Front Pharmacol
March 2, 2016
Ede Frecska, Petra Bokor, Michael Winkelman
237 citations
Ayahuasca, an Amazonian psychoactive brew, is gaining scientific attention for potential therapeutic benefits. Its psychotherapeutic potential is largely based on strong serotonergic effects, while the sigma-1 receptor agonist effect of its active ingredient dimethyltryptamine may explain its diverse traditional uses. In appropriate therapeutic or ritual settings, with proper preparation and integration, ayahuasca has proven effective in treating substance dependence. The article emphasizes two key points: therapeutic effects are best understood through a bio-psycho-socio-spiritual model, and biologically, ayahuasca may counteract chronic low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress via the sigma-1 receptor, accounting for its wide-ranging therapeutic indications.
Front Pharmacol
March 25, 2021
H. Kettner, F. E. Rosas, C. Timmermann et al.
205 citations
In group psychedelic sessions, the quality of intersubjective experience—the sense of shared connection and mutual understanding among participants—predicts lasting improvements in psychological wellbeing and social connectedness. The study followed participants over time and found that those who reported stronger communal feelings during sessions showed greater enduring benefits. This suggests that the social context and relational dynamics of psychedelic experiences may be as important as the drug effects themselves for producing positive outcomes.
Front Pharmacol
April 21, 2021
Daniel Perkins, Violeta Schubert, Hana Šimonová et al.
73 citations
A large international survey of ayahuasca drinkers found that the context and setting in which ayahuasca is consumed—including preparation, guidance, and integration support—are strongly associated with mental health and wellbeing outcomes. Participants who reported professional or traditional guidance, structured preparation, and post-session integration were more likely to experience improvements in mood, reductions in anxiety, and overall psychological wellbeing. The findings suggest that the benefits of ayahuasca are not solely due to the substance itself but are significantly influenced by the surrounding environmental and support factors. Negative or null outcomes were more common among those who lacked such structured support.
Front Pharmacol
February 28, 2019
Patricio Sáez-briones, Vicente Castro-Castillo, Gabriela Díaz-véliz et al.
4 citations
The psychomotor stimulation and pro-social effects of MDMA (ecstasy) in rats are eliminated by aromatic bromination, a chemical modification that replaces a hydrogen atom on the aromatic ring with bromine. The brominated compound retains affinity for the serotonin transporter (SERT), indicating that binding to SERT alone is insufficient to produce these behavioral effects. The findings suggest that other mechanisms beyond SERT binding are necessary for MDMA's characteristic psychomotor and pro-social actions.
Front Pharmacol
September 3, 2025
Georgios Mikellides, Marios Kyriazis
3 citations
Psychedelic compounds are being revisited as facilitators of profound psychological experiences with therapeutic implications for mental health conditions, particularly treatment-resistant depression and PTSD. Psilocybin has shown significant efficacy in reducing depressive symptoms in randomized controlled trials, though one study found no significant difference between psilocybin and escitalopram on the primary outcome. MDMA-assisted therapy reduced PTSD symptoms with a large effect size in a Phase 3 trial, but the FDA declined approval in 2024 due to methodological concerns. Psychedelics promote neuroplasticity and alter brain network connectivity, enabling emotional catharsis and existential re-evaluation. MDMA-assisted therapy was found cost-effective for PTSD, with net healthcare savings of $132.9 million per 1,000 patients. The article advocates for balanced, evidence-based integration into psychiatric care, emphasizing the need for rigorous trials, therapist training, and ethical protocols.