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Singer B, Meling D, Hirsch-Hoffmann M, Michels L, Kometer M, Smigielski L, Dornbierer D, Seifritz E, Vollenweider FX, Scheidegger M. Psilocybin enhances insightfulness in meditation: a perspective on the global topology of brain imaging during meditation. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7211. [PMID: 38531905 PMCID: PMC10966054 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55726-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, for the first time, we explored a dataset of functional magnetic resonance images collected during focused attention and open monitoring meditation before and after a five-day psilocybin-assisted meditation retreat using a recently established approach, based on the Mapper algorithm from topological data analysis. After generating subject-specific maps for two groups (psilocybin vs. placebo, 18 subjects/group) of experienced meditators, organizational principles were uncovered using graph topological tools, including the optimal transport (OT) distance, a geometrically rich measure of similarity between brain activity patterns. This revealed characteristics of the topology (i.e. shape) in space (i.e. abstract space of voxels) and time dimension of whole-brain activity patterns during different styles of meditation and psilocybin-induced alterations. Most interestingly, we found that (psilocybin-induced) positive derealization, which fosters insightfulness specifically when accompanied by enhanced open-monitoring meditation, was linked to the OT distance between open-monitoring and resting state. Our findings suggest that enhanced meta-awareness through meditation practice in experienced meditators combined with potential psilocybin-induced positive alterations in perception mediate insightfulness. Together, these findings provide a novel perspective on meditation and psychedelics that may reveal potential novel brain markers for positive synergistic effects between mindfulness practices and psilocybin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berit Singer
- Department of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Clinic Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Daniel Meling
- Department of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Clinic Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Hirsch-Hoffmann
- Department of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Clinic Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lars Michels
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Zurich, Neuroscience Center Zurich (ZNZ), University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Kometer
- Department of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Clinic Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lukasz Smigielski
- Department of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Clinic Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dario Dornbierer
- Department of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Clinic Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Erich Seifritz
- Department of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Clinic Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Franz X Vollenweider
- Department of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Clinic Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Milan Scheidegger
- Department of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Clinic Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Zurich, Neuroscience Center Zurich (ZNZ), University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Kňažek F, Horák M, Ocetková T, Somerlíková K, Bláhová B, Plevková M, Mravčík V, Chomynová P, Kočárová R. Typology of Users of Psychedelics and Alike Psychoactive Substances in Czechia: Results of the National Online Survey. J Psychoactive Drugs 2023; 55:601-611. [PMID: 36827494 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2023.2177908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to define the typical groups of users of psychedelics and alike psychoactive substances in Czechia regarding various variables such as demographics, their patterns of use, or motivation for use. Data from 890 Czech respondents were collected through an online questionnaire as a part of The National Psychedelic Research Project. Subjects reported experience with the use of 29 selected substances by answering 133 questions of the questionnaire. Cluster analysis based on answers on last year use was performed, and descriptive statistics was used for 18 questions from the questionnaire. Six groups of users were identified with distinguished users and demographic characteristics, namely, The most experienced; Pure smokers; Highly educated mild users; Past-time users with families; Responsible (party) students and Deep meaning natural substance users. Groups differ mainly in the type of substances used, frequency of use last year, and demographics. Our findings highlight several patterns typical for psychedelics and alike psychoactive substances use in Czechia in each of the groups and the need for targeted drug prevention services, the raise of public awareness regarding this topic, and a possible reevaluation of the legal status of some substances. Results can be useful for health-care providers, social workers, and policy-makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip Kňažek
- Technology transfer centre, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Masaryk,University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Horák
- Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Ocetková
- Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kristína Somerlíková
- Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Bláhová
- Technology transfer centre, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Michaela Plevková
- Technology transfer centre, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Arts, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Viktor Mravčík
- Department of Addictology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University
| | - Pavla Chomynová
- National Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Addiction, Office of the Government, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Addictology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University
| | - Rita Kočárová
- Technology transfer centre, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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Weleff J, Akiki TJ, Barnett BS. Bibliometric Analysis of Academic Journal Articles Reporting Results of Psychedelic Clinical Studies. J Psychoactive Drugs 2023; 55:434-444. [PMID: 36218281 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2022.2133757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Following a decades long period of investigational dormancy, there is renewed interest in employing psychedelics as psychiatric treatments. The academic journals, institutions, and countries that have helped sustain clinical psychedelic research and the evolution of the literature on clinical studies of psychedelics have only recently begun to be investigated. To expand upon this work, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of clinical studies of 5-methoxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), ayahuasca, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ibogaine, mescaline, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and psilocybin published from 1965-2021. Our search revealed 394 relevant articles. After a lull from the 1970s-1990s, publications in this area have resurged. Studies most frequently focused on MDMA (49%), LSD (19%), psilocybin (18%), and ayahuasca (7%). A subanalysis of studies from 1965 to 2009 ("Older cohort") compared to 2010-2021 ("Recent cohort") revealed that the Recent cohort had a higher proportion of studies investigating psychedelics' therapeutic applications and a lower proportion of studies investigating the effects of psychedelics on people using them in non-research settings. Compared to the Older cohort, psilocybin studies increased proportionally in the Recent cohort, while DMT and mescaline studies decreased. Network analyses of inter-country collaborations suggested that psychedelic researchers in the United Kingdom have the most diverse international collaborations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Weleff
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Center for Behavioral Health, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Teddy J Akiki
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Center for Behavioral Health, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Brian S Barnett
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Center for Behavioral Health, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
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Meling D, Scheidegger M. Not in the drug, not in the brain: Causality in psychedelic experiences from an enactive perspective. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1100058. [PMID: 37077857 PMCID: PMC10106622 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1100058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Psychedelics are psychoactive substances that receive renewed interest from science and society. Increasing empirical evidence shows that the effects of psychedelics are associated with alterations in biochemical processes, brain activity, and lived experience. Still, how these different levels relate remains subject to debate. The current literature presents two influential views on the relationship between the psychedelic molecule, neural events, and experience: The integration view and the pluralistic view. The main aim of this article is to contribute a promising complementary view by re-evaluating the psychedelic molecule-brain-experience relationship from an enactive perspective. We approach this aim via the following main research questions: (1) What is the causal relationship between the psychedelic drug and brain activity? (2) What is the causal relationship between brain activity and the psychedelic experience? In exploring the first research question, we apply the concept of autonomy to the psychedelic molecule-brain relationship. In exploring the second research question, we apply the concept of dynamic co-emergence to the psychedelic brain-experience relationship. Addressing these two research questions from an enactive position offers a perspective that emphasizes interdependence and circular causality on multiple levels. This enactive perspective not only supports the pluralistic view but enriches it through a principled account of how multi-layered processes come to interact. This renders the enactive view a promising contribution to questions around causality in the therapeutic effects of psychedelics with important implications for psychedelic therapy and psychedelic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Meling
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Daniel Meling,
| | - Milan Scheidegger
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich (ZNZ), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Weleff J, Barnett BS, Park DY, Akiki TJ, Aftab A. The State of the Catatonia Literature: Employing Bibliometric Analysis of Articles From 1965-2020 to Identify Current Research Gaps. J Acad Consult Liaison Psychiatry 2023; 64:13-27. [PMID: 35840002 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaclp.2022.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since Kahlbaum's classic 19th-century description of catatonia, our conceptualization of this syndrome, as well treatment options for it, has advanced considerably. However, little is known about the current state of the catatonia literature since a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of it has not yet been undertaken. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to conduct a bibliometric analysis, along with a content analysis of articles reporting new findings, to better understand the catatonia literature and how catatonia research is changing. METHODS Using the search term "Title(catatoni∗)" in Web of Science Core Collection for all available years (1965-2020), all available publications (articles, proceeding papers, reviews) pertaining directly to catatonia were identified, and metadata extracted. Semantic and coauthorship network analyses were conducted. A content analysis was also conducted on all available case reports, case series, and research articles written in English. RESULTS A total of 1015 articles were identified representing 2861 authors, 346 journals, and 15,639 references. The average number of publications per year over the last 20 years (31.3) more than doubled in comparison to that in the 20 years prior (12.8). The top 3 most common journals were Psychosomatics/Journal of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Journal of ECT, and Schizophrenia Research, which represented 12.6% of all publications. Content analysis revealed that catatonia articles are increasingly published in nonpsychiatric journals. There was a notable paucity of clinical trials throughout the study period. Since 2003, articles on catatonia secondary to a general medical condition, as well as articles including child/adolescent patients and patients with autism spectrum disorder or intellectual disability, have made up increasing shares of the literature, with a smaller proportion of articles reporting periodic or recurrent catatonia. We noted a decrease in the proportion of articles detailing animal/in vitro studies, genetic/heredity studies, and clinical trials, along with stagnation in the proportion of neuroimaging studies. CONCLUSIONS The catatonia literature is growing through contributions from authors and institutions across multiple countries. However, recent growth has largely been driven by increased case reports, with significant downturns observed in both clinical and basic science research articles. A dearth of clinical trials evaluating potential treatments remain a critical gap in the catatonia literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Weleff
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Center for Behavioral Health, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
| | - Brian S Barnett
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Center for Behavioral Health, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, EC-10 Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Deborah Y Park
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, EC-10 Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Teddy J Akiki
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Center for Behavioral Health, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Awais Aftab
- Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH; Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare, Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Northfield, OH
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Solmi M, Chen C, Daure C, Buot A, Ljuslin M, Verroust V, Mallet L, Khazaal Y, Rothen S, Thorens G, Zullino D, Gobbi G, Rosenblat J, Husain MI, De Gregorio D, Castle D, Sabé M. A century of research on psychedelics: A scientometric analysis on trends and knowledge maps of hallucinogens, entactogens, entheogens and dissociative drugs. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2022; 64:44-60. [PMID: 36191546 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2022.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
A scientometric analysis was realized to outline clinical research on psychedelics over the last century. Web of Science Core Collection was searched up to March 18, 2022, for publications on psychedelics. Network analyses and bibliometrics were combined, to identify research themes and trends with Bibliometrix and CiteSpace. The primary aim was to measure research trends evolution over time, and the secondary aims were to identify bibliometric performance and influence networks of publications, authors, institutions, and countries. Sensitivity analyses were conducted for 2016-2022, and 2021 time periods. We included 31,687 documents (591,329 references), which aggregated into a well-structured network with credible clustering. Research productivity was split into an early less productive period mainly focusing on safety issues, and a "psychedelic renaissance" after the 1990s. Major trends were identified for hallucinogens/entheogens, entactogens, novel psychoactive substances (NPS), and on dissociative substances. There was a translational evolution from the bench to the bedside, with phase 2 and 3 trials and/or evidence synthesis in particular. The most recent trends concerned NPS, ketamine-associated brain changes, and ayahuasca-assisted psychotherapy. The USA and Canada were the most productive settings for the research overall, and more recently this geographical distribution became more prominent, reflecting legislative context/policy making. A translational evolution of psychedelics has been occurring, that has brought approval of esketamine for depression and will likely lead to approval of additional psychedelics across mental and physical conditions. Toxicology screening tools for NPS are urgently needed, which in turn might follow the same translational evolution of psychedelics in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Solmi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Department of Mental Health, The Ottawa Hospital, Ontario, Canada; Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) Clinical Epidemiology Program University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Chaomei Chen
- College of Computing & Informatics, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Charles Daure
- Université de Paris, INSERM UMRS1144, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Anne Buot
- Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau - Paris Brain Institute - ICM, Inserm, CNRS, France; Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Michael Ljuslin
- Palliative Medicine Division, Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Verroust
- Centre d'histoire des sciences, des sociétés et des conflits, Université Picardie Jules-Vernes, Amiens, France; UR PsyComAdd, hôpital Paul Brousse, Villejuif, France
| | - Luc Mallet
- Univ Paris-Est Créteil, DMU IMPACT, Département Médical-Universitaire de Psychiatrie et d'Addictologie, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor - Albert Chenevier, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Créteil, France; Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau - Paris Brain Institute - ICM, Inserm, CNRS, Paris, France; Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Global Health Institute, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Yasser Khazaal
- Addiction Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Switzerland Bugnon 23 a, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stephane Rothen
- Division of Addiction Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, 70, Grand-Pré, CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Gabriel Thorens
- Division of Addiction Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, 70, Grand-Pré, CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Daniele Zullino
- Division of Addiction Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, 70, Grand-Pré, CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Gabriella Gobbi
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Joshua Rosenblat
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, Poul Hansen Family Centre for Depression, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, ON, Canada; Canadian Rapid Treatment Center of Excellence, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Muhammad Ishrat Husain
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Danilo De Gregorio
- Division of Neuroscience, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - David Castle
- Centre for Complex Interventions, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Michel Sabé
- Division of Adult Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Thonex, Switzerland.
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Abstract
Current medications have not been effective in reducing the prevalence of mental illness worldwide. The prevalence of illnesses such as treatment-resistant depression has increased despite the widespread use of a broad set of psychopharmaceuticals. Transcranial magnetic stimulation and ketamine therapy are making great strides in improving treatment-resistant depression outcomes but they have limitations. New psychotherapeutics are required that specifically target the underlying cellular pathologies leading to neuronal atrophy. This neuronal atrophy model is supplanting the long-held neurotransmitter deficit hypothesis to explain mental illness. Interest in psychedelics as therapeutic molecules to treat mental illness is experiencing a 21st-century reawakening that is on the cusp of a transformation. Psilocybin is a pro-drug, found in various naturally occurring mushrooms, that is dephosphorylated to produce psilocin, a classic tryptamine psychedelic functional as a 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor agonist. We have focused this review to include studies in the last two years that suggest psilocybin promotes neuronal plasticity, which may lead to changes in brain network connectivity. Recent advancements in clinical trials using pure psilocybin in therapy suggest that it may effectively relieve the symptoms of depression in patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression. Sophisticated cellular and molecular experiments at the systems level have produced evidence that demonstrates psilocybin promotes neuritogenesis in the mouse brain - a mechanism that may address the root cause of depression at the cellular level. Finally, studies with psilocybin therapy for major depressive disorder suggest that this ancient molecule can promote functionally connected intrinsic networks in the human brain, resulting in durable improvements in the severity of depressive symptoms. Although further research is necessary, the prospect of using psilocybin for the treatment of mental illness is an enticing possibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Sotille
- Medical Education, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, USA
| | - Herpreet Singh
- Medical Education, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, USA
| | - Anne Weisman
- Medical Education, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, USA
| | - Thomas Vida
- Medical Education, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, USA
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Abstract
Although intended to avoid illicit drug use, national laws and international conventions have limited research on psychoactive drugs. To characterise the evolution of the literature on psychoactive drugs, a bibliometric study of 15 psychoactive drugs from 1960 to 2018 was conducted in which 956,703 academic publications were obtained from Web of Science. Growth patterns were analysed per drug type, legal status and country. Our results show the existence of heterogeneous patterns of growth for the publications of different psychoactive drugs. Strikingly, the literature on legal substances and depressants represented between 60% and 80% throughout the years. We found unexpected regional differences in the scientific output about the selected drugs, which might be explained by cultural and political phenomena. Governments and funding bodies should consider these results when allocating resources to research on psychoactive drugs to optimise the therapeutic applications of these compounds and our understanding of the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Lebrero-Tatay
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology Manchester, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Drugs and Me, London, UK
| | - Arthur Sebag
- Drugs and Me, London, UK
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
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Pontual AADD, Tófoli LF, Collares CF, Ramaekers JG, Corradi-Webster CM. The Setting Questionnaire for the Ayahuasca Experience: Questionnaire Development and Internal Structure. Front Psychol 2021; 12:679016. [PMID: 34248778 PMCID: PMC8260978 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.679016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The growing interest in research on psychedelic consumption in naturalistic contexts and their possible medical and therapeutic benefits requires assessment of the relationships between the substance and the individual who consumes it (set) and its context of use (setting). This study provides a novel measurement scale for the setting of Ayahuasca consumption, the Setting Questionnaire for the Ayahuasca Experience (SQAE), and examines its psychometric properties. Construction of the scale began with a literature review, followed by interviews on 19 Ayahuasca users from different backgrounds and different consumption experience, and an online survey for quantitative data collection (n = 2,994). Exploratory Graph Analysis (EGA) was used to investigate the questionnaire's dimensional structure with (n = 1,497, half of the sample), and multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) was used to compare the fit of the theoretical dimensions with the EGA proposed dimensions (n = 1,497, independent other half). EGA identified six dimensions, which corresponded partially to the theorized model (Leadership, Decoration, Infrastructure, Comfort, Instruction, and Social). The MIRT comparison found that the proposed theoretical model fit significantly better than the EGA model, providing support for the former (χ2/df = 1,967; CFI = 0,972; TLI = 0,969; RMSEA = 0,059; WRMR = 1,087). Our findings present evidence of validity of this instrument, justifying its use for future research on the influence of the setting during the ayahuasca experience. Its findings may provide a basis for expanding the settings investigated in the use of psychedelics in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Augusto de Deus Pontual
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, Science and Letters, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Interdisciplinary Cooperation for Ayahuasca Research and Outreach (ICARO), Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Luís Fernando Tófoli
- Interdisciplinary Cooperation for Ayahuasca Research and Outreach (ICARO), Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Carlos Fernando Collares
- Department of Educational Development and Research, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Johannes G. Ramaekers
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
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Cumming P, Scheidegger M, Dornbierer D, Palner M, Quednow BB, Martin-Soelch C. Molecular and Functional Imaging Studies of Psychedelic Drug Action in Animals and Humans. Molecules 2021; 26:2451. [PMID: 33922330 PMCID: PMC8122807 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26092451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hallucinogens are a loosely defined group of compounds including LSD, N,N-dimethyltryptamines, mescaline, psilocybin/psilocin, and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methamphetamine (DOM), which can evoke intense visual and emotional experiences. We are witnessing a renaissance of research interest in hallucinogens, driven by increasing awareness of their psychotherapeutic potential. As such, we now present a narrative review of the literature on hallucinogen binding in vitro and ex vivo, and the various molecular imaging studies with positron emission tomography (PET) or single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT). In general, molecular imaging can depict the uptake and binding distribution of labelled hallucinogenic compounds or their congeners in the brain, as was shown in an early PET study with N1-([11C]-methyl)-2-bromo-LSD ([11C]-MBL); displacement with the non-radioactive competitor ketanserin confirmed that the majority of [11C]-MBL specific binding was to serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. However, interactions at serotonin 5HT1A and other classes of receptors and pleotropic effects on second messenger pathways may contribute to the particular experiential phenomenologies of LSD and other hallucinogenic compounds. Other salient aspects of hallucinogen action include permeability to the blood-brain barrier, the rates of metabolism and elimination, and the formation of active metabolites. Despite the maturation of radiochemistry and molecular imaging in recent years, there has been only a handful of PET or SPECT studies of radiolabeled hallucinogens, most recently using the 5-HT2A/2C agonist N-(2[11CH3O]-methoxybenzyl)-2,5-dimethoxy- 4-bromophenethylamine ([11C]Cimbi-36). In addition to PET studies of target engagement at neuroreceptors and transporters, there is a small number of studies on the effects of hallucinogenic compounds on cerebral perfusion ([15O]-water) or metabolism ([18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose/FDG). There remains considerable scope for basic imaging research on the sites of interaction of hallucinogens and their cerebrometabolic effects; we expect that hybrid imaging with PET in conjunction with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) should provide especially useful for the next phase of this research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Cumming
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Bern University Hospital, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4059, Australia
| | - Milan Scheidegger
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Zurich, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland; (M.S.); (D.D.); (B.B.Q.)
| | - Dario Dornbierer
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Zurich, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland; (M.S.); (D.D.); (B.B.Q.)
| | - Mikael Palner
- Odense Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark;
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Odense University Hospital, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Boris B. Quednow
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Zurich, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland; (M.S.); (D.D.); (B.B.Q.)
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, CH-8058 Zurich, Switzerland
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