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Sakai K, Bradley ER, Zamaria JA, Agin-Liebes G, Kelley DP, Fish A, Martini V, Ferris MC, Morton E, Michalak EE, O'Donovan A, Woolley JD. Content analysis of Reddit posts about coadministration of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and psilocybin mushrooms. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024:10.1007/s00213-024-06585-x. [PMID: 38687360 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06585-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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Treatments with the serotonergic psychedelic psilocybin are being investigated for multiple neuropsychiatric disorders. Because many patients with these disorders use selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), understanding interactions between psilocybin and SSRIs is critical for evaluating the safety, efficacy, and scalability of psilocybin-based treatments. Current knowledge about these interactions is limited, as most clinical psilocybin research has prohibited concomittant SSRI use. OBJECTIVES We aimed to explore potential interactions between psilocybin and SSRIs by characterizing peoples' real-world experiences using psilocybin mushrooms and SSRIs together. METHODS We conducted a systematic search of Reddit for posts describing psilocybin mushroom and SSRI coadministration. We identified 443 eligible posts and applied qualitative content analysis to each. RESULTS 8% of posts reported negative physical or psychological effects resulting from coadministration. These included 13 reports that may reflect serotonin toxicity, and 1 concerning for a psychotic/manic episode. 54% of posts described reduced intensity of the acute psilocybin experience, but 39% reported unchanged intensity with SSRI coadministration. CONCLUSIONS Psilocybin's interactions with SSRIs are likely complex and may depend on multiple factors. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate whether psilocybin treatments are reliably safe and effective in the setting of SSRI use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly Sakai
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, 94121, USA
| | - Ellen R Bradley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, 94121, USA.
| | - Joseph A Zamaria
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- School of Education, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Gabrielle Agin-Liebes
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - D Parker Kelley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, 94121, USA
| | - Alexander Fish
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Valeria Martini
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- Psychology Department, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA
| | - Michelle C Ferris
- Psychology Department, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA
| | - Emma Morton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2A1, Canada
| | - Erin E Michalak
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2A1, Canada
| | - Aoife O'Donovan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, 94121, USA
| | - Joshua D Woolley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, 94121, USA
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Maia JM, de Oliveira BSA, Branco LGS, Soriano RN. Therapeutic potential of psychedelics: History, advancements, and unexplored frontiers. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 131:110951. [PMID: 38307161 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.110951] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Psychedelics (serotonergic hallucinogens) are psychoactive substances that can alter perception and mood, and affect cognitive functions. These substances activate 5-HT2A receptors and may exert therapeutic effects. Some of the disorders for which psychedelic-assisted therapy have been studied include depression, addiction, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite the increasing number of studies reporting clinical effectiveness, with fewer negative symptoms and, additionally, minimal side effects, questions remain to be explored in the field of psychedelic medicine. Although progress has been achieved, there is still little understanding of the relationship among human brain and the modulation induced by these drugs. The present article aimed to describe, review and highlight the most promising findings in the literature regarding the (putative) therapeutic effects of psychedelics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Marino Maia
- Department of Medicine, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Governador Valadares, MG 35032-620, Brazil
| | | | - Luiz G S Branco
- Department of Basic and Oral Biology, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14040-904, Brazil; Department of Physiology, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14040-900, Brazil.
| | - Renato Nery Soriano
- Division of Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Basic Life Sciences, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Governador Valadares, MG 35020-360, Brazil
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Song-Smith C, Jacobs E, Rucker J, Saint M, Cooke J, Schlosser M. UK medical students' self-reported knowledge and harm assessment of psychedelics and their application in clinical research: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e083595. [PMID: 38485474 PMCID: PMC10941112 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-083595] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To capture UK medical students' self-reported knowledge and harm assessment of psychedelics and to explore the factors associated with support for changing the legal status of psychedelics to facilitate further clinical research. DESIGN Cross-sectional, anonymous online survey of UK medical students using a non-random sampling method. SETTING UK medical schools recognised by the General Medical Council. PARTICIPANTS 132 medical students who had spent an average of 3.8 years (SD=1.4; range: 1-6) in medical school. RESULTS Most students (83%) reported that they were aware of psychedelic research and only four participants (3%) said that they were not interested in learning more about this type of research. Although medical students' harm assessment of psychedelics closely aligned with that of experts, only 17% of students felt well-educated on psychedelic research. Teachings on psychedelics were only rarely encountered in their curriculum (psilocybin: 14.1 (SD=19.9), scale: 0 (never) to 100 (very often)). Time spent at medical schools was not associated with more knowledge about psychedelics (r=0.12, p=0.129). On average, this sample of medical students showed strong support for changing the legal status of psychedelics to facilitate further research into their potential clinical applications (psilocybin: 80.2 (SD=24.8), scale: 0 (strongly oppose) to 100 (strongly support)). Regression modelling indicated that greater knowledge of psychedelics (p<0.001), lower estimated harm scores (p<0.001), more time spent in medical school (p=0.024) and lower perceived effectiveness of non-pharmacological mental health treatments (p=0.044) were associated with greater support for legal status change. CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal a significant interest among UK medical students to learn more about psychedelic research and a strong support for further psychedelic research. Future studies are needed to examine how medical education could be refined to adequately prepare medical students for a changing healthcare landscape in which psychedelic-assisted therapy could soon be implemented in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Edward Jacobs
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - James Rucker
- The Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Kent, UK
| | | | | | - Marco Schlosser
- Division of Psychiatry, UCL, London, UK
- Institut für Psychotherapie Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Ekman Schenberg
- Instituto Phaneros, São Paulo, Brazil (Schenberg); Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston (King); Psychotherapist in private practice, Lisbon (Fonseca); Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exter, United Kingdom; Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, London (Roseman)
| | - Franklin King
- Instituto Phaneros, São Paulo, Brazil (Schenberg); Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston (King); Psychotherapist in private practice, Lisbon (Fonseca); Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exter, United Kingdom; Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, London (Roseman)
| | - João Eusébio da Fonseca
- Instituto Phaneros, São Paulo, Brazil (Schenberg); Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston (King); Psychotherapist in private practice, Lisbon (Fonseca); Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exter, United Kingdom; Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, London (Roseman)
| | - Leor Roseman
- Instituto Phaneros, São Paulo, Brazil (Schenberg); Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston (King); Psychotherapist in private practice, Lisbon (Fonseca); Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exter, United Kingdom; Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, London (Roseman)
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Ko K, Carter B, Cleare AJ, Rucker JJ. Predicting the Intensity of Psychedelic-Induced Mystical and Challenging Experience in a Healthy Population: An Exploratory Post-Hoc Analysis. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2023; 19:2105-2113. [PMID: 37818448 PMCID: PMC10561760 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s426193] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction In psychedelic therapy, mystical as well as challenging experience may influence therapeutic outcome. However, predictors of such experience have not been sufficiently established. Determining predictors of their intensity is, therefore, potentially beneficial in targeting psilocybin therapy for depression. Methods In a post hoc data analysis of a Phase 1, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-groups clinical trial, dosage, personality traits, affect, and individual data were analysed as possible clinical predictors. Eighty-nine healthy volunteers were randomised to receive a single dose of placebo, 10 mg of psilocybin, or 25 mg of psilocybin. ANOVA was used to analyse the relationship between dosage and mystical and/or challenging experience, and correlation analysis for all other variables. Results The intensity of both mystical and challenging experience was strongly associated with higher dosage. Age was negatively correlated with intensity of challenging experience. Correlation between identified personality traits and either mystical or challenging experience was minimal, with the exception of positive correlation between neuroticism and challenging experience at higher dose. Neither positive nor negative affect indicated correlation with the intensity of either type of experience. Discussion A limitation of this study is its post hoc, exploratory design; recommendations for further research are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwonmok Ko
- Centre for Affective Disorders, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Ben Carter
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Anthony J Cleare
- Centre for Affective Disorders, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Beckenham, BR3 3BX, UK
| | - James J Rucker
- Centre for Affective Disorders, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Beckenham, BR3 3BX, UK
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