Psychedelic therapy and postpartum depression: priorities and prospects
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology March 1, 2026 Guillaume Thuery, Frank Crossen, Daniel Mc Loone et al. 1 citation
About 15% of pregnant women experience postpartum depression, and many remain impaired despite available antidepressants. Serotonergic psychedelics may offer a viable therapeutic approach for postpartum depression, though the benefit-risk ratio is unclear. This review summarizes immune, endocrine, and neural pathways underlying postpartum depression and explores how psychedelics interact with these pathways in relation to maternal motivation, bonding, and caregiving. Special considerations for psychedelic therapy in the postpartum period are outlined. Further research, especially longitudinal trials with adaptations for the postpartum context, is needed to determine efficacy and safety.