The concept of self and self-referential processing has a growing explanatory value in psychiatry and neuroscience, referring to the cognitive organization and perceptual differentiation of self-stimuli in health and disease. Conditions in which selfhood loses its natural coherence offer a unique opportunity for elucidating the mechanisms underlying self-dis...
## Aim Investigate accounts from breath-holding freedivers about high efficiency in coping with adversity and pain, immediately quitting addictions, attaining harmonious meaningful life, becoming perspicacious and compassionate, getting spontaneous religious experience. ## Findings Full Mystical Experience is confirmed to happen in freediving, i.e. it is the...
Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Journal DigestFull AccessJournal Digest: Home Environment; Postpartum Mental Illness; Placebo in Psychedelic Study; Single Gene Mutation; TopiramateNick ZagorskiNick ZagorskiSearch for more papers by this authorPublished Online:28 May 2020https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2020.6a34Nurturing Home Environme...
Despite the fact that psychedelics were proscribed from medical research half a century ago, recent, early-phase trials on psychedelics have suggested that they bring novel benefits to patients in the treatment of several mental and substance use disorders. When beneficial, the psychedelic experience is characterized by features unlike those of other psychia...
There is growing interest in the therapeutic utility of psychedelic substances, like psilocybin, for disorders characterized by distortions of the self-experience, like depression. Accumulating preclinical evidence emphasizes the role of the glutamate system in the acute action of the drug on brain and behavior; however this has never been tested in humans. ...
Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Clinical & ResearchFull AccessCan Psychedelics Radically Change SUD Treatment?Katie O'ConnorKatie O'ConnorPublished Online:20 Mar 2020https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2020.2a12AbstractThough the field is young, psychedelics appear to hold promise as a treatment for addiction, even as barriers to research...
‘Why is psychedelic culture dominated by privileged white men?’ asks historian Mike Jay, referring to a recent study of psychedelic users who are more than likely to be college-educated white males.1 This appears logical, given the figureheads (such as Timothy Leary) who attained cult-like status half a century ago. Many today continue to view psychedelics a...
Psilocybin, a substance mainly found in mushrooms of the genus psilocybe, has been historically used for ritualistic, recreational and, more recently, medicinal purposes. The scientific literature suggests low toxicity, low risk of addiction, overdose, or other causes of injury commonly caused by substances of abuse, with growing interest in the use of this ...
BACKGROUND: Observational data and preliminary studies suggest serotonin 2A agonist psychedelics may hold potential in treating a variety of substance use disorders (SUDs), including opioid use disorder (OUD). AIMS: The study aim was to describe and analyze self-reported cases in which naturalistic psychedelic use was followed by cessation or reduction in ot...
Past research suggests that use of psychedelic substances such as LSD or psilocybin may have positive effects on mood and feelings of social connectedness. These psychological effects are thought to be highly sensitive to context, but robust and direct evidence for them in a naturalistic setting is scarce. In a series of field studies involving over 1,200 pa...
BACKGROUND: A recently published randomized controlled trial compared single-dose psilocybin with single-dose niacin in conjunction with psychotherapy in participants with cancer-related psychiatric distress. Results suggested that psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy facilitated improvements in psychiatric and existential distress, quality of life, and spiritu...
Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not psilocybin is an effective treatment to reduce depression and anxiety in cancer patients with a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder, mood disorder, and/or stress disorder. Study design: Systematic review of three cross-over randomized placebo-controlled trials published in peer...
BACKGROUND: Psychedelic microdosing is the trending practice of using tiny repeated doses of psychedelic substances to facilitate a range of supposed benefits. With only a few published studies to date, the subject is still under-researched, and more knowledge is warranted. Social media and internet discussion forums have played a vital role in the growing v...
Meditation and psychedelics have played key roles in humankind's search for self-transcendence and personal change. However, neither their possible synergistic effects, nor related state and trait predictors have been experimentally studied. To elucidate these issues, we administered double-blind the model psychedelic drug psilocybin (315 μg/kg PO) or placeb...
Microdosing classic psychedelics (e.g., LSD [lysergic acid diethylamide] and psilocybin) is the practice of taking small amounts of these substances to bring about various positive life changes. Little is known about the subjective experiences and perceptions of those who engage in the practice. Accordingly, we use the sociology of accounts as a theoretical ...
psilocybin; depression; terminal cancer; CME; CNE: psilocybin; depression; terminal cancer; CME; CNEPsilocybin is a naturally occurring alkaloid found in more than 200 species of mushrooms. This compound, which was first isolated by the Swiss chemist Albert Hofman in 1959, is the active constituent of psychedelic mushrooms which are thought to have been util...
Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Full AccessPsychedelic Medicine: Careful Studies, Regulations Are the AnswerPaul SummergradM.D.Paul SummergradSearch for more papers by this authorM.D.Published Online:30 Apr 2019https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2019.5a25AbstractPaul Summergrad, M.D., is the Dr. Frances S. Arkin Professor and Chair of th...
Introduction Psilocybin has recently demonstrated profound efficacy to alleviate depression and anxiety in several clinical trials and has received Breakthrough Status by the FDA. Symptomatic relief after only one or two therapeutic treatments last for at least several months in the vast majority of individuals. It is unclear whether the persistent antidepre...
Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Clinical and Research NewsFull AccessIs Psychedelic Medicine on the Horizon?Nick ZagorskiNick ZagorskiPublished Online:28 Feb 2019https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2019.1b1AbstractNew research suggests that, if used properly, psychedelic compounds may be able to help patients with treatment-resistant psyc...
