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- Psychedelic Journal Watch
Psychedelic Journal Watch
Keeping health professionals abreast of the latest research in psychedelic medicine
I. Psilocybin Side-Effects
Psilocybin has a very tolerable side-effect profile, and symptoms resolve within 48 hours, according to the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA).
In this systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers analyzed side-effect data from six randomized controlled trials on psilocybin containing a total of 528 participants.
At medium and high doses, psilocybin was associated with higher risk of headache, nausea, anxiety, dizziness, and elevated blood pressure compared with placebo. Psilocybin was not associated with paranoia or transient psychotic disorder.
According to the authors, “larger trials are necessary to fully assess these adverse effects, particularly in populations with comorbid health conditions…The possibility of suicidality, prolonged paranoia, and persistent visual perceptual effects should be monitored over the long term.”
II. 5-MeO-DMT Activation of Serotonin 1A Receptor Improves Mood in Mice
Psychedelic activation of serotonin 1a receptor leads to improvement in mood and does not cause hallucinations, according to Nature.
Classic psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin selectively target the serotonin 2a receptor, however, 5-MeO-DMT (a psychedelic drug derived from toad venom) and other tryptamine psychedelics activate both the serotonin 1a and 2a receptors.
In this mouse study, subjects were given 5-MeO-DMT with a serotonin 2a receptor blocker.
Exclusive activation of the serotonin 1a receptor by 5-MeO-DMT led to an improvement in mood symptoms without psychedelic hallucinations, in depressed mice.
According to the authors, “our studies uncover molecular aspects of [serotonin 1a – targeted] psychedelics and therapeutics, which may facilitate the future development of new medications for neuropsychiatric disorders.”
III. Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Increases Psychological Flexibility
The antidepressant effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy appear to be mediated by increased psychological flexibility, according to Scientific Reports.
In this placebo-controlled study conducted by Yale and NYU researchers, 19 individuals with moderate to severe depression were first given placebo and then large-dose psilocybin (4 weeks later) in combination with psychotherapy.
After receiving psilocybin, individuals reported a significant 6 point reduction in depression symptoms on a 27 point scale; and this was significantly associated with a 10 point increase in psychological flexibility scores on a 49 point scale.
According to the authors, “these results are consistent with previous [studies] indicating that classic psychedelic use is associated with improvements in psychological flexibility, and are the first to extend this finding to psilocybin or a clinical trial specifically.”
In 1914, Science magazine published a first hand account of a man, by the name of Mr. W, who ingested psilocybin mushrooms.
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