Psychedelics – mycolab.ai

Associations Between Escitalopram and Psilocybin Therapy and Brain Resting-State Functional Connectivity in Major Depressive Disorder

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This study compared how two depression treatments—a common antidepressant called escitalopram and psilocybin therapy—affect brain connectivity and depression symptoms. Both treatments reduced feelings of lacking pleasure and impulsive behaviors in depressed patients. The research found that while both worked, they affected different parts of the brain’s reward system in distinct ways, suggesting they may work through different mechanisms.

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

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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.

Trajectory of Antidepressant Effects after Single- or Two-Dose Administration of Psilocybin: A Systematic Review and Multivariate Meta-Analysis

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This comprehensive analysis of 10 clinical trials shows that psilocybin, a compound from magic mushrooms, can rapidly reduce depression symptoms starting within one day of administration and maintain these benefits for up to 6 months. Higher doses and two treatment sessions produced better results than single lower doses. While psilocybin did raise blood pressure temporarily, it was generally well-tolerated with dropout rates similar to placebo.

Sex-specific effects of psychedelic drug exposure on central amygdala reactivity and behavioral responding

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Researchers studied how psilocybin’s active form affects the brain’s fear center in both male and female rats. They found that a single dose produced different effects in males versus females, with males showing lasting reductions in fear responses over 28 days while females showed variable changes. These findings help explain why psychedelics might work differently between sexes and could inform how they’re used to treat anxiety and depression in humans.

Psychedelics for the Treatment of Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: Efficacy and Proposed Mechanisms

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Psilocybin mushrooms show promise as a treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a condition where people experience unwanted intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. Current standard treatments with antidepressants don’t work for many patients and take weeks to show effects. Early research suggests psilocybin may reduce OCD symptoms quickly and works in treatment-resistant cases, though more rigorous studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness and understand how it works in the brain.

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

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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.

Synergistic, multi-level understanding of psychedelics: three systematic reviews and meta-analyses of their pharmacology, neuroimaging and phenomenology

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This comprehensive study analyzed three classic psychedelic drugs—LSD, psilocybin (from magic mushrooms), and DMT—across three levels: how people experience them, how they affect brain activity, and how they interact with brain receptors. Researchers found that LSD produces more intense visual experiences than psilocybin, and all three drugs significantly alter brain connectivity patterns. The study highlights the importance of standardizing research methods to better understand how these compounds might help treat depression and addiction.

Psilocybin-induced modulation of visual salience processing

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When people take psilocybin mushrooms, they look at images differently – they focus more on visually striking regions while keeping their eyes in smaller areas. Brain recordings showed changes in electrical activity patterns. The research suggests psilocybin alters how the brain balances what naturally catches attention versus where we intentionally choose to look.

Comparative oral monotherapy of psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, ayahuasca, and escitalopram for depressive symptoms: systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis

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This study compared psychedelic drugs (psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, ayahuasca) with the antidepressant escitalopram for treating depression. Researchers analyzed 19 clinical trials and found that while psilocybin showed promise, its actual effectiveness was smaller than previously reported due to blinding issues in earlier studies. High-dose psilocybin performed better than escitalopram in some comparisons, but had a similar small effect size to current antidepressants.

Associations between psychedelic-related and meditation-related variables: A longitudinal study

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This study of over 13,000 people examined how using psychedelics relates to meditation practices. Researchers found that people who used psychedelics during the study period increased their meditation practice more than those who didn’t. Importantly, people who already had higher levels of mindfulness and self-compassion before using psychedelics had less difficult experiences during their use. However, among people who were already meditating regularly, psychedelic use was linked to more difficulties during meditation.

Research Keyword: Psychedelics