Biological markers of treatment response to serotonergic psychedelic therapies: a systematic review.
Ther Adv Psychopharmacol October 16, 2025 Stanley Wong, Brett D. M. Jones, Mathura T. Thiyagarajah et al. 3 citations
A review of nine small clinical trials found that ayahuasca and psilocybin, when used to treat major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression, are associated with changes in several biological markers. These include increased serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor, decreased serum C-reactive protein, altered amygdala activation, and changes in functional connectivity between brain regions such as the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and posterior cingulate cortex. These associations suggest potential mechanisms of clinical response, but larger, longer-term studies are needed to confirm these findings.