The effects of psychedelics on neuroplasticity: A review of current research and the possibility of therapeutic application in psychiatry
Engrami January 1, 2025 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.5937/engrami47-57385 via OpenAlex
Summary
Psychedelics, which affect perception and mood, have shown potential in treating mental disorders like depression and addiction. Their primary action is through serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonism. Interest in their therapeutic use has revived due to a lack of new treatments since the 1970s ban. Current studies, particularly randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials, suggest psychedelics may offer effective treatment options, although they also introduce bioethical and legal challenges.
Study at a glance
| Design | randomized controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Population | individuals with depression and substance use disorders |
| Key finding | Psychedelics may be a promising new approach for the treatment of mental disorders. |
Abstract
Psychedelics are psychoactive substances that cause changes in perception, state of consciousness, mood and numerous cognitive processes. The best known are lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), psilocybin and mescaline. The main mechanism of action of psychedelics is agonism towards serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. In the middle of the 20th century, interest in the use of psychedelics in treatment of affective disorders and addiction disease arose, but due to political pressure and the potential danger of uncontrolled use, they were banned in the 1970s. In the absence of innovations in treatment and new psychopharmacological agents, the potential of psychedelics in the treatment of mental disorders has again been the focus of research in recent decades. In this paper, the neurobiology of psychedelics will be presented in the light of current research on their effects on neural networks and neuroplasticity, and therefore the possibilities of therapeutic application in psychiatry. Also, recent research will be presented with an emphasis on randomized double-blind placebo-controlled studies in which the effectiveness of the use of psychedelics in the treatment of depression and disorders caused by the use of alcohol and other psychoactive substances was examined. Findings so far indicate that psychedelics may be a promising new approach for the treatment of mental disorders, but the use of psychedelics for these purposes raises not only bioethical, but also new legal issues.