3085 results for "Psilocybin"
Psychedelic-assisted therapy for treating anxiety, depression, and existential distress in people with life-threatening diseases.
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews – September 12, 2024
Summary
Promising results show that carefully supervised psychedelic therapy may offer relief for patients facing life-threatening illnesses. Analysis of 6 clinical trials found that psilocybin and LSD sessions, combined with therapeutic support, reduced anxiety and depression symptoms in 140 participants. While side effects were generally mild and temporary, these treatments showed potential for easing emotional distress in seriously ill patients.
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapy refers to a group of therapeutic practices involving psychedelics taken under therapeutic supervision from physicians,...
What is needed for the roll-out of psychedelic treatments?
Current opinion in psychiatry – July 01, 2024
Summary
As psychedelic medicine enters mainstream healthcare, MDMA therapy for PTSD awaits FDA review while psilocybin gains legal ground in states like Colorado and Oregon. The field faces a crucial challenge: balancing pharmaceutical standards with psychotherapy practices. Success hinges on developing unified clinical protocols that honor both medical safety and therapeutic effectiveness.
Abstract
The pace of psychedelic treatments continues to increase. Regulation and coherent clinical guidance have not been established. A philosophical divi...
Psychotherapie mit adjuvanter Gabe von serotonergen psychoaktiven Substanzen – Möglichkeiten und Hindernisse
Fortschritte der Neurologie · Psychiatrie – July 01, 2017
Summary
Psychedelics like Psilocybin and Lysergic acid diethylamide are re-emerging as powerful tools in psychiatry. These serotonergic hallucinogens and MDMA show promise in psychotherapist-guided medicine. Drug studies indicate efficacy for anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and addiction, influencing neurotransmitter receptors and behavior. Psychology and medicine are exploring their potential. Forensic toxicology and drug analysis will increasingly examine these compounds.
Abstract
Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Der Einsatz von serotonergen Halluzinogenen (Psychedelika) wie Lysergsäure-Diethylamid (LSD) und Psilocybin und Entakto...
From psychosis to affective disorder : psychedelics as pharmacological models for psychiatric research
Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) – January 01, 2012
Summary
Only ketamine, not psilocybin, disrupts the brain's "mismatch negativity" (MMN) signal, a key Neuroscience measure of prediction error processing crucial for Psychology and Psychosis. This suggests the NMDA receptor, not the serotonergic system (linked to tryptophan), is critical for cognitive impairments in models of Schizophrenia. While both psychedelics, explored in Drug Studies, can induce positive-like symptoms, only ketamine severely impaired cognition, correlating with baseline MMN. This highlights neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior and sensory gating in psychotic disorders.
Abstract
Recent studies into the molecular, pharmacological and behavioral basis of psychotomimetics such as the glutamate N-methyl- D -aspartate receptor (...
Psychedelics: A review of their effects on recalled aversive memories and fear/anxiety expression in rodents
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews – September 20, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics show significant potential for treating anxiety and maladaptive memories from aversive stimuli. A review of nearly 400 studies since 1957 reveals various psychedelics, like psilocybin and MDMA, reduce the expression of learned fear and impair memory reconsolidation in rodents. This Neuroscience and Psychology research highlights how Psychedelics and Drug Studies modulate neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. Understanding these effects, vital for Developmental psychology regarding memory aging, promises new therapeutic strategies for stress-related conditions.
Abstract
Threatening events and stressful experiences can lead to maladaptive memories and related behaviors. Existing treatments often fail to address thes...
Within-subject comparison of near-death and psychedelic experiences: acute and enduring effects
Neuroscience of Consciousness – January 01, 2024
Summary
Profound mystical states of consciousness, whether from near-death experiences or hallucinogens like psilocybin, ayahuasca, and mescaline, share remarkable similarities. A study of 31 adults who experienced both revealed significant overlap in their phenomenology and attribution of reality. While sensory perception differed—NDEs involved more disembodiment, psychedelics more visual imagery—both induced similar mystical-like effects. This suggests the psychology of psychedelic experiences offers a valuable lens for understanding profound, sometimes paranormal, insights.
Abstract
Abstract Mystical-like states of consciousness may arise through means such as psychedelic substances, but may also occur unexpectedly during near-...
Natural psychedelics in the treatment of depression; a review focusing on neurotransmitters.
Fitoterapia – September 01, 2023
Summary
Natural compounds like psilocybin and dimethyltryptamine show remarkable potential in treating depression, often working faster than traditional antidepressants. These natural psychedelics interact with the brain's neurotransmission system in unique ways, promoting neural plasticity and emotional processing. Research indicates a single dose can provide significant relief from depressive symptoms for weeks or months, with minimal side effects.
Abstract
Natural psychedelic compounds are emerging as potential novel therapeutics in psychiatry. This review will discuss how natural psychedelics exert t...
Changes in synaptic markers after administration of ketamine or psychedelics: a systematic scoping review
Frontiers in Psychiatry – June 26, 2023
Summary
Ketamine and hallucinogens like Psilocybin significantly enhance brain cell connections, particularly under stress. A comprehensive review of 84 studies (71 on Ketamine, 9 on psychedelics) found Ketamine counteracted stress-related reductions in Hippocampus synaptic markers. Psychedelics generally increased markers like Synapsin I, demonstrating Synaptic plasticity. This Neuroscience insight offers compelling potential for Medicine and Clinical psychology, including Psychiatry and the Treatment of Major Depression, underscoring the therapeutic value in Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Background Ketamine and psychedelics have abuse liability. They can also induce “transformative experiences” where individuals experience enhanced ...
Fungal Hallucinogens Psilocin, Ibotenic Acid, and Muscimol
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring – July 12, 2013
Summary
A compelling finding suggests certain hallucinogens, like psilocybin, may improve perception, challenging beliefs about cognitive decline. While compounds such as ibotenic acid and muscimol are neurotoxic, their role in psychology, psychiatry, and neuropsychiatry remains highly controversial. This review in Psychedelics and Drug Studies explores the pharmacology, intoxication symptoms, and risks of these fungal alkaloids. Psychotherapists in medicine, even those exploring Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, must weigh potential benefits against documented harm. Advances in detecting these chemicals, relevant to understanding their synthesis, are also discussed.
Abstract
Psychoactive drugs of fungal origin, psilocin, ibotenic acid, and muscimol among them have been proposed for recreational use and popularized since...
Drugs of Abuse Monitoring in Blood for Control of Driving Under the Influence of Drugs
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring – April 01, 2002
Summary
Driving under the influence is a critical public safety issue; forensic toxicology is crucial for detection. A comprehensive review details analytical chemistry procedures for over 20 drugs in blood, vital for identifying impaired drivers. Covered are stimulants like Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, MDMA; opiates such as Codeine, Morphine, Methadone; and hallucinogens including Lysergic acid diethylamide, Psilocybin. Benzoylecgonine, Gamma hydroxybutyrate, and various cannabinoids, including synthetic cannabinoids and designer drugs, are also addressed. Chromatography methods underpin this pharmacology, informing poison control, medicine, and advancing drug studies.
Abstract
Driving under the influence of drugs is an issue of growing concern in the industrialized countries as a risk and a cause for road accidents. In fo...
Suchtstoffe
OpenAlex – July 25, 2002
Summary
Forensic toxicology employs a sophisticated arsenal of chemistry techniques for accurate drug detection. Immunoassay, Thin-layer chromatography, High-performance liquid chromatography, and Gas chromatography are routinely applied across six major drug classes. This includes psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin, alongside cannabis and cannabinoids. Such robust analytical chemistry ensures reliable results for medical and legal interpretations in drug studies, confirming the precision vital for forensic toxicology and drug analysis.
Abstract
Cannabinoide Immunoassay Dünnschichtchromatographie Hochleistungsflüssigkeitschromatographie (HPLC) Gaschromatographie Medizinische Beurteilung und...
The Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) Task Force Report: Serotonergic Psychedelic Treatments for Major Depressive Disorder
The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry – August 17, 2022
Summary
Serotonergic psychedelics show early promise for major depressive disorder. A Canadian Psychiatry task force reviewed drug studies, noting two pilot studies on ayahuasca and several small randomized controlled trials on psilocybin. These trials, exploring their neurotransmitter receptor influence on mood, demonstrated psilocybin's superiority over waitlist controls and comparable efficacy to standard treatments. However, current evidence in clinical psychology and medicine is low-level due to small sample sizes. Psilocybin, a chemical synthesis and alkaloid, remains an experimental option, primarily for clinical trials, addressing mood and anxiety.
Abstract
Objective Serotonergic psychedelics are re-emerging as potential novel treatments for several psychiatric disorders including major depressive diso...
Quantitative LC-QToF-MS Analysis of Mycochemicals in Amanita muscaria, Psilocybe spp. (Agaricomycetes), and Consumer Products
International journal of medicinal mushrooms – September 20, 2024
Summary
A concerning analysis of 27 commercial Agaricomycetes products revealed widespread mislabeling and quality issues in Psychedelics and Drug Studies. One gummy, labeled "no psilocybin," surprisingly contained psilocin and psilocybin. Of 14 gummies claiming *Amanita* extracts, 11 lacked ibotenic acid. Five products had no target compounds. Chemical analysis showed *Psilocybe* psilocybin from 9.9-19.3%, and *Amanita* muscimol from 0.01-0.02%. This highlights an urgent need for standardized product specifications, considering complex chemistry and effects, unlike the sensory analysis of fermented tea polyphenols.
Abstract
The psychedelic mushroom market has expanded rapidly due to changing regulations and increasing consumer demand. Product diversity now extends beyo...
Novel Psilocin Prodrugs with Altered Pharmacological Properties as Candidate Therapies for Treatment-Resistant Anxiety Disorders
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry – November 20, 2023
Summary
The prolonged hallucinogenic effects of psilocybin, a potent psychedelic prodrug, often limit its use for anxiety and other psychological conditions. This duration stems from its active metabolite, psilocin. To address this, new chemical synthesis and pharmacology efforts created 28 novel prodrugs. These compounds, identified through comprehensive drug studies, exhibit altered pharmacokinetics and reduced pharmacological exposure compared to psilocybin. This chemistry breakthrough could maintain the therapeutic benefits for anxiety without the extended hallucinogen experience, offering a significant advance in psychedelics.
Abstract
The psychedelic prodrug psilocybin has shown therapeutic benefits for the treatment of numerous psychiatric conditions. Despite positive clinical e...
Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy preparing your target using psychohistoriography: a Jamaican perspective
Frontiers in Psychiatry – June 29, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent alkaloid hallucinogen, offers a new perspective in psychiatry for managing mental illnesses, even treatment-resistant cases. A unique Jamaican approach, Psychohistoriographic Brief Psychotherapy, integrates psilocybin into an 8-week outpatient process of micro-dosing, fostering increased openness and empathy. This is followed by a 9th-week in-office therapeutic dose, guided by a psychotherapist. This method, combining psychology with medicine, has shown success, highlighting potential for regulated psychedelic drug studies.
Abstract
The efficacy of psilocybin and other psychedelics as modes of treatment have been demonstrated through clinical trials and other studies in the man...
Unequal representation? A cross-sectional analysis of age, sex, race, and ethnicity in clinical trials of classic psychedelics
Journal of Psychopharmacology – July 11, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin clinical trials, a key area in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, reveal a significant lack of diversity. Across eight psilocybin trials (n=501), 87.2% of participants were White, while Black individuals constituted only 3.0% and Asian individuals 5.0%. Among those reporting ethnicity (n=134), 13.4% were Hispanic or Latino. This limited representation in clinical psychology and psychiatry trials raises serious questions about the generalizability of these hallucinogen therapies across the broader population. Ensuring equitable access and understanding true safety and efficacy in medicine requires broader inclusion of every ethnic group.
Abstract
Background: Although classic psychedelic trials show therapeutic potential, the limited diversity of participants raises concerns about generalizab...
Intravenous Administration of Serotonergic Psychedelics Produce Short-lasting Changes in Sleep-Wake Behavior and High Gamma Functional Connectivity in Rats
OpenAlex – October 14, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics minimally impact sleep, yet profoundly alter brain activity. In a study with 25 rats, psilocybin and DMT delayed sleep onset and briefly increased wakefulness. These Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlight Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, showing psilocybin enhanced high gamma brain connectivity during wakefulness and sleep. While this research focuses on serotonin, other drug studies, like a Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study, explore diverse neural systems to understand drug effects.
Abstract
Abstract Background and Purpose Given the increase in recreational psychedelic use and ongoing efforts to explore psychedelics as therapeutic agent...
Perturbing whole-brain models of brain hierarchy: an application for depression following pharmacological treatment
OpenAlex – January 02, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin notably increases the brain's susceptibility to change, while escitalopram reduces it, yet both successfully promote healthier brain states for individuals experiencing depression. Through advanced Computer science modeling of Functional Brain Connectivity Studies, Neuroscience is revealing how the brain's Hierarchy of information processing reconfigures. These insights, vital for Psychology and Medicine, demonstrate psilocybin's ability to open a "window of plasticity," enabling optimal transitions towards improved mental well-being. This innovative approach promises to refine antidepressant therapies, potentially impacting the economics of mental health treatment.
Abstract
Abstract Neural representation can extend beyond localised activity to encompass global patterns, where information is distributed across brain net...
Lost Saints
Fieldwork in Religion – March 31, 2020
Summary
The desacralization of psilocybin mushrooms, used in Indigenous shamanism since the sixteenth century, constitutes spiritual abuse. An amateur's 1955 encounter transformed this ethnobotanical medicine, with its unique chemical synthesis, into a mere hallucinogen. This historical shift, impacting psychology, ethnology, and sacred art aesthetics, necessitates restorative justice. Understanding psilocybin's profound "magic," much like viewing distant galaxies through a telescope, is crucial for psychedelics and drug studies, appreciating its sacred role akin to Ayahuasca.
Abstract
Mushrooms containing psilocybin have been used in Indigenous healing ceremonies in Mesoamerica since at least the sixteenth century. However, the s...
Variation der Alkaloidmengen in Fruchtkörpern vonInocybe aeruginascens
Planta Medica – December 01, 1987
Summary
The psilocybin content in *Inocybe aeruginascens* mushrooms varies significantly, even among those of similar mass from the same location. This chemical analysis found no correlation between mushroom mass and its psilocybin or baeocystin levels. However, a strong relationship exists between the levels of these two alkaloids. The precise chemistry of aeruginascin, another alkaloid present, remains unknown. Understanding these natural psychedelics is vital for drug studies and chemical synthesis, contrasting with the critical need for rapid identification in cases of mushroom poisoning, where compounds like silymarin are sometimes relevant.
Abstract
INOCYBE AERUGINASCENS contains psilocybin, baeocystin, and aeruginascin with a still unknown structure in the caps and the stipes. The content of p...
Neurochemical characterization of 5-HT 2A R partial agonists with simultaneous PET-MRI
Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism – November 29, 2024
Summary
A single low dose of lisuride (5 µg/kg) achieved similar brain 5-HT receptor occupancy (31%) as a higher dose of psilocybin (60 µg/kg, 32%). This Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research, using nuclear magnetic resonance in three nonhuman primates, reveals critical differences in how various psychedelics influence brain activity. While psilocybin and lisuride showed complex neurochemical responses, a selective compound produced larger cerebral blood volume changes despite only 7% receptor occupancy. This characterization helps understand these drugs' chemistry for future Medicine and Psychology applications, informing Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior.
Abstract
Understanding neuromodulatory effects of serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT 2A R) agonists with diverse pharmacological profiles is relevant to advancing ...
Psychedelic renaissance: A renewed focus on the clinical utility of hallucinogens
Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Reports – May 16, 2024
Summary
A "psychedelic renaissance" reveals hallucinogens like psilocybin offer rapid, sustained therapeutic effects for mental health. Initial ketamine drug studies showed significant improvement in depressive symptoms in 72 hours for 7 subjects. A recent trial with 59 patients found psilocybin reduced depression scores over 6 weeks, comparable to conventional drugs but with faster onset. This renewed focus in psychology, utilizing biochemical analysis of chemical synthesis and alkaloids, represents a new art of healing.
Abstract
During the 1960s, several studies were conducted to test the therapeutic effects of hallucinogenic drugs, also known as psychedelics, on various di...
Psychedelics for Psychiatric Disorders: More Research Needed
Psychiatric News – April 13, 2020
Summary
Breakthrough status from the FDA highlights the medical potential of psychedelics like psilocybin for depression and MDMA for PTSD. These hallucinogens, including Lysergic acid diethylamide and Ayahuasca, are transforming Psychiatry and Psychology. Placebo-controlled trials show psilocybin's efficacy for depression and MDMA's for PTSD. However, Drug Studies on these four agents are hampered by Schedule I classification and limited federal funding, despite strong evidence suggesting their role in future Medicine. Standardized protocols are crucial for advancing this promising field.
Abstract
Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Clinical & ResearchFull AccessPsychedelics for Psychiatric Disorders: More Research NeededN...
EFECTOS PSICOLÓGICOS DE LA PSILOCIBINA EN PACIENTES CON CÁNCER TERMICO: Una revisión del alcance
OpenAlex – January 24, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, significantly reduces depression and anxiety for terminal cancer patients. A review of medical and pharmaceutic literature, encompassing 9 articles from an initial 340 in databases like MEDLINE, confirms its effectiveness as a medicine. In controlled health care settings, the drug reaction is well-tolerated with minimal adverse effects. This highlights psilocybin's potential in psychology and psychiatry, driving psychedelics and drug studies. Such alternative medicine approaches, often indexed in scientific literature like PsycINFO, offer new perspectives beyond traditional pain management.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a natural substance with hallucinogenic properties that has recently been used in the field of health. It is an alkaloid that, when a...
Psychedelics for the Treatment of Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: Efficacy and Proposed Mechanisms
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – November 29, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, shows promise for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). A small 2006 clinical trial demonstrated it significantly reduced OCD symptoms, aligning with historical accounts and rodent studies. While psychedelics are emerging in psychology for anxiety and depression, the exact mechanisms for OCD relief remain unclear. Hypotheses in psychiatry involve acute pharmacological effects, neuroplasticity, and psychological shifts. Current drug studies are evaluating this neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior to inform future psychotherapist approaches, potentially transforming clinical mental health care.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelics are emerging as potential treatments for a range of mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression, treatment-res...
Effect of oral tryptamines on the gut microbiome of rats—a preliminary study
PeerJ – June 03, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a key compound in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, significantly alters the gut microbiome, suggesting a novel biological pathway for its antidepressant effects. In a pharmacology investigation, male rats given oral psililocybin (0.2 or 2 mg/kg) showed dose- and time-dependent changes in gut bacteria 1 and 3 weeks later. Specifically, Actinobacteria increased, while Proteobacteria decreased, impacting gut microbiota and health. This suggests tryptamines might influence mental health via the microbiome, a new frontier in medicine for conditions linked to tryptophan and brain disorders.
Abstract
Background Psilocybin and related tryptamines have come into the spotlight in recent years as potential therapeutics for depression. Research on th...
Psychedelic Therapy, Positive Emotional Experiences, and the Central Role of Self-Compassion
OpenAlex – August 22, 2025
Summary
**Self-compassion emerges as a powerful driver of mental health improvements within psychedelic therapy.** Research in **Psychedelics and Drug Studies** reveals that individuals receiving 25mg psilocybin reported significantly greater positive emotional experiences, including **self-compassion** and **compassion** toward others, compared to those receiving 1mg. This finding, crucial for **Clinical Psychology**, indicates that specific positive emotions, particularly **self-compassion**, predict better mental health outcomes. **Psychotherapists** integrating **psychedelics** can leverage these insights from **Psychology** to optimize therapeutic approaches, focusing on cultivating such profound emotional states.
Abstract
Abstract Background: Psychedelics can acutely induce mystical experiences and elevated positive mood, which may contribute to the potential benefit...
Psychedelics, but Not Ketamine, Produce Persistent Antidepressant-like Effects in a Rodent Experimental System for the Study of Depression
ACS Chemical Neuroscience – March 05, 2020
Summary
Psilocybin and Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) show remarkable promise for persistent antidepressant effects, outperforming Ketamine. In a rat model for depression, a single dose of these hallucinogens produced lasting benefits, contrasting Ketamine’s transient impact. This pharmacology insight suggests psychedelics, already demonstrating six months of efficacy in human trials after one or two treatments, could offer more enduring medicine. Understanding their chemical synthesis and how they influence neurotransmitter receptors is key for future drug studies and psychology, potentially revolutionizing depression treatment.
Abstract
Psilocybin shows efficacy to alleviate depression in human clinical trials for six or more months after only one or two treatments. Another halluci...
Pharmacies as potential providers of harm reduction services: A preliminary online survey
Drug Science Policy and Law – January 01, 2018
Summary
A survey of 105 UK nationals revealed strong support for pharmacies as the primary vendor for psychoactive drugs like Cannabis, Psilocybin, and MDMA. Participants, particularly the 60 with university education, saw pharmacists, supported by family medicine and psychiatry, as ideal for harm reduction and medical access. Cannabis sales in pharmacies garnered a 7.0/10 support score. This suggests a shift towards treating recreational drug use and hallucinogens as a health issue, emphasizing medicine and professional oversight over unregulated markets.
Abstract
Background Recreational drug use is a major cause of disease, injury, physical and mental impairment and death in developed countries such as the U...
EFEITOS PSICOLÓGICOS DA PSILOCIBINA EM PORTADORES DE CÂNCER TERMINAL: Uma revisão de escopo
Psicologia e Saúde em Debate – January 10, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a natural hallucinogen, significantly reduces anxiety and depression in terminal cancer patients. A review of scientific literature, analyzing 9 articles from an initial 340, consistently points to its effectiveness. This substance, relevant to medicine, psychiatry, and clinical psychology, is well-tolerated under psychotherapist guidance. Its potential within psychology and mental health, particularly in psychedelics and drug studies, offers a promising therapeutic avenue. Diverse academic research themes are exploring these applications.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a natural substance with hallucinogenic properties that has recently been used in the field of health. It is an alkaloid that, when a...
NIDA on dramatic increase of mushroom seizures
Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly – March 01, 2024
Summary
Seizures of psilocybin mushroom dramatically surged, increasing from 402 in 2017 to 1,396 in 2022, with seized weight rising from 226 kg to 844 kg. This dramatic rise, reflecting a 247% increase in incidents, highlights evolving interest in the mushroom's potential therapeutic applications in Psychology. Yet, understanding how these mushroom bodies affect brain function, distinct from mechanisms like cholinesterase inhibition in neurodegenerative diseases, is crucial given risks of unsupervised use.
Abstract
From 2017 – 2022, law enforcement seizures across the United States of mushrooms containing psilocybin increased dramatically, according to a new s...
Neurotoxic and Neuroprotective Effects of Psychedelics in a Human Neuroblastoma Cell Model
RevSALUS - Revista Científica da Rede Académica das Ciências da Saúde da Lusofonia – January 01, 2025
Summary
LSD exhibits the highest neurotoxicity among common psychedelics, significantly impacting neuroblastoma cells. In neuroscience drug studies on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, LSD showed EC50 values of 0.23 mM (mitochondrial) and 0.57 mM (lysosomal). Psilocin, an alkaloid, also displayed moderate cytotoxicity (0.42-0.69 mM). Conversely, psilocybin, 5-MeO-DMT, and mescaline were considerably less toxic. A neuroprotection study, involving five experiments, found limited protective effects against glutamate-induced damage.
Abstract
Psychedelic compounds, including psilocybin, psilocin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), and mescalin...
Psychedelic Research for Alcohol Use Disorder with Comorbid Major Depressive Disorder: An Unmet Need.
Current psychiatry reports – December 01, 2024
Summary
Promising breakthroughs in psychedelic medicine show that psilocybin and LSD may effectively treat both alcohol use disorder and major depressive disorder simultaneously. These conditions frequently occur together, making traditional treatments challenging. Studies reveal that psilocybin therapy significantly reduces drinking frequency and depressive symptoms, offering hope for a unified treatment approach.
Abstract
In this narrative review, we discuss evidence for psilocybin- and LSD-assisted treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and major depressive disorde...
Molecular and Medical Aspects of Psychedelics
International Journal of Molecular Sciences – December 23, 2023
Summary
While psilocybin shows promise for mental health, its therapeutic profile significantly differs from other psychedelics. Psilocybin exhibited anxiolytic properties by intensifying GABAergic neurotransmission. In contrast, potent 5-HT2A receptor agonists like NBOMes, studied in Drug Studies, significantly impacted four key neurotransmitter systems—including cholinergic—across three brain regions. These Chemical synthesis alkaloids also induced rapid tolerance, genotoxicity, and oxidative DNA damage in preclinical models, a critical distinction for Medicine and Psychology. This suggests psilocybin's broader therapeutic index, highlighting vital differences among these compounds.
Abstract
Psychedelics belong to the oldest psychoactive drugs. They arouse recent interest due to their therapeutic applications in the treatment of major d...
Exploring the Therapeutic Effects of Psychedelics Administered to Military Veterans in Naturalistic Retreat Settings
Brain and Behavior – July 01, 2025
Summary
Veterans attending psychedelic retreats experienced significant mental health improvements. Among 58 participants, Ayahuasca or Psilocybin therapy led to a 29.1% reduction in depression (Patient Health Questionnaire) and 26.1% in PTSD. Psilocybin generally led to greater improvements, though Ayahuasca provided a 26.4% improvement for PTSD, surpassing psilocybin's 24.8%. Women with PTSD saw a 32.1% improvement, compared to 24.1% for men. Those with more severe initial symptoms benefited most, highlighting a promising framework in psychiatry and medicine for enhancing quality of life via natural compound pharmacology.
Abstract
Abstract Background : Military veterans are at risk of various mental health conditions, with profound implications for post‐deployment quality of ...
From Relaxed Beliefs Under Psychedelics (REBUS) to Revised Beliefs After Psychedelics (REBAS): Preliminary Development of the RElaxed Beliefs Questionnaire (REB-Q)
OpenAlex – July 07, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin dramatically reduces negative self-belief confidence, leading to improved well-being. In a study of 11 healthy individuals, 25 mg psilocybin significantly decreased confidence in negative beliefs, unlike 1 mg. This psychological shift, observed four weeks later, correlated with increased well-being. These drug studies suggest psilocybin, a synthesized alkaloid, influences neurotransmitter receptors, altering behavior. Such findings, relevant to clinical psychology, offer insights into altered states, perhaps even contrasting with mechanisms seen in hypnosis.
Abstract
Background: The Relaxed Beliefs Under pSychedelics (REBUS) model proposes that serotonergic psychedelics decrease the precision weighting of neurob...
Presence of Phenylethylamine in Hallucinogenic Psilocybe Mushroom: Possible Role in Adverse Reactions
Journal of Analytical Toxicology – January 01, 1998
Summary
Unexpectedly, adverse reactions to hallucinogenic psilocybin mushrooms may stem from more than just psilocybin. Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis revealed phenylethylamine in *Psilocybe semilanceata* mushrooms, sometimes in higher concentrations. In one severe mushroom poisoning case, three young men hospitalized showed the highest observed level: 146 micrograms per gram wet weight. This chemistry suggests phenylethylamine, influencing neurotransmitter receptors, plays a significant role in adverse psychological responses, offering new insights for Psychedelics and Drug Studies beyond psilocybin's known effects.
Abstract
The use of mushrooms containing the hallucinogenic substance psilocybin for intentional intoxication is relatively common. Occasionally, this resul...
Neuroimaging of Serotonergic and Psychedelic Agonist Drug Challenges in Non-Human Primates
Proceedings on CD-ROM - International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. Scientific Meeting and Exhibition/Proceedings of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, Scientific Meeting and Exhibition – November 26, 2024
Summary
Psychedelic compounds like psilocybin elicit complex, bi-phasic brain responses, revealed through neuroimaging. This neuroscience research, vital for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, investigated how serotonergic agonists acutely influence cerebral blood volume in non-human primates. Pharmacological-MRI showed psilocybin and lisuride induced a two-phase hemodynamic shift, unlike 25CN-NBOH's monophasic effect. This suggests non-selective neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, with higher psilocybin doses causing persistent changes, informing psychology.
Abstract
Motivation: Acute effects of psychedelic drugs are under-reported in neuroimaging studies, warranting further investigation of their immediate phar...
Defining ‘psychedelic’
OpenAlex – December 04, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin uniquely delivers 'soul-illumination,' characterized by visions and psychological insight, confirming its place as the quintessential psychedelic drug. Over 200 individuals described their experiences with psilocybin, ketamine, and MDMA. Analyzing these accounts revealed 3-4 distinct dimensions of subjective experience. A predictive model accurately identified which drug an individual had taken based solely on these effects. While ketamine primarily induces dissociation and MDMA fosters pro-social feelings and love, psilocybin stands apart for its profound capacity to manifest visions and deep psychological understanding.
Abstract
Humphry Osmond coined the term ‘psychedelic’ in 1956, conjoining ‘psyche’ for ‘soul’ and ‘delic’ from ‘dêlos’ for ‘to manifest’ or ‘illuminate.’ So...
Quantitative LC-QToF-MS Analysis of Mycochemicals in Amanita muscaria, Psilocybe spp. (Agaricomycetes), and Consumer Products.
International journal of medicinal mushrooms – January 01, 2025
Summary
Recent analysis of psychedelic mushroom products reveals significant quality control issues in the expanding market. Scientists developed a precise testing method to measure key compounds in both Amanita muscaria and Psilocybe mushroom products. Testing of 27 commercial items found concerning discrepancies - some gummies lacked expected compounds, while others contained substances not listed on labels.
Abstract
The psychedelic mushroom market has expanded rapidly due to changing regulations and increasing consumer demand. Product diversity now extends beyo...
Neurochemical characterization of 5-HT2AR partial agonists with simultaneous PET-MRI.
Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism – May 01, 2025
Summary
Groundbreaking imaging techniques reveal how different psychedelic compounds interact with brain chemistry. Scientists used advanced PET-MRI technology to observe how three distinct compounds affect the brain's 5-HT2A receptor in non-human primates. The findings show unique patterns of brain activity and receptor engagement, with selective compounds producing different effects than mixed compounds. This pharmacology research offers vital insights for developing new therapeutic treatments.
Abstract
Understanding neuromodulatory effects of serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) agonists with diverse pharmacological profiles is relevant to advancing ps...
Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Psychedelics in Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD).
Advances in experimental medicine and biology – January 01, 2024
Summary
Breakthrough findings show psychedelics like psilocybin and ketamine offer hope for people who don't respond to traditional antidepressants. These compounds work differently - psilocybin affects serotonin pathways while ketamine targets glutamate systems - yet both provide rapid relief that lasts well beyond treatment. Clinical trials show strong safety profiles and high tolerability.
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a highly prevalent psychiatric disorder, associated with substantial burden and large economical costs. Notwiths...
Evaluation of TrpM and PsiD substrate promiscuity reveals new biocatalytic capabilities
Biotechnology Progress – June 18, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin and other tryptamines, natural alkaloids with complex biochemistry, offer promise for mental health treatments. Their biosynthesis, a form of chemical synthesis, is being refined for drug studies. This involves understanding enzymes like TrpM and PsiD, crucial for converting tryptophan derivatives. TrpM successfully N-methylates 4-hydroxytryptophan. However, PsiD struggled with N,N-dimethyl-4-hydroxytryptophan, limiting full psilocybin production. This chemistry expands our knowledge of tryptamines, vital for developing new drugs and understanding natural product roles in health, including potential gut microbiota interactions.
Abstract
Abstract N ‐methylated tryptamines, such as the hallucinogenic natural products, psilocybin and N,N ‐dimethyltryptamine (DMT), are gaining interest...
The changing outlook of psychedelic drugs: The importance of risk assessment and occupational exposure limits
Journal of Applied Toxicology – August 30, 2023
Summary
Occupational exposure limits for potent hallucinogens like psilocybin and Lysergic acid diethylamide are remarkably low. New pharmacology guidelines set limits at 0.05 μg/m³ for psilocybin and 0.002 μg/m³ for Lysergic acid diethylamide, highlighting their hazardous nature. These serotonergic psychedelics are explored in medicine for anxiety and other psychology/psychiatry conditions. Understanding their adverse effect profiles and Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior is crucial for workplace safety. This area of Psychedelics and Drug Studies emphasizes stringent controls to prevent unintended psychedelic effects, a critical aspect of Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis.
Abstract
Abstract Serotonergic psychedelics, such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and 5‐methoxy‐ N , N ‐dimethylt...
Psychedelics: Threshold of a Therapeutic Revolution
Neuropharmacology – May 27, 2023
Summary
Remarkable progress in just five years has transformed the landscape for psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, in Medicine. Psychiatry and Psychology are exploring its therapeutic potential, with the FDA granting two breakthrough therapy designations for conditions like major depression. Ongoing Psychedelics and Drug Studies are evaluating psilocybin for cancer-related Anxiety and other disorders. This reflects growing understanding of how these chemical compounds influence neurotransmitter receptors, offering new avenues for psychotherapists. The global implications for mainstream therapies are significant, moving these alkaloids from bench to bedside.
Abstract
This Special Issue of Neuropharmacology on psychedelics provides a timely and comprehensive update on progress following the previous Neuropharmaco...
Contribution of serotonin 5-HT<sub>2A</sub> receptor to antidepressant effect of serotonergic psychedelics
Folia Pharmacologica Japonica – March 28, 2023
Summary
A compelling finding in Medicine reveals that 30-40% of major depressive disorder patients are treatment-resistant. While Ketamine offers an antidepressant option, Psilocybin, a Serotonergic hallucinogen alkaloid, is emerging as a safer alternative. Recognized by the FDA as a "breakthrough therapy," Psilocybin shows fast, lasting effects, even for treatment-resistant cases. This "psychedelic renaissance" in Psychiatry explores how these compounds, including Lysergic acid diethylamide, influence Serotonin receptors. Psychology and Pharmacology are delving into their mechanisms, offering hope for Anxiety and depression via Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, advancing Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Major depressive disorder presents a substantial global health burden, and at least 30-40% of patients exhibit treatment resistance to antidepressa...
Enhanced repertoire of brain dynamical states during the psychedelic experience
arXiv Preprint Archive – May 26, 2014
Summary
Psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, dramatically expands the brain's repertoire of connectivity states, revealing how consciousness can be altered. Using advanced brain imaging, researchers tracked neural activity before and after psilocybin administration. Results showed increased signal variability in memory and emotion-processing regions, while higher brain networks displayed enhanced flexibility in their communication patterns.
Abstract
The study of rapid changes in brain dynamics and functional connectivity (FC) is of increasing interest in neuroimaging. Brain states departing fro...
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies for Psychosocial Symptoms in Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Current Oncology – June 30, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics offer significant promise for cancer patients. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, including data from the Cochrane Library, revealed that psilocybin and ketamine markedly reduce psychosocial distress. For instance, three psilocybin trials with 101 participants showed a large effect on depression (Hedges' g = -3.13). Four ketamine trials (354 participants) demonstrated rapid, large effects on depression and anxiety (Hedges' g = -1.37) compared to placebo. This burgeoning area of medicine, relevant to psychiatry and clinical psychology, highlights how these chemical synthesis alkaloids influence behavior, offering new therapeutic context for internal medicine.
Abstract
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates (1) the effectiveness of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) using psilocybin and ketamine for ps...
Broadband Cortical Desynchronization Underlies the Human Psychedelic State
Journal of Neuroscience – September 18, 2013
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly alters consciousness by desynchronizing brain activity. Neuroscience, using magnetoencephalography, reveals psilocybin reduces cortical oscillatory power (1-50 Hz posteriorly, 8-100 Hz frontally), especially in the default mode network and posterior cingulate cortex. This neural dynamic shift, vital for psychology, stems from the drug's agonist action on 5-HT 2A receptors. This neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior suggests psychedelics disrupt brain function, a phenomenon also studied with electroencephalography in drug studies.
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs produce profound changes in consciousness, but the underlying neurobiological mechanisms for this remain unclear. Spontaneous and...
Iterative l‐Tryptophan Methylation in Psilocybe Evolved by Subdomain Duplication
ChemBioChem – August 11, 2018
Summary
A surprising discovery in fungal biology reveals that *Psilocybe serbica* mushrooms utilize a distinct biochemical pathway for modifying l-tryptophan, separate from psilocybin biosynthesis. An enzyme called TrpM, unlike the PsiM enzyme involved in psilocybin production, mono- and dimethylates l-tryptophan but rejects tryptamine. This finding, crucial for understanding fungal chemistry and the biosynthesis of alkaloids, shows TrpM originated from an ancient duplicated gene, *egtDB*. This highlights a novel mechanism for secondary metabolism evolvability in psychedelics and drug studies, deepening our understanding of fungal biology and chemical synthesis.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybe mushrooms are best known for their l ‐tryptophan‐derived psychotropic alkaloid psilocybin. Dimethylation of norbaeocystin, the p...