Frontiers in Psychiatry
February 15, 2024
Shuping Fang, Xin Yang, Wei Zhang
21 citations
Psilocybin, a classic psychedelic, shows both short-term and long-term antidepressant effects for major depressive disorder and depression related to life-threatening diagnoses. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 10 clinical trials, including 524 adult patients, found a large effect size favoring psilocybin over control conditions. Therapeutic effects increase with higher doses. Adverse events are generally temporary and reversible, though serious events can occur. Psilocybin holds promise as a complementary or alternative therapy for depression.
Current gastroenterology reports
November 19, 2025
Wei Zhang, Soo Young Hwang, Jay Luther
1 citation
Alcohol use disorder drives alcohol-associated liver disease, and preventing relapse after abstinence is a major challenge. Naltrexone and acamprosate reduce relapse in the general AUD population, but data in ALD are limited. Baclofen is the only drug tested in randomized trials in cirrhosis, with early benefit but mixed later results. Gabapentin and topiramate are off-label options; emerging agents like GLP-1 receptor agonists, psilocybin, and FGF21 analogs show early signals. Pharmacotherapy is underutilized due to lack of insight, stigma, provider inexperience, and fragmented care. Integrated programs across the disease spectrum may improve uptake. Pharmacotherapy is effective yet underused for relapse prevention in ALD.
Pharmacological research
July 1, 2026
Yang Zhou, Wanchen Sun, Yuxuan Fu et al.
Among patients undergoing major surgery who had moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms before the operation, a single intraoperative dose of esketamine led to a higher rate of symptom remission three days after surgery compared with a placebo. In a randomized, double-blind trial of 435 patients, 28.3% in the esketamine group achieved remission versus 11.3% in the placebo group. Acute pain rates did not differ between groups. Esketamine treatment requires monitoring for possible dissociative side effects, and its clinical use for depressive symptoms should weigh benefits against risks.