How Cannabis-Based Therapeutics Could Help Fight COVID Inflammation Liz Scherer Medscape.com, November 03, 2020 Editor's note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape's Coronavirus Resource Center. Plagued by false starts, a few dashed hopes, but with perhaps a glimmer of light on the horizon, the race to find an effective treatment for COVID-19 continues. At last count, more than 300 treatments and 200 vaccines were in preclinical or clinical development (not to mention the numerous existing agents that are being evaluated for repurposing). There is also a renewed interest in cannabinoid therapeutics — in particular, the nonpsychoactive agent cannabidiol (CBD) and the prospect of [...]
Lire la suitePsilocybin Delivers 'Remarkable' Relief in Severe Depression Batya Swift Yasgur, MA, LSW Medscape.com, November 05, 2020 Psilocybin, the psychedelic compound in "magic mushrooms," rapidly improves symptoms and produces remission in as little as two sessions for patients with major depression, new research suggests. Results of a small randomized trial showed that treatment with psilocybin was associated with a greater than 50% reduction in depressive symptoms in 67% of study participants. In addition, 71% showed improvement at 4-week follow-up, with more than 50% achieving remission. "The finding that the majority of people whom we treated showed efficacy was quite a remarkable and gratifying finding and really sets the [...]
Lire la suiteUse of Genetically Informed Methods to Clarify the Nature of the Association Between Cannabis Use and Risk for Schizophrenia Nathan A. Gillespie, Kenneth S. Kendler JAMA Psychiatry, Published online November 4, 2020 Cohort studies and meta-analyses have documented a robust association between cannabis use, heavy use, and misuse with future risk of schizophrenia.1-3 Despite adjusting for covariates, including current psychotic symptoms, other psychopathology, and social integration,(1) the ability of these models to determine the degree to which cannabis causes schizophrenia is limited and dependent on their ability to capture all relevant confounders. When evaluating efforts to reduce cannabis use as a means of [...]
Lire la suiteEffects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder. A Randomized Clinical Trial Alan K. Davis, PhD; Frederick S. Barrett, PhD; Darrick G. May, MD; Mary P. Cosimano, MSW; Nathan D. Sepeda, BS; Matthew W. Johnson, PhD; Patrick H. Finan, PhD; Roland R. Griffiths, PhD JAMA Psychiatry, 2020, E1-E9. doi : 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.3285 IMPORTANCE : Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a substantial public health burden, but current treatments have limited effectiveness and adherence. Recent evidence suggests that 1 or 2 administrations of psilocybin with psychological support produces antidepressant effects in patients with cancer and in those with treatment-resistant depression. OBJECTIVE : To investigate the effect of psilocybin [...]
Lire la suiteNeurological Manifestations Associated with Synthetic Cannabinoid Use - A Case Series Marwa Elnazeir, Siddharth Narayanan, Pradeepthi Badugu, Abid Hussain, Cody B. Stephens, Riwaj Bhagat, Christopher M. Jones, Wei Liu, Alexi R. Hernandez, Kerri S. Remmel and Adriana E. Palade The Open Neurology Journal, 2020, 14, 53-58. Doi : 10.2174/1874205X02014010053 Abstract : Background : Synthetic Cannabinoid (SC) use has emerged as a growing public health threat in the United States. Several unexpected cases, presenting with a constellation of unrelated symptoms, but all having toxicity linked to SC use, have been reported in the last decade (2010-2019). Methods : We report a cluster of several independent cases where patients were [...]
Lire la suitePharmacological evaluation of new constituents of “Spice”: synthetic cannabinoids based on indole, indazole, benzimidazole and carbazole scaffolds Clara T. Schoeder, Cornelius Hess, Burkhard Madea, Jens Meiler, Christa E. Müller Forensic Toxicology, 2018, 36, 385-403. Doi : 10.1007/s11419-018-0415-z Abstract Purpose : In the present study we characterized a series of synthetic cannabinoids containing various heterocyclic scaffolds that had been identified as constituents of “Spice”, a preparation sold on the illicit drug market. All compounds were further investigated as potential ligands of the orphan receptors GPR18 and GPR55 that interact with some cannabinoids. Methods : The compounds were studied in radioligand binding assays to determine their affinity for [...]
Lire la suiteShamanism and psychedelics: A biogenetic structuralist paradigm of ecopsychology Michael Winkelman European Journal of Ecopsychology, 2013, 4, 90-115 Abstract Shamanism and psychedelics are central to understanding the evolutionary roots of ecopsychology and its basic principles. The ancient ritual roots of shamanism constituted the context within which psychedelic experiences contributed selective influences to the evolution of human neuropsychology. Both shamanic psychology and ecopsychology involve a neuroepistemology that reflects the neurotransmitter effects of psychedelics on cognition. Shamanism contributed to the development of our ecopsychology through influences on psychological, social and cognitive evolution. Shamanism embodies the concept of animism, the notion of the spiritual essence of all [...]
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