Psychedelic Drugs

A new study found that psilocybin improves body weight maintenance and cognitive flexibility in female rats modeled for anorexia nervosa, mainly through serotonin 5-HT1A receptor activity. These effects suggest potential therapeutic benefits for treating cognitive inflexibility in anorexia.

Individuals who used psychedelics reported less psychological distress, with the strongest effect seen in singles, while the benefit diminished for married, widowed, and divorced individuals.

A pilot study found that psilocybin administered in a group retreat setting led to enhanced psychological flexibility, improved self-compassion, and reduced cognitive fusion, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits for mental health.

While psychedelics show potential in mental health treatment, they pose specific risks for individuals with personality disorders, necessitating cautious application and further study.

A preliminary study published in European Psychiatry found that microdosing psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin may reduce ADHD symptoms and enhance emotional regulation in adults.

Combining psilocybin with meditation enhances brain connectivity and information flow, according to new research. This was evidenced by increased centrality in brain networks, suggesting improved cognitive integration.

New research shows psilocybin causes anxiety in mice through mechanisms distinct from its psychedelic effects. While ketanserin reduces psilocybin’s psychedelic impact by targeting the 5-HT2A receptor, it does not alleviate the anxiety, suggesting different pathways are involved.

New research suggests psilocybin-assisted therapy can lead to both short-term and long-term negative effects, including emotional and cognitive instability, difficulties in therapist-client relationships, and challenges integrating therapy insights, indicating the need for cautious application and further research into its psychological...

Researchers at the University of Michigan found that psilocybin significantly reduced chronic touch-related pain in rats without affecting heat-related pain. The pain relief outlasted the drug's presence in the body, suggesting a central brain mechanism could be responsible.

A recent study found no link between trauma history and the severity of psychedelic challenges or subsequent psychological growth, suggesting individual reactions to ayahuasca are highly variable.

Psychedelics like LSD and magic mushrooms could significantly enhance sexual well-being, offering promising alternatives to conventional treatments for sexual dysfunction, especially in those suffering from depression.

Researchers have discovered that ayahuasca, particularly due to its component harmine, acts as a powerful analgesic in mice without causing any detectable toxic effects.

A global survey found that 70.9% of participants reported reducing or ceasing their use of non-psychedelic substances like alcohol and tobacco after using psychedelics, with psilocybin being the most influential.

Participants in an ayahuasca retreat reported a significant, sustained increase in aesthetic appreciation one week and one month post-consumption.

Researchers recently explored the potential of psilocybin, a compound from magic mushrooms, to combat diabetes. The findings suggest that psilocybin might protect pancreatic β-cells from damage.