Psychedelic compounds are emerging treatments for depression, capable of producing rapid and lasting symptom reduction after 1-2 administrations in the context of psychotherapy - a stark contrast to traditional antidepressants. Despite promising outcomes, the mechanisms underlying psychedelics' reported antidepressant effects remain poorly understood and are often framed in fragmented ways....
Mental health disorders and associated economic impact continue to rise domestically and globally. In 2023, to expand treatment options for individuals suffering Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD), the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of Australia has permitted psychiatrist lead psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. Psilocybin, a psychedelic tryptamine found naturally in psychedelic...
Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, has demonstrated rapid antidepressant effects at sub-anesthetic doses, making it a promising candidate for treatment-resistant mood disorders, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidality, and recently, eating disorders (EDs). However, its effects are transient, and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) has emerged as a method to...
Despite increasing interest in psychedelic-assisted therapies (PAT), there remains a critical gap in extending these treatments to marginalized and vulnerable populations, including Latinx immigrants. This underrepresentation in both research and clinical practice exacerbates disparities in mental health care access for racial and ethnic minorities, who already face systemic barriers. The...
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and associated trauma and stressor-related disorders are common and debilitating, presenting significant treatment challenges due to their complex interplay of biological, cognitive, affective, somatic and social factors. Current treatments, while advancing and effective, yield limited efficacy for many individuals, underscoring the need for novel...
Healthcare professionals experience great stress and are more susceptible to burnout due to high workloads and complex working procedures. This increases their risk of depression and anxiety, leading to reduced productivity, extra expenses from absenteeism, and diminished quality of care delivery. Loving-kindness and Compassion Meditation (LKCM) has been shown effective at alleviating stress...
This thesis critiques the war on drugs for disproportionately targeting minority communities and prioritizing systemic exploitation over public health. It examines the flawed, politically influenced DEA drug scheduling process, which neglects evidence of the medical benefits of substances like cannabis, psilocybin, LSD, DMT, and MDMA. This thesis gives a brief history of the evolution of US...
Introduction Psychedelics, such as psilocybin, are increasingly recognized for their propensity to elicit powerful subjective experiences that carry personal meaning. While research has demonstrated the capacity for these compounds to promote psychological wellbeing, it has yet to be shown to what extent they modulate "meaning in life", a specific contributor to mental and physical health....
Millions worldwide suffer from chronic pain, a complex condition often accompanied by depression and anxiety, highlighting the urgent need for innovative treatments. Classic psychedelics, including psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), primarily act on serotonin 5-HT2A receptors and have emerged as potential modulators of pain perception and mood...
June 5, 2025Rima Shah, Apurva Agrawal, Darshil B. Shah et al.
Designer drugs are synthetic analogs of controlled substances engineered to replicate pharmacological effects while circumventing legal restrictions.Their emergence can be traced to the 1960s, with the synthesis of novel psychoactive compounds by chemists like Alexander Shulgin, followed by the proliferation of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in the 1980s and synthetic cannabinoids and...