Psychedelics for depression: from neurobiology to treatment

Classical psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD showed therapeutic potential for psychiatric disorders decades ago, and ayahuasca has been used for healing in western Amazonia for thousands of years. Recent research into these substances has re-emerged, with preliminary findings indicating that one or two administrations can lead to remission in depressed patients previously labeled treatment-resistant. This is notable because conventional antidepressants like SSRIs take longer to work and fail to achieve remission in one-third of patients. The fast onset of effects has increased interest in understanding the mechanism of action, with debate over the role of psychological experience versus neurobiological correlates.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Decades ago, the classical psychedelics psilocybin and LSD entered the therapeutic setting and already then showed their therapeutic potential in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. For thousands of years another psychedelic, ayahuasca, is being used by tribes in western Amazonia for healing and divination, and in recent years its use has expanded worldwide. Research into the therapeutic potential of these substances has re-emerged and (preliminary) findings are promising, showing that after one or two administrations remission is reached in depressed patients that were labeled as treatment-resistant. This is a remarkable finding as the therapeutic effects of treatment with conventional pharmacological agents like SSRIs take longer to lead to remission, with one-third of the patients failing to reach this stage. The fast onset of positive therapeutic effects by psychedelics increases the interest to discover the mechanism of action behind this. There is a debate about the importance of the psychological experience caused by these agents in the therapeutic outcome, while science also tries to understand the neurobiological correlates. The latter will be addressed in my talk and I will link it to psychedelics’ therapeutic effects. Disclosure of Interest None Declared