In this modern era, mental health is an important aspect of human life that is often overlooked. The practice of dhikr, as a form of Islamic meditation, has been recognized in the Islamic tradition as a way to get closer to Allah and calm the soul. This study aims to identify the effect of dhikr on brain neuroplasticity and its implications for mental health. Using the thematic tafsir method,...
The increasing prevalence of dementia within an ageing global population, combined with prolonged life expectancy, accentuates Alzheimer's disease (AD) as a multifaceted healthcare challenge. This challenge is further compounded by the limited therapeutic options currently available. Addressing the intricacies of AD management, the mitigation of comorbidities has emerged as a pivotal facet of...
Eating disorders (EDs) significantly impair physical health and psychosocial functioning. Few effective therapeutic approaches exist for EDs, particularly in Anorexia Nervosa (AN). The use of ketamine, already characterized as a noncompetitive NMDA antagonist anesthetic in depression and suicidal ideations, could be an innovative adjuvant treatment for the AN spectrum. We describe a case series...
Psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD have recently emerged as popular psychedelic substances for use in psychopharmacology in managing various disorders including treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and anxiety. These substances mainly affect the serotonergic receptors that involve the regulation of consciousness, perceptions, and cognition. These unique alterations in brain connectome show the...
This systematic review synthesizes current evidence on non-prescribed ketamine use, emphasizing its neurobiological impacts and psychotherapeutic interventions. Patterns of misuse demonstrate the complex interplay of neurobiological, socio-economic, demographic and psychological factors with adolescents, women and polysubstance users identified as high-risk groups. Neurobiological findings...
Research SquareMarch 5, 2025Expedito Do Nascimento Júnior, Luiz Pereira, Wigínio Lira-Bandeira et al.
preprint
Abstract Depression remains a debilitating mental health disorder affecting millions worldwide, with growing prevalence among adolescents. Recent studies highlight the critical role of the somatosensory cortex in the neuropathology of depression, including structural alterations that impair cortical function. This study investigates the prophylactic effects of ayahuasca, a traditional...
In this study, we investigated whether mindfulness- and meditation-based mental training that improves stress regulation can upregulate BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), an important promoter of hippocampal neuroplasticity, and examined cortisol reduction as a mediating pathway. In a randomized clinical trial, 332 healthy adults were randomly assigned to one of the 3 training cohorts or...
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with disruptions in glutamatergic and GABAergic activity in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), leading to altered synaptic formation and function. Low doses of ketamine rapidly rescue these deficits, inducing fast and sustained antidepressant effects. While it is suggested that ketamine produces a rapid glutamatergic enhancement in the mPFC, the...
ABSTRACT The serotonergic psychedelics psilocybin, LSD and DMT hold great promise for the development of new treatments for psychiatric conditions such as major depressive disorder, addiction and end‐of‐life anxiety. Previous studies in both animals and humans have confirmed the effects of these drugs on neuronal activity and plasticity. However, the understanding of the mechanisms of action of...
Medical ScienceFebruary 25, 2025Jakub Pudźwa, Kamil Gibczyński, Karol Leśniewski et al.
Objective: The purpose of the following review was to summarize the recent studies on proposed mechanisms of action of psychedelic drugs (psilocybin, MDMA, LSD), their therapeutic potential in mental disorders (depression, PTSD, addictions), and the evaluation of their safety. This review also discusses the barriers to the clinical implementation of these agents. Methodology: The paper combines...