Repression of death consciousness and the psychedelic trip.
Dutta V.
J Cancer Res Ther. 2012 Jul-Sep;8(3):336-42. Review.
PMID: 23174711
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Cited by (Google Scholar)
Psychedelic drugs, magical thinking and psychosis.
Carhart-Harris R.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2013 Sep;84(9):e1.
PMID: 23922414
(PDF)
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Saturday, August 17, 2013
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Comment on low dose psilocybin for treatment of PTSD
The article by Catlow BJ et al. (Exp Brain Res. 2013 Jun 2. [Epub ahead of print]), demonstrates how a low dose (0.1 mg/kg) of psilocybin helps mice overcome a conditioned fear response significantly quicker than a medium (0.5 mg/kg) or high dose of psilocybin (1.0 mg/kg) and results in hippocampal neurogenesis while the higher doses result in a decrease in cell survival.
Griffiths et al. in their pioneering study (Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance. Griffiths RR, Richards WA, McCann U, Jesse R. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2006 Aug;187(3):268-83; discussion 284-92. Epub 2006 Jul 7.PMID: 16826400) utilized approximately 0.4 mg/kg. This dose occasioned a mystical experience and a sense of oneness with the universe.
Subsequent fMRI studies demonstrated psilocybin has the effect of decreasing activity in key areas of the brain which help to eliminate the crosstalk between the medial prefrontal cortex and the posterior cingulate cortex. This physiological response may be responsible for the "oneness with the universe" experience often seen in psilocybin trials including an ongoing Clinical Trial on cancer patients at NYU. The higher doses of psilocybin may not result in neurogenesis as do the lower doses but may still be beneficial by shutting down the sense of self and allowing the individual to sense a universal connectedness.
In essence, the stronger the ego, the less an individual is able to sense the connectedness with all things. This realization has provided peace to numerous individuals inside and outside of Clinical Trials when done with the proper set and setting. In summary, both the lower and higher doses of psilocybin may have their therapeutic effects. Low dose psilocybin could be given on a weekly basis to promote neurogenesis, which is how SSRIs are thought to provide their therapeutic effects. The higher dose may have to be given only once, under therapeutic conditions to promote a sense of connectedness with a higher power to alleviate the existential crisis seen in PTSD and cancer patients.
More research is needed and this is a good opportunity for the DoD and/or VA to show the Active Duty Military and Veterans that they will do what it takes to help alleviate the epidemic of PTSD found in those populations.
Griffiths et al. in their pioneering study (Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance. Griffiths RR, Richards WA, McCann U, Jesse R. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2006 Aug;187(3):268-83; discussion 284-92. Epub 2006 Jul 7.PMID: 16826400) utilized approximately 0.4 mg/kg. This dose occasioned a mystical experience and a sense of oneness with the universe.
Subsequent fMRI studies demonstrated psilocybin has the effect of decreasing activity in key areas of the brain which help to eliminate the crosstalk between the medial prefrontal cortex and the posterior cingulate cortex. This physiological response may be responsible for the "oneness with the universe" experience often seen in psilocybin trials including an ongoing Clinical Trial on cancer patients at NYU. The higher doses of psilocybin may not result in neurogenesis as do the lower doses but may still be beneficial by shutting down the sense of self and allowing the individual to sense a universal connectedness.
In essence, the stronger the ego, the less an individual is able to sense the connectedness with all things. This realization has provided peace to numerous individuals inside and outside of Clinical Trials when done with the proper set and setting. In summary, both the lower and higher doses of psilocybin may have their therapeutic effects. Low dose psilocybin could be given on a weekly basis to promote neurogenesis, which is how SSRIs are thought to provide their therapeutic effects. The higher dose may have to be given only once, under therapeutic conditions to promote a sense of connectedness with a higher power to alleviate the existential crisis seen in PTSD and cancer patients.
More research is needed and this is a good opportunity for the DoD and/or VA to show the Active Duty Military and Veterans that they will do what it takes to help alleviate the epidemic of PTSD found in those populations.
Low dose psilocybin erases conditioned fear in mice faster than high dose psilocybin and has potential as treatment for PTSD
Effects of psilocybin on hippocampal neurogenesis and extinction of trace fear conditioning
Drugs that modulate serotonin (5-HT) synaptic concentrations impact neurogenesis and hippocampal (HPC)-dependent learning. The primary objective is to determine the extent to which psilocybin (PSOP) modulates neurogenesis and thereby affects acquisition and extinction of HPC-dependent trace fear conditioning. PSOP, the 5-HT2A agonist 25I-NBMeO and the 5-HT2A/C antagonist ketanserin were administered via an acute intraperitoneal injection to mice. Trace fear conditioning was measured as the amount of time spent immobile in the presence of the conditioned stimulus (CS, auditory tone), trace (silent interval) and post-trace interval over 10 trials. Extinction was determined by the number of trials required to resume mobility during CS, trace and post-trace when the shock was not delivered. Neurogenesis was determined by unbiased counts of cells in the dentate gyrus of the HPC birth-dated with BrdU co-expressing a neuronal marker. Mice treated with a range of doses of PSOP acquired a robust conditioned fear response. Mice injected with low doses of PSOP extinguished cued fear conditioning significantly more rapidly than high-dose PSOP or saline-treated mice. Injection of PSOP, 25I-NBMeO or ketanserin resulted in significant dose-dependent decreases in number of newborn neurons in hippocampus. At the low doses of PSOP that enhanced extinction, neurogenesis was not decreased, but rather tended toward an increase. Extinction of "fear conditioning" may be mediated by actions of the drugs at sites other than hippocampus such as the amygdala, which is known to mediate the perception of fear. Another caveat is that PSOP is not purely selective for 5-HT2A receptors. PSOP facilitates extinction of the classically conditioned fear response, and this, and similar agents, should be explored as potential treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder and related conditions.
Catlow BJ, Song S, Paredes DA, Kirstein CL, Sanchez-Ramos. J.
Exp Brain Res. 2013 Jun 2. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 23727882
(PDF)
Cited by (Google Scholar)
Drugs that modulate serotonin (5-HT) synaptic concentrations impact neurogenesis and hippocampal (HPC)-dependent learning. The primary objective is to determine the extent to which psilocybin (PSOP) modulates neurogenesis and thereby affects acquisition and extinction of HPC-dependent trace fear conditioning. PSOP, the 5-HT2A agonist 25I-NBMeO and the 5-HT2A/C antagonist ketanserin were administered via an acute intraperitoneal injection to mice. Trace fear conditioning was measured as the amount of time spent immobile in the presence of the conditioned stimulus (CS, auditory tone), trace (silent interval) and post-trace interval over 10 trials. Extinction was determined by the number of trials required to resume mobility during CS, trace and post-trace when the shock was not delivered. Neurogenesis was determined by unbiased counts of cells in the dentate gyrus of the HPC birth-dated with BrdU co-expressing a neuronal marker. Mice treated with a range of doses of PSOP acquired a robust conditioned fear response. Mice injected with low doses of PSOP extinguished cued fear conditioning significantly more rapidly than high-dose PSOP or saline-treated mice. Injection of PSOP, 25I-NBMeO or ketanserin resulted in significant dose-dependent decreases in number of newborn neurons in hippocampus. At the low doses of PSOP that enhanced extinction, neurogenesis was not decreased, but rather tended toward an increase. Extinction of "fear conditioning" may be mediated by actions of the drugs at sites other than hippocampus such as the amygdala, which is known to mediate the perception of fear. Another caveat is that PSOP is not purely selective for 5-HT2A receptors. PSOP facilitates extinction of the classically conditioned fear response, and this, and similar agents, should be explored as potential treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder and related conditions.
Catlow BJ, Song S, Paredes DA, Kirstein CL, Sanchez-Ramos. J.
Exp Brain Res. 2013 Jun 2. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 23727882
(PDF)
Cited by (Google Scholar)
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Psychedelics and the Future of Psychotherapy
Psychedelic drugs as treatment: a look into the future of psychotherapy
This paper presents psychedelic drugs as treatment for various psychological disorders. The categorization and history of psychedelic drugs are being reviewed and the main related scientific findings are outlined accordingly. Moreover, the therapeutic capabilities of psychedelics are critically evaluated and discussed in relation to the current treatment methods. Finally, the text concludes by suggesting that psychedelics are brought back into the surface again since they have proven to be a very effective method of treating psychological disorders and can be very efficiently combined with all the psychotherapy techniques. Keywords: psychedelic drugs, psychotherapy, hallucinogens, psychological treatment. Liampas Aristotelis Charilaos. Global Journal of Psychology Research, Vol 2, No: 1 (2012): June PDF
This paper presents psychedelic drugs as treatment for various psychological disorders. The categorization and history of psychedelic drugs are being reviewed and the main related scientific findings are outlined accordingly. Moreover, the therapeutic capabilities of psychedelics are critically evaluated and discussed in relation to the current treatment methods. Finally, the text concludes by suggesting that psychedelics are brought back into the surface again since they have proven to be a very effective method of treating psychological disorders and can be very efficiently combined with all the psychotherapy techniques. Keywords: psychedelic drugs, psychotherapy, hallucinogens, psychological treatment. Liampas Aristotelis Charilaos. Global Journal of Psychology Research, Vol 2, No: 1 (2012): June PDF
The Renaissance of Psychedelic Research
The Psychedelic Renaissance: Reassessing the Role of Psychedelic Drugs in 21st Century Psychiatry and Society
Can Psychedelics do for psychiatry what the microscope did for biology and the telescope to astronomy? Can they be used to access on the depths of the psyche that are usually inaccessible? Psychedelic means: “mind manifesting” Psychedelics were inextricably associated with the hippie counterculture of the 1960s and, more recently, with the rave music scene and were once believed to hold great promise for treating a number of medical conditions as well as providing access to profound spiritual experiences. However, legal restrictions on the use of such drugs effectively forced them underground and brought clinical research to a halt — until recently. In this book, psychiatrist Dr. Ben Sessa makes a persuasive case for the re-evaluation of psychedelics — LSD, MDMA (‘Ecstasy’), DMT, psilocybin, ayahuasca, peyote, ibogaine, and more — as he explores their clinical potential for treating a range of conditions from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression to autism and cluster headaches. Based on a thorough review of the evidence Sessa corrects some common misconceptions about psychedelics and makes a clarion call for their responsible therapeutic use, with appropriate set and setting, in psychotherapy, psychiatry and personal growth. Topics covered in this book include: • What are the drugs and why are they so controversial? • How should they be safely and wisely used • What is the nature of the psychedelic experience? • What are the implications for psychiatry and for psycho spiritual growth? With clarity and wit, the author surveys the contributions of major figures in the psychedelic movement — from Huxley, Hofmann and Sandison to Leary, Grof and McKenna — and takes the reader on a journey through the fascinating history of psychedelic plants and chemicals as he considers the crucial role such drugs have had in human culture from prehistory to modern times. Enter the shamans of science and the psychonauts of psychiatry Although books on psychedelics abound, volumes like The Psychedelic Renaissance show how the field is now addressing the substance of findings from recent research rather than the legions of case reports and anecdotes. Kelly Morris The Lancet Vol. 381 February16, 2013 --The Lancet Vol. 381
Psilocybin as treatment for Existential Distress
Use of the Classic Hallucinogen Psilocybin for Treatment of Existential Distress Associated with Cancer
From textbook: Psychological Aspects of Cancer. Editors: Brian I. Carr, Jennifer Steel. ISBN: 978-1-4614-4865-5 (Print) 978-1-4614-4866-2 (Online).
Chapter 17: Use of the Classic Hallucinogen Psilocybin for Treatment of Existential Distress Associated with Cancer. Charles S. Grob M.D., Anthony P. Bossis Ph.D.
This chapter reviews the potential of a treatment approach that uses psilocybin, a novel psychoactive drug, to ameliorate the psychospiritual distress and demoralization that often accompany a life-threatening cancer diagnosis. The focus of cutting-edge research beginning in the 1950s, the investigation of classic hallucinogens had a major impact on the evolving field of psychiatry, contributing to early discoveries of basic neurotransmitter systems and to significant developments in clinical psychopharmacology. While published reports of therapeutic breakthroughs with difficult-to-treat and refractory patient populations were initially met with mainstream professional enthusiasm, by the late 1960s and early 1970s the growing association of hallucinogens with widespread indiscriminate use led to the temporary abandonment of this promising psychiatric treatment model. After a hiatus lasting several decades, however, regulatory and scientific support has grown for the resumption of clinical research investigations exploring the safety and efficacy of a treatment model utilizing the classic hallucinogen, psilocybin, in a subject population that had previously demonstrated positive therapeutic response, patients with existential anxiety due to a life-threatening cancer diagnosis.
From textbook: Psychological Aspects of Cancer. Editors: Brian I. Carr, Jennifer Steel. ISBN: 978-1-4614-4865-5 (Print) 978-1-4614-4866-2 (Online).
Chapter 17: Use of the Classic Hallucinogen Psilocybin for Treatment of Existential Distress Associated with Cancer. Charles S. Grob M.D., Anthony P. Bossis Ph.D.
This chapter reviews the potential of a treatment approach that uses psilocybin, a novel psychoactive drug, to ameliorate the psychospiritual distress and demoralization that often accompany a life-threatening cancer diagnosis. The focus of cutting-edge research beginning in the 1950s, the investigation of classic hallucinogens had a major impact on the evolving field of psychiatry, contributing to early discoveries of basic neurotransmitter systems and to significant developments in clinical psychopharmacology. While published reports of therapeutic breakthroughs with difficult-to-treat and refractory patient populations were initially met with mainstream professional enthusiasm, by the late 1960s and early 1970s the growing association of hallucinogens with widespread indiscriminate use led to the temporary abandonment of this promising psychiatric treatment model. After a hiatus lasting several decades, however, regulatory and scientific support has grown for the resumption of clinical research investigations exploring the safety and efficacy of a treatment model utilizing the classic hallucinogen, psilocybin, in a subject population that had previously demonstrated positive therapeutic response, patients with existential anxiety due to a life-threatening cancer diagnosis.
Psilocybin as treatment for alcoholism
Studying the Effects of Classic Hallucinogens in the Treatment of Alcoholism: Rationale, Methodology, and Current Research with Psilocybin.
Recent developments in the study of classic hallucinogens, combined with a re-appraisal of the older literature, have led to a renewal of interest in possible therapeutic applications for these drugs, notably their application in the treatment of addictions. This article will first provide a brief review of the research literature providing direct and indirect support for the possible therapeutic effects of classic hallucinogens such as psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in the treatment of addictions. Having provided a rationale for clinical investigation in this area, we discuss design issues in clinical trials using classic hallucinogens, some of which are unique to this class of drug. We then describe the design of an ongoing pilot study of psilocybin for alcohol dependence, followed by a discussion of the current status of this field of research and design considerations in future randomized trials. Bogenschutz MP. Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2013 Apr 29. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23627783 PDF
Ongoing Clinical Trial: Effects and Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin in Alcohol Dependence
Recent developments in the study of classic hallucinogens, combined with a re-appraisal of the older literature, have led to a renewal of interest in possible therapeutic applications for these drugs, notably their application in the treatment of addictions. This article will first provide a brief review of the research literature providing direct and indirect support for the possible therapeutic effects of classic hallucinogens such as psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in the treatment of addictions. Having provided a rationale for clinical investigation in this area, we discuss design issues in clinical trials using classic hallucinogens, some of which are unique to this class of drug. We then describe the design of an ongoing pilot study of psilocybin for alcohol dependence, followed by a discussion of the current status of this field of research and design considerations in future randomized trials. Bogenschutz MP. Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2013 Apr 29. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23627783 PDF
Ongoing Clinical Trial: Effects and Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin in Alcohol Dependence
Two places to find Psilocybe sp.
One place is along the Gulf Coast. The other is in college dorms.
A survey of hallucinogenic mushroom use, factors related to usage, and perceptions of use among college students. We surveyed 882 randomly selected undergraduates at Skidmore College in upstate New York and quantified whether participants had ever used psilocybin mushrooms, their attitudes toward the drug, and polydrug use. There were 409 responses and 29.5% of the sample reported psilocybin use. Among users, the mean number of times they reported using mushrooms was 3.4 (mode=1). Hallock RM, Dean A, Knecht ZA, Spencer J, Taverna EC. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2013 Jun 1;130(1-3):245-8. Epub 2012 Dec 21.
A follow-up to this post is from an article published in College Times on March 9 2015. This helps to verify the rather broad interest in psilocybin amongst college students.
Psilocybin – The “Magic” in the Mushroom
About College Times.
A survey of hallucinogenic mushroom use, factors related to usage, and perceptions of use among college students. We surveyed 882 randomly selected undergraduates at Skidmore College in upstate New York and quantified whether participants had ever used psilocybin mushrooms, their attitudes toward the drug, and polydrug use. There were 409 responses and 29.5% of the sample reported psilocybin use. Among users, the mean number of times they reported using mushrooms was 3.4 (mode=1). Hallock RM, Dean A, Knecht ZA, Spencer J, Taverna EC. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2013 Jun 1;130(1-3):245-8. Epub 2012 Dec 21.
A follow-up to this post is from an article published in College Times on March 9 2015. This helps to verify the rather broad interest in psilocybin amongst college students.
Psilocybin – The “Magic” in the Mushroom
About College Times.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
DoD turning to Mindfulness Meditation for PTSD prevention and treatment
Military May Be Turning to Meditation for PTSD
With its emphasis on developing tranquility, meditation may seem an odd fit for the military. But recent studies have shown that mindfulness meditation is extremely effective in lowering symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and increasing focus.
Meditation seems to produce its effects though a variety of mechanisms, according to the researchers. They found that mindfulness increases levels of insulin-like growth factor 1, a hormone that repairs cellular damage caused by stress. It also lowers levels of cortisol and neuropeptide Y, stress-related chemicals that, over time, can damage tissues. PsychCentral
Military and mindfulness meditation in PubMed.
Military and mindfulness meditation in Google Scholar.
With its emphasis on developing tranquility, meditation may seem an odd fit for the military. But recent studies have shown that mindfulness meditation is extremely effective in lowering symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and increasing focus.
Meditation seems to produce its effects though a variety of mechanisms, according to the researchers. They found that mindfulness increases levels of insulin-like growth factor 1, a hormone that repairs cellular damage caused by stress. It also lowers levels of cortisol and neuropeptide Y, stress-related chemicals that, over time, can damage tissues. PsychCentral
Military and mindfulness meditation in PubMed.
Military and mindfulness meditation in Google Scholar.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Long-lasting anxiolytic effect of psilocybin
Single treatments that have lasting effects: some thoughts on the antidepressant effects of ketamine and botulinum toxin and the anxiolytic effect of psilocybin.
Recent clinical trials suggest that 3 single biological treatments have effects that persist. Based on research showing that the muscles involved in facial expressions can feed back to influence mood, a single trial diminishing glabella frown lines with botulinum toxin demonstrated a significant antidepressant effect for 16 weeks. Based primarily on research with animal models of depression suggesting that glutamate may be involved in depression, the N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist ketamine has been tested in several trials. A single dose decreased depression for up to a week. The reported effects of the use of mushrooms containing psilocybin by a number of cultures around the world has stimulated several trials showing beneficial effects of a single dose of psilocybin for over a year in healthy people, and for up to 3 months in patients with anxiety disorders who have advanced cancer. This article discusses these studies, their rationale, their possible mechanisms of action, the future clinical research required to establish these therapies and the basic research required to optimize single treatments that have lasting effects.
Young SN. J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2013 Mar;38(2):78-83.
PMID: 23171696
PDF
Cited by (Google Scholar)
Recent clinical trials suggest that 3 single biological treatments have effects that persist. Based on research showing that the muscles involved in facial expressions can feed back to influence mood, a single trial diminishing glabella frown lines with botulinum toxin demonstrated a significant antidepressant effect for 16 weeks. Based primarily on research with animal models of depression suggesting that glutamate may be involved in depression, the N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist ketamine has been tested in several trials. A single dose decreased depression for up to a week. The reported effects of the use of mushrooms containing psilocybin by a number of cultures around the world has stimulated several trials showing beneficial effects of a single dose of psilocybin for over a year in healthy people, and for up to 3 months in patients with anxiety disorders who have advanced cancer. This article discusses these studies, their rationale, their possible mechanisms of action, the future clinical research required to establish these therapies and the basic research required to optimize single treatments that have lasting effects.
Young SN. J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2013 Mar;38(2):78-83.
PMID: 23171696
Cited by (Google Scholar)
Sunday, January 20, 2013
U.S. Marines take up Mindfulness training
US Marines studying mindfulness-based training
The U.S. Marine Corps, known for turning out some of the military's toughest warriors, is studying how to make its troops even tougher through meditative practices, yoga-type stretching and exercises based on mindfulness.
Facing a record suicide rate and thousands of veterans seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress, the military has been searching for ways to reduce strains on service members burdened with more than a decade of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The U.S. Marine Corps, known for turning out some of the military's toughest warriors, is studying how to make its troops even tougher through meditative practices, yoga-type stretching and exercises based on mindfulness.
Facing a record suicide rate and thousands of veterans seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress, the military has been searching for ways to reduce strains on service members burdened with more than a decade of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Psilocybin use in end of life care: Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Macready N. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2012 Nov 7;104(21):1619-20. Epub 2012 Oct 25. No abstract available. PMID: 23104218
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Cited by (Google Scholar)
Results of this ongoing study at New York University that has involved 12 patients given 0.3mg/kg of psilocybin. Study goal is 32 patients. Patients received 9 months of psychotherapy as well as psilocybin.
· all subjects experienced rapid clinical improvement (Psychiatric)
· there was significant reduction or resolution of death anxiety
· there was a decrease in depression/anxiety in general
· patients became more spiritual/philosophical and more connected with others
· they reported feeling interconnected with other forms of energy and that their consciousness was a part of a larger consciousness
· they felt connected to transcendental forces and a sense of sacredness
Dr. Anthony Bossis stated "Every patient I've worked with says the drug has allowed them to live more fully in the present, to be less concerned with yesterday and tomorrow and whether tomorrow will bring more suffering."
"One patient, now deceased, said he realized that consciousness doesn't end, it doesn't die, it continuous and that his body is one aspect of life, that physical death is part of the life experience, but there is a broader continuum."
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Self-Transcendence
Link to a slideshow that discusses varies aspects of Self-Transcendence. Some of the links are to videos that are related directly or indirectly to Self-Transcendence. Others are links to scientific articles or sections of various texts.
Self-Transcendence
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Factor Analysis of the Mystical Experience Questionnaire: A Study of Experiences Occasioned by the Hallucinogen Psilocybin
Factor Analysis of the Mystical Experience Questionnaire: A Study of Experiences Occasioned by the Hallucinogen Psilocybin
Katherine A. MacLean, Jeannie-Marie S. Leoutsakos, Matthew W. Johnson, Roland R. Griffiths. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. Vol 51 Issue 4. Article first published online: 4 Dec 2012
A large body of historical evidence describes the use of
hallucinogenic compounds, such as psilocybin mushrooms, for religious
purposes. But few scientific studies have attempted to measure or
characterize hallucinogen-occasioned spiritual experiences. The present
study examined the factor structure of the Mystical Experience
Questionnaire (MEQ), a self-report measure that has been used to assess
the effects of hallucinogens in laboratory studies. Participants (N =
1,602) completed the 43-item MEQ in reference to a mystical or profound
experience they had had after ingesting psilocybin. Exploratory factor
analysis of the MEQ retained 30 items and revealed a four-factor
structure covering the dimensions of classic mystical experience: unity,
noetic quality, sacredness (F1); positive mood (F2); transcendence of
time/space (F3); and ineffability (F4). MEQ factor scores showed good
internal reliability and correlated with the Hood Mysticism Scale,
indicating convergent validity. Participants who endorsed having had a
mystical experience on psilocybin, compared to those who did not, had
significantly higher factor scores, indicating construct validity. The
four-factor structure was confirmed in a second sample (N = 440) and
demonstrated superior fit compared to alternative models. The results
provide initial evidence of the validity, reliability, and factor
structure of a 30-item scale for measuring single,
hallucinogen-occasioned mystical experiences, which may be a useful tool
in the scientific study of mysticism.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
From the New York Times: New treatments for PTSD
For Veterans, a Surge of New Treatments for Trauma
You name it, and it’s being used somewhere in the veterans’ health system: The National Intrepid Center in Washington is one of many places using acupuncture to treat stress-related anxiety and sleep disorders; it has been shown to be effective against PTSD. At the New Orleans V.A., the same clinicians who ran Trin’s group also did a small study using yoga. They found vets liked it and attendance was excellent. The yoga reduced the veterans’ hyperarousal and helped them sleep. There is even a group in the Puget Sound V.A. Hospital in Seattle that treats PTSD — including among Navy Seals — using the Buddhist practice of “loving kindness meditation.” (“We had a little bit of debate about changing the name,” said Dr. David Kearney, who led the group. “But we decided to keep it, and it worked out just fine.”) NYT
You name it, and it’s being used somewhere in the veterans’ health system: The National Intrepid Center in Washington is one of many places using acupuncture to treat stress-related anxiety and sleep disorders; it has been shown to be effective against PTSD. At the New Orleans V.A., the same clinicians who ran Trin’s group also did a small study using yoga. They found vets liked it and attendance was excellent. The yoga reduced the veterans’ hyperarousal and helped them sleep. There is even a group in the Puget Sound V.A. Hospital in Seattle that treats PTSD — including among Navy Seals — using the Buddhist practice of “loving kindness meditation.” (“We had a little bit of debate about changing the name,” said Dr. David Kearney, who led the group. “But we decided to keep it, and it worked out just fine.”) NYT
Monday, September 24, 2012
New study shows PTSD symptoms reduced in combat-exposed military via integrative medicine
Healing touch combined with guided imagery (HT+GI) provides significant clinical reductions in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms for combat-exposed active duty military, according to a study released in the September issue of Military Medicine.
The report finds that patients receiving these complementary medicine interventions showed significant improvement in quality of life, as well as reduced depression and cynicism, compared to soldiers receiving treatment as usual alone. Eurekalert!
The report finds that patients receiving these complementary medicine interventions showed significant improvement in quality of life, as well as reduced depression and cynicism, compared to soldiers receiving treatment as usual alone. Eurekalert!
Friday, September 14, 2012
New Article from the Journal of Clinical Psychology
Effects of Participation in a Mindfulness Program for Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
Forty-seven veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; 37 male, 32 Caucasian) were randomized to treatment as usual (TAU; n = 22), or MBSR plus TAU (n = 25). PTSD, depression, and mental health-related quality of life (HRQOL) were assessed at baseline, posttreatment, and 4-month follow-up. Standardized effect sizes and the proportion with clinically meaningful changes in outcomes were calculated. Kearney DJ, McDermott K, Malte C, Martinez M, Simpson TL. J Clin Psychol. 2012 Aug 28. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 22930491
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Link to related article from 2012 in Journal of Clinical Psychology by Kearney et. al.:
Association of participation in a mindfulness program with measures of PTSD, depression and quality of life in a veteran sample. (PDF)
Kearney DJ, McDermott K, Malte C, Martinez M, Simpson TL.
J Clin Psychol. 2012 Jan;68(1):101-16. doi: 10.1002/jclp.20853. Epub 2011 Nov 28.
PMID: 2212518
Forty-seven veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; 37 male, 32 Caucasian) were randomized to treatment as usual (TAU; n = 22), or MBSR plus TAU (n = 25). PTSD, depression, and mental health-related quality of life (HRQOL) were assessed at baseline, posttreatment, and 4-month follow-up. Standardized effect sizes and the proportion with clinically meaningful changes in outcomes were calculated. Kearney DJ, McDermott K, Malte C, Martinez M, Simpson TL. J Clin Psychol. 2012 Aug 28. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 22930491
Cited by (Google Scholar)
Link to related article from 2012 in Journal of Clinical Psychology by Kearney et. al.:
Association of participation in a mindfulness program with measures of PTSD, depression and quality of life in a veteran sample. (PDF)
Kearney DJ, McDermott K, Malte C, Martinez M, Simpson TL.
J Clin Psychol. 2012 Jan;68(1):101-16. doi: 10.1002/jclp.20853. Epub 2011 Nov 28.
PMID: 2212518
Friday, September 7, 2012
Potential paradigmatic shift within the field of psychiatry
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012
New article from Current Biology promoting use of psilocybin for depression
Neuroimaging: a scanner, colourfully.
Two recent studies report changes in human brain responses after exposure to psilocybin, the active ingredient of hallucinogenic mushrooms. Psilocybin increased sensory cortex responses during emotional recollection, but decreased resting-state blood flow in prefrontal cortex, with potential implications for treating depression. Roiser JP, Rees G. Curr Biol. 2012 Apr 10;22(7):R231-3. PMID: 22497939
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And here is a recent article that describes the use of Ayahuasca for depression:
Antidepressant Effects of a Single Dose of Ayahuasca in Patients With Recurrent Depression: A SPECT Study.
Ayahuasca is an Amazonian botanical hallucinogenic brew which contains dimethyltryptamine, a 5-HT2A receptor agonist, and harmine, a monoamine-oxidase A inhibitor. Our group recently reported that ayahuasca administration was associated with fast-acting antidepressive effects in 6 depressive patients. The objective of the present work was to assess the antidepressive potentials of ayahuasca in a bigger sample and to investigate its effects on regional cerebral blood flow. In an open-label trial conducted in an inpatient psychiatric unit, 17 patients with recurrent depression received an oral dose of ayahuasca (2.2 mL/kg) and were evaluated with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Young Mania Rating Scale, and the Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale during acute ayahuasca effects and 1, 7, 14, and 21 days after drug intake. Blood perfusion was assessed eight hours after drug administration by means of single photon emission tomography. Ayahuasca administration was associated with increased psychoactivity (Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale) and significant score decreases in depression-related scales (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale) from 80 minutes to day 21. Increased blood perfusion in the left nucleus accumbens, right insula and left subgenual area, brain regions implicated in the regulation of mood and emotions, were observed after ayahuasca intake. Ayahuasca was well tolerated. Vomiting was the only adverse effect recorded, being reported by 47% of the volunteers. Our results suggest that ayahuasca may have fast-acting and sustained antidepressive properties. These results should be replicated in randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials.
Sanches RF, de Lima Osório F, Dos Santos RG, Macedo LR, Maia-de-Oliveira JP, Wichert-Ana L, de Araujo DB, Riba J, S Crippa JA, Hallak JE.
J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2015 Dec 8. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 26650973
Cited by (Google Scholar)
Two recent studies report changes in human brain responses after exposure to psilocybin, the active ingredient of hallucinogenic mushrooms. Psilocybin increased sensory cortex responses during emotional recollection, but decreased resting-state blood flow in prefrontal cortex, with potential implications for treating depression. Roiser JP, Rees G. Curr Biol. 2012 Apr 10;22(7):R231-3. PMID: 22497939
Cited by (Google Scholar)
And here is a recent article that describes the use of Ayahuasca for depression:
Antidepressant Effects of a Single Dose of Ayahuasca in Patients With Recurrent Depression: A SPECT Study.
Ayahuasca is an Amazonian botanical hallucinogenic brew which contains dimethyltryptamine, a 5-HT2A receptor agonist, and harmine, a monoamine-oxidase A inhibitor. Our group recently reported that ayahuasca administration was associated with fast-acting antidepressive effects in 6 depressive patients. The objective of the present work was to assess the antidepressive potentials of ayahuasca in a bigger sample and to investigate its effects on regional cerebral blood flow. In an open-label trial conducted in an inpatient psychiatric unit, 17 patients with recurrent depression received an oral dose of ayahuasca (2.2 mL/kg) and were evaluated with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Young Mania Rating Scale, and the Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale during acute ayahuasca effects and 1, 7, 14, and 21 days after drug intake. Blood perfusion was assessed eight hours after drug administration by means of single photon emission tomography. Ayahuasca administration was associated with increased psychoactivity (Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale) and significant score decreases in depression-related scales (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale) from 80 minutes to day 21. Increased blood perfusion in the left nucleus accumbens, right insula and left subgenual area, brain regions implicated in the regulation of mood and emotions, were observed after ayahuasca intake. Ayahuasca was well tolerated. Vomiting was the only adverse effect recorded, being reported by 47% of the volunteers. Our results suggest that ayahuasca may have fast-acting and sustained antidepressive properties. These results should be replicated in randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials.
Sanches RF, de Lima Osório F, Dos Santos RG, Macedo LR, Maia-de-Oliveira JP, Wichert-Ana L, de Araujo DB, Riba J, S Crippa JA, Hallak JE.
J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2015 Dec 8. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 26650973
Cited by (Google Scholar)
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