Psilocybin’s Potential Mechanisms in the Treatment of Depression: A Systematic Review
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs June 29, 2023 Harrison J Lee, Vivian Wl Tsang, Brandon S Chai et al. 19 citations
Psilocybin shows promise for treating depression, but how it works in the brain is not well understood. This systematic review of 14 studies found evidence that psilocybin may act through changes in serotonin or glutamate receptor activity, increased synaptogenesis, and altered brain activity in regions like the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. It also appears to change cerebral blood flow to the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. However, the evidence on functional connectivity and specific receptor activity remains sparse, and the lack of consensus across studies suggests psilocybin's antidepressant effects likely involve multiple pathways, highlighting the need for more research.