Can psychedelic drugs cure brain damage in depression?

Help LSD and ecstasy in mental illness?

Depression and addictions are serious diseases that are becoming more common in our society today. Researchers have now discovered that psychedelic drugs such as LSD and ecstasy stimulate the growth of new branches and connections between brain cells, which could contribute to the effective treatment of mental disorders.

The University of California scientists found in their recent research that psychedelic drugs can be used to successfully treat mental illness. The physicians published the results of their latest study in the English-language journal "Cell Reports".

Ecstasy and other psychedelic drugs seem to be effective in the treatment of mental illness. (Image: Lionello Rovati / fotolia.com)

DMT appears to help with post-traumatic stress disorder

Will psychedelic drugs be the next generation of mental disorders in the future? Can such a novel treatment be more effective and safer than previous treatments? These questions were the experts in their current investigation. The research team had already found in a previous study that a single dose of DMT helps rats overcome their fear of electroshock, which is supposed to mimic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). DMT is the main active ingredient of ayahuasca, a brew that is mainly used by Native Americans in South America for cultic purposes.

Consumption of DMT increases the number of dendrites

In their recent research, scientists found that such a single dose increases the number of branched dendrites sprouting from nerve cells in the rat's brain. Such dendrites terminate at synapses, where their electrical impulses are relayed to other nerve cells to support all brain activity. However, these dendrites can atrophy and regress in people with mental illness, the doctors say.

In depression, the neurites shrink

One of the hallmarks of depression is that the neurites in the prefrontal cortex (a key region of the brain that regulates emotions, moods and states of anxiety) tend to shrink, explains study author Dr. David Olson from the University of California. These changes in the brain also occur in cases of anxiety, addiction, and post-traumatic stress disorder, and stimulating the compound could help resolve this problem.

Psychedelic drugs increased important connections in the brain

Various substances were investigated, such as DMT, psychedelic fungi, MDMA and LSD. In tests on human brain cells in the laboratory, in flies and rats, it turned out that these substances strengthened the brain connections, explain the scientists.

What is Ketamine??

Dr. Olson compared the effects with ketamine, one of the major new treatments for depression. The expert found out that many psychedelics have the same or greater effects. The rapid effects of ketamine on mood and plasticity are truly astounding. Olson The scientists wanted to find out in the current study whether other compounds are able to achieve the same effect as ketamine.

Will there soon be a ketamine nasal spray?

Physicians have long believed that so-called psychedelics are able to alter the neuronal structure, but this is the first study that clearly supports this hypothesis, the researchers say. The development of a ketamine nasal spray is currently being accelerated after it has been shown that ketamine relieves severe depression and suicidal thoughts in people who can not be helped by other treatments. However, the use against the abuse potential and the risk of causing some form of drug-induced psychosis must be weighed, the authors explain.

Further research is needed

Ketamine is no longer the only option for treating mental disorders, Dr. Olsen. Various psychedelic drugs could also be used in the future for the treatment of depression, anxiety and other psychedelic disorders. Of course, until then much more research is needed. (As)