Naturally derived psilocybin is widely used, yet its therapeutic potential, pharmacological distinctiveness and regulatory feasibility remain understudied. This review evaluates the potential of naturally derived psilocybin using a six-criterion framework to evaluate: (1) therapeutic benefit, (2) safety and tolerability, (3) pharmacological uniqueness vs. sy...
Psychedelic drugs that activate 5-HT receptors have been long used for cultural, medicinal and recreational purposes. Interest in psychedelics for treating psychiatric disorders has resurged recently and is well documented; less well recognised are their anti-inflammatory properties. Growing evidence now demonstrates that psychedelics modulate immune respons...
The interest in psychedelics for health-related purposes has grown significantly over the past decade. However, there is an insufficient representation of stakeholders (eg, Indigenous groups, activists, policymakers) in discussions about research and regulation. Many psychedelics originate from traditional practices historically developed in low- and middle-...
Psilocybin, the main psychoactive compound in Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms, has gained considerable attention for its therapeutic potential. Current research focuses only on isolated psilocybin, neglecting the broader pharmacological and cultural use of the whole mushroom. This perspective advocates for an integrative approach that includes standardised P. c...
Importance: The Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS) program is the first statewide, regulated framework for legal psilocybin in the U.S. Analyzing inaugural-year utilization and safety is essential for informing policy and equity monitoring. Methods: We conducted a descriptive analysis of statewide aggregate data from the OPS Public Dashboard (January 1-Decembe...
AbstractIntroduction Psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain mushroom species, has gained substantial clinical, scientific, and cultural attention in recent years. Despite this growing interest and evolving policy landscape, nationally representative estimates of recent psilocybin use in the United States remain limited. Under...
The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to learn whether it is feasible to individually tailor psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) for people with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) based on their personal preferences. The study also aims to explore whether two different psychotherapy styles, music-centered and mindfulness-centered, influence how peop...
Altered states of consciousness (ASC) represent a universal human capacity for accessing and transforming the subconscious mind, employed across cultures and millennia through diverse contemplative, somatic, pharmacological, ritual, and technological modalities. This comprehensive review synthesizes evidence from over 25 distinct disciplines spanning five cl...
Rationale: Ego-dissolution represents a key therapeutic mechanism in psychedelic-assisted therapy, yet current measurement approaches may inadequately capture its multidimensional nature. Objective: To develop and validate the Multidimensional Ego-Dissolution Assessment (MEDA) and examine substance-specific patterns across classical psychedelics. Methods: It...
Psilocybin, a tryptamine-derived alkaloid from Psilocybe mushrooms, has emerged as a high-value biopharmaceutical candidate due to its promising applications in mental health. While clinical studies highlight its rapid and sustained antidepressant effects, current challenges lie in achieving scalable, reproducible, and cost-effective production to meet growi...
Australia's reclassification of psilocybin as a Schedule 8 substance for treatment-resistant depression represents a significant shift in psychiatric policy. While this regulatory change positions Australia as a global leader in psychedelic medicine, its implementation has revealed substantial challenges. This article critically examines the regulatory, ethi...
Serotonergic psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD have shown potential therapeutic benefits for mental health conditions, including depression, PTSD, and addiction. However, research remains limited due to regulatory barriers and a lack of diversity in study populations. Spanish-speaking individuals, despite their significant global and U.S. presence, are un...
Psychedelics, such as psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ketamine, and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), have captured the attention of scientists, artists, and seekers alike for their profound ability to alter consciousness and inspire creativity. The concept of "creation" encompasses multiple interpretations-ranging from generating novel ideas to fo...
Based on promising preliminary results from clinical trials, it seems likely that psychedelic substances (classic serotonergic psychedelics, such as psilocybin, and entactogens, such as MDMA) will be introduced into psychiatry as psychedelic-assisted therapy. This also raises a range of ethical questions that urgently need to be addressed before widespread r...
Psilocybe species, commonly known as “magic mushrooms”, are a group of hallucinogenic fungi known for their psychoactive compounds such as psilocybin, psilocin, baeocystin, and norbaeocystin. These species have been the focus of scientific study due to their potential therapeutic applications, despite their classification as controlled substances in many jur...
Psilocybe species, commonly known as "magic mushrooms", are a group of hallucinogenic fungi known for their psychoactive compounds such as psilocybin, psilocin, baeocystin, and norbaeocystin. These species have been the focus of scientific study due to their potential therapeutic applications, despite their classification as controlled substances in many jur...
Psychoactive substances are compounds that can influence perception, consciousness, cognition, and emotions. The psychoactive substances caffeine, nicotine, cannabis, and psilocybin all originate from natural sources and can be used without complex processing or synthesis. Their natural availability has contributed to a long-standing history of human use and...
Due to psilocybin-assisted therapy's success in previous research, growing cultural awareness and use of psilocybin and other psychedelics, the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act passed by ballot measure in 2020 and began offering services in 2023. While the program has had many successes, a significant problem it faces is affordability and no research to date h...
Naturally occurring psychoactive compounds have been used for cultural and ethnomedical purposes for centuries. Several more such molecules continue to be chemically synthesized, exhibiting a wide range of potency, therapeutic, and hallucinogenic effects. Promising clinical data and a renewed interest in understanding the cellular mechanisms of action have i...
