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Safety and Side Effects of Ayahuasca in Humans—An Overview Focusing on Developmental Toxicology

/ Ayahuasca, Papers, Publications / /

Abstract

Despite being relatively well studied from a botanical, chemical, and (acute) pharmacological perspective, little is known about the possible toxic effects of ayahuasca (an hallucinogenic brew used for magico-ritual purposes) in pregnant women and in their children, and the potential toxicity of long-term ayahuasca consumption. It is the main objective of the present text to do an overview of the risks and possible toxic effects of ayahuasca in humans, reviewing studies on the acute ayahuasca administration to humans, on the possible risks associated with long-term consumption by adults and adolescents, and on the possible toxic effects on pregnant animals and in their offspring. Acute ayahuasca administration, as well as long-term consumption of this beverage, does not seem to be seriously toxic to humans. Although some nonhuman developmental studies suggested possible toxic effects of ayahuasca or of some of its alkaloids, the limited human literature on adolescents exposed to ayahuasca as early as in the uterus reports no serious toxic effects of the ritual consumption of the brew. Researchers must take caution when extrapolating nonhuman data to humans and more data are needed in basic and human research before a definite opinion can be made regarding the possible toxic effects of ayahuasca in pregnant women and in their children.

dos Santos, R. G. (2013). Safety and Side Effects of Ayahuasca in Humans— An Overview Focusing on Developmental Toxicology. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 45(1), 68-78. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2013.763564
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Role of the 5-HT2A receptor in the locomotor hyperactivity produced by phenylalkylamine hallucinogens in mice

/ Mescaline / Cacti, Neuroscience, Papers, Publications / / , ,

Abstract

The 5-HT2A receptor mediates the effects of serotonergic hallucinogens and may play a role in the pathophysiology of certain psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Given these findings, there is a need for animal models to assess the behavioral effects of 5-HT2A receptor activation. Our previous studies demonstrated that the phenylalkylamine hallucinogen and 5-HT2A/2C agonist 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI) produces dose-dependent effects on locomotor activity in C57BL/6J mice, increasing activity at low to moderate doses and reducing activity at high doses. DOI did not increase locomotor activity in 5-HT2A knockout mice, indicating the effect is a consequence of 5-HT2A receptor activation. Here, we tested a series of phenylalkylamine hallucinogens in C57BL/6J mice using the Behavioral Pattern Monitor (BPM) to determine whether these compounds increase locomotor activity by activating the 5-HT2A receptor. Low doses of mescaline, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylamphetamine (DOET), 2,5-dimethoxy-4-propylamphetamine (DOPR), 2,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine (TMA-2), and the conformationally restricted phenethylamine (4-bromo-3,6-dimethoxybenzocyclobuten-1-yl)methylamine (TCB-2) increased locomotor activity. By contrast, the non-hallucinogenic phenylalkylamine 2,5-dimethoxy-4-tert-butylamphetamine (DOTB) did not alter locomotor activity at any dose tested (0.1–10 mg/kg i.p.). The selective 5-HT2A antagonist M100907 blocked the locomotor hyperactivity induced by mescaline and TCB-2. Similarly, mescaline and TCB-2 did not increase locomotor activity in 5-HT2A knockout mice. These results confirm that phenylalkylamine hallucinogens increase locomotor activity in mice and demonstrate that this effect is mediated by 5-HT2A receptor activation. Thus, locomotor hyperactivity in mice can be used to assess phenylalkylamines for 5-HT2A agonist activity and hallucinogen-like behavioral effects. These studies provide additional support for the link between 5-HT2A activation and hallucinogenesis.

Halberstadt, A. L., Powell, S. B., & Geyer, M. A. (2013). Role of the 5-HT 2A receptor in the locomotor hyperactivity produced by phenylalkylamine hallucinogens in mice. Neuropharmacology, 70, 218-227. 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.01.014
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Psilocybin Biases Facial Recognition, Goal-Directed Behavior, and Mood State Toward Positive Relative to Negative Emotions Through Different Serotonergic Subreceptors

/ Anxiety Disorders / PTSD, Depressive Disorders, Mushrooms / Psilocybin, Neuroscience, Papers, Psychology, Publications / / , , , , ,

Abstract

Background
Serotonin (5-HT) 1A and 2A receptors have been associated with dysfunctional emotional processing biases in mood disorders. These receptors further predominantly mediate the subjective and behavioral effects of psilocybin and might be important for its recently suggested antidepressive effects. However, the effect of psilocybin on emotional processing biases and the specific contribution of 5-HT2A receptors across different emotional domains is unknown.

Methods
In a randomized, double-blind study, 17 healthy human subjects received on 4 separate days placebo, psilocybin (215 g/kg), the preferential 5-HT2A antagonist ketanserin (50 mg), or psilocybin plus ketanserin. Mood states were assessed by self-report ratings, and behavioral and event-related potential measurements were used to quantify facial emotional recognition and goal-directed behavior toward emotional cues.

Results
Psilocybin enhanced positive mood and attenuated recognition of negative facial expression. Furthermore, psilocybin increased goal-directed behavior toward positive compared with negative cues, facilitated positive but inhibited negative sequential emotional effects, and valence-dependently attenuated the P300 component. Ketanserin alone had no effects but blocked the psilocybin-induced mood enhancement and decreased recognition of negative facial expression.

Conclusions
This study shows that psilocybin shifts the emotional bias across various psychological domains and that activation of 5-HT2A receptors is central in mood regulation and emotional face recognition in healthy subjects. These findings may not only have implications for the pathophysiology of dysfunctional emotional biases but may also provide a framework to delineate the mechanisms underlying psylocybin’s putative antidepressant effects.

Kometer, M., Schmidt, A., Bachmann, R., Studerus, E., Seifritz, E., & Vollenweider, F. X. (2012). Psilocybin Biases Facial Recognition, Goal-Directed Behavior, and Mood State Toward Positive Relative to Negative Emotions Through Different Serotonergic Subreceptors. Biological Psychiatry, 72(11), 898-906. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.04.005
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Labyrint: Geestverruimende Therapie

/ Uncategorized /

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Paddo’s gebruiken om depressieve klachten te bestrijden? Of LSD-therapie om van je rookverslaving af te komen? Op 19 december 2012 zond Labyrint TV een aflevering uit over grensverleggend onderzoek naar het gebruik van psychedelica in de behandelkamer van de psychiater. Gefilmd tijdens Stichting OPEN’s Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research in 2012.

Voor het eerst uitgezonden op 19 december 2012.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

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Labyrint: Mindblowing Therapy?

/ Uncategorized /

Will we be using Magic Mushrooms to fight depression? Or get an LSD treatment to cure your smoking addiction? On December 19 2012 Dutch Labyrint TV screened an episode about groundbreaking research using psychedelics in psychiatric treatment. Interviews with the scientists were filmed at OPEN’s Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research in 2012.

First broadcast on the 19th of December, 2012 (English subtitles)

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Labyrint TV special over therapieën met psychedelica

/ Uncategorized /

psionderzoek

Komende week op Wetenschap24 rapporteert Labyrint TV over grensverleggend onderzoek naar het gebruik van psychedelica in de behandelkamer van de psychiater.

De aflevering is gefilmd op het door OPEN georganiseerde Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research 2012 en neemt je mee vanaf het eerste wetenschappelijk onderzoek naar psychedelica in de jaren ’50, het recreatieve gebruik en het verbod op deze middelen, naar het recente onderzoek naar psychedelica als potentiële hulpmiddelen bij psychotherapie. Onder andere de Britse psychofarmacoloog Robin Carhart-Harris en psychofarmacoloog Matthew Johnson, beiden sprekers op ICPR 2012, zullen in de uitzending zijn te zien, waar ze uitgebreid zullen vertellen over hun onderzoek en de potentiële toepassingen van psilocybine.

Vergeet dus vooral niet te kijken aankomende woensdag 19 december, om 20u50 op Nederland 2.

Meer informatie vind je op de Labyrint TV website.

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Labyrint TV special about therapy with psychedelics

/ Publications /

psionderzoek

Next week on Wetenschap24 Labyrint TV reports on groundbreaking research into the use of psychedelics for the treatment of psychological disorders.

The episode was filmed at the Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research 2012 and takes you from the first scientific research into psychedelics in the ’50s, the recreational use and the prohibition of these substances, to the recent research into psychedelics as potential tools for psychotherapy. Amongst others, the British psychopharmacologists Robin Carhart–Harris and Matthew Johnson, both speakers at ICPR 2012, will appear in this episode. They will speak about their research into the therapeutic potential of psilocybin.

Next Wednesday, December 19th, 8:50pm at Nederland 2.

More information on the Labyrint TV website.

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Universiteitsblad Folia en psychedelisch onderzoek

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folia_trippen

Universiteitsblad Folia staat dit nummer in het teken van onderzoek naar psychedelica. De cover is helemaal gewijd aan het artikel ‘Trippen op recept’. Bezoekers van het Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research zullen de experts die aan het woord komen zeker herkennen. Zo vertelt Ben Sessa over zijn ervaring in een fMRI scanner tijdens een onderzoek naar de effecten van psilocybine in het brein. Robert Carhart-Harris, onderzoeker aan Imperial College Londen, vertelt over de eerste bevindingen van dit onderzoek. Ook Matthew Johnson, psychofarmacoloog aan de Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in de Verenigde Staten komt aan het woord. Hij vertelt over zijn onderzoek naar het gebruik van psilocybine bij tabaksverslaafden.

Je kunt de Folia vinden op allerlei locaties van de Universiteit van Amsterdam en de Hogeschool van Amsterdam. Maar je kan het ook digitaal op de Folia website vinden.

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Article in university magazine Folia about psychedelic research

/ Publications /

folia_trippen

University magazine Folia devoted an article to psychedelic research. The cover is entirely dedicated to the article ‘Trippen op recept’ (Tripping on prescription). Visitors of the Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research will recognize the interviewed experts. Ben Sessa talks about his experience in an fMRI scanner when he participated in a study into the effects of psilocybin on the brain. Robin Carhart-Harris, a researchers at Imperial College London, talks about initial findings of this study. Matthew Johnson, psychopharmacologist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (United States) is interviewed as well. He talks about his research into the use of psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction.

You can find the Folia magazine at various locations at the University of Amsterdam. You can also find it digitally on the Folia website.

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A randomized, controlled pilot study of MDMA (± 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine)-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of resistant, chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

/ Anxiety Disorders / PTSD, MDMA, Papers, Psychology, Publications / / , , ,

Abstract

Psychiatrists and psychotherapists in the US (1970s to 1985) and Switzerland (1988-1993) used MDMA legally as a prescription drug, to enhance the effectiveness of psychotherapy. Early reports suggest that it is useful in treating trauma-related disorders. Recently, the first completed pilot study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD yielded encouraging results. Designed to test the safety and efficacy of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in patients with treatment-resistant PTSD; our randomized, double-blind, active-placebo controlled trial enrolled 12 patients for treatment with either low-dose (25 mg, plus 12.5 mg supplemental dose) or full-dose MDMA (125 mg, plus 62.5 mg supplemental dose). MDMA was administered during three experimental sessions, interspersed with weekly non-drug-based psychotherapy sessions. Outcome measures used were the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS). Patients were assessed at baseline, three weeks after the second and third MDMA session (end of treatment), and at the 2-month and 1-year follow-ups. We found that MDMA-assisted psychotherapy can be safely administered in a clinical setting. No drug-related serious adverse events occurred. We did not see statistically significant reductions in CAPS scores (p = 0.066), although there was clinically and statistically significant self-reported (PDS) improvement (p = 0.014). CAPS scores improved further at the 1-year follow-up. In addition, three MDMA sessions were more effective than two (p = 0.016).

Oehen, P., Traber, R., Widmer, V., & Schnyder, U. (2012) A randomized, controlled pilot study of MDMA (± 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine)-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of resistant, chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Journal of Psychopharmacology, 27(1), 40-52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0269881112464827
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Peer Perspectives: How Psychedelics Induce Neuroplasticity - February 26

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