The promises and perils of psychedelic pharmacology for psychiatry

Psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin, DMT, and LSD show promise for treating neuropsychiatric diseases, with phase II trials indicating that one or two doses of psilocybin can produce significant clinical effects for depression and anxiety. This has spurred commercial interest, with nearly 60 companies exploring psychedelic treatments. While the 5-HT2A receptor is known to mediate behavioral effects, it remains unclear which aspects of its activity in the central nervous system drive therapeutic outcomes and whether these can be isolated using novel chemical probes. The article discusses controversies and consensus in this field and highlights how basic science may guide development of psychedelic-inspired medications that offer efficacy without hallucinogenic or rewarding effects.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Psychedelic drugs including psilocybin, N,Nʹ-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) are undergoing a renaissance as potentially useful drugs for various neuropsychiatric diseases, with a rapid onset of therapeutic activity. Notably, phase II trials have shown that psilocybin can produce statistically significant clinical effects following one or two administrations in depression and anxiety. These findings have inspired a ‘gold rush’ of commercial interest, with nearly 60 companies already formed to explore opportunities for psychedelics in treating diverse diseases. Additionally, these remarkable phenomenological and clinical observations are informing hypotheses about potential molecular mechanisms of action that need elucidation to realize the full potential of this investigative space. In particular, despite compelling evidence that the 5-HT2A receptor is a critical mediator of the behavioural effects of psychedelic drugs, uncertainty remains about which aspects of 5-HT2A receptor activity in the central nervous system are responsible for therapeutic effects and to what degree they can be isolated by developing novel chemical probes with differing specificity and selectivity profiles. Here, we discuss this emerging area of therapeutics, covering both controversies and areas of consensus related to the opportunities and perils of psychedelic and psychedelic-inspired therapeutics. We highlight how basic science breakthroughs can guide the discovery and development of psychedelic-inspired medications with the potential for improved efficacy without hallucinogenic or rewarding actions.