Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1119327

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Psilocybin Rewires the Depressed Brain

Posted by Hugh on April 13, 2022, at 14:17:03

https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2022/04/422606/psilocybin-rewires-brain-people-depression

Psilocybin Rewires the Brain for People with Depression

Study Suggests New Mechanism for How Psychedelics Affect the Brain

By Laura Kurtzman

Psilocybin fosters greater connections between different regions of the brain in depressed people, freeing them up from long-held patterns of rumination and excessive self-focus, according to a new study by scientists at UC San Francisco and Imperial College London.

The discovery points toward a general mechanism through which psychedelics may be acting therapeutically on the brain to alleviate depression and possibly other psychiatric conditions that are marked by fixed patterns of thinking.

Scientists analyzed fMRI brain scans from nearly 60 people who had participated in two psilocybin trials. In the first one, all the participants had treatment-resistant depression and knew they were being given psilocybin. In the second one, the participants were depressed but not as severely, and they were not told whether they had been given psilocybin or a placebo that turned out to be escitalopram, an SSRI antidepressant. In addition to the drugs, all the participants received the same type of psychotherapy.

The scans, which were done before and after treatment, showed the psilocybin treatment reduced connections within brain areas that are tightly connected in depression, including the default mode, salience, and executive networks, and increased connections to other regions of the brain that had not been well integrated.

Participants were also less emotionally avoidant and their cognitive functioning got better. The improvement in their depressive symptoms correlated with changes to their brains, and these changes lasted until the study ended three weeks after the second psilocybin dose. No such changes were seen in the brains of those who received escitalopram, suggesting that psilocybin acts differently on the brain than SSRIs.

Psilocybin and other serotonergic psychedelics like ayahuasca affect 5-HT2A receptors, which are plentiful in brain networks that become overactive in depression. One hypothesis is that the drugs briefly disrupt these connections, giving them a chance to reform in new ways in the ensuing days and weeks.

"In previous studies we had seen a similar effect in the brain when people were scanned whilst on a psychedelic, but here we're seeing it weeks after treatment for depression, which suggests a carry-over of the acute drug action," said Robin Carhart-Harris, PhD, who directs the Neuroscape Psychedelics Division at UCSF and is the senior author of the study, which appears April 11, 2022, in Nature Medicine.

"We don't yet know how long the changes in brain activity seen with psilocybin therapy last, and we need to do more research to understand this," said Carhart-Harris, who is the Ralph Metzner Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Psychiatry, and Behavioral Sciences and a member of the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences. "We do know that some people relapse, and it may be that after a while their brains revert to the rigid patterns of activity we see in depression."

The authors caution that while these findings are encouraging, patients with depression should not attempt to self-medicate with psilocybin. The trials took place under controlled, clinical conditions, using a regulated dose formulated in a laboratory, and involved extensive psychological support before, during, and after dosing.

But the study points to a mechanism that, if it holds up, may explain both how psilocybin helps to alleviate depression and potentially other debilitating psychiatric conditions.

"For the first time we find that psilocybin works differently from conventional antidepressants - making the brain more flexible and fluid, and less entrenched in the negative thinking patterns associated with depression," said David Nutt, DM, head of the Imperial Centre for Psychedelic Research. "This supports our initial predictions and confirms psilocybin could be a real alternative approach to depression treatments."

 

Re: Psilocybin Rewires the Depressed Brain » Hugh

Posted by Jay2112 on April 14, 2022, at 21:43:42

In reply to Psilocybin Rewires the Depressed Brain, posted by Hugh on April 13, 2022, at 14:17:03

> https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2022/04/422606/psilocybin-rewires-brain-people-depression
>
> Psilocybin Rewires the Brain for People with Depression
>
<polite snip>
>
> "For the first time we find that psilocybin works differently from conventional antidepressants - making the brain more flexible and fluid, and less entrenched in the negative thinking patterns associated with depression," said David Nutt, DM, head of the Imperial Centre for Psychedelic Research. "This supports our initial predictions and confirms psilocybin could be a real alternative approach to depression treatments."
>

I think the key here is the re-wiring of neural pathways, as at times when I have felt great effect from my meds, is when they open up a deeply empathetic side to me. I don't get 'manic', but very emotional and a bit teary about music, feeling very good around people,very 'warm', can easily laugh, very pro-social, and it seems to very much be about connection. That seems to often be the opposite of what we are taught here in N. America, to be 'self sufficient', not rely on anyone else, each to their own, etc.

Jay

 

Re: Psilocybin Rewires the Depressed Brain

Posted by SLS on April 15, 2022, at 9:04:08

In reply to Re: Psilocybin Rewires the Depressed Brain » Hugh, posted by Jay2112 on April 14, 2022, at 21:43:42

Hi.


> I think the key here is the re-wiring of neural pathways, as at times when I have felt great effect from my meds, is when they open up a deeply empathetic side to me. I don't get 'manic', but very emotional and a bit teary about music, feeling very good around people,very 'warm', can easily laugh, very pro-social, and it seems to very much be about connection. That seems to often be the opposite of what we are taught here in N. America, to be 'self sufficient', not rely on anyone else, each to their own, etc.
>
> Jay

.

Yup.

The following is a political rant. If you don't care to read something that might enrage you, I recommend that you don't read beyond this sentence.


-------------------------------------------------------


Regarding the post that I am responding to:

The selfishness of many Americans resulted in the election of a mentally unstable, arrogant, and ignorant man who was elected by people in need of a symbol. To have this symbol as president, they abandoned their own morals and common sense.

It's over for this sociopath, and hopefully, the political party that conspired to promote a coup attempt on January 6, 2021. The congressional investigation into the coup attempt has yielded enough evidence to convict a former president. The congressional investigative committee announced to the public yesterday that they are in possession of text messages sent by members of Congress to the former president, demonstrating that had knowledge of, and participated in, the planning and execution of the coup attempt. In fact, as the date for the insurrection approached, some text messages were sent by several members of Congress who belonged to the same seditious political party, advised the president NOT to follow through with the coup attempt that they obviously had knowledge of. The coup had been planned much earlier. The top military general gave instructions to his troops the day after the election that they not follow any orders that were not first cleared by him. The general expressed his concern that the former president might attempt a coup. TRUE.

Social media, especially Facebook, was exploited by a corrupt political party. They facilitated the coup attempt by organizing a "protest" mob. The mob, composed mostly of right-wing radicals, racists, and neo-Nazis, assembled right in front of this president, who spoke to them outside behind the bullet-proof glass and podium set up for him to arouse the mob This is incredibly bizarre, but real. We watched a president of the United States instruct a mob to walk on to the Capitol building, and promised to walk with them. Of course, he didn't. A lot of people in the mob brought weapons with them. Some of them were firearms, but most of them were weapons to effect blunt force trauma. Among the objects used were baseball bats and American flag staffs (how ironic), and anything else they could find lying around. The mob also constructed a gallows on the Capitol lawn that was meant to hang the vice president should he not follow through with his role in the coup. Thank God the VP did his job as presiding over a ritual rite to have Congress announce the results of the election. The method by which the former the president planned to continue his reign was to interrupt the proceedings at the Capitol while in session by attacking it. Was it an unrelated coincidence that mob attacked the Capitol building at the time Congress was in session to affirm the election results? Much of the mob climbed up the side of the building and cheered. The building was breached. "Protesters" broke windows and rammed through doors in order to flood into the interior and disrupt the election proceeding. They had a list of members of Congress to murder. Fortunately, the members of congress were informed that and insurrection was in progress, and exited the chamber to escape the insurrection. In the meantime, the mob destroyed and vandalized much of the interior, and even defecated on the floors. The rotunda served as the center of the attack.

As part of this political party's plan to take over government, a majority of its members present in the chamber stood up and moved to challenge the election and to discard the votes of the states' electors and give the election to the House of Representatives (as provided for in the (Constitution). This never happened before, and there was no precedent for supporting such an action. In order to do this, the corrupt party moved to have all of the state governors who were ready to participate in the coup discard their state's electoral votes and submit their personal choice in place of the decisions of the state's voters. I imagine the documents and mechanisms necessary for the governors to do this had already been prepared.

I am happy for people to see my political / patriotic side. Now, Congress has more than enough proof to put this former president in prison. So does the state of New York and New York City. It is beyond my understanding why duly-elected members of Congress who had previously demonstrated intellect and education, abandoned their character and education to promote lies and deception (propaganda). They preyed upon the innocence of people who had felt disenfranchised by the government - and they really were. Still, I remain in a state of incredulity for what I have witnessed, and continue to witness. This existential crisis in the United States is not over.

Americans have always lived under the belief that "It can't happen here". It did.

1. Politics = Government

2. Government = How we are *allowed* to live.

.

* I have written a book worth of material on Facebook regarding these issues. The foundations of American Democracy, and the constitution that engineered it, were attacked by the corrupt, ignorant, arrogant, and immoral minds of people in government elected to positions of power.

* I am going to make this my only post on this subject on Psycho-Babble. The following book, inspired by what the authors saw happening during the previous administration, explained the totalitarian goals of the former president. He is a true demagogue, who even leaders of the evangelical churches announced publicly that he "was sent by God". These Americans needed an idol to worship. They found one, and will do anything to keep him - still.

.

This is an excerpt from the book, "How Democracies Die":

https://www.americanacademy.de/how-democracies-die/

.

This is the complete book in PDF format it you're interested:

https://archive.org/download/HowDemocraciesDieStevenLevitsky/How%20Democracies%20Die%20-%20Steven%20Levitsky.pdf


- Scott

 

Sorry about all the typos. (nm)

Posted by SLS on April 15, 2022, at 19:41:49

In reply to Re: Psilocybin Rewires the Depressed Brain, posted by SLS on April 15, 2022, at 9:04:08

 

Scott: BEAUTIFUL and perfect!! Thank you.... » SLS

Posted by Jay2112 on April 15, 2022, at 20:56:46

In reply to Re: Psilocybin Rewires the Depressed Brain, posted by SLS on April 15, 2022, at 9:04:08

You summarized this topic so perfectly, and even though I am Canadian, we have had a run-in with similar right-wing rabble rousers, trying to overthrow our democratically elected Liberal Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. They called themselves the "freedom convoy",(They were independent truckers, selfish enough to refuse a government mandate of Covid vaccination) were well funded and heavily armed, but our brave PM called their bluff, and now many are facing criminal contempt charges. This was our "Jan. 6", and Trump was of course cheering on these buffoons here in Canada. And of course the one I do want to see behind bars is Mr. Sunshine himself, DT. Ohhhh...that would suit him so good!!!

Jay

 

Re: Scott: BEAUTIFUL and perfect!! Thank you.... » Jay2112

Posted by SLS on April 16, 2022, at 12:21:18

In reply to Scott: BEAUTIFUL and perfect!! Thank you.... » SLS, posted by Jay2112 on April 15, 2022, at 20:56:46

Thanks.

I was hoping I wasn't alone.


- Scott

 

Re: Psilocybin Rewires the Depressed Brain » SLS

Posted by Hugh on April 19, 2022, at 10:24:58

In reply to Re: Psilocybin Rewires the Depressed Brain, posted by SLS on April 15, 2022, at 9:04:08

Our whole society is sick, and keeps getting sicker.

 

Re: Psilocybin Rewires the Depressed Brain » Jay2112

Posted by Hugh on April 19, 2022, at 10:30:50

In reply to Re: Psilocybin Rewires the Depressed Brain » Hugh, posted by Jay2112 on April 14, 2022, at 21:43:42

I think that neurofeedback helped me by rewiring my brain, making some connections weaker and some connections stronger. I'd be interested in trying neurofeedback again, shortly after trying psilocybin or MDMA. (Maybe even during?) It seems that the brain would be much more plastic in this state, and respond even more robustly to neurofeedback.

> > https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2022/04/422606/psilocybin-rewires-brain-people-depression
> >
> > Psilocybin Rewires the Brain for People with Depression
> >
> <polite snip>
> >
> > "For the first time we find that psilocybin works differently from conventional antidepressants - making the brain more flexible and fluid, and less entrenched in the negative thinking patterns associated with depression," said David Nutt, DM, head of the Imperial Centre for Psychedelic Research. "This supports our initial predictions and confirms psilocybin could be a real alternative approach to depression treatments."
> >
>
> I think the key here is the re-wiring of neural pathways, as at times when I have felt great effect from my meds, is when they open up a deeply empathetic side to me. I don't get 'manic', but very emotional and a bit teary about music, feeling very good around people,very 'warm', can easily laugh, very pro-social, and it seems to very much be about connection. That seems to often be the opposite of what we are taught here in N. America, to be 'self sufficient', not rely on anyone else, each to their own, etc.
>
> Jay
>
>

 

Re: Psilocybin Rewires the Depressed Brain

Posted by Hugh on April 20, 2022, at 14:40:48

In reply to Psilocybin Rewires the Depressed Brain, posted by Hugh on April 13, 2022, at 14:17:03

In the new study, the team took advantage of brain scans from those two trials to uncover how magic mushrooms work in the depressed brain. Psilocybin rapidly decreased depression symptoms in both trials, based on a standardized questionnaire. With just two in-clinic doses, psilocybin reduced the patients' depressive score by 64 percent after 3 weeks. In contrast, Lexapro dropped the score by only 37 percent 6 weeks after taking it daily. Patients treated with psilocybin scored low for depression even half a year after stopping treatment.

Peeking into their brains, the team analyzed the brain scans with a method dubbed "network modularity," which looks at how connected or segregated different brain areas are. Comparing fMRI scans of peoples' brains before and after psilocybin treatment, the team found increased connectivity just one day after psilocybin. Previously segregated networks re-formed their social networks, causing an increase in brain connectivity, especially in networks normally disrupted by depression.

Using a metric called dynamic flexibility, the team also found that brain networks treated with psilocybin changed their community allegiance more rapidly over time. This suggests that rather than their locked state in depression, the networks are shaken up to restructure their communications across the brain to alleviate depressive symptoms. Psilocybin doesn't dampen brain activity -- rather, it "liberates the entrenched depressed brain, making it more integrated and flexible," wrote the editors of Nature Medicine.

In contrast, Lexapro didn't drive any network changes and only had modest effects on depression.

Complete article:

https://singularityhub.com/2022/04/19/scientists-used-brain-scans-to-see-how-magic-mushrooms-battle-depression-heres-what-they-found/


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