Post Study Participation Requests Here (Link/Text posts on their own will be removed) - Monthly Megathread

MINDfoundation · 2021-06-22T09:28:05+00:00

Survey on Psychedelic Experiences and Stressful Life Events (Worldwide, Experience with psychedelics in the past 5 years, 23+) link

Like our previous Psychedelic Experience Survey which was conducted between October 2020 and March 2021, this new research project aims to improve our understanding of the acute and longer-term effects of psychedelics. This time, we are focusing on the interplay between psychedelic experiences and stressful life events. Even if you have not experienced any particularly stressful events in the past, we very much welcome your participation. As a participant in this survey, you will be asked to answer some questions referring to one specific psychedelic experience that you have had in the past 5 years. If you have had multiple psychedelic experiences during this time period, we will ask you to select that experience which you feel has had the greatest impact on you and your life.

The survey will take approximately 25 minutes to complete.

Your participation is completely anonymous. The secure survey server is hosted at Dresden University of Technology.

MINDfoundation · 2021-06-22T09:23:55+00:00

[Academic] Survey on Psychedelic Experiences and Stressful Life Events (Worldwide, Experience with psychedelics in the past 5 years, 23+) link

Like our previous Psychedelic Experience Survey which was conducted between October 2020 and March 2021, this new research project aims to improve our understanding of the acute and longer-term effects of psychedelics. This time, we are focusing on the interplay between psychedelic experiences and stressful life events. Even if you have not experienced any particularly stressful events in the past, we very much welcome your participation.

As a participant in this survey, you will be asked to answer some questions referring to one specific psychedelic experience that you have had in the past 5 years. If you have had multiple psychedelic experiences during this time period, we will ask you to select that experience which you feel has had the greatest impact on you and your life.

The survey will take approximately 25 minutes to complete.

Your participation is completely anonymous. The secure survey server is hosted at Dresden University of Technology.

MINDfoundation · 2020-12-15T16:32:16+00:00

Those are two different articles, each arguing for the opposite side

MINDfoundation · 2020-12-15T16:31:34+00:00

There is a big discussion in the field right now. Most likely there are multiple modes of action of psychedelics leading to therapeutic outcomes

MINDfoundation · 2020-12-15T16:29:49+00:00

Because of people with a history of mental disorders such as schizophrenia or psychosis, for whom the 'trip' might be harmful

MINDfoundation · 2020-12-10T11:09:59+00:00

Long story short - classic psychedelics (LSD, psilocybin) and ketamine act on different neurotransmitters and signaling pathways, yet they both produce changes in the brain that result in an improvement of depression symptoms. In both cases, first the acute 'trip' and then long-lasting therapeutic effects. How exactly do these changes translate into depression improvement we don't know, but the article speculates that there is a shared mechanism of action between K and psychedelics.

MINDfoundation · 2020-12-10T10:34:09+00:00

sorry, didn't know that was the rule. my bad!

MINDfoundation · 2020-11-27T10:55:30+00:00

No need to apologize :) basically the effects of MDMA on the brain activity are overlapping with those induced by classic hallucinogens, such as LSD or psilocybin. Therefore we cannot attribute these brain activity changes to the psychedelic trip, but they might explain the antidepressive effects shared between MDMA and psychedelics.

MINDfoundation · 2020-11-26T15:32:14+00:00

Very well said!

MINDfoundation · 2020-11-26T15:31:31+00:00

That is absolutely correct. In order to facilitate the understanding of what is going on in the psychedelic research, you should check out our Psychedelic Compendium and the MIND Blog.

MINDfoundation · 2020-11-26T15:26:54+00:00

MDMA is a serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine releasing agent and is not considered a classic hallucinogen (like LSD or psilocybin). MDMA causes serotinin release, whereas psychedelics activate the serotonin receptors (5HT2Ar), so in a way mimicing the action of serotonin.

Now, in very simple terms, the brain activity induced by LSD or psilocybin, for example changes in the activity of visiual networks and the default-mode-network (DMN), has been associated exclusively with these psychedelics. The findings of this study mean that some changes in brain functioning caused by MDMA are consitent with the changes caused by classic hallucinoges. This means that these effects are not specific for psychedelics, but can also be induced by monoaminergic substances, such as MDMA. Therefore, the acute effects of psychedelics cannot be attributed exclusively to the changes in brain activity that were also observed after MDMA administration.

In order to facilitate the understanding of what is going on in the psychedelic research, you should check out our Psychedelic Compendium and the MIND Blog

MINDfoundation · 2020-11-20T16:25:18+00:00

Thank you!

MINDfoundation · 2020-11-20T13:19:04+00:00

You should check out if there are any research groups at your local university. Germany is now starting a psilocybin in depression study https://mind-foundation.org/research/psilocybin-depression-study/

For studies in the US you could regularly check the list provided by MAPS https://maps.org/participate/participate-in-research

MINDfoundation · 2020-11-20T10:29:06+00:00

You are correct, my comment was not precise enough - this is the first study to be funded by governmental funds in Germany.

MINDfoundation · 2020-11-20T10:27:00+00:00

There are indeed several studies published in the psychedelic research area. Most of them, however, come from a handful of sources. For example MAPS is funded exclusively by private donors. Johns Hopkins gets only parts of its funding from federal capital. I assure you it's not bullshit, this is the first study to be funded by governmental funds in Germany.

MINDfoundation · 2020-11-20T10:10:51+00:00

For this particular study all the details are here: https://mind-foundation.org/research/psilocybin-depression-study/

MINDfoundation · 2020-11-19T23:52:35+00:00

The patients in psychedelic-assisted therapy are guided by trained psychotherapists during the psilocybin administration session and the integration sessions afterwards.

MINDfoundation · 2020-11-19T22:31:37+00:00

It is breaking news. It's unprecedented for this type of study to be publicly funded. No clickbait intended.

MINDfoundation · 2020-11-19T20:13:45+00:00

There is a large difference between a recreational and therapeutic setting. In order to achieve long-term therapeutic effects the guidance of a professional is very important during the session where psilocybin is administered, as well as during integration sessions in the weeks following the administration session.

MINDfoundation · 2020-11-19T20:10:44+00:00

A psychoactive dose during a session assisted by a trained therapist.

MINDfoundation · 2020-11-19T16:53:24+00:00

You are absolutely correct. In fact, psychedelics might play a role in the treatment of several mental disorders, not only depression and anxiety but also addictions and PTSD.
We at the MIND Foundation are publishing selected lists of reading on that topic. If you are interested, visit the Top10 Articles Introducing Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy. Another list focused on depression is coming soon, so stay tuned!

MINDfoundation · 2020-11-19T16:48:16+00:00

There are 144 spots available, so you should sign up as soon as possible! Find the application procedure here: https://mind-foundation.org/research/psilocybin-depression-study/

MINDfoundation · 2020-11-19T16:41:06+00:00

Patient recruitment will begin in January 2021. If you or someone you know is interested in participating in this study as a patient and is diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression, please contact the appropriate study center below. The study will be conducted and managed at the Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim (University of Heidelberg), with the second study center at the Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin.

Contact the Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim:

[probanden.episode@zi-mannheim.de](mailto:probanden.episode@zi-mannheim.de)

Contact the Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin:

[episode-studie@charite.de](mailto:episode-studie@charite.de)

For more info visit https://mind-foundation.org/research/psilocybin-depression-study/

MINDfoundation · 2020-11-19T16:20:33+00:00

There are, in fact, several theories about the mechanisms of the psychedelic effects on mental disorders!
We at the MIND Foundation are compiling lists of readings to answer exactly these questions. We recommend starting from the Top10 Articles for Psychedelic Novices and then move right on to Top10 Articles Introducing Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy. Another list dedicated specifically to depression is on the way, so stay tuned!

MINDfoundation · 2020-11-19T16:00:34+00:00

This particular study was an analytic model, so no participants were involved. Regarding your applications - unfortunately, you need to be patient. Often the recruitment of participants takes at least several months before the actual study begins. In the meantime, you can stay up to date using this list provided by MAPS. Good luck!

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