Npj mental health research
February 20, 2024
Kush V. Bhatt, Cory R. Weissman
29 citations
Psilocybin, a serotonergic psychedelic, produces lasting antidepressant effects, but its mechanism is unclear. Empathy and prosocial behavior may play a key role. This review examines how psilocybin affects empathy and prosocial behavior and proposes that it initiates a positive feedback loop involving these social processes, which could explain its enduring antidepressant benefits.
Npj mental health research
October 6, 2024
Jack D C Dahan, David Dadiomov, Tijmen Bostoen et al.
13 citations
Subjective effects of psychedelics like ketamine and psilocybin appear to play a modest role in their therapeutic outcomes for depression and substance use disorder. A meta-analysis of 23 ketamine studies (471 patients) and 8 psilocybin studies (183 patients) found that subjective experiences explained 5–10% of therapeutic improvement for ketamine and 24% for psilocybin. Psilocybin showed a greater mediating effect than ketamine, especially for depression. Substance use disorder treatment showed a larger mediating effect than depression, regardless of the drug.
Npj mental health research
February 7, 2025
Ari Brouwer, Joshua K Brown, Earth Erowid et al.
5 citations
Psychedelic therapy may work partly because of an overlooked temporal pattern: the initial 'come-up' phase often feels like an acute stress reaction, while the later 'come-down' phase brings positive feelings similar to recovery from illness or stress. A qualitative analysis of psilocybin experience reports from Erowid.org, using phenomenological, thematic content, and word frequency analysis, shows that negatively valenced states dominate the onset, and positively valenced states dominate the falling phase. This pattern helps explain how initially distressing altered states can ultimately resolve distress, with implications for therapeutic and theoretical understanding of psychedelic treatment.
Npj mental health research
July 2, 2024
Maryam Golafshani, Daniel Z Buchman, M Ishrat Husain
3 citations
A disability-rights perspective is brought to the debate about whether psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) researchers and clinicians should have personal experience with psychedelics. The authors argue that mandating or implying such experience can perpetuate ableism, because many psychiatric conditions and medications, including common antidepressants, may prevent safe psychedelic use. The field must prioritize disability inclusion among researchers and clinicians as PAP research and practice expand.
Npj mental health research
February 3, 2026
Anisha Rajan, Mahendra Kumar, Pranav Raj P
1 citation
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 17 randomized controlled trials involving 1,641 non-clinical adults found that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) significantly reduce perceived stress compared to control conditions. At baseline, stress levels were similar between groups. After the intervention, MBI participants reported lower perceived stress, with a moderate-to-large effect size. Within-group improvements were substantial for MBI groups, while control groups showed only marginal changes. The stress-reducing effect was consistent across different regions and delivery methods, with larger effects for indirect interventions. No significant moderators were identified, and the results were robust with minimal publication bias. These findings support MBIs as effective, scalable strategies for stress reduction in non-clinical adults.
Npj mental health research
January 31, 2026
Clayton Olash, Derrick Matthew Buchanan, Randi Brown et al.
1 citation
A single open-label magnesium-ibogaine treatment prompted four recurring experiential themes among 30 male U.S. Special Operations veterans with TBI and PTSD: guided replay of autobiographical memories that allowed trauma reappraisal; altered-self and mystical connectedness; emotional resolution marked by surges of forgiveness, love, and renewed purpose; and embodied healing with a vivid sense of neural repair, cognitive clarity, and somatic relief. These themes describe an accelerated, self-directed psychotherapeutic process that aligns with previously reported clinical improvements in the same cohort, suggesting mind-body mechanisms involving rapid neuroplastic change.