RATIONALE: Anecdotal evidence suggests that psychedelic researchers often have personal experiences with psychedelic substances. While such experiences may benefit research, concerns have been raised about potential biases and "excessive enthusiasm." However, the prevalence of personal experiences, their perceived relevance, and their association with opinio...
Neurodegenerative diseases are marked by progressive neuronal loss, inflammation, and impaired plasticity. Although existing treatments provide limited protection for the brain or ability to slow disease progression, emerging research highlights the gut-brain axis and psychedelics as promising new areas for therapeutic development. The gut microbiome, a meta...
Use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants has been associated with reduced intensity of emotional experience. Conversely, some research has shown that use of psilocybin in patients with depression leads to an increase in responsiveness to emotional face stimuli, suggesting that the psychedelic generates a transient elevation in moo...
Abstract Background We have designed a novel psychedelic-derived compound (HBL20017) characterized by high functional efficacy at 5-HT2A, 5-HT1A, and 5-HT2C receptors. We assessed its hallucinogenic properties and its potential for OCD treatment on the marble burying test (MBT) and in mice homozygous for deletion of the Synapse Associated Protein 3 (SAPAP3) ...
Abstract Background Psychedelics have long been explored as potential treatments for mental illnesses. Since the mid-20th century, clinical trials of psychedelics such as LSD for depression and anxiety in terminally ill patients have been conducted. In the 21st century, revived and accelerated efforts to promote the proper use of psychedelics in the medical ...
Abstract Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a multifactorial and heterogeneous disorder that affects around 280 million individuals worldwide, with approximately 80 million experiencing treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Neuronal hypotrophy and axon hypomyelination in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) are hallmark features of MDD, highlighting the ne...
Abstract Background Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with significant personal suffering and functional impairment. At least a third of OCD patients do not respond to conventional treatments. There is a substantial anecdotal literature suggesting that psychedelic agents, specifically psilocybin and psilocybin-containing psychedelic mushroom ...
Abstract Background Despite the widespread availability of multiple antidepressant treatments, depression remains a common and sometimes debilitating disorder. A significant proportion of patients with major depressive disorder fail two or more antidepressant treatments and are considered to have treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Recent attention has tur...
In the 1950s-60s, serotonergic psychedelic drugs were studied as potential adjuvants to psychotherapy to treat addiction and alcoholism. However, starting in the 70s, preclinical and clinical studies on psychedelics stopped for decades because legislation controlled its recreational use, citing their hallucinogenic and psychotomimetic effects, as well as the...
This study will examine the effect of a single high dose of psilocybin therapy (30 mg) versus a very low dose (1 mg) as an adjunctive therapy to individuals undergoing standard-of-care outpatient buprenorphine treatment for Opioid use disorder (OUD). The participants will have previously undergone buprenorphine induction before. Effects of adjunctive psilocy...
The classical psychedelics (+)-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, and mescaline exert their psychedelic effects via activation of the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor (5-HT2AR). Recent clinical studies have suggested that classical psychedelics may additionally have therapeutic potential for many neuropsychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety,...
The therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances, particularly psilocybin, for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) has garnered considerable attention. However, the necessity of subjective psychedelic experiences for therapeutic efficacy remains unclear, creating a critical gap in the field. To determine whether subjective psychedelic experiences induced...
The influence of ovarian hormone fluctuations on neurochemistry, cognition, and psychological responses remains insufficiently examined in current psychedelic research and clinical protocols. Traditional practices and case studies underscore the importance of accounting for these factors in investigations of psychedelic effects. This opinion paper explores t...
Background: Although classic psychedelic trials show therapeutic potential, the limited diversity of participants raises concerns about generalizability and safety. Aims: This study assesses the representation of race, ethnicity, and sex in interventional clinical trials of psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) to evaluate disparities in participan...
Psilocybin, the naturally occurring psychedelic compound produced by hallucinogenic mushrooms, has received attention due to considerable clinical evidence for its therapeutic potential to treat various psychiatric and neurodegenerative indications. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain enigmatic, and few studies have explored its systemic impa...
Recent advancements in the study of psilocybin and its active metabolite psilocin have highlighted their unique psychedelic properties and potential therapeutic applications, particularly in the rapid and sustained treatment of depression. However, the potent acute psychedelic effects of psilocybin necessitate a deeper understanding of the neural mechanisms ...
IntroductionNatural hallucinogens derived from fungi and animals have been used for centuries in shamanic, ritualistic, and medicinal practices across diverse cultures. These compounds exhibit a widerange of structures and mechanisms of action, affecting various neurotransmitter systems pathways. Fungal hallucinogens, primarily indole alkaloids like psilocyb...
BACKGROUND: Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) is a promising treatment for various psychiatric disorders. However, the exact biological and psychological mechanisms of action of PAP remain to be determined. Examining predictors of PAP outcomes may help identify necessary processes for positive treatment outcomes. Mystical experiences are considered a k...
