Hallucinogens in Mental Health: Preclinical and Clinical Studies on LSD, Psilocybin, MDMA, and Ketamine
Journal of Neuroscience – November 30, 2020
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Ketamine effectively treats depression, a finding confirmed by numerous clinical studies. This resurgence in Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlights the potential of various hallucinogens in Psychiatry and Medicine. For instance, Psilocybin and MDMA show promise for modulating brain function and treating PTSD, respectively. The pharmacology of these compounds, often derived from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, reveals their profound neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. Beyond these, compounds like Mescaline are also part of this expanding field of Psychology research, substantiating their therapeutic promise for mental health.
Abstract
A revamped interest in the study of hallucinogens has recently emerged, especially with regard to their potential application in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. In the last decade, a plethora of preclinical and clinical studies have confirmed the efficacy of ketamine in the treatment of depression. More recently, emerging evidence has pointed out the potential therapeutic properties of psilocybin and LSD, as well as their ability to modulate functional brain connectivity. Moreover, MDMA, a compound belonging to the family of entactogens, has been demonstrated to be useful to treat post-traumatic stress disorders. In this review, the pharmacology of hallucinogenic compounds is summarized by underscoring the differences between psychedelic and nonpsychedelic hallucinogens as well as entactogens, and their behavioral effects in both animals and humans are described. Together, these data substantiate the potentials of these compounds in treating mental diseases.