International Review of Psychiatry
July 4, 2018
Thomas W. Flanagan, Charles D. Nichols
263 citations
Serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonists, including psychedelics like psilocybin, show promise as anti-inflammatory agents beyond their known effects on anxiety, depression, OCD, and addiction. Activation of 5-HT2A receptors produces potent anti-inflammatory effects in animal models of human inflammatory disorders at sub-behavioral levels. This review discusses the role of the 5-HT2A receptor in inflammation, highlights studies using the agonist (R)-DOI in cellular and animal models, and examines potential mechanisms. Psychedelics regulate inflammatory pathways through novel mechanisms, potentially offering a new treatment strategy for inflammatory disorders.
International Review of Psychiatry
July 4, 2018
186 citations
Serotonergic hallucinogens (psychedelics) have been used for millennia, but their integration into Western therapeutic practice is relatively new. Mid-20th-century work developed therapeutic models using both low (psycholytic) and high (psychedelic) doses, often combined with psychoanalytic concepts, and established the importance of set (mindset) and setting (environment) for safe, effective use. Recent clinical and pharmacological research has revisited these substances' therapeutic potential. This article reviews past and present models of psychedelic therapy and discusses key considerations for future research and clinical applications.
International Review of Psychiatry
July 4, 2018
181 citations
A psychological model proposes that the mystical experience induced by classic psychedelics in therapy is characterized by profound awe—a response to a vast stimulus that forces mental structures to accommodate. Awe promotes a 'small self,' which at its extreme resembles ego dissolution or unitive experience. This small self is central to understanding the therapeutic effects that follow. Based on this framework, clinical recommendations are offered to advance psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
International Review of Psychiatry
July 4, 2018
Stephen Ross
103 citations
Cancer patients often experience severe psychological and existential distress, which worsens medical outcomes. Early studies from the 1960s-1970s suggested that psychedelic drugs like psilocybin and LSD might help treat this distress. After a long pause, research resumed in the last two decades. A systematic review of clinical trials from 1960-2018 identified 10 eligible trials with 445 participants, most with advanced or terminal cancer. Six open-label trials (1964-1980, n=341) suggested LSD therapy may improve depression, anxiety, and fear of death. Four randomized controlled trials (2011-2016, n=104), mostly using psilocybin (n=92), demonstrated that psychedelic-assisted treatment can produce rapid, robust, and sustained improvements in cancer-related psychological and existential distress.
International Review of Psychiatry
July 4, 2018
85 citations
Music listening has been used consistently from the beginning of therapeutic psychedelic research to guide experiences during the acute effects of psychedelic drugs. Recent findings indicate that music can support meaning-making, emotionality, and mental imagery after psychedelic administration, and suggest it plays an important role in facilitating positive clinical outcomes. This review examines the history, current research, and future directions of music in psychedelic therapy, arguing for more detailed and rigorous investigation into music's contribution to treating psychiatric disorders within this novel framework.
International Review of Psychiatry
April 3, 2021
Catherine I. V. Bird, Nadav L. Modlin, James J. H. Rucker
78 citations
Trauma contributes to many psychiatric conditions beyond PTSD, with major depressive disorder (MDD) being the most common. About half of PTSD cases also have MDD, and their overlapping symptoms and neurobiology raise questions about whether they are distinct disorders or a single trauma-related phenotype. Traditional treatments have had mixed success. Drug-assisted psychotherapy, combining medication with therapy, is emerging as a novel approach. Psilocybin- and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy have received FDA 'breakthrough therapy' designation for resistant MDD and PTSD, respectively. This review examines the rationale for using these substances to treat trauma-related MDD and PTSD.
International Review of Psychiatry
July 4, 2018
Zach Walsh, Michelle S. Thiessen
65 citations
Third wave behaviour therapies, such as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, share theoretical foundations and mechanisms of action with psychedelic-assisted therapy, including enhanced mindfulness, decentering, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance. Both approaches have demonstrated therapeutic potential for problematic substance use, self-directed and other-directed violence, and mood disorders. The evidence suggests that integrating psychedelic-assisted therapy with these third wave therapies could be a promising avenue for future research.
International Review of Psychiatry
July 4, 2018
Matthew W. Johnson
12 citations
Psychedelic drugs have shown promise for treating psychiatric disorders in both historical and modern studies, yet their medical use remains controversial. The controversies have often hindered research and clinical application despite potential benefits. The text discusses these ongoing debates without presenting new empirical data.
International Review of Psychiatry
May 23, 2024
Rebecca Ehrenkranz, Manish Agrawal, J. Kim Penberthy et al.
5 citations
Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) affects up to 10% of bereaved people, causing functional impairment and intense yearning for at least a year after loss. Current treatments are mainly psychological, and more options are needed. Psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA may help because they reduce depression and PTSD symptoms in clinical trials and produce subjective effects relevant to existential distress in PGD. No randomized clinical trials have yet tested psychedelics for PGD, but initial survey and open-label studies suggest a consistent trend toward grief reduction. A randomized clinical trial is the appropriate next step to explore this potential.
International Review of Psychiatry
March 31, 2026
Anne Anne Lingford-Hughes
Alcohol and drug addictions impose heavy burdens on individuals and society, a situation likely to persist. Addiction psychiatry in the UK faces challenges including under-investment, reduced psychiatric input in the workforce, and stigma, while needing better integration with mental and physical health services. Psychological therapies remain the mainstay of treatment, with few new pharmacological options emerging in recent decades. Emerging approaches such as novel pharmacological targets, psychedelics, and neuromodulation show promise but require larger, better-designed trials in clinically representative populations. Neuroimaging is highlighted as a key tool for understanding mechanisms and accelerating treatment development. Driving innovation requires senior leadership, robust research infrastructure, global collaboration, reduced stigma, and a research-capable workforce.