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Psychology

A Receptor on Acid

January 26, 2017 / LSD, Neuroscience, Papers, Psychology, Publications / By / ,

Abstract

Wacker et al. report the crystal structure of LSD in complex with one of its major targets in the brain, the 5-HT2B receptor, the first such structure for any psychedelic drug. The results shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying its ability to induce hallucinations with greater duration and potency than closely related compounds.
Chen, Q., & Tesmer, J. J. (2017). A receptor on acid. Cell, 168(3), 339-341. 10.1016/j.cell.2017.01.012
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The factor structure of the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ): Reply to Barrett & Griffiths (2016)

January 25, 2017 / Mushrooms / Psilocybin, Papers, Psychology, Publications / By / , , ,

Bouso, J. C., Pedrero‐Pérez, E. J., Gandy, S., & Alcázar‐Córcoles, M. Á. (2017). The factor structure of the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ): Reply to Barrett & Griffiths (2016). Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, 32(1). 10.1002/hup.2570
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The factor structure of the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ): Reply to Barrett & Griffiths (2016)

January 25, 2017 / Mushrooms / Psilocybin, Papers, Psychology, Publications / By / , , ,

Bouso, J. C., Pedrero‐Pérez, E. J., Gandy, S., & Alcázar‐Córcoles, M. Á. (2017). The factor structure of the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ): Reply to Barrett & Griffiths (2016). Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, 32(1). 10.1002/hup.2570
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Reply to: Ketamine and Psychosis History: Antidepressant Efficacy and Psychotomimetic Effects Postinfusion

January 23, 2017 / Depressive Disorders, Ketamine, Papers, Psychology, Psychotic Disorders, Publications / By / , ,

Abstract

New and encouraging findings regarding the use of ketamine for depression in the context of psychotic symptoms have been published by Pennybaker et al. (1). In their analysis, patients with bipolar disorder without a history of psychosis had a more robust response to ketamine, and patients with a history of psychosis had a significant response compared with placebo as well. Concerning dissociative symptoms, even though patients with a history of psychosis endorsed more symptoms, these were not maintained after a 40-minute period, and no full psychosis was induced in their sample.

da Frota Ribeiro, C. M., Sanacora, G., & Ostroff, R. (2017). Reply to: Ketamine and Psychosis History: Antidepressant Efficacy and Psychotomimetic Effects Postinfusion. Biological Psychiatry. 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.01.012
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The fibrinolytic system: A new target for treatment of depression with psychedelics

January 23, 2017 / Depressive Disorders, Mushrooms / Psilocybin, Neuroscience, Papers, Psychology, Publications / By / , , , , ,

Abstract

Current understanding of the neurobiology of depression has grown over the past few years beyond the traditional monoamine theory of depression to include chronic stress, inflammation and disrupted synaptic plasticity. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a key factor that not only promotes fibrinolysis via the activation of plasminogen, but also contributes to regulation of synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis through plasmin-mediated activation of a probrain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to mature BDNF. ProBDNF activation could potentially be supressed by competition with fibrin for plasmin and tPA. High affinity binding of plasmin and tPA to fibrin could result in a decrease of proBDNF activation during brain inflammation leading to fibrosis further perpetuating depressed mood. There is a paucity of data explaining the possible role of the fibrinolytic system or aberrant extravascular fibrin deposition in depression. We propose that within the brain, an imbalance between tPA and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and neuroserpin favors the inhibitors, resulting in changes in neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and neuroinflammation that result in depressive behavior. Our hypothesis is that peripheral inflammation mediates neuroinflammation, and that cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) can inhibit the fibrinolytic system by up- regulating PAI-1 and potentially neuroserpin. We propose that the decrement of the activity of tPA and uPA occurs with downregulation of uPA in part involving the binding and clearance from the surface of neural cells of uPA/PAI-1 complexes by the urokinase receptor uPAR. We infer that current antidepressants and ketamine mitigate depressive symptoms by restoring the balance of the fibrinolytic system with increased activity of tPA and uPA with down-regulated intracerebral expression of their inhibitors. We lastly hypothesize that psychedelic 5-ht2a receptor agonists, such as psilocybin, can improve mood through anti- inflammatory and pro-fibrinolytic effects that include blockade of TNF-α activity leading to decreased PAI-1 activity and increased clearance. The process involves disinhibition of tPA and uPA with subsequent increased cleavage of proBDNF which promotes neurogenesis, decreased neuroinflammation, decreased fibrin deposition, normalized glial-neuronal cross-talk, and optimally functioning neuro-circuits involved in mood. We propose that psilocybin can alleviate deleterious changes in the brain caused by chronic stress leading to restoration of homeostatic brain fibrinolytic capacity leading to euthymia.

Idell, R. D., Florova, G., Komissarov, A. A., Shetty, S., Girard, R. B. S., & Idell, S. (2017). The fibrinolytic system: A new target for treatment of depression with psychedelics. Medical Hypotheses, 100, 46-53. 10.1016/j.mehy.2017.01.013
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Administration of ketamine for unipolar and bipolar depression

January 18, 2017 / Depressive Disorders, Ketamine, Papers, Psychology, Publications / By / , , , , , ,

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Clinical trials demonstrated that ketamine exhibits rapid antidepressant efficacy when administered in subanaesthetic dosages. We reviewed currently available literature investigating efficacy, response rates and safety profile.

METHODS: Twelve studies investigating unipolar, seven on bipolar depression were included after search in medline, scopus and web of science.

RESULTS: Randomized, placebo-controlled or open-label trials reported antidepressant response rates after 24 h on primary outcome measures at 61%. The average reduction of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) was 10.9 points, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) 15.7 points and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) 20.8 points. Ketamine was always superior to placebo. Most common side effects were dizziness, blurred vision, restlessness, nausea/vomiting and headache, which were all reversible. Relapse rates ranged between 60% and 92%. To provide best practice-based information to patients, a consent-form for application and modification in local language is included.

CONCLUSIONS: Ketamine constitutes a novel, rapid and efficacious treatment option for patients suffering from treatment resistant depression and exhibits rapid and significant anti-suicidal effects. New administration routes might serve as alternative to intravenous regimes for potential usage in outpatient settings. However, long-term side effects are not known and short duration of antidepressant response need ways to prolong ketamine’s efficacy.

Kraus, C., Rabl, U., Vanicek, T., Carlberg, L., Popovic, A., Spies, M., … & Willeit, M. (2017). Administration of ketamine for unipolar and bipolar depression. International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, 21(1), 2-12. 10.1080/13651501.2016.1254802
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Tackling Harm Reduction, Human Rights and Drug Uses on Recreational Environments: Tensions, Potentialities and Learnings from the Kosmicare Project (Portugal)

January 16, 2017 / Papers, Psychology / By / , , ,

Abstract

This paper is organized into four parts of discussion. Firstly, we present the Portuguese decriminalization law and the central role of harm reduction within this framework. The second section discusses the mainstream meanings ascribed to the ‘HR double’ mainly anchored in problematic drug uses. The third section highlights the need to take into account the specificities of recreational drug uses, users and environments. Thus, the paper highlights the experience of the Kosmicare Project at the Boom Festival, which combines principles of harm reduction, crisis intervention and Grof’s approach. The fourth section draws upon the project’s experience itself and in the idea of the normalization of drug uses to acknowledge and to discuss the potentialities, tensions and limitations of these contributions when it comes to analyzing and constructing a strong version of the ‘HR double’.
Soares, M., Carvalho, M. C., Valbom, M., & Rodrigues, T. (2017). Tackling Harm Reduction, Human Rights and Drug Uses on Recreational Environments: Tensions, Potentialities and Learnings from the Kosmicare Project (Portugal). Revista Crítica de Ciências Sociais, (112), 3-24. 10.4000/rccs.6535
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Weak phantasy and visionary phantasy: the phenomenological significance of altered states of consciousness

January 3, 2017 / Papers, Philosophy & Religious Studies, Psychology, Publications / By / , ,

Abstract

In this paper we discuss the definitional problems of altered states of consciousness and their potential relevance in phenomenological investigation. We suggest that visionary states or visionary phantasy working induced by psychedelics (VSs), as extraordinary types of altered states, are appropriate subjects for phenomenological analysis. Naturally, visionary states are not quite ordinary workings of the human mind, however certain cognitive psychological and evolutionary epistemological investigations show that they can give new insights into the nature of consciousness. Furthermore, we suggest that contemporary inquiries concerning altered states in consciousness studies give an opportunity to complete the contemporary phenomenological investigations of phantasy with the notion of visionary phantasy. Here we propose that the similarities and differences between Dieter Lohmar’s weak phantasy (which has a crucial role in empathy and typifying perception) and Benny Shanon’s concept of vision are precisely discernible, and, consequently, it may be possible that weak phantasy and visionary phantasy are situated on the two outermost poles of the colorful spectrum of phantasy activity.

Horváth, L., Szummer, C., & Szabo, A. (2017). Weak phantasy and visionary phantasy: the phenomenological significance of altered states of consciousness. Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences, 1-13. 10.1007/s11097-016-9497-4

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Ketamine for the treatment of major depressive disorder and bipolar depression: A review of the literature

January 1, 2017 / Depressive Disorders, Ketamine, Papers, Psychology, Publications / By / , , ,

Abstract

Introduction: Over the past decade, ketamine has been studied for major depressive disorder and bipolar depression. Ketamine is believed to exert its antidepressant properties through N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonism.

Methods: Study authors completed a literature review of seven randomized controlled trials of ketamine usage in major depressive disorder and bipolar depression.

Results: Ketamine demonstrated a statistically significant improvement over placebo or midazolam in major depressive disorder. Ketamine also exhibited a statistically significant improvement over placebo in bipolar depression.

Discussion: Ketamine has shown promise in quickly reducing symptoms in patients with treatment resistant depression and bipolar depression. Using ketamine may be helpful for patients that have exhausted other therapeutic options.

Grady, S. E., Marsh, T. A., Tenhouse, A., & Klein, K. (2017). Ketamine for the treatment of major depressive disorder and bipolar depression: A review of the literature. Mental Health Clinician, 7(1), 16-23. 10.9740/mhc.2017.01.016

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