Pharmacology Research & Perspectives
February 2, 2021
Benjamin Stewart, Jon G. Dean, Adriana Koek et al.
15 citations
Functional neurological disorders (FNDs) are common, disabling neuropsychiatric conditions with limited treatment options. They present with sensory or motor symptoms that mimic other neurological conditions but arise from mechanisms other than identifiable structural neuropathology, often triggered by psychological factors. Preliminary evidence supports psychedelic-assisted therapy for several psychiatric illnesses, including FNDs. This review examines theoretical arguments for and against exploring psychedelic-assisted therapy for FNDs, discusses prior cases of psychedelic use for psychosomatic conditions, and analyzes therapeutic outcomes through recent neuroimaging studies on psychedelics and FNDs.
Pharmacology Research & Perspectives
April 1, 2025
Eduardo Ekman Schenberg
9 citations
Regulatory evaluation of psychedelic-assisted therapies, such as MDMA for PTSD and psilocybin for depression, faces methodological challenges because the standard requirement for two successful phase 3 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) lacks agreement on what constitutes success when psychoactive drugs are given alongside psychotherapy. This arrangement undermines the internal validity of estimated treatment effects compared with conventional controls. The paper reviews assumptions behind RCTs' gold-standard status in evidence-based medicine, highlighting limits of randomization and blinding and warning against the extrapolation fallacy. Trustworthiness that efficacy in RCTs will predict effectiveness in target populations depends on the type of treatment: low for stand-alone drugs, high for drug-assisted psychotherapies, due to different causal claims and external validities.
Pharmacology Research & Perspectives
February 25, 2025
Mohammad Balabandian, Mohammad Amin Manavi, Ali Lesani et al.
4 citations
Psilocin, the active metabolite of psilocybin, shows anticonvulsant effects in mice at a modest dose of 3 mg/kg. Behavioral seizure models and electrophysiological recordings indicate that psilocin modulates seizure activity. The anticonvulsant effects were diminished by administration of 1-MT, L-NAME, naltrexone, sildenafil, and AM-251, implicating the kynurenine pathway, nitrergic and opioidergic systems, cGMP, and CB1 receptors. Western blotting revealed upregulation of 5-HT1A and downregulation of IDO and CB1 expression. Acute psilocin administration exerts anticonvulsant effects mediated at least partly through these systems.
Pharmacology Research & Perspectives
May 10, 2026
Jessie Kim, Liam Lochhead, Cory R. Weissman
Interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is growing, prompting policy shifts toward legalization in many U.S. states. As PAT moves from controlled clinical trials to real-world practice, concerns arise about maintaining rigorous patient screening, treatment setting, and therapist support. Clinical trials use strict inclusion criteria and safety monitoring to minimize adverse events, but routine clinics may face pressure to lower standards, as seen in some for-profit ketamine clinics. Nonpharmacological factors like preparation, therapeutic rapport, and integration meaningfully shape outcomes. Standardized training, certification, and oversight, such as a FDA Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS), could help balance safety and access. Successful implementation requires thorough screening, supportive environment, and careful regulation to realize PAT's potential in psychiatry.