Psychedelic science in post-COVID-19 psychiatry J. R. Kelly, M. T. Crockett, L. Alexander, M. Haran, A. Baker, L. Burke, C. Brennan and V. O’Keane Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 2020, 1-6. doi:10.1017/ipm.2020.94 The medium- to long-term consequences of COVID-19 are not yet known, though an increase in mental health problems are pre- dicted. Multidisciplinary strategies across socio-economic and psychological levels may be needed to mitigate the mental health burden of COVID-19. Preliminary evidence from the rapidly progressing field of psychedelic science shows that psilocybin therapy offers a promising transdiagnostic treatment strategy for a range of disorders with restricted and maladaptive habitual patterns of cognition [...]
Lire la suiteThe effects of psilocybin on cognitive and emotional functions in healthy participants : Results from a phase 1, randomised, placebo-controlled trial involving simultaneous psilocybin administration and preparation James J Rucker, Lindsey Marwood, Riikka-Liisa J Ajantaival, Catherine Bird, Hans Eriksson, John Harrison, Molly Lennard-Jones, Sunil Mistry, Francesco Saldarini, Susan Stansfield, Sara J Tai, Sam Williams, Neil Weston, Ekaterina Malievskaia and Allan H Young Abstract Background : Psilocybin, a psychoactive serotonin receptor partial agonist, has been reported to acutely reduce clinical symptoms of depressive disorders. Psilocybin’s effects on cognitive function have not been widely or systematically studied. Aim : The aim of this study was to [...]
Lire la suitePowerful substances in tiny amounts: Exploring the practice of microdosing psychedelic drugs Petter Grahl Johnstad, Pré-Print, 2017. This article presents an explorative study of microdosing practices with psychedelic drugs. A microdose is defined as a sub-perceptual dose, commonly about one tenth of an ordinary recreational dose, which gives no alteration of consciousness or feeling of intoxication. Respondents (n = 17) were recruited at several Internet fora for individual interviews mediated via private messaging. Every participant was male, and the median respondent was in his 30s with a stable job and relationship and extensive entheogen experience. Respondents tended to experiment with microdosing in phases, [...]
Lire la suiteTotality of the Evidence Suggests Prenatal Cannabis Exposure Does Not Lead to Cognitive Impairments : A Systematic and Critical Review Ciara A. Torres, Christopher Medina-Kirchner, Kate Y. O'Malley and Carl L. Hardt Frontiers in Psychology, 2020, Vol 11, Art 816, 1-28. Doi : 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00816 Background: Despite limited data demonstrating pronounced negative effects of prenatal cannabis exposure, popular opinion and public policies still reflect the belief that cannabis is fetotoxic. Methods: This article provides a critical review of results from longitudinal studies examining the impact of prenatal cannabis exposure on multiple domains of cognitive functioning in individuals aged 0 to 22 years. A literature search was [...]
Lire la suiteShort-term effects of cannabis consumption on cognitive performance in medical cannabis patients Phillip Olla, Nicholas Rykulski, Jessica L. Hurtubise, Stephen Bartol, Rachel Foote, Laura Cutler, Kaitlyn Abeare, Nora McVinnie, Alana G. Sabelli, Maurissa Hastings, and Laszlo A. Erdodi Applied Neuropsychology : Adult, 2019, 1-11. Doi : 10.1080/23279095.2019.1681424 ABSTRACT This observational study examined the acute cognitive effects of cannabis. We hypothesized that cognitive performance would be negatively affected by acute cannabis intoxication. Twenty-two medical cannabis patients from Southwestern Ontario completed the study. The majority (n¼13) were male. Mean age was 36.0 years, and mean level of education was 13.7 years. Participants were administered the same brief neurocognitive battery three times during [...]
Lire la suiteCannabis Use and Cognition in Adults Prescribed Opioids for Persistent Pain Megan Wildes, Teresa L. Bigand, Matthew E. Layton, , Marian Wilson Pain Management Nursing, 2019, 1-6. Doi : 10.1016/j.pmn.2019.06.014 a b s t r a c t Background : Adults with persistent pain frequently report cannabis use to help manage their symptoms. The impact of cannabis use on cognition in the presence of concurrent symptoms of depression and anxiety is poorly understood. Aims : Our study explored how cannabis use affects relationships among symptoms of depression, anxiety, and cognition. Design : A cross-sectional survey study was conducted. Settings : Surveys were distributed at outpatient clinics treating adults [...]
Lire la suiteLSD Increases Primary Process Thinking via Serotonin 2A Receptor Activation Rainer Kraehenmann, Dan Pokorny, Helena Aicher, Katrin H. Preller, Thomas Pokorny, Oliver G. Bosch, Erich Seifritz and Franz X. Vollenweider Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2017, Volume 8, Article 814, 1-9. Doi : 10.3389/fphar.2017.00814 Rationale : Stimulation of serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptors by lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and related compounds such as psilocybin has previously been shown to increase primary process thinking – an ontologically and evolutionary early, implicit, associative, and automatic mode of thinking which is typically occurring during altered states of consciousness such as dreaming. However, it is still largely unknown whether LSD induces [...]
Lire la suiteMicrodosing psychedelics : Motivations, subjective effects and harm reduction, Toby Lea et al., 2020
Microdosing psychedelics : Motivations, subjective effects and harm reduction Toby Lea, Nicole Amada, Henrik Jungaberl, Henrike Schecke, Michael Klein International Journal of Drug Policy, 2020, 75, 102600, 9 p. Doi : 10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.11.008 A B S T R A C T Background : In recent years there has been growing media attention on microdosing psychedelics (e.g., LSD, psilocybin). This refers to people routinely taking small doses of psychedelic substances to improve mental health and wellbeing, or to enhance cognitive performance. Research evidence is currently limited. This paper examines microdosing motivations, dosing practices, perceived short-term benefits, unwanted effects, and harm reduction practices. Methods : An international online survey [...]
Lire la suiteTherapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Drugs Justin Briglio University of Maine, 2015, 31 p. Table of Contents Introduction......................................................................................................................................3 History of Psychedelic Research.....................................................................................................6 Recent Research...............................................................................................................................8 Neurobiology of Psychedelics.........................................................................................................9 Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin...............................................................................................12 Therapeutic Potential of LSD........................................................................................................15 Therapeutic Potential of Ayahuasca..............................................................................................19 Therapeutic Potential of Ibogaine..................................................................................................22 Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................26 References......................................................................................................................................28 A psychedelic compound is a psychoactive drug whose main action is to alter perception and cognition. Psychedelics are distinctive from other psychoactive drugs in that they alter the mind, whereas opiates or stimulants alter the mood (Meyer & Quenzer, 2013). Psychedelics affect nature of consciousness itself and access otherwise unknown states of consciousness, as opposed to affecting the degree or extent of one's consciousness and inducing proverbial moods such as [...]
Lire la suiteCannabis Exposure is Associated With a Lower Likelihood of Neurocognitive Impairment in People Living With HIV Caitlin Wei-Ming Watson, Emily W. Paolillo, Erin E. Morgan, Anya Umlauf, Erin E. Sundermann, Ronald J. Ellis, MD, Scott Letendre, Thomas D. Marcotte, Robert K. Heaton, and Igor Grant Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2020, 83, (1), 56–64. Doi : 10.1097/QAI.0000000000002211 Background : Aging and HIV have adverse effects on the central nervous system, including increased inflammation and neural injury and confer risk of neurocognitive impairment (NCI). Previous research suggests the nonacute neurocognitive effects of cannabis in the general population are adverse or null. However, in the [...]
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