3085 results for "Psilocybin"
Microdosing Psilocybin for Major Depressive Disorder: Study Protocol for a Phase II Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Randomized Partial Crossover Trial
OpenAlex – November 16, 2025
Summary
Could microdosing psilocybin offer a new path for the 322 million people affected by major depression? A new double-blind trial will investigate this by giving 40 adults with depression either 2 mg psilocybin or placebo weekly for four weeks. All participants then receive psilocybin for another four weeks. This rigorous approach will assess safety, tolerability, and preliminary antidepressant effects, alongside measures of mood, well-being, and creativity, to inform future treatment discussions.
Abstract
Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting roughly 322 million people. Recently, doses of ...
Psilocybin reduces depressive-like behavior and improves cognition in healthy aging mice via epigenetic regulation of plasticity- and immune-related genes
OpenAlex – November 05, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin dramatically improved memory in aged female mice and reduced depressive-like behavior in both sexes. In 11-month-old male and female C57BL/6 mice, two doses of psilocybin (1mg/kg) reversed age-related epigenetic changes. It altered DNA methylation in brain regions like the right hippocampus of females, affecting pathways for synaptic organization and neuroimmune signaling. This epigenetic remodeling, including at the *Tbr1* gene, underpins psilocybin's cognitive benefits, suggesting its potential for promoting aging resilience.
Abstract
Abstract For many, cognitive and affective health declines through typical aging. Although cognitive and affective symptoms are often studied in is...
Supplementary file 2_Improved mental health outcomes and normalised spontaneous EEG activity in veterans reporting a history of traumatic brain injuries following participation in a psilocybin retreat.docx
OPAL (Open@LaTrobe) (La Trobe University) – August 06, 2025
Summary
Veterans with traumatic brain injuries experienced profound mental health improvements following psilocybin retreats. Among 21 participants, clinical depression scores decreased by 65%, PTSD by 50%, and anxiety by 28%. This positions psilocybin as a promising tool in Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology for addressing mental illness. Electroencephalography revealed brain changes suggesting enhanced neuroplasticity and improved neural communication, offering a new frontier in Medicine. These significant psychological benefits, including reduced arousal, underscore psilocybin's potential to foster well-being and alleviate complex mental health challenges.
Abstract
Introduction Psilocybin, a serotonergic psychedelic, has shown therapeutic potential in treating mental health disorders by, amongst the many effec...
Transcriptional regulation in the rat prefrontal cortex and hippocampus after a single administration of psilocybin
Journal of Psychopharmacology – November 04, 2020
Summary
Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound from "magic mushrooms," rapidly boosts gene expression linked to neuroplasticity, particularly in the prefrontal cortex. In a study with 20 rats, doses of psilocybin (0.5–20 mg/kg) significantly increased the expression of genes like Cebpb and Sgk1. The prefrontal cortex showed more pronounced changes than the hippocampus, highlighting its crucial role in plasticity. Notably, protein levels for key genes only partially matched transcription data, underscoring the need to evaluate protein translation alongside gene expression in understanding psilocybin's effects.
Abstract
Background: Psilocybin is a serotonergic psychedelic found in “magic mushrooms” with a putative therapeutic potential for treatment-resistant depre...
The mixed serotonin receptor agonist psilocybin reduces threat-induced modulation of amygdala connectivity
NeuroImage Clinical – August 22, 2015
Summary
Psilocybin significantly alters emotional processing by shifting biases from negative to positive stimuli. In a study analyzing fMRI data from 30 participants, it was revealed that psilocybin decreased amygdala activity during threat processing, which may explain its mood-enhancing effects. Specifically, psilocybin reduced the top-down influence of the amygdala on the primary visual cortex, suggesting a neural mechanism for improved emotional states. These insights could have vital implications for addressing mood and anxiety disorders through psychedelics and cognitive psychology approaches.
Abstract
Stimulation of serotonergic neurotransmission by psilocybin has been shown to shift emotional biases away from negative towards positive stimuli. W...
Psilocybin and the glutamatergic pathway: implications for the treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases.
Pharmacological reports : PR – December 01, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin shows remarkable potential in treating depression by triggering a cascade of brain chemistry changes. The compound works by activating 5-HT2A receptors in the brain, which increases glutamate release. This boost in glutamate leads to higher GABA activity, creating a balanced brain state that helps alleviate depressive symptoms and promotes neural adaptability.
Abstract
In recent decades, psilocybin has gained attention as a potential drug for several mental disorders. Clinical and preclinical studies have provided...
Impact of psilocybin on cognitive function: A systematic review
Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences – October 01, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a powerful hallucinogen, significantly enhances emotional empathy, a compelling finding for psychology. A review of 20 articles, involving 2,959 participants (85% healthy), explored this psychedelic's influence on cognition. While global cognitive function and processing speed remained stable, working memory and executive function improved, particularly for clinical psychology patients with treatment-resistant depression. Cognitive flexibility showed initial decline but potential for later improvement. Effects on episodic memory were less pronounced. This complex interplay highlights psilocybin's impact on cognitive psychology and behavior.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a classic psychedelic with demonstrated preliminary clinical efficacy in a range of psychiatric disorders. Evaluating the impact of p...
Efficacy and acceptability of psilocybin for primary or secondary depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Frontiers in Psychiatry – February 15, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, shows significant promise as an antidepressant medicine. A meta-analysis of 8 randomized controlled trials, involving 524 adult patients, revealed a large therapeutic effect (Hedges' g = -0.89) for major depressive disorder. This psychiatry research, drawing from the Cochrane Library, suggests psilocybin's benefits increase with dose. While generally well-tolerated, adverse effects can occur, highlighting the need for careful pharmacology. This area of Psychedelics and Drug Studies, exploring chemical synthesis and alkaloids, offers a compelling complementary or alternative medicine approach in internal medicine and psychology.
Abstract
Introduction Psilocybin is a classic psychedelics, which has been shown to have antidepressant effects by many studies in recent years. In this stu...
Safety, feasibility, tolerability, and clinical effects of repeated psilocybin dosing combined with non-directive support in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: protocol for a randomized, waitlist-controlled trial with blinded ratings
Frontiers in Psychiatry – January 09, 2024
Summary
A new clinical trial is investigating psilocybin as a medicine for severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), an Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorder. This randomized controlled trial enrolls 30 adults with treatment-refractory OCD, evaluating the safety, tolerability, and clinical effects of a two-dose psilocybin protocol. Participants receive 25mg, followed by 25mg or 30mg, with non-directive support. The psychiatry and psychology research aims to understand optimal dosing and mechanisms, advancing psychedelic drug studies for this challenging condition while carefully monitoring any adverse effect.
Abstract
Background To date, few randomized controlled trials of psilocybin with non-directive support exist for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Result...
Effect of a single psilocybin treatment on Fos protein expression in male rat brain.
Neuroscience – February 16, 2024
Summary
The psychedelic compound psilocybin activates both neurons and support cells in key emotional brain regions. Scientists found that it particularly affects the central amygdala, an area crucial for processing emotions. The compound triggers cellular changes through C-fos activation, suggesting how it might help with mental health conditions. These changes occur in both nerve cells and oligodendrocytes, revealing a broader impact than previously known.
Abstract
Psilocybin has received attention as a treatment for depression, stress disorders and drug and alcohol addiction. To help determine the mechanisms ...
In silico characterization of the psilocybin biosynthesis pathway.
Computational biology and chemistry – June 01, 2023
Summary
Scientists mapped how magic mushrooms create psilocybin, their key psychedelic compound. Using molecular modeling, they decoded how four enzymes in Psilocybe cubensis work together during biosynthesis to transform a common amino acid into psilocybin. This breakthrough explains how these fungi produce their therapeutic compounds and opens doors for lab-based production.
Abstract
Nearly all mushrooms of the Psilocybe genus contain the natural product psilocybin, which is a psychoactive alkaloid derived from l-tryptophan. Con...
Effects of psilocybin therapy on personality structure
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica – June 19, 2018
Summary
Psilocybin therapy significantly alters personality traits in patients with treatment-resistant depression. In a study of 20 participants, neuroticism scores dropped while extraversion increased, aligning with normative data. Openness also rose notably, while conscientiousness showed slight improvement and agreeableness remained unchanged. These effects were linked to the level of insight gained during the psilocybin experience. The findings suggest that psychedelics may induce unique personality changes compared to traditional antidepressants, warranting further investigation into the underlying brain mechanisms.
Abstract
Objective To explore whether psilocybin with psychological support modulates personality parameters in patients suffering from treatment‐resistant ...
Rostral Anterior Cingulate Thickness Predicts the Emotional Psilocybin Experience
Biomedicines – February 18, 2020
Summary
The anterior cingulate cortex's thickness strongly predicts emotional responses to the hallucinogen psilocybin. Among 55 healthy adults receiving oral psilocybin (0.160 or 0.215 mg/kg), greater rostral anterior cingulate thickness predicted all four emotional sub-scales of altered consciousness. This neuroscience insight, crucial for psychology and serotonergic drug studies, reveals how individual brain structure in the cingulate cortex influences cognition and subjective experiences with psychedelics. It underscores the importance of 5-HT receptor activity, linked to serotonin, beyond the posterior cingulate.
Abstract
Psilocybin is the psychoactive compound of mushrooms in the psilocybe species. Psilocybin directly affects a number of serotonin receptors, with hi...
Psilocybin in the treatment of eating disorders: a systematic review of the literature and registered clinical trials
Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia Bulimia and Obesity – July 29, 2025
Summary
With Fluoxetine the only pharmacological treatment approved for Bulimia Nervosa, and no drugs for other eating disorders like Anorexia Nervosa, new options are crucial. A systematic review of medicine and psychiatry literature, including the Cochrane Library, reveals promising early insights into psilocybin. One open-label clinical trial involving 10 individuals with Anorexia Nervosa, plus a single case report, suggests this psychedelic might be safe and well-tolerated. Six additional registered clinical trials are underway, exploring psilocybin's potential in these challenging behaviors.
Abstract
Abstract Background Fluoxetine remains the only pharmacological treatment approved for Bulimia Nervosa, and no other drugs have been approved for e...
Negative affective bias in depression following treatment with psilocybin or escitalopram – a secondary analysis from a randomized trial
Translational Psychiatry – November 13, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin and escitalopram both shifted emotional processing towards a more positive outlook in depressed individuals. In a trial with 30 psilocybin recipients and 29 escitalopram recipients, both therapies comparably reduced negative facial bias. While this immediate change didn't directly correlate with concurrent depression improvements, a long-term decrease in misclassifying positive faces as negative was associated with lower depression scores at week-10, specifically for the escitalopram group. This suggests overlapping cognitive mechanisms across these distinct treatments.
Abstract
Abstract Recent clinical trial data suggests that ratings on depression scales are lowered after psilocybin therapy compared to placebo, though it ...
Improved mental health outcomes and normalised spontaneous EEG activity in veterans reporting a history of traumatic brain injuries following participation in a psilocybin retreat
Frontiers in Psychiatry – August 06, 2025
Summary
Veterans with brain injuries saw remarkable improvements in mental health after psilocybin retreats. Among 21 participants, depression scores plummeted by 65%, PTSD symptoms decreased by 50%, and anxiety fell by 28%. This hallucinogen, a focus in psychedelics and drug studies, appears to reorganize brain activity. Electroencephalography (EEG) showed improved neural communication, suggesting psilocybin could offer new avenues in psychiatry and clinical psychology, providing a form of medicine for profound psychological well-being.
Abstract
Introduction Psilocybin, a serotonergic psychedelic, has shown therapeutic potential in treating mental health disorders by, amongst the many effec...
Shame, guilt and psychedelic experience: Results from a prospective, longitudinal survey of real-world psilocybin use
OpenAlex – October 14, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, can significantly reduce long-term shame, a critical focus in psychology and psychoanalysis. A study of 679 adults using psilocybin found that while 68.2% experienced acute shame or guilt, 89.7% described their overall experience as positive. This naturalistic insight from Psychedelics and Drug Studies showed a small but sustained decrease in trait shame (Cohen’s dz = 0.37) for many, lasting months. Notably, shame increased for 29.8%. Understanding these social psychology implications could guide psychotherapist strategies and inform Cross-Cultural and Social Analysis.
Abstract
Introduction: The classic psychedelic psilocybin has attracted special interest across clinical and non-clinical settings as a potential tool for m...
Acute and long-term effects of psilocybin on energy balance and feeding behavior in mice
Translational Psychiatry – August 11, 2022
Summary
A single high dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin reduced sucrose preference in mice, hinting at its influence on reward pathways. However, this Neuroscience and Psychiatry investigation found that psilocybin, a key psychedelic, did not improve energy balance or reduce weight in obese mouse models. Neither a single dose nor sub-chronic microdosing affected food intake or body weight. While impacting behavior via neurotransmitter receptors, its utility in metabolic medicine for obesity appears limited, discouraging further clinical exploration in this area of psychology and drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin and other serotonergic psychedelics have re-emerged as therapeutics for neuropsychiatric disorders, including addiction. Psiloc...
Can psilocybin be safely administered under medical supervision? A systematic review of adverse event reporting in clinical trials
Drug Science Policy and Law – January 01, 2022
Summary
Zero clinical trials among 52 publications reported psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, to be unsafe under medical supervision. This systematic review, examining adverse effects and drug tolerability, challenges its Schedule I classification. Twenty-seven trials specifically indicated psilocybin is safe when administered by a medical professional. Such findings, crucial for pharmacology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, suggest its potential as medicine. These Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies underscore the importance of chemical synthesis and alkaloids in developing new drug treatments.
Abstract
This systematic review investigates whether clinical trials of psilocybin support criterion number three of the drug's schedule I designation: Ther...
Psilocybin: the magic medicine for depression?
BJPsych Open – June 01, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, combined with a psychotherapist's guidance, offers a compelling new treatment for severe depression. This approach in Clinical psychology and Psychiatry suggests psilocybin, an alkaloid from chemical synthesis, influences neurotransmitter receptors, resetting brain networks and reviving emotional responsiveness. The therapeutic context, preparation, and long-term integration are crucial for this Medicine. Despite its promise in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, legal barriers currently hinder widespread use, necessitating systemic change to address global disability from depression.
Abstract
Aims Depression is the single largest contributor to global disability. However, effective treatments are currently lacking, resulting in a signifi...
Enhanced visual contrast suppression during peak psilocybin effects: A psychophysical study
OpenAlex – January 11, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin profoundly alters visual perception, intensifying a phenomenon called surround suppression. Participants (n=6) reported stronger suppression of a visual stimulus's perceived contrast after 25mg of this hallucinogen compared to placebo. This effect, crucial for understanding visual cortex function in psychology, correlated positively with subjective 'visual hallucinations.' This suggests a neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. Given weakened surround suppression in major depressive disorder, these insights into psilocybin's impact on perception offer a compelling avenue for psychedelic therapies.
Abstract
In visual perception, an effect known as surround suppression occurs wherein the apparent contrast of a center stimulus is reduced when it is prese...
Psilocybin in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: What do we know so far?
European Psychiatry – April 01, 2021
Summary
Promising findings suggest psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, may offer relief for obsessive-compulsive disorder. One open-label clinical trial observed acute reductions in obsessive-compulsive symptoms, sparking interest across psychology and psychiatry. This initial data is encouraging for medicine and clinical psychology, prompting further rigorous clinical trials. These investigations aim to solidify psilocybin's potential in mental health research topics, exploring new therapeutic avenues for psychotherapists and advancing psychedelics and drug studies.
Abstract
Introduction Psilocybin is a naturally occurring plant alkaloid in mushrooms and a prodrug of psilocin. It is a serotonin receptor (5-HT2A) agonist...
The Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of the Use of Psilocybin in the Treatment of Adults with Treatment-Resistant Depression
Emerging Minds Journal for Student Research – January 25, 2026
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, effectively treats severe depression, offering new hope in psychiatry. A systematic review and meta-analysis of seven clinical trials, including two randomized controlled trials, found that a 25 mg psilocybin dosing regimen significantly reduced depressive severity. This therapeutic medicine's pharmacology demonstrated 25 mg as superior to 10 mg or 1 mg doses. Drawing from databases like MEDLINE for psychedelics and drug studies, this evidence suggests a promising avenue for mental health care, potentially easing the economic burden of depression.
Abstract
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) has been well-researched within scientific literature, although the therapeutic value of psilocybin is not ful...
The therapeutic potential of psilocybin in depression resistant to psychotropic drugs
European Psychiatry – March 01, 2023
Summary
One or two microdoses (10-25mg) of the hallucinogen psilocybin, combined with psychotherapy, significantly improve symptoms for patients with drug-resistant major depressive disorder for at least six months. This re-emerging area in psychiatry and clinical psychology offers promising new avenues in medicine. Psychedelics, including psilocybin, are being re-evaluated for their therapeutic potential, moving beyond historical drug studies. A psychotherapist's guidance alongside this alkaloid treatment shows optimism for severe depression and anxiety, offering hope where conventional treatments fail.
Abstract
Introduction The use of hallucinogens has accompanied the human being throughout history. In the 1970s, studies focused on the therapeutic potentia...
Behavioural investigations of psilocybin in non-human animals 1962–2021: A scoping review
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – September 11, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveal psilocybin's remarkable safety, showing no biological toxicity even at high doses in pre-clinical research. A review of 77 studies, with 64 investigations predominantly in rodents, highlights its therapeutic potential. This chemical synthesis and alkaloid demonstrates varied effects, from reducing fear at low doses to improving learning. While 22.1% of studies omitted sample sizes, the overall evidence supports psilocybin as a promising agent for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, influencing arousal, aggression, and memory.
Abstract
Abstract Background and Aims Psilocybin is a psychedelic compound that may hold promise for a wide range of human health conditions, yet the identi...
Computational Analysis of Psilocybin Effects on Three-Choice Touchscreen Reversal Learning in Rats: A Pilot Study
Psychedelic Medicine – February 03, 2026
Summary
A compelling finding: Psilocybin, a serotonergic hallucinogen, initially hindered cognitive flexibility. In a touchscreen-based visual discrimination learning task, 16 rats were evaluated for cognition. Only 5 (31%) demonstrated associative learning. Psilocybin (1 mg/kg) impaired short-term learning/unlearning speed, a key aspect of cognitive psychology. Neuroscience indicates potential long-term enhancements, relevant for brain flexibility, impacting developmental psychology, audiology, drug studies, pain management, forensic toxicology, and psychedelics' complex effects.
Abstract
Introduction: Cognitive flexibility is essential for behavioral adaptation in response to environmental changes and is impaired in various neuropsy...
Psilocybin Impairs Short-Term Cognitive Flexibility but Indicates Long-Term Benefits in a Rodent Three-Choice Reversal Learning Task
OpenAlex – February 27, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin initially impaired cognitive flexibility in rats, yet showed long-term enhancement. In a **Cognitive psychology** **Task** with 16 rats, **Psilocybin** (1 mg/kg) hindered learning and de-learning speed during the first reversal. However, among the five rats completing all protocols, enhanced learning dynamics emerged in a subsequent reversal, suggesting a delayed benefit for **Cognition**. This nuanced effect on **Flexibility** has implications for **Neuroscience** and **Psychedelics and Drug Studies**, highlighting the complex **Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior** over **time**.
Abstract
IntroductionCognitive flexibility is essential for adapting behavior in response to environmental changes and is implicated in various neuropsychia...
MDMA and psilocybin regulate oligodendrocyte-lineage cell numbers and anxiety-like behaviors in a rat model of fear.
Biological psychiatry – February 03, 2026
Summary
Psilocybin and MDMA significantly reduce fear-related behaviors, acting through brain changes. In a study with 210 rats, these compounds promoted oligodendrocyte plasticity and myelination, crucial for brain function. Psilocybin specifically induced oligodendrogenesis, while MDMA enhanced mature myelin markers. Disrupting myelin abolished the anxiety reduction, highlighting how these psychedelics remodel brain circuitry. This suggests enhancing myelination could boost their therapeutic power for conditions like PTSD.
Abstract
Psilocybin and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produce rapid, enduring therapeutic effects in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); howev...
Flashback phenomena after administration of LSD and psilocybin in controlled studies with healthy participants
Psychopharmacology – January 25, 2022
Summary
Reoccurring drug-like experiences after LSD and psilocybin administration occur in up to 9.2% of healthy individuals, with 7.8% for LSD and 8.3% for psilocybin. In a study involving 142 participants across six controlled trials, 13 reported these phenomena, primarily mild and perceived as neutral or pleasant. Flashbacks were mostly visual, lasting seconds to minutes, and occurred shortly after drug use. Notably, none experienced significant distress or impairment in daily life, nor did they meet criteria for hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD).
Abstract
Abstract Background LSD and psilocybin are increasingly used in phase I trials and evaluated as therapeutic agents for mental disorders. The phenom...
A single psilocybin dose is associated with long-term increased mindfulness, preceded by a proportional change in neocortical 5-HT2A receptor binding
European Neuropsychopharmacology – March 04, 2020
Summary
A single dose of psilocybin significantly enhances personality Openness and mindfulness, with 10 healthy volunteers showing an average increase in Openness of 4.2 points and mindfulness scores rising by 0.5 after three months. Despite no overall change in cerebral 5-HT2AR binding, a negative correlation emerged between changes in mindfulness and 5-HT2AR levels, suggesting individual variability may influence long-term effects. These findings highlight psilocybin's potential as a transformative treatment in psychology and internal medicine, particularly for enhancing mindfulness.
Abstract
A single dose of the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) agonist psilocybin can have long-lasting beneficial effects on mood, personality, and potentia...
Is there more to magic mushrooms than psilocybin?
C&EN Global Enterprise – October 20, 2025
Summary
In a Vancouver facility, researchers can produce enough psilocybin mushrooms to provide hallucinogenic experiences for 80,000 people annually. Unlike typical black-market operations, these mushrooms are cultivated for clinical trials aimed at treating conditions like depression and OCD. While synthetic psilocybin has dominated past studies, emerging evidence suggests that the natural compounds in magic mushrooms may enhance therapeutic effects. This shift could redefine our understanding of psychedelics, blending psychology, art history, and psychoanalysis to unlock their full potential for mental health treatment.
Abstract
In a suburb of Vancouver, Canada, a nondescript three-story building sits alongside a strip of parking lots. From the outside, it looks like an ord...
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Psilocybin for the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Online Publication Service of Würzburg University (Würzburg University) – January 01, 2026
Summary
Psilocybin shows promising potential as a treatment for severe, treatment-resistant Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), with symptom reductions ranging from 23% to complete remission in participants. In a randomized controlled trial involving multiple doses, improvements persisted for weeks to months post-treatment, particularly with higher doses linked to more profound mystical experiences. Notably, no severe side effects were reported. This highlights psilocybin's ability to address chronic OCD, offering hope for those unresponsive to traditional cognitive behavioral therapy and antidepressants.
Abstract
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a prevalent mental disorder, with a lifetime prevalence of 2-3%, characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsess...
Psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences: immediate and persisting dose-related effects.
Psychopharmacology – December 01, 2011
Summary
Experiencing profound awe can lead to lasting personal growth. A double-blind investigation explored how varying doses of psilocybin impact such experiences and their enduring benefits. Participants received different amounts of the compound in a supportive setting. Findings revealed that higher doses (20-30 mg) frequently induced mystical-type experiences (72% of volunteers) and, a month later, were rated as highly significant, leading to sustained positive changes in mood, attitudes, and behavior. These benefits persisted for 14 months, even noted by community observers. Lower doses also showed significant effects. This suggests psilocybin, under the right conditions, can occasion powerful, positive, and lasting personal transformations.
Abstract
This dose-effect study extends previous observations showing that psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having persisting positive effe...
Psilocybin's lasting action requires pyramidal cell types and 5-HT2A receptors.
Nature – June 01, 2025
Summary
A single dose of psilocybin can create lasting changes in specific brain cells, offering hope for stress-related mental health treatments. The compound works by stimulating growth in crucial brain cell connections, particularly in cells that project to deeper brain regions. This process requires specific serotonin receptors and leads to improved stress responses in mice.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a serotonergic psychedelic with therapeutic potential for treating mental illnesses1-4. At the cellular level, psychedelics induce st...
Psilocybin and chronic neuropathic pain: a systematic review
Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine – August 05, 2024
Summary
The alkaloid psilocybin holds encouraging potential for chronic pain management, including neuropathic pain. A review of 28 studies suggests its role in medicine and psychiatry, influencing neurotransmitter receptors for pain relief. While 76.2% of studies were low quality, some moderate evidence points to a 0.14 mg/kg dose. This emerging field of psychedelics and drug studies offers new avenues for pain management in psychology, despite current limitations.
Abstract
Background/Importance Chronic pain affects many people globally, requiring alternative management strategies. Psilocybin is gaining attention for i...
Psilocybin’s effects on cognition and creativity: A scoping review
Journal of Psychopharmacology – July 01, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, reveals complex effects on human cognition and creativity, a significant focus in clinical psychology. A review of 42 studies, primarily healthy adults (90%), shows that acute macrodoses of this synthesized chemical often impaired cognitive performance. However, microdoses tended to enhance creativity. The neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior appears time-dependent; while initial impairment was observed, some positive effects emerged days later, hinting at developmental psychology implications from these psychedelic drug studies.
Abstract
Background: Research on psilocybin has become increasingly popular during the current psychedelic renaissance, which began in the early 1990s. Psil...
DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Psilocybin
ACS Chemical Neuroscience – June 29, 2018
Summary
A compelling finding in modern medicine is the remarkable therapeutic potential of psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen. Preliminary psychology and psychiatry studies indicate its promise for treating diverse conditions, including alcohol addiction, tobacco addiction, obsessive compulsive disorder, major depressive disorder, and depression in terminally ill cancer patients. This naturally occurring compound, chemically synthesized by Albert Hofmann, influences neurotransmitter receptors, opening new avenues in neuroscience and pharmacology. Its resurgence in psychedelics and drug studies highlights its importance for medicine.
Abstract
Psilocybin is found in a family of mushrooms commonly known as "magic mushrooms" that have been used throughout history to induce hallucinations. I...
Considerations and cautions for the integration of psilocybin into routine clinical care: a consensus statement from the US National Network of Depression Centers' Task Group on Psychedelics and Related Compounds
EClinicalMedicine – September 24, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin offer transformative potential for psychiatric treatment. A US task group, reviewing articles through April 2025, highlights critical gaps in drug studies. They emphasize understanding dosage, efficacy across diverse populations, and long-term safety for these compounds. The field, encompassing chemical synthesis and clinical application, requires diversified funding and standardized training. Addressing these diverse academic research themes ensures careful, ethical progress towards equitable access and integration.
Abstract
The potential for psilocybin, and other psychedelic drugs, to fulfil a much needed and potentially transformative class of psychiatric treatments h...
Psilocybin in neuropsychiatry: a review of its pharmacology, safety, and efficacy
CNS Spectrums – July 11, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen and tryptamine alkaloid, shows significant promise in neuropsychiatry, psychology, and medicine. Its pharmacology involves active metabolites, like psilocin, influencing neurotransmitter receptors to alter behavior, even at doses sufficient to cause hallucinogenic experiences. This class of psychedelics, including Lysergic acid diethylamide, undergoes intense drug studies. Understanding its chemical basis and mechanisms is crucial for its potential as a pharmacotherapy in psychiatry, addressing conditions like addiction and depression, while carefully assessing potential harms.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin is a tryptamine alkaloid found in some mushrooms, especially those of the genus Psilocybe. Psilocybin has four metabolites incl...
Behavioural Investigations of Psilocybin in Animals 1962-2021: A Scoping Review
OpenAlex – January 05, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, shows a strong safety profile even at high doses, promising therapeutic applications in medicine. A systematic review of 77 studies, spanning nearly 60 years of Psychedelics and Drug Studies (via grey literature and MEDLINE), explored its Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior. Findings in psychology show benefits like reduced fear and improved learning. While 64 studies used rodents and 22.1% omitted sample sizes, its potential, perhaps via mechanisms like those in Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study, warrants further exploration.
Abstract
Abstract Background and Aims Psilocybin is a psychedelic drug that may hold promise for a wide range of human health conditions, yet the identifica...
Explore the effect of psilocybin on depression and anxiety
Arts Culture and Language – July 06, 2025
Summary
A compelling finding in clinical psychology suggests psilocybin, a natural hallucinogen, holds promise beyond traditional psychiatry. Preliminary studies involving 30 participants indicated 75% experienced significant relief from cluster headaches. This psychedelic compound is also being explored in psychology for depression treatment, particularly as a preventive measure rather than a direct therapeutic drug. Its potential to revolutionize mental health interventions, perhaps even complementing digital mental health interventions, is gaining traction. The field of psychedelics and drug studies suggests a psychotherapist could guide its use for anxiety and other conditions, offering new avenues for cognitive psychology.
Abstract
Psilocybin, also known as “magic mushrooms,” is naturally found in psychedelic compound from different types of mushrooms. The utility of psilocybi...
Application of psilocybin in mental health disorders
Theoretical and Natural Science – December 20, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, shows compelling antidepressant potential for anxiety and depression in Psychiatry. This naturally occurring compound, a focus of Psychedelics and Drug Studies, converts rapidly, influencing brain chemistry through neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. Its pharmacology suggests a valuable alternative in Medicine. Early findings reveal long-lasting benefits with minimal side effects, extending its promise beyond anxiety to addiction. This chemical synthesis and alkaloid offers a novel strategy in Psychology, requiring further exploration.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychoactive compound, which has been used for ages in traditional settings for religious and therapeutic use. ...
Assessing Metro Vancouver Residents’ Knowledge and Opinions of Psilocybin
BCIT Environmental Public Health Journal – October 12, 2023
Summary
A critical gap exists in our understanding of Psilocybin, a naturally occurring hallucinogen. While its potential for treating addiction, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorders is gaining attention in Psychiatry and Clinical psychology, comprehensive data on Canadian adult awareness and use is subpar. Despite interest in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, and discussions around its chemical synthesis as an alkaloid, specific numbers on public engagement remain elusive. This lack of foundational Psychology data hinders progress, including potential Digital Mental Health Interventions.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring hallucinogen found in different species of fungi. Psilocybin has gained extensive social popularity and politic...
Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant OCD: A Randomized Controlled Trial
OpenAlex – January 15, 2026
Summary
A single dose of psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, dramatically reduced severe obsessive compulsive symptoms. In a randomized controlled trial, 69.2% of 13 adults with treatment-resistant OCD experienced significant symptom reduction within one week, against 0% on niacin. This medicine, a focus in pharmacology and psychedelics studies, showed an impressive effect size (Cohen's d=1.64), with scores decreasing by 9.83 points. While one serious adverse effect occurred, these clinical trial findings in internal medicine and psychiatry suggest a novel approach for a population often struggling with major depressive disorder.
Abstract
Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects 2-3% of the population worldwide. 40-60% of patients do not respond to first-line intervent...
MicroRNAs underlying the antidepressant effect of psilocybin – Establishing an nCounter pipeline for microRNA-quantification in the pig brain
OpenAlex – January 12, 2024
Summary
A single Psilocybin dose profoundly impacts brain biology, potentially explaining its antidepressant effects. Using a specialized Neuroscience pipeline, analysis of pig brains revealed 12 microRNAs were dysregulated in the prefrontal cortex and 2 in the hippocampus just one day after administration. Seven days later, 4 microRNAs remained altered in the hippocampus. Notably, 9 of the 18 identified microRNAs, including miR-212-3p and miR-107, are linked to depression. This highlights how Psychedelics influence molecular pathways, offering new insights for mental health and drug development.
Abstract
Abstract Novel treatment strategies are needed to overcome some of the current challenges related to treatment resistance and treatment latency wit...
A Naturalistic Study on the Combined Neural and Psychological Effects of Psilocybin and Compassion Focused Imagery
OpenAlex – December 22, 2025
Summary
A compelling finding: psilocybin, a hallucinogen, combined with compassion-focused guided imagery, creates lasting psychological changes. Among 105 participants, this psychological intervention enhanced self-compassion and cognitive absorption. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) revealed altered organization in brain networks, including the default mode network, impacting cognition and consciousness. These psychedelics and drug studies suggest synergy for clinical psychology, offering psychotherapists new avenues to cultivate empathy, mindfulness, and mental image shifts.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin is a classic psychedelic drug known to alter subjective experience and elicit long-term psychological changes, enhancing cognit...
Psilocybin Microdosing for Anxiety Relief in Young Adults: A Comparative Review of Emerging Evidence
Premier journal of science. – December 03, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin microdosing shows promise for young adults struggling with anxiety, particularly those resistant to traditional therapies. This hallucinogen, an alkaloid, appears to improve mood and reduce anxiety symptoms, with some reports suggesting a 30-40% reduction in symptom severity. Its impact on psychology involves modulating serotonin receptors and boosting neural plasticity in brain regions crucial for emotional regulation. While clinical psychology and psychiatry explore these psychedelics, future drug studies might integrate digital mental health interventions, offering a compelling alternative for managing persistent anxiety.
Abstract
Background Anxiety disorders are increasingly prevalent among young adults. Traditional treatment options often fall short, and many patients live ...
Supplementary file 1_Improved mental health outcomes and normalised spontaneous EEG activity in veterans reporting a history of traumatic brain injuries following participation in a psilocybin retreat.docx
OPAL (Open@LaTrobe) (La Trobe University) – August 06, 2025
Summary
Veterans struggling with mental illness experienced remarkable improvements following psilocybin retreats. Among 21 participants, depression scores plummeted by 65%, PTSD by 50%, and anxiety by 28%. Electroencephalography revealed brain changes reflecting neuroplasticity, suggesting enhanced emotional regulation and cognitive control. This clinical psychology finding offers a promising path in psychiatry and medicine for mental health, potentially influencing arousal and providing alternatives to typical treatments like Sertraline.
Abstract
Introduction Psilocybin, a serotonergic psychedelic, has shown therapeutic potential in treating mental health disorders by, amongst the many effec...
LPS-Induced Liver Inflammation Is Inhibited by Psilocybin and Eugenol in Mice
Pharmaceuticals – March 23, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin powerfully combats liver inflammation, a key finding from Psychedelics and Drug Studies. In an acute liver injury model, psilocybin (0.88 mg/kg) alone, or combined with eugenol (17.59 mg/kg), significantly reduced pro-inflammatory markers like Tumor necrosis factor alpha. This plant-based medicinal research highlights psilocybin's anti-inflammatory pharmacology, offering new medicine. Its efficacy, distinct from its known influence on tryptophan and brain disorders, even mitigated eugenol's potential adverse effects, suggesting broad therapeutic potential for liver conditions.
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Liver inflammatory diseases are a major global health burden and are often exacerbated by inflammation driven by lipopolysac...
Psilocybin therapy for mood dysfunction in Parkinson's disease: an open-label pilot trial.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology – April 09, 2025
Summary
In a groundbreaking development, psilocybin therapy shows promise for improving both mental and physical symptoms in Parkinson's disease patients. Twelve participants with mild to moderate Parkinson's received two doses of psilocybin alongside psychotherapy. The treatment proved safe and led to significant improvements in mood, anxiety, motor function, and cognitive performance. Benefits lasted up to three months, with no serious side effects or worsening of Parkinson's symptoms.
Abstract
Mood dysfunction is highly prevalent in Parkinson's disease (PD), a main predictor of functional decline, and difficult to treat-novel intervention...