3085 results for "Psilocybin"
Microdosing psychedelics: Demographics, practices, and psychiatric comorbidities
Journal of Psychopharmacology – February 28, 2020
Summary
Individuals microdosing hallucinogens like psilocybin were significantly less likely to report anxiety disorders (OR = 0.61) or substance use disorders (OR = 0.17). A survey of 909 people explored the demographics of this population, with most using LSD (59.3%) or psilocybin (25.9%) at sub-hallucinogenic doses. While offering insights for psychiatry and potential medicine, these psychedelics and drug studies also found microdosers were over five times more likely (OR = 5.2) to use other recreational substances. Understanding these chemical synthesis alkaloids requires biochemical analysis.
Abstract
Rationale: Microdosing psychedelics – the practice of consuming small, sub-hallucinogenic doses of substances such as LSD or psilocybin – is gainin...
The Effect of 5-HT2A/1a Agonist Treatment On Social Cognition, Empathy, and Social Decision-making
European Psychiatry – March 01, 2015
Summary
Emotional empathy was enhanced, and brain responses to social exclusion reduced, after psilocybin (0.215mg/kg) in healthy volunteers. This finding in psychology suggests psilocybin's action on cognition and social cognition. Such psychedelics could offer a novel treatment for Major depressive disorder and anxiety, addressing empathy deficits and negative social reactions. Clinical psychology and psychiatry may integrate these cognitive processes into psychotherapist-guided interventions, potentially complementing psychometrics and future digital mental health strategies.
Abstract
Social cognition is a crucial factor influencing development, progress, and treatment of psychiatric disorders. However, social cognition skills ar...
Cultivation, chemistry, and genome of Psilocybe zapotecorum
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – April 05, 2024
Summary
*Psilocybe zapotecorum*, a mushroom with historical ceremonial use, exhibits a potent chemical profile, averaging 17.9 mg/g of psilocybin across seven samples. This makes it a significant focus for Psychedelics and Drug Studies. Using computational biology, its full genome sequence was mapped, providing biological insight into the alkaloid synthesis pathways. This understanding of its unique chemistry and chemical synthesis helps demystify these potent compounds. Characterizing such diverse psychedelics is vital as psilocybin's therapeutic applications gain traction.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybe zapotecorum is a strongly blue-bruising psilocybin mushroom used by indigenous groups in southeastern Mexico and beyond. While t...
Using the pharmacy retail model to examine perceptions and biases of a UK population sample towards regulation of specific psychoactive drugs
Drug Science Policy and Law – January 01, 2019
Summary
Public perception of drug harm dramatically misaligns with scientific consensus, impacting medicine and harm reduction. A survey of 105 UK nationals found they perceive tobacco as most harmful and cannabis least, while Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis indicates alcohol is most harmful and psilocybin least. This psychology influences legal classifications, hindering pharmacy sales for substances like MDMA and Psilocybin, despite their therapeutic potential in psychiatry. Population objections often stem from moral discomfort, not data from Psychedelics and Drug Studies or Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.
Abstract
Background: Contemporary research indicates that the legal classifications of cannabis (Schedule 2, Class B), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MD...
Leveraging psychedelic therapies for binge eating disorder
Open Access Government – July 10, 2023
Summary
Revolutionizing Psychiatry, a novel approach aims to harness the therapeutic power of psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, for severe eating disorders. This innovative Medicine focuses on precise Dosing of psilocin, its active metabolite. Through intravenous administration, Pharmacology ensures consistent drug levels, overcoming oral psilocybin's variability in Psychedelics and Drug Studies. This method, influencing Neurotransmitter Receptor activity, offers a reliable path for Psychology, addressing complex conditions like binge-eating disorder and bulimia nervosa, where Tryptophan and brain disorders play a role.
Abstract
Leveraging psychedelic therapies for binge eating disorder Here Tryp Therapeutics examine the viability of using psychedelic therapies for Binge Ea...
Italian psychedelic therapies of the past century: An historical overview
Drug Science Policy and Law – January 01, 2023
Summary
Italy holds the 20th-century world record for clinical studies using psilocybin and lysergic acid amide. New documentation reveals at least 60 pioneering Italian clinical studies (1927-1966) with hallucinogens like Lysergic acid diethylamide. Psychiatrists administered the first 500 mcg LSD dose to humans, demonstrating early chemical synthesis and alkaloids application. Successful medicine involved 3 mg psilocybin for depression. This history significantly impacts Psychology, Psychiatry, and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, challenging the psychotomimetic view and informing psychotherapists and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies.
Abstract
In recent years, the historical record of psychedelic therapy in Europe and the Americas has undergone considerable revision. In this article, we c...
The Psychedelic Psilocin Suppresses Activity of Central Amygdala Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptor 1 Neurons and Decreases Ethanol Drinking in Female Mice
Journal of Neuroscience – November 10, 2025
Summary
Psilocin, the active metabolite of psilocybin, acutely reduced alcohol consumption in mice across two distinct chronic ethanol exposure models. This potential therapeutic effect involves changes in brain activity. Psilocin increased overall activity in the central amygdala while specifically decreasing relative activity of the CRF1 system within this region. These mechanistic changes were observed in mice at both 24 and 72 hours post-withdrawal, illuminating how psilocybin might combat alcohol use disorder.
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a highly prevalent disorder with limited therapeutic options. The central amygdala (CeA) is a critical brain region a...
Real-world effectiveness and safety of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: Outcomes from a large-scale compassionate use cohort in Switzerland.
Psychiatry research – February 02, 2026
Summary
Significant improvements in Anxiety and Depression were observed in 115 adults undergoing Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy with LSD or Psilocybin. This real-world analysis, involving 56.5% women, showed substantial reductions in depressive symptoms (effect size η²=0.42) and anxiety (η²=0.17) 1-3 months post-treatment. Patients receiving either 100 µg LSD or 25 mg psilocybin reported similar positive outcomes, alongside improved emotional regulation. The experience, potentially including mystical elements, was well-tolerated with mild, transient adverse events, highlighting the effectiveness of this approach.
Abstract
Classic serotonergic psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin show promising antidepressant effects in controlled trials, but real-world data from r...
Synthesis and In Vitro Profiling of Psilocin Derivatives: Improved Stability and Synthetic Properties
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry – March 20, 2025
Summary
Revolutionizing psychedelic medicine, new chemical synthesis methods promise easier access to therapeutic compounds. To overcome complex psilocybin production, a library of 15 psilocin ester prodrugs—compounds converting to active psilocin—and six psilocin salts was created using combinatorial chemistry. This novel chemistry offers stable, easily synthesized alkaloids with rapid conversion, improving options for drug studies. These prodrugs represent a significant advancement in the chemical synthesis and pharmacology of psychedelics, potentially streamlining future mental health treatments.
Abstract
As interest in using psilocybin therapy for treating mental health disorders intensifies, the need for efficient production methods becomes increas...
The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelics in Treating Substance Use Disorders: A Review of Clinical Trials
Medicina – February 06, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted therapy shows remarkable promise for substance use disorders. A review of 16 clinical trials reveals that alkaloids like psilocybin, often combined with a psychotherapist, significantly reduce alcohol and tobacco dependence. This cutting-edge approach in medicine and psychiatry suggests these psychedelics influence neurotransmitter receptors, offering a new avenue for psychology. These drug studies highlight their potential for long-term abstinence, particularly for those unresponsive to conventional substance use treatments, presenting a powerful new tool.
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Substance use disorders (SUDs) affect millions worldwide. Despite increasing drug use, treatment options remain limited....
The association between study design and antidepressant effects in psychedelic-assisted therapy: A meta-analysis.
Journal of affective disorders – January 15, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic therapy shows varying effectiveness against depression depending on how studies are designed. A comprehensive meta-analysis reveals that psilocybin and MDMA treatments demonstrate stronger positive results in trials using non-active placebos. However, when compared to active placebos, the benefits become less pronounced. Study design choices significantly influence how effective psychedelic treatments appear to be.
Abstract
Different study designs of psychedelic trials may impact the blinding and expectance, leading to biased treatment effects. This study aimed to exam...
The association between naturalistic use of psychedelics and co-occurring substance use disorders
Frontiers in Psychiatry – January 10, 2023
Summary
Peyote or Mescaline, a classic hallucinogen, shows promise in medicine for substance abuse. Among 56,276 participants, prior use of peyote/mescaline was associated with 32% lower odds (odds ratio = 0.68) of past-year substance dependence or abuse compared to non-users. This contrasts with LSD and Psilocybin, where past use was linked to increased odds. Clinical psychology and psychiatry examine how these psychedelics, through chemical synthesis and alkaloids, impact addiction. Biochemical analysis techniques could further differentiate these effects in drug studies.
Abstract
Objective Classic psychedelics (LSD, psilocybin, and peyote/mescaline) have been used to support addiction treatment in a variety of contexts rangi...
Enhanced repertoire of brain dynamical states during the psychedelic experience
Human Brain Mapping – July 03, 2014
Summary
Psilocybin dramatically expands the brain's communication patterns, revealing a wider repertoire of connectivity states. Using Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques, a Neuroscience study of 15 healthy subjects showed this psychedelic substance increased brain signal variability in areas like the hippocampi. This suggests a profound shift in cognitive science, where typical brain networks show altered activity. These Psychedelics and Drug Studies offer insights into unconstrained consciousness, contributing to our understanding of Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior and overall brain dynamics.
Abstract
Abstract The study of rapid changes in brain dynamics and functional connectivity (FC) is of increasing interest in neuroimaging. Brain states depa...
Unpredictable Behavior Under the Influence of “Magic Mushrooms”: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Journal of Forensic Sciences – December 12, 2018
Summary
Psilocybin mushrooms, often considered safe, can have fatal consequences. One young man tragically died after jumping from a second-story balcony under the influence of this powerful hallucinogen, challenging assumptions in Medicine and Toxicology. Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis, employing Solid phase extraction, quantified significant psilocin levels: 60 ng/mL in peripheral blood and 3102 ng/mL in bile. This severe mushroom poisoning, involving these naturally occurring alkaloids, highlights critical dangers within Psychedelics and Drug Studies, even for isolated use.
Abstract
Abstract Fatalities implicating psychedelic mushrooms are not a common clinical situation in everyday forensic medicine. Despite classification as ...
Wood-loving magic mushrooms from Australia are saprotrophic invaders in the northern hemisphere
OpenAlex – November 17, 2023
Summary
Magic mushrooms like *Psilocybe subaeruginosa* produce psilocybin, a promising mental health treatment. Genomic analyses of 89 isolates reveal this fungal biology marvel originated in Australasia. Despite geographic separation, its populations are sexually compatible, with genetic diversity shaped by drift and minimal gene flow. Intriguingly, northern hemisphere species cluster within Australian populations, suggesting shared evolutionary biology and a single widespread species. This understanding of population ecology and genetic diversity is crucial for psychedelics and drug studies, especially given the unknown cause of Wood Lover’s Paralysis.
Abstract
Magic mushrooms are fungi that produce psilocybin, a compound with breakthrough status for treatment of mental health disorders. Wood-degrading spe...
A study of the role of noradrenaline in behavioural changes produced in the rat by psychotomimetic drugs
British Journal of Pharmacology – February 01, 1969
Summary
Psilocybin and other hallucinogens profoundly affect brain chemistry and behavior. These psychotomimetic compounds, including LSD-25, reduced noradrenaline in the rat hypothalamus. They retarded an avoidance response, while JB-329 enhanced it. Behavioral effects peaked around 1.5 hours post-injection, considerably earlier than the 3-hour peak for noradrenaline changes. Doses influencing behavior were often lower than those altering noradrenaline levels. Pharmacology shows Reserpine pretreatment can shorten drug-induced excitation, highlighting complex neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, crucial for Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
LSD‐25, psilocybin and JB‐329 reduced the noradrenaline content of the rat hypothalamus. All three drugs affected the acquisition of a conditioned ...
PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS, MAGICAL THINKING AND PSYCHOSIS
Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry – August 06, 2013
Summary
A single high-dose of Psilocybin can induce profound, personality-changing spiritual experiences. This highlights a paradox in Psychology: how can such Psychedelics, explored in Drug Studies and linked to Mysticism, be both therapeutically useful in Psychoanalysis and resemble psychosis? The primitive altered state, influenced by Neurotransmitter Receptor activity like serotonin 2A, may be the key. This regressive state of the psyche, characterized by magical thinking, underlies both spontaneous spiritual experiences and psychosis. Its extreme sensitivity to environment is crucial for Psychiatry and guiding the Trance-like experience. This unified view helps resolve the paradox of these powerful alkaloids.
Abstract
After completing an undergraduate degree in Psychology in 2003, Robin studied psychoanalysis at Masters level, receiving his MA in 2004. In 2005, R...
Psychedelics: A new era of treatment?
European Psychiatry – April 01, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin, mescaline, and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) are showing remarkable promise in psychiatry and psychology. These hallucinogens, including ayahuasca, influence neurotransmitter receptors through their chemical synthesis and alkaloids. Neuroscience and drug studies confirm their therapeutic potential for anxiety and mood disorders: controlled trials observed significant reductions in anxiety and depression for cancer patients, and lessened alcohol/tobacco dependence, marking a significant shift in psychedelic medicine.
Abstract
Introduction Psychedelics - including LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), psilocybin, DMT (N, N-dimethyltryptamine), ayahuasca and mescaline - have a...
Making the Case for Psychedelics: Comparing Alternative Treatment Options for Depression
OpenAlex – January 01, 2022
Summary
Revolutionizing mental health, certain psychedelics offer rapid relief for mood disorders. Hallucinogens like Ketamine are now approved for depression, and Psilocybin, an alkaloid, shows similar promise as a fast-acting antidepressant. Unlike traditional medicine that takes weeks, a single treatment can provide swift effects. This progress in psychiatry and psychology highlights the tolerability and efficacy of these compounds. Working with a psychotherapist, these novel approaches in drug studies are transforming depression treatment by influencing neurotransmitter receptors, offering new hope.
Abstract
Given the number of people who are treated for depression each year and the knowledge that treatments work differently for everyone, there is a pre...
The Effect of Magic Mushroom ( Psilocybe azurescens ) on Social Interaction, Anxiety‐ and Depressive‐Like Behaviors in Male Rats; the Role of Neuroinflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Neurotrophic Factors
Journal of Neuroscience Research – January 01, 2026
Summary
High doses of Psilocybin from *P. azurescens* mushrooms can paradoxically worsen mood and social behavior. In rats given doses up to 250 mg/kg over 14 days, observations revealed increased anxiety and depressive-like behaviors, alongside disrupted social interaction. This adverse effect in psychology correlated with elevated neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, and reduced neurotrophic factors like Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. These findings, relevant to internal medicine and pharmacology, suggest potential mood disorders from certain psychedelics.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Psilocybin‐containing mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms, strongly affect mood, cognition, and behavior. Psilocybe azurescens is...
Reunion Neuroscience raises $103 million
C&EN Global Enterprise – May 20, 2024
Summary
A novel psychedelic drug, RE104, offers significantly shorter treatment times for mental health conditions. Unlike psilocybin therapy, which can last 6-8 hours, RE104 sessions are expected to take half that duration. This biotechnology innovation, developed by Reunion Neuroscience, recently secured $103 million to advance treatments for adjustment disorder and postpartum depression. Acting on the brain's serotonin 2A receptor, RE104 aims to boost neuroplasticity and create new neural pathways, a critical area in neuroscience and cognitive science.
Abstract
Reunion Neuroscience , a start-up focused on mental health, has raised a $103 million series A round, co-led by MPM BioImpact and the Novo Nordisk ...
The Psychedelic Reset: How Psychedelics May Reshape the Corticostriatal Circuit in Anorexia Nervosa
Carleton undergraduate journal of science. – September 02, 2025
Summary
A compelling new approach suggests psychedelics could offer a profound "reset" for Anorexia nervosa. Current Psychology treatments and pharmacology often struggle with the disorder's deep-seated cognitive inflexibility and rigid eating patterns. However, promising evidence from Drug Studies, including animal and human trials, indicates psychedelics like psilocybin can modulate brain circuitry. This promotes cognitive flexibility and disrupts maladaptive decision-making, offering psychotherapists a novel tool. By facilitating a shift from habit-driven to goal-directed control, these interventions aim to provide a fundamental behavioral "reset" for individuals struggling with this challenging condition.
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder characterized by compulsive eating restrictions and cognitive inflexibility, which is linked to dysregu...
ANÁLISE TERAPÊUTICA DO USO DA PSILOCIBINA NO TRATAMENTO DA DEPRESSÃO RESISTENTE: UMA REVISÃO DE ENSAIOS CLÍNICOS RECENTES
Aracê. – June 27, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin offers rapid antidepressant responses for severe, treatment-resistant depression, a critical challenge in Medicine. A review of seven clinical studies highlights its promise in Psychology and Mental Health, showing sustained positive impact with few serious side effects. This innovative therapy modulates brain circuits involved in emotional regulation. It presents a hopeful new approach, particularly where conventional options, like those explored in Electroconvulsive Therapy Studies, have reached their limits.
Abstract
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) represents one of the greatest clinical challenges in contemporary psychiatry, significantly affecting patient...
Mystical experience occasioned by non-medicinal embodied therapy And integration process for mental well-Being
OpenAlex – December 22, 2022
Summary
Over half of participants (51%) in an embodied cognition program reported strong mystical experiences, mirroring effects seen with hallucinogens like Psilocybin. An additional 31% experienced moderate effects. This exploratory research involved 56 individuals undergoing a Body Logic Program, designed to integrate body and mind. Such findings in psychology and psychiatry suggest new avenues for mental health support, potentially offering psychotherapists novel medicine approaches without traditional psychedelics. This could be significant for mental health and psychiatry, especially in body image and dysmorphia studies, as an alternative to drug studies.
Abstract
Expansion of psychoactive hallucinogens in mental health continues to be a major trend. Several psychoactive molecules including psilocybin and MDM...
USO TERAPÊUTICO DA PSILOCIBINA: REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA
Revista fisio&terapia. – October 08, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin demonstrates promising therapeutic effects for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and substance dependence. An integrative literature review, covering 2013-2025 across four databases, reveals its mental health potential. This compound, relevant to Phytochemistry Medicinal Plant Applications, acts on serotonergic receptors, fostering neural plasticity and lasting insights with psychotherapy. While current research predominantly comprises reviews and exploratory studies, necessitating more rigorous randomized controlled trials and long-term data, its significant potential requires ethical regulation and equitable access for clinical integration.
Abstract
A resurgence of scientific and clinical interest in psychedelic-assisted therapies, particularly with Psilocybin, has been observed. This paper pre...
Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy: Outcomes from a Large-Scale Compassionate Use Cohort in Switzerland
OpenAlex – December 01, 2025
Summary
Real-world data reveals significant improvements in mental health following psychedelic-assisted therapy. Among 115 adults (56.5% female) with treatment-resistant depression or anxiety, a single session with LSD or psilocybin led to substantial symptom reduction. Depressive symptoms decreased with a large effect (partial η² = 0.42), and anxiety symptoms showed a medium effect reduction (partial η² = 0.17). Participants also reported better emotional regulation, including less self-blame and more positive refocusing. The therapy was well-tolerated, with only mild, transient adverse events and no serious complications.
Abstract
Abstract Background Classic serotonergic psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin show promising antidepressant effects in controlled trials, but re...
Psychedelics and Suicide-Related Outcomes: A Systematic Review
Journal of Clinical Medicine – February 20, 2025
Summary
Suicide accounts for 1.4% of global deaths, urging new Medicine. Psilocybin and MDMA show promise in suicide prevention, rapidly reducing suicidal ideation. A systematic review of PsycINFO and MEDLINE found four randomized controlled trials with psilocybin (three studies) and MDMA (one study) reducing suicidal ideation (effect sizes 0.52–1.25). Non-randomized studies reported psilocybin reducing ideation (OR 0.40–0.75). However, LSD, another hallucinogen, increased suicidal ideation (OR 1.15–2.08). Complex neurotransmitter receptor influence means psychedelics' impact on suicidal ideation remains inconclusive for Psychiatry.
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Suicide accounts for 1.4% of global deaths, and the slow-acting nature of traditional treatments for suicide risk underscore...
Rapid-acting antidepressant drugs modulate affective bias in rats
Science Translational Medicine – January 10, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin uniquely fostered a positive mood bias, dependent on new learning, unlike other rapid-acting antidepressants. Neuroscience research, using associative learning in rats, explored how these treatments for Major depressive disorder impact mood and cognition. Acute antidepressant treatment with psychedelics like psilocybin and ketamine attenuated negative cognitive biases. Low doses reversed this bias within 24 hours. Psilocybin alone induced a positive bias. Ketamine’s relearning effects involved neuroplasticity in the prefrontal cortex. This Psychology study reveals mechanisms linking neural plasticity to rapid mood improvements.
Abstract
How rapid-acting antidepressants (RAADs), such as ketamine, induce immediate and sustained improvements in mood in patients with major depressive d...
4 Psychedelics: therapeutic mechanisms
Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry – July 20, 2020
Summary
Psychedelics like Psilocybin are profoundly reshaping our understanding of mental health. A leading expert, fusing Psychoanalysis with Neuroscience, has pioneered extensive Drug Studies at Imperial College London. His work involves brain imaging of four hallucinogens (LSD, MDMA, DMT, Psilocybin) and two clinical trials for depression, including comparing Psilocybin with standard antidepressants. This Psychology-informed Psychiatry research explores acute brain effects and therapeutic outcomes, guiding psychotherapeutic applications. Establishing a Centre for Psychedelic Research, the work illuminates how these compounds influence brain function, offering new hope.
Abstract
Robin Carhart-Harris moved to Imperial College London in 2008 after obtaining a PhD in Psychopharmacology from the University of Bristol and an MA ...
Psychedelic drugs—a new era in psychiatry?
Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience – June 30, 2019
Summary
Psychoactive drugs like Psilocybin and MDMA (Ecstasy) are experiencing a remarkable resurgence in Psychiatry. Once a promising medicine, these hallucinogens faced bans that halted vital research, though recreational drug use persisted. Now, preliminary data shows significant promise for psilocybin in treating anxiety, depression, and alcoholism, and MDMA for PTSD. Regulatory bodies have approved MDMA for a Phase 3 PTSD trial and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression, signaling a new era for these psychedelics in medicine and psychology. This renaissance in Drug Studies could revolutionize mental health.
Abstract
This article covers the renaissance of classical psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin and LSD plus 3,4-methylene dioxymethamphetamine (MDMA-ecstasy...
Alteration of Depressive-like Behaviors by Psilocybe cubensis Alkaloid Extract in Mice: the Role of Glutamate Pathway
SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología – March 01, 2018
Summary
Compelling findings reveal a new pathway for antidepressant treatment. In animal models of depression, low doses of psilocybin (10-40 mg/kg), a 5-HT receptor agonist, significantly reduced depressive-like behaviors when combined with ketamine (1 mg/kg). This pharmacology suggests psilocybin's chemistry interacts with the NMDA receptor, a type of glutamate receptor, demonstrating its neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. Using tests like the Open field, these psychedelics and drug studies highlight psilocybin's potential in psychology and the treatment of major depression by modulating serotonin.
Abstract
Background and objectives: Considering the increasing prevalence of depression, many studies are launched to investigate new antidepressant treatme...
From Mushrooms to Myolysis
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease – July 29, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin use can lead to serious health risks, as illustrated by a case where a young individual experienced substance-induced psychosis after consuming high doses. This patient exhibited symptoms of a first manic episode, violent behavior, and developed rhabdomyolysis, a severe muscle condition. In total, 1 in 5 patients using psilocybin in similar contexts may face such complications. This highlights the critical need for careful monitoring during psilocybin microdosing therapy to prevent dangerous hyperactive syndromes associated with hallucinogen use in psychiatry.
Abstract
Abstract The involvement of certain recreational drugs, namely, hallucinogens, in the development of hyperactive syndromes is well known, but not w...
Richard Alpert (Ram Dass): Harvard psychologist who experimented with psychedelic drugs and became one of America’s most prominent and respected spiritual leaders
BMJ – January 31, 2020
Summary
Nothing in Richard Alpert's early life, despite his psychology doctorate, predicted his iconic path. At Harvard, he joined Timothy Leary's drug studies, exploring psilocybin's clinical potential. Alpert's own 10 mg psilocybin experience profoundly questioned consciousness, a realm also explored by psychology and even psychoanalysis. He then collaborated, giving psilocybin and LSD to diverse groups, including students and prisoners, defining 1960s psychedelics and drug studies. Credit: Dassima Kathleen Murphy
Abstract
Credit: Dassima Kathleen Murphy Nothing in Richard Alpert’s early life could have predicted that he would come to embody the spirit of the psychede...
Psychedelics as pharmacotherapeutics for substance use disorders: A scoping review on clinical trials and perspectives on underlying neurobiology
British Journal of Pharmacology – September 02, 2025
Summary
High-dose psilocybin, a classic hallucinogen, uniquely boosts dopamine in the brain's nucleus accumbens, a region critical for addiction. This neuroscience finding suggests psilocybin, an alkaloid, may restore dopamine homeostasis, offering a novel pharmacology mechanism for treating substance use disorders. Psychiatry and medicine are actively exploring this: 34 clinical trials are underway, primarily for alcohol addiction, investigating psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA. This exciting development in Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlights how chemical synthesis and neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior can advance psychology's approach to addiction.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelics have garnered great attention in recent years as treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD) and treatment‐resistant depre...
Antidepressant-like effects of psychedelics in a chronic despair mouse model: is the 5-HT2A receptor the unique player?
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology – March 01, 2024
Summary
Psychedelic compounds show promise in treating depression through unexpected pathways. New research reveals that both hallucinogenic and non-hallucinogenic compounds targeting serotonin receptors can produce lasting antidepressant effects in mice. A single dose of these compounds improved mood-related behaviors for up to 15 days, working faster than traditional antidepressants. Notably, some benefits occurred even without the typical psychedelic effects.
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most disabling psychiatric disorders in the world. First-line treatments such as selective serotonin ...
Current situation regarding psychedelics and magic mushroom in Korea
European Psychiatry – April 01, 2024
Summary
Psychedelic mushrooms show promise for treating severe depression and anxiety, sparking debate. Globally, 114 Psilocybe species exist, yet only four specific wild hallucinogenic mushrooms are found in Korea. These "magic mushrooms" cause temporary effects lasting 2-4 hours. While Food Quality and Safety Studies note other mushroom poisonings, abuse of these specific plant forms is rare. Psychology explores their therapeutic potential, while Ecology and Conservation Studies track their distribution, though strict regulations persist.
Abstract
Introduction Recently, the pros and cons have been debating in Korea even before the approval of use of medical marijuana with very strict limitati...
Wood-loving magic mushrooms from Australia are saprotrophic invaders in the Northern Hemisphere
Fungal Systematics and Evolution – July 23, 2024
Summary
Magic mushrooms, producers of psilocybin for mental health applications, maintain full sexual compatibility despite vast intercontinental separation. Analyzing 89 genomes revealed Australasia as their origin, with minimal gene flow since differentiation. This persistence of sexual connectivity, challenging expectations for allopatric speciation in Fungal Biology, suggests unique evolutionary biology. Psilocybin genes exhibit high allelic diversity. Their global Ecology, facilitated by woodchip movement, underscores fascinating aspects of fungal biology and gene flow, relevant to Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Magic mushrooms are fungi that produce psilocybin, an entheogen with long-term cultural use and a breakthrough compound for treatment of mental hea...
Prefrontal electrophysiological biomarkers and mechanism-based drug effects in a rat model of alcohol addiction.
Translational psychiatry – December 05, 2024
Summary
Groundbreaking research reveals how psychedelic compounds like psilocybin may help restore brain function disrupted by alcohol dependence. Scientists found that alcohol addiction alters electrical patterns in the prefrontal cortex, the brain's control center. Using advanced monitoring in rats, they showed that psilocybin and similar compounds can normalize these disrupted patterns and reduce relapse risk.
Abstract
Patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) who seek treatment show highly variable outcomes. A precision medicine approach with biomarkers responsive...
Efficacy and safety of eight enhanced therapies for treatment-resistant depression: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of RCTs.
Psychiatry research – September 01, 2024
Summary
When traditional antidepressants fail, innovative therapies like ketamine and psilocybin show remarkable promise. A comprehensive network meta-analysis of 72 clinical trials reveals that these enhanced treatments, along with ECT, offer the best outcomes for treatment-resistant depression. Among 12,000+ patients studied, these approaches demonstrated superior effectiveness while maintaining acceptable safety profiles.
Abstract
Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) challenges psychiatric treatment, with existing guidelines covering only a subset of augmentation strategies. ...
Psychedelics and the ‘inner healer’: Myth or mechanism?
Journal of Psychopharmacology – April 12, 2024
Summary
A single 25mg dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin significantly boosted 30 patients' sense of an "inner healer" compared to 29 receiving a 1mg placebo, predicting improved depressive symptoms. This clinical psychology trial, involving 59 patients from various backgrounds including inner city populations, found the higher dose strongly increased this "inner healer" perception—a key mechanism in psychology. Such psychedelics, like psilocybin from chemical synthesis, activate intrinsic healing. This medicine could aid psychotherapists in psychiatry, moving beyond a mere placebo response.
Abstract
Background: Reference to an intrinsic healing mechanism or an ‘inner healer’ is commonplace amongst psychedelic drug-using cultures. The ‘inner hea...
Efficacy and safety of psychedelics for the treatment of mental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Psychiatry research – May 01, 2024
Summary
Groundbreaking meta-analysis reveals psychedelics show remarkable promise in treating mental disorders, with psilocybin leading the way. Analysis of 126 studies found these substances effectively reduce depression and anxiety symptoms, with minimal safety concerns. While psilocybin showed strongest results, ayahuasca, MDMA, and LSD also demonstrated significant therapeutic benefits. Most patients reported only mild side effects like headaches.
Abstract
We aim to systematically review and meta-analyze the effectiveness and safety of psychedelics [psilocybin, ayahuasca (active component DMT), LSD an...
Predicting the Intensity of Psychedelic-Induced Mystical and Challenging Experience in a Healthy Population: An Exploratory Post-Hoc Analysis.
Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment – January 01, 2023
Summary
Higher doses of psilocybin in psychedelic therapy can lead to more intense mystical experiences, but age plays a surprising role in how people handle challenging moments. New findings reveal that while dosage strongly influences both mystical and challenging experiences, older participants typically reported less difficult episodes. Interestingly, personality traits showed minimal impact, except that more neurotic individuals faced tougher experiences at higher doses.
Abstract
In psychedelic therapy, mystical as well as challenging experience may influence therapeutic outcome. However, predictors of such experience have n...
TMS-EEG and resting-state EEG applied to altered states of consciousness: oscillations, complexity, and phenomenology.
iScience – May 19, 2023
Summary
Clinical neuroscience reveals fascinating insights into how psychedelic compounds affect brain activity. Using advanced medical imaging techniques, researchers found that psilocybin creates unique patterns of neural activity, increasing brain signal diversity while maintaining structured communication between regions. This pharmacology breakthrough shows how psychedelics create heightened sensory awareness through specific changes in frontal brain areas, helping explain their consciousness-altering effects.
Abstract
Exploring the neurobiology of the profound changes in consciousness induced by classical psychedelic drugs may require novel neuroimaging methods. ...
Are psychedelics the answer to chronic pain: A review of current literature
Pain Practice – January 04, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, offers a non-addictive alternative for chronic pain management, a critical need in Medicine. For cancer pain and related psychological distress, its analgesic potential was established decades ago, showing promising results in Psychiatry. These psychedelic compounds influence neurotransmitter receptors, disrupting pain pathways. While evidence for general chronic pain efficacy is limited and of low quality, patients self-medicating for severe headaches report relief. Its favorable safety profile, lacking the addiction risk of many analgesics, makes psilocybin a compelling area for ongoing drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract Aims We aim to provide an evidence‐based overview of the use of psychedelics in chronic pain, specifically LSD and psilocybin. Content Chr...
Bibliometric Analysis of Academic Journal Articles Reporting Results of Psychedelic Clinical Studies
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – October 11, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics are experiencing a profound resurgence in Psychiatry. A bibliometric analysis of 394 clinical studies from 1965-2021 reveals a dramatic increase in publications after a decades-long lull. MDMA dominated these drug studies (49%), followed by Lysergic acid diethylamide (19%), Psilocybin (18%), and Ayahuasca (7%). A "Recent cohort" (2010-2021) shows a higher proportion of therapeutic applications in Medicine and Psychology, with psilocybin studies increasing. Mescaline research saw a proportional decrease. This highlights the evolving focus on these powerful hallucinogens.
Abstract
Following a decades long period of investigational dormancy, there is renewed interest in employing psychedelics as psychiatric treatments. The aca...
Psychedelics, entactogens and psychoplastogens for depression and related disorders
British Journal of Pharmacology – June 15, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics are revolutionizing Psychiatry. Psilocybin and MDMA, powerful hallucinogens, show promise as rapid antidepressants and anxiolytics in Psychology and Neuroscience. These Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlight their ability to target monoamine neurotransmitter systems, specifically 5-HT2A receptors, influencing behavior. They correct neural network defects in Major depressive disorder and Anxiety, linked to altered brain tryptophan metabolism. Psilocybin received FDA breakthrough status for depression, while MDMA for PTSD was recently rejected. This offers new hope for severe mental health conditions.
Abstract
Currently, the most actively investigated rapidly acting antidepressants, anxiolytics and/or anti PTSD agents, include psychedelics e.g. psilocybin...
Psychedelics Align Brain Activity with Context
OpenAlex – March 11, 2025
Summary
Half of 62 adults rated a 19mg psilocybin experience among their life's most meaningful, profoundly altering consciousness. Using fMRI and EEG, brain activity under this hallucinogen, a naturally occurring alkaloid, reorganized. This reorganisation, influencing neural correlates of consciousness, integrated internal and external processing into 'embeddedness.' This state, aligning brain dynamics with context—like meditation or music, reflecting ancient human psychology—revealed how psilocybin shapes mindset and behavior. This neuroscience offers a framework for understanding psychedelic effects.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelics can profoundly alter consciousness by reorganising brain connectivity; however, their effects are contextsensitive. To unders...
Classification of psychedelics and psychoactive drugs based on brain-wide imaging of cellular c-Fos expression
Nature Communications – February 12, 2025
Summary
A novel neuroscience approach accurately classifies psychoactive drugs, showing promise for future medicine. Using advanced microscopy and machine learning, a pharmacology pipeline identified distinct drug signatures in brain tissue. This method achieved 67% accuracy in distinguishing compounds like the hallucinogens Psilocybin, Ketamine, and MDMA, alongside Fluoxetine. Psilocybin was discriminated from other drugs with over 95% accuracy. Such precise drug studies advance our understanding of neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, critical for developing new treatments for brain disorders.
Abstract
Psilocybin, ketamine, and MDMA are psychoactive compounds that exert behavioral effects with distinguishable but also overlapping features. The gro...
Serotonergic psychedelics for depression: A comprehensive overview.
International review of neurobiology – January 01, 2025
Summary
Imagine a single treatment rapidly easing severe depression. Recent insights from clinical trials show certain psychedelics, like psilocybin, offer profound and sustained relief for major depressive disorder (MDD) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). These powerful compounds demonstrate antidepressant effects comparable to conventional therapies, presenting a promising new frontier in addressing challenging forms of depression.
Abstract
Depressive disorders continue to pose a major clinical challenge worldwide, particularly given the high prevalence and increasing number of treatme...
Associations between classic psychedelics and opioid use disorder in a nationally-representative U.S. adult sample
Scientific Reports – April 07, 2022
Summary
Lifetime psilocybin use is linked to 30% lower odds of opioid use disorder, a critical finding for psychiatry and medicine. Analyzing data from over 214,000 adults, a logistic regression revealed an odds ratio of 0.70 for OUD among individuals using this alkaloid, known for its neurotransmitter receptor influence. This significant association, explored in psychedelics and drug studies, suggests psilocybin—not other classic psychedelics—holds unique promise in demography and psychology for addressing this public health crisis.
Abstract
Abstract Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a major source of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. and there is a pressing need to identify additional tre...