Psychedelic Cuts Cravings, Consumption in Alcohol Use Disorder Pauline Anderson Medscape, May 23, 2019 https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/913422?src=wnl_tp10n_190711_mscpedit&uac=292598PZ&impID=2023688&faf=1 SAN FRANCISCO — Just two doses of the psychedelic drug psilocybin, taken over a period of 8 weeks, significantly reduced alcohol use and cravings in patients with alcohol use disorder, preliminary findings show. In the first study to use modern clinical trial design to investigate the effects of a hallucinogen in alcohol-dependent patients, investigators at New York University (NYU) School of Medicine in New York City found that use of psilocybin was significantly associated with fewer drinking days and fewer drinks per day, as well fewer cravings. Dr Kelley Clark O'Donnell "Psychedelic [...]
Lire la suitePsychedelic-assisted therapy for anxiety and depression in the face of death: A critical review with an anthropological lens Jenna VARLEY Journal of Psychedelic Studies, 2019, 3, (1), 14–18. DOI: 10.1556/2054.2019.005 Psychedelics have been investigated for their therapeutic applications in end-of-life care as early as 1960. Recently, there have been four main groups conducting clinical trials for either lysergic acid diethylamide or psilocybin for the treatment of anxiety and depression in patients with terminal illnesses. The recent trials have higher methodological quality and demonstrate the profound impact of psychedelics for this particular patient presentation. However, a number of gaps, including understanding the meaning of death [...]
Lire la suiteIntercultural, intermolecular : An ethnobotanical examination of the potential therapeutic value of LSD for the treatment of depression Karsten FATUR Journal of Psychedelic Studies, 2019, 3, (1), 32–34. DOI: 10.1556/2054.2019.002 Lysergic acid diethylamide holds great therapeutic potential in the treatment of depression, although currently illegal in many parts of the world and seen as a recreational drug. An intercultural ethnobotanical examination of plant substances with similar chemical profiles and effects displays the true potential value of this substance and justifies an increased focus on clinical trials and studies involving it. Keywords : psychedelic, LSD, ayahuasca, depression, serotonin Despite its current status as an illegal substance, lysergic [...]
Lire la suitePsilocybin and Mental Health–Don’t Lose Control (Opinion) Joseph M. Barnby and Mitul A. Mehta Frontiers in Psychiatry, published: 03 July 2018 | Volume 9 | Article 293 doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00293 Keywords : psychedelics, psilocybin, depression, clinical trials, methodology Psilocybin—the hallucinogenic pro-drug in magic mushrooms—has recently dominated the popular narrative on new approaches to treating depression. For example, recent papers from John’s Hopkins (1) and Imperial College (2, 3) demonstrate the potential for psilocybin to promote positive lifestyle changes, and as an intervention for treatment-resistant depression, respectively. They also provide an opportunity to highlight two recurrent issues with psychedelic research which we place in the context of more [...]
Lire la suiteEffects of Schedule I drug laws on neuroscience research and treatment innovation. Nutt D.J., King L.A., Nichols D.E. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2013, 14, 577-585 DOI : 10.1038/nrn3530 Abstract Many psychoactive drugs are used recreationally, particularly by young people. This use and its perceived dangers have led to many different classes of drugs being banned under national laws and international conventions. Indeed, the possession of cannabis, 3,4‑methylenedioxy- N‑methyl-amphetamine (MDMA; also known as ecstasy) and psychedelics is stringently regulated. An important and unfortunate outcome of the controls placed on these and other psychoactive drugs is that they make research into their mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic [...]
Lire la suitePsychedelic drugs in the treatment of anxiety, depression and addiction Tor-Morten Kvam, Lowan H. Stewart & Ole A. Andreassen Tidsskriftet, Den Norske Legeforening, November 2018 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332136512 B A C K G R O U N D There is growing interest in the use of psychedelic drugs for the treatment of mental disorders. The drugs are considered safe when administered within a clinical framework. Older studies performed prior to 1970 had methodological shortcomings, but studies in recent years have shown promising results regarding the use of psychedelic drugs in unipolar depression, depression in life-threatening illness, anxiety and addiction. The aim of this literature review is to [...]
Lire la suiteMechanisms of Therapeutic Action of Psilocybin Cubensis in Treating Patients with Depression Stephan Tap, Universiteit Leiden, Sociale Wetenschappen, 2018 Introduction Depression is a serious mental illness affecting over 300 to 350 million people worldwide (WHO, 2018; Cipriani et al., 2018). People suffering from depression experience a wide variety of symptoms, including a depressed mood, loss of interest, and reduced energy. There are many different therapeutic approaches to treat depression, of which cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and the use of antidepressants (e.g. SSRI’s) are probably the most prominent. Both seem to be efficacious in alleviating the symptoms of depression (Butler et al., 2006; Driessen & [...]
Lire la suiteHow do hallucinogens work on the brain? Robin Carhart-Harris, Mendel Kaelen and David Nutt The Psychologist, 2014, 27, 9, 662-665 What do we know about how hallucinogens work on the brain to produce their characteristic subjective effects? This question can be approached from a number of different levels. At the lowest functionally relevant level, how do the hallucinogenic compounds themselves interact with a certain neurotransmitter receptor to alter neuronal activity? Then at the neuronal population level, how does a drug-induced change in neuronal firing interact with the integrated oscillatory activity of large populations of neurons? Finally, how does this all play out at [...]
Lire la suiteL'éclosion d'une nouvelle discipline scientifique: l'enthéobotanique Vincent WATTIAUX http://liberterre.fr/entheogenes/recherches-modernes/vincentwattiaux.html « Dieu est une substance, une drogue ! » Gottfried BENN En 1967 quand le paléontologue Yves Coppens et son équipe découvrirent en Ethiopie le squelette d’une Australopithèque, ils la baptisèrent Lucie à cause d’une chanson des Beatles diffusée sans cesse à la radio. Cette rengaine, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds faisait directement allusion au LSD, la drogue hallucinogène la plus puissante jamais inventée (1). L’association, Lucie et le LSD, née du hasard ou d’un retour du refoulé collectif (?), aurait valeur d’oracle… En effet, une discipline scientifique flambant neuve, l’enthéobotanique (2) allait poser [...]
Lire la suiteIntérêt de la psilocybine, de l’acide lysergique diéthylamide (LSD) et de la diméthyltryptamine (DMT) dans la dépression : une revue de la littérature THÈSE MÉDECINE SPÉCIALISÉE CLINIQUE en Psychiatrie Présentée et soutenue publiquement par Sami SERGENT le 22 février 2019 ANNÉE 2019 (2019 TOU3 1503) Directeur de thèse : Dr François MONTASTRUC JURY Monsieur le Professeur Christophe ARBUS Président Monsieur le Professeur Laurent SCHMITT Assesseur Monsieur le Professeur Nicolas FRANCHITTO Assesseur Monsieur le Docteur François MONTASTRUC Assesseur Madame le Docteur Bénédicte JULLIAN Suppléant Monsieur le Docteur Nicolas NAVARRO membre invité RESUME EN FRANÇAIS : La psilocybine, l’acide lysergique diéthylamide et la diméthyltryptamine sont des psychédéliques agonistes sérotoninergiques. Les sociétés humaines en font usages depuis [...]
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