Quality in Sport
January 26, 2026
Adam Wolski, Ewa Szplit, Mikołaj Franciszek Patalong et al.
Psychedelic substances, including psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, and ketamine, show promise for treating psychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorder, PTSD, substance use disorders, and anxiety. Psilocybin produces robust antidepressant effects, reduces anxiety, and benefits substance use disorders after limited dosing sessions. MDMA-assisted psychotherapy yields high remission rates in PTSD. LSD shows promising effects for anxiety and substance use disorders. Ketamine provides rapid antidepressant and anti-suicidal effects in depression and potential benefits in addiction and anxiety, though results in PTSD are mixed. Risks require careful screening and clinical oversight, but evidence supports psychedelic-assisted therapies as adjunctive or alternative interventions for selected patients.
International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science
January 23, 2026
Jakub Klepacz, Radosław Swędrak, Marzena Swojnóg et al.
Classical serotonergic hallucinogens like psilocybin and LSD are being re-evaluated in clinical research. A systematic review traces their history from indigenous use through prohibition to current trials. The compounds act via 5-HT2A receptor agonism and disrupt the Default Mode Network, which may help alleviate rigid cognitive patterns in depression and anxiety. Clinical data show significant therapeutic potential for Treatment-Resistant Depression, end-of-life distress, and substance use disorders. The review emphasizes that psychedelic-assisted therapy requires a specific psychotherapeutic framework, integration processes, and attention to cost-effectiveness and access equity. This approach suggests a shift from chronic symptom management to rapid, episodic curative interventions if regulatory and ethical challenges are addressed.
Journal of Affective Disorders
January 19, 2026
Maria Garcia Garcia, Dahbia Belahda, Carine Graux et al.
In psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, participants who responded to treatment described their experience as an inner dialogue and used adaptive coping strategies, while non-responders focused on sensory and affective details and relied on suppressive coping. The presence of inner dialogue may represent a unique therapeutic mechanism, underscoring the value of preparation and integration in such therapy.
CNS drugs
January 17, 2026
Gaëlle Rached, Anna Campana, Dimitri Fiani et al.
1 citation
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) can be used safely in some patients who use psychoactive substances, but certain combinations pose potentially fatal risks. This narrative review of 219 publications found that combining MAOIs with amphetamines, the empathogen MDMA, opioids with strong serotonergic reuptake inhibition (e.g., meperidine, tramadol), or alcoholic beverages high in tyramine can lead to serotonin toxicity, hypertensive emergencies, or death. In contrast, MAOI treatment of patients who use low-tyramine alcohol, caffeine, cannabis, nicotine, sedatives, and some classic hallucinogens can likely be managed with careful monitoring. No robust human data support MAOIs as effective treatments for substance use disorders themselves.
Journal of addiction medicine
January 15, 2026
Dale Terasaki, Nathan Sackett, Andrew Monte
Ibogaine, a psychedelic substance, is attracting interest as a potential treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), with many states funding research. Some proponents frame ibogaine as an alternative to standard, mortality-reducing medications for OUD (MOUD), rather than as a complement. The path to remission varies, but switching from methadone or buprenorphine to an unproven therapy like ibogaine could increase the risk of opioid overdose for some individuals. The addiction medicine community should be aware of this risk and continue to defend evidence-based care while ibogaine is developed.
Substance use & addiction journal
January 1, 2026
Olivia Marcus, Brian Rush
Growing evidence from population surveys, observational studies, and clinical trials suggests that psychedelics may help treat substance use disorders and improve well-being, though methodological concerns limit the validity and generalizability of findings. Symptom reduction appears linked to pharmacological, spiritual, and interpersonal processes. The review calls for more transparent clinical research, larger studies tracking long-term outcomes, and greater investment in observational, naturalistic, and population-level research to address safety, real-world effectiveness, accessibility, and ethical issues, including respect for Indigenous and traditional communities.
EClinicalMedicine
January 1, 2026
Henrique Nunes Pereira Oliva, Tiago Paiva Prudente, Alisson M Paredes Naveda et al.
5 citations
Sleep disturbances are common in people with substance use disorders and often persist after stopping use. This systematic review and meta-analysis of 43 studies with about 7500 participants examined sleep abnormalities linked to alcohol, benzodiazepine, cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, nicotine, and opioid use disorders. Total sleep time was reduced in alcohol, nicotine, and opioid use disorders. Slow-wave sleep was reduced in alcohol and cocaine use disorders. Sleep quality, measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, was poorer in alcohol, cocaine, and nicotine use disorders. No studies met criteria for benzodiazepine or methamphetamine use disorders. Results suggest specific substances relate to distinct sleep problems, highlighting areas for further research.
Transportation research procedia
January 1, 2026
Samuel Hubočan, Matúš Madleňák
Driving under the influence of alcohol and addictive substances increases accident risk. This article reviews traffic accident statistics from the Slovak Republic and Czech Republic related to alcohol and drugs, then experimentally simulates the visual disruption caused by MDMA using specialized goggles on a driving training ground. The experiments suggest that MDMA-like visual impairment negatively affects spatial orientation, leading to multiple collisions with traffic cones and extending the average time needed to complete the training course.
Psychopharmakotherapie
January 1, 2026
Antonia Bendau, Felix Betzler, Twyla Michnevich et al.
1 citation
Party drugs are a diverse group of legal and illegal psychoactive substances used in social settings like clubs and festivals to alter mood, perception, and social interaction. Alcohol and cannabis are most common, followed by amphetamine, MDMA, cocaine, and ketamine. These drugs act through various pharmacological mechanisms: alcohol affects GABAergic, glutamatergic, and dopaminergic systems; cannabis acts on the endocannabinoid system; stimulants increase monoaminergic neurotransmitters; MDMA has a strong serotonergic component; ketamine produces dissociative effects via glutamatergic mechanisms; and psychedelics alter sensory processing through serotonergic modulation. Polydrug use is frequent. Acute risks include cardiovascular strain, hyperthermia, and anxiety, while long-term consequences can involve cognitive impairments, dependence, and social complications.
Frontiers in psychiatry
January 1, 2026
Gláucio Silva Camargos, Geraldo Magela De Faria Júnior, Marcelo Lourenço et al.
Over six months, depressive symptoms decreased significantly in 280 adults with depressive, anxiety, or substance use disorders after ritualistic ayahuasca use combined with psychotherapeutic support. Scores on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale dropped shortly after the intervention and remained lower for up to 180 days, though individual responses varied. The findings suggest that ayahuasca-assisted therapy can reduce depression and anxiety and may help treat substance dependence. Variability in outcomes indicates that psychodynamic factors, including integration of the psychedelic experience and ongoing therapeutic support, are crucial for effectiveness. The work supports developing personalized psychedelic-assisted treatment protocols for complex psychiatric conditions.