Disease: schizophrenia

Drug–drug interactions involving classic psychedelics: A systematic review

This review examined how psychedelic drugs like LSD and psilocybin interact with other medications people might be taking. Researchers found that certain psychiatric medications like antipsychotics can block the effects of psychedelics, while other drugs may enhance them. The study highlights the importance of understanding these interactions for safe therapeutic use of psychedelics in clinical settings.

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Psilocybin for clinical indications: A scoping review

This comprehensive review examined over 190 research studies on psilocybin (the active compound in magic mushrooms) as a medical treatment. The research shows promise for treating depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and chronic pain, though most studies conducted so far have been small in size. While the evidence is encouraging, researchers emphasize the need for larger, better-designed clinical trials to fully understand psilocybin’s benefits and safety profile.

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Leveraging psychedelic neuroscience to boost human creativity using artificial intelligence

Psychedelic drugs like LSD and psilocybin enhance creativity by disrupting the brain’s Default Mode Network, allowing people to break free from rigid thinking patterns. This paper proposes that artificial intelligence systems could be designed to mimic these same cognitive effects—introducing novel information, making unexpected connections, and gradually expanding comfort with new ideas—thereby enhancing human creativity without drugs. By personalizing AI systems to each person’s personality type and gradually increasing novelty levels, these tools could make creative thinking accessible to people who might not naturally gravitate toward it.

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Biological studies of clavine alkaloids targeting CNS receptors

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.

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Psychedelics: Safety and Efficacy

This paper reviews scientific research on psychedelic drugs like LSD and psilocybin that are being studied for treating depression and PTSD. While some research claims these drugs are beneficial, many studies have serious flaws including hiding negative side effects and being influenced by money from pharmaceutical companies. The author concludes that we need much better research before these drugs can be safely approved for medical use.

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Psychotomimetic compensation versus sensitization

This paper proposes a new way to understand why drugs that can cause psychosis-like effects (such as psilocybin, LSD, and ketamine) can also help treat depression and anxiety. The authors suggest that these drugs trigger compensatory responses in the brain that temporarily help us cope with stress, similar to how a runner’s high feels good during exercise. However, if someone uses these drugs repeatedly or experiences chronic stress, they may become sensitized and more vulnerable to developing actual psychotic symptoms over time.

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Anhedonia: Current and future treatments

Anhedonia is the inability to feel pleasure from activities, which is a significant problem affecting many people with depression and other psychiatric conditions. This review examined many different treatments for anhedonia including medications, brain stimulation techniques, and psychological therapies. The research shows that newer medications like vortioxetine and ketamine work better for anhedonia than older antidepressants, and combining multiple approaches including therapy and lifestyle changes gives the best results.

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Acute and Chronic Psilocybin in Mouse Models of Psychiatric Disorders

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.

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

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.

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Health benefits of fish and fish by-products—a nutritional and functional perspective

Fish is an excellent food that provides many important nutrients like protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins that help protect our hearts, brains, and overall health. Different fish species offer various health benefits including protecting against heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and brain disorders. However, some fish can contain harmful contaminants like mercury, so choosing safer options like salmon and cod is important for children and pregnant women.

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