Ketamine and serotonergic psychedelics: An update on the mechanisms and biosignatures underlying rapid-acting antidepressant treatment
Neuropharmacology January 13, 2023 Jenessa N. Johnston, Bashkim Kadriu, Josh Allen et al. 64 citations
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Ioline D. Henter
National Institutes of Health
3 papers in the library · 65 citations · publishing 2023-2025
Papers
Mindfulness, music, visual occlusion in ketamine therapy for depression: do they change outcomes? A qualitative and quantitative analysis of a randomized controlled trial
Frontiers in Psychiatry September 2, 2025 Mina Kheirkhah, Nastasia McDonald, Julia Aepfelbacher et al. 1 citation
Adding mindfulness, music, and a light-occluding eye mask during ketamine infusion for depression did not improve antidepressant effects compared to ketamine alone, but it enriched the subjective experience. Participants in the combined sensory intervention group reported deeper engagement, a stronger sense of connection to reality, increased focus, moments of relief from sadness, and feelings of awe and spiritual insight. However, four individuals in that group reported discomfort. The findings suggest that while the sensory interventions make the experience more meaningful for many, they may cause discomfort for a few, and making them optional could avoid this.
Effects of Psychedelic Drug Use on Neurocognitive Function and Psychological and Social Quality of Life Domains: An International Online Study
medRxiv August 28, 2025 Franziska Stadler, Johan Saelens, Ioline D. Henter et al. preprint
An international online study of 759 people examined how psychedelic drug use affects cognitive performance and mental health in the short and long term. Participants completed tasks measuring working memory, selective attention, and visual/spatial perception, plus questionnaires on mental health and quality of life. Recent users showed significantly lower accuracy on all cognitive tasks and reported more depressive and dissociative symptoms. Lifetime users had the highest task accuracy without slower reaction times, and their use was not linked to long-term cognitive decline. However, lifetime users scored lower on psychological and social quality of life domains, suggesting possible long-term psychosocial effects.