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.
Journal of occupational and environmental medicine
June 1, 2025
Vivian Wl Tsang, Michelle Cq Lin, Cassandra M Choles et al.
4 citations
Firefighters who completed a 12-week ketamine-assisted group therapy program showed significant and lasting reductions in symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety. Questionnaire scores for PTSD and anxiety decreased substantially by the end of the program, and these improvements were still present six months later. Participants also reported that being in a group with other firefighters was beneficial. The findings suggest that this combined treatment approach may effectively address mental health challenges in this high-risk occupation.
European Psychiatry
March 1, 2023
Saundarai Bhanot, Michelle Cq Lin, S. Bains et al.
3 citations
Psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound, shows promise for treating various headaches, including migraines and cluster headaches. A systematic review of eight studies found that psilocybin use was associated with improvements in headache frequency, intensity, duration, and remission periods, with clinically significant improvements reported in six studies and statistically significant results in three. Macrodosing provided greater pain relief than microdosing or conventional medications, with 12.3% more participants experiencing pain reduction three days after a macrodose. However, side effects included hallucinations in 18% of essential headache patients and temporary increases in anxiety and pain (5.3% with microdosing, 14.1% with macrodosing). Psilocybin remains illegal in many countries, limiting further research.