EClinicalMedicine
February 1, 2023
Robin von Rotz, Eva M Schindowski, Johannes Jungwirth et al.
345 citations
A single, moderate dose of psilocybin (0.215 mg/kg body weight) significantly reduced depressive symptoms compared to placebo in adults with major depressive disorder. Over two weeks, depression severity scores dropped by 13.0 points on the MADRS and 13.2 points on the BDI in the psilocybin group, with improvements significantly larger than in the placebo group. 54% of participants receiving psilocybin met remission criteria. No serious adverse events occurred. The findings suggest psilocybin offers rapid antidepressant effects, though larger, longer-term trials are needed.
Scientific reports
October 14, 2023
Nathalie M Rieser, Ladina P Gubser, Flora Moujaes et al.
14 citations
Psilocybin alters cerebral blood flow in the brain, and the magnitude of these changes depends on individual baseline psychological and neurobiological characteristics. In a placebo-controlled study of 70 healthy participants given one of three oral doses of psilocybin, reductions in relative cerebral blood flow correlated with both baseline traits and the intensity of the subjective psychedelic experience. The findings demonstrate that inter-individual heterogeneity in the neural response to psilocybin is linked to pre-existing differences, helping to identify biomarkers for a personalized medicine approach in psychedelic-assisted therapy.
EClinicalMedicine
February 1, 2023
Robin von Rotz, Eva M Schindowski, Johannes Jungwirth et al.
8 citations
correction
A correction was issued for a figure in a clinical trial on psilocybin-assisted therapy for major depressive disorder. The colors representing the Psilocybin and Placebo conditions were swapped in Fig. 2; the correction aligns them with the caption and other figures. The error does not affect the results. The trial found that a single, moderate dose of psilocybin significantly reduces depressive symptoms compared to placebo for at least two weeks, with no serious adverse events. Larger, multi-centric trials with longer follow-up are needed to optimize this treatment.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences
July 31, 2024
Nathalie M Rieser, Timo T Schmidt, Katrin H Preller
5 citations
This chapter reviews current knowledge on the neural mechanisms of psychedelic drugs, focusing on human neuroimaging studies. It covers acute and subacute adverse effects and how these may inform psychiatric illness pathophysiology. The chapter examines EEG, fMRI, and PET findings, along with pre- to postdrug changes. Prevailing models discussed include the Cortico-Striato-Thalamo-Cortical feedback loop, the entropic brain hypothesis, the REBUS principle, and the claustrum hypothesis. Neural correlates of visual effects, social and emotional impacts, and ego dissolution are explored. Speculations on how acute effects relate to rare long-term adverse effects are offered, though data scarcity makes these tentative.
Translational psychiatry
May 26, 2026
Marvin M Urban, Lea Zillich, Nathalie M Rieser et al.
1 citation
In a pilot study of 37 detoxified patients with alcohol use disorder, psilocybin (25 mg) produced changes in DNA methylation across the genome compared to placebo. One methylation site in the TLE4 gene and a differentially methylated region in RASGRP4 were linked to psilocybin treatment. Co-methylation networks related to psilocybin were associated with reductions in depressive symptoms and drinking behavior, and gene analysis pointed to involvement in neuroplasticity and immune functions. The primary trial endpoints—duration of abstinence and mean alcohol use—were not reached, so the analysis focused on secondary psychometrics. The findings suggest immunomodulatory actions of psilocybin but are limited by the modest sample size.
Brain and behavior
July 1, 2026
Lena K L Oestreich, Nathalie M Rieser
Psychedelic and substance-assisted therapies show promise for mental health disorders like treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and substance use disorders, but major questions remain as the field moves toward clinical implementation. This editorial introduces a special issue that brings together empirical studies, reviews, and commentaries on these emerging priorities. A central theme is that psychedelic therapy cannot be understood as a pharmacological intervention alone; therapeutic relationships, preparation, integration, music, touch, peer support, cultural context, and patient expectations all shape outcomes. Subjective meaning-making and altered states are potentially central to therapeutic change. Implementation challenges include models of care for veterans, global mental health equity, and culturally responsive access. The field requires greater conceptual precision, attention to safety and consent, and frameworks prioritizing equity and cultural appropriateness.