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.
Frontiers in pharmacology
January 1, 2022
Daniel Perkins, Broc A Pagni, Jerome Sarris et al.
53 citations
Fifty-three first-time ayahuasca users (32 women, 21 men) completed questionnaires before and one month after a facilitated ceremony. Depression, anxiety, stress, alcohol and cannabis use, body dissociation, self-alienation, impulsivity, and negative affect significantly decreased, while positive mood, self-efficacy, authentic living, extraversion, agreeableness, open-mindedness, spirituality, and relationship satisfaction increased. Baseline traits—especially high negative emotionality and body dissociation, and low self-efficacy—strongly predicted improvements in mental health and substance use, whereas the intensity of the mystical experience had little predictive value. The findings suggest ayahuasca may produce broad mental health benefits and that personal traits could guide personalized treatment.
Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN
January 1, 2023
Broc A Pagni, Ethan Hill, Melissa J M Walsh et al.
20 citations
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and social support/education (SE) both reduced depression, anxiety, and autistic traits in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). MBSR uniquely improved executive functioning and increased mindfulness traits, including the trait nonjudgment. Decreased connectivity between the insula and thalamus was associated with anxiety reduction and increased mindfulness traits specifically in the MBSR group; decreased connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate correlated with improved working memory. Both groups showed decreased amygdala-sensorimotor and medial-lateral prefrontal cortex connectivity, which corresponded with reduced depression. The findings suggest shared and distinct neural mechanisms for MBSR and SE, implicating the default mode and salience networks.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice
June 1, 2024
Chad Stecher, Broc A Pagni, Sara Cloonan et al.
11 citations
Autistic adults face elevated depression risk, which harms daily functioning and life outcomes. App-based meditation helps neurotypical adults manage depression, but long-term evidence for autistic adults was lacking. Anchoring, a habit-formation strategy, had not been tested in this group. This work shows that combining anchoring with app-based meditation is feasible and effective for establishing meditation habits in autistic adults. These habits maintained reduced depressive symptoms over six months. The findings indicate anchoring-based habit formation is a promising technique for building healthy habits in autistic adults, and app-based meditation offers a durable self-care option for managing depression in this population.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice
July 1, 2025
Nicole L Matthews, Melissa M Mitchell, Hannah Honda et al.
5 citations
A telehealth mindfulness program for autistic adolescents and their caregivers reduced depression symptoms in adolescents and anxiety symptoms in female adolescents. The MINDful TIME program included eight weekly group sessions via Zoom and regular use of a mindfulness meditation app. Forty-two adolescent-parent dyads were randomly assigned to the treatment or a delayed treatment control group. Ninety percent of treatment dyads completed the program, attending over 90% of sessions. Treatment adolescents showed large reductions in parent-reported depression symptoms compared to controls, and female adolescents showed reductions in anxiety symptoms. Parents reported improved mindfulness, well-being, and adolescent-parent relationship functioning.
Journal of palliative medicine
October 1, 2023
Noah D Gold, Austin J Mallard, Jacob C Hermann et al.
5 citations
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) may help alleviate psychiatric and existential distress in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a terminal neurodegenerative disease with an average survival of 3-4 years. The authors suggest PAP could also intervene on neuropathological dimensions of ALS, based on neuroprotective properties of psychedelics and robust improvements seen in other populations. They call for future preclinical trials in ALS models and rigorous clinical trials, given the lack of effective treatments for both disease progression and psychological distress.
Neuropharmacology
July 1, 2025
Brennan M Carrithers, Daniel E Roberts, Brandon M Weiss et al.
4 citations
Psychedelic therapy may hold potential for treating personality disorders by promoting adaptive changes in personality, though rigorous research is lacking. This review first examines research on psychedelics in individuals with personality disorders using the DSM-5-TR categorical model, then applies the dimensional DSM-AMPD framework to explore how psychedelics might affect self-functioning, interpersonal functioning, and pathological personality traits. The authors discuss clinical relevance, safety considerations, gaps, and recommendations for treating these complex populations.
PsyArXiv
March 26, 2026
Broc A Pagni, Stephen Ross, Sarah Mennenga et al.
preprint
An open-label extension of a Phase II randomized controlled trial examined the safety and efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy for alcohol use disorder. Participants who had received either psilocybin or placebo in the main trial were offered two open-label psilocybin sessions. The treatment was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events attributed to psilocybin. Heavy drinking days decreased substantially from baseline, and the reduction was sustained through the 32-week follow-up. The findings suggest that psilocybin-assisted therapy may produce durable reductions in alcohol consumption among individuals with alcohol use disorder.