Acid Diethylamide (LSD) in the Treatment of Addictions: Historical Perspectives and Future Prospects Mitchell B. Liester Current Drug Abuse Reviews, 2014, 7, 146-156 1874-4745/14 $58.00+.00 © 2014 Bentham Science Publishers Abstract : Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a semisynthetic compound with strong psychoactive properties. Chemically related to serotonin, LSD was initially hypothesized to produce a psychosislike state. Later, LSD was reported to have benefits in the treatment of addictions. However, widespread indiscriminate use and reports of adverse affects resulted in the classification of LSD as an illicit drug with no accepted medical use. This article reviews LSD’s storied history from its discovery, to its use [...]
Lire la suiteThe alkaloids of Banisteriopsis caapi, the plant source of the Amazonian hallucinogen Ayahuasca, stimulate adult neurogenesis in vitro Jose A. Morales-García, Mario de la Fuente Revenga, Sandra Alonso-Gil, María Isabel Rodríguez-Franco, Amanda Feilding, Ana Perez-Castillo & Jordi Riba Scientific Reports, 2017, 7, 5309 www.nature.com/scientificreports https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-05407-9 DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-05407-9 Abstract : Banisteriopsis caapi is the basic ingredient of ayahuasca, a psychotropic plant tea used in the Amazon for ritual and medicinal purposes, and by interested individuals worldwide. Animal studies and recent clinical research suggests that B. caapi preparations show antidepressant activity, a therapeutic effect that has been linked to hippocampal neurogenesis. Here we report that harmine, tetrahydroharmine and harmaline, the [...]
Lire la suitePsilocybin disrupts sensory and higher order cognitive processing but not pre-attentive cognitive processing—study on P300 and mismatch negativity in healthy volunteers Anna Bravermanová, Michaela Viktorinová, Filip Tylš, Tomáš Novák, Renáta Androvičová, Jakub Korčák, Jiří Horáček, Marie Balíková, Inga Griškova-Bulanova, Dominika Danielová, Přemysl Vlček, Pavel Mohr, Martin Brunovský, Vlastimil Koudelka, Tomáš Páleníček, Psychopharmacology, 2018 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-017-4807-2 Received: 12 May 2017 /Accepted: 29 November 2017 # Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2018 Abstract Rationale Disruption of auditory event-related evoked potentials (ERPs) P300 and mismatch negativity (MMN), electrophysiological markers of attentive and pre-attentive cognitive processing, is repeatedly described in psychosis and schizophrenia. Similar findings were observed in a glutamatergic model of [...]
Lire la suiteIntranasal Ketamine Succeeds for Resistant Depression in Phase 3 Trial Deborah Brauser May 11, 2018 https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/896510 NEW YORK — Administering intranasal esketamine (Janssen) plus an antidepressant is safe, effective, and well tolerated in adult patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), a new phase 3 trial suggests. Dr Vanina Popova In the global study, those who received a newly initiated oral antidepressant combined with esketamine nasal spray (56 or 84 mg) showed a 4-point greater improvement from baseline to 4 weeks on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score than those who received an antidepressant plus placebo, meeting the study's primary endpoint. In addition, the response rate was nearly 70% [...]
Lire la suite3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine assisted psychotherapy for treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder : A randomized phase 2 controlled trial Marcela Ot’alora G, Jim Grigsby, Bruce Poulter1, Joseph W Van Derveer III, Sara Gael Giron, Lisa Jerome, Allison A Feduccia, Scott Hamilton, Berra Yazar-Klosinski, Amy Emerson, Michael C Mithoefer and Rick Doblin Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2018, 1-13 Doi : 10.1177/0269881118806297 Abstract Background : Posttraumatic stress disorder often does not resolve after conventional psychotherapies or pharmacotherapies. Pilot studies have reported that 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) combined with psychotherapy reduces posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Aims : This pilot dose response trial assessed efficacy and safety of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy across multiple therapy teams. Methods : [...]
Lire la suiteA Review of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-Assisted Psychotherapy Ben Sessa, Laurie Higbed and David Nutt Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2019, Vol. 10, article 138 DOI : 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00138 Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom Abstract : This paper provides a brief review of the history, proposed pharmacological mechanisms, safety issues, and clinical applications of the medicine 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Most clinical MDMA research in patients to date has focused on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy to treat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this review paper other potential therapeutic applications for MDMA therapy are described, including contemporary studies treating anxiety associated with autism and the authors’ ongoing study exploring the potential [...]
Lire la suite“To learn healing knowledge”: Philosophy, psychedelic studies and transformation David A. Pittaway South African Journal of Philosophy, 2018, 37, 4, 438-451 DOI : 10.1080/02580136.2018.1532186 Abstract : “Philosophical learning” may be summarised in Sobiecki’s fitting catchphrase “to learn healing knowledge”. This catchphrase is taken from an article on the use of psychoactive plants among southern African diviners. In the spirit of this link, I aim to challenge contemporary negative attitudes to the topic of psychedelics, and argue that there are good reasons for philosophers to pay attention to the role that the psychedelic experience can play in promoting philosophical perception. I argue first that the results [...]
Lire la suiteEfficacy and safety of ketamine in bipolar depression : A systematic review Susana Alberich, Mónica Martínez-Cengotitabengoa, Purificación López, Inaki Zorrilla, Nuria Núnez, Eduard Vieta, Ana González-Pinto, Review Psiquiatrica Salud Mental, 2017, 10, 2, 104-112. 2173-5050/© 2016 SEP y SEPB. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved. KEYWORDS : Bipolar depression; Ketamine; Efficacy Abstract : The depression is the most prevalent state throughout the life of the bipolar patient. Ketamine has been shown to be an effective and rapid treatment for depression. The objective of the present work is to perform a systematic review on the efficacy and safety of ketamine as treatment of bipolar depression, [...]
Lire la suiteSupplément Technique : Les Nouveaux Produits de Synthèse Essayer la régulation des usages…. L’arrivée des produits que l’on appelle les « Research Chemicals » ou « legal high » n’est pas un hasard. Elle correspond à une évolution de la société addictogène qui se décline sur plusieurs éléments : - Une nouvelle génération s’est emparée de l’outil Internet et passe énormément de temps « online », dans le monde de la « toile » où continue de s’exprimer une quête de plaisir. Cette nouvelle génération d'usagers partage ses expériences d'usage de NPS à travers des forums internet d'auto-support et acquiert une réelle expertise. - [...]
Lire la suiteNew Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression Feyza Sancar JAMA, 2019, 321, 15, 1449. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.3596 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2730598 The FDA has approved esketamine nasal spray as an adjunctive therapy for adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), which affects approximately 30% of patients with major depressivedisorder. It’s the first regulatory approval of esketamine, the s-enantiomer of ketamine, for any psychiatric condition worldwide. “There has been a long-standing need for additional effective treatments for treatment resistant depression, a serious and lifethreateningcondition,” Tiffany Farchione,MD, acting director of the FDA’s Division of Psychiatry Products, said in a statement. Marketed as Spravato, the drug is indicated for patients whose depressive symptoms haven’t improved [...]
Lire la suite