From Dendrites to Drug Discovery: An Interview with Dr. Alex Kwan
Dr. Alex Kwan shares his insight on the field of preclinical psychedelic research and where he thinks things are headed in the future - in his lab, in drug discovery, and beyond.
Mental Health - Page 2
New Psychedelic Entactogens: Designer Drugs Produce Designer Effects
Entactogenic drugs like MDMA and psychedelics like psilocybin may be beneficial for a range of psychiatric disorders. Though the pharmacology and subjective effects of entactogens and psychedelics differ, drugs that display qualities of both have received little attention to date.
MDMA Enhances Fear Extinction Learning: From Models to Mechanisms
A slew of contemporary research suggests MDMA’s efficacy as an adjunct in the treatment of PTSD, while little is known concerning the mechanisms at work. Recent investigation into the behavioral neurobiology of MDMA’s ability to facilitate the cessation of fear responses may offer a mechanistic explanation regarding its psychiatric utility.
Issues of Patient Safety and Ethical Violations in Psychedelic Therapy
MDMA-assisted therapy has been on the forefront of psychedelic research for years, but more recently patient safety concerns and research ethics have come into question.
Buried Treasure: How Does Psilocybin Reduce Compulsivity?
Prior studies in clinical populations with OCD as well as animal models of this disorder indicate that psilocybin may suppress compulsive behavior. Although efforts to identify the mechanism of psilocybin’s effects are underway, the pharmacological targets underlying its anti-compulsive potential remain elusive.
Ecstasy for the 21st Century: Designer Drugs to Improve MDMA Therapy
The potential neurotoxicity of MDMA led to the development of APBs, a family of entactogens whose effect profiles may position them as attractive candidates for the next generation of entactogenic medicines.
MDMA: Rolling from Counterculture to the Clinic Counter
We review the rise, fall, and rebirth of the infamous entactogen MDMA, the original ‘love drug’ and a promising tool for use in psychotherapy.
Tripping the Reward Circuit: Psychedelics for Substance Use Disorders
Previous research in people with substance use disorders and animal models of drug addiction indicate that classical psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin may reduce drug use and drug-seeking behavior. However, the mechanism of action underlying the anti-addictive effects of psychedelics remains unknown.
Digging Up Druggable Targets: Psilocybin Efficacy in a Model of OCD
Previous research in both people with OCD and animal models of the disorder indicate that psilocybin and related compounds may rapidly reduce compulsive behavior. However, the mechanism of action underlying the anti-compulsive effects of psilocybin remains unknown.
Conflicting States of Consciousness: Exploring Psilocin and Sleep
Understanding how psychedelics interact with sleep may be important for their use in clinical settings and can provide insight to their underlying mechanisms of action, including those of neuroplasticity.