Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating autoimmune disease, presenting with heterogenous symptoms that impact daily living. Undertaking stress-reducing activities may reduce symptoms including depression and fatigue, and enhance mastery, the sense of control of one's life. We assessed cross-sectional associations of undertaking stress-reducing activities or meditation on depression, fatigue, and...
Neurological disorders are the leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death worldwide. The increasing social and economic burdens of neurological disorders are driven by global population growth and aging. Depression is a common psychiatric symptom in numerous neurological disorders. It is also a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias, Parkinson's...
Introduction Nitrous oxide (NO), also known as “laughing gas” is a colorless gas used as an anesthetic, a propellant in some foods, an engine performance enhancer and a recreational drug. When inhaled, it is known to provoke a rapid feeling of euphoria or excitement for a short period of time, dissociative phenomena and sometimes laughter. As its fellow anesthetic agent and NMDA-receptor...
Introduction Ayahuasca (AYA) is a psychotropic plant from South America used for religious purposes by indigenous people of the Amazon. Increasing evidence indicates that AYA may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of mental health disorders like depression – a common life-disrupting, highly recurrent disorder – that is among the leading causes of disability worldwide. Objectives The...
Psychedelic-assisted Psychotherapy (PAP) combines the use of psychedelic compounds, such as psilocybin, with psychotherapy. PAP has shown some promise as a novel treatment for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and empirical research suggests that its efficacy turns on the altered states induced by psychedelic compounds. In this paper we draw on the literature of phenomenology to explain the...
Introduction Psychiatric emergencies in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) are characterised by multiple types of symptoms including risk of self-harm and suicidal ideation. S-ketamine intranasally (Spravato) has recently been shown to help alleviate symptoms during depressive emergencies. In this case-series, we detail the clinical effects and usability of S-ketamine applied intranasally in a...
European PsychiatryJune 1, 2022A. Fraga, B. Mesquita, João Facucho-Oliveira et al.
Introduction Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a highly prevalent clinical condition with a leading cause of disability worldwide. The currently available therapeutic agents have important limitations regarding side effects, partial or non-responsiveness. Patients are considered to have treatment-resistant depression (TRD) if there is no effect or minimal effectiveness after receiving adequate...
Introduction There are some patients that remain resistant to treatment for major depressive disorder - who were treated with two or more different medications, and did not demonstrate any improvement in their mental-state. These patients can be treated with a new treatment – Esketamine. The recommended Esketamine treatment protocol includes 8-treatment sessions, each session lasts about two...
There has been a substantial growth in private clinics and registered clinical trials employing serotonergic psychedelics for various psychiatric illnesses, including substance use disorder[1][1],[2][2] and major depressive disorder.[3][3]–[6][4] Classical psychedelics include lysergic acid
12097 Background: More than 17 million people in the U.S. live with cancer and up to 25% of them have major depression. Depression leads to lower treatment adherence, reduced quality of life, and higher rates of mortality in cancer. Yet, interventions used to treat depression in patients with cancer have limited success. Prior trials using psilocybin to treat anxiety and depression associated...
Clinical studies suggest that psychedelics exert robust therapeutic benefits in a number of psychiatric conditions including substance use disorder. Preclinical studies focused on safety and efficacy of these compounds are necessary to determine the full range of psychedelics' effects. The present study explores the behavioral pharmacology of structurally distinct psychedelics in paradigms...
Objectives: This study investigated the effectiveness of a group-based 8-week intervention, Mindfulness-integrated Cognitive Behavior Therapy (MiCBT), to decrease psychological distress and increase wellbeing in a heterogeneous population in primary health care. MiCBT focuses on the importance of interoception and its interaction with cognition in emotional experience. These interactions are...
Objective: Altered glutamatergic neurotransmission has been implicated in the pathogenesis of depression. This trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of AXS-05 (dextromethorphan-bupropion), an oral N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist and σ1 receptor agonist, in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: This double-blind, phase 3 trial, was conducted between June...
Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major public health concern and has, at its core, a sense of maternal ‘disconnection’ – from the self, the infant, and the support system. While PPD bears similarities with MDD, there is increasing evidence for its distinct nature, especially with the unique aspect of the mother-infant relationship. Current treatment modalities for PPD, largely based...
CureusMay 27, 2022Robert Sotille, Herpreet Singh, Anne Weisman et al.2 citations
Current medications have not been effective in reducing the prevalence of mental illness worldwide. The prevalence of illnesses such as treatment-resistant depression has increased despite the widespread use of a broad set of psychopharmaceuticals. Transcranial magnetic stimulation and ketamine therapy are making great strides in improving treatment-resistant depression outcomes but they have...
This thesis aims to consider some of the differences between mindfulness as a Buddhist practice and mindfulness-based programs. The primary difference considered is the individualistic perspectives taken by mindfulness-based programs. If modern mindfulness-based techniques are meant as a treatment for depression, and depression is in part caused by isolation then these programs must also...
Bipolar disorder (type 1) is a serious and chronic psychiatric illness that can be difficult to treat. Many bipolar patients have refractory depressive episodes. Racemic ketamine, a glutamate modulator with prominent dissociate and psychedelic properties, has been demonstrated to have rapid acting antidepressant and anti-obsessional effects which may be useful for treating the symptoms of...
A small study involving 24 participants found that psilocybin therapy was safe and effective up to one year following administration. More research using larger sample sizes is needed to further clarify efficacy and safety. A study on the safety and efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy in a therapeutic setting in 24 participants with major depressive disorder found that the hallucinogen...
OBJECTIVE Altered glutamatergic neurotransmission is implicated in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder. AXS-05 (dextromethorphan-bupropion) is an oral NMDA receptor antagonist and sigma-1 receptor agonist, which utilizes inhibition of CYP2D6 to increase its bioavailability. This phase 2 trial assessed the efficacy and safety of dextromethorphan-bupropion in the treatment of major...
Background: The use of psychedelic compounds to treat psychiatric disorders has become a very significant topic of research over the past several years. Psilocybin has risen to prominence as one of the most studied among these psychedelic compounds. Multiple trials have already shown that it can be a safe and efficacious treatment for various medical conditions. This study intends to perform a...