3085 results for "Psilocybin"
A comparative assessment of the antidepressant efficacy of ketamine, psilocybin, and fluoxetine in a chronic stress model
Scientific Reports – November 26, 2025
Summary
Ketamine and psilocybin demonstrate rapid antidepressant effects, significantly reversing social avoidance in male C57BL/6J mice within 24 hours after a single dose. In contrast, fluoxetine, a common SSRI, showed no significant impact until after 14 days of continuous treatment. This study utilized a chronic social defeat stress model with 60 mice to assess these treatments. The findings underscore the potential of fast-acting therapies like ketamine and psilocybin as viable alternatives for treating major depressive disorder, contrasting sharply with traditional medications that require prolonged administration.
Abstract
Depression is a debilitating mental disorder affecting millions worldwide, yet current pharmacological treatments, such as selective serotonin reup...
Psilocybin as a novel treatment for chronic pain
British Journal of Pharmacology – November 29, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, holds significant promise in medicine for chronic pain relief. Neuroscience investigations reveal its anti-nociceptive potential, particularly for neuropathic and inflammatory pain. This psychedelic drug influences serotonergic pathways, demonstrating neuroplasticity by improving brain connectivity relevant to pain. Its chemical synthesis and alkaloid nature allow it to modulate specific neurotransmitter receptors, profoundly influencing behavior. Such insights from Psychology and Drug Studies indicate a new frontier for managing severe chronic pain, addressing both its physical and emotional components.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic drugs are under active consideration for clinical use and have generated significant interest for their potential as anti‐noci...
Knowledge, attitudes, and concerns about psilocybin and MDMA as novel therapies among U.S. healthcare professionals.
Scientific reports – November 14, 2024
Summary
Healthcare providers show strong support for psychedelic therapy, with psilocybin and MDMA gaining acceptance as promising treatments. In a survey of 879 medical professionals, most believed in these hallucinogens' therapeutic potential, particularly for depression and PTSD. While attitudes were positive, knowledge gaps exist about clinical applications and safety protocols.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) with substances like psilocybin and MDMA has shown promise for conditions including depression and post-traumati...
Hypertensive Emergency Secondary to Combining Psilocybin Mushrooms, Extended Release Dextroamphetamine-Amphetamine, and Tranylcypromine
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – June 21, 2024
Summary
A 42-year-old man suffered a hypertensive emergency after combining 1g of *Psilocybe cubensis* mushrooms, a potent hallucinogen, with Tranylcypromine and Dextroamphetamine-Amphetamine medicine. This rare event, observed in drug studies, highlights critical pharmacology concerns. The interaction, possibly involving phenylethylamine—an alkaloid found in the mushrooms—and the prescribed amphetamines, dramatically influenced his neurotransmitter receptors. Despite symptoms of a heart attack, emergency cardiac catheterization revealed no damage. This case underscores the dangers of combining psilocybin with MAOIs and norepinephrine-releasing drugs.
Abstract
Data on medication interactions with psychedelics are limited. Here we present what may be the first published report of a hypertensive emergency f...
The effect of psilocybin on empathy and prosocial behavior: a proposed mechanism for enduring antidepressant effects.
Npj mental health research – February 20, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin's ability to boost empathy and social connection may explain its lasting effects on depression. The compound appears to create a positive cycle: increased empathy leads to more meaningful social interactions, which further enhances emotional well-being. This natural feedback loop could explain why a single dose can have benefits lasting months, working differently from traditional daily antidepressants.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a serotonergic psychedelic shown to have enduring antidepressant effects. Currently, the mechanism for its enduring effects is not we...
Single-Dose Synthetic Psilocybin With Psychotherapy for Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Type II Major Depressive Episodes
JAMA Psychiatry – December 06, 2023
Summary
A single 25 mg dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin, alongside psychotherapy, delivered striking results for treatment-resistant depression in Bipolar II disorder. Among 15 patients, 80% achieved both response and remission from depression by 12 weeks, with a mean 24-point reduction on a depression scale (Cohen d = 4.08) at three weeks. This advance in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, exploring chemical synthesis and alkaloids affecting neurotransmitter receptors, offers a promising new direction for Psychology, Psychiatry, and Medicine.
Abstract
Importance Bipolar II disorder (BDII) is a debilitating condition frequently associated with difficult-to-treat depressive episodes. Psilocybin has...
The development of psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression: an update
BJPsych Bulletin – June 26, 2023
Summary
A compelling finding reveals psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, holds promise for treatment-resistant depression. Recent clinical trials show a 25 mg dose, alongside psychotherapeutic support, significantly improved mood and anxiety symptoms compared to a placebo. This medicine, a naturally occurring alkaloid, influences neurotransmitter receptors, offering a novel approach in psychiatry. With phase 3 trials imminent, psychedelics and drug studies are rapidly advancing. Addressing the profound economic burden of depression, this psychological intervention could revolutionize patient care, requiring skilled psychotherapists.
Abstract
Summary Psilocybin is a classic psychedelic drug that has attracted increasing research interest over the past 10 years as a possible treatment for...
Increased low-frequency brain responses to music after psilocybin therapy for depression.
Journal of affective disorders – July 15, 2023
Summary
Music's emotional impact on the brain becomes stronger after psychedelic therapy, according to brain imaging research. Scientists found that people with depression showed enhanced brain responses to music after receiving psilocybin treatment. Using fMRI scans, researchers observed increased activity in areas linked to music processing and emotional response, suggesting that psychedelic therapy may help restore the brain's natural ability to find joy in musical experiences.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy with psilocybin is an emerging therapy with great promise for depression, and modern psychedelic therapy (PT) me...
Psilocybin and Chronic Pain: A New Perspective for Future Pain Therapists?
Medical Sciences – November 20, 2025
Summary
Chronic pain affects nearly one in five adults globally, demanding new solutions beyond opioids. Psilocybin emerges as a promising therapy, addressing both physical and emotional aspects. Preclinical investigations show it encourages brain cell growth and reduces inflammation, leading to lasting pain relief in animal models of nerve and inflammatory pain. Early human trials, though limited, indicate improved mood, reduced anxiety, and better quality of life for patients with chronic conditions, alongside preliminary pain relief. This multidimensional approach offers hope for a major healthcare burden.
Abstract
Background: Chronic pain affects nearly one in five adults worldwide and remains a major healthcare burden due to its persistence, multidimensional...
More Realistic Forecasting of Future Life Events After Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression
Frontiers in Psychology – October 12, 2018
Summary
Patients with treatment-resistant depression often exhibit a strong pessimism bias. Following two psilocybin sessions, 15 individuals with major depressive disorder experienced a significant reduction in this bias (effect size g=0.7) and greatly improved depressive symptoms (g=1.9). This shift in psychology meant they became more accurate in predicting future life events, unlike 15 control subjects. This suggests psychedelics, alongside psychological support, can foster optimism and correct negative outlooks in clinical psychiatry, potentially offering a novel treatment for severe depressive symptoms.
Abstract
Background: Evidence suggests that classical psychedelics can promote enduring changes in personality, attitudes and optimism, as well as improveme...
Metabolism of psilocybin and psilocin: clinical and forensic toxicological relevance
Drug Metabolism Reviews – January 02, 2017
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, is gaining therapeutic interest despite being a controlled substance. Its pharmacology involves conversion from a pro-drug to active psilocin through a crucial chemical transformation. This metabolism shows significant individual variability, impacting dose-response in Psychedelics and Drug Studies. Understanding these alkaloids is vital for precise clinical application. For Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis, identifying metabolites like psilocin-O-glucuronide is key. The chemistry of these compounds underscores their complex physiological effects, highlighting the need for careful consideration in therapeutic settings.
Abstract
Psilocybin and psilocin are controlled substances in many countries. These are the two main hallucinogenic compounds of the "magic mushrooms" and b...
Production Options for Psilocybin: Making of the Magic
Chemistry - A European Journal – July 16, 2018
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen from "magic mushrooms," shows remarkable promise as a therapeutic for depression and anxiety, transforming its role in Psychedelics and Drug Studies. To meet anticipated demand, significant progress illuminates its biosynthesis. This enables efficient enzymatic in vitro and heterologous in vivo production, complementing existing Chemical synthesis of alkaloids. Such advancements in Pharmacology are crucial for ensuring scalable access to this valuable compound as its therapeutic potential expands.
Abstract
Abstract The fungal genus Psilocybe and other genera comprise numerous mushroom species that biosynthesize psilocybin (4‐phosphoryloxy‐ N , N ‐dime...
Psilocybin impairs high-level but not low-level motion perception
Neuroreport – August 01, 2004
Summary
Psilocybin, a powerful hallucinogen, creates compelling illusions of motion by selectively disrupting how the brain processes complex visual information. In a study involving nine human volunteers, this psychedelic substance impaired global motion perception—the ability to discern overall movement patterns—while leaving simpler local motion detection unaffected. This finding offers crucial insights for psychology and neuroscience, suggesting how neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior can model aspects of clinical psychosis and enhance our understanding of visual perception and cognitive psychology.
Abstract
The hallucinogenic serotonin(1A&2A) agonist psilocybin is known for its ability to induce illusions of motion in otherwise stationary objects or te...
Psilocybin as a New Approach to Treat Depression and Anxiety in the Context of Life-Threatening Diseases—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials
Biomedicines – September 05, 2020
Summary
Psilocybin shows significant promise for treating anxiety and depression. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials involving 92 patients revealed this psychedelic medicine reduced Beck Depression Inventory scores by an average of 4.589 points. For anxiety, 92 patients saw State-Trait Anxiety scores drop by 5.906 points, and 41 patients experienced a 6.032-point reduction in State Anxiety. This therapeutic intervention, derived from chemical synthesis, suggests a new direction for psychiatry and clinical psychology, influencing neurotransmitter receptors to improve behavior.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring tryptamine known for its psychedelic properties. Recent research indicates that psilocybin may constitute a val...
Psilocybin: From Serendipity to Credibility?
Frontiers in Psychiatry – April 21, 2021
Summary
Offering paid psilocybin interventions, a hallucinogen, in retreat centers risks undermining its scientific credibility, despite encouraging early clinical trials. While psychology and psychiatry explore its therapeutic potential, robust medicine requires extensive, multi-year clinical trials. Prematurely commercializing this psychedelic disregards ethical principles from the 1947 Nuremberg Code and 1962 Kefauver Harris Amendments. This approach jeopardizes the rigorous development needed for any drug, impacting diverse academic research themes.
Abstract
Psilocybin has a long history of non-medical use and some seem to infer from this that it has therapeutic utility. Early phase clinical trials with...
The Use of Psilocybin in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders with Attention to Relative Safety Profile: A Systematic Review
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – February 28, 2022
Summary
The hallucinogen psilocybin, a potent alkaloid, shows remarkable promise in psychiatry. A review of 76 articles highlights its efficacy in significantly reducing anxiety and depression symptoms, a major burden on population health. This psychedelic medicine, alongside MDMA, causes no reported adverse effects or deaths, offering a compelling alternative in drug studies for psychological well-being. Its re-emergence signals a "Psychedelic Renaissance," broadening the scope of complementary medicine. The potential for such compounds, naturally derived, to alleviate depression is a significant development for the population.
Abstract
There has been a reemergence of research into the use of substances such as LSD, MDMA, and psilocybin for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. T...
Lifetime use of MDMA/ecstasy and psilocybin is associated with reduced odds of major depressive episodes
Journal of Psychopharmacology – January 01, 2022
Summary
Lifetime MDMA/Ecstasy use is associated with 16% lower odds of experiencing a major depressive episode. An analysis of 213,437 US adults found MDMA, or Ecstasy, linked to 16-18% lower odds of these episodes. The hallucinogen Psilocybin, a classic psychedelic, correlated with 10-13% lower odds. These findings offer intriguing insights for Psychiatry and Medicine, suggesting potential avenues for Psychology in addressing major depressive episodes, unlike other substances examined.
Abstract
Background: Depression is a major mental health issue worldwide, with high rates of chronicity and non-recovery associated with the condition. Exis...
Sensitive quantitative analysis of psilocin and psilocybin in hair samples from suspected users and their distribution in seized hallucinogenic mushrooms
Forensic Toxicology – February 02, 2021
Summary
Psilocin, a potent hallucinogen, was detected in human hair samples from consumers at 161 and 150 pg/mg. This significant advance in Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis utilized a highly sensitive quantitative chemistry method. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), specifically High-performance liquid chromatography with formic acid and electrospray ionization in selected reaction monitoring, achieved a 1 pg/mg detection limit for psilocybin and psilocin. This tandem mass spectrometry approach also analyzed seven hallucinogenic mushrooms, contributing to Psychedelics and Drug Studies and broader mushroom analysis.
Abstract
Abstract Purpose In this study, we developed a very sensitive method for quantitative analysis of psilocin and psilocybin in hair samples of magic ...
Four individuals' experiences during and following a psilocybin truffle retreat in the Netherlands
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – April 16, 2021
Summary
A compelling finding reveals that a high dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin can lead to positive after-effects lasting up to a year. Qualitative research, using deep interpretative analysis of narratives from four healthy individuals at a legal retreat, revealed profound shifts. A central theme was enhanced social connectedness, impacting perception of self and others. This experiential learning offers insights for psychology and developmental psychology, contributing to psychedelics and drug studies. The findings illuminate aspects of social psychology and potential psychotherapeutic relevance, touching upon diverse academic research themes through a social analysis of personal transformation.
Abstract
Abstract This article reports on the experiences of four healthy individuals who attended a legal psilocybin truffle retreat in the Netherlands. Th...
Case report: Prolonged amelioration of mild red-green color vision deficiency following psilocybin mushroom use
Drug Science Policy and Law – January 01, 2023
Summary
A single 5-gram dose of psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, dramatically improved red-green color vision in one individual. Partial improvement, assessed via Ishihara tests, peaked at 8 days and persisted for at least 16 days, despite color blindness being genetic. This intriguing finding for Medicine and Psychology suggests new directions for Psychiatry and Psychedelics and Drug Studies. Understanding these effects requires biochemical analysis of such alkaloids, whether from chemical synthesis or natural sources, to gauge their impact on perception and inform generalizability.
Abstract
Background Recent survey data indicate that some people report long-term improvement in color vision deficiency (CVD), also known as color blindnes...
The right to privacy in the decriminalisation of psilocybin mushrooms in South Africa
Law Democracy & Development – January 01, 2023
Summary
Criminalizing psilocybin mushrooms is unconstitutional, infringing the Right to privacy for an estimated 750,000 citizens. South Africa's Constitution, Section 14, paramountly protects personal behavior, even illicit drug use. Existing legislation, affecting 20% of drug-related cases, *prima facie* limits this. Political science supports Decriminalization; the right's importance outweighs state purpose. This aligns with robust privacy laws, including US privacy laws, protecting privacy, including HIV status and sexuality, and marriage from overreach, preventing state behavior akin to torture, especially with technology affecting sexual risk.
Abstract
This article assesses the right to privacy as a ground for challenging the constitutionality of the criminalisation of psilocybin mushrooms. In doi...
Therapeutic potential of psilocybin: a promising agent in treating major depressive disorder
AIDASCO Reviews – January 17, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen and alkaloid, offers remarkable promise in Psychiatry for Major depressive disorder. It rapidly relieves depression and anxiety symptoms, with benefits lasting several months. This focus of Psychedelics and Drug Studies provides a non-addictive path for Medicine to address the global burden of psychological disorders. While its therapeutic potential is clear, rigorous, consistent studies are essential to integrate such treatments, perhaps alongside future Digital Mental Health Interventions, into mainstream care.
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as clinical depression, is a serious mental disorder and ranks first among psychiatric disorders that d...
Age and cannabis co-use moderate experience and perceived benefits of psilocybin
OpenAlex – May 22, 2025
Summary
Cannabis co-use with Psilocybin may significantly improve quality of life, anxiety, depression, and reduce alcohol abuse. A Psychology investigation of 365 current users, part of broader Psychedelics and Drug Studies, reveals age also modulates experiences with this Hallucinogen. Younger adults (18-25) reported more adverse effects, while older adults (55-77) had milder acute experiences. This Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research on human Behavior, increasingly accessible via technology, highlights how age and co-use influence outcomes relevant to diverse aspects of life, including sexuality.
Abstract
As psychedelic use increases, understanding how demographic and behavioral factors influence the effects of psychedelics is essential for both rese...
Drugs in therapy. LSD, MDMA, marijuana, psilocybin, designer drugs and its potential in modern medicine.
Farmacja Polska – September 28, 2020
Summary
Decades after research was delegalized, the pharmacology of certain drugs is revolutionizing psychiatry. Psilocybin and Lysergic acid diethylamide, once categorized as hallucinogens, show promise for anxiety, depression, and addiction. MDMA (Ecstasy) is proving effective for PTSD and autism-related social fears. Even designer drugs are being explored as potential medicine. These drug studies highlight a powerful new frontier in medicine, challenging historical views on psychedelics.
Abstract
Research on using drugs in medicine was almost completely stopped and delegalized in 1971, by Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Most of studie...
Psilocybin for Treating Psychiatric Disorders: Is it a Psychonaut Legend or a Promising Therapeutic Perspective?
Preprints.org – June 28, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen from over 200 mushroom species, is re-emerging in modern Psychiatry. Identified via chemical synthesis and alkaloids research in 1957, this compound, now central to Psychedelics and Drug Studies, was scheduled in 1970. However, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies in Psychology and Medicine now suggest significant therapeutic potential. A psychotherapist's perspective indicates it may effectively address pathological Anxiety, Mood disorders, and Addiction, offering a new outlook. This shift provides a fresh perspective on mental health.
Abstract
Psychedelics extracted by plants have been used in religious, spiritual and mystic practices for millennia. In 1957, Dr. Hofmann have identified an...
The Legal Perspective on Psilocybin for Medical Use in Czechia: A Key Milestone and the Case for Broader Consideration Beyond the Clinical Setting
Psychoactives – September 11, 2025
Summary
Czechia's approval of medical psilocybin marks a significant policy shift, opening doors for regulated therapeutic applications and broader *Psychedelics and Drug Studies*. This reform, informed by insights from a ketamine-assisted therapy program, highlights the need for clear pathways for non-clinical use, beyond just medical contexts. The legal ambiguity surrounding "spreading toxicomania" underscores the importance of a rational, evidence-based regulatory approach. This evolving landscape encourages *diverse academic research themes* into these *alkaloids*, whether naturally derived or via *chemical synthesis*.
Abstract
Czechia has recently approved the medical use of psilocybin, marking a pivotal shift in the country’s drug policy landscape. This development paves...
The psychedelic renaissance: psilocybin, a breakthrough for treatment resistant depression?
Exploration of neuroscience – August 07, 2025
Summary
A single dose of psilocybin, combined with intensive psychotherapy, rapidly and significantly alleviates severe, treatment-resistant depression. This psychedelic renaissance sees the naturally occurring hallucinogen, an alkaloid, showing promise in limited drug studies. Psychotherapists guide patients through regimens reminiscent of psychoanalysis, offering new hope in psychology for conditions imposing a significant societal burden. Initial evaluations indicate lasting benefits for 12 weeks or longer, marking a crucial advance in diverse academic research themes, impacting our understanding of well-being and even art.
Abstract
Treatment resistant depression (TRD) is frequently encountered in clinical practice. The lack of response of the condition to conventional medicati...
Effects of the hallucinogenic drugs mescaline, phencyclidine and psilocybin on zebrafish behavior and physiology
The FASEB Journal – April 01, 2012
Summary
Mescaline, a potent hallucinogen, reduced anxiety and increased social behavior in Zebrafish (Danio) at 10-20 mg/L in Open field tests. Pharmacology research, vital for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, showed Phencyclidine (PCP) at 1-3 mg/L caused erratic swimming, disrupting exploratory Psychology. Psilocybin, a psychotomimetic, had no behavioral effects. These findings, exploring Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior through Chemistry, confirm Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications for understanding complex drug actions, including Lysergic acid diethylamide and subtle behaviors like scratching.
Abstract
Mescaline, phencyclidine (PCP) and psilocybin are potent hallucinogenic drugs strongly affecting both human and animal behavior. However, these com...
229. PSILOCYBIN WITH PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC SUPPORT FOR TREATMENT-RESISTANT DEPRESSION: A PILOT CLINICAL TRIAL
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – August 01, 2025
Summary
A pilot clinical trial showed psilocybin, a compound from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, combined with psychotherapeutic support, significantly reduced symptoms for treatment-resistant depression. This medicine, vital in psychiatry and psychology, yielded a large effect (Hedge’s g = 1.41). Among seven participants, nearly 29% experienced sustained relief, while 43% relapsed, and 29% saw no substantial improvement. Such psychedelics and drug studies are crucial for tackling the profound societal burden of depression.
Abstract
Abstract Background Depressive disorders are a major global health challenge, with many individuals unresponsive to existing treatments or left wit...
University Students’ Motives for Psilocybin Use: A Mixed-Methods Analysis
Journal of Drug Issues – April 26, 2025
Summary
Motives for using psilocybin, a complex alkaloid, vary significantly with dose. An online survey revealed that reasons for microdosing (0.1–0.4 g) diverge from those for macrodosing (1 g+). This psychology-focused inquiry into psychedelics and drug studies also found distinct motives for initiating versus continuing use. Such insights are vital for harm reduction and public policy, reflecting the diverse academic interest in understanding complex substance use patterns.
Abstract
Motives are a highly influential force in substance use and vary depending on the substance or dose being used. Little research has compared motive...
The Action on Psilocybin in Neural Plasticity, Brain Reorganization and Cognitive Enhancement
Middle East Research Journal of Biological Sciences – September 28, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a unique indole alkaloid from chemical synthesis, avoids addiction by not interacting with the brain's reward system. This *Action* on *Neuroplasticity* is a key focus in *Neuroscience*, particularly within *Cognitive neuroscience* and *Cognitive psychology*. *Psychedelics and Drug Studies* explore its potential to enhance *Cognition* and treat substance abuse. People report significant improvements in mood, reduced anxiety, and increased concentration, highlighting its profound *Psychology* benefits for various conditions.
Abstract
Psilocybin and psilocin do not cause addiction or dependence, as they do not interact with the dopaminergic reward system. New pharmacological trea...
Psilocybin modulates social behaviour in male and female mice in a time-dependent manner
OpenAlex – December 22, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly alters social behavior and empathy differently across sexes. In female mice given 1.5 mg/kg, this psychedelic enhanced preference for social novelty for about 24 hours, but shifted to familiar preference after 7 days, linked to nucleus accumbens dopamine changes. Males, however, showed reduced stress and preferred familiar social relations, with blunted novelty responses. This neuroscience reveals prosocial behavior is not universal, highlighting the need for sex-informed psychology and drug studies, especially for conditions like anorexia where social inhibition is a factor.
Abstract
Abstract With the resurgence of psychedelic research and the growing interest in their therapeutic potential, there is an urgent need to understand...
Pharmacological Management of Anxiety in End‐of‐Life Care: A Systematic Review of Benzodiazepines, Opioids, and Psilocybin
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental – January 01, 2026
Summary
A systematic review shows psilocybin, a hallucinogen, offers rapid, sustained anxiety relief for end-of-life patients. Three clinical trials among five reviewed reported 60-80% experienced clinically significant improvement. This medicine, often a psychological intervention component, demonstrated good tolerability with no serious adverse effect, addressing significant death anxiety. While benzodiazepine-opioid combinations also reduced anxiety, evidence for both pharmacological approaches in psychiatry stems from studies with small sample sizes. Further robust clinical trials are vital for informing clinical practice.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Objective Anxiety is common in patients receiving end‐of‐life care and significantly impacts their quality of life. However, pharmacologic...
Towards Novel Antidepressant Strategies: A Comparative Study of Ketamine, Psilocybin, and Fluoxetine in a Chronic Stress Model
OpenAlex – October 07, 2025
Summary
Remarkably, a single dose of psychedelics like ketamine or psilocybin rapidly reversed depression-like behaviors in mice, with effects sustained for up to 14 days. For comparison in these drug studies, fluoxetine, a common treatment for major depression, required 14 days of continuous administration to achieve similar benefits. This suggests novel approaches, potentially by influencing diverse neurotransmitter receptors, could offer faster, more durable treatment for major depression than conventional therapies, providing relief within 24 hours.
Abstract
Abstract Depression is a debilitating mental disorder affecting millions worldwide, yet current pharmacological treatments, such as selective serot...
Psilocybin in late-life mental health: Addressing depression, loneliness, and existential anxiety
General Hospital Psychiatry – December 09, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin therapy holds significant promise for addressing late-life mental health conditions like depression and loneliness, where traditional treatments often falter. Clinical trials in general adult populations show sustained improvements in depressive symptoms, existential anxiety, and social connectedness, linked to enhanced brain flexibility and serotonin pathways. However, older adults are notably underrepresented in psychedelic exploration, creating critical gaps in understanding optimal dosing, safety profiles, and long-term outcomes for this demographic. Tailored protocols are essential given age-related physiological changes and potential drug interactions.
Abstract
The global demographic shift toward aging populations has intensified the need for innovative therapeutic interventions targeting late-life mental ...
Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin and Ketamine in Major Depressive Disorder including Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Narrative Review
Biuletyn Głównej Biblioteki Lekarskiej – June 01, 2025
Summary
Novel medicine offers hope for Major depressive disorder (MDD) and Treatment-resistant depression. Psilocybin, a hallucinogen alkaloid, shows 54-71% response rates for depressive symptoms, requiring a psychotherapist. Ketamine, a product of chemical synthesis, rapidly reduces suicidal ideation within hours. Both agents, influencing neurotransmitter receptors, represent a paradigm shift in psychiatry and clinical psychology. Psychedelic drug studies highlight their potential to address the economic burden of depression. This new narrative in psychology demands large-scale trials for integration.
Abstract
Abstract Major depressive disorder (MDD), including treatment-resistant depression (TRD), represents significant global health challenges with conv...
Consistency of protocol and safety data reporting in clinical trial registrations and corresponding publications of interventions involving MDMA and psilocybin.
Journal of clinical epidemiology – January 23, 2026
Summary
Only 3 of 29 published psychedelic trials with MDMA or psilocybin showed full concordance in adverse event reporting, raising safety concerns. An analysis of 336 ClinicalTrials.gov registrations revealed significant reporting gaps. For instance, 72.0% of completed trials never posted results. Furthermore, 17.6% of trials altered primary outcomes, and 28.6% changed eligibility criteria, often after participant recruitment. Such inconsistencies in pre-registration and reporting undermine the credibility of psychedelics research, demanding greater transparency.
Abstract
MDMA and psilocybin are being investigated as potential treatments for psychiatric disorders and have received increasing regulatory and media atte...
Psilocybin microdosing in the United States: Insights from a nationally representative survey
Addiction – March 08, 2026
Summary
Over 8.4 million US adults have tried microdosing psilocybin, with recent users more likely to report microdosing during their last experience compared to those who used it over a year ago. Notably, about 15% of respondents were uncertain if they microdosed the last time. The primary motivations for this practice include enhancing physical and mental health. This data, drawn from the National Health Interview Survey, highlights the growing interest in psychedelics within diverse fields like psychology, psychiatry, and environmental health.
Abstract
At least 8.4 million US adults have microdosed psilocybin in their lifetime. Those who have used psilocybin within the past year are more likely to...
Psilocybin alters visual contextual computations.
Nature communications – November 21, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin fundamentally shifts how the brain processes visual context, offering a clearer understanding of its effects. Using visual illusions, advanced brain imaging, and computer models, researchers investigated how psilocybin alters perception and brain dynamics. They discovered it changes how people perceive contextual visual cues and modifies brain responses. This highlights that altering contextual computations is a key mechanism underlying psychedelic action.
Abstract
Psilocybin alters perception and brain dynamics. Here, we investigate the effects of psilocybin using psychophysics, ultra-high field functional MR...
Genetic regulation of L-tryptophan metabolism in Psilocybe mexicana supports psilocybin biosynthesis.
Fungal biology and biotechnology – April 25, 2024
Summary
Magic mushrooms precisely control their tryptophan metabolism to produce psilocybin, which can make up 2% of their dry weight. When these Basidiomycota fungi transition from threadlike growth to mushroom formation, they boost tryptophan production while blocking competing metabolic flux pathways, efficiently channeling resources into psilocybin synthesis.
Abstract
Although Basidiomycota produce pharmaceutically and ecologically relevant natural products, knowledge of how they coordinate their primary and seco...
Effects of psilocybin, the 5-HT2A receptor agonist TCB-2, and the 5-HT2A receptor antagonist M100907 on visual attention in male mice in the continuous performance test.
Psychopharmacology – October 19, 2023
Summary
Serotonin-targeting compounds like psilocybin show promise in treating mental health, but their effects on attention remain unclear. Research with mice revealed that psilocybin and related compounds (TCB-2 and M100907) affected visual attention tasks, though mainly at doses that also reduced movement. The findings suggest these effects stem from broader behavioral changes rather than direct impact on attention processes.
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression are characterized in part by attention deficits. Attention is modulated by the serotonin (5-HT) neuro...
Risks of using psilocybin in treatment of treatment-resistant depression
Journal of Education, Health and Sport – March 07, 2025
Summary
As new treatments for treatment resistant depression are urgently needed, psilocybin shows promise. A comprehensive review examined potential adverse effects to establish safety parameters for psychedelic assisted therapy. Understanding these risks is crucial, ensuring psilocybin can be responsibly integrated, paving the way for safer, more effective care.
Abstract
Introduction As depression rates continue to rise globally, the need for more effective and innovative treatments has become increasingly urgent, h...
P300‐mediated modulations in self–other processing under psychedelic psilocybin are related to connectedness and changed meaning: A window into the self–other overlap
Human Brain Mapping – August 21, 2020
Summary
Psilocybin profoundly alters how we perceive ourselves, blurring the distinction between self and other. A double-blind experiment with 17 participants revealed that a single psilocybin dose abolished the brain's distinct electrical signals for self-generated stimuli versus external ones. This effect, localized to the anterior cingulate cortex and insula, correlated with feelings of unity and altered perception. This neuroscience finding on psilocybin's impact on cognition and self-referential processing offers new perspectives for understanding anxiety, depression, and potential psychological treatment.
Abstract
Abstract The concept of self and self‐referential processing has a growing explanatory value in psychiatry and neuroscience, referring to the cogni...
Psilocybin with psychotherapeutic support for treatment-resistant depression: a pilot clinical trial
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology – September 01, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics and Drug Studies show promise for depression. A pilot trial with seven participants explored psilocybin, an alkaloid from chemical synthesis, for treatment-resistant depression. Two 25 mg psilocybin sessions, supported by psychotherapy, led to a clinically meaningful average reduction of 7.14 points in depressive symptoms, a large effect (Hedges’ g = –1.27). This highlights psilocybin's Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior. While two participants (28.6%) experienced sustained improvement, three (42.8%) relapsed. Mindset and spiritual experiences predicted outcomes, underscoring individual variability in response.
Abstract
Background: Depressive disorders are a major global health challenge, with many individuals unresponsive to existing treatments. Novel psychedelic ...
Effects of the Hallucinogen Psilocybin on Covert Orienting of Visual Attention in Humans
Neuropsychobiology – January 01, 2002
Summary
A compelling finding in Psychology reveals Psilocybin, a Serotonergic Hallucinogen, profoundly disrupts cognitive processes related to Vigilance (psychology). In a double-blind Neuroscience study, 8 healthy volunteers each received Psilocybin, a Stimulant (Methamphetamine), or a Placebo. Psilocybin users exhibited significantly slower reaction times and impaired Inhibition of return, particularly for right visual field targets. This suggests Psychedelics, like Lysergic acid diethylamide, can model aspects of Psychosis, highlighting Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior. Such Drug Studies, utilizing Psychometrics, inform potential Treatment for Anxiety or Depression.
Abstract
Hallucinogenic drug-induced states are considered as models for acute schizophrenic disorders (experimental psychoses). In a double-blind study wit...
Validation of the forced swim test in Drosophila, and its use to demonstrate psilocybin has long-lasting antidepressant-like effects in flies
Scientific Reports – June 15, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent psychedelic, demonstrates significant antidepressant potential. A new *Drosophila melanogaster* model, employing a *behavioural despair test*, explored these effects. This *test*, a valuable tool in *neuroscience* and *pharmacology*, first confirmed the *antidepressant* citalopram's efficacy in both sexes. Crucially, psilocybin dramatically reduced immobility in male fruit flies. A 0.03 mM dose showed antidepressant-like effects comparable to citalopram, with 3.5 mM psilocybin achieving an effect size twice as strong. This *biology* research advances *psychedelics* in *drug studies*, leveraging *plant and animal studies*.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin has been shown to be a powerful, long-lasting antidepressant in human clinical trials and in rodent models. Although rodents ha...
Detection of Psilocybin and Psilocin in Norwegian Species ofPluteusandConocybe
Planta Medica – August 01, 1984
Summary
Two Norwegian mushroom species, *Pluteus salicinus* and *Conocybe cyanopus*, contain the powerful hallucinogen psilocybin. Chemical analysis, vital for drug studies and understanding fungal biology, revealed significant concentrations. Dried *Pluteus salicinus* contained 0.35% psilocybin and 0.011% psilocin. *Conocybe cyanopus* showed even higher levels, ranging from 0.33-0.55% psilocybin and 0.004-0.007% psilocin. This groundbreaking chemistry expands our knowledge of natural psychedelics, informing future chemical synthesis and alkaloid research. Such applications are crucial for understanding these compounds.
Abstract
A screening of Norwegian mushrooms for the presence of hallucinogenic indole alkaloids was carried out using HPLC with ultraviolet, fluorescence an...
Acute effects of psilocybin on the dynamics of gaze fixations during visual aesthetic perception
OpenAlex – November 01, 2023
Summary
High doses of psilocybin dramatically alter visual perception, redirecting gaze. Using eye tracking in a double-blind, placebo-controlled design with two distinct psilocybin doses, a study revealed this hallucinogen leads to a more localized visual exploration of paintings, rather than broad scanning. This shift in eye movement and fixation suggests a profound impact on consciousness and cognitive psychology, mediated by altered perception of low-level visual information like textures. Participants reported heightened emotional responses, underscoring psilocybin's effect on how we experience visual stimuli. Neuroscience continues to explore these psychedelic insights.
Abstract
Abstract Rationale Serotonergic psychedelics are remarkable for their capacity to induce variable yet reproducible modifications to human conscious...
Depressionen: Remission durch Psilocybin bei laufender SSRI-Therapie
Fortschritte der Neurologie · Psychiatrie – April 01, 2024
Summary
A groundbreaking finding in Psychedelics and Drug Studies suggests Psilocybin can enhance existing antidepressant therapy for Treatment of Major Depression. Traditionally, patients discontinue antidepressants before Psilocybin administration due to concerns about altered psychedelic effects. However, new Medicine research indicates Psilocybin positively complements SSRI treatment, rather than being hindered by it. This opens new avenues in Psychology and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, potentially improving outcomes for those struggling with depression without requiring medication cessation.
Abstract
Psilocybin ist ein Indolalkaloid aus der Gruppe der Tryptamine und wird zur Behandlung behandlungsresistenter Depressionen (TRD) untersucht. Da die...
Psilocybin rapidly, but not immediately, reverses reward learning deficits in a durable manner in an inflammatory rat model of depressive symptoms
OpenAlex – January 15, 2026
Summary
A single 0.3 mg/kg dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin rapidly reverses anhedonia, a core depressive symptom, in a rat model. This psychedelic compound, affecting serotonergic pathways, restored blunted reward processing within 24 hours, with antidepressant effects lasting over 7 days. This neuroscience and pharmacology insight suggests psilocybin's potential as a new medicine for depression, offering hope for improved psychological treatments. Psilocybin, a key focus in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, demonstrates sustained benefits.
Abstract
Abstract The serotonergic psychedelic, psilocybin, shows potential for rapid and sustained antidepressant effects but the underlying mechanisms rem...