Ketamine, originally developed as an anesthetic, is gaining increasing attention due to its multifaceted pharmacological properties. In addition to its use in anesthesia, ketamine exerts potent analgesic effects via N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonism, modulating pain perception and reducing central sensitization, particularly in chronic and neuropathic pain conditions. Emerging...
CureusJune 24, 2025Alfred Mathew, Roshan Dongre, Seo Hee Kim et al.
The coronavirus variant (causing the COVID-19 disease) that led to a pandemic sent global shockwaves, resulting in long-term effects on physical, mental, and social well-being and impacting both individuals and communities. With the pandemic's notable impact on mental health, one such potential treatment discussed in recent literature is psilocybin. Psilocybin is a naturally occurring prodrug...
Supportive Care in CancerJune 24, 2025Ana Ferrigno Guajardo, Misael Salazar-Alejo, Fernanda Mesa-Chavez et al.3 citations
This study evaluated the efficacy of an online mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention in reducing anxiety among breast cancer (BC) survivors, leveraging the potential advantages of digital delivery to enhance psychosocial care for this population. In this randomized controlled trial, 68 BC survivors with elevated anxiety levels were assigned to either an 8-week online MBSR...
Patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) have more dysfunctional attitudes than healthy individuals and these pessimistic biases are correlated with depression severity. Psilocybin has demonstrated sustained remission in depression. Secondary analysis of a two-arm randomized controlled trial assessing the effect of psilocybin therapy versus escitalopram on 'maladaptive' cognitive biases...
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and intravenous (IV) ketamine are treatments used for severe depression and/or treatment-resistant depression (TRD). ECT is considered one of the most effective treatments for severe depression, although there is debate within the field regarding the effectiveness between ECT and IV ketamine in comparable TRD patient groups. This retrospective chart review of...
This study investigated subjective psychedelic experiences in the global LGBTQIA+ population. Using validated measures of acute psychedelic effects, psychological flexibility, gender and sexual identity attitudes, adverse experiences, and mental health, we examined self-reported changes in identity and mental health outcomes following psychedelic use. A total of 346 individuals completed the...
The serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) modulates various neurotransmitter systems and is implicated in psychiatric disorders, including depression and schizophrenia. Despite progress, the detailed mechanisms of signaling at the 5-HT2AR and its therapeutic implications remain unclear, warranting further exploration. Overcoming the limitations of conventional pharmacology, photopharmacology...
Schizophrenia BulletinJune 17, 2025Daphne J Holt, Rachel Sussman, Daniel Johnson et al.1 citation
Stress sensitivity may represent an important target for resilience-promoting, preventive interventions. Resilience Training (RT) is a 4-session, group-based behavioral intervention, focusing on mindfulness-based skills, that leads to reductions in psychopathology. To investigate the mechanisms of RT, the current study tested whether acquiring the skills taught in RT leads to decreases in...
Background: Ketamine use for chronic pain and depression has increased worldwide, but sex differences in its efficacy and safety have been little studied; this study examines existing evidence to address this gap. Methods: A prospective, multicenter, one-year observational study in 585 chronic pain patients was performed; 256 patients had one administration of ketamine and 329 had two or more....
Abstract Background Patients with cancer often struggle with depression, which can negatively impact quality of life as well as be challenging to manage. Methods A phase 2 trial was conducted that demonstrated safety, feasibility, and efficacy of a single dose of psilocybin combined with psychological support in a community cancer setting in 30 patients with cancer and a major depressive...