
UP-TO-DATE, RESEARCH BASED INFORMATION ABOUT PSYCHEDELICS.
Ketamine pills for depression show positive results in trial — but with caveats
Even after selecting patients who initially responded to ketamine, 59.5 percent of the enriched participants still dropped out of the trial before its completion, largely due to a lack of efficacy.
Disentangling the acute subjective effects of classic psychedelics from their enduring therapeutic properties
Can the acute subjective effects of classic psychedelics be dissociated from their sustained therapeutic properties? Several plausible clinical scenarios are proposed to offer clarity on and potentially answer this question.
WHO annual world drug report 2024
A global reference on drug markets, trends and policy developments, the World Drug Report offers a wealth of data and analysis and in 2024 comprises several elements tailored to different audiences.
Extended-release ketamine tablets for treatment-resistant depression: a randomized placebo-controlled phase 2 trial
Ketamine has rapid-onset antidepressant activity in patients with treatment-resistant major depression (TRD). The safety and tolerability of racemic ketamine may be improved if given orally, as an extended-release tablet (R-107), compared with other routes of administration.
ICER issues final evidence report and recommendations re: MDMA-assisted therapy; Lykos responds
Psychedelic Alpha issued a helpful discussion of both the Institute for Clinical & Economic Review's Final Evidence Report and Lykos Therapeutic's response.
4-AcO-DMT is the most accessible (and mysterious) drug on the market right now
Legions of brands are putting 4-AcO-DMT in products, but the drug’s widespread availability has some experts worried.
Phase 1, placebo-controlled, single ascending dose trial to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics and effect on altered states of consciousness of intranasal BPL-003 (5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine benzoate) in healthy participants
The intensity of the SDI ratings was associated with plasma 5-MeO-DMT concentrations. MEQ-30 and EDI scores generally increased with the BPL-003 dose; 60% of participants had a ‘complete mystical experience’ at 10 and 12 mg doses.
Altered states and social bonds: Effects of MDMA and serotonergic psychedelics on social behavior as a mechanism underlying substance-assisted therapy
While both MDMA and serotonergic psychedelics produce prosocial effects, they differ in the mechanisms through which they do this. These differences affect the types of psychosocial interventions that may work best with each compound.
Trips through the skin: Reviewing cutaneous drug reactions to psychedelics and hallucinogens
Although psychedelic and hallucinogenic substances have gained popularity for therapeutic use, their dermatologic adverse effects are poorly characterized. This review characterizes the cutaneous reactions associated with psychedelic and hallucinogenic drugs.
At-home, telehealth-supported ketamine treatment for depression: Findings from longitudinal, machine learning and symptom network analysis of real-world data
Conclusions At-home, telehealth-supported ketamine administration was largely safe, well-tolerated, and associated with improvement in patients with depression. Strategies for combining psychedelic-oriented therapies with rigorous telehealth models, as explored here, may uniquely address barriers to mental health treatment.
Psilocybin mushroom potency can degrade by nearly 50% in six months, new data shows
Tomás says the Hyphae Labs team is designing a more detailed experiment around the longevity of alkaloid molecules, specifically psilocybin and psilocin. The results of the first experiment—and the public’s receptivity to it—warrant a deeper investigation into storage conditions, including how heat, moisture, and oxygen play a role in the degradation of psilocybin and the timeline in which it occurs. Praise the deep-space mushroom deities that someone is doing this work.
Psychological effects of psychedelics in adolescents
To our knowledge, this is the first prospective study to examine the psychological effects of psychedelic use specifically in adolescents. Statistically significant improvements in psychological well-being and other domains of mental health were observed, consistent with effects seen previously in adults, providing tentative evidence for the potential utility of psychedelic interventions in adolescents.
Psychedelics, OCD and related disorders: A systematic review
This review contributes to our understanding of the potential of classic psychedelics (in particular LSD and psilocybin) as novel therapeutic interventions for OCD and related disorders, offering insights into future research directions and clinical applications in this emerging field.
Microdosing psychedelics: Current evidence from controlled studies
Acute microdoses of LSD dose-dependently altered blood pressure, sleep, neural connectivity, social cognition, mood, and perception of pain and time. Perceptible drug effects were reported at doses of 10 to 20 μg but not 5 μg. No serious adverse effects were reported.
Community-based psychedelic integration and social efficacy: An ethnographic study in the Southeastern United States
Community-based non-therapeutic integration groups can play a vital role in the positive integration of psychedelic experiences, improving mental health and quality of life for users.
Evolving guidelines for the use of touch during a clinical trial of group psilocybin-assisted therapy
For a new clinical trial testing a group retreat-based format of psilocybin-assisted therapy, our research team created an initial set of practice guidelines that aimed to describe facilitator use of touch in a way that is ethical, supportive, and minimizes harm.
Breaking news: F.D.A. panel votes against MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD
On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration’s Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee voted overwhelmingly to reject MDMA-assisted therapy in the treatment of post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. The FDA will issue its final decision on the matter in mid-August but in the majority of cases, the federal agency’s decisions align with the vote of the independent panelists on advisory committees.
Attitudes of psychedelic users regarding cost of treatment and non-hallucinogenic alternatives
Participants valued the role of altered states of consciousness in therapeutic changes attributed to psychedelics, but were still open to trying a non-hallucinogenic analog. Notably, the price participants considered to be a reasonable amount for PAP is well below current market projections.
How do psychedelics reduce fear of death?
Increasing evidence suggests that psychedelic experiences, undergone in controlled conditions, can have various durable psychological benefits. One such benefit is reductions in fear of death, which have been attested in both psychiatric patients and healthy people. This paper addresses the question: how, exactly, do psychedelic experiences reduce fear of death?
Navigating groundlessness: An interview study on dealing with ontological shock and existential distress following psychedelic experiences
We conducted semi-structured interviews with 26 people who reported experiencing existential distress following psychedelic experiences. We explored the phenomenology of participants’ difficulties and the ways they navigated them, including what they found helpful and unhelpful in their process.