Antidepressant Effects of a Single Dose of Ayahuasca in Patients With Recurrent Depression: A SPECT Study. Rafael F. Sanchez, F. de Lima Osorio, R.G. Dos Santos, L.R. Macedo, J.P. Maia-de-Oliveira, L. Wichert-Ana, D.B. de Araujo, J. Riba, J.A. Crippa, J.E. Hallak Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2016, 36, 1, 77-81. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000000436. PMID : 26650973 Abstract Ayahuasca is an Amazonian botanical hallucinogenic brew which contains dimethyltryptamine, a 5-HT2A receptor agonist, and harmine, a monoamine-oxidase A inhibitor. Our group recently reported that ayahuasca administration was associated with fast-acting antidepressive effects in 6 depressive patients. The objective of the present work was to assess the antidepressive potentials of [...]
Lire la suiteRapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer : a randomized controlled trial ROSS S., BOSSIS A., GUSS J., AGIN-LIEBES G., MALONE T., COHEN B., MENNENGA S.E., BELSER A., KALLIONTZI K., BABB J., SU Z., CORBY P., SCHMIDT B.L. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2016, 30, 12, 1165-1180 DOI: 10.1177/0269881116675512 jop.sagepub.com Abstract Background : Clinically significant anxiety and depression are common in patients with cancer, and are associated with poor psychiatric and medical outcomes. Historical and recent research suggests a role for psilocybin to treat cancer-related anxiety and depression. Methods : In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial, 29 patients [...]
Lire la suitePsilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer : A randomized double-blind trial GRIFFITHS R.R., JOHNSON M.W., CARDUCCI M.A., UMBRICHT A., RICHARDS W.A., RICHARDS B.D., COSIMANO M.P., KLINEDINST M.A. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2016, 30, 12, 1181–1197. DOI: 10.1177/0269881116675513 jop.sagepub.com Abstract Cancer patients often develop chronic, clinically significant symptoms of depression and anxiety. Previous studies suggest that psilocybin may decrease depression and anxiety in cancer patients. The effects of psilocybin were studied in 51 cancer patients with life-threatening diagnoses and symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. This randomized, double-blind, cross-over trial investigated the effects of a very low (placebo-like) dose [...]
Lire la suiteIncreased nature relatedness and decreased authoritarian political views after psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression LYONS T., CARHART-HARRIS R.L. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2018, 32, 7, 811-819. Doi : 10.1177/0269881117748902 journals.sagepub.com/home/jop Abstract Rationale : Previous research suggests that classical psychedelic compounds can induce lasting changes in personality traits, attitudes and beliefs in both healthy subjects and patient populations. Aim : Here we sought to investigate the effects of psilocybin on nature relatedness and libertarian authoritarian political perspective in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Methods : This open-label pilot study with a mixed-model design studied the effects of psilocybin on measures of nature relatedness and libertarian– authoritarian political perspective in patients with [...]
Lire la suiteEffects of psilocybin therapy on personnality structure ERRITZOE D., ROSEMAN L., NOUR M.M., MacLEAN K., KAELEN M., NUTT D.J., CARHART-HARRIS R.L. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 2018, 1-11. DOI : 10.1111/acps.12904 . Objective : To explore whether psilocybin with psychological support modulates personality parameters in patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Method : Twenty patients with moderate or severe, unipolar, TRD received oral psilocybin (10 and 25 mg, one week apart) in a supportive setting. Personality was assessed at baseline and at 3-month follow-up using the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R), the subjective psilocybin experience with Altered State of Consciousness (ASC) scale, and depressive symptoms with QIDS-SR16. Results : [...]
Lire la suiteQuality of Acute Psychedelic Experience Predicts Therapeutic Efficacy of Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression Leor Roseman, David J. Nutt, Robin L. Carhart-Harris Psychedelic Research Group, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2018, 8, article 974. Doi : 10.3389/fphar.2017.00974 . Introduction : It is a basic principle of the “psychedelic” treatment model that the quality of the acute experience mediates long-term improvements in mental health. In the present paper we sought to test this using data from a clinical trial assessing psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). In line with previous reports, we hypothesized that the occurrence and magnitude of Oceanic Boundlessness (OBN) [...]
Lire la suiteIndividual Experiences in Four Cancer Patients Following Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy Tara C. Malone, Sarah E. Mennenga, Jeffrey Guss, Samantha K. Podrebarac, Lindsey T. Owens, Anthony P. Bossis, Alexander B. Belser, Gabrielle Agin-Liebes, Michael P. Bogenschutz and Stephen Ross Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2018, 9, 256 doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00256 Abstract : A growing body of evidence shows that existential and spiritual well-being in cancer patients is associated with better medical outcomes, improved quality of life, and serves as a buffer against depression, hopelessness, and desire for hastened death. Historical and recent research suggests a role for psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in treating cancer-related anxiety and depression. A double-blind controlled trial was performed, where 29 [...]
Lire la suiteClinical Interpretations of Patients Experience in a Trial of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for Alcohol Use Disorder BOGENSCHUTZ M.P., PODREBARAC S.K., DUANE J.H., AMEGADZIE S.S., MALONE T.C., ROSS L.T., MENNENGA S.E. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2018, 9, article 100. Doi : 10.3389/fphar.2018.00100 Abstract : After a hiatus of some 40 years, clinical research has resumed on the use of classic hallucinogens to treat addiction. Following completion of a small open-label feasibility study, we are currently conducting a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial of psilocybin-assisted treatment of alcohol use disorder. Although treatment effects cannot be analyzed until the study is complete, descriptive case studies provide a useful window into the therapeutic process [...]
Lire la suitePsychedelics and hypnosis : Commonalities and therapeutic implications Clément E. Lemercier, Devin B. Terhune Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2018, 32, 7, 732-740. DOI : 10.1177/0269881118780714 Abstract Background : Recent research on psychedelics and hypnosis demonstrates the value of both methods in the treatment of a range of psychopathologies with overlapping applications and neurophenomenological features. The potential of harnessing the power of suggestion to influence the phenomenological response to psychedelics toward more therapeutic action has remained unexplored in recent research and thereby warrants empirical attention. Aims : Here we aim to elucidate the phenomenological and neurophysiological similarities and dissimilarities between psychedelic states and hypnosis in order to revisit [...]
Lire la suiteEffective connectivity changes in LSD-induced altered states of consciousness in humans Katrin H. Preller, Adeel Razib, Peter Zeidman, Philipp Stämpflif, Karl J. Friston, and Franz X. Vollenweider Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ,· January 2019 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1815129116 Abstract : Psychedelics exert unique effects on human consciousness. The thalamic filter model suggests that core effects of psychedelics may result from gating deficits, based on a disintegration of information processing within cortico–striato–thalamo-cortical (CSTC) feedback loops. To test this hypothesis, we characterized changes in directed (effective) connectivity between selected CTSC regions after acute administration of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and after pretreatment with Ketanserin (a selective serotonin [...]
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