headache – mycolab.ai

Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Ketamine and Psilocybin in Comparison to Current Treatment Regimens for Treatment-Resistant Depression, Mood Disorders, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in the Pediatric Population: A Narrative Review

mycolabadmin

This review examines two emerging psychiatric treatments—ketamine and psilocybin—for treating hard-to-treat mental health conditions in children and teenagers. Both work by affecting brain chemicals differently than traditional medications and can provide rapid symptom relief, sometimes within hours or days rather than weeks. The study found promising results for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar disorder, though researchers emphasize that more studies are needed to ensure these treatments are safe for developing brains and that careful ethical guidelines must be established.

Psilocybin’s effects on cognition and creativity: A scoping review

mycolabadmin

This comprehensive review examines how psilocybin affects thinking abilities and creativity. Researchers found that large doses initially impair mental performance during the experience, but small doses may enhance creativity. Importantly, the cognitive effects appear to improve after the acute effects wear off, suggesting initial impairment doesn’t cause lasting damage. The review emphasizes the need for more rigorous long-term studies to better understand psilocybin’s effects on brain function.

Naturalistic psychedelic therapy: The role of relaxation and subjective drug effects in antidepressant response

mycolabadmin

Researchers studied how LSD and psilocybin work in real-world therapy settings in Switzerland. They found that these compounds effectively reduced depression symptoms in patients who hadn’t responded to other treatments. Surprisingly, the feeling of relaxation during the session was more important for improvement than having intense mystical experiences. The therapy was generally safe, with side effects that resolved quickly.

Acute Effects of Psilocybin After Escitalopram or Placebo Pretreatment in a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study in Healthy Subjects

mycolabadmin

This study examined whether taking the antidepressant escitalopram before using psilocybin affects the drug’s effects. Twenty-three healthy participants took either escitalopram or placebo for two weeks, then received a dose of psilocybin. Surprisingly, escitalopram did not reduce the positive mood effects of psilocybin and actually reduced some negative side effects like anxiety and bad feelings. The combination appeared safe with no increased cardiovascular risks.

Expanded access to psychedelic treatments: comparing American and Canadian policies

mycolabadmin

This article compares how the United States and Canada allow patients with serious health conditions like PTSD and depression to access experimental psychedelic treatments outside of clinical trials. Canada’s program has allowed over 200 patients to access psilocybin and MDMA treatments since 2022, while the US has only approved 50 patients for MDMA. The authors argue that Canada’s approach is more ethical and accessible, and suggest the US should streamline its process to help more patients who have failed conventional treatments.

Enhanced visual contrast suppression during peak psilocybin effects: Psychophysical results from a pilot randomized controlled trial

mycolabadmin

Researchers studied how psilocybin affects the way our visual system processes contrast and surrounding visual information. Participants completed vision tests after taking psilocybin or placebo, and the results showed that psilocybin made people more influenced by surrounding visual elements when judging the brightness of objects. Interestingly, the stronger the visual effects people experienced from psilocybin, the more their perception was influenced by these surroundings. This finding might help explain how psilocybin affects mood and could help scientists better understand depression and other conditions affecting vision.

Psilocybin for treatment resistant depression in patients taking a concomitant SSRI medication

mycolabadmin

Researchers tested whether people with severe depression could take psilocybin (a compound from certain mushrooms) while staying on their antidepressant medications. In this study of 19 people, those who received psilocybin with psychological support while continuing their SSRI showed significant improvement in depression symptoms over three weeks, with response rates of 42%. Side effects were mostly mild and temporary, suggesting this approach may be safe and effective without requiring patients to stop their current antidepressants.

Efficacy of psilocybin for treating symptoms of depression: systematic review and meta-analysis

mycolabadmin

This comprehensive analysis of clinical trials found that psilocybin, a compound found in certain mushrooms, shows promise as a treatment for depression compared to placebo. The treatment was particularly effective for patients with depression related to serious illness, those using self-reported symptom assessments, older adults, and those with prior experience with psychedelics. While side effects were minimal and temporary, researchers emphasize that more research is needed to fully understand how expectancy and individual factors influence treatment outcomes.

Psilocybin therapy and anorexia nervosa: a narrative review of safety considerations for researchers and clinicians

mycolabadmin

This review examines the safety of psilocybin therapy for treating anorexia nervosa, a serious eating disorder with limited treatment options. The authors analyze how psilocybin’s common side effects (like increased heart rate, nausea, and dizziness) interact with medical complications already present in people with anorexia. Based on early clinical trials, they conclude that psilocybin can be safely used in this population with proper medical screening and monitoring protocols tailored to their specific vulnerabilities.

New and emerging pharmacologic treatments for MDD

mycolabadmin

Major depressive disorder affects millions worldwide and current antidepressants often don’t work well or take weeks to be effective. Researchers have developed exciting new treatments that work through different brain mechanisms and show promise for rapid symptom relief. These include nasal spray ketamine (approved 2019), oral medications like zuranolone (approved 2023), and investigational treatments including psilocybin, which show benefits especially for treatment-resistant cases. While many show great promise, more research is needed on long-term safety and how to make them widely available.

Anti-Therapeutic Action: headache