Acta Neuropsychiatrica
April 1, 2007
Belinda Ivanovski, Gin S. Malhi
282 citations
A review of psychological and neurophysiological research on mindfulness meditation finds that mindfulness-based therapeutic interventions appear effective for depression, anxiety, psychosis, borderline personality disorder, and suicidal or self-harm behavior. Mindfulness meditation alone reduces substance use and recidivism in incarcerated populations, but its direct effectiveness for psychiatric disorders has not been specifically investigated. Electroencephalography research shows increased alpha, theta, and beta activity in frontal and posterior regions, with some gamma band effects, and theta activity strongly relates to meditation experience, though findings are inconsistent. Few neuroimaging studies suggest volumetric and functional changes in key brain regions, indicating a promising avenue for future research.
Acta Neuropsychiatrica
May 20, 2019
Oskar Hougaard Jefsen, Kristoffer Højgaard, Sofie Laage Christiansen et al.
66 citations
Psilocybin, a serotonin receptor agonist being studied for treatment-resistant depression, showed no antidepressant-like effect in a rat model of depression. In Flinders Sensitive Line rats, which model depression, neither psilocybin nor its active form psilocin reduced immobility time in the forced swim test, a standard measure of antidepressant activity. The drugs also did not alter locomotor activity in an open field test, ruling out stimulant effects. The rats bred to be depression-prone did show more immobility than their control counterparts, confirming the model's validity. The findings suggest that different animal models and behavioral tests may better translate the positive effects of psilocybin observed in humans.
Acta Neuropsychiatrica
November 4, 2025
Chiranth Bhagavan, Alexander Bryson, Olivia Carter et al.
4 citations
Combining psychedelics with physiotherapy may offer a new treatment for motor functional neurological disorder (FND), a condition with no effective medications and often persistent disability. This protocol describes the first trial testing two psilocybin-assisted physiotherapy regimens in 24 people with refractory motor FND. Participants are randomly assigned to either 15 mg psilocybin with movement tasks during the drug's acute effects or 25 mg psilocybin alone. All receive two physiotherapy sessions before dosing and six after, with follow-ups at one and four weeks. The study assesses tolerability, feasibility, symptom severity, and brain imaging to inform a larger definitive trial.
Acta Neuropsychiatrica
September 3, 2025
Filipe Reis Teodoro Andrade, Tobias Buchborn, Gabriel Thalheimer et al.
3 citations
Psilocybin therapy shows substantial and rapid antidepressant effects, often after one or two sessions with psychological support, with improvements sustained for weeks or months in many cases. It is generally well-tolerated, with mild adverse effects such as anxiety during administration and transient headaches that are manageable in controlled settings. Psilocybin demonstrates promise as a novel treatment for depression, especially for individuals unresponsive to conventional antidepressants. Further research is needed to refine dosing, explore long-term effects, and understand its mechanisms of action.
Acta Neuropsychiatrica
February 8, 2024
Negar Sayrafizadeh, Nicole Ledwos, Muhammad Ishrat Husain et al.
3 citations
Aggression may be influenced by monoamine neurotransmitters, particularly when altered by illicit substances, but not all such substances are linked to increased aggression. This narrative review examined the associations between serotonergic psychedelics and MDMA with aggressive behavior by screening 555 articles, ultimately including 17 studies (14 on MDMA, 3 on serotonergic psychedelics). Findings were mixed: some studies indicated increased aggression following psychedelics, while others suggested protective effects. Limitations included varied definitions of psychedelics, lack of standardized outcome measures, and failure to control for confounds. Further research is needed as psychedelic studies expand.
Acta Neuropsychiatrica
January 1, 2025
Isabel Werle, Marina A. M. Portes, Leandro J. Bertoglio
2 citations
Psychedelic-assisted therapies show promise for treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorder, with lasting effects after few applications. Athletes, who face high stress and pressure, are susceptible to these conditions, but the impact of psychedelics on athletic performance is largely unknown. Preclinical studies indicate that psilocybin, LSD, DMT, and ayahuasca have anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive properties. Research on classical psychedelics or MDMA affecting muscle strength, motor coordination, locomotion, endurance, fluid balance, hormonal regulation, and metabolism is scarce. Further animal and human studies are needed to address these gaps and explore potential benefits.
Acta Neuropsychiatrica
February 13, 2026
Tanya Calvey, D. Govender, Gavin Owen et al.
Ibogaine, a psychedelic alkaloid with no approved medical use, has been linked in observational studies to symptom relief for substance use disorder, multiple sclerosis, and traumatic brain injury after a single dose. This review examines the neurobiological mechanisms behind these effects, focusing on remyelination and metabolic restoration. Evidence indicates ibogaine increases markers of myelination after opioid administration, and that these disorders involve white matter pathology and disrupted metabolic homeostasis, ischemia, and hypoxia. The authors conclude that ibogaine's multi-receptor actions—particularly on NMDA, kappa opioid, and sigma receptors—reduce excitotoxicity, regulate metabolism, promote lasting neuroplasticity, and modulate immunity, facilitating neuronal repair and remyelination, supporting further research as a therapeutic agent for these central nervous system disorders.