Background/Objectives: This study examines the development of clinical trials investigating psilocybin for the treatment of psychopathologies, with a comparative focus on the United States (US) and the European Union (EU). The objective is to identify regional differences in trial progression, research infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks. Methods: A mi...
Chronic pain states are challenging to control with current drug therapies. Here, we demonstrate that a single dose of psilocybin can produce a sustained anti-nociceptive effect in a model of chronic neuropathic pain in male and female mice. Psilocybin anti-nociceptive effects were mediated by 5-HT2A receptors, although additional mechanisms might also be in...
Psilocybin, a serotonergic psychedelic, is gaining attention for its rapid and sustained therapeutic effects in depression and other hard-to-treat neuropsychiatric conditions, potentially through its capacity to enhance neuronal plasticity. While its neuroplastic and therapeutic effects are commonly attributed to serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptor activation, em...
BackgroundPsychedelics are emerging as promising treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) offers a powerful tool to study neural mechanisms underlying therapeutic response.MethodsThis systematic review (PROSPERO #CRD42024557973) examined neuroimaging studies of psilo...
The serotonin 2C receptor (5-HT2C) is a G protein-coupled receptor implicated in multiple physiological and psychological processes and has been investigated as a therapeutic target for neuropsychiatric conditions such as obesity, drug abuse, and depression. With renewed interest in serotonergic psychedelics for treating depression, 5-HT2C may contribute to ...
Decades of cross-species research highlight the claustrums extensive bidirectional connectivity with cortical and subcortical regions, implicating it in higher-order cognitive processes requiring synchronized brain states. Psychedelics may disrupt this synchrony by modulating claustro-cortical signaling, reflected by the dissolution of cortical network signa...
Abstract Background Self-transcendent and mystical experiences may be key mechanisms underlying psychedelics’ therapeutic effects, yet how these experiences differ across substances remains unclear. This study compared mystical and self-transcendent experiences across psilocybin, 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and cannabis in a diverse, community-...
Czechia has recently approved the medical use of psilocybin, marking a pivotal shift in the country’s drug policy landscape. This development paves the way for regulated therapeutic applications of psilocybin within clinical settings, while simultaneously prompting a timely discussion on the potential uses of psychedelics beyond strictly medical contexts. Th...
Serotonergic psychedelics have shown promise in clinical trials for treating an array of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite these findings, our understanding of how these drugs mechanistically exert their therapeutic effects remains incomplete. While researchers have regularly employed rodent p...
Abstract Background Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability and economic loss, with high recurrence and treatment resistance. Psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) shows promise in reducing depressive symptoms, but long-term effects are unknown. We aimed to determine the long-term safety and efficacy of PAT for MDD over a five-year follo...
BackgroundMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is a significant public health concern, and current treatments often have limitations in effectiveness and adherence. Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms, is being explored as a potential treatment for depression. It primarily acts through the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor but interacts with 5-H...
Psychedelic substances have experienced a resurgence of clinical interest in recent years, particularly for their promising effects in the treatment of psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. While evidence regarding their role in chronic pain management remains limited, emerging studies suggest potential therapeutic benefits. This case report ...
Introduction: Recently, there has been a significant increase in interest in the use of psychedelics for various psychiatric conditions. Psilocybin is receiving particular attention as a psychoactive substance with significant therapeutic potential. Recent research focuses on its possible benefits in the treatment of major depressive disorders (MDD) and anor...
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...
Psilocybin, a serotonergic psychedelic, has emerged as a promising treatment for a range of mental health conditions, including anorexia nervosa. Recent insights from animal models and human imaging studies suggest psilocybin enhances cognitive flexibility and modifies reward processing - two core processes disrupted in anorexia nervosa. Both cognitive flexi...
Serotonergic psychedelics, including the recreationally used psilocybin and LSD, have become promising therapeutic agents for the treatment of treatment-resistant depression. While it is generally agreed that they exhibit their antidepressant effects by inducing rapid and sustained neuroplasticity, the molecular mechanisms responsible are widely debated. In ...
The extent to which anatomical connectivity constrains pharmacologically altered brain dynamics remains poorly understood. Here, we combined psilocybin administration with a structurally informed effective-connectivity model to examine how structural connectivity shapes directed inter-regional influences across experiential contexts. Using dynamic causal mod...
Recent advances in psychedelic research have renewed interest in their therapeutic potential for psychiatric disorders characterized by cognitive and behavioral rigidity. This review examines the rationale for using serotonergic psychedelics-particularly 5-HT2A receptor agonists such as psilocybin-in the treatment of eating disorders (EDs), including anorexi...
Psilocybin, a serotonergic compound that produces psychedelic effects primarily through activation of the 5-HT2A receptor, has shown promise in treating neuropsychiatric conditions, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, the effects of chronic psilocybin administration on gut function, microbiota, and behavioural phenotypes remain understudi...
The study hypothesis is that the antidepressant effect of psilocybin is mediated by a normalization of the functioning of the positive valence system. Depressive states, especially moderate to severe depressions that associate a certain level of anhedonia, produce an overvaluation of the cost of efforts and an infra-evaluation of the possible rewards derived...
