Psychedelics in Depression and Anxiety Treatment

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Psychedelics in Depression and Anxiety Treatment

Summary

Mental illnesses have become an essential part of health in the last few decades, with sufficient attention being devoted to interventions that resolve them. Treatment of mental diseases has involved both conventional and unconventional methods to reduce the occurrence of these conditions. Unconventional methods of treating mental illnesses are hugely unpopular and not supported by sufficient scientific studies. Unconventional methods include electroconvulsive therapy that sends electric current into the brain, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy for stress, and psychedelics (Schenberg, 2018). Psychedelic drugs are hallucinogens used for the treatment of various mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety. They alter the neural circuits in the brain and cause changes in the plasticity of the brain structure, causing healing and restoration n various mental health conditions. Anxiety and depression are some of the particular conditions bettered by the use of psychedelics, with improvement being noted in such patients (Rosenbaum, 2021). Research into the use of these drugs was halted in the 20th century with the banning of these substances but now seems renewed.

Depression and Anxiety

Depression refers to a low, sad, or hopeless mood, while anxiety refers to overwhelming emotions of worry, despair, and fear. Both depression and anxiety affect the ability of one to become sufficiently operational and effective, negatively impacting the lives of these people. Depression, in particular, affects victims throughout, unlike anxiety which is precipitated when a person is put in a dire situation they may deem uncomfortable for them. Depression and anxiety are conditions instigated by a myriad of causes, such as both emotional and physical trauma, drug abuse, and withdrawal symptoms (CDC, 2018). People suffering from anxiety fear situations that make them uncomfortable, such as huge gatherings or conditions that threaten their comfort. Anxiety makes these people remain in a situation of heightened worry and stress over what could go wrong. Depression and anxiety are some of the most prevalent mental illnesses in the community at the moment and efforts must be made to address them. The seriousness of mental health conditions amongst healthcare personnel cannot be questioned, yet the public does not perceive these illnesses with adequate concern compared to other illnesses.

Depression and anxiety affect the quality of life led by the victims, affecting their ability to become productive. Anxious and depressed people are unproductive in their workplaces, which is detrimental to their ability to meet their various needs easily (CDC, 2018). Victims of depression and anxiety encounter difficulties during their social interactions and cannot form functional bonds with other people. These illnesses make these people appear weird in social settings and make others avoid them or feel uncomfortable interacting with them.

The various institutions, such as marriage and families, are affected by depression and anxiety, with divorce being a feature for such people. The ability of depressed and anxious people to forge meaningful friendships is altered as other people avoid them. Among students, depression and anxiety affect their ability to concentrate and succeed in their studies (CDC, 2018). The ever-present worry among anxiety victims affects focus, while the mood of depressed students impairs the enjoyment of learning. Depressed people are also suicidal and despairing in life, desiring to die instead of suffering. Depression tears apart friendships, families, and personal lives, and there have been massive strides in combating this condition in the medical field.

Nursing interventions for depression involve a critical analysis of the case and the severity of the victims desire to end their life. For patients considered high-risk, nurses must keep them in a supervised environment and monitor their progress keenly. Interventions for depressed people include therapy that shows them the essence of life while tapping into their personal beliefs for reinforcement (Adams, 2019). Depressed people can also receive medications prescribed by qualified medical health officers and nurses must adhere to the dosage and time requirements during administration. Anxiety patients should also receive therapy in an environment that assures them they are safe from harm. This environment should be controlled, with minimal noise and interference, ensuring they are adequately protected (Adams, 2019). Prescribed medicines in anxiety patients must also be administered as guided to prevent relapse upon recovery. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is recommended counseling intervention for both conditions that involve guiding the patients to make informed decision in their lives. Nurses must create a conducive therapy environment characterized by minimal interference and maximum encouragement.

Article in Treating Depression and Anxiety, Overview of the Study, Implication, and Level of Evidence

The use of psychedelic therapy in the treatment of mental disorders was halted a few years ago but has now been renewed. Luoma et al., (2020) conducted a meta-analysis of studies investigating placebo-controlled trials of psychedelic-assisted therapy. The studies analyzed in the article were from 1994, as articles published before this period were deemed inadequate. The period preceding the preferred timeline was not characterized by control methods such as placebo in medical studies. A total of nine studies were eventually included after a process of filtering irrelevant articles was conducted. The articles featured a total of 211 participants, with the particular demographics of the participants being reported in 7 of these studies. The studies mainly analyzed the use of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and ayahuasca in the treatment of mental health conditions (Luoma et al., 2020). The results of the use of the psychedelic drugs were compared with the results obtained when the patients were put in a placebo. Due to ethical requirements on the results of the study, the patients under ineffective placebo were also placed under the intervention psychedelic to enable their well-being.

The article shows the remarkable success of psychedelics in treating depression and anxiety, with an 80% probability that patients under psychedelics are likely to attain healing compared to those on placebo. The studies also demonstrated impeccable adherence to the targeted effects with minimal attrition levels, diminished serious side effects, and attainment of set expectations. The study had several weaknesses that affected its generalizability in the treatment of anxiety and depression, including the variety of patients. The studies had a limited representation of people of color, with white majorities making the participants lists (Luoma et al., 2020). Additionally, the studies used varying placebos for the patients who formed the control group. The differences in the placebo used may account for the differences witnessed when comparisons were made in the various studies.

Adequate follow-up was not employed in all the articles studied, with only three employing this intervention. Nevertheless, the follow-up in these articles wielded impressive results, with only a 7.5% decrease in effectiveness being witnessed in their control groups (Luoma et al., 2020). This figure was attained with the patients receiving other alternative interventions, such as psychosocial help. The impacts of the follow-up do not essentially attain sufficient generalizability for adoption across varying patient populations.

The article is, therefore, an effective guide toward the treatment of anxiety and depression, amongst other mental illnesses. It provides optimistic figures on the effectiveness of the practice and assures patients of mental illness that there is hope for their health. Future research is encouraged on the use of this intervention using different groups and ensuring equal representation for all populations. This will be vital in identifying variations in the dosage required for administration and other interventions that can be applied. The research also discovered additional impacts of psychedelics beyond the normal effects elicited, including variations in the production of neurotransmitters in the brain. Additional studies on these excess effects are required for a comprehensive conclusion on the impacts of these drugs on anxiety and depression patients.

Clinical Significance of Article on Modern-Day Practices

Alternatives for the treatment of mental disorders are in dire need, given the seriousness of these diseases. Luoma et al. (2020) study is a much-needed addition to the wide range of therapeutic alternatives available for the treatment of mental disorders, increasing the efficacy of existing methods. The study fills a crucial gap in clinical practice that was created by the outlawing of psychedelics in the mid-20th century. Luoma et al. (2020) offer hope for patients who have tried other methods without much success within the clinical setting. It encourages them that their conditions of depression and anxiety can be resolved to offer relief. Families in despair are also encouraged alongside medical health practitioners suffering from hopelessness. The slow discovery of additional medicines for mental health conditions is also altered by the research into psychedelics and the effectiveness of their findings. Psychedelics are a game-changer as they are likely to also alter the cost of mental conditions treatment, enabling all populations to afford life-saving therapy.

References

Adams, E. G. (2019). Treatment of Depression in Integrated Care: Implementation of the Nurse Care Manager. SAGE Open Nursing, 5, 237796081986186.

CDC. (2018). Mental Health Conditions: Depression and Anxiety. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Luoma, J. B., Chwyl, C., Bathje, G. J., Davis, A. K., & Lancelotta, R. (2020). A Meta-Analysis of Placebo-Controlled Trials of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 52(4), 111.

Rosenbaum, E. (2021). A psychedelic drug boom in mental health treatment comes closer to reality. CNBC.

Schenberg, E. E. (2018). Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Paradigm Shift in Psychiatric Research and Development. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 9(733).

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