scholarly journals Future Directions for Clinical Psychedelic Research: The Relaxed Symptom Network

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evan Lewis-Healey ◽  
Ruben Laukkonen ◽  
Michiel van Elk

Recent clinical trials have demonstrated that psilocybin may have strong antidepressant effects, and may be effective in the treatment of depressive disorders when embedded in a psychotherapeutic protocol (psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy; PAP). There are now dozens of registered and ongoing clinical trials that intend to test for the efficacy of psilocybin within a psychotherapeutic protocol. Despite promising results, the mechanism(s) that may be responsible for the antidepressant effects of PAP are still hotly contested. In this paper, we provide a broad overview of the recent clinical work conducted with psychedelics on depressive disorders, and summarise several theories of action of PAP. Extending on the state of the field, we argue that the ‘Network Theory of Mental Disorders’ is a useful tool for clinical research with psychedelics. We hypothesise that, if PAP is successful, the connections between symptoms in a network will weaken, thereby rendering the patient less vulnerable to developing or relapsing into depression. We argue that application of the Network Theory may (a) provide deeper insights into the effects of PAP on specific symptom interactions, both on an interindividual and intraindividual basis, (b) generate fruitful hypotheses for the clinical action of PAP, and (c) provide a pre-emptive tool for making the most of ‘intentions’ preceding and during psychedelic experiences. These findings we hope will ultimately improve responsiveness and reduce relapse in response to this promising therapy.

Author(s):  
Laszlo Vutskits

Psychiatric disorders are defined as mental or behavioural patterns causing either suffering or a poor ability to function in ordinary life. These conditions are generally characterized by a combination of abnormal thoughts, perceptions, emotions, behaviour, and relationships with others. The burden of mental disorders continues to grow and the estimated global lifetime prevalence of these pathological states is estimated to reach over one-third of the population worldwide. Depression, one of the most common psychiatric diseases, is difficult to treat. This chapter on the treatment of psychiatric diseases with general anaesthetics includes discussion of major depressive disorder and its epidemiology and treatments, clinical trials suggesting a therapeutic role for anaesthesia in patients with depressive disorders, rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine, and mechanisms of actions underlying the antidepressant effects of anaesthetics.


Author(s):  
Dan J. Stein

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent of the mental disorders, and good translational models of these conditions encourage pharmacotherapy studies. This chapter discusses six randomized clinical trials that have contributed significantly to the pharmacotherapy of anxiety and related disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Although any such list is necessarily incomplete, these selections may shed light on early and ongoing challenges in the field and on key advances to date. After reviewing these foundational papers, the advances they represent, and the work that they have given impetus to, the chapter closes by considering future directions in work on the pharmacotherapy of anxiety and related disorders.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatma Tuğçe Gürağaç Dereli ◽  
Mert Ilhan ◽  
Esra Küpeli Akkol

Background & Objective: Depression, a risk factor for several serious diseases, is a highly prevalent and life-threatening psychiatric disorder. It can affect the individual’s position in life and reduce the living standards. The research on the use of medicinal plants in treating this disease has increased enormously because of the possible low rehabilitation rate and side effects of available synthetic drugs, such as sexual dysfunction, nausea, fatigue, insomnia, hypersomnia, and weight gain.Conclusion:Therefore, this review aimed to draw attention to the antidepressant effects of culinary herbs and traditional medicinal plants and their active components, thereby promoting their use in the development of more potent antidepressants with improved side effect profile.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcello De Angelis ◽  
Luigi Lavorgna ◽  
Antonio Carotenuto ◽  
Martina Petruzzo ◽  
Roberta Lanzillo ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Clinical trials in multiple sclerosis (MS) have leveraged the use of digital technology to overcome limitations in treatment and disease monitoring. OBJECTIVE To review the use of digital technology in concluded and ongoing MS clinical trials. METHODS In March 2020, we searched for “multiple sclerosis” and “trial” on pubmed.gov and clinicaltrials.gov using “app”, “digital”, “electronic”, “internet” and “mobile” as additional search words, separately. Overall, we included thirty-five studies. RESULTS Digital technology is part of clinical trial interventions to deliver psychotherapy and motor rehabilitation, with exergames, e-training, and robot-assisted exercises. Also, digital technology has become increasingly used to standardise previously existing outcome measures, with automatic acquisitions, reduced inconsistencies, and improved detection of symptoms. Some trials have been developing new patient-centred outcome measures for the detection of symptoms and of treatment side effects and adherence. CONCLUSIONS We will discuss how digital technology has been changing MS clinical trial design, and possible future directions for MS and neurology research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 539-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren S. Wakschlag ◽  
Megan Y. Roberts ◽  
Rachel M. Flynn ◽  
Justin D. Smith ◽  
Sheila Krogh-Jespersen ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Mais M. Aljunaidy ◽  
Mohamad Nadim Adi

Objectives: To perform a systematic study about the contribution of architecture and interior design researchers in studying the effect of physical environment on mental disorders. Background: Mental disorders are a major health problem worldwide and related to severe distress, functional disabilities, and heavy economical burdens. Studies propose that physical environment design can trigger or reduce mental disorder symptoms. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the extent of architectural design research contribution to all types of mental disorder prevention or intervention. Methods: A team of cross-disciplinary researchers gathered information from peer-reviewed manuscripts about the effect of architectural design on enhancing or reducing mental disorder symptoms. Data were collected from manuscripts published between 2008 and 2020 (research related to the topic became clearer in quality and quantity then). Keywords including architecture, interior design, physical environment, and mental disorders were used in the systematic search. Databases were collected using online resources. Numerical data collected from quantitative studies were organized in tables. Results: Our data showed that there were a lot of studies about dementia and autism; few studies about schizophrenia, anxiety, stress-related disorders, and depressive disorders; and no studies about the rest of the mental disorders. General environment followed by housing facility design were the most assessed physical environments for mental disorders. Conclusions: As all mental disorders can have a significant impact on the society, we conclude that architectural studies should focus more on improving or preventing the symptoms of all types of mental disorders through the design of physical environments.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanzeel Rehman Charan ◽  
Muhammad Aqeel Bhutto ◽  
Mihr Ali Bhutto ◽  
Azhar Ali Tunio ◽  
Ghulam Murtaza Khuhro ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Nanomaterials of curcumin with hyaluronic acid have gained a lot of attention for potential therapeutic applications of curcumin and hyaluronic acid with or without other additional drugs. Overall studies of curcumin and hyaluronic acid show that nanomaterials of curcumin with hyaluronic acid accelerate the efficacy of curcumin in the treatment of various disorders like arthritis, cancer, hepatic fibrosis, neural disorders, wound healing, and skin regeneration, it is largely due to the combined effect of hyaluronic acid and curcumin. However, due to limited clinical trials and experiments on humans and animals, there is a substantial gap in research for the safety and efficacy of nanomaterials of curcumin-hyaluronic acid in the treatment of curcumin and hyaluronic acid targeted diseases and disorders. Main body of the abstract In this current review, we have first described various reported synthetic nanomaterials of curcumin-hyaluronic acid, then in the next section, we have described various fields, disorders, and diseases where these are being applied and in the final section of this review, we discussed the research gap, and future research directions needed to propose the fabricated nanocurcumin-hyaluronic acid biomaterials. Short conclusion There are substantial gaps in research for the safety and efficacy of nanomaterials of curcumin with hyaluronic acid due to limited available data of clinical trials and experiments of nanocurcumin-hyaluronic acid biomaterials on humans and animals. So, it entirely requires serious and committed efforts through the well-organized system of practical and clinical trials which provide results, data, and detections that lead to the formulation of the best drug from curcumin with hyaluronic acid for the treatment of curcumin and hyaluronic acid targeted diseases and disorders.


1999 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-100
Author(s):  
J. Catteau ◽  
C. Cyran ◽  
R. Bordet ◽  
C.E. Thomas ◽  
B.A. Dupuis

SummaryThe goal of this prospective investigation was to study the course and the quality of patient-psychiatrist relationships during phase II / phase III clinical trials of antidepressant medication prescribed for depressive disorders. All patients who participated in the clinical trials (and subsequently in this survey) signed written informed consent statements and were subject to random double blind treatment assignment. Retrospective analysis of 118 investigations was carried out, and the patients involved were questioned concerning their experiences and impressions during and after the study. Data show that the outcome of clinical trials of antidepressant drugs are not a function of pre-existing good patient-psychiatrist relationships. On the other hand, no effects on the patient-psychiatrist relationship were found as a result of the experimental procedure, and it can be concluded that no detrimental effects on future patient-psychiatrist relationships were incurred.


2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 481-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.H. Schmidt ◽  
J. Sinzig

AbstractSuggestions for classification of mental disorders of children and adolescents in DSM-V and ICD-11 have been made, which differ strongly from the current descriptive approach of dimensional classification.These suggestions even comprise a dichotomized system for health care as well as for scientific purposes.Nevertheless it is obvious that we are far behind an “etiological” classification, so that trade-offs have necessarily to be made in DSM-V and ICD-11.Appropriate proposals concern the strict separation of disorders that are typical for children and adolescents as well as for adults.Furthermore a differentiation of diagnosis for infants, toddlers and preschool children is required in both classification systems. As far as it is relevant for treatment, combined diagnosis in DSM-V and subthreshold diagnosis as well as coding-possibilities for findings in molecular biology should be permitted.As personality disorders should only be diagnosed after the age of 16, it is recommended to dimensionally classify personality traits that are pathognomonic for specific symptom patterns and of prognostic relevance.DSM-V and ICD-11 should allow age-specific information on axis-IV. The article discusses the general question of how relational disorders respectively disturbances should be classified and include furthermore special recommendations concerning ICD and DSM categories.


1993 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingmar Skoog ◽  
Lars Nilsson ◽  
Sten Landahl ◽  
Bertil Steen

The prevalence of mental disorders was studied in a representative sample of 85-year-old living in Gothenburg, Sweden, (n=494). All subjects were examined by a psychiatrist, whose diagnoses were defined according to the DSM-III-R criteria. In the sample, the prevalence of dementia was 29.8%, and of any other mental disorder was 24.3%. Psychotic disorders were present in 4.7%, depressive disorders in 12.6%, and anxiety disorders in 10.5%. Anxiety disorders were more common in women than in men. Of all subjects, 42.5% used a psychotropic drug (men 30.1%, women 47.6%, p<0.001), 34.2% used anxiolytic-sedatives, 14.0% used antidepressants, and 5.7% used neuroleptics. Women used significantly more anxiolytic-sedatives and antidepressants than did men. Of those with no mental disorders, 29.1% used a psychotropic drug. Although the prescription of psychotropic drugs was high, only one fifth of those with depressive disorders received antidepressant drug therapy and one tenth of those with psychotic disorders received neuroleptics.


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