Resistance to traditional treatment methods is still a major obstacle in modern psychiatry. As a result, several studies are currently being conducted to find effective alternatives to traditional therapies. One of these alternatives is psilocybin, a psychedelic substance that has been tested in clinical trials as an adjunct to psychotherapy. These studies focus on patients with major...
Despite growing interest in psychedelics, there is a lack of routine population-based surveillance of psychedelic microdosing (taking "subperceptual" doses of psychedelics, approximately one-twentieth to one-fifth of a full dose, over prolonged periods). Analyzing Google search queries can provide insights into public interest and help address this gap. To analyze trends in public interest in...
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a semi-synthetic hallucinogen that induces intense hallucinogenic effects. There are various ways that hallucinations can occur, but classic psychedelics like LSD differ significantly in their effects from those caused by other means. The primary focus of current research is on activating 5-HT2A receptors within the serotonin system, which is essential for...
PsychiatriaJune 5, 2024Anna Stankiewicz, Jan Szewczyk, Julia Truszkowska et al.1 citation
Drug therapies for many psychiatric conditions do not meet patients’ expectations. New agents are being sought to treat depression and anxiety disorders, among others. Scientific interest in psychoactive substances has increased over the past few decades. Recent studies provide evidence that psychedelics may find use in the treatment of a range of mental disorders. This paper describes new...
ABSTRACT Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies (PAPs) have shown promise in treating mental health disorders, but concerns persist regarding their potential to elicit “false beliefs” through altered states of consciousness. Some argue that metaphysical or mystical beliefs conflicting with philosophical naturalism could signify “epistemic harm” in patients. We contend that such accusations may...
Background: Systemic diversification of psychedelic research is needed, in light of interest in psychedelics for healing among Black, Indigenous, and Peoples of Color (BIPOC) and queer communities. Doing so also contributes to an inclusive evidence base, ethically meeting the anticipated demand for psychedelic treatments post-approval. Aims: Here, a primer for culturally attuned psychedelic...
This essay discusses the potential clinical use of 3,4methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) with patients diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). We present a brief history of the use of consciousness-altering substances from ancient times to the present as well as recent research on psychedelic assisted psychotherapy (PAP). Double blind investigation in which some of the...
To investigate the association between pre-trial expectancy, suggestibility, and response to treatment in a trial of escitalopram and investigational drug, COMP360, psilocybin, in the treatment of major depressive disorder (ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT03429075). We used data (n = 55) from our recent double-blind, parallel-group, randomized head-to-head comparison trial of escitalopram...
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) is currently being studied as a possible treatment option for multiple disorders. Despite promising safety and efficacy findings, the high costs of the current PAP model makes it questionable if the treatment will be scalable. Non-hallucinogenic psychedelic analogs have been developed as a potential cost-effective alternative, but it is unclear what...
The fields of palliative and holistic Nursing are dedicated to providing comprehensive care for the person, emphasizing special attention to the existential and spiritual aspects of care. Psychedelic-assisted therapy has emerged as a promising approach for symptom management in individuals with serious illnesses, particularly those of existential and spiritual origin. People who undergo...