The Affiliated Brain Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, 36 Mingxin Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510370, China; Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, Guangzhou Medical University, China.
2 papers in the library · 22 citations · publishing 2024
A systematic review of five randomized controlled trials involving 472 adults with major depressive disorder found that psilocybin improved depressive symptoms in three of the five studies and reduced anxiety symptoms in four of the five studies compared to controls. Suicidal ideation improved in only one trial. Discontinuation rates were similar between psilocybin (2–13%) and control groups (4–21%). The most common adverse drug reaction in both groups was headache. The authors conclude that psilocybin is effective for depressive and anxiety symptoms but note that long-term efficacy and safety require further investigation in larger trials.
Chronic ketamine users show worse cognitive performance than healthy controls in visual learning, speed of processing, working memory, and overall cognition. Brain scans reveal stronger functional connectivity between the right anterior cingulate cortex and the right postcentral gyrus in users. This enhanced connectivity is positively linked to reasoning and problem-solving scores, suggesting it may serve as a compensatory mechanism for cognitive deficits. No significant relationship was found between this connectivity and characteristics of ketamine use.