University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Baltimore, MD, USA.
6 papers in the library · 25 citations · publishing 0-2026
Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs October 3, 2023 Zofia Kozak, Matthew W Johnson, Scott T Aaronson 10 citations
Patients with treatment-resistant depression may be the most suitable candidates for psilocybin treatment when weighing known risks and benefits against existing standards of care. Much remains unknown about the risks of psilocybin treatment.
International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England) December 1, 2024 Zofia Kozak, Christopher W T Miller 7 citations
Psychedelic compounds are gaining interest as potential treatments for psychiatric disorders. Although most psychiatrists will not directly administer these drugs, psychedelic research offers lessons that can improve conventional care. Central to this is the concept of 'set and setting'—the importance of mindset and environment for therapeutic outcomes. New findings suggest mechanistic overlap between psychedelics and serotonergic antidepressants: both modulate neurotrophins, enhance neuroplasticity, and reopen critical learning periods, shaped by environmental context. The paper argues that integrating insights from psychedelic research, particularly set and setting, can improve depression treatment in traditional psychiatric settings by optimizing non-pharmacological factors such as high-quality psychotherapy.
Cancer December 18, 2023 Johannes Thrul, Zofia Kozak, Michael A. Carducci et al. 5 citations
Psilocybin, when administered in a group-based, assisted intervention, shows promise for treating depression in cancer patients. Two articles in Cancer report that this approach leads to persistent improvements in mood, building on earlier work that found psilocybin reduces existential distress in this population. The editorial discusses these findings, noting the positive effects on mood without specifying effect sizes or sample details.
Harvard review of psychiatry Christopher W.T. Miller, Zofia Kozak 2 citations
The therapeutic relationship between patient and clinician can significantly shape outcomes of psychotropic medication treatment, including antidepressants and psychedelics. Environmental factors, patient mindsets, and relationship templates influence symptom burden and may amplify or diminish medication effects through placebo or nocebo responses. Some antidepressants heighten neuroplasticity, potentially enhancing the impact of nonmedication factors like the patient-prescriber alliance. Parallels with psychedelics show that preparatory and integrative work with a provider is crucial for outcomes. This paper reviews existing literature on the therapeutic relationship in psychiatric practice, including acute care and psychotropic prescribing.
Med (New York, N.Y.) March 8, 2024 Scott T. Aaronson, Zofia Kozak 1 citation
A flexible dosing schedule of psilocybin is feasible for individuals with severely treatment-resistant depression, including those with co-morbid conditions or bipolar II disorder, potentially expanding who can receive this treatment. The trial by Rosenblat et al. demonstrates that such patients, previously excluded from studies, can safely participate, suggesting a broader application of psilocybin therapy for complex depression cases.
Psychodynamic psychiatry June 1, 2026 Christopher W. T. Miller, Zofia Kozak
Classic psychedelics and MDMA are increasingly studied for treating mental health conditions, with users often reporting profound experiences of awe, connectedness, and spiritual transformation. This article applies Wilfred Bion's psychoanalytic concepts, particularly his theory of containment and the K link (knowledge), to neurobiological models of the mind and the effects of these drugs. It discusses how early adversity affects neurodevelopment and neural circuitry, leading to hyperarousal and rigid cognitions, and reviews literature on using these substances for trauma- and stressor-related disorders. A Bionian lens may enrich understanding of how MDMA and psychedelics facilitate therapeutic change in trauma treatment.