Here we evaluate six phase 2 trials in a pooled analysis to determine the study design for phase 3 trials of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. Six randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trials at five study sites were conducted...

Effects of haloperidol on the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol response in humans: a responder analysis.

Psychopharmacology September 1, 2019 Swapnil Gupta, Joao P De Aquino, Deepak C D'Souza et al.

Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-9-THC) produces psychotomimetic effects in humans. However, the role of dopamine signaling in producing such effects is unclear. We hypothesized that dopaminergic antagonism would reduce the psychotomimetic effect of Δ-9-THC. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether pre-treatment with haloperidol would alter the psychotomimetic and perceptual-altering...

Effects of the synthetic psychedelic 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI) on ethanol consumption and place conditioning in male mice

Psychopharmacology July 15, 2019 Aboagyewaah Oppong‐Damoah, Kristen Curry, B. Blough et al.

Approximately 20 million adults in the USA have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). There are clinical and preclinical data suggesting that psychedelics may have benefits for AUD. To investigate the effects of the synthetic psychedelic 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI) on the behavioral effects of ethanol. The effects of DOI were examined using ethanol-induced place conditioning (1.8 g/kg...

Effects of the synthetic cannabinoid 5F-AMB on anxiety and recognition memory in mice.

Psychopharmacology July 1, 2019 Shiho Ito, Satoshi Deyama, Masaki Domoto et al.

N-[[1-(5-fluoropentyl)-1H-indazol-3-yl]carbonyl]-L-valine methyl ester (5F-AMB) is a synthetic cannabinoid that has been distributed recently. Although inhalation of 5F-AMB produces adverse effects, such as impaired memory and disturbed consciousness, in humans, the psychopharmacological effects of 5F-AMB in rodents have not been investigated. We first examined the effects of intraperitoneal...

False memory formation in cannabis users: a field study

Psychopharmacology June 27, 2019 Lilian Kloft, Henry Otgaar, Arjan Blokland et al. 19 citations

RATIONALE: Cannabis use is widespread and has previously been associated with memory impairments. However, the role of cannabis in relation to false memory production, i.e., memories of events that were not experienced, is less well-understood. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current field study was to examine the impact of cannabis use on false memory production. METHODS: The...

Cannabidiol (CBD) content in vaporized cannabis does not prevent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-induced impairment of driving and cognition

Psychopharmacology May 1, 2019 Thomas R. Arkell, Nicholas Lintzeris, Richard C. Kevin et al. 177 citations

BACKGROUND: The main psychoactive component of cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can impair driving performance. Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating cannabis component, is thought to mitigate certain adverse effects of THC. It is possible then that cannabis containing equivalent CBD and THC will differentially affect driving and cognition relative to THC-dominant cannabis. AIMS:...

Selective adrenergic alpha2C receptor antagonist ameliorates acute phencyclidine-induced schizophrenia-like social interaction deficits in rats

Psychopharmacology April 1, 2019 Katja Savolainen, Jouni Ihalainen, Aaro J. Jalkanen et al. 13 citations

Rationale Social withdrawal is a core feature of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Currently available pharmacotherapies have only limited efficacy towards the negative symptoms, i.e., there is a significant unmet medical need in the treatment of these symptoms. Objective We wanted to confirm whether selective adrenergic α_2C receptor (AR) antagonist therapy could ameliorate acute...

The novel methoxetamine analogs N-ethylnorketamine hydrochloride (NENK), 2-MeO-N-ethylketamine hydrochloride (2-MeO-NEK), and 4-MeO-N-ethylketamine hydrochloride (4-MeO-NEK) elicit rapid antidepressant effects via activation of AMPA and 5-HT2 receptors

Psychopharmacology March 19, 2019 L. Sayson, Chrislean Jun Botanas, Raly James Perez Custodio et al.

RationaleDepressive syndrome or depression is a debilitating brain disorder affecting numerous people worldwide. Although readily available, current antidepressants have low remission rates and late onset times. Recently, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, like ketamine and methoxetamine (MXE), were found to elicit rapid antidepressant effects. As the search for...

2-Aminoindan and its Ring-Substituted Derivatives Interact with Plasma Membrane Monoamine Transporters and α2-Adrenergic Receptors

Psychopharmacology March 1, 2019 Adam L. Halberstadt, Simon D. Brandt, Donna Walther et al.

Over the last decade, many new psychostimulant analogues have appeared on the recreational drug market and most are derivatives of amphetamine or cathinone. Another class of designer drugs is derived from the 2-aminoindan structural template. Several members of this class, including the parent compound 2-aminoindan (2-AI), have been sold as designer drugs. Another aminoindan derivative,...

Pharmacological characterization of the LSD analog N-ethyl-N-cyclopropyl lysergamide (ECPLA)

Psychopharmacology February 14, 2019 Adam L. Halberstadt, Landon M. Klein, Muhammad Chatha et al. 25 citations

Rationale The lysergamide lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a prototypical classical hallucinogen with remarkably high potency. LSD remains a popular recreational drug but is also becoming an important research tool for medical and neuroscience studies. Recently, several lysergamides that are close structural analogs of LSD have been sold as recreational drugs, which suggests that further...