The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
October 1, 2019
2 citations
A five-week trial with 55 participants found that a single infusion of ketamine combined with mindfulness-based psychotherapy was more effective than midazolam combined with therapy at reducing craving and maintaining abstinence in people with cocaine dependence. Those who received ketamine were 53% less likely to drop out of treatment or use cocaine compared to the midazolam group.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
May 6, 2020
1 citation
A literature review concludes that current research does not yet support using psychedelic compounds to treat psychiatric disorders, but the existing evidence justifies further investigation. The strongest evidence points to psilocybin and MDMA, both of which have received FDA breakthrough therapy designation to speed up evaluation and development as potential treatments for serious illnesses.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
July 1, 2026
In a Phase 2b trial, patients with treatment-resistant depression who received psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy showed clinically meaningful improvement in depressive symptoms compared to placebo. However, the study did not demonstrate a significant effect on the primary outcome of treatment response 6 weeks after the first of two doses of psilocybin. Results were published online March 18, 2026, in JAMA Psychiatry.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
June 28, 2026
Repeated high doses of psilocybin reduced obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms more effectively than low doses or placebo in a Phase 1 trial with 15 patients. Psilocybin was generally well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
June 28, 2026
A phase 2b trial found that a single, individualized vaporized dose of the psychedelic mebufotenin (5-MeO-DMT) improved depressive symptoms more than placebo in adults with treatment-resistant depression over seven days. No serious adverse events occurred during the study. The results were published in JAMA Psychiatry.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
May 1, 2026
Patients with treatment-resistant depression who received a series of treatments with ketamine or esketamine had a substantial reduction in emergency department visits related to suicidality over six months. During the acute phase of treatment, 56.7% of participants responded with reduced depression symptoms.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
April 30, 2026
Four weekly doses of TSND-201 (methylone), an analog of MDMA, produced significantly greater reductions in PTSD symptoms than placebo in a Phase 2 trial. Adverse effects were mostly mild to moderate, and no significant suicidal ideation occurred. Results appeared in JAMA Psychiatry on February 18, 2026.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
January 24, 2026
A randomized trial found that up to eight infusions of ketamine were not more effective than a psychoactive placebo (midazolam) in reducing depressive symptoms among patients receiving inpatient treatment for depression. Patients receiving ketamine also showed no improvement relative to those receiving midazolam on measures of cognition and quality of life. The results suggest that ketamine does not provide additional benefit over a psychoactive placebo in this inpatient setting.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
November 28, 2025
A single dose of a pharmaceutical formulation of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) reduced anxiety in a dose-dependent manner in people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), according to a Phase 2b study. The two highest of four tested dose strengths of the MM120 formulation showed significant improvement compared to placebo.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
November 28, 2025
An analysis of nearly five years of post-approval safety data for esketamine nasal spray found no new safety concerns associated with the formulation. Most adverse events occurred during the first treatment session, and their incidence decreased over the course of treatment. The results were published online on Sept. 10, 2025, in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
November 1, 2025
In adults with treatment-resistant depression, a 4-week trial found that intranasal esketamine given twice weekly at doses of 56 and 84 mg significantly improved depressive symptoms compared with placebo. Both doses outperformed placebo in this post-marketing trial, published online July 2, 2025, in JAMA Psychiatry.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
October 10, 2025
A meta-analysis of 17 randomized trials found that control group improvement rates in depression studies were lower in psilocybin trials compared to studies of esketamine or an SSRI. This suggests that psilocybin's overall efficacy for treating depression might be overestimated.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
August 4, 2025
In a randomized double-blind trial, adults with moderate to severe depression received either the SSRI escitalopram or a placebo over six weeks, with both groups also receiving one high dose (25 mg) and one low dose (1 mg) of psilocybin at different points. Brain imaging showed that emotional responses to fearful, happy, and neutral faces were reduced in the escitalopram group but remained stable or increased slightly in the psilocybin group. Depressive symptoms improved more in the psilocybin group, and greater emotional responsiveness was linked to better symptom relief. The authors concluded that psilocybin therapy and SSRIs likely work through distinct therapeutic mechanisms.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
July 1, 2025
A Phase 2A trial found that microdosing LSD over six weeks did not significantly reduce ADHD symptoms in adults compared to placebo. Both the LSD and placebo groups showed marked improvement, indicating no added benefit from the drug.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
March 27, 2025
Adults with alcohol use disorder who received two sessions of psilocybin-assisted therapy showed personality changes toward normalizing abnormal traits, according to a secondary analysis of a randomized trial. A decrease in impulsiveness was linked to reduced drinking after treatment, with the strongest effect among psilocybin-treated individuals who had engaged in moderate- or high-risk drinking before treatment.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
March 3, 2025
In a randomized clinical trial, psilocybin therapy significantly reduced depressive symptoms among frontline healthcare workers who experienced burnout, depression, or PTSD from COVID-19 pandemic work. Thirty clinicians (physicians, advanced practice professionals, nurses) with at least one month of frontline care received either 25 mg psilocybin or 100 mg niacin (control), plus preparatory and integration sessions. The psilocybin group showed greater decreases in depression at day 28, sustained at 6 months. Burnout and PTSD symptoms also decreased numerically but not significantly; no serious adverse events occurred. The authors assert psilocybin therapy represents a new treatment paradigm for this post-pandemic condition.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
March 4, 2024
A single 25 mg dose of psilocybin led to improvement in depressive symptoms in all 15 adults with bipolar II disorder in an open-label nonrandomized trial. Twelve of the 15 participants met response and remission criteria at the 12-week endpoint.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
January 1, 2024
Three sessions of MDMA-assisted therapy over three months led to significantly greater reductions in PTSD symptoms than placebo plus therapy in a Phase 3 trial. The treatment also improved functional impairment. Results were published in Nature Medicine in September 2023.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
October 30, 2023
A single 25-mg dose of psilocybin, given alongside psychological support, produced significant and lasting reductions in depressive symptoms compared to placebo in a Phase 2 trial involving patients with major depressive disorder. Although more adverse events occurred in the psilocybin group, no serious treatment-emergent adverse events were reported. The findings suggest psilocybin may be a promising treatment for major depression, though further research is needed to confirm safety and efficacy.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
September 3, 2023
Vitamin D3 and omega-3 supplements do not protect against late-life depression, even in older adults with subthreshold depressive symptoms or high risk factors such as anxiety or impaired daily activities. In a two-year trial, participants received either vitamin D3 (2,000 IU/day) and omega-3s (1 g/day) or a placebo. About 95% took at least two-thirds of the supplements. Those with subthreshold depression had a higher risk of developing depression, but neither supplement reduced that risk or improved mood scores compared to placebo. Low overall depression rates limited the study's statistical power. The findings do not support using these supplements for preventing late-life depression.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
September 1, 2023
In patients with treatment-resistant major depression, twice-weekly ketamine was as effective as three sessions per week of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) over a 3-week treatment period. During a 6-month follow-up, relapse rates were higher among those who received ECT than among those who received ketamine.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
July 1, 2023
A randomized trial involving healthy adult men found that microdosing LSD over six weeks improved mood on dose days, but no longer-term improvements in mood or cognition were reported.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
December 27, 2022
A single 25-mg dose of psilocybin significantly improved depressive symptoms in adults with treatment-resistant depression at 3 weeks compared to a 1-mg control dose, according to a Phase 2b trial. A 10-mg dose did not produce significant improvement over the control. Adverse events were common in both higher-dose groups. The results appeared in the November 3, 2022 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
December 10, 2022
A survey of 613 U.S. adults who had used classic psychedelics at least once found that 1.5% had experienced a seizure while using the drug. Nearly half of those who had a seizure were also taking an antidepressant, mood stabilizer, or opioid replacement therapy. Seizures were more common among individuals with a personal or family history of epilepsy. Even after excluding those with a personal history of epilepsy, seizures remained more frequent among those with a family history. The findings suggest that screening for personal and family epilepsy history may be important for safety in both clinical and non-clinical psychedelic use.
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
November 3, 2022
Two sessions of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy reduced heavy-drinking days and other alcohol-related problems more than placebo plus psychotherapy in a randomized trial of patients with alcohol use disorder. No serious adverse events or psychotic disturbances occurred with psilocybin. Results appeared in JAMA Psychiatry.