Translational psychiatry
January 29, 2026
Rafael V Lima Da Cruz, Rêmullo B G de Miranda Costa, Gabriel M De Queiroz et al.
2 citations
A single dose of the psychedelic DMT reversed depression-like behavior and restored cognitive performance in male mice exposed to chronic stress, outperforming chronic fluoxetine across most measures. When given during the stress period, DMT reduced anhedonia but did not rescue cognitive deficits, indicating domain-specific long-lasting effects. All DMT regimens increased the integration of adult-born granule cells and reduced abnormally integrated cells in the brain, suggesting structural circuit repair. The role of the psychedelic experience remains uncertain because isoflurane anesthesia may have confounded results.
Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
July 1, 2026
Tijana Stojanović, Kent W Nilsson, Robert Fredriksson et al.
The clinical trial landscape for ayahuasca and DMT expanded rapidly after 2020-2021, dominated by early-stage development. Most trials are phase I, primarily sponsored by academic or hospital institutions, and focus on DMT-only administration. Eligibility criteria are conservative, enrolling medically and psychiatrically healthy adults with extensive cardiovascular and psychiatric exclusions. Primary outcomes prioritize acute safety, physiological monitoring, and characterization of subjective altered-states, while disorder-specific symptom endpoints are less common. Publications from depression-focused trials provide preliminary evidence of potential clinical effects, but the field remains constrained by a limited number of indication-specific programs beyond depression.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
July 20, 2023
Rafael V Lima Da Cruz, Richardson N Leao, Thiago C Moulin
preprint
New neurons continue to be generated in the mammalian brain throughout life, a process linked to the HPA axis and mood disorders. Psychedelic compounds—including phenethylamines, tryptamines, cannabinoids, and others—have emerged as potential treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders, with evidence suggesting they increase adult neurogenesis. This systematic review examined 68 studies from a total of 205 articles, covering CB1 agonists, NMDA antagonists, harmala alkaloids, tryptamines, and entactogens. The findings describe how different psychedelics affect the birth of new neurons and brain plasticity, providing a comprehensive picture that may inform future therapeutic strategies for neuropsychiatric disorders.