Psilocybin and psilocin do not cause addiction or dependence, as they do not interact with the dopaminergic reward system. New pharmacological treatment strategies for substance abuse disorders have targeted craving, which is characterized, in a simplified way, by an intense desire to use the substance. Psilocybin is an indole alkaloid of the hallucinogenic ...
Abstract Ketamine and psilocybin show potential as therapies for various mental illnesses, including major depressive disorder. However, further investigation into their neural mechanisms is required to understand their effects on the brain. By combining computational modelling with electroencephalography (EEG), we examine the effects of ketamine and psilocy...
Abstract Chronic pain states are challenging to control with current drug therapies. Here, we demonstrate that a single dose of psilocybin can produce a sustained anti-nociceptive effect in a mouse model of chronic neuropathic pain. Beyond this, the single dose of psilocybin caused a dramatic increase in the anti-nociceptive potential of gabapentin, a widely...
Abstract Background A diagnosis of cancer is often associated with significant psychological distress. Current approaches to cancer-related distress predominantly fall short of meeting the needs of patients. Recent investigations have shown that administering psilocybin in combination with psychotherapy might be effective at reducing distress in cancer patie...
BackgroundPsychedelic-assisted therapy refers to a group of therapeutic practices involving psychedelics taken under therapeutic supervision from physicians, psychologists, and others. It has been hypothesised that psychedelic-assisted therapy may reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and existential distress in patients facing life-threatening diseases (e...
Abstract Background and Aims This naturalistic mixed methods field study, aimed to assess the potential of a psilocybin induced experience, to help Emergency Medical Service Workers (EMSW) to address psychological and stress related symptoms stemming from a challenging working environment, known to contribute to occupational burnout (OB). Methods This explor...
Introduction: Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease that causes significant amounts of neuron death in the brain. It is a genetic disorder, resulting from the over-repetition of the CAG sequence in the gene that codes for the huntingtin protein. Currently, there are no viable cures or treatments to slow or stop the progression...
With the discovery of the antidepressive effects of ketamine and the increasing withdrawal of the pharmaceutical industry from the development of new psychotropic drugs, the psychiatric research into the clinical application of hallucinogens in psychiatry has literally blossomed in the last two decades. Promising results for various treatment approaches with...
Abstract Background Psilocybin, a serotonin 2A receptor agonist with psychedelic properties, shows promise as a novel treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). While current studies involve two dosing sessions, the effects a single dose have not been investigated. Aims To investigate the pharmacokinetics, feasibility, safety, and efficacy of single-dose psil...
Recent advancements in medical research have focused on the utilization of entheogens, particularly psilocybin and its related compounds, as therapeutic agents in mitigating cognitive decline and enhancing psychological resilience in patients undergoing anesthesia and sedation. This Patent Highlight integrates findings from three patent applications, each co...
Abstract Objective Recent years have witnessed a resurgence in research exploring the therapeutic potential of classic psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD for treating mental disorders. However, there is a limited knowledge regarding the epidemiology of classic psychedelics consumption and the factors associated with their recreational use in Poland. Method...
BackgroundPsychedelic drugs have been of interest in medicine since the early 1950s. There has recently been a resurgence of interest in psychedelics.AimsThe objective of this study is to determine the extent of the available literature on psilocybin for medical indications including the designs used, study characteristics, indications studied, doses, and au...
The goal of this multi-centre phase I/II open-label, single-arm study is to determine the safety, feasibility, therapeutic dose, and preliminary efficacy of psilocybin microdosing to treat psychological distress among patients with advanced illness. Forty patients will receive psilocybin drug product (1-3mg per day, Mon-Fri) for 4 weeks to be administered vi...
Abstract Psychedelics have a complex history marked by traditional use among indigenous cultures, early scientific interest, and subsequent prohibition. Despite their classification as controlled substances, recent decades have witnessed a resurgence of research into their therapeutic potential for various mental health conditions. However, most studies have...
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental health condition that can occur after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. The impact of PTSD extends beyond the individual, affecting families, communities, and society as a whole. This study aims to investigate the potential of psilocybin as a treatment for PTSD. Psilocybin, after bein...
Background: There has been a resurgence of research into the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics for neuropsychiatric disorders. Classic psychedelics, such as psilocybin, exert complex effects on higher cognitive functions such as perception and awareness, but their impact on motor function remains unexplored. Moreover, there is a theoretical rati...
Abstract Recent clinical trials have found that the serotonergic psychedelic psilocybin effectively alleviates anxiodepressive symptoms in patients with life-threatening illnesses when given in a supportive environment. These outcomes prompted Canada to establish legal pathways for therapeutic access to psilocybin, coupled with psychological support. Despite...
Abstract Psychoactive substances used for recreational purposes have mind-altering effects, but systematic evaluation of these effects is largely limited to self-reports. Automated analysis of expressed language (speech and written text) using Natural Language Processing (NLP) tools can provide objective readouts of mental states. In this pre-registered syst...