Psychedelics.
September 24, 2024
Xi Zhu, Chen Zhang, David J. Hellerstein et al.
6 citations
A single 25 mg dose of psilocybin, given with psychological support, led to significant reductions in body dysmorphic disorder symptoms at one week and twelve weeks after dosing in eight adults with moderate-to-severe nondelusional BDD. Resting state functional connectivity measured one day after dosing showed increased connectivity within the Executive Control Network and between the Executive Control Network, Default Mode Network, and Salience Network. These connectivity increases predicted symptom improvement at one week. The authors note the small sample size and uncontrolled design require larger controlled studies to validate the findings.
Psychedelics.
September 13, 2024
Syed F. Rab, Charles L. Raison, Elliot Marseille
5 citations
Between 24% and 62% of U.S. patients with major depressive disorder or treatment-resistant depression may be eligible for psilocybin-assisted therapy, depending on how strictly exclusion criteria are applied. The lower estimate uses stringent criteria from clinical trials; the mid-range (56%) reflects likely real-world scenarios; the upper bound (62%) accounts for patients with multiple comorbidities. The main reason for ineligibility is disqualifying conditions such as alcohol and substance use disorders. Actual demand will also depend on insurance coverage, state regulations, and availability of trained providers, highlighting the need for careful policy planning.
Psychedelics.
December 10, 2024
Lorena Terene Lopes Guerra, Rafael G. Dos Santos, Jaime E. C. Hallak
3 citations
Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic substance, is being studied for treating mood, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders. Evidence from animal and human studies indicates its effects involve modulation of neural substrates relevant for emotional processing, particularly in brain regions rich in serotonergic receptors. Preclinical studies also show ayahuasca has specific effects on fear-related memories. This review examines current data on ayahuasca's behavioral and functional effects on anxiety and fear-related responses through its modulation of serotoninergic signaling.
Psychedelics.
November 7, 2024
Jessie Kim, Samantha Shao, Julie Trim et al.
2 citations
Psilocybin treatment shows promise for anorexia nervosa, a psychiatric illness with high mortality and limited treatment options, but studies remain preliminary. This article synthesizes first-hand experiences from 10 individuals with lived experience, offering thematic insights on the potential benefits and constraints of psilocybin treatment for anorexia. The authors contextualize these perspectives within their phase 1 pilot study findings, providing a nuanced exploration of how to optimize such treatments for this vulnerable population.
Psychedelics.
October 28, 2025
James J Gattuso, Bilgenur Bezcioglu, Carey Wilson et al.
1 citation
Psilocybin, a serotonergic psychedelic, shows growing evidence for reducing obsessive-compulsive symptoms. A systematic review of 13 studies (4 clinical trials, 9 preclinical) found that single doses rapidly reduced symptoms in patients with OCD and body dysmorphic disorder. In wild-type mice, psilocybin briefly decreased marble-burying behavior only on the first day. In SAPAP3 knockout mice, a genetic model of compulsive behavior, a single dose produced robust, lasting reductions in excessive grooming, replicated across labs and doses. Chronic hallucinogenic doses did not improve anxiety or compulsive behavior in these mice, but chronic sub-hallucinogenic doses in rats reduced self-grooming and increased synaptic markers in the paraventricular thalamus. The evidence suggests transient clinical effects and lasting anti-compulsive effects in animal models, warranting larger placebo-controlled trials with neuroimaging.
Psychedelics.
February 3, 2026
Sheida Shadani, Erika Greaves, Zane B. Andrews et al.
Psilocybin did not alter sociability in female mice under metabolic stressors—activity-based anorexia, food restriction, or running wheels—but increased preference for social familiarity (reduced novelty-seeking) in control mice. Both activity-based anorexia and running wheel groups showed elevated novelty-seeking behavior, though with distinct social patterns. Psilocybin raised levels of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) in running wheel mice, and that increase correlated with preference for novelty; no such relationship appeared in the other groups. These context-dependent effects on social behavior and inflammation highlight the need for further research on psilocybin's mechanisms across sexes and disease models.
Psychedelics.
October 21, 2025
Pu Jiang, Ci Lin, Xiaohui Wang
Psychedelics such as psilocybin, dimethyltryptamine, and lysergic acid diethylamide disrupt normal time perception, causing time dilation, compression, or loss of time. This opinion article integrates emerging cognitive neuroscience findings to discuss neural mechanisms behind these temporal anomalies. The authors suggest that psychedelic-induced time warps offer a new approach to studying brain correlates of the perception of the passage of time and conscious time perception. These changes may have therapeutic value for psychiatric disorders where altered time perception is central, including posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. Examining these time changes also highlights psychedelics' potential in shaping transformative cognitive-affective states and their clinical relevance.
Psychedelics.
October 14, 2025
Sha Jin, H.y. Wang, Xiaohui Wang
Stress-related psychiatric disorders like depression, anxiety, and PTSD are widespread and poorly treated. Psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA are being reconsidered as therapies because they alter consciousness, boost neuroplasticity, and affect emotional processing and serotonin systems. This perspective paper argues that these substances could help treat stress-related conditions and calls for a fundamental shift in how scientists and clinicians understand the link between psychedelics, stress, and mental health.
Psychedelics.
October 14, 2025
Mingming Zhao, Jianjun Yang, Kenji Hashimoto
MDMA (ecstasy) is a unique entactogen that increases serotonin in the brain by reversing the serotonin transporter, and also affects catecholamine and oxytocin pathways. In clinical trials, MDMA-assisted psychotherapy has led to substantial improvements in treatment-resistant PTSD, though regulatory approval has been delayed due to concerns about unblinding and protocol rigor. Early placebo-controlled studies suggest benefits for autism spectrum disorder, eating disorders with comorbid PTSD, and anxiety from life-threatening illness. Large observational studies link MDMA use with lower depression rates, reduced suicidal ideation, and improved posttrauma coping, but causal inference is limited.
Psychedelics.
December 24, 2024
Fayzan Rab
Fayzan Rab, an MD Candidate at Emory University School of Medicine and clinical researcher at the Emory Center for Psychedelics and Spirituality, investigates the emerging psychedelic therapy landscape, including minority communities' perspectives and the public health and economic implications of these treatments. His background includes product development at Google and Mindstrong Health, grassroots political organizing, and executive coaching. In a Genomic Press Interview, he discusses the transformative potential of psychedelic therapy in modern healthcare.
Psychedelics.
December 17, 2024
Zachary Bosshardt, Jessica L. Maples‐keller, Deanna M. Kaplan et al.
Attendees at a conference on psychedelics and spiritual care generally agreed that microdosing may have benefits and expressed modest concern about potential harm from therapeutic psychedelic use. Among 178 survey respondents, 40.2% agreed or strongly agreed that psychedelics could be harmful therapeutically, while 30.7% were unsure. A subset of 32 psychedelic care facilitators reported using psychedelics to treat a wide range of diagnoses with diverse psychotherapy approaches and endorsed a need for cultural adaptations in psychedelic treatments.
Psychedelics.
October 21, 2024
Stephanie Knatz Peck
Dr. Stephanie Knatz Peck is a clinical psychologist and researcher at UCSD who develops novel interventions for eating disorders. She translated neuroimaging and genetic findings into Temperament-Based Treatment with Supports (TBT-S) for anorexia nervosa. She was co-investigator on the first clinical trial of psilocybin for anorexia nervosa and consults for Compass Pathways, developing psychological support models for psilocybin therapy. She also founded BrightMind Therapy, an outpatient practice for children and adolescents. Her work integrates clinical practice, neuroimaging, genetics, and observations to create targeted treatments for treatment-resistant psychiatric conditions.
Psychedelics.
August 12, 2024
Rodolfo Myronn de Melo Rodrigues
Psilocybin assisted psychotherapy shows promise for treating depression, a leading cause of disability worldwide. A recent study by Rosenblat et al. reports promising results for using psilocybin in clinical mental health care, particularly for cases where traditional treatments have been insufficient.