substance use disorders – Page 2

Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: Potential Benefits and Challenges in Mental Health Treatment

mycolabadmin

This review examines how psychedelic substances like psilocybin and MDMA, when combined with professional psychotherapy, show promise in treating difficult-to-treat mental health conditions including depression, PTSD, and anxiety. While early research suggests these substances could help in cases where conventional treatments have failed, the evidence is still preliminary and limited by small study sizes. Psychedelics appear to work by changing how the brain processes information and memories, though much more rigorous research is needed before they can be considered standard treatments.

Psychedelics and Suicide-Related Outcomes: A Systematic Review

mycolabadmin

This comprehensive review examined how psychedelic substances like psilocybin and MDMA affect suicidal thoughts. Overall, psilocybin and MDMA-assisted therapy showed promise in reducing suicidal ideation in controlled clinical settings, with effects appearing within weeks. However, LSD use was associated with increased suicidal thoughts. The researchers conclude that while psychedelics show potential, more research is needed to ensure safety and understand how they work.

Addressing blinding in classic psychedelic studies with innovative active placebos

mycolabadmin

This research paper discusses how scientists can better test whether psychedelic drugs actually work by improving the way they conduct clinical trials. A major problem is that psychedelic drugs produce obvious effects that make it easy for patients and researchers to figure out who received the real drug versus a fake one. The authors recommend using different types of drugs as placebos that produce similar effects without being therapeutic themselves, such as certain existing medications. By using these better-designed placebos along with other strategies, future research can more definitively prove whether psychedelics truly help treat depression, chronic pain, and other conditions.

Novel psychedelic interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder and their promise for precision medicine

mycolabadmin

This review examines how psychedelic drugs like ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin could offer new hope for people with PTSD by working on the brain differently than current medications. These compounds work quickly and help the brain form new neural connections that can help people process traumatic memories more effectively. When combined with therapy, these drugs show promise in reducing PTSD symptoms faster and more effectively than traditional antidepressants. The review also explains how doctors could use personalized medicine approaches using brain scans and genetic testing to determine which treatment would work best for each individual patient.

Postpartum depression: A role for psychedelics?

mycolabadmin

Postpartum depression affects many new mothers and involves feelings of disconnection from themselves and their babies. This review suggests that psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, might help by promoting reconnection and acceptance. The authors examine safety data suggesting psilocybin could potentially be used safely in postpartum women if appropriate precautions are taken, such as temporarily stopping breastfeeding after treatment.

Psychedelics: Safety and Efficacy

mycolabadmin

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.

Biological markers of treatment response to serotonergic psychedelic therapies: a systematic review

mycolabadmin

This review examines how scientists can predict which patients will benefit most from psychedelic-assisted therapy for depression by measuring biological markers in the brain and blood. Researchers found that certain brain changes and protein levels—particularly involving the amygdala, specific brain regions, and inflammation markers—appear linked to treatment success. While the current studies are small, they suggest that measuring these biological markers could eventually help doctors personalize psychedelic treatments for depression.

Anhedonia: Current and future treatments

mycolabadmin

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.

Changes in synaptic markers after administration of ketamine or psychedelics: a systematic scoping review

mycolabadmin

This review examines how ketamine and psychedelics affect connections between brain cells. Under stressful conditions, ketamine and psychedelics appear to strengthen these connections in brain areas important for mood and learning. However, the effects are mixed under normal conditions and vary based on dose, sex, and which specific markers are measured. The findings suggest these substances may help restore brain function damaged by stress or substance use.

Psychedelics: Alternative and Potential Therapeutic Options for Treating Mood and Anxiety Disorders

mycolabadmin

This comprehensive review explores how psychedelic drugs like psilocybin mushrooms, DMT, and LSD may offer new hope for treating depression, anxiety, and PTSD, especially for patients who don’t respond to conventional antidepressants. Historically used in spiritual ceremonies for thousands of years, these compounds are now being scientifically studied and show promise with fewer side effects than many traditional psychiatric medications. The authors emphasize that while results are encouraging, more research and regulatory approval are needed before these treatments become widely available in mainstream medicine.

Disease: substance use disorders