EClinicalMedicine
March 14, 2025
Raoul Bitar, Simon Halm, Christina Rossgoderer et al.
42 citations
A randomized controlled trial investigated whether psilocybin-assisted therapy could reduce relapse in patients with alcohol use disorder. The study compared psilocybin therapy against a control condition, finding that the psilocybin group showed a significantly lower rate of heavy drinking days over the follow-up period. The results suggest that psilocybin, when combined with psychotherapy, may be a promising intervention for relapse prevention in alcohol dependence, though further research is needed to confirm these findings.
International Journal of Bipolar Disorders
July 5, 2022
Oliver G. Bosch, Simon Halm, Erich Seifritz
35 citations
Classic psychedelics such as LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, and ayahuasca are being studied again for treating unipolar and bipolar depression. They alter sensory perception, emotion, and self-processing by stimulating serotonin 2A receptors in the brain. Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy integrates a safe psychedelic experience into ongoing therapy. Early randomized trials with psilocybin show promising results for unipolar depression, but classic psychedelics may also trigger mania. Atypical psychedelics like MDMA and ketamine work through different mechanisms; esketamine is approved for treatment-resistant unipolar depression, and ketamine shows early evidence for bipolar depression. Larger trials and careful legal frameworks will determine their broader clinical use.
Brain and behavior
February 1, 2026
Simon Halm
1 citation
Psychedelic- and substance-assisted therapies for PTSD and depression are mostly developed in high-income countries, but they could be relevant for global mental health, especially in conflict zones and humanitarian settings. Their equitable use faces cultural, ethical, regulatory, and resource challenges. Responsible implementation needs culturally grounded, ethically robust, and context-sensitive approaches, not uncritical expansion.