Psychedelics and hallucinogens in Psychiatry: finding new pharmacological targets

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Reynolds Sousa ◽  
João Rema ◽  
Sergio Machado ◽  
Filipa Novais
Keyword(s):  
New Drugs ◽  
Small Samples ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Pharmacological Targets ◽  
Tobacco Addiction ◽  
Review Current

Background: The therapeutic options for neurobehavioral disorders are still limited, and in many cases, they lack a satisfactory balance between efficacy and side effects. Objective: This work aims to review current evidence regarding the potential contribution of psychedelics and hallucinogens to the discovery of new drugs for treating different psychiatric disorders. Discussion: Ayahuasca/N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and psilocybin have evidence supporting their use in depression, and psilocybin and ayahuasca have also shown good results in treatment-resistant depression. In randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted with anxious patients, there were symptomatic improvements with psilocybin and LSD. Psilocybin diminished Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) scores in a small obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) sample. The evidence is less robust regarding substance use disorders, but it suggests a possible role for LSD and psilocybin in alcohol use disorders and for psilocybin in tobacco addiction. In a clinical setting, these substances seem to be safe and well-tolerated. Their mechanisms of action are not fully elucidated, but there seems to be a preponderant role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) 2A agonism, as well as connectivity changes within the default mode network (DMN) and amygdala and some other molecular modifications. Conclusion: The studies underlying the conclusions have small samples and are heterogeneous in their methods. However, the results suggest that the use of psychedelics and hallucinogens could be considered in some disorders. More studies are needed to reinforce their evidence as potential new drugs.

Neuropathology in Tourette Syndrome

CNS Spectrums ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 65-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neal R. Swerdlow ◽  
Anne B. Young
Keyword(s):  
Basal Ganglia ◽  
Tourette Syndrome ◽  
Small Samples ◽  
Dopamine Antagonists ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Efferent Projections ◽  
Made In

ABSTRACTThe unique clinical presentation of Tourette syndrome (TS) and its symptomatic response to dopamine antagonists are widely cited as evidence for the central role of the limbic-motor interface in the pathophysiology of TS. Nonetheless, the true neuropathology of TS remains elusive, even though significant advances have been made in understanding complex interconnected circuitries within the limbic system and basal ganglia. Neuropathologic and neuroimaging studies—plagued by small samples, clinical heterogeneity, and a number of interpretative problems—are generally supportive of pathology within the orbitofrontal cortex, striatum, and their efferent projections in TS. The specific patterns of abnormalities vary widely across these studies, clouding attempts to define a unifying neuropathology for this disorder. Converging yet circumstantial evidence for frontal cortical, and basal ganglia pathology in TS comes also from studies infields ranging from neuroimmunology to neuropsychology, and from the clinical overlap between TS and disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and Sydenhams chorea. As a “model” neuropsychiatric disorder, TS has stimulated advances in several areas of neurobiology research, yet we still await a real understanding of its pathophysiology in order to move from empirically driven therapeutics to the development of targeted effective treatments.

scholarly journals Interoception and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Review of Current Evidence and Future Directions

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura B. Bragdon ◽  
Goi Khia Eng ◽  
Amanda Belanger ◽  
Katherine A. Collins ◽  
Emily R. Stern
Keyword(s):  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Symptom Dimensions ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Bodily Sensations ◽  
Psychiatric Conditions ◽  
New Treatment

Disrupted interoceptive processes are present in a range of psychiatric conditions, and there is a small but growing body of research on the role of interoception in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In this review, we outline dimensions of interoception and review current literature on the processing of internal bodily sensations within OCD. Investigations in OCD utilizing objective measures of interoception are limited and results mixed, however, the subjective experience of internal bodily sensations appears to be atypical and relate to specific patterns of symptom dimensions. Further, neuroimaging investigations suggest that interoception is related to core features of OCD, particularly sensory phenomena and disgust. Interoception is discussed in the context of treatment by presenting an overview of existing interventions and suggesting how modifications aimed at better targeting interoceptive processes could serve to optimize outcomes. Interoception represents a promising direction for multi-method research in OCD, which we expect, will prove useful for improving current interventions and identifying new treatment targets.

EMDR as therapy for conditions other than PTSD: a systematic review.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Scelles ◽  
LUIS CARLO BULNES
Keyword(s):  
Mood Disorders ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Treatment As Usual ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Adult Personality ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Psychiatric Conditions ◽  
Research Criteria ◽  
Positive Effect

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a treatment for post-traumatic stressdisorder (PTSD). The technique is known to stimulate the capacity to reprocess maladaptive memoriesthat are thought to be central to this pathology. Here we investigate if EMDR therapy can be used in otherconditions than PTSD. We conducted a systematic literature search on PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science. Wesearched for published empirical findings on EMDR, excluding those centred on trauma and PTSD,published up to 2020. The results were classified by psychiatric categories.   Ninety articles met our research criteria. A positive effect was reported in addictions, somatoformdisorders, sexual dysfunction, eating disorder, disorders of adult personality, mood disorders, reaction tosevere stress, anxiety disorders, performance anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), pain,neurodegenerative disorders, paedopsychiatry and sleep. The evidence was more consistent in pain, OCD,mood disorders, and reaction to severe stress.EMDR’s efficiency across numerous pathological situations, highlighted the central role of affectivememory in several psychiatric and non-psychiatric conditions. Furthermore, EMDR seems to besuccessful in usually uncooperative (e.g. Dementia) or unproductive cases (e.g. aphasia). Moreover, insome severe medical situations were psychologic distress was an obstacle, EMDR allowed thecontinuation of treatment-as-usual. Our review suggests that it is a safe and economical therapeuticoption, and its effect in non-pathological situations opens new avenues for translational research. Overallmore methodologically rigorous studies are needed.

Pupil with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 7-25
Author(s):  
Karolina Diallo
Keyword(s):  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
School Performance ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Detrimental Effect ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
The Past ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact

Pupil with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Over the past twenty years childhood OCD has received more attention than any other anxiety disorder that occurs in the childhood. The increasing interest and research in this area have led to increasing number of diagnoses of OCD in children and adolescents, which affects both specialists and teachers. Depending on the severity of symptoms OCD has a detrimental effect upon child's school performance, which can lead almost to the impossibility to concentrate on school and associated duties. This article is devoted to the obsessive-compulsive disorder and its specifics in children, focusing on the impact of this disorder on behaviour, experience and performance of the child in the school environment. It mentions how important is the role of the teacher in whose class the pupil with this diagnosis is and it points out that it is necessary to increase teachers' competence to identify children with OCD symptoms, to take the disease into the account, to adapt the course of teaching and to introduce such measures that could help children reduce the anxiety and maintain (or increase) the school performance within and in accordance with the school regulations and curriculum.

scholarly journals The Fourth IOCDC

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 5 (S4) ◽  
pp. 4-4
Author(s):  
Eric Hollander ◽  
Joseph Zohar ◽  
Donatella Marazziti
Keyword(s):  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Brain Stimulation ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Cortical Inhibition ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Ablative Surgery

The Fourth International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Conference (IOCDC) was held February 10–12, 2000, on the beautiful island of St. Thomas. The IOCDC is an annual meeting which brings together the world's leading experts in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders in a small workshop setting to present recent research advances, discuss gaps in our current knowledge, and plan or international approaches that address these knowledge gaps. The IOCDC meetings have been held on islands on both sides of the Atlantic—Capri, Guadeloupe, Madeira, and now St. Thomas.The International Organizing Committee consists of Eric Hollander, MD (USA), Joseph Zohar, MD (Israel), and Donatella Marazziti, MD (Italy). The proceedings are generously supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Solvay Pharmaceuticals, and we would like to acknowledge the very important contributions of Chantal Vekens and Mary Blangiardo of Solvay. Also, an mportant part of the success of these meetings stems from the very active role of the chairpersons and cochairpersons of the workshops who lead the discussions, who synthesize the future directions and prepare the manuscripts that result from these discussions that appear in this academic supplement.The meeting led off with a state-of-the-art plenary address by Mark George, MD (USA), describing how new methods of brain stimulation are improving research and therapy in OCD and promise to revolutionize neuropsychiatric research and herapy over the next decade. He describes how transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is used to test the circuits in OCD and test electrophysiologic evaluations of cortical inhibition n OCD. Newer techniques that are less invasive than ablative surgery and appear promising in OCD therapy include vagus nerve stimulation and deep brain stimulation.

scholarly journals The Role of Self-Talk in Predicting Death Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Coping Strategies in the Face of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esmaeil Sadri Damirchi ◽  
Arezoo Mojarrad ◽  
Saeed Pireinaladin ◽  
Andrej M M Grjibovski
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Coping Style ◽  
Death Anxiety ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Self Talk ◽  
The Face ◽  
And Coping

Objective: Nowadays, the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is one of the most stressful resources that has led to the rise of different levels of psychological crisis. In addition to the countries affected by the COVID-19, such as China, European and American countries, Iran has appeared as one of the most affected countries with high infected cases and deaths. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the role of self-talk in predicting death anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and coping strategies in the face of COVID-19. Method: This descriptive and correlational study was conducted on 354 adults living in Ardabil, Iran, who were selected using cluster sampling from 21 January to 19 March 2020. Self-Talk questionnaires, Coping Strategies, Death Anxiety, and Obsessive-Compulsive questionnaires were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression were used for data analysis. Results: The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between self-talk and problem-centered coping style. Also, significant negative relationships were found between self-talk and emotional coping style, death anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Furthermore, based on the results of the regression test, self-talk predicted problem-centered style, emotional-coping style, death anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Conclusion: The results of this study emphasize the need for psychological crisis intervention during the COVID-19 outbreak. Also, this study provides an important step in shifting attention to self-talk skills from sport psychology fields toward clinical psychology, especially about the mental impacts of COVID-19.

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