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David Chen‐li

University Health Network

3 papers in the library · 80 citations · publishing 2020-2025

Papers

The emerging role of psilocybin and MDMA in the treatment of mental illness

Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics September 21, 2020 Hartej Gill, Barjot Gill, David Chen‐li et al. 62 citations

Psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA show promise as a new type of therapy for mental health disorders. Evidence suggests they may work with just one dose, produce rapid effects, and be effective for treatment-resistant conditions, possibly serving as a standalone treatment. More clinical trials are needed to test their safety, tolerability, and effectiveness in real-world patient populations.

Mechanisms of psilocybin on the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder

Journal of Psychopharmacology October 3, 2024 Charles Q. Choi, Danica E. Johnson, David Chen‐li et al. 11 citations

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after a traumatic event, causing intrusive re-experiencing, mood and cognitive changes, and altered arousal. Few treatments help patients who cannot access or do not benefit from conventional psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy. This review examines the neurobiology of PTSD and psilocybin's mechanism of action, suggesting that psilocybin may be an underexplored treatment option based on pharmacodynamic and psychoanalytic principles, though further research is needed.

Non-hallucinogenic psychedelics for mood and anxiety disorders: A systematic review

Psychiatry Research May 8, 2025 Noah Chisamore, Lee Phan, Roger S McIntyre et al. 7 citations

A review of pre-clinical and clinical studies on non-hallucinatory psychedelics (NHPs) for mood and anxiety disorders found five animal studies showing antidepressant-like effects, assessed via forced swim test and open field test, without the head-twitch response that indicates hallucination. One case report described a patient who inadvertently combined trazodone and psilocybin and experienced potent antidepressant effects without psychedelic effects. These preliminary findings suggest that antidepressant benefits of psychedelics may be separable from hallucinatory effects, providing impetus for rigorous clinical trials in humans.