ABSTRACT
This study sought to investigate the effects of different substances on nature relatedness (NR) in the general population. An online cross-sectional survey done in Brazil investigated use of ayahuasca/DMT, psilocybe mushrooms, LSD, MDMA/ecstasy, cocaine, cannabis, and alcohol. NR was assessed using the short-form version of the nature related scale (NR-6). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess group differences between substance naïve-individuals, past users, and current users of each substance. Regression models were used including all the substances and subsequently, sociodemographic variables. ANOVAs with substances which showed significantly higher NR-6 scores in the regression model were used in order to assess the effect of intention of future use on NR. ANOVAs indicated higher NR in users of classic serotonergic psychedelics (ayahuasca/DMT, psilocybe mushrooms, LSD), cannabis, and MDMA/ecstasy. Regression models showed that current use of ayahuasca/DMT and psilocybe mushrooms, and past use of LSD had a positive association with NR. When sociodemographic variables were added, only ayahuasca/DMT past and current use were positively associated with NR. Intention of future use was only significantly associated with NR in individuals who reported intention of future use of psilocybe mushrooms.
ABSTRACT
Psilocybin, a substance mainly found in mushrooms of the genus psilocybe, has been historically used for ritualistic, recreational and, more recently, medicinal purposes. The scientific literature suggests low toxicity, low risk of addiction, overdose, or other causes of injury commonly caused by substances of abuse, with growing interest in the use of this substance for conditions such as treatment-resistant depression. However, the presence of negative outcomes linked to psilocybin use is not clear yet. The objective of this study is to investigate the negative effects of psilocybin consumption, according to the users' own perception through self-reports extracted from an online platform. 346 reports were analyzed with the assistance of the IRAMUTEQ textual analysis software, adopting the procedures of Descending Hierarchical Classification, Correspondence Factor Analysis and Specificities Analysis. The text segments were grouped in 4 main clusters, describing thinking distortions, emergencies, perceptual alterations and the administration of the substance. Bad trips were more frequent in female users, being associated with thinking distortions. The use of multiple doses of psilocybin in the same session or its combination with other substances was linked to the occurrence of long-term negative outcomes, while the use of mushrooms in single high doses was linked to medical emergencies. These results can be useful for a better understanding of the effects of psilocybin use, guiding harm-reduction initiatives.
Subject(s)
Psilocybin/chemistry , Agaricales/chemistry , Female , Hallucinogens/chemistry , Humans , Male , Self Report , SoftwareABSTRACT
Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo é investigar o perfil neuropsicológico de uma amostra de pacientes brasileiros com esclerose múltipla surto-remissão (EMSR), descrevendo as funções cognitivas mais comprometidas. Métodos: Cinquenta e quatro pacientes com EMSR e 54 controles pareados por sexo, idade e nível educacional foram avaliados por meio de uma longa e abrangente bateria neuropsicológica. Resultados: Observou-se que 59,2 por cento dos pacientes com EMSR apresentaram algum tipo de comprometimento cognitivo em comparação com o grupo controle. Os testes neuropsicológicos identificaram disfunções executivas, da memória de longo prazo e da velocidade de processamento de informação. Conclusão: Os resultados encontram-se em conformidade com estudos anteriores relatados na literatura internacional. Contudo, mais estudos ainda são necessários para uma estimativa maior do perfil das alterações cognitivas da esclerose múltipla no Brasil.
Objective: The goal of this study is to investigate neuropsychological profile of a sample of Brazilian patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and to describe the cognitive functions more frequently affected. Methods: Fifty-four patients with RRMS and 54 controls matched by sex, age and education were assessed through a long and comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Results: We found that 59.2 percent of patients with RRMS had some sort of cognitive impairment as compared to the control group. Neuropsychological testing identified executive functions, long-term memory and speed of information processing as the cognitive functions most frequently impaired among patients. Conclusion: The results are in line with previous studies reported. However, as there are few studies of cognitive impairment in patients with multiple sclerosis in Brazilian literature, more studies are still necessary for a larger evaluation of the cognitive profile of multiple sclerosis in Brazil.
ABSTRACT
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: The cognitive profile of patients with Multiple Sclerosis in the Brazilian population is relatively unknown and no cognitive screening instruments have been developed for this population. The purpose of the present study was to develop a neuropsychological screening instrument battery to identify cognitive impairment in epidemiological research protocols in this country. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Fifty-four patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) and 54 controls matched by sex, age and educational level were evaluated through a long and comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: In comparison to the control group, 51.8% of the patients with RRMS presented some form of cognitive impairment. Three neuropsychological tests - Verbal Fluency, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning and Enhanced Cued Recall - presented an 80.6% sensitivity and 97.2% specificity in differentiating RRMS patients with cognitive deficits from paired control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: These three tests constitute a Brief Battery that represents a first Brazilian MS cognitive screening instrument. However, further validation study is necessary to achieve better normative scores in a larger sample and to establish feasibility of this battery.
