Research Keyword: psychosis

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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Syndrome of Subjective Doubles: Delusions of Identity and Duplication

A 23-year-old man believed that a musician he saw on social media was actually his identical duplicate, causing him significant distress and confusion about his own identity. His belief that he might be the ‘dead’ version persisted for years until he sought psychiatric help due to worsening symptoms. Treatment with the antipsychotic medication olanzapine, combined with therapy, successfully reduced his delusions and hallucinations within five days of hospitalization. This rare condition highlights how certain psychiatric disorders can cause profound disturbances in how people perceive their own identity.

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