Ketamine significantly reduces suicidal ideation in depressed patients, with rapid effects observed within the first day of treatment. Highlights: Rapid Reduction: Ketamine shows a significant reduction in suicidal ideation within the first day of treatment (RR = 10.02, 95% CI = 4.24 to 23.68). Sustained Improvement: Repeated ketamine treatments result in a greater reduction of …
A study examined the effects of ketamine on sleep arousal metrics in individuals with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) vs. healthy volunteers, finding that ketamine increases certain sleep-related brain activities but does not significantly mediate its antidepressant effects through these sleep changes. Highlights: Individuals with TRD had lower total sleep time and shorter REM latency compared to …
TLDR: LSD does not provide psychological resilience during stressful experiences such as job loss – and may increase psychological distress. Highlights: The study analyzed data from 5,067,553 unemployed individuals seeking jobs. LSD users who had used the drug more than a year before job loss were the focus to ensure accurate results. LSD use prior …
Researchers uncover a surprising molecular mechanism that explains ketamine’s exceptionally long-lasting antidepressant effects. Key Facts: Ketamine’s antidepressant effects last for days after its concentration drops to low, ineffective levels only an hour after administration. This contrasts starkly with ketamine’s short 13-minute half-life in the body. Ketamine continues blocking NMDA receptors and suppressing activity in the …
Big picture: Psychoplastogens are a groundbreaking new class of psychoactive compounds that rapidly induce structural and functional changes in the brain, allowing pathological neural circuits to be rewired for therapeutic benefit. Key facts about psychoplastogens: Rapidly increase neural plasticity, unlike traditional antidepressants that work slowly. Produce fast-acting and sustained antidepressant effects in humans after a …
Ibogaine, an alkaloid derived from the Tabernanthe iboga shrub found in Africa, has received attention as a potential treatment for addiction, particularly opioid use disorder. While small studies have hinted at effectiveness, a new clinical study shows ibogaine comes with concerning safety risks that may limit its therapeutic potential. Key facts: Ibogaine resulted in significant …
Ayahuasca is a traditional psychedelic brew from the Amazon that has been used for centuries in shamanic healing rituals. Research is now exploring its potential therapeutic benefits for mental health and addiction. Key Facts: Ayahuasca contains DMT, a hallucinogenic compound, along with MAOIs from the vine Banisteriopsis caapi. The MAOIs allow the DMT to be …
A new study provides evidence that the psychedelic compound psilocybin has both immediate and lasting anti-inflammatory effects in healthy volunteers. The findings shed light on how psilocybin may improve mood, social behavior, and potentially treat depression. Key facts: Psilocybin decreased the inflammatory marker TNF-alpha immediately after administration. Seven days later, psilocybin reduced two other inflammatory …
Researchers find similarities in brain activity induced by different psychedelic drugs in rats, providing clues to how they alter consciousness. Key facts: Psychedelic drugs like LSD and ketamine induce high-frequency brain waves that synchronize activity across the cortex. This hypersynchrony was seen between the frontal cortex, sensory areas and emotion centers like the ventral striatum. …
Researchers have discovered that classic psychedelic drugs like LSD and psilocybin (‘magic mushrooms’) flatten the energy landscape of the brain. This effect makes it easier for the brain to transition between different states of activity and leads to more diverse and entropic neural dynamics overall. Key Facts: Using fMRI data and network modeling, researchers found …
