The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
October 21, 2022
James J Gattuso, Daniel Perkins, Simon Ruffell et al.
233 citations
Classical psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, and ayahuasca consistently disrupt resting-state connectivity within the Default Mode Network (DMN) and increase functional connectivity between canonical resting-state networks. The DMN, a set of brain regions active during self-referencing and mind wandering, is altered in various neuropsychiatric conditions. While DMN modulation is central to some cognitive models of psychedelics, its role in their therapeutic potential remains unclear. This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview to guide future research on the neurocognitive mechanisms of these agents.
Addiction biology
September 1, 2006
David H Overstreet, Amir H Rezvani, Michael Cowen et al.
19 citations
The Fawn-Hooded rat (FH/Wjd) is an inbred strain that naturally consumes high amounts of alcohol (over 5 g/kg/day) with a preference above 65%. Unlike selectively bred alcohol-preferring strains, this strain was chosen due to a serotonin platelet abnormality, but breeding experiments showed that the high alcohol intake is unrelated to that serotonin defect. Many compounds tested in these rats reduce alcohol intake, including amperozide, MTEP, ibogaine, St. John's wort, and kudzu extract. However, tolerance can develop to some drugs like opiate antagonists, possibly due to up-regulation of opioid receptors. This tolerance also appears in selectively bred alcohol-preferring rats, raising questions about its role in relapse among people treated with naltrexone. The broad range of effective compounds suggests diverse targets for developing new alcoholism treatments.
Journal of affective disorders
July 17, 2025
Alene Sze Jing Yong, Sue E Brennan, Suzie Bratuskins et al.
3 citations
Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration rescheduled MDMA in July 2023, permitting authorized prescribing for PTSD outside clinical trials. This manuscript describes development of an Australian Clinical Practice Guideline on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD using the GRADE process. The guideline will compare benefits and harms of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy against other treatments, drawing on high-quality systematic reviews. A multidisciplinary Guideline Development Group will consider evidence certainty, patient values, resources, equity, acceptability, and feasibility. The guideline will be published on MAGICapp and disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conferences. A Companion Guide will be created for people with PTSD and their carers.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
March 27, 2026
Kade L Huckstep, Billi Newton, Grace Bailey et al.
Post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol use often co-occur and worsen each other, but no medications specifically target trauma-driven increases in drinking. In rats predisposed to heavy alcohol use (inbred alcohol-preferring rats), a single dose of MDMA given before fear-extinction training prevented the rise in alcohol consumption that normally follows a stressful experience. MDMA did not improve long-term fear extinction memory in any group. The effect on drinking was specific to the genetically vulnerable rats and was not explained by prior alcohol history. MDMA's main benefit in this model was disrupting the link between trauma and escalated alcohol intake, not enhancing fear extinction.