Introduction

Philosophy of Psychedelics ◽

10.1093/med/9780198843122.003.0001 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Chris Letheby

Keyword(s):

Healthy Subjects ◽

Psychiatric Patients ◽

Natural World ◽

Psychological Benefits ◽

Philosophical Naturalism ◽

Philosophical View ◽

Basic Strategy ◽

Central Focus ◽

Therapeutic Benefits ◽

Apparent Conflict

This Introduction outlines the central focus of Philosophy of Psychedelics: the therapeutic use of psychedelics in psychiatry and its apparent conflict with philosophical naturalism. The chapter briefly describes recent findings that controlled psychedelic administration can have lasting psychological benefits for healthy subjects and for psychiatric patients. It then cites evidence that these psychological benefits are mediated by ‘mystical-type’ experiences. For those sympathetic to naturalism, the philosophical view that only the natural world exists, this prompts a concern: do psychedelics cause therapeutic benefits by inducing non-naturalistic beliefs in a cosmic consciousness or divine Reality? This Introduction outlines a plan to answer this ‘Comforting Delusion Objection’ in subsequent chapters. The basic strategy is to argue that, even if naturalism is true, psychedelic therapy is still acceptable because (i) its epistemic risks are smaller than they might appear, and (ii) it also has epistemic benefits that are consistent with naturalism.

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On the need for a natural philosophy of psychedelics

Philosophy of Psychedelics ◽

10.1093/med/9780198843122.003.0002 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 8-38

Author(s):

Chris Letheby

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Natural Philosophy ◽

Epistemic Status ◽

Psychological Benefits ◽

Detailed Review ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Central Focus ◽

History Of ◽

Anxiety Depression

‘On the need for a natural philosophy of psychedelics’ provides a brief overview of the history of psychedelics in science and psychiatry, and a detailed review of recent evidence for their therapeutic and transformative efficacy. The chapter reviews clinical trials showing that one or two controlled psychedelic experiences can durably reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and addiction, and can cause lasting psychological benefits in healthy subjects. The chapter also reviews evidence that these beneficial effects are mediated by the occurrence of ‘mystical-type’ experiences. This evidence gives rise to the Comforting Delusion Objection that is the central focus of the book. Existing responses involve (i) rejecting philosophical naturalism, or (ii) downplaying the importance of epistemic factors in the evaluation of psychiatric treatments. The chapter raises problems for both approaches, and outlines a new one: to show that the Objection fails even if naturalism is true and the epistemic status of psychedelic therapy is important.

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Philosophy of Psychedelics

10.1093/med/9780198843122.001.0001 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Chris Letheby

Keyword(s):

Sense Of Self ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Well Being ◽

Natural World ◽

Knowledge Gain ◽

Psychological Benefits ◽

Psychedelic Drugs ◽

Anxiety Depression ◽

Apparent Conflict

Philosophy of Psychedelics is the first scholarly monograph in English devoted to the philosophical analysis of psychedelic drugs. Its central focus is the apparent conflict between the growing use of psychedelics in psychiatry and the philosophical worldview of naturalism, which holds that the natural world is all that exists. The book reviews scientific evidence that psychedelics such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin can be given safely in controlled conditions, and can cause lasting psychological benefits with one or two administrations. Supervised psychedelic sessions can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and addiction, and improve well-being in healthy volunteers for months or even years. But these benefits seem to be mediated by ‘mystical’ experiences of cosmic consciousness, which prompts a philosophical concern: Do psychedelics cause psychological benefits by inducing false or implausible beliefs about the metaphysical nature of reality? The author integrates empirical evidence and philosophical considerations in the service of a simple conclusion: This ‘Comforting Delusion Objection’ to psychedelic therapy fails. Exotic metaphysical ideas do sometimes come up, but they are not the central driver of change in psychedelic therapy. Psychedelics cause lasting psychological benefits by altering the sense of self and changing how people relate to their minds—not by changing their beliefs about the ultimate nature of reality. The upshot is that a traditional conception of psychedelics as agents of insight and spirituality can be reconciled with naturalism. Controlled psychedelic administration can lead to genuine knowledge gain and spiritual growth, even if no cosmic consciousness or divine Reality exists.

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The hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis in psychiatric patients and healthy subjects: Parts 1–4

Psychiatry Research ◽

10.1016/0165-1781(88)90112-6 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 316-332 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Andreas Baumgartner ◽

Klaus-Jürgen Gräf ◽

Irene Kürten ◽

Harald Meinhold

Keyword(s):

Healthy Subjects ◽

Psychiatric Patients ◽

Pituitary Thyroid Axis ◽

Thyroid Axis

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The Characteristics of VEPs Associated with the Accuracy of Recognition of Facial Emotion

Perception ◽

10.1068/v970293 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 26 (1_suppl) ◽

pp. 269-269

Author(s):

E S Mikhailova ◽

D V Davidov ◽

I V Oleichik

Keyword(s):

Emotional Expression ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Psychiatric Patients ◽

Facial Emotion ◽

Correct Recognition ◽

Emotion Identification ◽

Principal Role ◽

Central Regions ◽

The Right ◽

Primary Activation

While investigating the timing of the N180 wave of human VEPs, we found earlier that correct recognition of facial emotions was characterised by the primary activation of the right fronto-central regions followed by the immediate involvement of the left ones. The aim of the present study was to analyse the relations between the parameters of the N400 wave, its regional and hemispheric specificity, and the accuracy of emotion recognition. Twenty healthy right-handed subjects and thirty-two untreated psychiatric patients with mild cognitive dysfunction were instructed to recognise the emotional expression of sad, neutral, or laughing faces presented for 80 ms on a computer screen. The amplitude and peak latency of the N400 response were found to be closely related to the accuracy of recognition. In healthy subjects the main difference between error and correct recognition manifested itself in decreased amplitude and shortened latency of the N400 response in frontal and central zones of the left hemisphere ( p<0.001). Compared to healthy subjects, the patients demonstrated both poor recognition and decreased latency and amplitude of the N400 response in the left frontal regions ( p<0.0001). The results suggest that activation of the left fronto-central regions plays a principal role in the final stages of facial emotion identification.

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Assessment of quality of life with the WHOQOL-BREF in a group of Turkish psychiatric patients compared with diabetic and healthy subjects

Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences ◽

10.1111/j.1440-1819.2006.01584.x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 60 (6) ◽

pp. 693-699 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

YILDIZ AKVARDAR ◽

BERNA BINNUR AKDEDE ◽

AYŞEGÜL ÖZERDEM ◽

ERHAN ESER ◽

ŞULE TOPKAYA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Psychiatric Patients

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Patterns of caffeine consumption in psychiatric patients. An Italian study

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2009.02.010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 230-235 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

A. Ciapparelli ◽

R. Paggini ◽

C. Carmassi ◽

C. Taponecco ◽

G. Consoli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychiatric Disorders ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Substance Dependence ◽

Psychiatric Patients ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Group Differences ◽

Caffeine Intake ◽

Caffeine Consumption ◽

Maximum Lifetime ◽

Item Scores

AbstractPurposeThe aim of the present study was to explore and compare the caffeine intake, intoxication, withdrawal and dependence prevalence in Italian psychiatric patients and healthy subjects.Materials and methodsThree hundred and sixty-nine out- and inpatients, suffering from different psychiatric disorders, and 104 healthy subjects were included in the study. They were assessed by the SCID and by a structured interview for caffeine intoxication and withdrawal and for substance dependence applied to caffeine use.ResultsPatients and healthy subjects did not differ in terms of current caffeine intake (mg/day, mean ± SD: 281 ± 325 vs. 288 ± 148, respectively), while the maximum lifetime intake of caffeine was significantly higher in the first group (mg/day, mean SD: 630 ± 549 vs. 504 ± 344, respectively; F = 4.897, p = .03) where it was significantly related to the CGI severity item scores (rho = .107; p = .04). In both patients and healthy subjects, a lower age was related to a higher current caffeine intake, while both current and maximum lifetime caffeine intake in the healthy subjects were significantly higher in men than in women. The patients suffering from eating disorders reported higher current caffeine intake than those with anxiety or mood disorders. The prevalence of dependence and intoxication was significantly higher in the patients than in the healthy subjects, without inter-group differences. Healthy subjects showed a trend towards a higher prevalence of withdrawal.ConclusionsOur study highlights the need that a more accurate attention should be paid to the caffeine use which seems to be strongly, although generically, related to different psychiatric disorders.

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Novel Psychoactive Substances in Young Adults with and without Psychiatric Comorbidities

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2014/815424 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Giovanni Martinotti ◽

Matteo Lupi ◽

Tiziano Acciavatti ◽

Eduardo Cinosi ◽

Rita Santacroce ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthy Subjects ◽

Psychiatric Patients ◽

Clinical Effects ◽

Psychiatric Diseases ◽

Novel Psychoactive Substances ◽

Young Population ◽

Psychoactive Substances ◽

Paired Sample ◽

Psychiatric Population ◽

Substances Of Abuse

Objective. Comorbidities between psychiatric diseases and consumption of traditional substances of abuse (alcohol, cannabis, opioids, and cocaine) are common. Nevertheless, there is no data regarding the use of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) in the psychiatric population. The purpose of this multicentre survey is to investigate the consumption of a wide variety of psychoactive substances in a young psychiatric sample and in a paired sample of healthy subjects.Methods. A questionnaire has been administered, in different Italian cities, to 206 psychiatric patients aged 18 to 26 years and to a sample of 2615 healthy subjects matched for sex, gender, and living status.Results. Alcohol consumption was more frequent in the healthy young population compared to age-matched subjects suffering from mental illness (79.5% versus 70.7%;P<0.003). Conversely, cocaine and NPS use was significantly more common in the psychiatric population (cocaine 8.7% versus 4.6%;P=0.002) (NPS 9.8% versus 3%;P<0.001).Conclusions. The use of novel psychoactive substances in a young psychiatric population appears to be a frequent phenomenon, probably still underestimated. Therefore, careful and constant monitoring and accurate evaluations of possible clinical effects related to their use are necessary.

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