The use of the combination of neurophysiological data labelled according to a single protocol from different clinical sites could be an optimal solution. The input of the neural network is either the raw EEG signal (after pre-processing in the form of filtering and denoising) or its converted version. Given the existence of well-known models of neural networks used for image classification, the transformation often consists of the formation of an “image” from the EEG signal, which is then fed to the input of a two-dimensional convolutional network. To form an “image”, the power values of brain rhythms can be used, which are spatially projected onto a plane, following the location of the electrodes 84. Therapeutic alliance is considered a strong predictor of treatment success in conventional psychotherapy 107.
Availability of data and codes
- Studies exhibited a broad heterogeneity in terms of substance, mental disorder, treatment context, and qualitative methodology.
- These are often juxtaposed generally with standard treatments, although respondents did not always specify what these treatments entailed.
- The action of these classic serotonergic psychedelicsis mediated primarily through agonism of the 5-hydroxytryptamine2A (5-HT2A) receptor, which is maximally expressed in the cerebralcortex.
- Moreover, the applicability of deep learning is highlighted for the development of drugs on the basis of big data.
- One widely touted study finding benefits of psilocybin for major depression involved just 27 participants.
In fact, international studies have found that psilocybin and MDMA-assisted therapy has resulted in 60-80% remission rates after 2-3 medicinal treatments in combination with a short course of psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD and depression. They are often rated by patients as among the most meaningful experiences of their lives. Numerous clinical trials have shown the promising effects of psychedelics in reducing depression symptoms, decreasing anxiety in patients with life-threatening illnesses, and treating PTSD. Franklin King IV, MD, is the director of training and education at the Mass General Center for the Neuroscience of Psychedelics and a clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School.
How iPSCs are revolutionizing myelination models for multiple sclerosis drug discovery?
There is much to learn about how these psychedelic compounds work in the brain to promote neural plasticity. Initial clinical studies suggest immediate, sustained relief of symptoms after a single administration of a psychedelic compound in a therapeutic setting. Szigeti compared results from psychedelic and antidepressant studies without a placebo group, where everyone got an active treatment, and his unpublished data suggest they actually have similar effects. Even the two studies submitted to the FDA in 2024 seeking approval for MDMA included 90 and 104 participants, respectively. By contrast, when the diabetes drug Ozempic was approved in 2017, its manufacturer submitted results in more than 4,000 people.
“It was like being inside of nature, and I could’ve just stayed there forever—it was wonderful. All kinds of other things were coming, too, like feelings of being connected to everything, I mean, everything in nature. It was wonderful, and it wasn’t like talking about it, which makes it an idea, it was, like, experiential. Experiences of interconnectedness, a felt sense of the unity of all things, were described explicitly by patients in various psilocybin studies 53, 81–83. That’s the number one thing—you’re just not alone.” 81 psilocybin, end-of-life anxiety.
PAT centers allow for both therapeutic practices and rigorous data collection to occur, ensuring that the treatment protocols are consistently monitored and evaluated. In the 1990s, development efforts accelerated psychedelic treatments: transforming mental health and neurodegenerative disease research when new generations of scientists began to re-examine potential uses of existing substances while utilizing contemporary methods and procedures. The recognition of a new psychedelic treatment for depression called Spravato prompted researchers to publicize their work into similar therapies. Ketamine, a drug of abuse that has historically been used as an anesthetic, has been shown to be valuable in treating depression. LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) and MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) have also been studied for their therapeutic potential for many years.
- A feature of most neurodegenerative disorders is the low specificity of individual assessment methods and markers.
- He lectures all over the world to professional groups interested in a deeper look at mental health issues, safer tools, and a paradigm-shifting perspective about transformative care.
- Data gathered from these centers can provide early evidence of the safety and efficacy of psychedelic substances in a therapeutic setting, crucial for addressing regulatory and medical concerns.
- Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) represent a significant and growing global health challenge.
Multifaceted Perspectives of Drug Discovery in Psychedelics
Additionally, animal models have shown an important role for 5-HT2AR agonists in modulating learning and memory function with relevance for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and related dementias. A number of biological mechanisms of action are under investigation to elucidate 5-HT2AR agonists’ therapeutic potential, including enhanced neuroplasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and alterations in brain functional connectivity. These diverse lines of research are reviewed here along with a discussion of AD pathophysiology and neuropsychiatric symptoms to highlight classic psychedelics as potential novel pharmacotherapies for patients with AD. Human clinical research suggests a possible role for high-dose psychedelic administration in symptomatic treatment of depressed mood and anxiety in early-stage AD. Preclinical data indicate a potential for low- or high-dose psychedelic treatment regimens to slow or reverse brain atrophy, enhance cognitive function, and slow progression of AD.
Effects
The diversity of changes in brain structures in neurodegenerative disorders, including those linked to genetic factors, makes creating computational models a challenge. The performance of the model can sharply decrease if the preliminary classification of pathological changes used to train additional models was performed erroneously. The researchers made an attempt to combine algorithms that identify subtypes and the progression of neurodegenerative disorders into a single ensemble of learning models. In addition to a very detailed pre-classification of images by the type of brain changes, the authors created a model that estimated the stage of disease progression. To do this, they introduced time granulation related to the severity of a particular observed parameter within each pre-classified type of brain change. The model was also supplemented with data on genetically caused symptoms (Genetic Frontotemporal Dementia Initiative GENFI) that significantly affect the course of the disease.
However,it remains unknown how just a single administration of a psychedelicdrug can produce a long-term therapeutic effect. While some qualitative research efforts have been directed at exploring the role of the subjective psychedelic experience in the treatment of mental disorders, to date no systematic review exists. This article aims to address this lacuna by presenting an overview of the available qualitative research. Identifying salient themes across studies, this review presents both common and diverging elements in patients’ accounts of their experiences, how they relate to their disorders, therapeutic processes, and personally and clinically significant outcomes. A systematic literature review was conducted of qualitative studies that address what patients report after taking a psychedelic substance in the context of treatment of a mental disorder.
Exercises aimed at training memory, attention, and thinking have been extensively used as a therapy for individuals with neurodegenerative disorders 46. Examples of such training include episodic memory capacity training with mnemonic techniques and visual information processing speed training 49. The meta-analysis of 32 studies on the effectiveness of cognitive training in individuals with neurodegenerative disorders showed moderate effectiveness of training for improving cognitive functions 50. However, many of the studies included in the meta-analysis were of low quality and had small sample sizes, so the authors cautioned against drawing definitive conclusions.
A slowed (or completely absent) perception of time and unusual bodily sensations were specifically mentioned by participants taking ketamine 84, while auditory effects, such as zapping or buzzing sounds, were only mentioned for ibogaine experiences 79, 86. Abstract and transient visual phenomena (such as seeing animals, complex patterns, landscapes) and visions (immersive and personally meaningful) were reported by respondents in studies with psilocybin and ibogaine 79, 81, 82, 86. To varying degrees, these visions contained autobiographical, relational, imaginary, dreamlike, indigenous, religious, and other elements. This review demonstrates how qualitative research of psychedelic treatments can contribute to distinguishing specific features of specific substances, and carry otherwise undiscovered implications for the treatment of specific psychiatric disorders. Eleusis, a company researching the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics, is currently conducting a clinical trial investigating the effects of low-dose LSD (“microdosing”) in Alzheimer’s patients.