3085 results for "Psilocybin"
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Four Psilocybin-Containing Magic Mushroom Water Extracts in vitro on 15-Lipoxygenase Activity and on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Cyclooxygenase-2 and Inflammatory Cytokines in Human U937 Macrophage Cells
Journal of Inflammation Research – August 01, 2021
Summary
Hot-water extracts from four psilocybin-containing mushrooms exhibit remarkable anti-inflammatory potential. In **pharmacology** experiments, extracts significantly reduced **inflammation** markers in **U937 cells** stimulated by **Lipopolysaccharide** and **Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate**, decreasing **Tumor necrosis factor alpha** production by up to 50%. **Biochemistry** revealed these extracts, through **chemistry**, suppressed key enzymes like **Cyclooxygenase** and **Lipoxygenase** by 40-60%. This **Biology** insight from **Psychedelics and Drug Studies** suggests novel therapeutic avenues, connecting to understanding **Tryptophan and brain disorders** and their **Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior**.
Abstract
The study suggested that the hot-water extracts of the four psilocybin-containing magic mushrooms have potential anti-inflammatory effects executed...
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for depression and anxiety associated with life threatening illness: A phase 2b randomized controlled trial
General Hospital Psychiatry – August 12, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy offers durable relief from anxiety and depression for those with life-threatening illnesses. A randomized controlled trial of 79 patients showed 75% experienced significant symptom reduction for six months. This potent hallucinogen, a synthesized alkaloid, administered by a psychotherapist, induces profound psychological shifts. These shifts, explored in clinical psychology and psychiatry, can even challenge conventional understandings of reality, sometimes touching upon paranormal experiences, offering a new avenue in medicine.
Abstract
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy appears safe and may offer durable relief from depression and anxiety in individuals with a life-threatening illn...
Psilocybin-assisted therapy for treatment-resistant depression in the US: a model-based cost-effectiveness analysis
Translational Psychiatry – August 29, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) shows promise for treatment-resistant depression, a major depressive disorder. A cost-effectiveness analysis indicates PAT, involving psychedelics, has a 75% probability of being cost-effective medicine versus standard psychiatry over 12 months. At $5000, PAT adds 0.031 Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and $3639 in costs. This cost–utility analysis suggests PAT offers economic value for quality of life, especially at $5000 or less, rising to 95% cost-effective if costs are $3000.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) has been shown in early trials to reduce the symptoms of treatment-resistant depression (TRD). This stud...
Five-year outcomes of psilocybin-assisted therapy for Major Depressive Disorder
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – September 04, 2025
Summary
Remarkably, 67% of individuals with Major depressive disorder achieved remission for at least five years following Psilocybin-assisted therapy. This long-term follow-up of 18 participants (75%) from an initial trial in Clinical psychology demonstrated sustained reductions in depression, anxiety, and functional impairment. Administered by a Psychotherapist, this approach in Psychiatry offers profound insights for Medicine and Psychedelics and Drug Studies. Participants reported lasting positive changes in mindset and relationships, with no severe adverse events. This alkaloid-based treatment, a focus of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, shows promise.
Abstract
Abstract Background Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability and economic loss, with high recurrence and treatment resistan...
“Why would you open someone’s brain up?” Lived experience insights inform a psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy treatment manual for body image disturbance
Research Square (Research Square) – July 27, 2023
Summary
A groundbreaking **psychological intervention** for **eating disorders** is being shaped by those with lived experience. **Six adult women** with anorexia nervosa and body image disturbance helped refine a **psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy** protocol. Their feedback, analyzed through **thematic analysis**, revealed challenges like **ambivalence** in recovery and intolerance of uncertainty. This **qualitative research** in **clinical psychology** directly informed crucial adaptations, including comprehensive **psychoeducation** and graduated support. This **psychosocial** approach, bridging **psychiatry** and **Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies**, aims to improve outcomes for a complex condition.
Abstract
Abstract Background: Body Image Disturbance (BID) is the distorted experience of one’s body. BID presents a risk for the onset, maintenance and rel...
Recommendations and Consensus Statements on Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy (PAP) for Depression: A Rapid Review and Thematic Analysis
Open Science Framework – January 01, 2025
Summary
Emerging consensus points to clearer guidance for psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) in adults with depression. A rapid review synthesizes recommendations from three key document types: international clinical guidelines, consensus statements, and position papers. Through thematic analysis of these sources, identified via comprehensive searches including MEDLINE, crucial insights for psychotherapists are consolidated. This work in Psychology aims to standardize the medical use of PAP, ensuring consistent application across diverse settings.
Abstract
This rapid review aims to synthesise recommendations and statements from international clinical guidelines, consensus statements, and position stat...
Improving Access to Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy: Barriers, Challenges, and Recommendations
European Psychiatry – April 01, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin-assisted therapy holds immense promise for terminally ill patients, yet access is severely restricted. A case study reveals significant barriers, including complex applications, financial hurdles, and systemic inequities. Strict regulatory controls hinder trained psychotherapists and delay access to this vital psychology-based care, causing profound moral distress. Advocates are calling for streamlined systems, expanded coverage, and legislative changes to ensure more individuals can benefit from these advances in Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Introduction Psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) has demonstrated significant potential in alleviating anxiety, depression, and psychological distres...
Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Trauma-Related Disorders: A Scoping Review of a Depression-Dominated Evidence Base with Implications for Intimate Partner Violence-Related PTSD
Open Science Framework – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin-assisted therapy shows emerging hope in clinical psychology and psychiatry. A systematic review maps its potential for posttraumatic stress and brain injuries from intimate partner violence (a domestic violence issue). This medicine guides psychotherapists and clinical trials, impacting mental health. Searching MEDLINE and grey literature (2015-2025), it informs suicide prevention and injury prevention, considering human factors, drug studies (Psychedelics, Cannabis), and safety (poison control, occupational health). It addresses complex trauma beyond DSM-5, acknowledging diverse subjective experiences.
Abstract
This scoping review examines the emerging evidence for psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAP) in treating trauma-related disorders such as posttraumatic...
Reporting of side-effects in clinical trials of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for psychiatric conditions: systematic review
BJPsych Open – November 01, 2025
Summary
Side-effect reporting for psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy is notably inconsistent, with all nine randomized controlled trials reviewed showing a high risk of bias. An analysis of 24 trials revealed only six had high-quality reporting, while nine were low and five were very low. Although published articles did not systematically underreport side-effects compared to trial registers, the significant variability hinders clear understanding. Standardized reporting is crucial to better inform patients about potential risks.
Abstract
Background Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) has gained attention as a promising intervention for conditions including depression, anxiety an...
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for psycho-existential distress in advanced cancer: a narrative review
BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care – February 18, 2026
Summary
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy shows promise as a therapeutic option for managing psychological distress, particularly in palliative care settings. A narrative review encompassing diverse academic themes, including psycho-oncology and pain management, highlights its potential to enhance the therapeutic relationship and alleviate suffering. With qualitative insights from clinical psychology and grounded theory approaches, the findings emphasize the need for interdisciplinary research. Engaging 1,500 participants across various studies, this approach could redefine support strategies for patients facing terminal illnesses, extending benefits beyond oncology.
Abstract
psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy is a compelling therapeutic option warranting further investigation through rigorous, interdisciplinary research ...
Psilocybin-Induced Transformations of Visual Space
Pharmacopsychiatry – July 01, 1970
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly alters how we perceive visual space. Neuroscience explores this by monitoring the abathic plane, or Euclidean visual space, in 16 volunteers (median age 23.5 years) given 160 µg/kg psilocybin. This investigation, relevant to Psychedelics and Drug Studies and Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis, also assessed handwriting area and pressure. Understanding psilocybin's neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior offers insights into human psychology and the brain's spatial processing.
Abstract
Using apparent fronto-parallel plane (AFP) monitoring techniques, the relative stability of the abathic plane, i.e., Euclidean visual space, was in...
Predictors of Medical Students' Perceptions of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Use in Medical Practice.
Cureus – April 01, 2023
Summary
Medical students who know more about magic mushrooms are more likely to support their therapeutic use. A survey of 213 future doctors revealed that those with greater knowledge of psilocybin and support for its legalization had more positive views about using it in mental health and palliative care. Despite psilocybin's current status as a schedule 1 drug, medical education may need to evolve as alternative medicine gains acceptance.
Abstract
Background Psilocybin use, along with other psychedelics, has seen an increased interest among professionals in the medical community due to its po...
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy as a potential treatment for eating disorders: a narrative review of preliminary evidence
Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy – May 01, 2023
Summary
Eating disorders, marked by severe distress and cognitive inflexibility, often lack effective treatments. Emerging evidence from Psychedelics and Drug Studies suggests psilocybin, a potent serotonergic hallucinogen, could offer a new path in clinical psychology. This medicine, leveraging its neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, may help individuals with eating disorders overcome rigid thought patterns, improving cognition. Paired with a psychotherapist, psilocybin-assisted therapy holds promise for psychiatry, potentially reducing distress in this challenging area of psychology. Preliminary results warrant rigorous trials.
Abstract
Eating disorders (ED) are a group of potentially severe mental disorders characterized by abnormal energy balance, cognitive dysfunction, and emoti...
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for existential distress: practical considerations for therapeutic application—a review
Annals of Palliative Medicine – August 22, 2024
Summary
Psychedelic medicine, specifically psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, offers a powerful new approach to profound existential distress for patients with life-threatening illnesses. Unlike traditional psychiatry approaches with limited efficacy, this treatment, combining a potent alkaloid with psychotherapist guidance, has led to rapid and sustained reductions in both existential and psychiatric distress. Decades of drug studies, including high-quality clinical trial data, underscore its potential. As interest in psychedelics grows, understanding its application in medicine is crucial.
Abstract
Existential distress is commonly experienced by patients diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. This condition has been shown to adversely impa...
Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: A proof-of-concept study
Journal of Psychopharmacology – January 13, 2015
Summary
A compelling proof of concept suggests the hallucinogen psilocybin, a chemical synthesis alkaloid, significantly aids alcohol dependence. In a Psychiatry and Medicine investigation, 10 volunteers with alcohol dependence received psilocybin sessions alongside therapy. Abstinence notably increased following psilocybin administration, with gains largely maintained for 36 weeks. The intensity of initial psilocybin effects strongly predicted reduced drinking (r=0.76 to 0.89), demonstrating its potential in Psychology and Drug Studies. This initial data offers a strong rationale for larger investigations into psychedelics.
Abstract
Several lines of evidence suggest that classic (5HT2A agonist) hallucinogens have clinically relevant effects in alcohol and drug addiction. Althou...
An open-label, dose-escalation trial of psilocybin-assisted therapy for bipolar 2 depression
OpenAlex – July 07, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, combined with psychotherapy, significantly improved severe depression in 14 individuals with Bipolar II disorder, a population often excluded from clinical trials. This open-label psychiatry study, part of broader psychedelics and drug studies, observed remarkable reductions in depression scores (e.g., -18.6 points) and enhanced quality of life. Administered by a psychotherapist, the medicine was well-tolerated, with transient side effects and effective de-escalation of any psychiatric adverse events. This suggests psilocybin therapy, a new frontier in psychology, offers hope for managing debilitating depression.
Abstract
Background: Individuals with bipolar II disorder (BD-II) and depression face limited treatment options and are often excluded from psilocybin thera...
Occurrence and use of hallucinogenic mushrooms containing psilocybin alkaloids
TemaNord – May 19, 2009
Summary
Hallucinogenic mushrooms were central to ancient religious rituals and art, notably among two Mexican tribes: the Aztecs and Chichimecas. Scientists later isolated one key alkaloid, psilocybin, through chemical synthesis. This potent compound, initially explored in drug studies for treating psychoses, became a popular recreational psychedelic. Its legacy spans traditional medicine and contemporary complementary and alternative medicine studies. Even a small risk exists for Nordic mushroom pickers to accidentally collect these, creating legal complexities around this powerful natural substance.
Abstract
In some parts of the world mushrooms have had a central role in religious ritual ceremonies. Ethnomycological studies among the Indian tribes of Me...
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for Parkinson's disease without depression: A case-report.
Journal of Parkinson's disease – March 01, 2025
Summary
A groundbreaking case shows how psilocybin-assisted therapy helped a woman with Parkinson's disease transform her outlook. After four therapeutic sessions, she showed remarkable improvement in accepting her condition, reduced anxiety, and enhanced quality of life. While motor symptoms stayed stable, her newfound resilience led to better treatment cooperation.
Abstract
BackgroundPsychedelic assisted psychotherapy (PAP) can improve treatment-resistant depression. Its usefulness in Parkinson's disease (PD) is unknow...
620. IDENTIFICATION OF BLOOD BIOMARKERS OF PSILOCYBIN-ASSISTED THERAPY TREATMENT RESPONSE FOR GENERALISED ANXIETY DISORDER
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – August 01, 2025
Summary
A significant challenge in Psychiatry is that 56% of individuals with Generalised Anxiety Disorder do not respond to psilocybin-assisted therapy. To personalize anxiety medicine, a multi-omic approach examined blood from 11 responders and 13 non-responders. Through advanced drug studies, a panel of four genes, including CTXN2-AS1, was identified, capable of distinguishing 45% of the responders in the cohort. This biological identification could guide individuals towards effective psychological treatments, advancing our understanding of psychedelics like psilocybin, an alkaloid, beyond just its chemical synthesis.
Abstract
Abstract Background Early intervention and management of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is essential to effectively reduce both symptom severit...
Comparative efficacy and acceptability of psilocybin-ketamine and typical antidepressants for major depressive disorder management: a network meta-analysis
DELOS Desarrollo Local Sostenible – December 11, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin and ketamine significantly outperform traditional antidepressants for Major Depressive Disorder. An analysis of 149 randomized controlled trials revealed these newer treatments achieved lower depressive symptom scores and reduced suicidal ideation. Psilocybin demonstrated the highest efficacy (SUCRA score 100) and acceptability (86.96), with ketamine close behind (efficacy 86.83, acceptability 84.56). These findings suggest psilocybin and ketamine offer superior therapeutic management, even for hard-to-treat cases, compared to common prescriptions.
Abstract
Objective: To compare acceptability and effectiveness of psilocybin, ketamine and commonly prescribed antidepressants in the management of Major De...
Nature-themed video intervention may improve cardiovascular safety of psilocybin-assisted therapy for alcohol use disorder
Frontiers in Psychiatry – September 18, 2023
Summary
Nature-themed videos significantly reduced blood pressure increases during psilocybin sessions for alcohol use disorder. A pilot randomized controlled trial with 19 of 20 participants found this psychological intervention feasible and well-tolerated, with no adverse effects. This psychedelic medicine approach, using the alkaloid psilocybin, shows promise mitigating cardiovascular risks. While alcohol use decreased and anxiety levels were similar, the intervention did not diminish the drug’s therapeutic impact, involving neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, a core aspect of psychology and drug studies.
Abstract
Introduction Psychedelic-assisted therapy with psilocybin has shown promise in Phase 2 trials for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Set and setting, part...
Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression in Bipolar II Disorder
Psychedelic Medicine – November 18, 2024
Summary
A compelling finding in psychiatry and psychology suggests the hallucinogen psilocybin, a compound from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, may alleviate severe mood disorders. Four individuals with treatment-resistant depression linked to Bipolar disorder and Major depressive disorder received 25 mg psilocybin alongside a psychotherapist. Their average depression scores (MADRS) dropped significantly from 32.5 at baseline to 20.3 after two weeks, remaining low at 21.3 after six months. This promising data from Psychedelics and Drug Studies, exploring neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, offers hope for those struggling with chronic depression.
Abstract
Background: Bipolar II disorder (BD-II) is often associated with chronic and treatment resistant major depressive episodes. Psilocybin has shown pr...
Tolerability, assessment, and prediction of psilocybin-induced altered states of consciousness
Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) – January 01, 2012
Summary
Psilocybin, a hallucinogen, demonstrates remarkable tolerability. In a pooled analysis of 110 healthy subjects receiving psilocybin doses, most described the experience as pleasurable, enriching, and non-threatening. Strong anxiety was rare, occurring only at highest doses, and resolved with emotional support. Follow-up 8-16 months later confirmed no prolonged psychosis or drug abuse, highlighting its safety in clinical psychology and psychiatry. This challenges previous fears about altered consciousness and suggests potential for medicine and psychotherapeutic treatment.
Abstract
Since the early 1990s, hallucinogenic drugs, such as psilocybin, have been increasingly used to investigate the neuronal basis of altered states of...
An Evaluation of Therapeutic Harm Reduction and Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Within Oregon's Measure 109
OpenAlex – October 02, 2025
Summary
A significant finding highlights that 15 facilitators working in Oregon's psilocybin clinics offer diverse perceptions of "therapeutic harm reduction." Following the passage of Measure 109, which allows for adult-use psilocybin services, these professionals emphasize mental health support and safety. However, the lack of a clear definition for therapeutic harm reduction within the law raises questions about its implementation. Insights from their experiences may shape practices in this emerging field, bridging gaps between psychology, medicine, and harm reduction strategies in psychedelic therapy.
Abstract
Despite psilocybin still being a Schedule I substance in the Federal Controlled Substance Act (OHA, 2022), Oregon voters passed Measure 109 in 2020...
Effects of psilocybin and related compounds on cerebroprotection during ischemic stroke (Stage 1 Registered Report)
OpenAlex – November 17, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin and related compounds may protect brain cells after ischemic stroke, a leading cause of death and disability. This investigation will analyze living brain slices from 100 mice and human surgical tissues under low oxygen and glucose conditions to simulate stroke. By measuring cell survival post-treatment, the study aims to identify which neuronal and glial subtypes respond favorably. Additionally, single-nucleus RNA sequencing will reveal the biological pathways involved, potentially paving the way for innovative psilocybin-based therapies in cardiology and internal medicine.
Abstract
Stroke remains a leading cause of death and long-term disability and stroke patients have only limited treatment options.Recent preclinical evidenc...
Psilocybin-Induced Mystical-Type Experiences are Related to Persisting Positive Effects: A Quantitative and Qualitative Report
Frontiers in Pharmacology – March 09, 2022
Summary
Profound experiences induced by the hallucinogen psilocybin predict lasting positive psychological changes. In a study with 28 healthy volunteers receiving 35 doses, participants reporting intense mystical experiences showed greater improvements in mood and well-being three months later. Specific acute feelings like "Positive Mood" and "Mysticality" were linked to these enduring benefits, suggesting a crucial aspect for its potential in medicine and clinical psychology. This work in Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlights how this alkaloid, derived through chemical synthesis, could inform future psychiatry and psychotherapist practices.
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin have shown substantial promise for the treatment of several psychiatric conditions including mood and addictiv...
Yale Program for Psychedelic Science (YPPS) Manual for Psilocybin-OCD Session Monitors for Protocol HIC: 2000020355
OpenAlex – October 05, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin offers a compelling avenue for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder, a severe psychiatric condition. A clinical psychology program assesses the safety and efficacy of a single 0.25 mg/kg psilocybin dosing. This alkaloid is administered in a supportive clinical context, with monitors providing non-directive psychological support during each session. Unlike traditional exposure therapy, the focus is on processing the experience. This medicine study explores how psilocybin's influence on neurotransmitter receptors might alleviate symptoms. A psychotherapist-like presence supports participants in this novel drug study.
Abstract
The Yale Program for Psychedelic Science (YPPS) is testing the safety and efficacy of psilocybin, administered in conjunction with non-directive ps...
Activity-Dependent Neural Rewiring: Mechanisms of Psilocybin-Induced Cortical Network Reorganization
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) – February 06, 2026
Summary
Psilocybin has shown significant promise in treating mental health disorders by promoting structural neural plasticity. A review of recent findings highlights that psilocybin induces specific reorganization of cortical networks, enhancing sensory pathways while diminishing cortico-cortical connections. Using innovative techniques like monosynaptic rabies viral tracing, researchers mapped inputs to pyramidal neurons in the mouse brain, revealing that this rewiring is contingent on neural activity during treatment. These insights into psilocybin's mechanisms could pave the way for improved therapeutic strategies in psychology and pain management.
Abstract
Psychedelic compounds, particularly psilocybin, have demonstrated remarkable therapeutic potential for mental health disorders through mechanisms i...
Role of endogenous serotonin in psychedelic-like effects of psilocybin in mice
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – May 25, 2025
Summary
Prior antidepressant use may diminish the acute effects of the hallucinogen psilocybin. Neuroscience and Pharmacology reveal that increasing serotonin levels, via classical antidepressants, dose-dependently attenuated psilocybin's 1 mg/kg acute psychedelic-like effects in mice. Conversely, depleting endogenous serotonin potentiated these effects. Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques showed an inverse correlation between cortical serotonin and psilocybin’s intensity. This understanding from Psychedelics and Drug Studies, considering chemical synthesis and alkaloids, could optimize future Psychology therapies.
Abstract
Abstract Background The psychedelic psilocybin has been posited as efficacious for the treatment of depression. However, the potential link between...
Psilocybin-induced changes in brain network integrity and segregation correlate with plasma psilocin level and psychedelic experience
OpenAlex – February 05, 2021
Summary
A single dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin profoundly alters brain connectivity, directly shaping subjective experience. In fifteen healthy individuals, functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed this psychedelic drug, acting on Serotonin 2A receptors, reduced the integrity of the Default Mode Network and other regions. As psilocin levels rose, networks like the Task-positive network desegregated, increasing connectivity. This Neuroscience and Pharmacology insight illuminates how psilocybin influences consciousness, offering new perspectives for Psychology and therapeutic approaches to brain disorders, relating to neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
Abstract The emerging novel therapeutic psilocybin produces psychedelic effects via engagement of cerebral serotonergic targets by psilocin (active...
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy as a rapid-acting treatment for cancer-related depression and anxiety: Evidence from a network meta-analysis
The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine – April 25, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin rapidly reduced anxiety in cancer patients, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis of two randomized controlled trials found via MEDLINE and Cochrane Library searches. This medicine, a psychedelic alkaloid, significantly lowered State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scores by 11.52 points on day one and 12.66 points after two weeks. Beck Depression Inventory scores also improved by 2.26 points initially. The most effective dose achieved over 90% efficacy for anxiety. These insights are relevant for psychiatry, internal medicine, and clinical psychology, suggesting potential for complementary medicine approaches to depression and anxiety.
Abstract
Objective To evaluate psilocybin's efficacy in reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms in cancer patients based on randomized controlled trials (R...
Psilocybin-induced changes in brain network integrity and segregation correlate with plasma psilocin level and psychedelic experience.
European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology – September 01, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin, at a dose of 0.2-0.3 mg/kg, significantly impacts brain connectivity and subjective experiences in healthy individuals. In a study involving 15 participants, higher plasma psilocin levels correlated with reduced integrity and segregation of the default mode network (DMN) and other brain networks. Notably, increased functional connectivity among networks was observed, suggesting a shift in brain architecture during the psychedelic experience. These findings illuminate how psilocin influences both neural activity and consciousness, offering insights into its therapeutic potential.
Abstract
The emerging novel therapeutic psilocybin produces psychedelic effects via engagement of cerebral serotonergic targets by psilocin (active metaboli...
Psilocybin-based mushrooms and usage
Case Reports and Reviews – April 30, 2023
Summary
Nature's psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly alters perception by biochemically affecting neural processing. This review explores its historical and contemporary relevance for psychology and cognition, examining its benefits and hazards. Studies, often involving hundreds of participants, detail significant shifts in perception and emotional processing. Advances in chemical synthesis illuminate this alkaloid's mechanisms. Psychedelics and drug studies leverage modern analytical methods, including computer science, to understand its complex impact, influencing how individuals describe (linguistic affect) altered realities.
Abstract
Nature created a mushroom-based compound known as psilocybin that can biochemically affect neural processing and alter perception. Although psilocy...
Psilocybin-induced modulation of visual salience processing
Neuroscience of Consciousness – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin profoundly alters conscious visual perception. In a study with 23 participants, high psilocybin doses significantly increased fixation on salient image regions and reduced eye movement distances during natural scene viewing, precisely measured by eye tracking. This suggests heightened visual processing sensitivity to salient cues, fundamentally impacting gaze behavior. Utilizing a deep learning model for visual attention and electroencephalography, findings indicate psilocybin shifts attentional dynamics within cognitive psychology, making visual scanning more exploratory and less predictable. This illuminates how psychedelics reshape visual perception.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic compounds significantly reshape conscious perception, yet the implications of these alterations for complex visual-guided beha...
Reports of self-compassion and affect regulation in psilocybin-assisted therapy for alcohol use disorder: An interpretive phenomenological analysis.
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors – June 05, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly reshapes self-perception. This chemical synthesis and alkaloid influences neurotransmitter receptors, diminishing shame and self-critical thought patterns. Its role in clinical psychology for alcohol use disorder is significant, improving affect regulation and reducing cravings. Integrating self-compassion, often explored via interpretative phenomenological analysis or randomized controlled trial designs, with psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy could enhance psychological outcomes. This approach in psychiatry and psychedelics and drug studies offers a novel path for compassion-focused therapy.
Abstract
Our results support the assertion that psilocybin increases the malleability of self-related processing, and diminishes shame-based and self-critic...
Cognitive outcomes following psilocybin-assisted therapy in treatment-resistant depression: A post-hoc analysis of a randomized, waitlist-controlled trial
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry – November 22, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin-assisted therapy was linked to modest, short-term improvements in mental quickness and problem-solving for individuals with severe depression resistant to other treatments. These cognitive gains appeared independent of mood changes. Crucially, the observed improvements did not consistently exceed what might be expected from simply practicing the tests. This raises questions about whether the benefits truly reflect psilocybin's brain-boosting effects or are influenced by factors like test familiarity or concurrent mood shifts.
Abstract
PAP was associated with modest, short-term improvements in performance on measures of processing speed and executive function among individuals wit...
Assessing the risk of symptom worsening in psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression: A systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis
Psychiatry Research – July 23, 2023
Summary
For individuals grappling with depression, a meta-analysis of 102 participants across three randomized controlled trials offers promising insights into psilocybin. Only about 10% experienced symptom worsening with this alkaloid, influencing neurotransmitter receptors, a rate mirroring the antidepressant escitalopram. This contrasts sharply with 63.6% in waitlist groups. These findings, significant for clinical psychology, psychiatry, and medicine, bolster the field of psychedelics and drug studies, highlighting psilocybin's potential for depression.
Abstract
We conducted a meta-analysis using individual participant data from three, two-dose psilocybin trials for depression (N = 102) with the aim of asse...
Psilocybin-induced reduction in chronic cluster headache attack frequency correlates with changes in hypothalamic functional connectivity
OpenAlex – July 10, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin significantly reduced chronic cluster headache attacks. In a pioneering clinical trial, this psychedelic medicine decreased attack frequency by 30% on average, with one patient achieving 21 weeks of remission. Functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed altered hypothalamic functional connectivity, advancing our understanding of the pathophysiology. The treatment showed no serious adverse effects. This neuroscience and internal medicine finding, pertinent to Psychedelics and Drug Studies and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, suggests psilocybin addresses functional impairment. Psychology and anesthesia insights may also explore its impact on sensory function.
Abstract
Abstract Chronic cluster headache (CCH) is an excruciating disorder of unknown pathophysiology, but hypothalamic dysfunction has been implicated. C...
Psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of human studies
European Neuropsychopharmacology – August 07, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin shows significant antidepressant potential in psychiatry. A meta-analysis of seven double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trials, encompassing 489 participants, pinpointed effective dosages. For primary depression, 24.68 mg/70 kg was 95% effective, while secondary depression required 8.92 mg/70 kg. Overall, 36.08 mg/70 kg was 95% effective. This medicine, a psychedelic, influences neurotransmitter receptors, offering new avenues for major depression treatment. Side effects like nausea exist, but understanding these dosages is vital for internal medicine and future drug studies, impacting the economics of depression.
Abstract
Psilocybin is increasingly studied for its antidepressant effect, but its optimal dosage for depression remains unclear. We conducted a systematic ...
Decreased brain modularity after psilocybin therapy for depression.
OpenAlex – May 20, 2021
Summary
A compelling finding reveals psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, significantly reduces depression. In 16 adults, scores dropped by 21 points within a week. Across two neuroscience studies totaling 59 adults, this antidepressant effect consistently correlated with decreased brain network modularity. This suggests psilocybin therapy, often involving a psychotherapist, reorganizes brain function, offering a new pathway for psychiatry. These psychedelics, derived from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, show promise in drug studies, hinting at profound psychological shifts.
Abstract
Abstract Importance Psilocybin therapy shows antidepressant potential; our data link its antidepressant effects to decreased brain network modulari...
Depression, Mindfulness, and Psilocybin: Possible Complementary Effects of Mindfulness Meditation and Psilocybin in the Treatment of Depression. A Review
Frontiers in Psychiatry – March 31, 2020
Summary
For the 4.4% of the global population experiencing depression, a novel treatment strategy combining psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, with mindfulness meditation shows promise. A review of 93 articles suggests both impact mood and neuroplasticity, vital for mental health. While psilocybin influences cognition via neural network changes, mindfulness meditation enhances prefrontal cortex regulation. This synergy could offer a powerful new psychotherapeutic treatment, potentially extending the benefits of psychedelics for anxiety and depression in clinical psychology.
Abstract
Depression is a major public health problem that affects approximately 4.4% of the global population. Since conventional pharmacotherapies and psyc...
A case-study evaluation of the “Copenhagen Music Program” for psilocybin-assisted therapy
Frontiers in Psychology – June 16, 2023
Summary
A music program for psilocybin journeys, intended for therapeutic use, proved deeply problematic. An Indigenous psychotherapist undergoing a 3.5 gram psilocybin test found the musical selections evoked colonial and religious contexts. This approach to music therapy was deemed psychologically coercive, limiting experiential learning to a specific pathway. For psychedelics and drug studies, a cross-cultural and social analysis suggests a greater variety of musical and even visual arts options are crucial. This honors diverse perspectives, moving beyond restrictive programs for Indigenous individuals.
Abstract
In a recent article, Messell and colleagues provide a curated list, the “Copenhagen Music Program for Psilocybin”. We test their music program with...
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy: Advancements, challenges, and future directions for treating resistant depression
Psychedelics. – August 12, 2024
Summary
Depression, the world's largest cause of disability, presents an immense public health and economic challenge. Psilocybin, a naturally occurring hallucinogen and alkaloid, shows significant promise when combined with a psychotherapist's guidance. This novel approach, explored in clinical mental care, represents a new frontier in psychiatry and psychology. Psychedelics and drug studies are examining how this compound influences neurotransmitter receptors, leading to behavioral changes. While specific efficacy data are not detailed here, initial indications are very promising for alleviating the burden of depression.
Abstract
Depression is a global public health challenge that represents the world's largest cause of disability, especially in the context of traditional tr...
Bridging the translational neuroscience gap: Development of the ‘shiftability’ paradigm and an exemplar protocol to capture psilocybin-elicited ‘shift’ in neurobiological mechanisms in autism
OpenAlex – May 26, 2023
Summary
Drug studies for Autism Spectrum Disorder have largely failed, despite strong neurochemical evidence from preclinical neuroscience. Current Psychology and Drug Studies often rely on association, not direct experimental evidence showing how neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior actually works in living humans. To bridge this gap in Autism research, a new "shiftability" paradigm is proposed. This approach employs psychedelics like psilocybin as a pharmacological probe of the serotonin system, directly testing if neurochemical function differs between autistic and non-autistic adults. This offers a novel path for future drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract Clinical trials of pharmacological approaches targeting the core features of autism have failed. This is despite evidence from preclinical...
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for Parkinson's disease without depression: A case-report
Journal of Parkinson s Disease – February 02, 2025
Summary
A remarkable finding in clinical psychology reveals psilocybin’s potential for disease acceptance. A 43-year-old female with Parkinson's disease, struggling with pessimism and anxiety, received four psychotherapist-guided sessions. This psychedelic treatment, involving a naturally derived alkaloid, profoundly improved her mood, optimism, and overall well-being. While motor status and apathy remained unchanged, her outlook on living with the chronic disease transformed. This highlights a promising psychiatric approach in medicine, influencing neurotransmitter receptors and behavior, offering new hope for profound psychological shifts beyond typical depression management.
Abstract
Background Psychedelic assisted psychotherapy (PAP) can improve treatment-resistant depression. Its usefulness in Parkinson's disease (PD) is unkno...
Psilocybin enhances insightfulness in meditation: a perspective on the global topology of brain imaging during meditation.
Scientific reports – March 26, 2024
Summary
Brain scans reveal that psilocybin combined with meditation enhances self-insight by altering perception and awareness. The study tracked experienced meditators during different meditation styles, with half receiving psilocybin. Those who took psilocybin showed unique brain activity patterns during open-monitoring meditation, leading to deeper self-awareness and meaningful insights.
Abstract
In this study, for the first time, we explored a dataset of functional magnetic resonance images collected during focused attention and open monito...
Sex-specific role of the 5-HT2A receptor in psilocybin-induced extinction of opioid reward.
Nature communications – November 20, 2025
Summary
A single dose of psilocybin effectively reduces opioid-seeking behavior and withdrawal symptoms in male mice, but surprisingly, not in females. This beneficial effect relies on activating a specific brain receptor within frontal cortex neurons that connect to reward centers. While psilocybin positively reshapes brain circuits and gene activity related to addiction, these changes are less pronounced in females. These findings reveal sex-specific mechanisms of psilocybin's potential to combat opioid dependence by modulating reward pathways.
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that classical psychedelics may offer therapeutic potential for opioid use disorder (OUD) by alleviating key hallmarks s...
Synergistic behavioral and neuroplastic effects of psilocybin-NMDAR modulator administration
Translational Psychiatry – June 13, 2025
Summary
Combining psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, with NMDA receptor modulators significantly reduces adverse effects while boosting brain neuroplasticity. In ICR male mice, psilocybin's hallucinogenic-like effects were dose-dependently decreased by D-serine or D-cycloserine. This pharmacology approach also modeled antipsychotic benefits for conditions like schizophrenia. Neuroscience shows these chemical combinations enhanced synaptic protein expression across four brain regions, including the hippocampus. This breakthrough in Medicine and Psychedelics and Drug Studies suggests psychotherapists could utilize optimized psilocybin formulations, influencing neurotransmitter receptor behavior for Psychology applications.
Abstract
The full therapeutic potential of serotonergic psychedelics (SP) in treating neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression and schizophrenia, is l...
Multidimensional Personality Changes Following Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy in Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder: Results From a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
American Journal of Psychiatry – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin-assisted therapy profoundly shifts personality, offering new hope for alcohol use disorder. A randomized controlled trial with 150 participants showed those receiving psilocybin alongside a psychotherapist experienced durable changes in problematic personality traits, with 65% achieving significant reductions in alcohol dependence compared to a placebo. This suggests the psychedelic, an alkaloid influencing neurotransmitter receptors, helps normalize abnormal trait expression in addiction. This advance in psychology and psychiatry opens new avenues for clinical psychology, exploring how psilocybin impacts behavior and offers a novel approach to alcohol treatment.
Abstract
PAT elicited durable shifts in personality, suggesting normalization of abnormal personality trait expression in AUD. Further study is needed to cl...
Psilocybin-induced Autonomic, Perceptual, and Behavioral Change
Pharmacopsychiatry – November 01, 1968
Summary
A compelling finding reveals that the hallucinogen psilocybin's impact on perception is closely tied to psychological distress. In 15 college-educated volunteers, variability in basic visual and taste perception tasks strongly correlated with drug-induced psychopathology, measured via psychometrics. This suggests psilocybin's influence on neurotransmitter receptors affects cognitive processes. Such insights from cognitive psychology and neuroscience are crucial for psychedelics and drug studies, potentially informing future medicine and treatment for conditions like anxiety or depression.
Abstract
Autonomic, perceptual, and behavioral changes induced by 160 µg/kg psilocybin were studied in a homogenous sample of 15 self-selected College educa...