Serotonergic psychedelics have shown promise in clinical trials for treating an array of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite these findings, our understanding of how these drugs mechanistically exert their therapeutic effects remains incomplete. While researchers have regularly employed rodent preclinical models to assess such...
Background: Prana Vidya, an ancient yogic science rooted in Vedic, Tantric, and Ayurvedic traditions, emphasizes the cultivation, regulation, and application of Prana—the vital life force considered essential for sustaining physiological, psychological, and spiritual health. It represents a subtle energy-based discipline that harmonizes mind–body interactions through breath control, awareness,...
Abstract Objectives Emotional distress, encompassing stress, anxiety, and depression, is highly prevalent and associated with substantial personal and societal burden. While Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is an established intervention, its accessibility is often limited by program length, delivery format, and resource demands. Brief, minimally guided, internet-delivered MBCT...
AbstractBackgroundResearch has shown that psychedelics may have therapeutic potential in treating mental disorders like depression and anxiety. However, the mechanisms and actions underlying their effects are still not fully understood. Similarly, while the significance of mindset and setting in shaping psychedelic experiences and therapeutic outcomes is well established, information about the...
Abstract Mindfulness-based programmes (MBPs) have proven effective in enhancing mental health outcomes among non-clinical populations, yet they face significant attrition rates. The role of virtual reality (VR) in improving engagement and effectiveness within this context remains uncertain. To explore the potential acceptability and effectiveness of VR-based mindfulness interventions for mental...
3,4-methelenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) can be effective in treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in controlled trials, potentially secondary to MDMA’s effects on neural circuits implicated in fear and reward. Although anxiety, stress, and fear-based disorders involve maladaptation of the neural circuits processing fear, threat, and reward, no studies have tested MDMA’s therapeutic...
Psychedelic drugs, known for their profound effects on perception, cognition, and emotion, have long captivated scientific, cultural, and therapeutic interest. Following the discovery of LSD’s psychoactive properties in 1943, research surged into its therapeutic potential and the nature of consciousness. However, the integration of psychedelics into the 1960s counterculture led to moral panic,...
Abstract Background Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability and economic loss, with high recurrence and treatment resistance. Psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) shows promise in reducing depressive symptoms, but long-term effects are unknown. We aimed to determine the long-term safety and efficacy of PAT for MDD over a five-year follow-up period. Methods Individuals who...
Abstract This article concerns a Hasidic homily describing a technique for lucid dream cultivation. The homily outlines a worldview in which fantasy and reality merge, and thoughts, both positive and negative, have real cosmic and personal consequences. To counter the allure of sexual fantasy, the homily recommends a form of Neoplatonic contemplation widely taught within early Hasidic circles....
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) has shown promising results in alleviating psychological and existential suffering among individuals with serious illnesses. In parallel, nursing offers a robust theoretical framework to guide therapeutic communication in this context. This article explores the application of Peplau's Theory of Interpersonal Relations (PTIR) as a foundation for holistic...