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Zhen Zheng

School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States.

3 papers in the library · 65 citations · publishing 2020-2024

Papers

Transient Elevation of Plasma Glucocorticoids Supports Psilocybin-Induced Anxiolysis in Mice

ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science August 2, 2023 Zarmeen Zahid, Zhen Zheng, N. Jones et al. 50 citations

Psilocybin reduces anxiety-like behavior in male mice four hours after treatment, an effect that depends on a temporary spike in the stress hormone corticosterone. Blocking the corticosterone rise or the glucocorticoid receptor eliminated the short-term anxiolytic effect. A nonpsychedelic drug that also raised corticosterone produced similar anxiety reduction, as did stress-induced hormone release alone. The anxiolytic effect lasted seven days after a single psilocybin dose, but this long-term benefit was lost in mice with chronically elevated corticosterone. The findings suggest that an acute, resolvable glucocorticoid surge is necessary for psilocybin's postacute anxiety relief, while chronic stress hormone elevation undermines its lasting effects.

Delayed Anxiolytic-Like Effects of Psilocybin in Male Mice Are Supported by Acute Glucocorticoid Release

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) August 14, 2020 N. Jones, Zarmeen Zahid, Sean M. Grady et al. 9 citations preprint

Acute release of the stress hormone corticosterone modifies the lasting behavioral effects of psilocybin in male mice. Psilocybin caused an initial anxiety-like response and a rise in plasma corticosterone, followed by a later reduction in anxiety in the novelty suppressed feeding test. Both the acute and delayed effects disappeared when mice were first given chronic oral corticosterone to suppress their own stress-axis. One week later, psilocybin-treated mice spent more time in the center of an open field, but this long-term anxiolytic effect was also blocked by prior chronic corticosterone exposure. Brief isoflurane anesthesia after psilocybin eliminated these interactions. The findings identify glucocorticoid release as a biological modifier of psilocybin's post-acute and long-term behavioral effects in mice.

Mapping Knowledge Landscapes and Evolving Trends of Clinical Hypnotherapy Practice: A Bibliometrics-Based Visualization Analysis.

International journal of general medicine January 1, 2024 Fei-Yi Zhao, Li Li, Peijie Xu et al. 6 citations

A scientometric analysis of 1,549 publications on clinical hypnotherapy from 1994 to 2023 shows a steady annual increase in research output, with an average growth rate of 8.5% and a peak of 134 publications in 2022. The United States is the leading research hub, and collaboration mostly occurs within the same country, institution, or team. High-frequency keywords include "Pain", "Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)", and "Anxiety". Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are common methods, and fMRI and EEG are frequently used to explore neuropsychological mechanisms. Predicted future trends include self-hypnosis, virtual reality hypnotherapy, and comparisons between meditation and hypnotherapy.