obsessive-compulsive disorder – Page 2

Biological studies of clavine alkaloids targeting CNS receptors

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This paper reviews clavine alkaloids, a class of natural compounds from ergot fungi that show promise as psychiatric medications. Unlike well-known psychedelics like LSD, clavine alkaloids may provide therapeutic benefits for anxiety and depression without strong hallucinogenic effects. The authors highlight how these compounds interact with brain receptors in ways that could make them safer and more effective medications for treating mood and neurological disorders.

Rediscovering Psilocybin as an Antidepressive Treatment Strategy

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Scientists have renewed their investigation into psilocybin, a compound found in certain mushrooms, as a potential treatment for depression. Studies show promising results with patients experiencing significant improvements in depressive symptoms, sometimes sustained for months after a single treatment session. When administered in controlled therapeutic environments with professional support, psilocybin appears relatively safe, though it can cause temporary side effects like headaches and anxiety. This research represents an important shift in how we might treat severe depression, especially in patients who haven’t responded to conventional antidepressants.

Mushrooms, Microdosing, and Mental Illness: The Effect of Psilocybin on Neurotransmitters, Neuroinflammation, and Neuroplasticity

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This review examines how psilocybin, the active compound in certain mushrooms, may help treat depression and anxiety by reducing brain inflammation and promoting healthy neurotransmitter function. Both full doses under medical supervision and smaller ‘microdoses’ show promise for mental health conditions. The research suggests psilocybin works by calming the immune system’s inflammatory response while simultaneously supporting the brain’s natural healing and adaptation processes, offering a potential alternative treatment when standard medications don’t work.

Acute and Chronic Psilocybin in Mouse Models of Psychiatric Disorders

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Researchers tested psilocybin (the active compound in magic mushrooms) in mice bred to show obsessive-compulsive behaviors. A single dose of psilocybin reduced compulsive grooming for about a week, but giving it repeatedly over time did not help with anxiety, depression, or compulsive behaviors. The findings suggest psilocybin might work best as a one-time treatment rather than repeated doses, which has implications for how these drugs might be used in future psychiatric treatment.

Psychedelics and the Serotonin Hypothesis of Eating Disorders

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This review explores how psychedelic drugs like psilocybin (found in certain mushrooms) might help treat eating disorders by promoting flexible thinking and breaking rigid eating patterns. The authors summarize evidence from animal studies and early clinical trials showing that psychedelics work differently than traditional antidepressants by triggering brain changes that help people adopt new, healthier behaviors. While results are promising, more research is needed to determine the best doses, patient populations, and long-term safety.

Ethical Considerations Regarding Psychedelics for Clinical Pain Research

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This paper examines the ethical considerations necessary when conducting research on psychedelics like psilocybin for treating chronic pain. With chronic pain affecting millions of Americans and traditional treatments like opioids causing significant problems, researchers are exploring psychedelics as alternatives. The authors provide guidance on obtaining proper informed consent, protecting vulnerable patients, managing regulatory requirements, and ensuring research benefits participants while following four key ethical principles: autonomy, beneficence, justice, and avoiding harm.

The central role of the Thalamus in psychosis, lessons from neurodegenerative diseases and psychedelics

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This paper explores how the thalamus, a key brain structure controlling attention and perception, malfunctions in Parkinson’s disease and similar neurological conditions, causing hallucinations and delusions. Interestingly, these symptoms resemble the altered mental states produced by psychedelic drugs like LSD and psilocybin. By studying both conditions together, researchers found that a common mechanism called thalamocortical dysrhythmia disrupts how the brain filters information and processes reality, offering new insights for treating psychotic symptoms.

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

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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.

A Review of Synthetic Access to Therapeutic Compounds Extracted from Psilocybe

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Scientists have discovered that magic mushrooms contain compounds called psilocybin and psilocin that show promise in treating depression and other psychiatric conditions. However, extracting enough of these compounds from mushrooms is difficult, so chemists have developed multiple ways to synthesize them in laboratories. This review examines different chemical and biological methods for producing these therapeutic compounds, from traditional synthesis techniques to modern approaches using special catalysts and enzymes, making these medicines more accessible for clinical research.

Bis(4-acetoxy-N-ethyl-N-n-propyltryptammonium) fumarate–fumaric acid (1/1)

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Researchers determined the precise chemical structure of a synthetic compound related to psilocybin (the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms) using X-ray crystallography. The compound, 4-AcO-EPT, is designed to be converted in the body to a psychoactive substance with potential therapeutic benefits for depression and anxiety. The study resolved conflicting reports about the compound’s exact composition and molecular arrangement, showing it exists as a specific combination of three molecular components. This work demonstrates why chemists need to study actual crystal structures rather than relying solely on chemical calculations.

Disease: obsessive-compulsive disorder