Psychopharmacology
January 5, 2018
Anna Bravermanová, Michaela Viktorinová, Filip Tylš et al.
50 citations
Psilocybin, a psychedelic that activates 5-HT2A receptors, disrupted early perceptual and higher-order cognitive processing in healthy volunteers but left pre-attentive cognition intact. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, 20 participants (10 men, 10 women) received 0.26 mg/kg of psilocybin orally. The drug produced robust psychedelic effects and psychotic-like symptoms, decreased the amplitude of the P300 event-related potential (a marker of attentive processing) and the N100 (an early perceptual marker), but did not affect mismatch negativity (MMN), a measure of pre-attentive processing. The disruption of P300 correlated with the intensity of the psychedelic state, which depended on psilocin serum levels. These findings suggest that 5-HT2A receptors play a role in altered information processing in psychosis and schizophrenia, particularly at early perceptual and higher-order cognitive levels.
Psychological Medicine
December 9, 2009
Jiřı́ Horáček, Martin Brunovský, Tomáš Novák et al.
42 citations
A single dose of ketamine (0.54 mg/kg infused over 30 minutes) rapidly alters brain electrical activity in healthy volunteers, producing a decrease in prefrontal theta cordance—a QEEG measure linked to cerebral blood flow—and an increase in central region theta cordance within 10 to 30 minutes. These changes resemble those seen after one week of treatment with standard antidepressants in people who respond to them, but occur much faster. The prefrontal theta cordance reduction correlated with ketamine and norketamine blood levels at 10 minutes. The findings suggest that theta cordance reduction could serve as a marker and predictor of ketamine's rapid antidepressant effect, a hypothesis warranting testing in depressed patients.
European Psychiatry
January 1, 2025
Marianne Destoop, Pavel Mohr, Florence Butlen‐ducuing et al.
7 citations
The European Psychiatric Association (EPA) acknowledges the therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances for mental disorders, such as psilocybin for depression, which are nearing regulatory approval in the US and Europe. This policy paper highlights both the benefits and challenges of psychedelic treatments, emphasizing the importance of psychosocial components and ethical, professional aspects for real-world implementation. Four recommendations are formulated to guide further research and clinical integration, aiming for safe, ethical, and equitable access for all patients who may benefit.