Research Topic: Psychiatry

Analysis of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy in Medicine: A Narrative Review

This review examines how psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, may help treat difficult-to-treat conditions like smoking addiction, alcohol dependence, and depression. Clinical trials show psilocybin-assisted therapy achieves better smoking cessation rates (80%) than standard medications and reduces depression symptoms as effectively as common antidepressants. The treatment works differently than daily medications, requiring only a few supervised doses weeks apart, potentially offering a new option for millions of people.

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PsilOCD: A Pharmacological Challenge Study Evaluating the Effects of the 5-HT2A Agonist Psilocybin on the Neurocognitive and Clinical Correlates of Compulsivity

This study is investigating whether psilocybin (an active compound in magic mushrooms) can help people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) by improving their mental flexibility and brain plasticity. Participants will receive two doses of psilocybin—a low test dose and a slightly higher therapeutic dose—four weeks apart, while receiving professional psychological support. Researchers will measure changes in cognitive abilities and brain activity to understand how psilocybin might help reduce OCD symptoms like intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors.

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Psilocybin-assisted massed cognitive processing therapy for chronic posttraumatic stress disorder: Protocol for an open-label pilot feasibility trial

This study tests whether psilocybin (a psychedelic compound) combined with intensive therapy can help treat chronic PTSD better than therapy alone. Fifteen patients with PTSD will receive one dose of psilocybin alongside 12 therapy sessions completed over a single week. Researchers will track feasibility, safety, symptom improvements, and use wearable devices to monitor physiological changes. The results will help determine whether larger trials should test this innovative combination therapy.

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Lower-dose psycholytic therapy – A neglected approach

This review examines psycholytic therapy, a method using lower doses of LSD or psilocybin combined with ongoing psychotherapy to help people process psychological conflicts and trauma. Developed in Europe during the 1960s-1970s and used successfully at over 30 clinics, this approach was largely abandoned when psychedelics became illegal but is now being reconsidered. Historical research shows it was effective for anxiety, depression, and personality issues in treatment-resistant patients, with safety profiles comparable to conventional therapy.

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Psilocybin: Systematic review of its use in the treatment of depression

Researchers reviewed scientific studies on psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms, as a treatment for depression. The studies showed that psilocybin significantly reduced depressive symptoms faster than standard treatments, with minimal side effects. This suggests psilocybin could be a promising new option for people with depression who haven’t benefited from traditional medications.

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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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Erythropoietin restrains the inhibitory potential of interneurons in the mouse hippocampus

Researchers studied how a protein called erythropoietin (EPO) affects brain cells called interneurons in the hippocampus, a region important for memory and learning. They found that EPO treatment reduces the inhibitory activity of certain interneurons, which makes the brain’s excitatory neurons more active. This change in brain balance could potentially help treat psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and autism that involve imbalanced brain activity.

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