DiscourseJuly 20, 2020Alexei Vsevolodovich Nesteruk, Alexander V. Soldatov
Introduction. The paper deals with the philosophical problems of functioning of the most complex phenomena in the universe: creation of the universe, emergence of life and appearance of consciousness. The scientific timeliness of the research is determined by that unceasing interest to the origin of the universe and life in it. The most difficult problem is the origin of intelligence in the...
Aims Functional neurological disorder (FND), formerly known as conversion disorder, causes a high burden of disability and distress, and is amongst the most commonly encountered conditions in neurology clinics and neuropsychiatry services, yet the therapeutic evidence base is limited. Research into psychedelics such as psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is currently being...
The psychedelic drugs have unusually wide-ranging effects that vary greatly depending on the setting and the user’s personality and expectations. The fact remains that psychedelic drugs were used for more than fifteen years by hundreds of psychiatrists who considered them relatively safe therapeutic agents. Psychedelic therapy for alcoholism is based on the assumption that one overwhelming...
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...
Recreational use of nitrous oxide (NO) in the general public has led to increasing reports of NO-induced demyelination (NOID). We describe the varying clinical presentations and pathophysiology, and offer a treatment paradigm. A literature search of MEDLINE and EMBASE resulted in 42 publications with 37 studies meeting the inclusion criteria, for a total of 51 patients. Our case series included...
Cannabis use is considered an established risk factor for psychosis development. Differentiating between cannabis-induced disorders and schizophrenia is useful for prognostic and therapeutic purposes. Three inpatients groups were differentiated: cannabis-induced psychosis (CIP) (n = 69; mean age = 27.4, SD = 6.5; 82.6% males), schizophrenia with cannabis abuse or dependence (SZ + CB) (n = 57;...
Russellian monism is a quite general approach to the problem of consciousness, which comes in a variety of forms depending on what is said about the categorical properties of basic physical entities. We can usefully distinguish between panpsychist and panprotopsychist forms. Panpsychist Russellian monists hold that the categorical properties of basic physical entities are experiential...
ABSTRACT Previous meta-analytic results showed beneficial effects of meditation interventions for cortisol levels. In the present meta-analysis we tested whether effects are larger for those who might be in need of such stress reduction programs due to a risk for elevated cortisol levels as compared to no-risk samples. We included RCTs that measured change in cortisol levels. Based on 10...
Background About 15 years ago, a diverse group of new recreational psychotropic substances began to emerge, which were marketed for example as “legal highs,” “research chemicals,” or “designer drugs.” These substances were later subsumed under the label “Novel Psychoactive Substances” (NPS). Important NPS classes are cathinones, synthetic cannabimimetics, phenethylamines, and herbal drugs. The...
Abstract Rationale: Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a highly potent psychedelic drug derived from ergot alkaloids. The available literature data derived from controlled studies or usage in a medical setting seem reassuring; however the literature contains very rare cases of fatal self-inflicted injuries associated with LSD exposure. The behavioral disorder that created the conditions...