Psychopharmacology (Berl)
November 8, 2017
978 citations
In an open-label trial, twenty patients with severe, treatment-resistant major depression received two oral doses of psilocybin (10 mg and 25 mg, one week apart) in a supportive setting. Depressive symptoms dropped markedly within the first five weeks, with large effect sizes (Cohen's d = 2.2 at week 1 and 2.3 at week 5). Nine patients responded and four achieved remission at week 5. Improvements remained significant at three and six months (Cohen's d = 1.5 and 1.4). No one sought conventional antidepressants within five weeks. The quality of the acute psychedelic experience predicted symptom reductions at five weeks. Tolerability was good, and psilocybin appears promising for unresponsive depression, though double-blind trials are needed.
Psychopharmacology (Berl)
April 13, 2019
198 citations
A single inhalation of vapor from dried toad secretion containing 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) in a naturalistic setting is associated with sustained improvements in life satisfaction and mindfulness-related capacities, along with a reduction in psychopathological symptoms.
Psychopharmacology (Berl)
November 20, 2017
79 citations
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy shows progress and promise in clinical trials for treating PTSD, with the drug development program advancing toward potential regulatory approval. The therapy combines MDMA administration with psychotherapy sessions, demonstrating efficacy in reducing trauma symptoms in patients with chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD. Results from phase 3 trials indicate significant improvements in PTSD symptom severity compared to therapy with placebo, supporting the treatment's potential for market authorization by the FDA and other regulatory bodies.
Psychopharmacology (Berl)
January 24, 2022
71 citations
In 20 clinically depressed patients, a single ayahuasca ceremony was followed by reduced depressive symptoms that persisted for up to one year. Average Beck's Depression Inventory scores dropped from 22.7 before the ceremony to 8.88 at one-year follow-up. Remission rates were 12 out of 20 after one day, 13 out of 19 after one month, and 12 out of 17 after one year. Three participants remained mildly depressed at one month and one year; two did not respond and stayed at moderate or severe levels. Improvements in depression and mental health correlated with the degree of ego dissolution experienced during the ceremony. Additional treatments or psychedelic use may have contributed to long-term gains. Ayahuasca shows therapeutic potential for clinical depression.
Psychopharmacology (Berl)
October 5, 2014
43 citations
MDMA is often perceived as a social drug, with its effects and risks deeply influenced by the social environment in which it is used. The context of use—including setting, social interactions, and cultural norms—shapes both the subjective experience and potential harms. Understanding MDMA requires attention to these social factors rather than focusing solely on pharmacology.
Psychopharmacology (Berl)
November 21, 2020
39 citations
Discontinuing reuptake-inhibitor medications alters how people respond to MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. The text indicates that stopping such drugs before treatment changes therapeutic outcomes, but it does not specify the direction or magnitude of the effect.
Psychopharmacology (Berl)
November 4, 2021
37 citations
People who use cannabis at the same time as a classic psychedelic report more intense subjective effects, with higher cannabis doses linked to stronger mystical, visual, and ego-dissolution experiences. The relationship between cannabis dose and challenging experiences followed a U-shaped pattern, while emotional breakthrough showed no connection to cannabis dose. The findings suggest an interaction between cannabis and psychedelics, but the study's design cannot establish cause or clinical implications.
Psychopharmacology (Berl)
February 1, 2018
17 citations
Psychedelics and related drugs show therapeutic possibilities for mental health conditions, with research exploring their mechanisms, including brain modulation and neuroplasticity. The work discusses how these compounds may alter brain pathways and states of consciousness to produce therapeutic benefits. It also addresses the regulatory landscape for these substances in medical research and mental healthcare. The authors suggest that understanding the neurobiology and therapeutic mechanisms is crucial for advancing treatment research and medical innovation.
Psychopharmacology (Berl)
March 29, 2022
14 citations
A theoretical framework is proposed to distinguish the hallucinogenic effects of psychedelics from their antidepressant effects. The authors argue that hallucinations and mood improvement may arise through separable neural mechanisms, and they outline a translational approach—spanning cellular, circuit, and behavioral levels—to test this dissociation. The framework suggests that antidepressant benefits could be achieved without the hallucinatory side effects, potentially leading to safer treatments. The paper synthesizes evidence from preclinical and clinical studies to support the idea that the two phenomena are not inevitably linked, though it acknowledges that further research is needed to confirm this separation.
Psychopharmacology (Berl)
November 1, 2024
10 citations
This is a retraction note for a previously published article on the long-term outcomes of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. The original article reported a longitudinal pooled analysis of six phase 2 trials, but it has been retracted. The retraction does not provide any findings or data about the treatment's efficacy or long-term effects.
Psychopharmacology (Berl)
November 1, 2024
9 citations
This is a retraction note for a previously published article about MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. The original article described the design and rationale for phase 3 trials, which were based on a pooled analysis of six phase 2 randomized controlled trials. The retraction indicates that the original article should not be relied upon, but the note itself does not provide any findings or data about the treatment's effectiveness.
Psychopharmacology (Berl)
November 1, 2024
6 citations
Taking certain reuptake-inhibitor medications (such as SSRIs) before MDMA-assisted psychotherapy can affect how well the treatment works. Discontinuing these medications appears to alter patients' therapeutic outcomes. The original article that reported this finding has been retracted.
Psychopharmacology (Berl)
October 23, 2023
6 citations
A single dose of a dissociative drug altered resting-state functional connectivity between frontal and limbic brain regions in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder, suggesting a potential mechanism for its therapeutic effects. The randomized controlled pilot study compared drug versus placebo in a small sample, finding changes in connectivity patterns that may relate to symptom reduction. The authors indicate that these preliminary results warrant further investigation in larger trials.
Psychopharmacology (Berl)
June 13, 2026
The text examines how blinding and expectancy effects complicate placebo-controlled trials of MDMA, introducing the concept of an 'active placebo paradox.' It argues that the strong subjective effects of MDMA make true blinding nearly impossible, which can inflate treatment effects and undermine causal inference. The authors suggest that expectancy and unblinding may account for a substantial portion of the therapeutic outcomes reported in MDMA research, raising questions about the validity of findings from such trials.
Psychopharmacology (Berl)
May 22, 2026
A single subanesthetic-dose ketamine infusion shortens the global and regional path length of brain functional connectivity in people with treatment-resistant depression and suicidal ideation, suggesting a more efficient network organization. This change in connectivity may underlie the rapid antidepressant and anti-suicidal effects of ketamine.
Psychopharmacology (Berl)
February 18, 2022
Ayahuasca may help people quit smoking, and its effects could work through inducing a mystical experience. Because smoking causes many diseases and current treatments are limited, more research is needed on psychedelics for smoking cessation.