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- Psychedelic Journal Watch
Psychedelic Journal Watch
Keeping health professionals abreast of the latest research in psychedelic medicine
I. Measuring Socioeconomic Status in Psychedelic Clinical Trials
Socioeconomic status (SES), a very important driver of mental health outcomes, is under-analyzed in psychedelic clinical trials, according to Nature Mental Health.
In this systematic review of 49 clinical trials and 49 secondary analyses, income data and educational attainment were assessed.
Only 12% of clinical trials reported income data and 31% reported educational attainment. Among US clinical trials, participants demonstrated significantly higher SES compared to the national average.
According to the authors, “this widespread underreporting of SES data and evidence of socioeconomic disparities, particularly in US trials, highlights an urgent need for standardized SES reporting and targeted strategies to improve socioeconomic diversity in psychedelic-assisted therapy research, ensuring broader generalizability and access to these emerging treatments.”
II. Psychedelics and Meaning in Life
Meaning in life increases after psychedelic use, according to Frontiers in Psychology.
In this secondary analysis of three studies including a randomized controlled trial, a single arm volunteer study, and a naturalistic observation study, presence of meaning in one’s life was measured before and after psychedelic use.
Presence of meaning strongly increased after psychedelic use, while search for meaning was slightly reduced.
According to the authors, “in line with previous research, we found that mystical, ego-dissolution and emotional breakthrough experiences were correlated with an increase of meaning in life, with context-dependent differences in the strength of the association.”
III. Psilocin Increases Neuroplasticity
Psilocin, the psychoactive metabolite of psilocybin, increases synaptogenesis, a key mechanism of neuroplasticity, according to the Journal of Psychopharmacology.
In this in vitro study, rat brain tissue was treated with psilocin, LSD, DMT, and ketamine and compared to brain tissue treated with fluoxetine and lithium.
Psilocin promoted synaptogenesis in a manner similar to ketamine and lithium. LSD and DMT did not cause any significant neuroplastic effects.
According to the authors, "psilocin demonstrated synaptogenic effects comparable to those of ketamine and lithium … adding another piece of evidence to its profile as a promising therapeutic agent."
In 1958, Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann isolated and named psilocin and its phosphorylated form, psilocybin, from lab-grown Psilocybe mexicana mushrooms.
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