In this paper, we take up the question of what happens from a psychoanalytic perspective when a patient engages in psychedelic-assisted therapy. While some writers have suggested that psychedelic agents promote regression to an earlier point in development, we argue that such states may be better understood as expanding the mind beyond ordinary consciousness. We assert that traditional models...
After many years of stigma and neglect, there is a resurgence of interest in the therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs. Anecdotal and evidence-based reports indicate psychedelics as a possible treatment for depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse, and other disorders resistant to conventional medical interventions. The available data, however, are limited and the use of psychedelic substances...
El Trastorno de Estrés Postraumático (TEPT) constituye un desafío clínico significativo debido a las altas tasas de resistencia a la farmacoterapia convencional y el abandono de las terapias tradicionales. Ante este escenario, el actual "renacimiento psicodélico" propone el uso controlado de sustancias psicoactivas como herramientas para potenciar el procesamiento del trauma. El objetivo de...
Psychedelics, including psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, and dimethyltryptamine, and entactogens such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine are being investigated for treatment-resistant depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and substance use disorders. These compounds act primarily through serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonism (psychedelics) or monoamine release (MDMA),...
Caderno PedagógicoOctober 31, 2025André Leão Dantas, Lara Moreira Jalles Milani, Saulo Gabriel Moreira Falci et al.
Chronic pain affects millions of people and remains one of the greatest clinical challenges due to limited response to conventional therapies. Psilocybin, a psychedelic found in mushrooms of the Psilocybe genus, has sparked interest due to its potential to modulate serotonergic receptors and promote neuroplasticity, suggesting analgesic and psychotherapeutic effects. The objective of this...
BACKGROUND: Individuals with advanced cancer often experience high levels of distress for which there are few standardized treatment approaches. Our multidisciplinary team has combined existing evidence-based approaches into Psilocybin-assisted Existential, Attachment, and RelationaL (PEARL) therapy. PEARL therapy combines elements from psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, including preparatory...
Background: Psychedelic-assisted therapies show promise for MDD, PTSD, and addiction, yet mechanisms are often framed as 5-HT2A-centric, despite evidence of GABAergic pathology in these conditions.Hypothesis (Author Perspective): As a chemist examining psychedelic pharmacology, I propose that inhibitory-circuit modulation acts as a necessary systems-level gate converting transient 5-HT2A...
Abstract This paper distinguishes the drug-centered view of psychedelics (DCP) and the drug-assisted view of psychedelics (DAP). While these approaches differ conceptually, both rely on the methodology of evidence-based medicine, using randomized controlled trials to validate therapeutic efficacy. Using MDMA-assisted psychotherapy as a case study of DAP, we reconstruct the causal reasoning...
Stroboscopic flashing light with white noise can induce a mild altered state of consciousness (ASC), with some effects similar to sensory deprivation and moderate doses of psychedelic substances. However, effective clinical utilisation of this white noise flicker light (WNFL) requires understanding the underlying mechanisms. Here, neural correlates and predictors of WNFL experience are explored...
Psilocybin, a psychedelic prodrug, has gained renewed interest for its potential to treat various psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. While promising, concerns remain regarding its safety profile and the management of potential adverse events (AEs). This systematic review aimed to evaluate the incidence, nature, and severity of adverse events and...