Individual variability in psilocybin response is a major challenge for psychedelic-assisted therapy, with structural brain features potentially serving as predictive biomarkers. (Lewis et al. Biomedicines 8(2):34 2020) reported that rostral anterior cingulate cortex thickness predicted emotional experiences under psilocybin, suggesting cortical morphometry as a marker of psychedelic...
Abstract Substance use disorders (SUDs) are increasingly common in the United States, and while this may be a dilemma for those using, it also inflicts problems for those around the user. In couples where drug abuse is present, negative codependent characteristics can arise independently in the non-user, having a damaging effect on the couple dynamic. This is a narrative review to identify how...
Abstract Background and Aims Psychedelic drugs may help treat alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study evaluated BPL‐003, a novel intranasal powder formulation of 5‐methoxy‐N,N‐dimethyltryptamine (5‐MeO‐DMT) benzoate salt, in people with moderate–severe AUD enrolled in a standard of care, 10‐week programme of relapse‐prevention oriented Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Design Open‐label,...
Background: People with a history of psychotic disorders are excluded from contemporary trials of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Although survey studies have explored the impact of naturalistic psychedelic use on people with a history of psychotic disorders, a qualitative study has yet to examine the subjective effects of psychedelic use in this population during both the acute effects and...
The global demographic shift toward aging populations has intensified the need for innovative therapeutic interventions targeting late-life mental health conditions, notably depression, loneliness, and existential distress. Traditional pharmacological treatments often exhibit limited efficacy and poor tolerability in older patients, primarily due to age-related physiological changes and the...
Following decades of prohibition, psychedelic drugs have reemerged as promising therapeutics for stress-related conditions, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Still, their impact on stress-related brain regions and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis remains unclear. This work explores the acute effects of psilocybin on the primary regulators of the HPA axis:...
Psychedelics are gaining recognition for their effectiveness as modulators of neuroplasticity in the treatment of a range of neuropsychiatric disorders. Psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, and ketamine are substances that mainly affect the serotonergic and glutamatergic systems. They induce rapid synaptogenesis, dendritic remodeling, and changes in functional...
Background: Depressive disorders affect approximately 280 million globally, with many finding treatments ineffective or limited by side effects. Growing evidence suggests that psychedelic therapies may help alleviate depressive symptoms. Among these, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) microdosing shows promise for major depressive disorder (MDD). However, research on LSD microdosing in clinical...
Novel interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) leverage the psychoactive properties of psychedelic compounds, such as ketamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and psilocybin, which may overcome limitations of conventional treatments. Through the modulation of pathways involved in synaptic plasticity, psychedelic interventions are believed to enhance the mechanisms underlying...
The integration of psychedelic therapies into European healthcare is a nuanced process that involves not only obtaining European Medicines Agency (EMA) approval but also successfully navigating Health Technology Assessment (HTA) evaluations across member states. After EMA approval, which focuses on the safety, efficacy, and quality of the therapeutic, HTA agencies assess these therapies for...