Psychedelic Drugs Overview
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary psychoactive substance in psilocybin mushrooms after ingestion?

  • LSD
  • Psilocin (correct)
  • Mescaline
  • DMT

    • Which psychedelic drug is derived from the peyote cactus and has been traditionally used in Native American rituals?

  • DMT
  • Psilocybin
  • LSD
  • Mescaline (correct)

    • What is the main effect of smoking DMT?

  • Extended periods of cognitive clarity
  • A mild sensation of relaxation
  • Altered body function without hallucinations
  • A brief but intense hallucinatory experience (correct)

    • What substance is sythesized from ergot and is known for its involvement in creating powerful hallucinogenic experiences?

    <p>LSD</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the traditional use of ayahuasca among indigenous peoples in the Amazon?

    <p>For spiritual and religious ceremonies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which receptors are primarily associated with the psychedelic effects of hallucinogenic drugs?

    <p>5-HT2A receptors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the 'trigger population' in the neural circuitry associated with psychedelic drugs?

    <p>Disrupts cognitive-gating mechanisms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following hallucinogens acts primarily through the opioid pathways rather than serotonergic pathways?

    <p>Salvinorin A</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What psychological conditions are being explored for treatment with psychedelic drug therapy?

    <p>Depression, OCD, and PTSD</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which phenomenon may occur due to a high dose of psychedelic drugs?

    <p>Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What impact do psychedelics have on the default mode network (DMN)?

    <p>Reduce its activity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What common psychiatric symptom can high doses of psychedelics mimic?

    <p>Acute psychosis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which substance is known to produce a dissociated state often referred to as the 'K-hole'?

    <p>Ketamine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary effect of high doses of ibogaine?

    <p>Psychedelic effects</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What psychological approach is described as inducing 'psycholysis' using LSD?

    <p>Psycholytic therapy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which physiological response is more likely associated with the use of mushrooms and peyote?

    <p>Nausea and vomiting</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of the 5-HT2A receptor in relation to hallucinogens?

    <p>It serves as an agonist for indolamines and phenethylamines</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the duration of effects when drugs are taken orally, according to the approximate time frame?

    <p>30-90 minutes onset, lasting from minutes to many hours</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What describes a 'good trip' in the context of psychedelic experiences?

    <p>A blissful and spiritually enlightening experience</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of receptor antagonist are PCP and ketamine?

    <p>Uncompetitive</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant effect of NMDA receptor blockade on cortical GABAergic interneurons?

    <p>Increased glutamate release</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following symptoms is NOT typically reproduced by PCP or ketamine use?

    <p>Auditory hallucinations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Chronic use of PCP can lead to which of the following conditions?

    <p>Impaired memory recall</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What therapeutic use is ketamine effective for?

    <p>Chronic pain conditions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary psychoactive agent formed from dextromethorphan?

    <p>Dextrorphan</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which cannabinoid is primarily used for reducing seizures in pediatric epilepsy?

    <p>CBD-only extracts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Chronic cannabis use can lead to which of the following psychological effects?

    <p>Development of cannabis use disorder</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do cannabinoids interact with the brain's reward system?

    <p>Through CB1 receptor activation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect can high doses of marijuana cause?

    <p>Paranoia and transient psychotic symptoms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the duration when withdrawal effects from cannabis are greatest after abstinence?

    <p>First 1-2 weeks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which cognitive domain shows impairment after long-term cannabis use, particularly after 2 weeks of abstinence?

    <p>Verbal learning and memory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What possible change may occur in the brain due to chronic cannabis use, particularly in adolescents?

    <p>Lower gray matter volume</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common characteristic of schizophrenia as defined by DSM-V?

    <p>Presence of both positive and negative symptoms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about schizophrenia is true?

    <p>No two individuals show the same pattern of symptoms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do personality characteristics relate to marijuana use according to the discussed content?

    <p>They may play a role as a cause of marijuana use.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What cognitive function may be potentially impaired with chronic cannabis use, depending on age of onset and frequency of use?

    <p>Verbal learning and memory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?

    <p>Delusions and hallucinations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What might occur as a result of prolonged cannabis use starting in adolescence?

    <p>Lower educational and occupational achievements</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be a consequence of impaired inhibitory control due to cannabis use?

    <p>Difficulty in maintaining attention</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What brain abnormality is commonly observed in individuals with schizophrenia?

    <p>Enlarged cerebral ventricles</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How might early life stress influence schizophrenia risk?

    <p>Through epigenetic modifications that alter neurodevelopment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What genetic factor is associated with the risk of developing schizophrenia?

    <p>Polymorphisms of the DISC1 gene</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one potential consequence of prenatal inflammation according to models of schizophrenia?

    <p>Increased risk for schizophrenia through neurodevelopment errors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which model is used to study sensory-filtering deficits in schizophrenia?

    <p>Prepulse inhibition of startle (PPI)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Psychedelic Drugs

    • Psychedelic drugs are psychoactive substances that cause perceptual changes, visual hallucinations, altered awareness of the mind and body, and cognitive distortions, without toxic delirium.
    • Many are synthesized from plants or plant-derived compounds.
    • Examples include LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, bufotenine, DMT, 5-MeODMT, salvinorin (from Salvia), and ibogaine.

    Mescaline

    • Mescaline is found in the peyote cactus.
    • Peyote buttons (dried tops) are chewed raw or cooked.
    • Native Americans use peyote in religious and healing rituals.
    • Pure mescaline can be synthesized, becoming popular in the 1960s.

    Psilocybin

    • Psilocybin is an alkaloid found in various mushroom species.
    • It's consumed dried and raw, or as a tea.
    • Psilocybin converts to psilocin (the psychoactive compound) in the body.
    • The use of psilocybin dates back thousands of years.
    • The Harvard Marsh Chapel Experiment used psilocybin to induce profound religious experiences in graduate students.

    DMT and Ayahuasca

    • DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, and bufotenine are found in South American plants.
    • When smoked or snorted, DMT produces a brief (30-minute) intense hallucinatory experience.
    • Synthetic DMT analogs are orally active.
    • Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic drink made from plants containing DMT and alkaloids (β-carbolines) that inhibit MAO activity.
    • Ayahuasca use dates to pre-Columbian times, used in spiritual/religious ceremonies.

    Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)

    • LSD is a synthetic drug derived from ergot alkaloids (in the parasitic rye fungus).
    • Long-term ergot poisoning causes ergotism (convulsions and gangrene).
    • Ergot alkaloids can also trigger labor and reduce post-birth uterine hemorrhage.
    • LSD was initially synthesized in search for circulatory and respiratory stimulants.
    • Some researchers explored LSD in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis.

    Ibogaine

    • Ibogaine comes from the bark and roots of a West African shrub.
    • It's chewed or made into a powder.
    • Low doses are psychostimulants (increasing energy, reducing hunger, creating euphoria).
    • High doses induce psychedelic effects.
    • Ibogaine, under controlled conditions, can counteract opioid withdrawal symptoms and cravings.

    Salvinorin A and Ketocyclazocine

    • Salvinorin A is a psychoactive compound found in Salvia divinorum (sage of the diviners).
    • It's historically used in religious rituals by Mazatec shamans.
    • The leaves are chewed or extracted, absorbed orally or smoked.
    • Salvinorin A is inactivated in the gastrointestinal tract.
    • Salvinorin A and ketocyclazocine produce vivid hallucinations, out-of-body experiences, and similar effects to other hallucinogens.
    • They act through kappa opioid receptors.

    General Psychedelic Effects

    • Potency varies among types.
    • Oral effects begin in 30-90 minutes, lasting from minutes to hours.
    • A "trip" involves four phases: onset, plateau, peak, and comedown.
    • Users experience visual hallucinations, altered time perception, depersonalization, strong emotions, and disrupted logic.
    • Synesthesia (crossing of senses) is possible.
    • Trips can be mystical or disturbing.

    Altered States of Consciousness (ASC) Rating Scale

    • The ASC scale measures five dimensions of experience: oceanic boundlessness, ego-disintegration anxiety, visionary restructuralization, reduced vigilance, and auditory alterations.
    • Subdimensions provide more detailed analysis of drug-induced reactions.

    Physiological Responses

    • Physiological responses include sympathetic nervous system activation, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting (possible with mushrooms and peyote).

    Chemical Structures

    • Many psychedelic drugs share a serotonin-like (indolamine) molecular structure (LSD, psilocybin, psilocin, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, ibogaine).
    • Some have a catecholamine-like structure (mescaline, synthetic phenethylamines).

    Neurobiology Mechanisms

    • 5-HT2A receptor activation is crucial for many effects.
    • Psychedelics activate a trigger population of glutamatergic neurons, disrupting a brain loop.
    • Some hallucinogens act on opioid pathways.

    Medical Uses

    • LSD was previously studied as an alcohol treatment.
    • Recent research explores long-term psychological effects and potential for treating depression, OCD, and PTSD.

    Adverse Reactions

    • Psychedelics are not typically addictive but a few users may meet diagnostic criteria for hallucinogen use disorder.
    • Tolerance develops with repeated use, potentially leading to receptor downregulation.
    • Adverse effects include bad trips, flashbacks, and hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD).
    • High doses can cause toxic reactions.

    Dissociative Anesthetics (PCP and Ketamine)

    • PCP and ketamine are uncompetitive NMDA antagonists.
    • PCP was initially developed as an anesthetic but has significant adverse effects.
    • Ketamine is a safer alternative, used clinically and in veterinary medicine.
    • Both produce a "dissociated state" at anesthetic doses.
    • Subjective experiences include light, visions, loss of time sense, body distortions, and feelings of detachment.

    Pharmacology of PCP and Ketamine

    • They block ion flow in NMDA receptors.

    Models of Schizophrenia

    • LSD and PCP/ketamine models have been developed to study schizophrenia.
    • The glutamate hypothesis suggests that hypofunction of the glutamatergic system contributes to schizophrenia.

    Recreational Use and Chronic Effects

    • PCP and ketamine have potential for recreational use.
    • Chronic use can lead to urological issues, GI disturbances, cognitive impairment, and possible psychosis.
    • Alternative uses for chronic pain/depression.

    Cannabis

    • Cannabis exhibits stimulant and depressant effects, with potential for hallucinogen-like effects.
    • Medicinal uses vary depending on cannabinoid composition (THC, CBD).
    • Consumption produces dose-dependent intoxication with a series of stages.
    • Cannabis impairment of learning/memory is related to effects on the glutamatergic system.

    Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD)

    • Regular users exhibit tolerance and cognitive impairment.
    • Mechanisms may include CB1 receptor desensitization, reduced glutamate, striatal dopaminergic dysfunction, and withdrawal symptoms (similar to nicotine).

    Long-Term Cannabis Use Effects

    • Long-term use can impact cognitive domains, especially if initiated in adolescence.
    • Possible link between early cannabis use and reduced educational/occupational achievement.

    Brain Changes with Long-Term Use

    • Cannabis use is associated with changes in brain structure (volume) and function.

    Psychoses and Antipsychotic Medications

    • Psychoses are conditions involving difficulty distinguishing reality.
    • Antipsychotic medications treat disorders of the schizophrenia spectrum.
    • Schizophrenia features both positive (delusions, hallucinations) and negative (reduced emotional expression) symptoms.

    Diagnosing Schizophrenia

    • Diagnoses can be challenging due to varied symptom patterns.
    • Symptoms change over time and intensity.

    Schizophrenia Brain Abnormalities

    • Brain imaging shows structural changes (atrophy, ventricle enlargement).
    • Functional changes exist, such as reduced prefrontal cortex activity or changes in abnormal activation.
    • Possible associations between immune dysfunction and schizophrenia.

    Genetic and Developmental Aspects

    • Strong genetic component in schizophrenia.
    • Early life stress can lead to epigenetic changes.
    • Neurodevelopmental factors are crucial (e.g., prenatal inflammation, viral infections).

    Models of Schizophrenia

    • Animal models investigate specific aspects of the disorder.

    Dopamine Hypothesis

    • The dopamine imbalance hypothesis suggests positive symptoms relate to excessive mesolimbic dopamine activity; negative symptoms are due to reduced mesocortical dopamine.

    Glutamate and Other Neurotransmitters

    • The glutamate hypothesis points to inadequate glutamate levels.

    Neuroleptics and Antipsychotics

    • Antipsychotics are used to treat schizophrenia, with differing effects on individuals.
    • Classic neuroleptics (phenothiazines, butyrophenones) have significant side effects.
    • Newer atypical antipsychotics are sometimes more effective with fewer side effects.

    Antipsychotic Mechanisms

    • Dopamine receptor antagonism is a key mechanism of antipsychotic action.
    • Antipsychotics affect several neurotransmitter receptors.

    Antipsychotic Side Effects

    • Side effects, such as Parkinsonian symptoms, neuroendocrine effects, and tardive dyskinesia, can be significant.

    Atypical Antipsychotics

    • Atypical antipsychotics have different mechanisms and/or affect other receptors.

    Clinical Trials

    • Pragmatic clinical trials offer real-world insights.
    • Some trials have found limitations in effectiveness of newer antipsychotics.

    Potential New Approaches

    • There are a range of research directions attempting to address the challenges of treating schizophrenia.

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    Description

    Explore the fascinating world of psychedelic drugs, including their effects on perception and cognition. Learn about well-known substances like mescaline and psilocybin, their sources, uses in rituals, and historical significance. This quiz provides insights into these mind-altering compounds and their cultural contexts.

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