Cannabis increases susceptibility to false memory
In comparison to a placebo group, test subjects exposed to marijuana were more likely to form false memories based on incorrect information.... Read More...
MDMA
Psychedelic drugs could help treat PTSD
Backing up previous research, a new study reveals psychedelics can have beneficial effects for treating PTSD when combined with traditional trauma-focused psychotherapy. Findings suggest MDMA assisted therapy is significantly more effective at treating patients with persistent PTSD than psychotherapy alone.... Read More...
Rave new world: Scientists pry apart party drug’s therapeutic, addictive qualities
Researchers have distinguished two different molecular pathways responsible for addiction and the prosocial feelings generated by MDMA. The findings could lead to novel treatments for psychiatric disorders marked by withdrawal and social awkwardness.... Read More...
Psychedelic drugs: would you accept a prescription? It depends if you’ve tried them before
Numerous studies have linked controlled psychedelics to improvements in mental health conditions such as depression and PTSD. In March, the FDA approved Esketamine as a treatment for depression. However, with much stigma surrounding psychedelics, researchers question how many patients would take psychedelic medications if prescribed to them. According to a new study, 40% of people with no experience of psychedelics would be unlikely to take the prescription due to fears of 'brain damage' or a 'bad trip'.... Read More...
Nearly 1 in 2 swingers uses recreational drugs to intensify sex
Half of all people who practice sexual swinging use recreational drugs to enhance their experience. Researchers report women are more likely to use drugs than either straight or bisexual men, increasing the risk of them participating in unprotected sex and contracting a sexually transmitted infection.... Read More...
‘Ecstasy’ shows promise for post-traumatic stress treatment
MDMA shows promise for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Combining the use of Ecstasy with psychotherapy treatments resulted in a reduction of PTSD symptoms after just one session. 54% of the study participants no longer met the PTSD criteria after two sessions. Patients also reported improvements in depression symptoms.... Read More...
Psychedelic drug MDMA may reawaken ‘critical period’ in brain to help treat PTSD
MDMA, a psychedelic drug, has successfully been used to reopen the 'critical period' of learning the reward values of social behaviors. Researchers report, in mature mice given MDMA, oxytocin triggers signaling in synapses that help encode social learning and memory, a process that does not usually occur in older animals. The findings could help in the development of treatments for PTSD and other disorders.... Read More...
MDMA Makes People Cooperative, But Not Gullible
Researchers report MDMA, the main compound in ecstasy, helps people to cooperate better, but only when the other person is trustworthy.... Read More...
Octopuses Given Ecstasy Reveal Genetic Link to Evolution of Social Behaviors in Humans
Testing the behavioral reaction to MDMA in octopuses, researchers report they have discovered evidence of an evolutionary link between the sea creatures and humans.... Read More...
The Real Promise of LSD, Mushrooms and MDMA for Medical Science
Researchers explore why using hallucinogens to treat an array of mental health disorders is becoming more popular.... Read More...
Exploring the Potential Benefits of Hallucinogens for Mental Health
Researchers explore the potential benefits of using hallucinogens for the treatment of PTSD, anxiety, depression and other mental health disorders.... Read More...
Ketamine and Psychedelic Drugs Change Structure of Neurons
A new study reveals psychedelics increase dendrites, dendritic spines and synapses, while ketamine may promote neuroplasticity. The findings could help develop new treatments for anxiety, depression and other related disorders.... Read More...