Novel Treatment Approaches for Substance Use Disorders : Therapeutic Use of Psychedelics and the Role of Psychotherapy Michael Koslowski, Matthew W. Johnson, Gerhard Gründer, Felix Betzler Current Addiction Reports, 2021, 1-11. doi : 10.1007/s40429-021-00401-8 Abstract Purpose of Review : The use of psychedelics in a therapeutical setting has been reported for the treatment of various diagnoses in recent years. However, as psychedelic substances are still commonly known for their (illicit) recreational use, it may seem counterintuitive to use psychedelic therapy to treat substance use disorders. This review aims to discuss how psychedelics can promote and intensify psychotherapeutic key processes, in different approaches like psychodynamic and [...]
Lire la suiteMolecular and Functional Imaging Studies of Psychedelic Drug Action in Animals and Humans Paul Cumming, Milan Scheidegger, Dario Dornbierer, Mikael Palner, Boris B. Quednow and Chantal Martin-Soelch Molecules, 2021, 26, 2451 doi : 10.3390/molecules26092451 Abstract : Hallucinogens are a loosely defined group of compounds including LSD, N,Ndimethyltryptamines, mescaline, psilocybin/psilocin, and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methamphetamine (DOM), which can evoke intense visual and emotional experiences. We are witnessing a renaissance of research interest in hallucinogens, driven by increasing awareness of their psychotherapeutic potential. As such, we now present a narrative review of the literature on hallucinogen binding in vitro and ex vivo, and the various molecular imaging studies with positron [...]
Lire la suiteEvolution historique et place du concept de psychothérapie dans les thérapies psychédéliques. Revue de la Littérature. Colloque ATHS, Biarritz, 22 octobre 2021. Dr Christian SUEUR Psychiatre, addictologue, praticien hospitalier Président du GRECC Nous allons, dans une revue de la littérature sur la médecine psychédélique, tenter de repérer les concepts intégrés dans la sémantique employée dans cette littérature, et l’évolution de la notion de psychothérapie, au cours de l’histoire : au début des années 1950 1960, le concept de « thérapie psychédélique » n’existe pas : les thérapies sont intimement liées à administration de LSD (et dans une moindre mesure de mescaline), et, soit il s’agit d’observations cliniques, psychiatrique avec peu [...]
Lire la suitePositive expectations predict improved mental-health outcomes linked to psychedelic microdosing, KAERTNER L.S., STEINBORN M.B., KETTNER H., SPRIGGS M.J., ROSEMAN L., BUCHBORN T., BALAET M., TIMMERMANN C., ERRITZOE D., CARHARDT-HARRIS R.L. : Nature, 2021, 11, 1941 Doi : 1038/s41598-021-81446-7 Abstract Psychedelic microdosing describes the ingestion of near-threshold perceptible doses of classic psychedelic substances. Anecdotal reports and observational studies suggest that microdosing may promote positive mood and well-being, but recent placebo-controlled studies failed to find compelling evidence for this. The present study collected web-based mental health and related data using a prospective (before, during and after) design. Individuals planning a weekly microdosing regimen completed surveys at strategic [...]
Lire la suiteChanges in inflammatory biomarkers are related to the antidepressant effects of Ayahuasca Nicole Leite Galvão-Coelho, Ana Cecília de Menezes Galvão, Raíssa Nóbrega de Almeida, Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, Isaac Campos Braga, Bruno Lobão Soares, João Paulo Maia-de-Oliveira, Daniel Perkins, Jerome Sarris and Draulio Barros de Araujo Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2020, 1-9. DOI : 10.1177/0269881120936486 Abstract Background : Ayahuasca is a traditional Amazon brew and its potential antidepressant properties have recently been explored in scientific settings. We conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of ayahuasca with treatment-resistant depression patients (n = 28) and healthy controls (n = 45). Aims : We are evaluating the blood inflammatory biomarkers: C-reactive protein and [...]
Lire la suiteReviewing the Potential of Psychedelics for the Treatment of PTSD Erwin Krediet, Tijmen Bostoen, Joost Breeksema, Annette van Schagen, Torsten Passie, Eric Vermetten International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 2020, 23, (6), 385–400 doi : 10.1093/ijnp/pyaa018 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32170326/ Abstract There are few medications with demonstrated efficacy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Treatment guidelines have unequivocally designated psychotherapy as a first line treatment for PTSD. Yet, even after psychotherapy, PTSD often remains a chronic illness, with high rates of psychiatric and medical comorbidity. Meanwhile, the search for and development of drugs with new mechanisms of action has stalled. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore not [...]
Lire la suiteThe potential synergistic effects between psychedelic administration and nature contact for the improvement of mental health Sam Gandy, Matthias Forstmann, Robin Lester Carhart-Harris, Christopher Timmermann, David Luke and Rosalind Watts Health Psychology Open, 2020, 1–21 Doi : 10.1177/2055102920978123 Abstract Therapeutic psychedelic administration and contact with nature have been associated with the same psychological mechanisms : decreased rumination and negative affect, enhanced psychological connectedness and mindfulness related capacities, and heightened states of awe and transcendent experiences, all processes linked to improvements in mental health amongst clinical and healthy populations. Nature-based settings can have inherently psychologically soothing properties which may complement all stages of psychedelic therapy (mainly [...]
Lire la suiteEffects of external stimulation on psychedelic state neurodynamics Pedro A.M. Mediano, Fernando E. Rosas, Christopher Timmermann, Leor Roseman, David J. Nutt, Amanda Feilding, Mendel Kaelen, Morten L. Kringelbach, Adam B. Barretti, Anil K. Seth, Suresh Muthukumaraswamy, Daniel Bor, and Robin L. Carhart-Harris bioRxiv preprint, 2020 doi : 10.1101/2020.11.01.356071 Abstract Recent findings have shown that psychedelics reliably enhance brain entropy (understood as neural signal diversity), and this effect has been associated with both acute and long-term psychological outcomes such as personality changes. These findings are particularly intriguing given that a decrease of brain entropy is a robust indicator of loss of consciousness (e.g. from wakefulness to [...]
Lire la suitePost-acute psychological effects of classical serotonergic psychedelics: a systematic review and meta-analysis Simon B. Goldberg, Benjamin Shechet, Christopher R. Nicholas, Chi Wing Ng, Geetanjali Deole, Zhuofan Chen and Charles L. Raison Psychological Medicine, 2020, 1–12. doi : 10.1017/S003329172000389X Abstract Background. Scientific interest in the therapeutic effects of classical psychedelics has increased in the past two decades. The psychological effects of these substances outside the period of acute intoxication have not been fully characterized. This study aimed to: (1) quantify the effects of psilocybin, ayahuasca, and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) on psychological outcomes in the post-acute period; (2) test moderators of these effects; and (3) evaluate [...]
Lire la suiteMystical Experiences in Retrospective Reports of First Times Using a Psychedelic in Finland Samuli Kangaslampi, PhD , Aino Hausen, BA, and Tarina Rauteenmaa, BA JOURNAL OF PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS, 2020, 1-10 Doi : 10.1080/02791072.2020.1767321 ABSTRACT Despite their acutely inebriating and sometimes unpleasant effects, some people report positive changes in life satisfaction, well-being, or mental health after taking psychedelic drugs. One explanation may be the ability of psychedelics to trigger mystical-type experiences. We examined the validity, reliability, and factor structure of a novel Finnish translation of the Revised Mystical Experiences Questionnaire (MEQ30) among 288 people retrospectively reporting on their first time using a psychedelic. We found evidence [...]
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