# publications

authors: Roseman L, Demetriou L, Wall MB, Nutt DJ, Carhart-Harris RL.
publication_date: 2017-12-26
doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.12.041
pubmed_id: 29288686
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.12.041
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
title:
Increased amygdala responses to emotional faces after psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression.

abstract:
Recent evidence indicates that psilocybin with psychological support may be effective for treating depression. Some studies have found that patients with depression show heightened amygdala responses to fearful faces and there is reliable evidence that treatment with SSRIs attenuates amygdala responses (Ma, 2015). We hypothesised that amygdala responses to emotional faces would be altered post-treatment with psilocybin. In this open-label study, 20 individuals diagnosed with moderate to severe, treatment-resistant depression, underwent two separate dosing sessions with psilocybin. Psychological support was provided before, during and after these sessions and 19 completed fMRI scans one week prior to the first session and one day after the second and last. Neutral, fearful and happy faces were presented in the scanner and analyses focused on the amygdala. Group results revealed rapid and enduring improvements in depressive symptoms post psilocybin. Increased responses to fearful and happy faces were observed in the right amygdala post-treatment, and right amygdala increases to fearful versus neutral faces were predictive of clinical improvements at 1-week. Psilocybin with psychological support was associated with increased amygdala responses to emotional stimuli, an opposite effect to previous findings with SSRIs. This suggests fundamental differences in these treatments' therapeutic actions, with SSRIs mitigating negative emotions and psilocybin allowing patients to confront and work through them. Based on the present results, we propose that psilocybin with psychological support is a treatment approach that potentially revives emotional responsiveness in depression, enabling patients to reconnect with their emotions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN, number ISRCTN14426797. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Psychedelics: New Doors, Altered Perceptions'.

keywords:
Amygdala, Humans, Hallucinogens, Antidepressive Agents, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Prognosis, Combined Modality Therapy, Brain Mapping, Emotions, Psychotherapy, Adult, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Facial Recognition, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Depression,Brain Imaging,Aging,Emotional Processing,Randomized Controlled Trial,Treatment-Resistant Depression

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29288686","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psychiatry & the psychedelic drugs. Past, present & future.
authors: Rucker JJH, Iliff J, Nutt DJ.
publication_date: 2017-12-24
doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.12.040
pubmed_id: 29284138
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.12.040
keywords: Animals, Humans, Hallucinogens, Mental Disorders, Psychiatry, Clinical Trials as Topic
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
The classical psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide and mescaline, were used extensively in psychiatry before they were placed in Schedule I of the UN Convention on Drugs in 1967. Experimentation and clinical trials undertaken prior to legal sanction suggest that they are not helpful for those with established psychotic disorders and should be avoided in those liable to develop them. However, those with so-called 'psychoneurotic' disorders sometimes benefited considerably from their tendency to 'loosen' otherwise fixed, maladaptive patterns of cognition and behaviour, particularly when given in a supportive, therapeutic setting. Pre-prohibition studies in this area were sub-optimal, although a recent systematic review in unipolar mood disorder and a meta-analysis in alcoholism have both suggested efficacy. The incidence of serious adverse events appears to be low. Since 2006, there have been several pilot trials and randomised controlled trials using psychedelics (mostly psilocybin) in various non-psychotic psychiatric disorders. These have provided encouraging results that provide initial evidence of safety and efficacy, however the regulatory and legal hurdles to licensing psychedelics as medicines are formidable. This paper summarises clinical trials using psychedelics pre and post prohibition, discusses the methodological challenges of performing good quality trials in this area and considers a strategic approach to the legal and regulatory barriers to licensing psychedelics as a treatment in mainstream psychiatry. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Psychedelics: New Doors, Altered Perceptions'.

topic_tags:
Aging,Clinical Trial,Randomized Controlled Trial,Meta-Analysis,Systematic Review,Review Article,Safety,Adverse Events

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29284138","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Di Giovanni G, De Deurwaerdère P.
publication_date: 2017-10-03
doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.10.004
pubmed_id: 28987938
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.10.004
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Review Article,Animal Study
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
TCB-2 [(7R)-3-bromo-2, 5-dimethoxy-bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-trien-7-yl]methanamine]: A hallucinogenic drug, a selective 5-HT2A receptor pharmacological tool, or none of the above?

abstract:
The development of 5-HT2A receptor agonists has been considerably marginalized since the demonstration that the tryptaminergic drugs, LSD and psilocybin, or the phenylakylamine drugs, mescaline and DOI, exert their hallucinogenic properties via the stimulation of 5-HT2A receptors. Nonetheless, the ability of drugs to stimulate 5-HT2A receptors is not necessarily associated with psychedelic experience and the hallucinogenic properties are still not understood. Several studies have increased interest in stimulating 5-HT2A receptors in various CNS diseases. (7R)-3-bromo-2, 5-dimethoxy-bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-trien-7-yl]methanamine (TCB-2) which was synthetized in 2006 presents a high affinity with human and rat 5-HT2A receptors. Its main feature of interest is that it preferentially stimulates the phospholipase C and not phospholipase A2 pathway, which is at variance with several hallucinogenic drugs. Preference for TCB-2 has increased in preclinical studies and it exhibits subtle differences compared to DOI or LSD in some molecular, cellular and behavioral studies. The purpose of this review is to take a position on the use of TCB-2 as a pharmacological tool. A careful reading of the literature has revealed that the suspected hallucinogenic properties of TCB-2 cannot firmly be ascertained while its pharmacological profile is unknown and likely not selective at 5-HT2A receptors. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Psychedelics: New Doors, Altered Perceptions'.

keywords:
Animals, Humans, Methylamines, Hallucinogens, Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists, Bridged Bicyclo Compounds

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28987938","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Iterative l-Tryptophan Methylation in Psilocybe Evolved by Subdomain Duplication.
authors: Blei F, Fricke J, Wick J, Slot JC, Hoffmeister D.
publication_date: 2018-10-01
doi: 10.1002/cbic.201800336
pubmed_id: 30098085
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1002/cbic.201800336
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Pharmacology,Mechanism of Action,Epigenetics,In Vitro Study
study_type: In Vitro Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
Psilocybe mushrooms are best known for their l-tryptophan-derived psychotropic alkaloid psilocybin. Dimethylation of norbaeocystin, the precursor of psilocybin, by the enzyme PsiM is a critical step during the biosynthesis of psilocybin. However, the "magic" mushroom Psilocybe serbica also mono- and dimethylates l-tryptophan, which is incompatible with the specificity of PsiM. Here, a second methyltransferase, TrpM, was identified and functionally characterized. Mono- and dimethylation activity on l-tryptophan was reconstituted in vitro, whereas tryptamine was rejected as a substrate. Therefore, we describe a second l-tryptophan-dependent pathway in Psilocybe that is not part of the biosynthesis of psilocybin. TrpM is unrelated to PsiM but originates from a retained ancient duplication event of a portion of the egtDB gene that encodes an ergothioneine biosynthesis enzyme. During mushroom evolution, this duplicated gene was widely lost but re-evolved sporadically and independently in various genera. We propose a new secondary metabolism evolvability mechanism, in which weakly selected genes are retained through preservation in a widely distributed, conserved pathway.

keywords:
Tryptamines, Methyltransferases, Tryptophan, Evolution, Molecular, Substrate Specificity, Methylation, Psilocybe, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"30098085","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Ibogaine.
authors: Wasko MJ, Witt-Enderby PA, Surratt CK.
publication_date: 2018-10-08
doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00294
pubmed_id: 30216039
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00294
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,Addiction,Receptor Pharmacology,Clinical Trial,Animal Study,Toxicity
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
The West African iboga plant has been used for centuries by the Bwiti and Mbiri tribes to induce hallucinations during religious ceremonies. Ibogaine, the principal alkaloid responsible for iboga's psychedelic properties, was isolated and sold as an antidepressant in France for decades before its adverse effects precipitated its removal from the market. An ibogaine resurgence in the 1960s was driven by U.S. heroin addicts who claimed that ibogaine cured their opiate addictions. Behavioral pharmacologic studies in animal models provided evidence that ibogaine could blunt self-administration of not only opiates but cocaine, amphetamines, and nicotine. Ibogaine displays moderate-to-weak affinities for a wide spectrum of receptor and transporter proteins; recent work suggests that its actions at nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes may underlie its reputed antiopiate effects. At micromolar levels, ibogaine is neurotoxic and cardiotoxic and has been linked to several deaths by cardiac arrest. Structure-activity studies led to the isolation of the ibogaine analog 18-methoxycoronaridine (18-MC), an α3β4 nicotinic receptor modulator that retains ibogaine's anticraving properties with few or no adverse effects. Clinical trials of 18-MC treatment of nicotine addiction are pending. Ibogaine analogs may also hold promise for treating anxiety and depression via the "psychedelic-assisted therapy" approach that employs hallucinogens including psilocybin and methylenedioxymethamphetamine ("ecstasy").

keywords:
Humans, Tabernaemontana, Substance-Related Disorders, Ibogaine, Receptors, Nicotinic, Hallucinogens, Structure-Activity Relationship, History, 20th Century, History, 21st Century, Cardiotoxicity

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"30216039","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Dark Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT).
authors: Cameron LP, Olson DE.
publication_date: 2018-07-22
doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00101
pubmed_id: 30036036
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00101
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Pharmacology,Review Article
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Though relatively obscure, N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is an important molecule in psychopharmacology as it is the archetype for all indole-containing serotonergic psychedelics. Its structure can be found embedded within those of better-known molecules such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin. Unlike the latter two compounds, DMT is ubiquitous, being produced by a wide variety of plant and animal species. It is one of the principal psychoactive components of ayahuasca, a tisane made from various plant sources that has been used for centuries. Furthermore, DMT is one of the few psychedelic compounds produced endogenously by mammals, and its biological function in human physiology remains a mystery. In this review, we cover the synthesis of DMT as well as its pharmacology, metabolism, adverse effects, and potential use in medicine. Finally, we discuss the history of DMT in chemical neuroscience and why this underappreciated molecule is so important to the field of psychedelic science.

keywords:
Animals, Humans, Banisteriopsis, N,N-Dimethyltryptamine, Hallucinogens, Plant Preparations, History, 20th Century, History, 21st Century

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"30036036","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Psilocybin.
authors: Geiger HA, Wurst MG, Daniels RN.
publication_date: 2018-07-15
doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00186
pubmed_id: 29956917
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00186
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: Depression,Addiction,End-of-Life Distress,Pharmacology,Review Article,Cancer Patients
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
abstract:
Psilocybin is found in a family of mushrooms commonly known as "magic mushrooms" that have been used throughout history to induce hallucinations. In the late 1950s Albert Hofmann, of Sandoz Laboratories, identified and synthesized the psychoactive compounds psilocybin and psilocin which are found in psilocybe mushrooms. Psilocybin was marketed by Sandoz as Indocybin for basic psychopharmacological and therapeutic clinical research. Psilocybin saw a rapid rise in popularity during the 1960s and was classed as a Schedule I drug in 1970. This led to a significant decrease in psilocybin research. Recently, however, preliminary studies with psilocybin have shown promise as potential for the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder, alcohol addiction, tobacco addiction, and major depressive disorder, and the treatment of depression in terminally ill cancer patients. This review describes in detail the synthesis, metabolism, pharmacology, adverse drug reactions, and importance of psilocybin to neuroscience in the past and present.

keywords:
Humans, Agaricales, Hallucinogens, History, Ancient, History, 20th Century, History, 21st Century, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29956917","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psychedelics and Personality.
authors: Aixalà M, Dos Santos RG, Hallak JEC, Bouso JC.
publication_date: 2018-06-03
doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00237
pubmed_id: 29863323
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00237
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Anxiety,Addiction,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Personality Change,Clinical Trial
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
In the past decade, an increasing number of clinical trials are reporting evidence that psychedelics or serotonergic hallucinogens (such as lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin, and ayahuasca/dimethyltryptamine) could be effective in the treatment of mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders. The mechanisms responsible for these effects are not fully understood but seem to involve changes in bran dynamics in areas rich in serotonergic 5-HT2A receptors and in personality. In the present text, we present a brief and critical overview of the current research in this field, pointing out both promises and limitations of these studies.

keywords:
Humans, Banisteriopsis, Substance-Related Disorders, N,N-Dimethyltryptamine, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A, Hallucinogens, Plant Preparations, Personality, Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders, Clinical Trials as Topic, Psilocybin

raw_json:
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title: Dark Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD).
authors: Nichols DE.
publication_date: 2018-02-28
doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00043
pubmed_id: 29461039
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00043
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is one of the most potent psychoactive agents known, producing dramatic alterations of consciousness after submilligram (≥20 μg) oral doses. Following the accidental discovery of its potent psychoactive effects in 1943, it was supplied by Sandoz Laboratories as an experimental drug that might be useful as an adjunct for psychotherapy, or to give psychiatrists insight into the mental processes in their patients. The finding of serotonin in the mammalian brain in 1953, and its structural resemblance to LSD, quickly led to ideas that serotonin in the brain might be involved in mental disorders, initiating rapid research interest in the neurochemistry of serotonin. LSD proved to be physiologically very safe and nonaddictive, with a very low incidence of adverse events when used in controlled experiments. Widely hailed by psychiatry as a breakthrough in the 1950s and early 1960s, clinical research with LSD ended by about 1970, when it was formally placed into Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 following its growing popularity as a recreational drug. Within the past 5 years, clinical research with LSD has begun in Europe, but there has been none in the United States. LSD is proving to be a powerful tool to help understand brain dynamics when combined with modern brain imaging methods. It remains to be seen whether therapeutic value for LSD can be confirmed in controlled clinical trials, but promising results have been obtained in small pilot trials of depression, anxiety, and addictions using psilocybin, a related psychedelic molecule.

keywords:
Humans, Substance-Related Disorders, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorder, Psychotherapy, Research, Drug and Narcotic Control, History, 20th Century, History, 21st Century, United States, Europe

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,Addiction,Brain Imaging,Receptor Pharmacology,Consciousness,Aging,Clinical Trial,Adverse Events

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29461039","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Lyons T, Carhart-Harris RL.
publication_date: 2018-10-11
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01721
pubmed_id: 30369890
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01721
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Personality Change,Treatment-Resistant Depression
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
title:
More Realistic Forecasting of Future Life Events After Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression.

abstract:
Background: Evidence suggests that classical psychedelics can promote enduring changes in personality, attitudes and optimism, as well as improvements in mental health outcomes. Aim: To investigate the effects of a composite intervention, involving psilocybin, on pessimism biases in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Methods: Patients with TRD (n = 15) and matched, untreated non-depressed controls (n = 15) performed the Prediction Of Future Life Events (POFLE) task. The POFLE task requires participants to predict the likelihood of certain life events occurring within a 30-day period, after which the actual rate of event occurrence is reported; this gives an index of potential pessimism versus optimism bias. Psilocybin was administered in two oral dosing sessions (10 and 25 mg) one week apart. Main outcome measures were collected at baseline and one week after the second dosing session. Results: Patients showed a significant pessimism bias at baseline [t(14) = -3.260, p = 0.006; 95% CI (-0.16, -0.03), g = 1.1] which was related to the severity of their depressive symptoms (rs = -0.55, p = 0.017). One week after psilocybin treatment, this bias was significantly decreased [t(14) = -2.714, p = 0.017; 95% CI (-0.21, -0.02), g = 0.7] and depressive symptoms were greatly improved [t(14) = 7.900, p < 0.001; 95% CI (16.17, 28.23), g = 1.9]; moreover, the magnitude of change in both variables was significantly correlated (r = -0.57, p = 0.014). Importantly, post treatment, patients became significantly more accurate at predicting the occurrence of future life events [t(14) = 1.857, p = 0.042; 95% CI (-0.01, 0.12), g = 0.6] whereas no such change was observed in the control subjects. Conclusion: These findings suggest that psilocybin with psychological support might correct pessimism biases in TRD, enabling a more positive and accurate outlook.

raw_json:
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authors: Barrett FS, Carbonaro TM, Hurwitz E, Johnson MW, Griffiths RR.
publication_date: 2018-07-29
doi: 10.1007/s00213-018-4981-x
pubmed_id: 30062577
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-018-4981-x
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Pharmacology,Receptor Pharmacology
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
title:
Double-blind comparison of the two hallucinogens psilocybin and dextromethorphan: effects on cognition.

abstract:
ObjectivesClassic psychedelics (serotonin 2A receptor agonists) and dissociative hallucinogens (NMDA receptor antagonists), though differing in pharmacology, may share neuropsychological effects. These drugs, however, have undergone limited direct comparison. This report presents data from a double-blind, placebo-controlled within-subjects study comparing the neuropsychological effects of multiple doses of the classic psychedelic psilocybin with the effects of a single high dose of the dissociative hallucinogen dextromethorphan (DXM).MethodsTwenty hallucinogen users (11 females) completed neurocognitive assessments during five blinded drug administration sessions (10, 20, and 30 mg/70 kg psilocybin; 400 mg/70 kg DXM; and placebo) in which participants and study staff were informed that a large range of possible drug conditions may have been administered.ResultsGlobal cognitive impairment, assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination during peak drug effects, was not observed with psilocybin or DXM. Orderly and dose-dependent effects of psilocybin were observed on psychomotor performance, working memory, episodic memory, associative learning, and visual perception. Effects of DXM on psychomotor performance, visual perception, and associative learning were in the range of effects of a moderate to high dose (20 to 30 mg/70 kg) of psilocybin.ConclusionsThis was the first study of the dose effects of psilocybin on a large battery of neurocognitive assessments. Evidence of delirium or global cognitive impairment was not observed with either psilocybin or DXM. Psilocybin had greater effects than DXM on working memory. DXM had greater effects than all psilocybin doses on balance, episodic memory, response inhibition, and executive control.

keywords:
Humans, Dextromethorphan, Hallucinogens, Double-Blind Method, Cognition, Association Learning, Memory, Short-Term, Visual Perception, Psychomotor Performance, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Adult, Female, Male, Young Adult, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"30062577","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Dimensions of consciousness and the psychedelic state.
authors: Bayne T, Carter O.
publication_date: 2018-09-18
doi: 10.1093/nc/niy008
pubmed_id: 30254752
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1093/nc/niy008
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Consciousness,Review Article
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
It has often been suggested in the popular and academic literature that the psychedelic state qualifies as a higher state of consciousness relative to the state of normal waking awareness. This article subjects this proposal to critical scrutiny, focusing on the question of what it would mean for a state of consciousness to be 'higher'. We begin by considering the contrast between conscious contents and conscious global states. We then review the changes in conscious global state associated with psychedelic drug use, focusing on the effects of two serotonergic hallucinogens: psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide. Limiting our review to findings obtained from lab-based experiments and reported in peer-reviewed journals, we prioritize the more common and reliably induced effects obtained through subjective questionnaires and psychophysical measures. The findings are grouped into three broad categories (sensory perception, cognitive function, and experiences of unity) and demonstrate that although certain aspects of consciousness are improved or enhanced in the psychedelic state, many of the functional capacities that are associated with consciousness are seriously compromised. Psychedelic-induced states of consciousness are indeed remarkable in many ways, but it is inappropriate to regard them as 'higher' states of consciousness. The fact that psychedelics affect different aspects of consciousness in fundamentally different ways provides evidence against the unidimensional (or 'level-based') view of consciousness, and instead provides strong support for a multidimensional conception of conscious states. The final section of the article considers the implications of this analysis for two prominent theories of consciousness: the Global Workspace Theory and Integrated Information Theory.

raw_json:
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title: Psychedelics, Meditation, and Self-Consciousness.
authors: Millière R, Carhart-Harris RL, Roseman L, Trautwein FM, Berkovich-Ohana A.
publication_date: 2018-09-03
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01475
pubmed_id: 30245648
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01475
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Receptor Pharmacology,Consciousness
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:07
abstract:
In recent years, the scientific study of meditation and psychedelic drugs has seen remarkable developments. The increased focus on meditation in cognitive neuroscience has led to a cross-cultural classification of standard meditation styles validated by functional and structural neuroanatomical data. Meanwhile, the renaissance of psychedelic research has shed light on the neurophysiology of altered states of consciousness induced by classical psychedelics, such as psilocybin and LSD, whose effects are mainly mediated by agonism of serotonin receptors. Few attempts have been made at bridging these two domains of inquiry, despite intriguing evidence of overlap between the phenomenology and neurophysiology of meditation practice and psychedelic states. In particular, many contemplative traditions explicitly aim at dissolving the sense of self by eliciting altered states of consciousness through meditation, while classical psychedelics are known to produce significant disruptions of self-consciousness, a phenomenon known as drug-induced ego dissolution. In this article, we discuss available evidence regarding convergences and differences between phenomenological and neurophysiological data on meditation practice and psychedelic drug-induced states, with a particular emphasis on alterations of self-experience. While both meditation and psychedelics may disrupt self-consciousness and underlying neural processes, we emphasize that neither meditation nor psychedelic states can be conceived as simple, uniform categories. Moreover, we suggest that there are important phenomenological differences even between conscious states described as experiences of self-loss. As a result, we propose that self-consciousness may be best construed as a multidimensional construct, and that "self-loss," far from being an unequivocal phenomenon, can take several forms. Indeed, various aspects of self-consciousness, including narrative aspects linked to autobiographical memory, self-related thoughts and mental time travel, and embodied aspects rooted in multisensory processes, may be differently affected by psychedelics and meditation practices. Finally, we consider long-term outcomes of experiences of self-loss induced by meditation and psychedelics on individual traits and prosocial behavior. We call for caution regarding the problematic conflation of temporary states of self-loss with "selflessness" as a behavioral or social trait, although there is preliminary evidence that correlations between short-term experiences of self-loss and long-term trait alterations may exist.

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authors: Dos Santos RG, Bouso JC, Alcázar-Córcoles MÁ, Hallak JEC.
publication_date: 2018-08-22
doi: 10.1080/17512433.2018.1511424
pubmed_id: 30102078
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1080/17512433.2018.1511424
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
Efficacy, tolerability, and safety of serotonergic psychedelics for the management of mood, anxiety, and substance-use disorders: a systematic review of systematic reviews.

abstract:
IntroductionMood, anxiety, and substance-use disorders are among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders in the population. Although several pharmacological treatments are available, they are not effective for a significant proportion of patients and are associated with several adverse reactions. Therefore, new treatments should be explored. Recent studies suggest that serotonergic hallucinogens/psychedelics including ayahuasca, psilocybin, and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) have anxiolytic, antidepressive, and antiaddictive effects. Areas Covered: A systematic review of systematic reviews assessing the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of serotonergic hallucinogens/psychedelic was performed using the PubMed data base until 11 April 2018. Systematic reviews with or without meta-analysis were analyzed, but only reviews that described at least one randomized controlled trial (RCT) were included. Expert Commentary: Psilocybin and LSD reduced anxiety and depression in cancer patients and symptoms of alcohol and tobacco dependence, and ayahuasca reduced depression symptoms in treatment-resistant depression. Although the results are promising, several studies were open label, and only few were RCTs, and most had small sample sizes and a short duration. Single or few doses of these drugs seem to be well tolerated, but long-term studies are lacking. New RCTs with bigger samples and longer duration are needed to replicate these findings.

keywords:
Humans, Banisteriopsis, Substance-Related Disorders, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Serotonin Agents, Hallucinogens, Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorder, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,Addiction,Receptor Pharmacology,Randomized Controlled Trial,Meta-Analysis,Systematic Review,Review Article,Cancer Patients,Treatment-Resistant Depression,Safety

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"30102078","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Cowan AF, Elkins KM
journal: Journal of forensic sciences
publication_date: 2018-08-31
doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.13714
pubmed_id: 29194645
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29194645/
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:40
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"29194645"}
title:
Detection and Identification of Psilocybe cubensis DNA Using a Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction High Resolution Melt Assay.

abstract:
Psilocybe cubensis, or "magic mushroom," is the most common species of fungus with psychedelic characteristics. Two primer sets were designed to target Psilocybe DNA using web-based software and NBCI gene sequences. DNA was extracted from eighteen samples, including twelve mushroom species, using the Qiagen DNeasy Plant Mini Kit. The DNA was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the primers and a master mix containing either a SYBR Green I, Radiant™ Green, or LCGreen Plus intercalating dye; amplicon size was determined using agarose gel electrophoresis. The PCR assays were tested for amplifiability, specificity, reproducibility, robustness, sensitivity, and multiplexing with primers that target marijuana. The observed high resolution melt (HRM) temperatures for primer sets 1 and 7 were 78.85 ± 0.31°C and 73.22 ± 0.61°C, respectively, using SYBR Green I dye and 81.67 ± 0.06°C and 76.04 ± 0.11°C, respectively, using Radiant™ Green dye.

keywords:
Cannabis sativa, Psilocybe cubensis, LCGreen Plus®, Radiant™ Green, SYBR® Green I, forensic science, high resolution melt, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)


authors: Garcia-Romeu A, Richards WA
journal: International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England)
publication_date: 2018-07-31
doi: 10.1080/09540261.2018.1486289
pubmed_id: 30422079
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30422079/
keywords: LSD, Psychedelic therapy, hallucinogens, psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Spirituality,Safety
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:40
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"30422079"}
title:
Current perspectives on psychedelic therapy: use of serotonergic hallucinogens in clinical interventions.

abstract:
Humans have used serotonergic hallucinogens (i.e. psychedelics) for spiritual, ceremonial, and recreational purposes for thousands of years, but their administration as part of a structured therapeutic intervention is still a relatively novel practice within Western medical and psychological frameworks. In the mid-20 century, considerable advances were made in developing therapeutic approaches integrating administration of low () and high () doses of serotonergic hallucinogens for treatment of a variety of conditions, often incorporating psychoanalytic concepts prevalent at that time. This work contributed seminal insights regarding how these substances may be employed with efficacy and safety in targeted therapeutic interventions, including the importance of optimizing set (frame of mind) and setting (therapeutic environment). More recently, clinical and pharmacological research has revisited the effects and therapeutic potential of psychedelics utilizing a variety of approaches. The current article provides an overview of past and present models of psychedelic therapy, and discusses important considerations for future interventions incorporating the use of psychedelics in research and clinical practice.


title: Awe: a putative mechanism underlying the effects of classic psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
authors: Hendricks PS
journal: International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England)
publication_date: 2018-07-31
doi: 10.1080/09540261.2018.1474185
pubmed_id: 30260256
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30260256/
keywords: Psychedelics, awe, mechanisms of change, psilocybin, psychotherapy
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Mechanism of Action,Emotional Processing,Mystical Experience
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:40
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"30260256"}
abstract:
A psychological model of classic psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy informed by contemporary scientific data is presented in this paper. It is suggested that classic psychedelic-occasioned mystical experience is characterized by profound awe, a discrete emotion experienced in the presence of a vast stimulus requiring accommodation of mental structures. Awe, in turn, promotes the small self, a construct that, in the extreme, is analogous to those of unitive experience and ego dissolution. The small self is conceptualized as key to understanding the downstream effects of mystical experience occasioned in the context of classic psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. With this novel theoretical framework in mind, a number of clinical implications and recommendations are provided so as to advance this incipient field of study.


title: Psychedelics and music: neuroscience and therapeutic implications.
authors: Barrett FS, Preller KH, Kaelen M
journal: International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England)
publication_date: 2018-07-31
doi: 10.1080/09540261.2018.1484342
pubmed_id: 30240282
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30240282/
keywords: LSD, Psychedelic, hallucinogen, music, music therapy, neuroscience, psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Emotional Processing,Review Article
study_type: Review Article
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:40
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"30240282"}
abstract:
From the beginning of therapeutic research with psychedelics, music listening has been consistently used as a method to guide or support therapeutic experiences during the acute effects of psychedelic drugs. Recent findings point to the potential of music to support meaning-making, emotionality, and mental imagery after the administration of psychedelics, and suggest that music plays an important role in facilitating positive clinical outcomes of psychedelic therapy. This review explores the history of, contemporary research on, and future directions regarding the use of music in psychedelic research and therapy, and argues for more detailed and rigorous investigation of the contribution of music to the treatment of psychiatric disorders within the novel framework of psychedelic therapy.


title: Therapeutic use of classic psychedelics to treat cancer-related psychiatric distress.
authors: Ross S.
publication_date: 2018-08-12
doi: 10.1080/09540261.2018.1482261
pubmed_id: 30102082
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2018.1482261
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Cancer is highly prevalent and one of the leading causes of global morbidity and mortality. Psychological and existential suffering is common in cancer patients, associated with poor psychiatric and medical outcomes. Promising early-phase clinical research (1960s to early 1970s) suggested a therapeutic signal for serotoninergic psychedelics (e.g. psilocybin, LSD) in treating cancer-related psychiatric distress. After several decades of quiescence, research on psychedelic-assisted therapy to treat psychiatric disorders in cancer patients has resumed within the last 2 decades in the US and Europe. This review article is based on a systematic search of clinical trials from 1960-2018 researching the therapeutic use of psychedelic treatment in patients with serious or terminal illnesses and related psychiatric illness. The search found 10 eligible clinical trials, with a total of 445 participants, with the vast majority of the patients having advanced or terminal cancer diagnoses. Six open label trials, published between 1964 and 1980 (n = 341), suggested that psychedelic therapy (mostly with LSD) may improve cancer-related depression, anxiety, and fear of death. Four RCTs trials were published between 2011 and 2016 (n = 104), mostly with psilocybin treatment (n = 92), and demonstrated that psychedelic-assisted treatment can produce rapid, robust, and sustained improvements in cancer-related psychological and existential distress.

keywords:
Humans, Neoplasms, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Serotonin Antagonists, Hallucinogens, Depression, Stress, Psychological, Anxiety, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,End-of-Life Distress,Receptor Pharmacology,Clinical Trial,Randomized Controlled Trial,Review Article,Cancer Patients

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"30102082","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psychedelics as anti-inflammatory agents.
authors: Flanagan TW, Nichols CD.
publication_date: 2018-08-12
doi: 10.1080/09540261.2018.1481827
pubmed_id: 30102081
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2018.1481827
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT)2A receptor agonists have recently emerged as promising new treatment options for a variety of disorders. The recent success of these agonists, also known as psychedelics, like psilocybin for the treatment of anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and addiction, has ushered in a renaissance in the way these compounds are perceived in the medical community and populace at large. One emerging therapeutic area that holds significant promise is their use as anti-inflammatory agents. Activation of 5-HT2A receptors produces potent anti-inflammatory effects in animal models of human inflammatory disorders at sub-behavioural levels. This review discusses the role of the 5-HT2A receptor in the inflammatory response, as well as highlight studies using the 5-HT2A agonist (R)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine [(R)-DOI] to treat inflammation in cellular and animal models. It also examines potential mechanisms by which 5-HT2A agonists produce their therapeutic effects. Overall, psychedelics regulate inflammatory pathways via novel mechanisms, and may represent a new and exciting treatment strategy for several inflammatory disorders.

keywords:
Animals, Humans, Amphetamines, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A, Hallucinogens, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Behavior, Animal, Depression, Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,Addiction,OCD,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Review Article,Animal Study,Inflammation

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"30102081","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Biocatalytic Production of Psilocybin and Derivatives in Tryptophan Synthase-Enhanced Reactions.
authors: Blei F, Baldeweg F, Fricke J, Hoffmeister D.
publication_date: 2018-06-18
doi: 10.1002/chem.201801047
pubmed_id: 29750381
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201801047
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,Receptor Pharmacology,In Vitro Study
study_type: In Vitro Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
Psilocybin (4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine) is the main alkaloid of the fungal genus Psilocybe, the so-called "magic mushrooms." The pharmaceutical interest in this psychotropic natural product as a future medication to treat depression and anxiety is strongly re-emerging. Here, we present an enhanced enzymatic route of psilocybin production by adding TrpB, the tryptophan synthase of the mushroom Psilocybe cubensis, to the reaction. We capitalized on its substrate flexibility and show psilocybin formation from 4-hydroxyindole and l-serine, which are less cost-intensive substrates, compared to the previous method. Furthermore, we show enzymatic production of 7-phosphoryloxytryptamine (isonorbaeocystin), a non-natural congener of the Psilocybe alkaloid norbaeocystin (4-phosphoryloxytryptamine), and of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) by means of the same in vitro approach.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29750381","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Paradigm Shift in Psychiatric Research and Development.
authors: Schenberg EE.
publication_date: 2018-07-04
doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00733
pubmed_id: 30026698
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.00733
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Consciousness,Safety
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Mental disorders are rising while development of novel psychiatric medications is declining. This stall in innovation has also been linked with intense debates on the current diagnostics and explanations for mental disorders, together constituting a paradigmatic crisis. A radical innovation is psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP): professionally supervised use of ketamine, MDMA, psilocybin, LSD and ibogaine as part of elaborated psychotherapy programs. Clinical results so far have shown safety and efficacy, even for "treatment resistant" conditions, and thus deserve increasing attention from medical, psychological and psychiatric professionals. But more than novel treatments, the PAP model also has important consequences for the diagnostics and explanation axis of the psychiatric crisis, challenging the discrete nosological entities and advancing novel explanations for mental disorders and their treatment, in a model considerate of social and cultural factors, including adversities, trauma, and the therapeutic potential of some non-ordinary states of consciousness.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"30026698","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psilocybin and Mental Health-Don't Lose Control.
authors: Barnby JM, Mehta MA.
publication_date: 2018-07-02
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00293
pubmed_id: 30018574
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00293
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"30018574","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder: A literature review and three case reports.
authors: Skryabin VY, Vinnikova M, Nenastieva A, Alekseyuk V.
publication_date: 2018-06-30
doi: 10.1080/10550887.2019.1673655
pubmed_id: 31613183
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1080/10550887.2019.1673655
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Review Article,Case Report,Healthcare Workers
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
The paper describes diagnostic criteria, clinical presentation and types of hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD), as well as current approaches to the treatment of this phenomenon using available scientific sources. Three case reports are also presented to demonstrate different types of this disorder. The first case report describes a 23-year old patient with a previous history of cannabis consumption who reported HPDD type I after the use of psilocybin mushrooms with small amounts of alcohol and hash. A month later, after cannabis use, the same visual and auditory distortions appeared again. During the following year, hallucinations recurred with the consumption of natural cannabinoids but not with alcohol intake. The symptoms have reduced within a year. Surprisingly, both other cases belonging to HPDD type II appeared in patients who consumed ecstasy, although MDMA is generally not considered a hallucinogen and hallucinations are not frequently reported after MDMA consumption. In both cases of HPPD type II after the use of ecstasy, the condition was very stressful and frightening. Both patients sought medical help and received tofisopam, lamotrigine and sertraline. After that, in both cases visual impairments have smoothed, but have not passed completely. Scientific sources suggest that HPPD may affect more than 50% of hallucinogen users and this disorder is often underdiagnosed. Therefore, patients suffering from HPPD can present in various clinical settings, and clinicians should be aware of this condition.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"31613183","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Mushroom poisoning epidemiology in the United States.
authors: Brandenburg WE, Ward KJ
journal: Mycologia
publication_date: 2017-12-31
doi: 10.1080/00275514.2018.1479561
pubmed_id: 30062915
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30062915/
keywords: Cyclopeptide, National Poison Data System, monomethylhyrazine, mycotoxin, psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:40
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"30062915"}
abstract:
Ingestion of wild and potentially toxic mushrooms is common in the United States and many other parts of the world. US poison centers have been logging cases of mushroom exposure in The National Poison Data System (NPDS) annual publications for over 30 years. This study compiles and analyzes US mushroom exposures as reported by the NPDS from 1999 to 2016. Over the last 18 years, 133 700 cases (7428/year) of mushroom exposure, mostly by ingestion, have been reported. Cases are most frequently unintentional (83%, P < 0.001); cause no or only minor harm (86%, P < 0.001); and in children


title: High dose psilocybin is associated with positive subjective effects in healthy volunteers.
publication_date: 2018-06-26
doi: 10.1177/0269881118780713
pubmed_id: 29945469
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881118780713
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Pharmacology,Wellbeing,Mystical Experience,Observational Study,Healthy Volunteers
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
authors:
Nicholas CR, Henriquez KM, Gassman MC, Cooper KM, Muller D, Hetzel S, Brown RT, Cozzi NV, Thomas C, Hutson PR.

abstract:
AimThe aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between escalating higher doses of psilocybin and the potential psilocybin occasioned positive subjective effects.MethodsHealthy participants ( n=12) were given three escalating doses of oral psilocybin (0.3 mg/kg; 0.45 mg/kg; 0.6 mg/kg) or (18.8-36.6 mg; 27.1-54.0 mg; 36.3-59.2 mg) a minimum of four weeks apart in a supervised setting. Blood and urine samples, vital signs, and electrocardiograms were obtained. Subjective effects were assessed using the Mystical Experience Questionnaire and Persisting Effects Questionnaire.ResultsThere was a significant linear dose-related response in Mystical Experience Questionnaire total score and the transcendence of time and space subscale, but not in the rate of a complete mystical experience. There was also a significant difference between dose 3 compared to dose 1 on the transcendence of time and space subscale, while no dose-related differences were found for Mystical Experience Questionnaire total scores or rate of a mystical experience. Persisting Effects Questionnaire positive composite scores 30 days after completion of the last dose were significantly higher than negative composite scores. Persisting Effects Questionnaire results revealed a moderate increase in sense of well-being or life satisfaction on average that was associated with the maximum Mystical Experience Questionnaire total score. Pharmacokinetic measures were associated with dose but not with Mystical Experience Questionnaire total scores or rate of a mystical experience.ConclusionsHigh doses of psilocybin elicited subjective effects at least as strong as the lower doses and resulted in positive persisting subjective effects 30 days after, indicating that a complete mystical experience was not a prerequisite for positive outcomes.

keywords:
Humans, Hallucinogens, Administration, Oral, Follow-Up Studies, Personal Satisfaction, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Time Factors, Mysticism, Adult, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Young Adult, Surveys and Questionnaires, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29945469","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psychedelic therapy for smoking cessation: Qualitative analysis of participant accounts.
authors: Noorani T, Garcia-Romeu A, Swift TC, Griffiths RR, Johnson MW.
publication_date: 2018-06-24
doi: 10.1177/0269881118780612
pubmed_id: 29938565
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881118780612
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Mechanism of Action
study_type: Qualitative Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
BackgroundRecent pilot trials suggest feasibility and potential efficacy of psychedelic-facilitated addiction treatment interventions. Fifteen participants completed a psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation pilot study between 2009 and 2015.AimsThe aims of this study were as follows: (1) to identify perceived mechanisms of change leading to smoking cessation in the pilot study; (2) to identify key themes in participant experiences and long-term outcomes to better understand the therapeutic process.MethodsParticipants were invited to a retrospective follow-up interview an average of 30 months after initial psilocybin sessions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 of the 15 participants. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsParticipants reported gaining vivid insights into self-identity and reasons for smoking from their psilocybin sessions. Experiences of interconnectedness, awe, and curiosity persisted beyond the duration of acute drug effects. Participants emphasised that the content of psilocybin experiences overshadowed any short-term withdrawal symptoms. Preparatory counselling, strong rapport with the study team, and a sense of momentum once engaged in the study treatment were perceived as vital additional factors in achieving abstinence. In addition, participants reported a range of persisting positive changes beyond smoking cessation, including increased aesthetic appreciation, altruism, and pro-social behaviour.ConclusionsThe findings highlight the value of qualitative research in the psychopharmacological investigation of psychedelics. They describe perceived connections between drug- and non-drug factors, and provide suggestions for future research trial design and clinical applications.

keywords:
Humans, Substance Withdrawal Syndrome, Hallucinogens, Retrospective Studies, Follow-Up Studies, Pilot Projects, Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Adult, Aged, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Interviews as Topic, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29938565","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


publication_date: 2018-05-25
doi: 10.1016/j.ymben.2018.05.014
pubmed_id: 29842926
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymben.2018.05.014
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Mechanism of Action
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
Facile assembly and fluorescence-based screening method for heterologous expression of biosynthetic pathways in fungi.

authors:
Hoefgen S, Lin J, Fricke J, Stroe MC, Mattern DJ, Kufs JE, Hortschansky P, Brakhage AA, Hoffmeister D, Valiante V.

abstract:
Heterologous expression of multi-gene biosynthetic pathways in eukaryotic hosts is limited by highly regulated individual monocistrons. Dissimilar to prokaryotes, each eukaryotic gene is strictly controlled by its own regulatory elements, such as promoter and terminator. Consequently, parallel transcription can occur only when a group of genes is synchronously activated. A strategy to circumvent this limitation is the concerted expression of multiple genes as a polycistron. By exploiting the "stop-carry on" mechanism of picornaviruses, we have designed a sophisticated, yet easy-to-assemble vector system to heterologously express multiple genes under the control of a single promoter. For facile selection of correctly transformed colonies by basic fluorescence microscopy, our vector includes a split gene for a fluorescent reporter protein. This method was successfully applied to produce the psychotropic mushroom alkaloid psilocybin in high yields by heterologous expression of the entire biosynthetic gene cluster in the mould Aspergillus nidulans.

keywords:
Aspergillus nidulans, Green Fluorescent Proteins, Genetic Engineering, Gene Expression, Genes, Reporter, Fluorescence, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29842926","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psychedelic use and intimate partner violence: The role of emotion regulation.
authors: Thiessen MS, Walsh Z, Bird BM, Lafrance A.
publication_date: 2018-05-28
doi: 10.1177/0269881118771782
pubmed_id: 29807492
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881118771782
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Mechanism of Action,Emotional Processing,Observational Study,Adolescents
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
BackgroundRecent evidence suggests that psychedelic use predicts reduced perpetration of intimate partner violence among men involved in the criminal justice system. However, the extent to which this association generalizes to community samples has not been examined, and potential mechanisms underlying this association have not been directly explored.AimsThe present study examined the association between lifetime psychedelic use and intimate partner violence among a community sample of men and women. The study also tested the extent to which the associations were mediated by improved emotion regulation.MethodsWe surveyed 1266 community members aged 16-70 (mean age=22.78, standard deviation =7.71) using an online questionnaire that queried substance use, emotional regulation, and intimate partner violence. Respondents were coded as psychedelic users if they reported one or more instance of using lysergic acid diethylamide and/or psilocybin mushrooms in their lifetime. Results/outcomes: Males reporting any experience using lysergic acid diethylamide and/or psilocybin mushrooms had decreased odds of perpetrating physical violence against their current partner (odds ratio=0.42, p

keywords:
Humans, Agaricales, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Emotions, Sex Factors, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Young Adult, Surveys and Questionnaires, Intimate Partner Violence, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29807492","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Lyons T, Carhart-Harris RL.
publication_date: 2018-01-16
doi: 10.1177/0269881117748902
pubmed_id: 29338538
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881117748902
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Personality Change,Observational Study,Treatment-Resistant Depression
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
title:
Increased nature relatedness and decreased authoritarian political views after psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression.

abstract:
RationalePrevious research suggests that classical psychedelic compounds can induce lasting changes in personality traits, attitudes and beliefs in both healthy subjects and patient populations.AimHere we sought to investigate the effects of psilocybin on nature relatedness and libertarian-authoritarian political perspective in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD).MethodsThis open-label pilot study with a mixed-model design studied the effects of psilocybin on measures of nature relatedness and libertarian-authoritarian political perspective in patients with moderate to severe TRD ( n=7) versus age-matched non-treated healthy control subjects ( n=7). Psilocybin was administered in two oral dosing sessions (10 mg and 25 mg) 1 week apart. Main outcome measures were collected 1 week and 7-12 months after the second dosing session. Nature relatedness and libertarian-authoritarian political perspective were assessed using the Nature Relatedness Scale (NR-6) and Political Perspective Questionnaire (PPQ-5), respectively.ResultsNature relatedness significantly increased ( t(6)=-4.242, p=0.003) and authoritarianism significantly decreased ( t(6)=2.120, p=0.039) for the patients 1 week after the dosing sessions. At 7-12 months post-dosing, nature relatedness remained significantly increased ( t(5)=-2.707, p=0.021) and authoritarianism remained decreased at trend level ( t(5)=-1.811, p=0.065). No differences were found on either measure for the non-treated healthy control subjects.ConclusionsThis pilot study suggests that psilocybin with psychological support might produce lasting changes in attitudes and beliefs. Although it would be premature to infer causality from this small study, the possibility of drug-induced changes in belief systems seems sufficiently intriguing and timely to deserve further investigation.

keywords:
Humans, Hallucinogens, Severity of Illness Index, Case-Control Studies, Follow-Up Studies, Pilot Projects, Authoritarianism, Environment, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Time Factors, Politics, Adult, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Surveys and Questionnaires, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29338538","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psilocybin modulates functional connectivity of the amygdala during emotional face discrimination.
authors: Grimm O, Kraehenmann R, Preller KH, Seifritz E, Vollenweider FX.
publication_date: 2018-04-24
doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2018.03.016
pubmed_id: 29703645
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2018.03.016
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Emotional Processing,Healthy Volunteers
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
Recent studies suggest that the antidepressant effects of the psychedelic 5-HT2A receptor agonist psilocybin are mediated through its modulatory properties on prefrontal and limbic brain regions including the amygdala. To further investigate the effects of psilocybin on emotion processing networks, we studied for the first-time psilocybin's acute effects on amygdala seed-to-voxel connectivity in an event-related face discrimination task in 18 healthy volunteers who received psilocybin and placebo in a double-blind balanced cross-over design. The amygdala has been implicated as a salience detector especially involved in the immediate response to emotional face content. We used beta-series amygdala seed-to-voxel connectivity during an emotional face discrimination task to elucidate the connectivity pattern of the amygdala over the entire brain. When we compared psilocybin to placebo, an increase in reaction time for all three categories of affective stimuli was found. Psilocybin decreased the connectivity between amygdala and the striatum during angry face discrimination. During happy face discrimination, the connectivity between the amygdala and the frontal pole was decreased. No effect was seen during discrimination of fearful faces. Thus, we show psilocybin's effect as a modulator of major connectivity hubs of the amygdala. Psilocybin decreases the connectivity between important nodes linked to emotion processing like the frontal pole or the striatum. Future studies are needed to clarify whether connectivity changes predict therapeutic effects in psychiatric patients.

keywords:
Amygdala, Neural Pathways, Humans, Hallucinogens, Double-Blind Method, Emotions, Reaction Time, Adult, Female, Male, Young Adult, Facial Recognition, Psilocybin, Discrimination, Psychological

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29703645","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Out of the box: A psychedelic model to study the creative mind.
authors: Kuypers KPC.
publication_date: 2018-03-22
doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2018.03.010
pubmed_id: 29685188
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2018.03.010
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,Brain Imaging,Aging,Creativity,Healthy Volunteers
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Our creativity is challenged daily when facing new situations asking for novel solutions. Creativity, a multicomponent construct includes flexible divergent and rigid convergent thinking. Psychedelic drugs like psilocybin can enhance creativity and affect state of mind (mood, empathy, openness). Of note, flexible thinking is disturbed in psychopathological conditions like anxiety disorders and depression and preliminary findings have shown psychedelics to be efficacious in the treatment of those conditions. The question how psychedelics induce this state of enhanced flexible thinking remains to be answered and investigating the neurobiology underlying this phenomenon will not only help in understanding why psychedelics are of use in the therapeutic setting but also in other settings where flexible thinking is challenged. A model including neuronal networks, neurotransmitters and personal factors playing a role in this process will be proposed which can be put to the test by means of placebo-controlled pharmaco-imaging studies in healthy volunteers.

keywords:
Brain, Nerve Net, Humans, Neurotransmitter Agents, Hallucinogens, Models, Neurological, Models, Psychological, Functional Neuroimaging, Creativity, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29685188","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: [Trends in Abuse of Biogenic Drugs in Parts of Germany 2007-2013].
authors: Pietsch J, Scheffel K, Acquarone D, Koch I, Deters M, Hermanns-Clausen M.
publication_date: 2016-06-13
doi: 10.1055/s-0042-108644
pubmed_id: 27300094
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-108644
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Adolescents
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Aim of the studyBased on an abundance of information on the internet, psychotropic plants and mushrooms are of increasing relevance as legal and cheap alternatives to other illicit drugs. Due to the lack of a German database, the abuse of selected biogenic drugs using reported exposures to 3 German Poison Information Centres (PICs) was examined.MethodsInformation on abuse of biogenic drugs was collected from the German PICs in Berlin, Erfurt and Fribourg (2007-2013).Results602 drug abuses were reported to the selected PICs. 52% reported consumption of tropane alkaloid-containing plants (Angel's trumpet, Thorn apple, Belladonna), 25% of psilocybin-containing mushrooms and 10% of nutmeg. Angel's trumpet was identified as the most abused plant. Consumers of tropane alkaloid-containing plants were mainly adolescents, whereas the majority of the abusers of psilocybin-containing mushrooms and nutmeg were rather young grown-ups and school children, respectively. A preponderance of moderate and severe effects (55%) could be noticed for exposures to tropane alkaloid-containing plants. More than 90% of suspected cases of tropane alkaloid-containing as well as psilocybin-containing plants abuse resulted in the treatment recommendation 'surveillance in hospital'. Mydriasis, hallucinations, tachycardia and agitation were the main symptoms after the abuse of biogenic drugs.ConclusionsThe data from the PICs suggest abuse of biogenic drugs in parts of Germany. A decreasing trend is observed, probably caused by the competition with new synthetic designer drugs. The results underline the dominance of Angel's trumpet in the abuse of biogenic drugs and emphasize the importance of easy accessibility for the abuse of biogenic drugs. Unexpectedly, the number of nutmeg abuse cases increased during the investigated period.

keywords:
Humans, Agaricales, Plants, Mydriasis, Substance-Related Disorders, Hallucinogens, Adolescent, Child, Germany

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27300094","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Biological Effects and Biodistribution of Bufotenine on Mice.
authors: Vigerelli H, Sciani JM, Eula MAC, Sato LA, Antoniazzi MM, Jared C, Pimenta DC.
publication_date: 2018-05-30
doi: 10.1155/2018/1032638
pubmed_id: 29955598
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/1032638
keywords: Animals, Mice, Serotonin, Bufotenin, Serotonin Antagonists, Tissue Distribution, Female, Male
substance_tags: psilocin
topic_tags: Pharmacology,Receptor Pharmacology,Animal Study,In Vitro Study,Inflammation
study_type: Animal Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Bufotenine is an alkaloid derived from serotonin, structurally similar to LSD and psilocin. This molecule is able to inhibit the rabies virus infection in in vitro and in vivo models, increasing the survival rate of infected animals. Being a very promising molecule for an incurable disease and because of the fact that there is no consensus regarding its neurological effects, this study aimed to evaluate chronic treatment of bufotenine on behavior, pathophysiology, and pharmacokinetics of mice. Animals were daily treated for 21 consecutive days with 0.63, 1.05, and 2.1 mg/animal/day bufotenine and evaluated by open field test and physiological parameters during all the experiment. After this period, organs were collected for histopathological and biodistribution analysis. Animals treated with bufotenine had mild behavioral alterations compared to the control group, being dose-response relationship. On the other hand, animals showed normal physiological functions and no histological alterations in the organs. With high doses, an inflammatory reaction was observed in the site of injection, but with no cellular damage. The alkaloid could be found in the heart and kidney with all doses and in the lungs and brain with higher doses. These results show that the effective dose, 0.63 mg/day, is safe to be administered in mice, since it did not cause significant effects on the animals' physiology and on the CNS. Higher doses were well tolerated, causing only mild behavioral effects. Thus, bufotenine might be a drug prototype for rabies treatment, an incurable disease.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29955598","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psilocybin and MDMA reduce costly punishment in the Ultimatum Game.
authors: Gabay AS, Carhart-Harris RL, Mazibuko N, Kempton MJ, Morrison PD, Nutt DJ, Mehta MA.
publication_date: 2018-05-28
doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-26656-2
pubmed_id: 29844496
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-26656-2
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Pharmacology,Mechanism of Action,Emotional Processing,Healthy Volunteers,Drug Interactions
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
Disruptions in social decision-making are becoming evident in many psychiatric conditions. These are studied using paradigms investigating the psychological mechanisms underlying interpersonal interactions, such as the Ultimatum Game (UG). Rejection behaviour in the UG represents altruistic punishment - the costly punishment of norm violators - but the mechanisms underlying it require clarification. To investigate the psychopharmacology of UG behaviour, we carried out two studies with healthy participants, employing serotonergic agonists: psilocybin (open-label, within-participant design, N = 19) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover design, N = 20). We found that both MDMA and psilocybin reduced rejection of unfair offers (odds ratio: 0.57 and 0.42, respectively). The reduction in rejection rate following MDMA was associated with increased prosociality (R2 = 0.26, p = 0.025). In the MDMA study, we investigated third-party decision-making and proposer behaviour. MDMA did not reduce rejection in the third-party condition, but produced an increase in the amount offered to others (Cohen's d = 0.82). We argue that these compounds altered participants' conceptualisation of 'social reward', placing more emphasis on the direct relationship with interacting partners. With these compounds showing efficacy in drug-assisted psychotherapy, these studies are an important step in the further characterisation of their psychological effects.

keywords:
Humans, N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, Social Behavior, Altruism, Emotions, Interpersonal Relations, Punishment, Reward, Decision Making, Psychopharmacology, Games, Experimental, Socialization, Adult, Middle Aged, Male, Community-Based Participatory Research, Young Adult, Healthy Volunteers, Psilocybin, Rejection, Psychology

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29844496","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Whelan A, Johnson MI.
publication_date: 2018-05-02
doi: 10.2217/pmt-2017-0068
pubmed_id: 29722608
source_url: https://doi.org/10.2217/pmt-2017-0068
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Systematic Review
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
title:
Lysergic acid diethylamide and psilocybin for the management of patients with persistent pain: a potential role?

abstract:
Recently, there has been interest in lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin for depression, anxiety and fear of death in terminal illness. The aim of this review is to discuss the potential use of LSD and psilocybin for patients with persistent pain. LSD and psilocybin are 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor agonists and may interact with nociceptive and antinociceptive processing. Tentative evidence from a systematic review suggests that LSD (7 studies, 323 participants) and psilocybin (3 studies, 92 participants) may be beneficial for depression and anxiety associated with distress in life-threatening diseases. LSD and psilocybin are generally safe if administered by a healthcare professional, although further investigations are needed to assess their utility for patients with persistent pain, especially associated with terminal illness.

keywords:
Humans, Pain, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Treatment Outcome, Depression, Anxiety, Serotonin Receptor Agonists, Chronic Pain, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,End-of-Life Distress,Chronic Pain,Receptor Pharmacology,Systematic Review,Review Article

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29722608","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Rocchi R, Simeoni MC, Montesano C, Vannutelli G, Curini R, Sergi M, Compagnone D.
publication_date: 2017-11-26
doi: 10.1002/dta.2330
pubmed_id: 29078252
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.2330
substance_tags: psilocin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
Analysis of new psychoactive substances in oral fluids by means of microextraction by packed sorbent followed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

abstract:
In recent years, new drugs, commonly known as new psychoactive substances (NPS), appeared on the market, which include, among others, synthetic cannabinoids, cathinones, and tryptamine analogs of psilocin. The aim of this work was to develop and validate a new method for simultaneous screening and quantification of 31 NPS in oral fluid by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The chosen target analytes represented different chemical and toxicological NPS classes, such as synthetic cathinones, piperazines, phenethylamines, synthetic cannabinoids, and their metabolites. The procedure involved a rapid sample preparation based on protein precipitation followed by clean-up utilizing microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS); the quantitative analysis was performed by UHPLC-MS/MS. The MEPS clean-up, regardless of non-quantitative recoveries for some analytes, provided an effective removal of interfering compounds, as demonstrated by reduced matrix effects found at different concentrations for all the analytes. The validation protocol, based on SWGTOX guidelines, demonstrated the suitability of the proposed method for quantitative analysis: linearity range ranged over 3 or 4 orders of magnitude; precision and accuracy tests gave RSD% values below 25%, and accuracy ranged from 85.9% to 107%, accomplishing SWGTOX requirements. Limits of detection (LODs) ranged between 0.005 ng/mL and 0.850 ng/mL and limits of quantification (LOQs) from 0.015 to 2.600 ng/mL.

keywords:
Saliva, Humans, Psychotropic Drugs, Designer Drugs, Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid, Substance Abuse Detection, Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Solid Phase Microextraction, Limit of Detection, Illicit Drugs

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29078252","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Individual Experiences in Four Cancer Patients Following Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy.
publication_date: 2018-04-02
doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00256
pubmed_id: 29666578
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.00256
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,Wellbeing,Spirituality,Cancer Patients,Healthcare Workers
study_type: Qualitative Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
authors:
Malone TC, Mennenga SE, Guss J, Podrebarac SK, Owens LT, Bossis AP, Belser AB, Agin-Liebes G, Bogenschutz MP, Ross S.

abstract:
A growing body of evidence shows that existential and spiritual well-being in cancer patients is associated with better medical outcomes, improved quality of life, and serves as a buffer against depression, hopelessness, and desire for hastened death. Historical and recent research suggests a role for psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in treating cancer-related anxiety and depression. A double-blind controlled trial was performed, where 29 patients with cancer-related anxiety and depression were randomly assigned to treatment with single-dose psilocybin (0.3 mg/kg) or niacin in conjunction with psychotherapy. Previously published results of this trial demonstrated that, in conjunction with psychotherapy, moderate-dose psilocybin produced rapid, robust, and enduring anxiolytic, and anti-depressant effects. Here, we illustrate unique clinical courses described by four participants using quantitative measures of acute and persisting effects of psilocybin, anxiety, depression, quality of life, and spiritual well-being, as well as qualitative interviews, written narratives, and clinician notes. Although the content of each psilocybin-assisted experience was unique to each participant, several thematic similarities and differences across the various sessions stood out. These four participants' personal narratives extended beyond the cancer diagnosis itself, frequently revolving around themes of self-compassion and love, acceptance of death, and memories of past trauma, though the specific details or narrative content differ substantially. The results presented here demonstrate the personalized nature of the subjective experiences elicited through treatment with psilocybin, particularly with respect to the spiritual and/or psychological needs of each patient.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29666578","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Horizontal gene cluster transfer increased hallucinogenic mushroom diversity.
authors: Reynolds HT, Vijayakumar V, Gluck-Thaler E, Korotkin HB, Matheny PB, Slot JC.
publication_date: 2018-02-26
doi: 10.1002/evl3.42
pubmed_id: 30283667
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1002/evl3.42
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: Receptor Pharmacology,Consciousness,Drug Interactions,Genomics
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:03
abstract:
Secondary metabolites are a heterogeneous class of chemicals that often mediate interactions between species. The tryptophan-derived secondary metabolite, psilocin, is a serotonin receptor agonist that induces altered states of consciousness. A phylogenetically disjunct group of mushroom-forming fungi in the Agaricales produce the psilocin prodrug, psilocybin. Spotty phylogenetic distributions of fungal compounds are sometimes explained by horizontal transfer of metabolic gene clusters among unrelated fungi with overlapping niches. We report the discovery of a psilocybin gene cluster in three hallucinogenic mushroom genomes, and evidence for its horizontal transfer between fungal lineages. Patterns of gene distribution and transmission suggest that synthesis of psilocybin may have provided a fitness advantage in the dung and late wood-decay fungal niches, which may serve as reservoirs of fungal indole-based metabolites that alter behavior of mycophagous and wood-eating invertebrates. These hallucinogenic mushroom genomes will serve as models in neurochemical ecology, advancing the (bio)prospecting and synthetic biology of novel neuropharmaceuticals.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"30283667","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Relief from intractable phantom pain by combining psilocybin and mirror visual-feedback (MVF).
authors: Ramachandran V, Chunharas C, Marcus Z, Furnish T, Lin A.
publication_date: 2018-03-31
doi: 10.1080/13554794.2018.1468469
pubmed_id: 29764303
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1080/13554794.2018.1468469
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Chronic Pain
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
AL's leg was amputated resulting in phantom-limb pain (PLP). (1) When a volunteer placed her foot on or near the phantom - touching it evoked organized sensations in corresponding locations on AL's phantom. (2) Mirror-visual-feedback (MVF) relieved PLP, as did, "phantom massage". (3) Psilocybin-MVF pairing produced synergistic effects, complete elimination of PLP, and reduction in paroxysmal episodes. (4) Touching the volunteer's leg where AL previously had external fixators, evoked sensation of nails boring through the leg. Using a "telescoping" nail, we created the illusion of a nail being removed with corresponding pain relief. (5) Artificial flames produced warmth in the phantom.

keywords:
Lower Extremity, Humans, Phantom Limb, Hallucinogens, Treatment Outcome, Combined Modality Therapy, Adult, Male, Touch Perception, Feedback, Sensory, Pain Management, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29764303","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


publication_date: 2018-03-31
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.01.006
pubmed_id: 29407543
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.01.006
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Treatment-Resistant Depression
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
title:
Natural speech algorithm applied to baseline interview data can predict which patients will respond to psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression.

authors:
Carrillo F, Sigman M, Fernández Slezak D, Ashton P, Fitzgerald L, Stroud J, Nutt DJ, Carhart-Harris RL.

abstract:
BackgroundNatural speech analytics has seen some improvements over recent years, and this has opened a window for objective and quantitative diagnosis in psychiatry. Here, we used a machine learning algorithm applied to natural speech to ask whether language properties measured before psilocybin for treatment-resistant can predict for which patients it will be effective and for which it will not.MethodsA baseline autobiographical memory interview was conducted and transcribed. Patients with treatment-resistant depression received 2 doses of psilocybin, 10 mg and 25 mg, 7 days apart. Psychological support was provided before, during and after all dosing sessions. Quantitative speech measures were applied to the interview data from 17 patients and 18 untreated age-matched healthy control subjects. A machine learning algorithm was used to classify between controls and patients and predict treatment response.ResultsSpeech analytics and machine learning successfully differentiated depressed patients from healthy controls and identified treatment responders from non-responders with a significant level of 85% of accuracy (75% precision).ConclusionsAutomatic natural language analysis was used to predict effective response to treatment with psilocybin, suggesting that these tools offer a highly cost-effective facility for screening individuals for treatment suitability and sensitivity.LimitationsThe sample size was small and replication is required to strengthen inferences on these results.

keywords:
Humans, Hallucinogens, Antidepressive Agents, Speech Production Measurement, Case-Control Studies, Language, Speech, Algorithms, Adult, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Memory, Episodic, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Machine Learning, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29407543","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Taking Psychedelics Seriously.
authors: Byock I.
publication_date: 2018-01-21
doi: 10.1089/jpm.2017.0684
pubmed_id: 29356590
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2017.0684
keywords: Humans, Hallucinogens, Palliative Care, Mental Disorders
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
BackgroundPsychiatric research in the 1950s and 1960s showed potential for psychedelic medications to markedly alleviate depression and suffering associated with terminal illness. More recent published studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine when administered in a medically supervised and monitored approach. A single or brief series of sessions often results in substantial and sustained improvement among people with treatment-resistant depression and anxiety, including those with serious medical conditions. Need and Clinical Considerations: Palliative care clinicians occasionally encounter patients with emotional, existential, or spiritual suffering, which persists despite optimal existing treatments. Such suffering may rob people of a sense that life is worth living. Data from Oregon show that most terminally people who obtain prescriptions to intentionally end their lives are motivated by non-physical suffering. This paper overviews the history of this class of drugs and their therapeutic potential. Clinical cautions, adverse reactions, and important steps related to safe administration of psychedelics are presented, emphasizing careful patient screening, preparation, setting and supervision.ConclusionEven with an expanding evidence base confirming safety and benefits, political, regulatory, and industry issues impose challenges to the legitimate use of psychedelics. The federal expanded access program and right-to-try laws in multiple states provide precendents for giving terminally ill patients access to medications that have not yet earned FDA approval. Given the prevalence of persistent suffering and growing acceptance of physician-hastened death as a medical response, it is time to revisit the legitimate therapeutic use of psychedelics.

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,End-of-Life Distress,Emotional Processing,Spirituality,Treatment-Resistant Depression,Healthcare Workers,Safety

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29356590","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psychedelic Drugs as Therapeutics: No Illusions About the Challenges.
authors: Sellers EM, Leiderman DB.
publication_date: 2017-08-23
doi: 10.1002/cpt.776
pubmed_id: 28836272
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1002/cpt.776
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Safety
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Interest in the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelic agents has recently increased. In addition to psilocybin, a wide variety of agents with psychedelic properties have been proposed and partially tested. However, the challenges of obtaining approval to market a restricted psychotomimetic agent are formidable.

keywords:
Humans, Hallucinogens, Drug Approval, Mental Disorders, Patient Selection, Drug Discovery, Risk Evaluation and Mitigation

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28836272","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Clinical potential of psilocybin as a treatment for mental health conditions.
authors: Daniel J, Haberman M.
publication_date: 2016-12-31
doi: 10.9740/mhc.2017.01.024
pubmed_id: 29955494
source_url: https://doi.org/10.9740/mhc.2017.01.024
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Anxiety,Addiction,OCD,Receptor Pharmacology,Review Article
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
Psilocybin, a classic hallucinogen, is a chemical produced by more than 100 species of mushrooms worldwide. It has high affinity for several serotonin receptors, including 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, and 5-HT2C, located in numerous areas of the brain, including the cerebral cortex and thalamus. With legislation introduced in 1992, more work is being done to further understand the implications of psilocybin use in a number of disease states. Certain mental health disease states and symptoms have been studied, including depressed mood, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and tobacco use disorder. This article provides an in-depth review of the study design and results of psilocybin in each of these conditions and discusses the clinical potential for use.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29955494","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Unifying Theories of Psychedelic Drug Effects.
authors: Swanson LR
journal: Frontiers in pharmacology
publication_date: 2017-12-31
doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00172
pubmed_id: 29568270
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29568270/
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Pharmacology,Mechanism of Action,Emotional Processing,Review Article
study_type: Review Article
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:40
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"29568270"}
abstract:
How do psychedelic drugs produce their characteristic range of acute effects in perception, emotion, cognition, and sense of self? How do these effects relate to the clinical efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapies? Efforts to understand psychedelic phenomena date back more than a century in Western science. In this article I review theories of psychedelic drug effects and highlight key concepts which have endured over the last 125 years of psychedelic science. First, I describe the subjective phenomenology of acute psychedelic effects using the best available data. Next, I review late 19th-century and early 20th-century theories-, and -and highlight their shared features. I then briefly review recent findings on the neuropharmacology and neurophysiology of psychedelic drugs in humans. Finally, I describe recent theories of psychedelic drug effects which leverage 21st-century cognitive neuroscience frameworks-, and -and point out key shared features that link back to earlier theories. I identify an abstract principle which cuts across many theories past and present: psychedelic drugs perturb universal brain processes that normally serve to constrain neural systems central to perception, emotion, cognition, and sense of self. I conclude that making an explicit effort to investigate the principles and mechanisms of psychedelic drug effects is a uniquely powerful way to iteratively develop and test unifying theories of brain function.

keywords:
LSD, cognitive flexibility, ego dissolution, entropic brain theory, integrated information theory, predictive processing, psilocybin, psychedelic drugs


authors: Barrett FS, Schlienz NJ, Lembeck N, Waqas M, Vandrey R.
publication_date: 2018-02-28
doi: 10.1089/can.2017.0052
pubmed_id: 29682608
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2017.0052
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Mechanism of Action,Case Report,Adverse Events
study_type: Case Report
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
"Hallucinations" Following Acute Cannabis Dosing: A Case Report and Comparison to Other Hallucinogenic Drugs.

abstract:
Introduction: Cannabis has been historically classified as a hallucinogen. However, subjective cannabis effects do not typically include hallucinogen-like effects. Empirical reports of hallucinogen-like effects produced by cannabis in controlled settings, particularly among healthy research volunteers, are rare and have mostly occurred after administration of purified Δ-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) rather than whole plant cannabis. Methods: The case of a healthy 30-year-old male who experienced auditory and visual hallucinations in a controlled laboratory study after inhaling vaporized cannabis that contained 25 mg THC (case dose) is presented. Ratings on the Hallucinogen Rating Scale (HRS) following the case dose are compared with HRS ratings obtained from the participant after other doses of cannabis and with archival HRS data from laboratory studies involving acute doses of cannabis, psilocybin, dextromethorphan (DXM), and salvinorin A. Results: Scores on the Volition subscale of the HRS were greater for the case dose than for the maximum dose administered in any other comparison study. Scores on the Intensity and Perception subscales were greater for the case dose than for the maximum dose of cannabis, psilocybin, or salvinorin A. Scores on the Somaesthesia subscale were greater for the case dose than for the maximum dose of DXM, salvinorin A, or cannabis. Scores on the Affect and Cognition subscales for the case dose were significantly lower than for the maximum doses of psilocybin and DXM. Conclusion: Acute cannabis exposure in a healthy adult male resulted in self-reported hallucinations that rated high in magnitude on several subscales of the HRS. However, the hallucinatory experience in this case was qualitatively different than that typically experienced by participants receiving classic and atypical hallucinogens, suggesting that the hallucinatory effects of cannabis may have a unique pharmacological mechanism of action. This type of adverse event needs to be considered in the clinical use of cannabis.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29682608","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Nielson EM, May DG, Forcehimes AA, Bogenschutz MP.
publication_date: 2018-02-20
doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00132
pubmed_id: 29515449
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.00132
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Mechanism of Action,Clinical Trial,Randomized Controlled Trial
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
The Psychedelic Debriefing in Alcohol Dependence Treatment: Illustrating Key Change Phenomena through Qualitative Content Analysis of Clinical Sessions.

abstract:
Research on the clinical applications of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy has demonstrated promising early results for treatment of alcohol dependence. Detailed description of the content and methods of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, as it is conducted in clinical settings, is scarce. Methods: An open-label pilot (proof-of-concept) study of psilocybin-assisted treatment of alcohol dependence (NCT01534494) was conducted to generate data for a phase 2 RCT (NCT02061293) of a similar treatment in a larger population. The present paper presents a qualitative content analysis of the 17 debriefing sessions conducted in the pilot study, which occurred the day after corresponding psilocybin medication sessions. Results: Participants articulated a series of key phenomena related to change in drinking outcomes and acute subjective effects of psilocybin. Discussion: The data illuminate change processes in patients' own words during clinical sessions, shedding light on potential therapeutic mechanisms of change and how participants express effects of psilocybin. This study is unique in analyzing actual clinical sessions, as opposed to interviews of patients conducted separately from treatment.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29515449","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Bogenschutz MP, Podrebarac SK, Duane JH, Amegadzie SS, Malone TC, Owens LT, Ross S, Mennenga SE.
publication_date: 2018-02-19
doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00100
pubmed_id: 29515439
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.00100
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Consciousness,Mystical Experience,Clinical Trial
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
title:
Clinical Interpretations of Patient Experience in a Trial of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for Alcohol Use Disorder.

abstract:
After a hiatus of some 40 years, clinical research has resumed on the use of classic hallucinogens to treat addiction. Following completion of a small open-label feasibility study, we are currently conducting a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial of psilocybin-assisted treatment of alcohol use disorder. Although treatment effects cannot be analyzed until the study is complete, descriptive case studies provide a useful window into the therapeutic process of psychedelic-assisted treatment of addiction. Here we describe treatment trajectories of three participants in the ongoing trial to illustrate the range of experiences and persisting effects of psilocybin treatment. Although it is difficult to generalize from a few cases, several qualitative conclusions can be drawn from the data presented here. Although participants often find it difficult to describe much of their psilocybin experience, pivotal moments tend to be individualized, extremely vivid, and memorable. Often, the qualitative content extends beyond the clinical problem that is being addressed. The participants discussed in this paper experienced acute and lasting alterations in their perceptions of self, in the quality of their baseline consciousness, and in their relationship with alcohol and drinking. In these cases, experiences of catharsis, forgiveness, self-compassion, and love were at least as salient as classic mystical content. Finally, feelings of increased "spaciousness" or mindfulness, and increased control over choices and behavior were reported following the drug administration sessions. Ultimately, psilocybin-assisted treatment appears to elicit experiences that are extremely variable, yet seem to meet the particular needs of the individual.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29515439","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Reiche S, Hermle L, Gutwinski S, Jungaberle H, Gasser P, Majić T.
publication_date: 2017-09-21
doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.09.012
pubmed_id: 28947181
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.09.012
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
Serotonergic hallucinogens in the treatment of anxiety and depression in patients suffering from a life-threatening disease: A systematic review.

abstract:
Anxiety and depression are some of the most common psychiatric symptoms of patients suffering with life-threatening diseases, often associated with a low quality of life and a poor overall prognosis. 5-HT2A-receptor agonists (serotonergic hallucinogens, 'psychedelics') like lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin were first investigated as therapeutic agents in the 1960s. Recently, after a long hiatus period of regulatory obstacles, interest in the clinical use of these substances has resumed. The current article provides a systematic review of studies investigating psychedelics in the treatment of symptoms of existential distress in life-threatening diseases across different periods of research, highlighting how underlying concepts have developed over time. A systematic search for clinical trials from 1960 to 2017 revealed 11 eligible clinical trials involving a total number of N=445 participants, of which 7 trials investigated the use of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) (N=323), 3 trials investigated the use of psilocybin (N=92), and one trial investigated the use of dipropyltryptamine (DPT) (N=30). The 4 more recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (N=104) showed a significantly higher methodological quality than studies carried out in the 1960s and 1970s. Evidence supports that patients with life threatening diseases associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety benefit from the anxiolytic and antidepressant properties of serotonergic hallucinogens. Some studies anecdotally reported improvements in patients´ quality of life and reduced fear of death. Moreover, low rates of side effects were reported in studies that adhered to safety guidelines. Further studies are needed to determine how these results can be transferred into clinical practice.

keywords:
Humans, Critical Illness, Serotonin Agents, Hallucinogens, Depression, Anxiety, Clinical Trials as Topic

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,End-of-Life Distress,Receptor Pharmacology,Clinical Trial,Randomized Controlled Trial,Systematic Review,Review Article,Safety,Adverse Events

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28947181","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: The hidden therapist: evidence for a central role of music in psychedelic therapy.
publication_date: 2018-02-01
doi: 10.1007/s00213-017-4820-5
pubmed_id: 29396616
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-017-4820-5
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Addiction,Emotional Processing,Mystical Experience,Treatment-Resistant Depression,Safety
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
authors:
Kaelen M, Giribaldi B, Raine J, Evans L, Timmerman C, Rodriguez N, Roseman L, Feilding A, Nutt D, Carhart-Harris R.

abstract:
RationaleRecent studies have supported the safety and efficacy of psychedelic therapy for mood disorders and addiction. Music is considered an important component in the treatment model, but little empirical research has been done to examine the magnitude and nature of its therapeutic role.ObjectivesThe present study assessed the influence of music on the acute experience and clinical outcomes of psychedelic therapy.MethodsSemi-structured interviews inquired about the different ways in which music influenced the experience of 19 patients undergoing psychedelic therapy with psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was applied to the interview data to identify salient themes. In addition, ratings were given for each patient for the extent to which they expressed "liking," "resonance" (the music being experienced as "harmonious" with the emotional state of the listener), and "openness" (acceptance of the music-evoked experience).ResultsAnalyses of the interviews revealed that the music had both "welcome" and "unwelcome" influences on patients' subjective experiences. Welcome influences included the evocation of personally meaningful and therapeutically useful emotion and mental imagery, a sense of guidance, openness, and the promotion of calm and a sense of safety. Conversely, unwelcome influences included the evocation of unpleasant emotion and imagery, a sense of being misguided and resistance. Correlation analyses showed that patients' experience of the music was associated with the occurrence of "mystical experiences" and "insightfulness." Crucially, the nature of the music experience was significantly predictive of reductions in depression 1 week after psilocybin, whereas general drug intensity was not.ConclusionsThis study indicates that music plays a central therapeutic function in psychedelic therapy.

keywords:
Humans, Hallucinogens, Music Therapy, Emotions, Auditory Perception, Psychotherapy, Music, Adult, Female, Male, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29396616","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


publication_date: 2018-01-04
doi: 10.1007/s00213-017-4807-2
pubmed_id: 29302713
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-017-4807-2
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: Receptor Pharmacology,Biomarkers,Healthy Volunteers
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:03
title:
Psilocybin disrupts sensory and higher order cognitive processing but not pre-attentive cognitive processing-study on P300 and mismatch negativity in healthy volunteers.

authors:
Bravermanová A, Viktorinová M, Tylš F, Novák T, Androvičová R, Korčák J, Horáček J, Balíková M, Griškova-Bulanova I, Danielová D, Vlček P, Mohr P, Brunovský M, Koudelka V, Páleníček T.

abstract:
RationaleDisruption of auditory event-related evoked potentials (ERPs) P300 and mismatch negativity (MMN), electrophysiological markers of attentive and pre-attentive cognitive processing, is repeatedly described in psychosis and schizophrenia. Similar findings were observed in a glutamatergic model of psychosis, but the role of serotonergic 5-HT2A receptors in information processing is less clear.ObjectivesWe studied ERPs in a serotonergic model of psychosis, induced by psilocybin, a psychedelic with 5-HT2A/C agonistic properties, in healthy volunteers.MethodsTwenty subjects (10M/10F) were given 0.26 mg/kg of psilocybin orally in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over design. ERPs (P300, MMN) were registered during the peak of intoxication. Correlations between measured electrophysiological variables and psilocin serum levels and neuropsychological effects were also analyzed.ResultsPsilocybin induced robust psychedelic effects and psychotic-like symptoms, decreased P300 amplitude (p = 0.009) but did not affect the MMN. Psilocybin's disruptive effect on P300 correlated with the intensity of the psychedelic state, which was dependent on the psilocin serum levels. We also observed a decrease in N100 amplitude (p = 0.039) in the P300 paradigm and a negative correlation between P300 and MMN amplitude (p = 0.014).ConclusionsEven though pre-attentive cognition (MMN) was not affected, processing at the early perceptual level (N100) and in higher-order cognition (P300) was significantly disrupted by psilocybin. Our results have implications for the role of 5-HT2A receptors in altered information processing in psychosis and schizophrenia.

keywords:
Humans, Hallucinogens, Electroencephalography, Acoustic Stimulation, Cross-Over Studies, Double-Blind Method, Cognition, Attention, Event-Related Potentials, P300, Adult, Aged, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Healthy Volunteers, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29302713","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: six-month follow-up.
publication_date: 2017-11-07
doi: 10.1007/s00213-017-4771-x
pubmed_id: 29119217
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-017-4771-x
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Clinical Trial,Treatment-Resistant Depression,Safety
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
authors:
Carhart-Harris RL, Bolstridge M, Day CMJ, Rucker J, Watts R, Erritzoe DE, Kaelen M, Giribaldi B, Bloomfield M, Pilling S, Rickard JA, Forbes B, Feilding A, Taylor D, Curran HV, Nutt DJ.

abstract:
RationaleRecent clinical trials are reporting marked improvements in mental health outcomes with psychedelic drug-assisted psychotherapy.ObjectivesHere, we report on safety and efficacy outcomes for up to 6 months in an open-label trial of psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression.MethodsTwenty patients (six females) with (mostly) severe, unipolar, treatment-resistant major depression received two oral doses of psilocybin (10 and 25 mg, 7 days apart) in a supportive setting. Depressive symptoms were assessed from 1 week to 6 months post-treatment, with the self-rated QIDS-SR16 as the primary outcome measure.ResultsTreatment was generally well tolerated. Relative to baseline, marked reductions in depressive symptoms were observed for the first 5 weeks post-treatment (Cohen's d = 2.2 at week 1 and 2.3 at week 5, both p

keywords:
Humans, Hallucinogens, Antidepressive Agents, Treatment Outcome, Combined Modality Therapy, Follow-Up Studies, Feasibility Studies, Double-Blind Method, Time Factors, Adult, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Psilocybin, Psychosocial Support Systems

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29119217","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Carbonaro TM, Johnson MW, Hurwitz E, Griffiths RR.
publication_date: 2017-11-06
doi: 10.1007/s00213-017-4769-4
pubmed_id: 29116367
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-017-4769-4
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
title:
Double-blind comparison of the two hallucinogens psilocybin and dextromethorphan: similarities and differences in subjective experiences.

abstract:
RationaleAlthough psilocybin and dextromethorphan (DXM) are hallucinogens, they have different receptor mechanisms of action and have not been directly compared.ObjectiveThis study compared subjective, behavioral, and physiological effects of psilocybin and dextromethorphan under conditions that minimized expectancy effects.MethodsSingle, acute oral doses of psilocybin (10, 20, 30 mg/70 kg), DXM (400 mg/70 kg), and placebo were administered under double-blind conditions to 20 healthy participants with histories of hallucinogen use. Instructions to participants and staff minimized expectancy effects. Various subjective, behavioral, and physiological effects were assessed after drug administration.ResultsHigh doses of both drugs produced similar increases in participant ratings of peak overall drug effect strength, with similar times to maximal effect and time-course. Psilocybin produced orderly dose-related increases on most participant-rated subjective measures previously shown sensitive to hallucinogens. DXM produced increases on most of these same measures. However, the high dose of psilocybin produced significantly greater and more diverse visual effects than DXM including greater movement and more frequent, brighter, distinctive, and complex (including textured and kaleidoscopic) images and visions. Compared to DXM, psilocybin also produced significantly greater mystical-type and psychologically insightful experiences and greater absorption in music. In contrast, DXM produced larger effects than psilocybin on measures of disembodiment, nausea/emesis, and light-headedness. Both drugs increased systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and pupil dilation and decreased psychomotor performance and balance.ConclusionsPsilocybin and DXM produced similar profiles of subjective experiences, with psilocybin producing relatively greater visual, mystical-type, insightful, and musical experiences, and DXM producing greater disembodiment.

keywords:
Humans, Hallucinations, Substance-Related Disorders, Dextromethorphan, Hallucinogens, Double-Blind Method, Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Music, Mysticism, Adult, Female, Male, Young Adult, Surveys and Questionnaires, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Mystical Experience,Observational Study,Healthy Volunteers

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29116367","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Stroud JB, Freeman TP, Leech R, Hindocha C, Lawn W, Nutt DJ, Curran HV, Carhart-Harris RL.
publication_date: 2017-10-29
doi: 10.1007/s00213-017-4754-y
pubmed_id: 29085980
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-017-4754-y
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Emotional Processing,Treatment-Resistant Depression,Drug Interactions
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
title:
Psilocybin with psychological support improves emotional face recognition in treatment-resistant depression.

abstract:
RationaleDepressed patients robustly exhibit affective biases in emotional processing which are altered by SSRIs and predict clinical outcome.ObjectivesThe objective of this study is to investigate whether psilocybin, recently shown to rapidly improve mood in treatment-resistant depression (TRD), alters patients' emotional processing biases.MethodsSeventeen patients with treatment-resistant depression completed a dynamic emotional face recognition task at baseline and 1 month later after two doses of psilocybin with psychological support. Sixteen controls completed the emotional recognition task over the same time frame but did not receive psilocybin.ResultsWe found evidence for a group × time interaction on speed of emotion recognition (p =.035). At baseline, patients were slower at recognising facial emotions compared with controls (p

keywords:
Humans, Hallucinogens, Facial Expression, Treatment Outcome, Follow-Up Studies, Pilot Projects, Emotions, Adult, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Young Adult, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Facial Recognition, Psilocybin, Psychosocial Support Systems

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29085980","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: The 21st century psychedelic renaissance: heroic steps forward on the back of an elephant.
authors: Sessa B.
publication_date: 2017-08-22
doi: 10.1007/s00213-017-4713-7
pubmed_id: 28831571
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-017-4713-7
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Emotional Processing,Safety
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Given the plethora of new studies and published papers in the scientific press and the increasingly emerging presence of articles about positive psychedelic experiences appearing in the popular media, there is little doubt that we are in the midst of a Psychedelic Renaissance. The classical psychedelic drugs LSD and psilocybin and the entactogen MDMA are showing promise as tools to assist psychotherapy for a wide range of mental disorders, with multiple pilot studies demonstrating their safety and efficacy. In this article, the author describes how MDMA in particular has inherent characteristics that make it well suited for assisting trauma-focused psychotherapy in a population of patients who have experienced child abuse. But despite these advances, there remain many obstacles ahead of the widespread mainstream acceptance of psychedelic medicines. The author argues that the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 is one such obstacle. Other impediments include a prevailing attitude of pseudoscience and rigidity from within the non-scientific psychedelic community itself. Resolution of these conflicts must be sought if medicine and society are to see psychedelics gaining a place in mainstream culture and science.

keywords:
Animals, Humans, N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, Hallucinogens, Data Collection, Emotions, Mental Disorders, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Forecasting, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28831571","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Roseman L, Nutt DJ, Carhart-Harris RL.
publication_date: 2018-01-16
doi: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00974
pubmed_id: 29387009
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2017.00974
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
title:
Quality of Acute Psychedelic Experience Predicts Therapeutic Efficacy of Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression.

abstract:
Introduction: It is a basic principle of the "psychedelic" treatment model that the quality of the acute experience mediates long-term improvements in mental health. In the present paper we sought to test this using data from a clinical trial assessing psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). In line with previous reports, we hypothesized that the occurrence and magnitude of Oceanic Boundlessness (OBN) (sharing features with mystical-type experience) and Dread of Ego Dissolution (DED) (similar to anxiety) would predict long-term positive outcomes, whereas sensory perceptual effects would have negligible predictive value. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with treatment resistant depression underwent treatment with psilocybin (two separate sessions: 10 and 25 mg psilocybin). The Altered States of Consciousness (ASC) questionnaire was used to assess the quality of experiences in the 25 mg psilocybin session. From the ASC, the dimensions OBN and DED were used to measure the mystical-type and challenging experiences, respectively. The Self-Reported Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms (QIDS-SR) at 5 weeks served as the endpoint clinical outcome measure, as in later time points some of the subjects had gone on to receive new treatments, thus confounding inferences. In a repeated measure ANOVA, Time was the within-subject factor (independent variable), with QIDS-SR as the within-subject dependent variable in baseline, 1-day, 1-week, 5-weeks. OBN and DED were independent variables. OBN-by-Time and DED-by-Time interactions were the primary outcomes of interest. Results: For the interaction of OBN and DED with Time (QIDS-SR as dependent variable), the main effect and the effects at each time point compared to baseline were all significant (p = 0.002 and p = 0.003, respectively, for main effects), confirming our main hypothesis. Furthermore, Pearson's correlation of OBN with QIDS-SR (5 weeks) was specific compared to perceptual dimensions of the ASC (p < 0.05). Discussion: This report further bolsters the view that the quality of the acute psychedelic experience is a key mediator of long-term changes in mental health. Future therapeutic work with psychedelics should recognize the essential importance of quality of experience in determining treatment efficacy and consider ways of enhancing mystical-type experiences and reducing anxiety. Trial Registration: ISRCTN, number ISRCTN14426797, http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN14426797.

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,Consciousness,Mystical Experience,Clinical Trial,Randomized Controlled Trial,Treatment-Resistant Depression,Drug Interactions

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29387009","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Atasoy S, Vohryzek J, Deco G, Carhart-Harris RL, Kringelbach ML.
publication_date: 2018-10-24
doi: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.08.009
pubmed_id: 30471684
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.08.009
keywords: Brain, Animals, Humans, Hallucinogens, Connectome
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
Common neural signatures of psychedelics: Frequency-specific energy changes and repertoire expansion revealed using connectome-harmonic decomposition.

abstract:
The search for the universal laws of human brain function is still on-going but progress is being made. Here we describe the novel concepts of connectome harmonics and connectome-harmonic decomposition, which can be used to characterize the brain activity associated with any mental state. We use this new frequency-specific language to describe the brain activity elicited by psilocybin and LSD and find remarkably similar effects in terms of increases in total energy and power, as well as frequency-specific energy changes and repertoire expansion. In addition, we find enhanced signatures of criticality suggesting that the brain dynamics tune toward criticality in both psychedelic elicited states. Overall, our findings provide new evidence for the remarkable ability of psychedelics to change the spatiotemporal dynamics of the human brain.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"30471684","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: De Gregorio D, Enns JP, Nuñez NA, Posa L, Gobbi G.
publication_date: 2018-08-30
doi: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.07.008
pubmed_id: 30471683
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.07.008
keywords: Animals, Humans, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Mood Disorders, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,Pharmacology,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Review Article
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
title:
d-Lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin, and other classic hallucinogens: Mechanism of action and potential therapeutic applications in mood disorders.

abstract:
Depression and anxiety are psychiatric diagnoses commonly associated with low quality of life and low percentage of responsiveness by patients treated with currently available drugs. Thus, research into alternative compounds to treat these disorders is essential to guarantee a patient's remission. The last decade has witnessed a revamped interest for the application of psychedelic medicine for the treatment of mental disorders due to anecdotal reports and clinical studies which show that low doses of d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin may have antidepressant effects. LSD and psilocybin have demonstrated mood-modulating properties likely due to their capacity to modulate serotonergic (5-HT), dopaminergic (DA) and glutamatergic systems. LSD, belonging to the category of "classic halluginogens," interacts with the 5-HT system through 5HT1A, and 5HT2A receptors, with the DA system through D2 receptors, and indirectly also the glutamatergic neurotransmission thought the recruitment of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Randomized clinical studies have confirmed its antidepressant and anxiolytic effects in humans. Thus, in this chapter, we will review the pharmacology of psychedelic drugs, report the most striking clinical evidence which substantiate the therapeutic potentials of these fascinating compounds in mood disorders, and look into the horizon of where psychedelic medicine is heading.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"30471683","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Müller F, Liechti ME, Lang UE, Borgwardt S.
publication_date: 2018-09-27
doi: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.08.004
pubmed_id: 30471679
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.08.004
keywords: Brain, Humans, Serotonin, Hallucinogens, Rest, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Brain Imaging,Receptor Pharmacology,Aging
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
Advances and challenges in neuroimaging studies on the effects of serotonergic hallucinogens: Contributions of the resting brain.

abstract:
The effects of hallucinogenic drugs on the human brain have been studied since the earliest days of neuroimaging in the 1990s. However, approaches are often hard to compare and results are heterogeneous. In this chapter, we summarize studies investigating the effects of hallucinogens on the resting brain, with a special emphasis on replicability and limitations. In previous studies, similarities were observed between psilocybin, LSD, and ayahuasca, with respect to decreases in cerebral blood flow and increases in global functional connectivity in the precuneus and thalamus. Additionally, LSD consistently decreased functional connectivity within distinct resting state networks. Little convergence was observed for connectivity between networks and for blood flow in other brain regions. Although these studies are limited by small sample sizes and might be biased by unspecific drug effects on physiological parameters and the vascular system, current results indicate that neuroimaging could be a useful tool to elucidate the neuronal correlates of hallucinogenic effects.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"30471679","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Serotonergic Psychedelics: Experimental Approaches for Assessing Mechanisms of Action.
authors: Canal CE.
publication_date: 2017-12-31
doi: 10.1007/164_2018_107
pubmed_id: 29532180
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/164_2018_107
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Recent, well-controlled - albeit small-scale - clinical trials show that serotonergic psychedelics, including psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide, possess great promise for treating psychiatric disorders, including treatment-resistant depression. Additionally, fresh results from a deluge of clinical neuroimaging studies are unveiling the dynamic effects of serotonergic psychedelics on functional activity within, and connectivity across, discrete neural systems. These observations have led to testable hypotheses regarding neural processing mechanisms that contribute to psychedelic effects and therapeutic benefits. Despite these advances and a plethora of preclinical and clinical observations supporting a central role for brain serotonin 5-HT2A receptors in producing serotonergic psychedelic effects, lingering and new questions about mechanisms abound. These chiefly pertain to molecular neuropharmacology. This chapter is devoted to illuminating and discussing such questions in the context of preclinical experimental approaches for studying mechanisms of action of serotonergic psychedelics, classic and new.

keywords:
Brain, Animals, Humans, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A, Hallucinogens, Drug Evaluation, Preclinical, Mental Disorders, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Depression,Brain Imaging,Pharmacology,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Aging,Clinical Trial,Animal Study,Treatment-Resistant Depression

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29532180","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Novel psychotherapeutics - a cautiously optimistic focus on Hallucinogens.
authors: Sherwood AM, Prisinzano TE
journal: Expert review of clinical pharmacology
publication_date: 2017-12-31
doi: 10.1080/17512433.2018.1415755
pubmed_id: 29224406
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29224406/
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,PTSD
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:40
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"29224406"}
keywords:
Anxiety, MDMA, PTSD, depression, drug policy, entactogen, hallucinogen, ketamine, psilocybin, psychedelic


authors: Hendricks PS, Crawford MS, Cropsey KL, Copes H, Sweat NW, Walsh Z, Pavela G.
publication_date: 2017-10-16
doi: 10.1177/0269881117735685
pubmed_id: 29039233
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881117735685
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Observational Study,Adolescents
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
The relationships of classic psychedelic use with criminal behavior in the United States adult population.

abstract:
Criminal behavior exacts a large toll on society and is resistant to intervention. Some evidence suggests classic psychedelics may inhibit criminal behavior, but the extent of these effects has not been comprehensively explored. In this study, we tested the relationships of classic psychedelic use and psilocybin use per se with criminal behavior among over 480,000 United States adult respondents pooled from the last 13 available years of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2002 through 2014) while controlling for numerous covariates. Lifetime classic psychedelic use was associated with a reduced odds of past year larceny/theft (aOR = 0.73 (0.65-0.83)), past year assault (aOR = 0.88 (0.80-0.97)), past year arrest for a property crime (aOR = 0.78 (0.65-0.95)), and past year arrest for a violent crime (aOR = 0.82 (0.70-0.97)). In contrast, lifetime illicit use of other drugs was, by and large, associated with an increased odds of these outcomes. Lifetime classic psychedelic use, like lifetime illicit use of almost all other substances, was associated with an increased odds of past year drug distribution. Results were consistent with a protective effect of psilocybin for antisocial criminal behavior. These findings contribute to a compelling rationale for the initiation of clinical research with classic psychedelics, including psilocybin, in forensic settings.

keywords:
Humans, Hallucinogens, Psychotropic Drugs, Crime, Adolescent, Adult, Middle Aged, United States, Female, Male, Young Adult, Criminals, Criminal Behavior, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29039233","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


publication_date: 2017-10-10
doi: 10.1177/0269881117731279
pubmed_id: 29020861
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881117731279
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Wellbeing,Spirituality,Mystical Experience,Healthy Volunteers
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
title:
Psilocybin-occasioned mystical-type experience in combination with meditation and other spiritual practices produces enduring positive changes in psychological functioning and in trait measures of prosocial attitudes and behaviors.

authors:
Griffiths RR, Johnson MW, Richards WA, Richards BD, Jesse R, MacLean KA, Barrett FS, Cosimano MP, Klinedinst MA.

abstract:
Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences with participant-attributed increases in well-being. However, little research has examined enduring changes in traits. This study administered psilocybin to participants who undertook a program of meditation/spiritual practices. Healthy participants were randomized to three groups (25 each): (1) very low-dose (1 mg/70 kg on sessions 1 and 2) with moderate-level ("standard") support for spiritual-practice (LD-SS); (2) high-dose (20 and 30 mg/70 kg on sessions 1 and 2, respectively) with standard support (HD-SS); and (3) high-dose (20 and 30 mg/70kg on sessions 1 and 2, respectively) with high support for spiritual practice (HD-HS). Psilocybin was administered double-blind and instructions to participants/staff minimized expectancy confounds. Psilocybin was administered 1 and 2 months after spiritual-practice initiation. Outcomes at 6 months included rates of spiritual practice and persisting effects of psilocybin. Compared with low-dose, high-dose psilocybin produced greater acute and persisting effects. At 6 months, compared with LD-SS, both high-dose groups showed large significant positive changes on longitudinal measures of interpersonal closeness, gratitude, life meaning/purpose, forgiveness, death transcendence, daily spiritual experiences, religious faith and coping, and community observer ratings. Determinants of enduring effects were psilocybin-occasioned mystical-type experience and rates of meditation/spiritual practices. Psilocybin can occasion enduring trait-level increases in prosocial attitudes/behaviors and in healthy psychological functioning. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT00802282.

keywords:
Humans, Meditation, Longitudinal Studies, Double-Blind Method, Attitude, Behavior, Mysticism, Adult, Aged, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Young Adult, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29020861","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Hallucinogens and Serotonin 5-HT2A Receptor-Mediated Signaling Pathways.
authors: López-Giménez JF, González-Maeso J.
publication_date: 2017-12-31
doi: 10.1007/7854_2017_478
pubmed_id: 28677096
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2017_478
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Consciousness,Emotional Processing,Review Article
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
The neuropsychological effects of naturally occurring psychoactive chemicals have been recognized for millennia. Hallucinogens, which include naturally occurring chemicals such as mescaline and psilocybin, as well as synthetic compounds, such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), induce profound alterations of human consciousness, emotion, and cognition. The discovery of the hallucinogenic effects of LSD and the observations that LSD and the endogenous ligand serotonin share chemical and pharmacological profiles led to the suggestion that biogenic amines like serotonin were involved in the psychosis of mental disorders such as schizophrenia. Although they bind other G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) subtypes, studies indicate that several effects of hallucinogens involve agonist activity at the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor. In this chapter, we review recent advances in understanding hallucinogen drug action through characterization of structure, neuroanatomical location, and function of the 5-HT2A receptor.

keywords:
Animals, Humans, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A, Hallucinogens, Signal Transduction, Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28677096","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: The Effects of Hallucinogens on Gene Expression.
authors: Martin DA, Nichols CD.
publication_date: 2017-12-31
doi: 10.1007/7854_2017_479
pubmed_id: 28677095
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2017_479
keywords: Animals, Humans, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A, Hallucinogens, Signal Transduction, Gene Expression
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
The classic serotonergic hallucinogens, or psychedelics, have the ability to profoundly alter perception and behavior. These can include visual distortions, hallucinations, detachment from reality, and mystical experiences. Some psychedelics, like LSD, are able to produce these effects with remarkably low doses of drug. Others, like psilocybin, have recently been demonstrated to have significant clinical efficacy in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and addiction that persist for at least several months after only a single therapeutic session. How does this occur? Much work has recently been published from imaging studies showing that psychedelics alter brain network connectivity. They facilitate a disintegration of the default mode network, producing a hyperconnectivity between brain regions that allow centers that do not normally communicate with each other to do so. The immediate and acute effects on both behaviors and network connectivity are likely mediated by effector pathways downstream of serotonin 5-HT2A receptor activation. These acute molecular processes also influence gene expression changes, which likely influence synaptic plasticity and facilitate more long-term changes in brain neurochemistry ultimately underlying the therapeutic efficacy of a single administration to achieve long-lasting effects. In this review, we summarize what is currently known about the molecular genetic responses to psychedelics within the brain and discuss how gene expression changes may contribute to altered cellular physiology and behaviors.

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,Addiction,Neuroplasticity,Brain Imaging,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Default Mode Network,Aging,Mystical Experience,Review Article

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28677095","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Therapeutic Applications of Classic Hallucinogens.
authors: Bogenschutz MP, Ross S.
publication_date: 2017-12-31
doi: 10.1007/7854_2016_464
pubmed_id: 28512684
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2016_464
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
This chapter reviews what is known about the therapeutic uses of the serotonergic or classic hallucinogens, i.e., psychoactive drugs such as LSD and psilocybin that exert their effects primarily through agonist activity at serotonin 2A (5HT2A) receptors. Following a review of the history of human use and scientific study of these drugs, the data from clinical research are summarized, including extensive work on the use of classic hallucinogens in the treatment of alcoholism and other addictions, studies of the use of LSD and psilocybin to relieve distress concerning death, particularly in patients with advanced or terminal cancer, and more limited data concerning the use of classic hallucinogens to treat mood and anxiety disorders. A survey of possible mechanisms of clinically relevant effects is provided. The well-established safety of classic hallucinogens is reviewed. To provide a clinical perspective, case summaries are provided of two individuals who received treatment in recent controlled trials of psilocybin: one being treated for alcoholism, the other suffering from anxiety and depression related to fear of death due to a cancer diagnosis. Although promising early phase research conducted from the 1950s through the early 1970s was discontinued before firm conclusions could be reached concerning the efficacy of any of the classic hallucinogens for any clinical condition, the research that was conducted in that era strongly suggests that classic hallucinogens have clinically relevant effects, particularly in the case of LSD treatment of alcoholism. In the past decade, clinical trials have resumed investigating the effects of classic hallucinogens in the treatment of existential distress in the face of cancer, and in the treatment of addictions including alcoholism and nicotine addiction. The studies that have been completed to date are not sufficient to establish efficacy, but the outcomes have been very encouraging, and larger trials, up to and including phase 3, are now underway or being planned. Although research has elucidated many of the acute neurobiological and psychological effects of classic hallucinogens on humans, animals, and in vitro systems, the mechanisms of clinically relevant persisting effects remain poorly understood.

keywords:
Animals, Humans, Substance-Related Disorders, Death, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,Addiction,End-of-Life Distress,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Aging,Clinical Trial,Review Article,Observational Study,In Vitro Study,Safety

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28512684","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Classic Hallucinogens and Mystical Experiences: Phenomenology and Neural Correlates.
authors: Barrett FS, Griffiths RR.
publication_date: 2017-12-31
doi: 10.1007/7854_2017_474
pubmed_id: 28401522
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2017_474
keywords: Nervous System, Humans, Hallucinogens, Meditation, Mysticism, Surveys and Questionnaires
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
This chapter begins with a brief review of descriptions and definitions of mystical-type experiences and the historical connection between classic hallucinogens and mystical experiences. The chapter then explores the empirical literature on experiences with classic hallucinogens in which claims about mystical or religious experiences have been made. A psychometrically validated questionnaire is described for the reliable measurement of mystical-type experiences occasioned by classic hallucinogens. Controlled laboratory studies show that under double-blind conditions that provide significant controls for expectancy bias, psilocybin can occasion complete mystical experiences in the majority of people studied. These effects are dose-dependent, specific to psilocybin compared to placebo or a psychoactive control substance, and have enduring impact on the moods, attitudes, and behaviors of participants as assessed by self-report of participants and ratings by community observers. Other studies suggest that enduring personal meaning in healthy volunteers and therapeutic outcomes in patients, including reduction and cessation of substance abuse behaviors and reduction of anxiety and depression in patients with a life-threatening cancer diagnosis, are related to the occurrence of mystical experiences during drug sessions. The final sections of the chapter draw parallels in human neuroscience research between the neural bases of experiences with classic hallucinogens and the neural bases of meditative practices for which claims of mystical-type experience are sometimes made. From these parallels, a functional neural model of mystical experience is proposed, based on changes in the default mode network of the brain that have been observed after the administration of classic hallucinogens and during meditation practices for which mystical-type claims have been made.

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,End-of-Life Distress,Default Mode Network,Mystical Experience,Review Article,Observational Study,Healthy Volunteers

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28401522","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Effect of Hallucinogens on Unconditioned Behavior.
authors: Halberstadt AL, Geyer MA
journal: Current topics in behavioral neurosciences
publication_date: 2017-12-31
doi: 10.1007/7854_2016_466
pubmed_id: 28224459
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28224459/
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Pharmacology,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Review Article,Animal Study
study_type: Review Article
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:40
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"28224459"}
abstract:
Because of the ethical and regulatory hurdles associated with human studies, much of what is known about the psychopharmacology of hallucinogens has been derived from animal models. However, developing reliable animal models has proven to be a challenging task due to the complexity and variability of hallucinogen effects in humans. This chapter focuses on three animal models that are frequently used to test the effects of hallucinogens on unconditioned behavior: head twitch response (HTR), prepulse inhibition of startle (PPI), and exploratory behavior. The HTR has demonstrated considerable utility in the neurochemical actions of hallucinogens. However, the latter two models have clearer conceptual bridges to human phenomenology. Consistent with the known mechanism of action of hallucinogens in humans, the behavioral effects of hallucinogens in rodents are mediated primarily by activation of 5-HT receptors. There is evidence, however, that other receptors may play secondary roles. The structure-activity relationships (SAR) of hallucinogens are reviewed in relation to each model, with a focus on the HTR in rats and mice.

keywords:
1-methylpsilocin, 25CN-NBOH, 25I-NBOMe, 5-HT2C receptor, DOI, LSD, Lisuride, Locomotor activity, Lysergic acid diethylamide, M100907, Mescaline, Mouse, Psilocybin, Psychedelic, Quipazine, Rat, SB-242,084, Wet dog shake


title: Phenomenology, Structure, and Dynamic of Psychedelic States.
authors: Preller KH, Vollenweider FX
journal: Current topics in behavioral neurosciences
publication_date: 2017-12-31
doi: 10.1007/7854_2016_459
pubmed_id: 28025814
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28025814/
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Review Article
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:40
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"28025814"}
abstract:
Classic serotonergic hallucinogens or psychedelics produce an altered states of consciousness (ASC) that is characterized by profound alterations in sensory perception, mood, thought including the perception of reality, and the sense of self. Over the past years, there has been considerable progress in the search for invariant and common features of psychedelic states. In the first part of this review, we outline contemporary approaches to characterize the structure of ASCs by means of three primary etiology-independent dimensions including oceanic boundlessness, anxious ego-dissolution, and visionary restructuralization as well as by 11 lower-order factors, all of which can be reliably measured by the altered state of consciousness questionnaire (APZ-OAV). The second part sheds light on the dynamic nature of psychedelic experiences. Frequently, psychedelic subjects progress through different stages over time and levels of changes along a perception-hallucination continuum of increasing arousal and ego-dissolution. We then review in detail the acute effects of psychedelics on sensory perception, emotion, cognition, creativity, and time perception along with possible neural mechanisms underlying them. The next part of this review outlines the influence of non-pharmacological factors (predictors) on the acute psychedelic experience, such as demographics, genetics, personality, mood, and setting, and also discusses some long-term effects succeeding the acute experience. The last part presents some recent concepts and models attempting to understand different facets of psychedelic states of consciousness from a neuroscientific perspective.

keywords:
Altered states of consciousness, Hallucinogens, Human, Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), Psilocybin, Psychedelics, Serotonin

topic_tags:
Anxiety,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Consciousness,Personality Change,Emotional Processing,Creativity,Review Article


title: Serotonergic Hallucinogen-Induced Visual Perceptual Alterations.
authors: Kometer M, Vollenweider FX.
publication_date: 2017-12-31
doi: 10.1007/7854_2016_461
pubmed_id: 27900674
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2016_461
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Serotonergic hallucinogens, such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), are famous for their capacity to temporally and profoundly alter an individual's visual experiences. These visual alterations show consistent attributes despite large inter- and intra-individual variances. Many reports document a common perception of colors as more saturated, with increased brightness and contrast in the environment ("Visual Intensifications"). Environmental objects might be altered in size ("Visual illusions") or take on a modified and special meaning for the subject ("Altered self-reference"). Subjects may perceive light flashes or geometrical figures containing recurrent patterns ("Elementary imagery and hallucinations") influenced by auditory stimuli ("Audiovisual synesthesia"), or they may envision images of people, animals, or landscapes ("Complex imagery and hallucinations") without any physical stimuli supporting their percepts. This wide assortment of visual phenomena suggests that one single neuropsychopharmacological mechanism is unlikely to explain such vast phenomenological diversity. Starting with mechanisms that act at the cellular level, the key role of 5-HT2A receptor activation and the subsequent increased cortical excitation will be considered. Next, it will be shown that area specific anatomical and dynamical features link increased excitation to the specific visual contents of hallucinations. The decrease of alpha oscillations by hallucinogens will then be introduced as a systemic mechanism for amplifying internal-driven excitation that overwhelms stimulus-induced excitations. Finally, the hallucinogen-induced parallel decrease of the N170 visual evoked potential and increased medial P1 potential will be discussed as key mechanisms for inducing a dysbalance between global integration and early visual gain that may explain several hallucinogen-induced visual experiences, including visual hallucinations, illusions, and intensifications.

keywords:
Animals, Humans, Hallucinations, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A, Serotonin Agents, Hallucinogens, Visual Perception

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27900674","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Pharmacokinetics of Escalating Doses of Oral Psilocybin in Healthy Adults.
publication_date: 2017-11-30
doi: 10.1007/s40262-017-0540-6
pubmed_id: 28353056
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40262-017-0540-6
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: Depression,Addiction,Pharmacology,Clinical Trial,Safety,Adverse Events
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
authors:
Brown RT, Nicholas CR, Cozzi NV, Gassman MC, Cooper KM, Muller D, Thomas CD, Hetzel SJ, Henriquez KM, Ribaudo AS, Hutson PR.

abstract:
IntroductionPsilocybin is a psychedelic tryptamine that has shown promise in recent clinical trials for the treatment of depression and substance use disorders. This open-label study of the pharmacokinetics of psilocybin was performed to describe the pharmacokinetics and safety profile of psilocybin in sequential, escalating oral doses of 0.3, 0.45, and 0.6 mg/kg in 12 healthy adults.MethodsEligible healthy adults received 6-8 h of preparatory counseling in anticipation of the first dose of psilocybin. The escalating oral psilocybin doses were administered at approximately monthly intervals in a controlled setting and subjects were monitored for 24 h. Blood and urine samples were collected over 24 h and assayed by a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay for psilocybin and psilocin, the active metabolite. The pharmacokinetics of psilocin were determined using both compartmental (NONMEM) and noncompartmental (WinNonlin) methods.ResultsNo psilocybin was found in plasma or urine, and renal clearance of intact psilocin accounted for less than 2% of the total clearance. The pharmacokinetics of psilocin were linear within the twofold range of doses, and the elimination half-life of psilocin was 3 h (standard deviation 1.1). An extended elimination phase in some subjects suggests hydrolysis of the psilocin glucuronide metabolite. Variation in psilocin clearance was not predicted by body weight, and no serious adverse events occurred in the subjects studied.ConclusionsThe small amount of psilocin renally excreted suggests that no dose reduction is needed for subjects with mild-moderate renal impairment. Simulation of fixed doses using the pharmacokinetic parameters suggest that an oral dose of 25 mg should approximate the drug exposure of a 0.3 mg/kg oral dose of psilocybin. Although doses of 0.6 mg/kg are in excess of likely therapeutic doses, no serious physical or psychological events occurred during or within 30 days of any dose.Clinical trials identifierNCT02163707.

keywords:
Humans, Glucuronides, Hallucinogens, Chromatography, Liquid, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Nonlinear Dynamics, Half-Life, Adult, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Young Adult, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28353056","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Orsolini L, Papanti GD, De Berardis D, Guirguis A, Corkery JM, Schifano F.
publication_date: 2017-11-19
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00240
pubmed_id: 29209235
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00240
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Pharmacology,Systematic Review,Review Article,Safety
study_type: Systematic Review
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
The "Endless Trip" among the NPS Users: Psychopathology and Psychopharmacology in the Hallucinogen-Persisting Perception Disorder. A Systematic Review.

abstract:
Hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD) is a syndrome characterized by prolonged or reoccurring perceptual symptoms, reminiscent of acute hallucinogen effects. HPPD was associated with a broader range of LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)-like substances, cannabis, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), psilocybin, mescaline, and psychostimulants. The recent emergence of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) posed a critical concern regarding the new onset of psychiatric symptoms/syndromes, including cases of HPPD. Symptomatology mainly comprises visual disorders (i.e., geometric pseudo-hallucinations, haloes, flashes of colors/lights, motion-perception deficits, afterimages, micropsia, more acute awareness of floaters, etc.), even though depressive symptoms and thought disorders may be comorbidly present. Although HPPD was first described in 1954, it was just established as a fully syndrome in 2000, with the revised fourth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR). HPPD neural substrates, risk factors, and aetiopathogenesys still largely remain unknown and under investigation, and many questions about its pharmacological targets remain unanswered too. A critical mini review on psychopathological bases, etiological hypothesis, and psychopharmacological approaches toward HPPD, including the association with some novel substances, are provided here, by means of a literature search on PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases without time restrictions, by using a specific set of keywords. Pharmacological and clinical issues are considered, and practical psychopharmacological recommendations and clinical guidelines are suggested.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29209235","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: LSD Increases Primary Process Thinking via Serotonin 2A Receptor Activation.
authors: Kraehenmann R, Pokorny D, Aicher H, Preller KH, Pokorny T, Bosch OG, Seifritz E, Vollenweider FX.
publication_date: 2017-11-07
doi: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00814
pubmed_id: 29167644
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2017.00814
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Receptor Pharmacology,Consciousness
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:07
abstract:
Rationale: Stimulation of serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptors by lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and related compounds such as psilocybin has previously been shown to increase primary process thinking - an ontologically and evolutionary early, implicit, associative, and automatic mode of thinking which is typically occurring during altered states of consciousness such as dreaming. However, it is still largely unknown whether LSD induces primary process thinking under placebo-controlled, standardized experimental conditions and whether these effects are related to subjective experience and 5-HT2A receptor activation. Therefore, this study aimed to test the hypotheses that LSD increases primary process thinking and that primary process thinking depends on 5-HT2A receptor activation and is related to subjective drug effects. Methods: Twenty-five healthy subjects performed an audio-recorded mental imagery task 7 h after drug administration during three drug conditions: placebo, LSD (100 mcg orally) and LSD together with the 5-HT2A receptor antagonist ketanserin (40 mg orally). The main outcome variable in this study was primary index (PI), a formal measure of primary process thinking in the imagery reports. State of consciousness was evaluated using the Altered State of Consciousness (5D-ASC) rating scale. Results: LSD, compared with placebo, significantly increased primary index (p < 0.001, Bonferroni-corrected). The LSD-induced increase in primary index was positively correlated with LSD-induced disembodiment (p < 0.05, Bonferroni-corrected), and blissful state (p < 0.05, Bonferroni-corrected) on the 5D-ASC. Both LSD-induced increases in primary index and changes in state of consciousness were fully blocked by ketanserin. Conclusion: LSD induces primary process thinking via activation of 5-HT2A receptors and in relation to disembodiment and blissful state. Primary process thinking appears to crucially organize inner experiences during both dreams and psychedelic states of consciousness.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29167644","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psychedelic Drugs in Biomedicine.
authors: Kyzar EJ, Nichols CD, Gainetdinov RR, Nichols DE, Kalueff AV.
publication_date: 2017-09-21
doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2017.08.003
pubmed_id: 28947075
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tips.2017.08.003
keywords: Brain, Animals, Humans, Hallucinogens, Psychophysiology, Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Psychedelic drugs, such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), mescaline, and psilocybin, exert profound effects on brain and behavior. After decades of difficulties in studying these compounds, psychedelics are again being tested as potential treatments for intractable biomedical disorders. Preclinical research of psychedelics complements human neuroimaging studies and pilot clinical trials, suggesting these compounds as promising treatments for addiction, depression, anxiety, and other conditions. However, many questions regarding the mechanisms of action, safety, and efficacy of psychedelics remain. Here, we summarize recent preclinical and clinical data in this field, discuss their pharmacological mechanisms of action, and outline critical areas for future studies of psychedelic drugs, with the goal of maximizing the potential benefits of translational psychedelic biomedicine to patients.

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,Addiction,Brain Imaging,Mechanism of Action,Aging,Clinical Trial,Animal Study,Safety

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28947075","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy: A Review of a Novel Treatment for Psychiatric Disorders.
authors: Thomas K, Malcolm B, Lastra D.
publication_date: 2017-05-07
doi: 10.1080/02791072.2017.1320734
pubmed_id: 28481178
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2017.1320734
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
Recent research suggests that functional connectivity changes may be involved in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. Hyperconnectivity in the default mode network has been associated with psychopathology, but psychedelic serotonin agonists like psilocybin may profoundly disrupt these dysfunctional neural network circuits and provide a novel treatment for psychiatric disorders. We have reviewed the current literature to investigate the efficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted therapy for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. There were seven clinical trials that investigated psilocybin-assisted therapy as a treatment for psychiatric disorders related to anxiety, depression, and substance use. All trials demonstrated reductions in psychiatric rating scale scores or increased response and remission rates. There were large effect sizes related to improved depression and anxiety symptoms. Psilocybin may also potentially reduce alcohol or tobacco use and increase abstinence rates in addiction, but the benefits of these two trials were less clear due to open-label study designs without statistical analysis. Psilocybin-assisted therapy efficacy and safety appear promising, but more robust clinical trials will be required to support FDA approval and identify the potential role in clinical psychiatry.

keywords:
Brain, Animals, Humans, Hallucinogens, Treatment Outcome, Remission Induction, Mental Health, Mental Disorders, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,Addiction,Receptor Pharmacology,Default Mode Network,Clinical Trial,Review Article,Safety

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28481178","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Neuroticism is associated with challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms.
authors: Barrett FS, Johnson MW, Griffiths RR.
publication_date: 2017-06-06
doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2017.06.004
pubmed_id: 28781400
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.06.004
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Personality Change,Emotional Processing,Observational Study
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
ObjectivesClassic hallucinogens (e.g. psilocybin and LSD) have substantial effects on perception, cognition, and emotion that can often be psychologically challenging, however we know very little regarding the source of significant individual variability that has been observed in the frequency and intensity of challenging experiences (i.e. "bad trips") with psychedelics. Previous clinical and observational literature suggests that there may be an association between neuroticism and challenging psychedelic experiences.MethodsData from two online surveys of challenging experiences with psilocybin were analyzed. Multivariate analysis was used to estimate the associations between total score and scores from seven sub-factors (fear, grief, physical distress, insanity, isolation, death, and paranoia) of the Challenging Experience Questionnaire (CEQ), and scale scores from the Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) in Study 1 (N=1993) and the Big Five Inventory (BFI) in Study 2 (N = 981).ResultsCEQ scores were negatively associated with emotional stability scores (the inverse of neuroticism) in Study 1 and positively associated with neuroticism scores in Study 2.ConclusionsNeuroticism may contribute to the strength of challenging experiences in uncontrolled settings.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28781400","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression: fMRI-measured brain mechanisms.
publication_date: 2017-10-12
doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-13282-7
pubmed_id: 29030624
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-13282-7
keywords: Brain, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Depression, Adult, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
authors:
Carhart-Harris RL, Roseman L, Bolstridge M, Demetriou L, Pannekoek JN, Wall MB, Tanner M, Kaelen M, McGonigle J, Murphy K, Leech R, Curran HV, Nutt DJ.

abstract:
Psilocybin with psychological support is showing promise as a treatment model in psychiatry but its therapeutic mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, cerebral blood flow (CBF) and blood oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) were measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) before and after treatment with psilocybin (serotonin agonist) for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Quality pre and post treatment fMRI data were collected from 16 of 19 patients. Decreased depressive symptoms were observed in all 19 patients at 1-week post-treatment and 47% met criteria for response at 5 weeks. Whole-brain analyses revealed post-treatment decreases in CBF in the temporal cortex, including the amygdala. Decreased amygdala CBF correlated with reduced depressive symptoms. Focusing on a priori selected circuitry for RSFC analyses, increased RSFC was observed within the default-mode network (DMN) post-treatment. Increased ventromedial prefrontal cortex-bilateral inferior lateral parietal cortex RSFC was predictive of treatment response at 5-weeks, as was decreased parahippocampal-prefrontal cortex RSFC. These data fill an important knowledge gap regarding the post-treatment brain effects of psilocybin, and are the first in depressed patients. The post-treatment brain changes are different to previously observed acute effects of psilocybin and other 'psychedelics' yet were related to clinical outcomes. A 'reset' therapeutic mechanism is proposed.

topic_tags:
Depression,Brain Imaging,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Default Mode Network,Aging,Treatment-Resistant Depression

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"29030624","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Two dose investigation of the 5-HT-agonist psilocybin on relative and global cerebral blood flow.
authors: Lewis CR, Preller KH, Kraehenmann R, Michels L, Staempfli P, Vollenweider FX.
publication_date: 2017-07-11
doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.07.020
pubmed_id: 28711736
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.07.020
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Brain Imaging,Pharmacology,Receptor Pharmacology,Consciousness,Aging
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
Psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, is an agonist of various serotonin receptors. Seminal psilocybin positron emission tomography (PET) research suggested regional increases in glucose metabolism in frontal cortex (hyperfrontality). However, a recent arterial spin labeling (ASL) study suggests psilocybin may lead to hypo-perfusion in various brain regions. In this placebo-controlled, double-blind study we used pseudo-continuous ASL (pCASL) to measure perfusion changes, with and without adjustment for global brain perfusion, after two doses of oral psilocybin (low dose: 0.160 mg/kg; high dose: 0.215 mg/kg) in two groups of healthy controls (n = 29 in both groups, total N = 58) during rest. We controlled for sex and age and used family-wise error corrected p values in all neuroimaging analyses. Both dose groups reported profound subjective drug effects as measured by the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (5D-ASC) with the high dose inducing significantly larger effects in four out of the 11 scales. After adjusting for global brain perfusion, psilocybin increased relative perfusion in distinct right hemispheric frontal and temporal regions and bilaterally in the anterior insula and decreased perfusion in left hemispheric parietal and temporal cortices and left subcortical regions. Whereas, psilocybin significantly reduced absolute perfusion in frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes, and bilateral amygdalae, anterior cingulate, insula, striatal regions, and hippocampi. Our analyses demonstrate consistency with both the hyperfrontal hypothesis of psilocybin and the more recent study demonstrating decreased perfusion, depending on analysis method. Importantly, our data illustrate that relative changes in perfusion should be understood and interpreted in relation to absolute signal variations.

keywords:
Brain, Humans, Hallucinogens, Double-Blind Method, Cerebrovascular Circulation, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Adult, Female, Male, Young Adult, Serotonin Receptor Agonists, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28711736","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Larsen JK.
publication_date: 2017-07-04
doi: 10.1080/08039488.2017.1336251
pubmed_id: 28678583
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1080/08039488.2017.1336251
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: OCD,Review Article,Safety,Adverse Events
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
LSD treatment in Scandinavia: emphasizing indications and short-term treatment outcomes of 151 patients in Denmark.

abstract:
BackgroundNew research has suggested the clinical use of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin in selected patient populations. However, concerns about the clinical use of LSD were advanced in a large Danish follow-up study that assessed 151 LSD-treated psychiatric patients approximately 25 years after their treatment in the 1960s.AimsThe purpose of the present study was to give a retrospective account of the short-term outcome of LSD treatment in these 151 Danish psychiatric patients.MethodsThe LSD case material in the Danish State Archives consists of medical case records of 151 LSD-treated patients, who complained and received economic compensation with the LSD Damages Law. The author carefully read and reviewed the LSD case material.ResultsLSD was used to treat a wide spectrum of mental disorders. Independent of diagnoses, 52 patients improved, and 48 patients worsened acutely with the LSD treatment. In a subgroup of 82 neurotic patients, the LSD dose-index (number of treatments multiplied by the maximal LSD dose) indicated the risk of acute worsening. In another subgroup of 19 patients with obsessive-compulsive neurosis, five patients later underwent psychosurgery. A small subgroup of 12 patients was treated with psilocybin. The long-term outcome was poor in most of the patients.ConclusionsDespite the significant limitations to a retrospective design, this database warrants caution in mental health patients. The use of LSD and psilocybin in mental health patients may be associated with serious short- and long-term side effects. Until further trials with rigorous designs have cleared these drugs of their potential harms, their clinical utility in these groups of patients has not been fully clarified.

keywords:
Humans, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Risk, Retrospective Studies, Follow-Up Studies, Mental Disorders, Adult, Denmark, Female, Male, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28678583","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psilocybin: Good Trip or Bad Trip.
authors: Sellers EM.
publication_date: 2017-05-25
doi: 10.1002/cpt.697
pubmed_id: 28548221
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1002/cpt.697
keywords: Humans, Hallucinogens, Drug Repositioning, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Pharmacology
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Much of the history of pharmacology and therapeutics involves finding new uses for old drugs. The latest rediscovery is that of psychedelic drugs. Since they can cause profound distortions of perception and were once used as part of religious ceremonies, such research may seem unusual at this time.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28548221","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Drugs: Past, Present, and Future.
authors: Carhart-Harris RL, Goodwin GM.
publication_date: 2017-04-25
doi: 10.1038/npp.2017.84
pubmed_id: 28443617
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2017.84
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Brain Imaging,Aging,Clinical Trial
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Plant-based psychedelics, such as psilocybin, have an ancient history of medicinal use. After the first English language report on LSD in 1950, psychedelics enjoyed a short-lived relationship with psychology and psychiatry. Used most notably as aids to psychotherapy for the treatment of mood disorders and alcohol dependence, drugs such as LSD showed initial therapeutic promise before prohibitive legislature in the mid-1960s effectively ended all major psychedelic research programs. Since the early 1990s, there has been a steady revival of human psychedelic research: last year saw reports on the first modern brain imaging study with LSD and three separate clinical trials of psilocybin for depressive symptoms. In this circumspective piece, RLC-H and GMG share their opinions on the promises and pitfalls of renewed psychedelic research, with a focus on the development of psilocybin as a treatment for depression.

keywords:
Animals, Humans, Hallucinogens, Mental Disorders, History, 20th Century, History, 21st Century, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28443617","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide in Healthy Subjects.
authors: Dolder PC, Schmid Y, Steuer AE, Kraemer T, Rentsch KM, Hammann F, Liechti ME
journal: Clinical pharmacokinetics
publication_date: 2017-09-30
doi: 10.1007/s40262-017-0513-9
pubmed_id: 28197931
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28197931/
keywords: Autonomic Effect, Drug Effect, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Psilocybin, Subjective Effect
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Brain Imaging,Pharmacology,Aging
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:40
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"28197931"}
abstract:
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is used recreationally and in clinical research. The aim of the present study was to characterize the pharmacokinetics and exposure-response relationship of oral LSD.
We analyzed pharmacokinetic data from two published placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over studies using oral administration of LSD100 and 200 µg in 24 and 16 subjects, respectively. The pharmacokinetics of the 100-µg dose is shown for the first time and data for the 200-µg dose were reanalyzed and included. Plasma concentrations of LSD, subjective effects, and vital signs were repeatedly assessed. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined using compartmental modeling. Concentration-effect relationships were described using pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling.
Geometric mean (95% confidence interval) maximum plasma concentration values of 1.3 (1.2-1.9) and 3.1 (2.6-4.0) ng/mL were reached 1.4 and 1.5 h after administration of 100 and 200 µg LSD, respectively. The plasma half-life was 2.6 h (2.2-3.4 h). The subjective effects lasted (mean ± standard deviation) 8.2 ± 2.1 and 11.6 ± 1.7 h for the 100- and 200-µg LSD doses, respectively. Subjective peak effects were reached 2.8 and 2.5 h after administration of LSD100 and 200 µg, respectively. A close relationship was observed between the LSD concentration and subjective response within subjects, with moderate counterclockwise hysteresis. Half-maximal effective concentration values were in the range of 1 ng/mL. No correlations were found between plasma LSD concentrations and the effects of LSD across subjects at or near maximum plasma concentration and within dose groups.
The present pharmacokinetic data are important for the evaluation of clinical study findings (e.g., functional magnetic resonance imaging studies) and the interpretation of LSD intoxication. Oral LSD presented dose-proportional pharmacokinetics and first-order elimination up to 12 h. The effects of LSD were related to changes in plasma concentrations over time, with no evidence of acute tolerance.
NCT02308969, NCT01878942.


title: Enzymatic Synthesis of Psilocybin.
authors: Fricke J, Blei F, Hoffmeister D.
publication_date: 2017-08-24
doi: 10.1002/anie.201705489
pubmed_id: 28763571
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201705489
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: End-of-Life Distress
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
Psilocybin is the psychotropic tryptamine-derived natural product of Psilocybe carpophores, the so-called "magic mushrooms". Although its structure has been known for 60 years, the enzymatic basis of its biosynthesis has remained obscure. We characterized four psilocybin biosynthesis enzymes, namely i) PsiD, which represents a new class of fungal l-tryptophan decarboxylases, ii) PsiK, which catalyzes the phosphotransfer step, iii) the methyltransferase PsiM, catalyzing iterative N-methyl transfer as the terminal biosynthetic step, and iv) PsiH, a monooxygenase. In a combined PsiD/PsiK/PsiM reaction, psilocybin was synthesized enzymatically in a step-economic route from 4-hydroxy-l-tryptophan. Given the renewed pharmaceutical interest in psilocybin, our results may lay the foundation for its biotechnological production.

keywords:
Aromatic-L-Amino-Acid Decarboxylases, Mixed Function Oxygenases, Methyltransferases, 5-Hydroxytryptophan, S-Adenosylmethionine, Hallucinogens, Chromatography, Liquid, Substrate Specificity, Genes, Fungal, Catalysis, Mass Spectrometry, Psilocybe, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28763571","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Andersson M, Persson M, Kjellgren A.
publication_date: 2017-09-04
doi: 10.1186/s12954-017-0186-6
pubmed_id: 28870224
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-017-0186-6
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Headache / Migraine,Safety,Adverse Events
study_type: Qualitative Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
Psychoactive substances as a last resort-a qualitative study of self-treatment of migraine and cluster headaches.

abstract:
BackgroundTreatment resistant cluster headache and migraine patients are exploring alternative treatments online. The aim of this study was to improve comprehension regarding the use of non-established or alternative pharmacological treatments used by sufferers of cluster headaches and migraines.MethodsA qualitative thematic analysis of the users' own accounts presented in online forum discussions were conducted. The forum boards https://shroomery.org/, http://bluelight.org, and https://clusterbusters.org/ met the inclusion criteria and were used for the study.ResultsThe analysis resulted in six themes: a desperate need for effective treatments; the role of the forum-finding alternative treatments and community support; alternative treatment substances; dosage and regimens; effects and treatment results; and adverse effects. The results provide an insight into why, how, and by which substances and methods sufferers seek relief from cluster headache and migraines.ConclusionsThese patients are in a desperate and vulnerable situation, and illicit psychoactive substances are often considered a last resort. There appeared to be little or no interest in psychoactive effects per se as these were rather tolerated or avoided by using sub-psychoactive doses. Primarily, psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, and related psychedelic tryptamines were reportedly effective for both prophylactic and acute treatment of cluster headache and migraines. Treatment results with cannabis were more unpredictable. No severe adverse events were reported, but it was observed how desperation sometimes spurred risky behavior when obtaining and testing various treatment alternatives. The forum discourse mainly revolved around maximizing treatment results and minimizing potential harms.

keywords:
Humans, Cluster Headache, Psychotropic Drugs, Treatment Outcome, Self Care, Harm Reduction, Qualitative Research, Migraine Disorders, Illicit Drugs

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28870224","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Effect of Psilocybin on Empathy and Moral Decision-Making.
authors: Pokorny T, Preller KH, Kometer M, Dziobek I, Vollenweider FX.
publication_date: 2017-08-31
doi: 10.1093/ijnp/pyx047
pubmed_id: 28637246
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyx047
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Receptor Pharmacology,Emotional Processing,Healthy Volunteers
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
BackgroundImpaired empathic abilities lead to severe negative social consequences and influence the development and treatment of several psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, empathy has been shown to play a crucial role in moral and prosocial behavior. Although the serotonin system has been implicated in modulating empathy and moral behavior, the relative contribution of the various serotonin receptor subtypes is still unknown.MethodsWe investigated the acute effect of psilocybin (0.215 mg/kg p.o.) in healthy human subjects on different facets of empathy and hypothetical moral decision-making using the multifaceted empathy test (n=32) and the moral dilemma task (n=24).ResultsPsilocybin significantly increased emotional, but not cognitive empathy compared with placebo, and the increase in implicit emotional empathy was significantly associated with psilocybin-induced changed meaning of percepts. In contrast, moral decision-making remained unaffected by psilocybin.ConclusionsThese findings provide first evidence that psilocybin has distinct effects on social cognition by enhancing emotional empathy but not moral behavior. Furthermore, together with previous findings, psilocybin appears to promote emotional empathy presumably via activation of serotonin 2A/1A receptors, suggesting that targeting serotonin 2A/1A receptors has implications for potential treatment of dysfunctional social cognition.

keywords:
Humans, Hallucinogens, Analysis of Variance, Double-Blind Method, Empathy, Morals, Decision Making, Neuropsychological Tests, Adult, Female, Male, Young Adult, Self Report, Healthy Volunteers, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28637246","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Forstmann M, Sagioglou C.
publication_date: 2017-06-19
doi: 10.1177/0269881117714049
pubmed_id: 28631526
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881117714049
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Wellbeing,Personality Change,Observational Study,Adolescents
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
Lifetime experience with (classic) psychedelics predicts pro-environmental behavior through an increase in nature relatedness.

abstract:
In a large-scale ( N = 1487) general population online study, we investigated the relationship between past experience with classic psychedelic substances (e.g. LSD, psilocybin, mescaline), nature relatedness, and ecological behavior (e.g. saving water, recycling). Using structural equation modeling we found that experience with classic psychedelics uniquely predicted self-reported engagement in pro-environmental behaviors, and that this relationship was statistically explained by people's degree of self-identification with nature. Our model controlled for experiences with other classes of psychoactive substances (cannabis, dissociatives, empathogens, popular legal drugs) as well as common personality traits that usually predict drug consumption and/or nature relatedness (openness to experience, conscientiousness, conservatism). Although correlational in nature, results suggest that lifetime experience with psychedelics in particular may indeed contribute to people's pro-environmental behavior by changing their self-construal in terms of an incorporation of the natural world, regardless of core personality traits or general propensity to consume mind-altering substances. Thereby, the present research adds to the contemporary literature on the beneficial effects of psychedelic substance use on mental wellbeing, hinting at a novel area for future research investigating their potentially positive effects on a societal level. Limitations of the present research and future directions are discussed.

keywords:
Humans, Hallucinogens, Psychotropic Drugs, Models, Psychological, Internet, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Ecological and Environmental Phenomena, Young Adult, Self Report, Surveys and Questionnaires

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28631526","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: [New patterns of substance use and abuse among French adolescents, a knowledge synthesis].
authors: Jeanne G, Purper-Ouakil D, Rigole H, Franc N.
publication_date: 2016-10-05
doi: 10.1016/j.encep.2016.05.012
pubmed_id: 27720453
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.encep.2016.05.012
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Pharmacology,Review Article,Adolescents,Healthcare Workers,Safety,Toxicity
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:07
abstract:
AimThere have been significant changes in adolescent consumption habits over the past fifteen years. New molecules have been synthesized, new devices created and a number of products have increased in popularity; and as a result clinicians sometimes lack information. We chose to focus on this population because of its vulnerability, as adolescents show low sensitivity to long-term outcomes of their actions and may be easily influenced by peers as regards experimentation of new drugs. The most consumed products by adolescents in France are tobacco, alcohol and cannabis with the physiological effects and consumption patterns of these drugs well documented. The purpose of this review is to identify and describe other products that are frequently used by adolescents to get high, to increase performance, for purposes of self-medication or because of peer pressure. We summarized the current scientific evidence regarding drug availability, physical and chemical properties, pharmacodynamics and adverse effects.MethodA literature review was conducted from 2000 to 2015 based on Pudmed, Google Scholar and governmental websites, using the following keyword alone or in combination: "adolescent", "new", "misuse", "abuse", "toxicity", "pharmacology" "cocaine", "MDMA", "inhalant", "poppers", "magic mushroom", "psilocybin", "designer drug", "legal high", "smart drug", "cathinone", "mephedrone", "cannabinoid", "prescription drug", "codeine", "opioid", "methylphenidate", "cough syrup", "purple drank".ResultsNew products, including synthetic cannabis, cathinone or purple drank seem to be the most dangerous. They are easily accessible and may lead to short-term severe or lethal complications. Other substances do not pose a major short-term health risk by themselves. However, their consumption may be an indication of other unhealthy risk behaviors, such as prescription drug use, which may be related to psychiatric comorbidity. Unfortunately, we do not have enough data to determine the long-term consequences of the use of these substances. Moreover, these products have a strong addictive potential and may be a risk factor for other addictions. For this reason, increased supervision is justified, both for surveillance and reduction of harm.ConclusionTaking care of an adolescent with substance abuse can be difficult. Updated information regarding these new substances and the particular danger they pose to adolescent health is needed. Informed clinicians can provide up to date and accurate information to the patient and family, assess potential risk factors and comorbidities, and provide appropriate support. Furthermore, because of the high prevalence of substance abuse in the adolescent population, systematic screening of adolescent consumption habit is useful to avoid or anticipate complications. Often, problematic substance consumption behaviors are signs of more complicated psychological or psychiatric issues. Substance abuse behaviors will often disappear over time but they can also become a major problem as the adolescent moves into adulthood. If problems persist, consultation with an addiction specialist may be warranted.

keywords:
Humans, Substance-Related Disorders, Designer Drugs, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Smoking, Adolescent, France, Female, Male

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27720453","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Fabregat-Safont D, Barneo-Muñoz M, Martinez-Garcia F, Sancho JV, Hernández F, Ibáñez M.
publication_date: 2017-06-04
doi: 10.1016/j.chroma.2017.06.010
pubmed_id: 28602505
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2017.06.010
substance_tags: psilocin
topic_tags: Pharmacology,Biomarkers,Animal Study
study_type: Animal Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
Proposal of 5-methoxy-N-methyl-N-isopropyltryptamine consumption biomarkers through identification of in vivo metabolites from mice.

abstract:
New psychoactive substances (NPS) are a new breed of synthetically produced substances designed to mimic the effects of traditional illegal drugs. Synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones are the two most common groups, which try to mimic the effects of the natural compounds 9Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol and cathinone, respectively. Similarly, synthetic tryptamines are designer compounds which are based on the compounds psilocin, N,N-dimethyltryptamine and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine found in some mushrooms. One of the most important tryptamine compounds found in seizures is 5-methoxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine, which has been placed as controlled substance in USA and some European countries. The control of this compound has promoted the rising of another tryptamine, the 5-methoxy-N-methyl-N-isopropyltryptamine, which at the time of writing this article has not been banned yet. So, it is undeniable that this new substance should be monitored. 5-methoxy-N-methyl-N-isopropyltryptamine has been reported by the Spanish Early Warning System and detected in our laboratory in two pill samples purchased in a local smart shop. This has promoted the need of stablishing consumption markers for this compound in consumers' urine. In the present work, the metabolism and pharmacokinetic of 5-methoxy-N-methyl-N-isopropyltryptamine has been studied by an in vivo approach, using adult male mice of the inbred strain C57BLJ/6. The use of ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry allowed the identification of four metabolites. After the pharmacokinetic study in serum and urine, the O-demethylated metabolite and the non-metabolised parent compound are proposed as consumption markers in hydrolysed urine. Data reported in this work will help hospitals and forensic laboratories to monitor the consumption and potential intoxication cases related to this tryptamine.

keywords:
Animals, Mice, 5-Methoxytryptamine, Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid, Europe, Male, Mass Spectrometry, Biomarkers, Illicit Drugs

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28602505","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Barrett FS, Robbins H, Smooke D, Brown JL, Griffiths RR.
publication_date: 2017-07-24
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01238
pubmed_id: 28790944
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01238
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Mystical Experience,Clinical Trial,Observational Study
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
Qualitative and Quantitative Features of Music Reported to Support Peak Mystical Experiences during Psychedelic Therapy Sessions.

abstract:
Psilocybin is a classic (serotonergic) hallucinogen ("psychedelic" drug) that may occasion mystical experiences (characterized by a profound feeling of oneness or unity) during acute effects. Such experiences may have therapeutic value. Research and clinical applications of psychedelics usually include music listening during acute drug effects, based on the expectation that music will provide psychological support during the acute effects of psychedelic drugs, and may even facilitate the occurrence of mystical experiences. However, the features of music chosen to support the different phases of drug effects are not well-specified. As a result, there is currently neither real guidance for the selection of music nor standardization of the music used to support clinical trials with psychedelic drugs across various research groups or therapists. A description of the features of music found to be supportive of mystical experience will allow for the standardization and optimization of the delivery of psychedelic drugs in both research trials and therapeutic contexts. To this end, we conducted an anonymous survey of individuals with extensive experience administering psilocybin or psilocybin-containing mushrooms under research or therapeutic conditions, in order to identify the features of commonly used musical selections that have been found by therapists and research staff to be supportive of mystical experiences within a psilocybin session. Ten respondents yielded 24 unique recommendations of musical stimuli supportive of peak effects with psilocybin, and 24 unique recommendations of musical stimuli supportive of the period leading up to a peak experience. Qualitative analysis (expert rating of musical and music-theoretic features of the recommended stimuli) and quantitative analysis (using signal processing and music-information retrieval methods) of 22 of these stimuli yielded a description of peak period music that was characterized by regular, predictable, formulaic phrase structure and orchestration, a feeling of continuous movement and forward motion that slowly builds over time, and lower perceptual brightness when compared to pre peak music. These results provide a description of music that may be optimally supportive of peak psychedelic experiences. This description can be used to guide the selection and composition of music for future psychedelic research and therapy sessions.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28790944","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: New psychoactive substances of natural origin: A brief review.
authors: Feng LY, Battulga A, Han E, Chung H, Li JH
journal: Journal of food and drug analysis
publication_date: 2017-06-30
doi: 10.1016/j.jfda.2017.04.001
pubmed_id: 28911631
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28911631/
keywords: Khat, Kratom, Magic mushroom, Mandrake, New psychoactive substances (NPS), Salvia
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Pharmacology,Review Article,Toxicity,Abuse Liability
study_type: Review Article
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"28911631"}
abstract:
Plant-based drugs of abuse are as old as recorded human history. Although traditional addictive substances, such as opium, cannabis and coca, have been controlled by the United Nations anti-drug conventions, many, if not most, natural plants with addictive or abuse liability remain elusive. Therefore, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has warned the emerging threat from new psychoactive substances (NPS), which are mostly derived or modified from the constituents of natural origin. For example, synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones are derived from the cannabis and khat plant, respectively. In this review, we briefly discussed the chemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of five common NPS of natural origin, i.e., khat, kratom, salvia, magic mushroom and mandrake. Through the review, we hope that professionals and general public alike can pay more attention to the potential problems caused by natural NPS, and suitable control measures will be taken.


authors: Majić T, Jungaberle H, Jungaberle H, Schmidt TT, Zeuch A, Hermle L, Gallinat J.
publication_date: 2017-06-30
doi: 10.1055/s-0043-103085
pubmed_id: 28768346
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0043-103085
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,PTSD,Addiction,OCD,End-of-Life Distress,Receptor Pharmacology,Safety
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
[Psychotherapy with Adjuvant use of Serotonergic Psychoactive Substances: Possibilities and Challenges].

abstract:
Background Recently, scientific interest in the therapeutic potential of serotonergic and psilocybin hallucinogens (psychedelics) such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and entactogens like 3,4-methylendioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) within the framework of psychotherapy has resumed. The present article provides an overview on the current evidence on substance-assisted psychotherapy with these substances. Method A selective search was carried out in the PubMed and Cochrane Library including studies investigating the clinical use of serotonergic psychoactive substances since 2000. Results Studies were found investigating the following indications: alcohol (LSD and psilocybin) and tobacco addiction (psilocybin), anxiety and depression in patients suffering from life-threatening somatic illness (LSD and psilocybin), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) (psilocybin), treatment-resistant major depression (psilocybin), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (MDMA). Discussion Substance use disorders, PTSD and anxiety and depression in patients suffering from life-threatening somatic illness belong to the indications with the best evidence for substance-assisted psychotherapy with serotonergic psychoactive agents. To date, studies indicate efficacy and relatively good tolerability. Further studies are needed to determine whether these substances may represent suitable and effective treatment options for some treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders in the future.

keywords:
Humans, N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Serotonin Agents, Hallucinogens, Treatment Outcome, Combined Modality Therapy, Mental Disorders, Psychotherapy, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28768346","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Potential Therapeutic Effects of Psilocybin.
authors: Johnson MW, Griffiths RR.
publication_date: 2017-06-30
doi: 10.1007/s13311-017-0542-y
pubmed_id: 28585222
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-017-0542-y
keywords: Humans, Hallucinogens, Mental Disorders, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
Psilocybin and other 5-hydroxytryptamine2A agonist classic psychedelics have been used for centuries as sacraments within indigenous cultures. In the mid-twentieth century they were a focus within psychiatry as both probes of brain function and experimental therapeutics. By the late 1960s and early 1970s these scientific inquires fell out of favor because classic psychedelics were being used outside of medical research and in association with the emerging counter culture. However, in the twenty-first century, scientific interest in classic psychedelics has returned and grown as a result of several promising studies, validating earlier research. Here, we review therapeutic research on psilocybin, the classic psychedelic that has been the focus of most recent research. For mood and anxiety disorders, three controlled trials have suggested that psilocybin may decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety in the context of cancer-related psychiatric distress for at least 6 months following a single acute administration. A small, open-label study in patients with treatment-resistant depression showed reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms 3 months after two acute doses. For addiction, small, open-label pilot studies have shown promising success rates for both tobacco and alcohol addiction. Safety data from these various trials, which involve careful screening, preparation, monitoring, and follow-up, indicate the absence of severe drug-related adverse reactions. Modest drug-related adverse effects at the time of medication administration are readily managed. US federal funding has yet to support therapeutic psilocybin research, although such support will be important to thoroughly investigate efficacy, safety, and therapeutic mechanisms.

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,Addiction,Mechanism of Action,Review Article,Cancer Patients,Treatment-Resistant Depression,Safety

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28585222","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: An online survey of tobacco smoking cessation associated with naturalistic psychedelic use.
authors: Johnson MW, Garcia-Romeu A, Johnson PS, Griffiths RR.
publication_date: 2017-01-17
doi: 10.1177/0269881116684335
pubmed_id: 28095732
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881116684335
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Addiction,Mechanism of Action,Emotional Processing,Spirituality,Observational Study
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:07
abstract:
Data suggest psychedelics such as psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) may hold therapeutic potential in the treatment of addictions, including tobacco dependence. This retrospective cross-sectional anonymous online survey characterized 358 individuals (52 females) who reported having quit or reduced smoking after ingesting a psychedelic in a non-laboratory setting ⩾1 year ago. On average, participants smoked 14 cigarettes/day for 8 years, and had five previous quit attempts before their psychedelic experience. Of the 358 participants, 38% reported continuous smoking cessation after psychedelic use (quitters). Among quitters, 74% reported >2 years' abstinence. Of the 358 participants, 28% reported a persisting reduction in smoking (reducers), from a mode of 300 cigarettes/month before, to a mode of 1 cigarette/month after the experience. Among reducers, 62% reported >2 years of reduced smoking. Finally, 34% of the 358 participants (relapsers) reported a temporary smoking reduction before returning to baseline smoking levels, with a mode time range to relapse of 3-6 months. Relapsers rated their psychedelic experience significantly lower in personal meaning and spiritual significance than both other groups. Participants across all groups reported less severe affective withdrawal symptoms (e.g. depression, craving) after psychedelic use compared with previous quit attempts, suggesting a potential mechanism of action for psychedelic-associated smoking cessation/reduction. Changes in life priorities/values were endorsed as the most important psychological factor associated with smoking cessation/reduction. Results suggest psychedelics may hold promise in treating tobacco addiction as potentially mediated by spiritual experience, changed priorities/values, and improved emotional regulation.

keywords:
Humans, Substance Withdrawal Syndrome, Hallucinogens, Health Surveys, Retrospective Studies, Cross-Sectional Studies, Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Adult, Female, Male, Young Adult, Smoking Reduction

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28095732","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Self unbound: ego dissolution in psychedelic experience.
authors: Letheby C, Gerrans P
journal: Neuroscience of consciousness
publication_date: 2016-12-31
doi: 10.1093/nc/nix016
pubmed_id: 30042848
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30042848/
keywords: LSD, binding and multisensory integration, hallucinogen, psilocybin, psychedelic, self
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:40
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"30042848"}
abstract:
Users of psychedelic drugs often report that their sense of being a self or 'I' distinct from the rest of the world has diminished or altogether dissolved. Neuroscientific study of such 'ego dissolution' experiences offers a window onto the nature of self-awareness. We argue that ego dissolution is best explained by an account that explains self-awareness as resulting from the integrated functioning of hierarchical predictive models which posit the existence of a stable and unchanging entity to which representations are bound. Combining recent work on the 'integrative self' and the phenomenon of self-binding with predictive processing principles yields an explanation of ego dissolution according to which self-representation is a useful Cartesian fiction: an ultimately false representation of a simple and enduring substance to which attributes are bound which serves to integrate and unify cognitive processing across levels and domains. The self-model is not a mere narrative posit, as some have suggested; it has a more robust and ubiquitous cognitive function than that. But this does not mean, as others have claimed, that the self-model has the right attributes to qualify as a self. It performs some of the right kinds of functions, but it is not the right kind of entity. Ego dissolution experiences reveal that the self-model plays an important binding function in cognitive processing, but the self does not exist.


title: Psilocybin-assisted therapy for anxiety and depression: implications for euthanasia.
authors: Strauss N.
publication_date: 2017-05-31
doi: 10.5694/mja17.00081
pubmed_id: 28918722
source_url: https://doi.org/10.5694/mja17.00081
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,Randomized Controlled Trial
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
keywords:
Humans, Hallucinogens, Euthanasia, Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorder, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28918722","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Alterations of consciousness and mystical-type experiences after acute LSD in humans.
authors: Liechti ME, Dolder PC, Schmid Y.
publication_date: 2016-10-06
doi: 10.1007/s00213-016-4453-0
pubmed_id: 27714429
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-016-4453-0
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Brain Imaging,Consciousness,Aging,Mystical Experience,Observational Study,Healthy Volunteers
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:07
abstract:
RationaleLysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is used recreationally and in clinical research. Acute mystical-type experiences that are acutely induced by hallucinogens are thought to contribute to their potential therapeutic effects. However, no data have been reported on LSD-induced mystical experiences and their relationship to alterations of consciousness. Additionally, LSD dose- and concentration-response functions with regard to alterations of consciousness are lacking.MethodsWe conducted two placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over studies using oral administration of 100 and 200 μg LSD in 24 and 16 subjects, respectively. Acute effects of LSD were assessed using the 5 Dimensions of Altered States of Consciousness (5D-ASC) scale after both doses and the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ) after 200 μg.ResultsOn the MEQ, 200 μg LSD induced mystical experiences that were comparable to those in patients who underwent LSD-assisted psychotherapy but were fewer than those reported for psilocybin in healthy subjects or patients. On the 5D-ASC scale, LSD produced higher ratings of blissful state, insightfulness, and changed meaning of percepts after 200 μg compared with 100 μg. Plasma levels of LSD were not positively correlated with its effects, with the exception of ego dissolution at 100 μg.ConclusionsMystical-type experiences were infrequent after LSD, possibly because of the set and setting used in the present study. LSD may produce greater or different alterations of consciousness at 200 μg (i.e., a dose that is currently used in psychotherapy in Switzerland) compared with 100 μg (i.e., a dose used in imaging studies). Ego dissolution may reflect plasma levels of LSD, whereas more robustly induced effects of LSD may not result in such associations.

keywords:
Humans, Consciousness Disorders, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Cross-Over Studies, Double-Blind Method, Consciousness, Mysticism, Adult, Middle Aged, Switzerland, Female, Male, Healthy Volunteers, Surveys and Questionnaires

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27714429","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Increased spontaneous MEG signal diversity for psychoactive doses of ketamine, LSD and psilocybin.
authors: Schartner MM, Carhart-Harris RL, Barrett AB, Seth AK, Muthukumaraswamy SD.
publication_date: 2017-04-18
doi: 10.1038/srep46421
pubmed_id: 28422113
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1038/srep46421
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Consciousness,Observational Study,Healthy Volunteers
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
What is the level of consciousness of the psychedelic state? Empirically, measures of neural signal diversity such as entropy and Lempel-Ziv (LZ) complexity score higher for wakeful rest than for states with lower conscious level like propofol-induced anesthesia. Here we compute these measures for spontaneous magnetoencephalographic (MEG) signals from humans during altered states of consciousness induced by three psychedelic substances: psilocybin, ketamine and LSD. For all three, we find reliably higher spontaneous signal diversity, even when controlling for spectral changes. This increase is most pronounced for the single-channel LZ complexity measure, and hence for temporal, as opposed to spatial, signal diversity. We also uncover selective correlations between changes in signal diversity and phenomenological reports of the intensity of psychedelic experience. This is the first time that these measures have been applied to the psychedelic state and, crucially, that they have yielded values exceeding those of normal waking consciousness. These findings suggest that the sustained occurrence of psychedelic phenomenology constitutes an elevated level of consciousness - as measured by neural signal diversity.

keywords:
Brain, Humans, Ketamine, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Magnetoencephalography, Brain Mapping, Consciousness, Healthy Volunteers, Surveys and Questionnaires, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28422113","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Ayahuasca, dimethyltryptamine, and psychosis: a systematic review of human studies.
authors: Dos Santos RG, Bouso JC, Hallak JEC.
publication_date: 2017-02-22
doi: 10.1177/2045125316689030
pubmed_id: 28540034
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/2045125316689030
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Systematic Review,Review Article,Case Report
study_type: Systematic Review
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Ayahuasca is a hallucinogen brew traditionally used for ritual and therapeutic purposes in Northwestern Amazon. It is rich in the tryptamine hallucinogens dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which acts as a serotonin 5-HT2A agonist. This mechanism of action is similar to other compounds such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin. The controlled use of LSD and psilocybin in experimental settings is associated with a low incidence of psychotic episodes, and population studies corroborate these findings. Both the controlled use of DMT in experimental settings and the use of ayahuasca in experimental and ritual settings are not usually associated with psychotic episodes, but little is known regarding ayahuasca or DMT use outside these controlled contexts. Thus, we performed a systematic review of the published case reports describing psychotic episodes associated with ayahuasca and DMT intake. We found three case series and two case reports describing psychotic episodes associated with ayahuasca intake, and three case reports describing psychotic episodes associated with DMT. Several reports describe subjects with a personal and possibly a family history of psychosis (including schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorders, psychotic mania, psychotic depression), nonpsychotic mania, or concomitant use of other drugs. However, some cases also described psychotic episodes in subjects without these previous characteristics. Overall, the incidence of such episodes appears to be rare in both the ritual and the recreational/noncontrolled settings. Performance of a psychiatric screening before administration of these drugs, and other hallucinogens, in controlled settings seems to significantly reduce the possibility of adverse reactions with psychotic symptomatology. Individuals with a personal or family history of any psychotic illness or nonpsychotic mania should avoid hallucinogen intake.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28540034","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: The fibrinolytic system: A new target for treatment of depression with psychedelics.
authors: Idell RD, Florova G, Komissarov AA, Shetty S, Girard RB, Idell S.
publication_date: 2017-01-22
doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2017.01.013
pubmed_id: 28236848
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2017.01.013
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Neuroplasticity,Neurogenesis,Receptor Pharmacology,Inflammation
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Current understanding of the neurobiology of depression has grown over the past few years beyond the traditional monoamine theory of depression to include chronic stress, inflammation and disrupted synaptic plasticity. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a key factor that not only promotes fibrinolysis via the activation of plasminogen, but also contributes to regulation of synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis through plasmin-mediated activation of a probrain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to mature BDNF. ProBDNF activation could potentially be supressed by competition with fibrin for plasmin and tPA. High affinity binding of plasmin and tPA to fibrin could result in a decrease of proBDNF activation during brain inflammation leading to fibrosis further perpetuating depressed mood. There is a paucity of data explaining the possible role of the fibrinolytic system or aberrant extravascular fibrin deposition in depression. We propose that within the brain, an imbalance between tPA and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and neuroserpin favors the inhibitors, resulting in changes in neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and neuroinflammation that result in depressive behavior. Our hypothesis is that peripheral inflammation mediates neuroinflammation, and that cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) can inhibit the fibrinolytic system by up- regulating PAI-1 and potentially neuroserpin. We propose that the decrement of the activity of tPA and uPA occurs with downregulation of uPA in part involving the binding and clearance from the surface of neural cells of uPA/PAI-1 complexes by the urokinase receptor uPAR. We infer that current antidepressants and ketamine mitigate depressive symptoms by restoring the balance of the fibrinolytic system with increased activity of tPA and uPA with down-regulated intracerebral expression of their inhibitors. We lastly hypothesize that psychedelic 5-HT2a receptor agonists, such as psilocybin, can improve mood through anti- inflammatory and pro-fibrinolytic effects that include blockade of TNF-α activity leading to decreased PAI-1 activity and increased clearance. The process involves disinhibition of tPA and uPA with subsequent increased cleavage of proBDNF which promotes neurogenesis, decreased neuroinflammation, decreased fibrin deposition, normalized glial-neuronal cross-talk, and optimally functioning neuro-circuits involved in mood. We propose that psilocybin can alleviate deleterious changes in the brain caused by chronic stress leading to restoration of homeostatic brain fibrinolytic capacity leading to euthymia.

keywords:
Brain, Animals, Humans, Inflammation, Ketamine, Tissue Plasminogen Activator, Neuropeptides, Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A, Serpins, Hallucinogens, Antidepressive Agents, Fibrinolysis, Models, Theoretical, United States, Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator, Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator, Fibrinolysin, Psilocybin, Neuroserpin, Major Depressive Disorder

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28236848","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


journal: Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.)
publication_date: 2017-02-28
doi: 10.1080/15563650.2016.1271129
pubmed_id: 28073319
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28073319/
keywords: Lawn mushroom, Panaeolus, hallucinogenic, mycologist, pediatric, poisoning, psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Case Report,Observational Study,Toxicity
study_type: Case Report
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:40
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"28073319"}
title:
No clinically relevant effects in children after accidental ingestion of Panaeolina foenisecii (lawn mower's mushroom).

authors:
Schenk-Jaeger KM, Hofer-Lentner KE, Plenert B, Eckart D, Haberl B, Schulze G, Borchert-Avalone J, Stedtler U, Pfab R

abstract:
Panaeolina foenisecii is one of the most common and widely distributed lawn mushrooms in Europe and North America, and frequently involved in accidental mushroom ingestion, mainly in children. Nevertheless, there is contradictory information regarding the toxicity profile of P. foenisecii in the literature. Objective of the study was to assess clinical effects with particular attention on psychoactive properties of P. foenisecii in case of accidental oral exposure.
This observational case series is based on prospectively collected data on mushroom poisoning using a structured data collection form, and it was performed in seven poisons centres in Germany and Switzerland. Inclusion criteria were accidental ingestion of at least one cap of P. foenisecii identified by a mycologist, and a follow up of at least 4 hours.
Nineteen cases met all inclusion criteria, and only children were involved with a mean age of 3 years. They ingested 1-2 mushrooms in 14 cases and 3-5 mushrooms in five cases. Three patients received a single dose of activated charcoal. Sixteen out of 19 cases did not develop any symptoms, 2/19 complained of minor abdominal discomfort. One child was temporarily mildly hyperactive, and this was the only patient observed in a hospital for 12 hours. None of the children showed signs of hallucinations.
This multicentre study demonstrates that the typically small amounts of P. foenisecii ingested by children probably do not lead to clinically significant symptoms.


title: Designer Drugs 2.0.
authors: Huestis MA, Tyndale RF.
publication_date: 2017-01-31
doi: 10.1002/cpt.575
pubmed_id: 28084644
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1002/cpt.575
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: PTSD,Pharmacology,Receptor Pharmacology,Adverse Events,Abuse Liability
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
This "Designer Drugs 2.0" issue of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics focuses on novel psychoactive substances, primarily cannabinoids and cathinones, and the repurposing of established psychoactive compounds (e.g., modafinil, psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) that simultaneously offer new pharmacotherapies and pose serious health problems. Novel psychoactive substances were initially used as potent tools to investigate endogenous neurotransmitter systems; for example, synthetic cannabinoids have much higher potency than Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol at the cannabinoid receptors. However, they are now being used illicitly as well as being tested for their efficacy in numerous clinical indications. Likewise, previously established psychoactive drugs are being repurposed as treatments for a wide variety of indications where currently approved medications are ineffective. This set of papers examines the arising problems associated with designer drugs (e.g., adverse events, psychosis, rapid new synthesis, abuse liability testing, internet sales, scheduling) as well as the potential therapeutic promises in areas as diverse as cognition enhancement, exercise-mimetics, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

keywords:
Humans, Marijuana Abuse, Cannabinoids, Receptors, Cannabinoid, Psychotropic Drugs, Designer Drugs, Dronabinol, Drug Trafficking

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28084644","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psychedelics as Medicines: An Emerging New Paradigm.
authors: Nichols DE, Johnson MW, Nichols CD.
publication_date: 2016-12-25
doi: 10.1002/cpt.557
pubmed_id: 28019026
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1002/cpt.557
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Scientific interest in serotonergic psychedelics (e.g., psilocybin and LSD; 5-HT2A receptor agonists) has dramatically increased within the last decade. Clinical studies administering psychedelics with psychotherapy have shown preliminary evidence of robust efficacy in treating anxiety and depression, as well as addiction to tobacco and alcohol. Moreover, recent research has suggested that these compounds have potential efficacy against inflammatory diseases through novel mechanisms, with potential advantages over existing antiinflammatory agents. We propose that psychedelics exert therapeutic effects for psychiatric disorders by acutely destabilizing local brain network hubs and global network connectivity via amplification of neuronal avalanches, providing the occasion for brain network "resetting" after the acute effects have resolved. Antiinflammatory effects may hold promise for efficacy in treatment of inflammation-related nonpsychiatric as well as potentially for psychiatric disorders. Serotonergic psychedelics operate through unique mechanisms that show promising effects for a variety of intractable, debilitating, and lethal disorders, and should be rigorously researched.

keywords:
Brain, Humans, Substance-Related Disorders, Inflammation, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A, Hallucinogens, Inflammation Mediators, Severity of Illness Index, Depression, Anxiety, Mental Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Psychotherapy, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Clinical Trials as Topic, Mind-Body Therapies, Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,Addiction,OCD,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Clinical Trial,Inflammation

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28019026","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psilocybin for treating substance use disorders?
authors: de Veen BT, Schellekens AF, Verheij MM, Homberg JR.
publication_date: 2016-08-11
doi: 10.1080/14737175.2016.1220834
pubmed_id: 27684102
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1080/14737175.2016.1220834
keywords: Humans, Substance-Related Disorders, Hallucinogens, Depression, Emotions, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
IntroductionEvidence based treatment for Substance use disorders (SUD) includes psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy. However, these are only partially effective. Hallucinogens, such as psilocybin, may represent potential new treatment options for SUD. This review provides a summary of (human) studies on the putative therapeutic effects of psilocybin, and discusses the receptor systems, brain regions and cognitive and emotional processes mediating psilocybin's effects. Psilocybin's chemical structure is similar to that of serotonin. Dysregulations in the serotonin system are associated with alterations in stress hormones, such as cortisol, and mood disorders. After psilocybin administration cortisol levels spike and activate the executive control network, with subsequent increased control over emotional processes, and relief of negative thinking and persistent negative emotions. Preliminary data of ongoing alcohol and smoking addiction studies in humans shows promising effects of psilocybin administration on substance use. Importantly, psilocybin has a low risk of toxicity and dependence and can be used safely under controlled clinical conditions. Areas covered: This paper is a narrative review based on the search terms: psilocybin, substance use disorder, addiction, depression, serotonin. Literature on potential efficacy and mechanisms of action of psilocybin in SUD is discussed. Expert commentary: Recent positive findings with psilocybin need confirmation in well-designed placebo controlled randomized trials employing a large sample size.

topic_tags:
Depression,Addiction,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Emotional Processing,Review Article,Safety,Toxicity

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27684102","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Al-Imam A.
publication_date: 2017-08-16
doi: 10.1155/2017/2503762
pubmed_id: 28948056
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2503762
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Brain Imaging,Case Report
study_type: Case Report
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
Could Hallucinogens Induce Permanent Pupillary Changes in (Ab)users? A Case Report from New Zealand.

abstract:
An eighteen-year-old female patient of the Caucasian ethnicity from Australasia presented with a persistently dilated pupil causing her discomfort and occasional burning sensation when she is outdoors due to oversensitivity to sunlight. However, her pupillary reaction to light (pupillary light reflex) was intact. The patient is a known user of psychedelic substances (entheogens) including LSD, NBOMe, psilocybin, and DMT. The condition affects both eyes to the same extent. Thorough medical, neurological, and radiological examinations, including an EEG and an MRI of the head and neck region, were completely normal. All these tests failed to detect any pathophysiological or anatomical abnormalities. The patient is a known case of chronic endogenous depression in association with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, for which she is taking citalopram and Ritalin, respectively. There was neither a family history nor a similar congenital condition in her family.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28948056","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Dreams and Psychedelics: Neurophenomenological Comparison and Therapeutic Implications.
authors: Kraehenmann R.
publication_date: 2016-12-31
doi: 10.2174/1573413713666170619092629
pubmed_id: 28625125
source_url: https://doi.org/10.2174/1573413713666170619092629
keywords: Brain, Animals, Humans, Hallucinogens, Dreams, Mental Disorders
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Consciousness,Wellbeing,Emotional Processing,Review Article
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
BackgroundA resurgence of neurobiological and clinical research is currently underway into the therapeutic potential of serotonergic or 'classical' psychedelics, such as the prototypical psychedelic drug lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin (4-phosphoryloxy-N,Ndimethyltryptamine), and ayahuasca - a betacarboline- and dimethyltryptamine (DMT)-containing Amazonian beverage. The aim of this review is to introduce readers to the similarities and dissimilarities between psychedelic states and night dreams, and to draw conclusions related to therapeutic applications of psychedelics in psychiatry.MethodsResearch literature related to psychedelics and dreaming is reviewed, and these two states of consciousness are systematically compared. Relevant conclusions with regard to psychedelicassisted therapy will be provided.ResultsCommon features between psychedelic states and night dreams include perception, mental imagery, emotion activation, fear memory extinction, and sense of self and body. Differences between these two states are related to differential perceptual input from the environment, clarity of consciousness and meta-cognitive abilities. Therefore, psychedelic states are closest to lucid dreaming which is characterized by a mixed state of dreaming and waking consciousness.ConclusionThe broad overlap between dreaming and psychedelic states supports the notion that psychedelics acutely induce dreamlike subjective experiences which may have long-term beneficial effects on psychosocial functioning and well-being. Future clinical studies should examine how therapeutic outcome is related to the acute dreamlike effects of psychedelics.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28625125","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Role of psilocybin in the treatment of depression.
authors: Mahapatra A, Gupta R.
publication_date: 2016-10-26
doi: 10.1177/2045125316676092
pubmed_id: 28101325
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/2045125316676092
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,Receptor Pharmacology,Wellbeing
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring alkaloid, pharmacologically similar to the classic hallucinogen lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Although primarily used as a recreational drug or an entheogen in particular cultural settings, recent population based studies have shown that it does not lead to serious physical or mental health problems or dependent use. In view of recent work demonstrating psilocybin's potential to increase subjective sense of wellbeing and because of its novel mechanism of 5-HT2A serotonin receptor agonism, it is being explored for possible therapeutic utility in mood and anxiety disorders.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28101325","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Dasgupta A.
publication_date: 2016-08-31
doi: 10.1016/bs.acc.2016.07.004
pubmed_id: 28057187
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.acc.2016.07.004
keywords: Humans, Agaricales, Cactaceae, Catha, Substance-Related Disorders, Solvents, Illicit Drugs
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Challenges in Laboratory Detection of Unusual Substance Abuse: Issues with Magic Mushroom, Peyote Cactus, Khat, and Solvent Abuse.

abstract:
Drug abuse is a worldwide problem. Although commonly abused drugs can be identified during routine urine drug testing, less commonly abused drugs may escape detection. These less commonly abused drugs not only include some designer drugs such as synthetic cannabinoid but also include abuse of psychedelic magic mushroom (active ingredients: psilocybin and psilocin), peyote cactus (active ingredient: mescaline), and khat plants (active ingredient: cathinone). Moreover, solvent and glue abuse is gaining popularity among teenagers and young adults which may even cause fatality. Amphetamine/methamphetamine immunoassay has a low cross-reactivity with psilocin. Cathinone, if present in the urine, can be detected by amphetamine/methamphetamine immunoassay due to cross-reactivity of cathinone with assay antibody. Currently there is one commercially available immunoassay which is capable of detecting synthetic cathinone known as bath salts as well as mescaline. However, gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry as well as liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)-based method is available for confirmation of the active ingredients present in magic mushroom, peyote cactus, and khat plant. Such chromatography-based methods also offer more sensitivity and specificity compared to an immunoassay.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"28057187","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Statistical comparison of mass spectra for identification of amphetamine-type stimulants.
authors: Bodnar Willard MA, McGuffin VL, Smith RW.
publication_date: 2016-11-21
doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.11.013
pubmed_id: 27936426
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.11.013
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
A method for the statistical comparison of mass spectral data is demonstrated for applications in controlled substance analysis. The method uses an unequal variance t-test at each mass-to-charge ratio in the scan range to determine if two spectra are statistically associated or discriminated. If the two spectra are associated, a random-match probability is calculated to estimate the likelihood that the mass spectral fragmentation pattern in question occurs by random chance alone. If the two spectra are discriminated, the fragment ions responsible for the discrimination are determined. In this work, mass spectral data from case samples containing amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), phentermine, and psilocin were investigated. All spectra were collected in an accredited forensic laboratory using routine methods for controlled substance analysis. Using the statistical method, spectra of case samples were statistically associated to the corresponding reference standard at the 99.9% confidence level. In these instances, random-match probabilities ranged from 10-39 to 10-29, indicating the probability that the characteristic fragmentation pattern occurred by random chance is extremely small. Further, spectra of case samples were discriminated from other reference standards at the 99.9% or 99.0% confidence level, with 1-26 ions responsible for discrimination in each comparison.

keywords:
Humans, Amphetamines, Phentermine, Central Nervous System Stimulants, Mass Spectrometry, Statistics as Topic, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27936426","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: It's time to take psilocybin seriously as a possible treatment for substance use disorders.
authors: Bogenschutz MP.
publication_date: 2016-08-23
doi: 10.1080/00952990.2016.1200060
pubmed_id: 27558746
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2016.1200060
keywords: Humans, Substance-Related Disorders, Follow-Up Studies, Smoking Cessation, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27558746","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation.
authors: Johnson MW, Garcia-Romeu A, Griffiths RR.
publication_date: 2016-07-20
doi: 10.3109/00952990.2016.1170135
pubmed_id: 27441452
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3109/00952990.2016.1170135
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Receptor Pharmacology,Spirituality
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
BackgroundA recent open-label pilot study (N = 15) found that two to three moderate to high doses (20 and 30 mg/70 kg) of the serotonin 2A receptor agonist, psilocybin, in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for smoking cessation, resulted in substantially higher 6-month smoking abstinence rates than are typically observed with other medications or CBT alone.ObjectivesTo assess long-term effects of a psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation program at ≥12 months after psilocybin administration.MethodsThe present report describes biologically verified smoking abstinence outcomes of the previous pilot study at ≥12 months, and related data on subjective effects of psilocybin.ResultsAll 15 participants completed a 12-month follow-up, and 12 (80%) returned for a long-term (≥16 months) follow-up, with a mean interval of 30 months (range = 16-57 months) between target-quit date (i.e., first psilocybin session) and long-term follow-up. At 12-month follow-up, 10 participants (67%) were confirmed as smoking abstinent. At long-term follow-up, nine participants (60%) were confirmed as smoking abstinent. At 12-month follow-up 13 participants (86.7%) rated their psilocybin experiences among the five most personally meaningful and spiritually significant experiences of their lives.ConclusionThese results suggest that in the context of a structured treatment program, psilocybin holds considerable promise in promoting long-term smoking abstinence. The present study adds to recent and historical evidence suggesting high success rates when using classic psychedelics in the treatment of addiction. Further research investigating psilocybin-facilitated treatment of substance use disorders is warranted.

keywords:
Humans, Hallucinogens, Combined Modality Therapy, Follow-Up Studies, Pilot Projects, Smoking Cessation, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Psilocybin, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27441452","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Return of the psychedelics: Psilocybin for treatment resistant depression.
authors: Patra S.
publication_date: 2016-08-22
doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2016.08.010
pubmed_id: 27931907
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2016.08.010
keywords: Humans, Hallucinogens, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Addiction,Brain Imaging,Mechanism of Action,Aging,Clinical Trial,Safety
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
Psilocybin, the clinically most researched classic psychedelic has recently been tested for its safety and efficacy in a clinical population of treatment resistant depression. The efficacy of psilocybin in clinical depression previously demonstrated in the elecrophysiologic and neuroimaging findings as also in neuropsychological assessments is further validated by the findings of this rigorously conducted randomized trial. Mechanism of action of psilocybin and efficacy in treatment resistant depression are discussed in this paper. Ethical issues of conducting clinical trials with psychedelics are also discussed with particular emphasis on their relative safety and absence of addiction potential. Implications of these issues for conduct of larger trials for establishing risk benefit ratio in treatment resistant depression are further suggested.

raw_json:
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title: Psilocybin: promising results in double-blind trials require confirmation by real-world evidence.
authors: Breckenridge A, Grobbee DE.
publication_date: 2016-11-30
doi: 10.1177/0269881116675784
pubmed_id: 27909175
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881116675784
keywords: Humans, Hallucinogens, Double-Blind Method, Affect, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
raw_json:
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title: Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for dying cancer patients - aiding the final trip.
authors: Spiegel D.
publication_date: 2016-11-30
doi: 10.1177/0269881116675783
pubmed_id: 27909174
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881116675783
keywords: Humans, Neoplasms, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Psychotherapy, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Cancer Patients
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
raw_json:
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title: The role of psychedelics in palliative care reconsidered: A case for psilocybin.
authors: Kelmendi B, Corlett P, Ranganathan M, D'Souza C, Krystal JH.
publication_date: 2016-11-30
doi: 10.1177/0269881116675781
pubmed_id: 27909173
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881116675781
keywords: Humans, Hallucinogens, Palliative Care, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: End-of-Life Distress
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
raw_json:
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title: Psilocybin for depression and anxiety associated with life-threatening illnesses.
authors: McCorvy JD, Olsen RH, Roth BL.
publication_date: 2016-11-30
doi: 10.1177/0269881116675771
pubmed_id: 27909171
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881116675771
keywords: Humans, Hallucinogens, Depression, Anxiety, Depressive Disorder, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,End-of-Life Distress
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
raw_json:
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title: Psilocybin and palliative end-of-life care.
authors: Shelton RC, Hendricks PS.
publication_date: 2016-11-30
doi: 10.1177/0269881116675764
pubmed_id: 27909170
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881116675764
keywords: Humans, Terminal Care, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: End-of-Life Distress
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27909170","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psilocybin in end of life care: Implications for further research.
authors: Summergrad P.
publication_date: 2016-11-30
doi: 10.1177/0269881116675758
pubmed_id: 27909168
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881116675758
keywords: Humans, Hallucinogens, Terminal Care, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: End-of-Life Distress
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27909168","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psilocybin: Psychotherapy or drug?
authors: Goodwin GM.
publication_date: 2016-11-30
doi: 10.1177/0269881116675757
pubmed_id: 27909167
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881116675757
keywords: Humans, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Psychotherapy, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27909167","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


publication_date: 2016-11-30
doi: 10.1177/0269881116675513
pubmed_id: 27909165
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881116675513
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
title:
Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial.

authors:
Griffiths RR, Johnson MW, Carducci MA, Umbricht A, Richards WA, Richards BD, Cosimano MP, Klinedinst MA.

abstract:
Cancer patients often develop chronic, clinically significant symptoms of depression and anxiety. Previous studies suggest that psilocybin may decrease depression and anxiety in cancer patients. The effects of psilocybin were studied in 51 cancer patients with life-threatening diagnoses and symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. This randomized, double-blind, cross-over trial investigated the effects of a very low (placebo-like) dose (1 or 3 mg/70 kg) vs. a high dose (22 or 30 mg/70 kg) of psilocybin administered in counterbalanced sequence with 5 weeks between sessions and a 6-month follow-up. Instructions to participants and staff minimized expectancy effects. Participants, staff, and community observers rated participant moods, attitudes, and behaviors throughout the study. High-dose psilocybin produced large decreases in clinician- and self-rated measures of depressed mood and anxiety, along with increases in quality of life, life meaning, and optimism, and decreases in death anxiety. At 6-month follow-up, these changes were sustained, with about 80% of participants continuing to show clinically significant decreases in depressed mood and anxiety. Participants attributed improvements in attitudes about life/self, mood, relationships, and spirituality to the high-dose experience, with >80% endorsing moderately or greater increased well-being/life satisfaction. Community observer ratings showed corresponding changes. Mystical-type psilocybin experience on session day mediated the effect of psilocybin dose on therapeutic outcomes.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00465595.

keywords:
Humans, Neoplasms, Hallucinogens, Follow-Up Studies, Cross-Over Studies, Double-Blind Method, Attitude, Depression, Anxiety, Quality of Life, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,End-of-Life Distress,Wellbeing,Spirituality,Mystical Experience,Observational Study,Cancer Patients,Healthcare Workers

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27909165","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


publication_date: 2016-11-30
doi: 10.1177/0269881116675512
pubmed_id: 27909164
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881116675512
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
title:
Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

authors:
Ross S, Bossis A, Guss J, Agin-Liebes G, Malone T, Cohen B, Mennenga SE, Belser A, Kalliontzi K, Babb J, Su Z, Corby P, Schmidt BL.

abstract:
BackgroundClinically significant anxiety and depression are common in patients with cancer, and are associated with poor psychiatric and medical outcomes. Historical and recent research suggests a role for psilocybin to treat cancer-related anxiety and depression.MethodsIn this double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial, 29 patients with cancer-related anxiety and depression were randomly assigned and received treatment with single-dose psilocybin (0.3 mg/kg) or niacin, both in conjunction with psychotherapy. The primary outcomes were anxiety and depression assessed between groups prior to the crossover at 7 weeks.ResultsPrior to the crossover, psilocybin produced immediate, substantial, and sustained improvements in anxiety and depression and led to decreases in cancer-related demoralization and hopelessness, improved spiritual wellbeing, and increased quality of life. At the 6.5-month follow-up, psilocybin was associated with enduring anxiolytic and anti-depressant effects (approximately 60-80% of participants continued with clinically significant reductions in depression or anxiety), sustained benefits in existential distress and quality of life, as well as improved attitudes towards death. The psilocybin-induced mystical experience mediated the therapeutic effect of psilocybin on anxiety and depression.ConclusionsIn conjunction with psychotherapy, single moderate-dose psilocybin produced rapid, robust and enduring anxiolytic and anti-depressant effects in patients with cancer-related psychological distress.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00957359.

keywords:
Humans, Neoplasms, Hallucinogens, Cross-Over Studies, Double-Blind Method, Depression, Anxiety, Psychotherapy, Quality of Life, Adult, Aged, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Young Adult, Surveys and Questionnaires, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,End-of-Life Distress,Wellbeing,Spirituality,Mystical Experience,Randomized Controlled Trial,Observational Study,Cancer Patients

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27909164","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Nutt D.
publication_date: 2016-11-30
doi: 10.1177/0269881116675754
pubmed_id: 27909163
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881116675754
keywords: Humans, Neoplasms, Hallucinogens, Depression, Anxiety, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
Psilocybin for anxiety and depression in cancer care? Lessons from the past and prospects for the future.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27909163","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psychedelics in the treatment of unipolar mood disorders: a systematic review.
authors: Rucker JJ, Jelen LA, Flynn S, Frowde KD, Young AH.
publication_date: 2016-11-16
doi: 10.1177/0269881116679368
pubmed_id: 27856684
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881116679368
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Clinical Trial,Systematic Review,Review Article,Healthcare Workers,Safety
study_type: Systematic Review
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Unipolar mood disorders, including major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), confer high rates of disability and mortality and a very high socioeconomic burden. Current treatment is suboptimal in most cases and there is little of note in the pharmaceutical development pipeline. The psychedelic drugs, including lysergic acid diethylamide and psilocybin, were used extensively in the treatment of mood disorders, and other psychiatric conditions, before their prohibition in the late 1960s. They are relatively safe when used in medically controlled environments, with no reported risk of dependence. Here, we present a systematic review of published clinical treatment studies using psychedelics in patients with broadly defined UMD, and consider their place in psychiatry. Whilst all of the included studies have methodological shortcomings, of 423 individuals in 19 studies, 335 (79.2%) showed clinician-judged improvement after treatment with psychedelics. A recently completed pilot study in the UK favours the use of psilocybin with psychological support in treatment resistant depressive disorder. The evidence overall strongly suggests that psychedelics should be re-examined in modern clinical trials for their use in unipolar mood disorders and other non-psychotic mental health conditions.

keywords:
Humans, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Treatment Outcome, Pilot Projects, Mood Disorders, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27856684","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Barrett FS, Bradstreet MP, Leoutsakos JS, Johnson MW, Griffiths RR.
publication_date: 2016-11-16
doi: 10.1177/0269881116678781
pubmed_id: 27856683
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881116678781
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Case Report
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
The Challenging Experience Questionnaire: Characterization of challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms.

abstract:
Acute adverse psychological reactions to classic hallucinogens ("bad trips" or "challenging experiences"), while usually benign with proper screening, preparation, and support in controlled settings, remain a safety concern in uncontrolled settings (such as illicit use contexts). Anecdotal and case reports suggest potential adverse acute symptoms including affective (panic, depressed mood), cognitive (confusion, feelings of losing sanity), and somatic (nausea, heart palpitation) symptoms. Responses to items from several hallucinogen-sensitive questionnaires (Hallucinogen Rating Scale, the States of Consciousness Questionnaire, and the Five-Dimensional Altered States of Consciousness questionnaire) in an Internet survey of challenging experiences with the classic hallucinogen psilocybin were used to construct and validate a Challenging Experience Questionnaire. The stand-alone Challenging Experience Questionnaire was then validated in a separate sample. Seven Challenging Experience Questionnaire factors (grief, fear, death, insanity, isolation, physical distress, and paranoia) provide a phenomenological profile of challenging aspects of experiences with psilocybin. Factor scores were associated with difficulty, meaningfulness, spiritual significance, and change in well-being attributed to the challenging experiences. The factor structure did not differ based on gender or prior struggle with anxiety or depression. The Challenging Experience Questionnaire provides a basis for future investigation of predictors and outcomes of challenging experiences with classic hallucinogens.

keywords:
Humans, Agaricales, Hallucinogens, Depression, Emotions, Affect, Anxiety, Adult, Female, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,Consciousness,Wellbeing,Emotional Processing,Spirituality,Case Report,Observational Study,Safety

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27856683","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Dos Santos RG, Osório FL, Crippa JAS, Hallak JEC.
publication_date: 2016-10-30
doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.10.026
pubmed_id: 27810345
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.10.026
keywords: Cerebral Cortex, Humans, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A, Hallucinogens, Male, Neuroimaging, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Brain Imaging,Receptor Pharmacology,Default Mode Network,Aging,Systematic Review,Review Article
study_type: Systematic Review
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
Classical hallucinogens and neuroimaging: A systematic review of human studies: Hallucinogens and neuroimaging.

abstract:
Serotonergic hallucinogens produce alterations of perceptions, mood, and cognition, and have anxiolytic, antidepressant, and antiaddictive properties. These drugs act as agonists of frontocortical 5-HT2A receptors, but the neural basis of their effects are not well understood. Thus, we conducted a systematic review of neuroimaging studies analyzing the effects of serotonergic hallucinogens in man. Studies published in the PubMed, Lilacs, and SciELO databases until 12 April 2016 were included using the following keywords: "ayahuasca", "DMT", "psilocybin", "LSD", "mescaline" crossed one by one with the terms "mri", "fmri", "pet", "spect", "imaging" and "neuroimaging". Of 279 studies identified, 25 were included. Acute effects included excitation of frontolateral/frontomedial cortex, medial temporal lobe, and occipital cortex, and inhibition of the default mode network. Long-term use was associated with thinning of the posterior cingulate cortex, thickening of the anterior cingulate cortex, and decreased neocortical 5-HT2A receptor binding. Despite the high methodological heterogeneity and the small sample sizes, the results suggest that hallucinogens increase introspection and positive mood by modulating brain activity in the fronto-temporo-parieto-occipital cortex.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27810345","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Carbonaro TM, Bradstreet MP, Barrett FS, MacLean KA, Jesse R, Johnson MW, Griffiths RR.
publication_date: 2016-08-29
doi: 10.1177/0269881116662634
pubmed_id: 27578767
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881116662634
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Wellbeing,Emotional Processing,Observational Study,Safety
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Survey study of challenging experiences after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms: Acute and enduring positive and negative consequences.

abstract:
Acute and enduring adverse effects of psilocybin have been reported anecdotally, but have not been well characterized. For this study, 1993 individuals (mean age 30 yrs; 78% male) completed an online survey about their single most psychologically difficult or challenging experience (worst "bad trip") after consuming psilocybin mushrooms. Thirty-nine percent rated it among the top five most challenging experiences of his/her lifetime. Eleven percent put self or others at risk of physical harm; factors increasing the likelihood of risk included estimated dose, duration and difficulty of the experience, and absence of physical comfort and social support. Of the respondents, 2.6% behaved in a physically aggressive or violent manner and 2.7% received medical help. Of those whose experience occurred >1 year before, 7.6% sought treatment for enduring psychological symptoms. Three cases appeared associated with onset of enduring psychotic symptoms and three cases with attempted suicide. Multiple regression analysis showed degree of difficulty was positively associated, and duration was negatively associated, with enduring increases in well-being. Difficulty of experience was positively associated with dose. Despite difficulties, 84% endorsed benefiting from the experience. The incidence of risky behavior or enduring psychological distress is extremely low when psilocybin is given in laboratory studies to screened, prepared, and supported participants.

keywords:
Humans, Agaricales, Hallucinogens, Emotions, Eating, Adult, Female, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27578767","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Sweat NW, Bates LW, Hendricks PS
journal: Journal of psychoactive drugs
publication_date: 2015-12-31
doi: 10.1080/02791072.2016.1234090
pubmed_id: 27719438
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27719438/
keywords: Creativity, hallucinogen, mystical experience, problem solving, psilocybin, psychedelic
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Mechanism of Action,Creativity,Mystical Experience,Observational Study
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:40
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"27719438"}
title:
The Associations of Naturalistic Classic Psychedelic Use, Mystical Experience, and Creative Problem Solving.

abstract:
Developing methods for improving creativity is of broad interest. Classic psychedelics may enhance creativity; however, the underlying mechanisms of action are unknown. This study was designed to assess whether a relationship exists between naturalistic classic psychedelic use and heightened creative problem-solving ability and if so, whether this is mediated by lifetime mystical experience. Participants (N = 68) completed a survey battery assessing lifetime mystical experience and circumstances surrounding the most memorable experience. They were then administered a functional fixedness task in which faster completion times indicate greater creative problem-solving ability. Participants reporting classic psychedelic use concurrent with mystical experience (n = 11) exhibited significantly faster times on the functional fixedness task (Cohen's d = -.87; large effect) and significantly greater lifetime mystical experience (Cohen's d =.93; large effect) than participants not reporting classic psychedelic use concurrent with mystical experience. However, lifetime mystical experience was unrelated to completion times on the functional fixedness task (standardized β = -.06), and was therefore not a significant mediator. Classic psychedelic use may increase creativity independent of its effects on mystical experience. Maximizing the likelihood of mystical experience may need not be a goal of psychedelic interventions designed to boost creativity.


title: Exploring Hallucinogen Pharmacology and Psychedelic Medicine with Zebrafish Models.
authors: Kyzar EJ, Kalueff AV.
publication_date: 2016-03-21
doi: 10.1089/zeb.2016.1251
pubmed_id: 27002655
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1089/zeb.2016.1251
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,PTSD,Addiction,Pharmacology,Animal Study
study_type: Animal Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
After decades of sociopolitical obstacles, the field of psychiatry is experiencing a revived interest in the use of hallucinogenic agents to treat brain disorders. Along with the use of ketamine for depression, recent pilot studies have highlighted the efficacy of classic serotonergic hallucinogens, such as lysergic acid diethylamide and psilocybin, in treating addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety. However, many basic pharmacological and toxicological questions remain unanswered with regard to these compounds. In this study, we discuss psychedelic medicine as well as the behavioral and toxicological effects of hallucinogenic drugs in zebrafish. We emphasize this aquatic organism as a model ideally suited to assess both the potential toxic and therapeutic effects of major known classes of hallucinogenic compounds. In addition, novel drugs with hallucinogenic properties can be efficiently screened using zebrafish models. Well-designed preclinical studies utilizing zebrafish can contribute to the reemerging treatment paradigm of psychedelic medicine, leading to new avenues of clinical exploration for psychiatric disorders.

keywords:
Embryo, Nonmammalian, Animals, Zebrafish, Hallucinogens, Pharmaceutical Preparations, Models, Animal

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27002655","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Question-based Drug Development for psilocybin - Authors' reply.
authors: Carhart-Harris RL, Nutt DJ.
publication_date: 2016-08-31
doi: 10.1016/s2215-0366(16)30217-6
pubmed_id: 27568266
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/s2215-0366(16)30217-6
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27568266","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Question-based Drug Development for psilocybin.
authors: Dijkstra FM, Jacobs GE, Cohen AF.
publication_date: 2016-08-31
doi: 10.1016/s2215-0366(16)30214-0
pubmed_id: 27568265
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/s2215-0366(16)30214-0
keywords: Hallucinogens, Feasibility Studies, Depression, Psilocybin, Drug Development
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27568265","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psilocybin: panacea or placebo?
authors: Hendrie C, Pickles A.
publication_date: 2016-08-31
doi: 10.1016/s2215-0366(16)30103-1
pubmed_id: 27568263
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/s2215-0366(16)30103-1
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
keywords:
Humans, Hallucinogens, Feasibility Studies, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27568263","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Rickli A, Moning OD, Hoener MC, Liechti ME.
publication_date: 2016-05-19
doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2016.05.001
pubmed_id: 27216487
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2016.05.001
substance_tags: psilocin
topic_tags: Receptor Pharmacology,Animal Study,Drug Interactions
study_type: Animal Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
Receptor interaction profiles of novel psychoactive tryptamines compared with classic hallucinogens.

abstract:
The present study investigated interactions between the novel psychoactive tryptamines DiPT, 4-OH-DiPT, 4-OH-MET, 5-MeO-AMT, and 5-MeO-MiPT at monoamine receptors and transporters compared with the classic hallucinogens lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocin, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and mescaline. We investigated binding affinities at human monoamine receptors and determined functional serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B receptor activation. Binding at and the inhibition of human monoamine uptake transporters and transporter-mediated monoamine release were also determined. All of the novel tryptamines interacted with 5-HT2A receptors and were partial or full 5-HT2A agonists. Binding affinity to the 5-HT2A receptor was lower for all of the tryptamines, including psilocin and DMT, compared with LSD and correlated with the reported psychoactive doses in humans. Several tryptamines, including psilocin, DMT, DiPT, 4-OH-DiPT, and 4-OH-MET, interacted with the serotonin transporter and partially the norepinephrine transporter, similar to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine but in contrast to LSD and mescaline. LSD but not the tryptamines interacted with adrenergic and dopaminergic receptors. In conclusion, the receptor interaction profiles of the tryptamines predict hallucinogenic effects that are similar to classic serotonergic hallucinogens but also MDMA-like psychoactive properties.

keywords:
NIH 3T3 Cells, Animals, Humans, Mice, Biogenic Monoamines, Tryptamines, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2B, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C, Recombinant Proteins, Hallucinogens, Psychotropic Drugs, Ligands, Radioligand Assay, Cell Survival, Molecular Structure, Structure-Activity Relationship, Kinetics, Membrane Transport Modulators, Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins, HEK293 Cells, Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27216487","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


publication_date: 2016-07-04
doi: 10.1093/ijnp/pyw016
pubmed_id: 26874330
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyw016
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Healthy Volunteers,Drug Interactions
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:07
title:
Naltrexone but Not Ketanserin Antagonizes the Subjective, Cardiovascular, and Neuroendocrine Effects of Salvinorin-A in Humans.

authors:
Maqueda AE, Valle M, Addy PH, Antonijoan RM, Puntes M, Coimbra J, Ballester MR, Garrido M, González M, Claramunt J, Barker S, Lomnicka I, Waguespack M, Johnson MW, Griffiths RR, Riba J.

abstract:
BackgroundSalvinorin-A is a terpene found in the leaves of the plant Salvia divinorum. When administered to humans, salvinorin-A induces an intense but short-lasting modified state of awareness, sharing features with those induced by the classical serotonin-2A receptor agonist psychedelics. However, unlike substances such as psilocybin or mescaline, salvinorin-A shows agonist activity at the kappa-opioid receptor rather than at the serotonin-2A receptor. Here, we assessed the involvement of kappa-opioid receptor and serotonin-2A agonism in the subjective, cardiovascular, and neuroendocrine effects of salvinorin-A in humans.MethodsWe conducted a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study with 2 groups of 12 healthy volunteers with experience with psychedelic drugs. There were 4 experimental sessions. In group 1, participants received the following treatment combinations: placebo+placebo, placebo+salvinorin-A, naltrexone+placebo, and naltrexone+salvinorin-A. Naltrexone, a nonspecific opioid receptor antagonist, was administered at a dose of 50mg orally. In group 2, participants received the treatment combinations: placebo+placebo, placebo+salvinorin-A, ketanserin+placebo, and ketanserin+salvinorin-A. Ketanserin, a selective serotonin-2A antagonist, was administered at a dose of 40mg orally.ResultsInhalation of 1mg of vaporized salvinorin-A led to maximum plasma concentrations at 1 and 2 minutes after dosing. When administered alone, salvinorin-A severely reduced external sensory perception and induced intense visual and auditory modifications, increased systolic blood pressure, and cortisol and prolactin release. These effects were effectively blocked by naltrexone, but not by ketanserin.ConclusionsResults support kappa opioid receptor agonism as the mechanism of action underlying the subjective and physiological effects of salvinorin-A in humans and rule out the involvement of a serotonin-2A-mediated mechanism.

keywords:
Humans, Diterpenes, Clerodane, Naltrexone, Ketanserin, Hydrocortisone, Prolactin, Serotonin Antagonists, Hallucinogens, Narcotic Antagonists, Double-Blind Method, Perception, Blood Pressure, Drug Interactions, Adult, Female, Male, Young Adult, Healthy Volunteers

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"26874330","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Howland RH.
publication_date: 2016-06-30
doi: 10.3928/02793695-20160616-09
pubmed_id: 27362381
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20160616-09
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,PTSD,Addiction,Receptor Pharmacology,Clinical Trial,Drug Interactions
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
Antidepressant, Antipsychotic, and Hallucinogen Drugs for the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders: A Convergence at the Serotonin-2A Receptor.

abstract:
Antidepressant, atypical antipsychotic, and hallucinogen drugs mediate their actions in part by interactions with the serotonin-2A (5HT2A) receptor. Serotonergic hallucinogen drugs, such as psilocybin, bind most potently as agonists at the 5HT2A receptor, producing profound changes in perception, mood, and cognition. Some of these drugs have been or are currently being investigated in small Phase 2 studies for depression, alcoholism, smoking cessation, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. However, unlike the synergistic effects of combining antidepressant and atypical antipsychotic drugs, the potential therapeutic effects of hallucinogen drugs may be attenuated by the concurrent use of these medications because antidepressant and atypical antipsychotic drugs desensitize and/or down-regulate 5HT2A receptors. This finding has important implications for optimizing the potential therapeutic use of hallucinogen drugs in psychiatry. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 54(7), 21-24.].

keywords:
Humans, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A, Antipsychotic Agents, Hallucinogens, Antidepressive Agents, Mental Disorders

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27362381","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Hallucinogen Use Disorders.
authors: Hardaway R, Schweitzer J, Suzuki J
journal: Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America
publication_date: 2016-06-30
doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2016.03.006
pubmed_id: 27338969
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27338969/
keywords: Adolescent, Hallucinogen, LSD, MDMA, PCP, Psilocybin, Treatment
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Adolescents,Adverse Events
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:40
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"27338969"}
abstract:
Use of hallucinogenic substances as a public health concern has increased over the past decade. Among adolescents, there are increasing emergency department presentations for intoxication with these drugs, contrary to decreasing reported use of classical hallucinogens such as LSD. Academic and governmental groups have monitored use of hallucinogens, highlighting a notable change in perceptions about use among adolescents thought to contribute to these trends. Special populations and religious groups, though, have been granted governmental permission to use hallucinogens for their cultural practices. Novel designer hallucinogens have gained popularity and may have serious medical and psychological side effects from use.


title: Altered states: psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression.
authors: Cowen P.
publication_date: 2016-05-16
doi: 10.1016/s2215-0366(16)30087-6
pubmed_id: 27210032
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/s2215-0366(16)30087-6
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Treatment-Resistant Depression
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
keywords:
Humans, Hallucinogens, Feasibility Studies, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27210032","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


publication_date: 2016-05-16
doi: 10.1016/s2215-0366(16)30065-7
pubmed_id: 27210031
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/s2215-0366(16)30065-7
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study.

authors:
Carhart-Harris RL, Bolstridge M, Rucker J, Day CM, Erritzoe D, Kaelen M, Bloomfield M, Rickard JA, Forbes B, Feilding A, Taylor D, Pilling S, Curran VH, Nutt DJ.

abstract:
BackgroundPsilocybin is a serotonin receptor agonist that occurs naturally in some mushroom species. Recent studies have assessed the therapeutic potential of psilocybin for various conditions, including end-of-life anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and smoking and alcohol dependence, with promising preliminary results. Here, we aimed to investigate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of psilocybin in patients with unipolar treatment-resistant depression.MethodsIn this open-label feasibility trial, 12 patients (six men, six women) with moderate-to-severe, unipolar, treatment-resistant major depression received two oral doses of psilocybin (10 mg and 25 mg, 7 days apart) in a supportive setting. There was no control group. Psychological support was provided before, during, and after each session. The primary outcome measure for feasibility was patient-reported intensity of psilocybin's effects. Patients were monitored for adverse reactions during the dosing sessions and subsequent clinic and remote follow-up. Depressive symptoms were assessed with standard assessments from 1 week to 3 months after treatment, with the 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms (QIDS) serving as the primary efficacy outcome. This trial is registered with ISRCTN, number ISRCTN14426797.FindingsPsilocybin's acute psychedelic effects typically became detectable 30-60 min after dosing, peaked 2-3 h after dosing, and subsided to negligible levels at least 6 h after dosing. Mean self-rated intensity (on a 0-1 scale) was 0·51 (SD0·36) for the low-dose session and 0·75 (SD0·27) for the high-dose session. Psilocybin was well tolerated by all of the patients, and no serious or unexpected adverse events occurred. The adverse reactions we noted were transient anxiety during drug onset (all patients), transient confusion or thought disorder (nine patients), mild and transient nausea (four patients), and transient headache (four patients). Relative to baseline, depressive symptoms were markedly reduced 1 week (mean QIDS difference -11·8, 95% CI -9·15 to -14·35, p=0·002, Hedges' g=3·1) and 3 months (-9·2, 95% CI -5·69 to -12·71, p=0·003, Hedges' g=2) after high-dose treatment. Marked and sustained improvements in anxiety and anhedonia were also noted.InterpretationThis study provides preliminary support for the safety and efficacy of psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression and motivates further trials, with more rigorous designs, to better examine the therapeutic potential of this approach.FundingMedical Research Council.

keywords:
Humans, Treatment Outcome, Feasibility Studies, Social Support, Adult, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Serotonin Receptor Agonists, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,Addiction,OCD,End-of-Life Distress,Headache / Migraine,Receptor Pharmacology,Randomized Controlled Trial,Treatment-Resistant Depression,Safety,Adverse Events

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27210031","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Magic mushroom compound is a potential treatment for patients with major depression.
journal: Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)
publication_date: 2016-06-07
doi: 10.7748/ns.30.41.15.s18
pubmed_id: 27286599
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27286599/
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:40
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"27286599"}
abstract:
A hallucinogenic compound derived from magic mushrooms could provide a new route for antidepressant research.


authors: Dos Santos RG, Osório FL, Crippa JA, Riba J, Zuardi AW, Hallak JE.
publication_date: 2016-03-17
doi: 10.1177/2045125316638008
pubmed_id: 27354908
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/2045125316638008
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Systematic Review
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Antidepressive, anxiolytic, and antiaddictive effects of ayahuasca, psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD): a systematic review of clinical trials published in the last 25 years.

abstract:
To date, pharmacological treatments for mood and anxiety disorders and for drug dependence show limited efficacy, leaving a large number of patients suffering severe and persistent symptoms. Preliminary studies in animals and humans suggest that ayahuasca, psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) may have antidepressive, anxiolytic, and antiaddictive properties. Thus, we conducted a systematic review of clinical trials published from 1990 until 2015, assessing these therapeutic properties. Electronic searches were performed using the PubMed, LILACS, and SciELO databases. Only clinical trials published in peer-reviewed journals were included. Of these, 151 studies were identified, of which six met the established criteria. Reviewed studies suggest beneficial effects for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety and depression associated with life-threatening diseases, and tobacco and alcohol dependence. All drugs were well tolerated. In conclusion, ayahuasca, psilocybin and LSD may be useful pharmacological tools for the treatment of drug dependence, and anxiety and mood disorders, especially in treatment-resistant patients. These drugs may also be useful pharmacological tools to understand psychiatric disorders and to develop new therapeutic agents. However, all studies reviewed had small sample sizes, and half of them were open-label, proof-of-concept studies. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies with more patients are needed to replicate these preliminary findings.

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,Addiction,End-of-Life Distress,Clinical Trial,Systematic Review,Review Article,Treatment-Resistant Depression

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27354908","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Commentary: Effects of psilocybin on time perception and temporal control of behavior in humans.
authors: Shebloski KL, Broadway JM.
publication_date: 2016-05-18
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00736
pubmed_id: 27242638
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00736
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27242638","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Sixty seconds on... psilocybin.
authors: Hawkes N.
publication_date: 2016-05-17
doi: 10.1136/bmj.i2775
pubmed_id: 27194646
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i2775
keywords: Humans, Hallucinogens, Depression, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, London, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27194646","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Effects of serotonin 2A/1A receptor stimulation on social exclusion processing.
publication_date: 2016-04-17
doi: 10.1073/pnas.1524187113
pubmed_id: 27091970
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1524187113
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Chronic Pain,Brain Imaging,Receptor Pharmacology,Aging,Healthy Volunteers,Drug Interactions
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
authors:
Preller KH, Pokorny T, Hock A, Kraehenmann R, Stämpfli P, Seifritz E, Scheidegger M, Vollenweider FX.

abstract:
Social ties are crucial for physical and mental health. However, psychiatric patients frequently encounter social rejection. Moreover, an increased reactivity to social exclusion influences the development, progression, and treatment of various psychiatric disorders. Nevertheless, the neuromodulatory substrates of rejection experiences are largely unknown. The preferential serotonin (5-HT) 2A/1A receptor agonist, psilocybin (Psi), reduces the processing of negative stimuli, but whether 5-HT2A/1A receptor stimulation modulates the processing of negative social interactions remains unclear. Therefore, this double-blind, randomized, counterbalanced, cross-over study assessed the neural response to social exclusion after the acute administration of Psi (0.215 mg/kg) or placebo (Pla) in 21 healthy volunteers by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and resting-state magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Participants reported a reduced feeling of social exclusion after Psi vs. Pla administration, and the neural response to social exclusion was decreased in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and the middle frontal gyrus, key regions for social pain processing. The reduced neural response in the dACC was significantly correlated with Psi-induced changes in self-processing and decreased aspartate (Asp) content. In conclusion, 5-HT2A/1A receptor stimulation with psilocybin seems to reduce social pain processing in association with changes in self-experience. These findings may be relevant to the normalization of negative social interaction processing in psychiatric disorders characterized by increased rejection sensitivity. The current results also emphasize the importance of 5-HT2A/1A receptor subtypes and the Asp system in the control of social functioning, and as prospective targets in the treatment of sociocognitive impairments in psychiatric illnesses.

keywords:
Humans, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A, Administration, Oral, Double-Blind Method, Social Isolation, Cognition, Placebo Effect, Adult, Female, Male, Young Adult, Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Agonists, Psilocybin, Psychological Distance

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27091970","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Novel psychopharmacological therapies for psychiatric disorders: psilocybin and MDMA.
authors: Mithoefer MC, Grob CS, Brewerton TD.
publication_date: 2016-04-04
doi: 10.1016/s2215-0366(15)00576-3
pubmed_id: 27067625
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/s2215-0366(15)00576-3
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Anxiety,PTSD,Addiction,End-of-Life Distress,Pharmacology,Aging,Randomized Controlled Trial
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
4-phosphorloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (psilocybin) and methylenedioxymethamfetamine (MDMA), best known for their illegal use as psychedelic drugs, are showing promise as therapeutics in a resurgence of clinical research during the past 10 years. Psilocybin is being tested for alcoholism, smoking cessation, and in patients with advanced cancer with anxiety. MDMA is showing encouraging results as a treatment for refractory post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety in autistic adults, and anxiety associated with a life-threatening illness. Both drugs are studied as adjuncts or catalysts to psychotherapy, rather than as stand-alone drug treatments. This model of drug-assisted psychotherapy is a possible alternative to existing pharmacological and psychological treatments in psychiatry. Further research is needed to fully assess the potential of these compounds in the management of these common disorders that are difficult to treat with existing methods.

keywords:
Humans, N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, Psychotropic Drugs, Mental Disorders, Psychopharmacology, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27067625","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Pokorny T, Preller KH, Kraehenmann R, Vollenweider FX.
publication_date: 2016-01-21
doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2016.01.005
pubmed_id: 26875114
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2016.01.005
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Receptor Pharmacology,Consciousness,Healthy Volunteers,Drug Interactions
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Modulatory effect of the 5-HT1A agonist buspirone and the mixed non-hallucinogenic 5-HT1A/2A agonist ergotamine on psilocybin-induced psychedelic experience.

abstract:
The mixed serotonin (5-HT) 1A/2A/2B/2C/6/7 receptor agonist psilocybin dose-dependently induces an altered state of consciousness (ASC) that is characterized by changes in sensory perception, mood, thought, and the sense of self. The psychological effects of psilocybin are primarily mediated by 5-HT2A receptor activation. However, accumulating evidence suggests that 5-HT1A or an interaction between 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors may contribute to the overall effects of psilocybin. Therefore, we used a double-blind, counterbalanced, within-subject design to investigate the modulatory effects of the partial 5-HT1A agonist buspirone (20mg p.o.) and the non-hallucinogenic 5-HT2A/1A agonist ergotamine (3mg p.o.) on psilocybin-induced (170 µg/kg p.o.) psychological effects in two groups (n=19, n=17) of healthy human subjects. Psychological effects were assessed using the Altered State of Consciousness (5D-ASC) rating scale. Buspirone significantly reduced the 5D-ASC main scale score for Visionary Restructuralization (VR) (p

keywords:
Humans, Consciousness Disorders, Ergotamine, Buspirone, Hallucinogens, Double-Blind Method, Female, Male, Young Adult, Serotonin Receptor Agonists, Healthy Volunteers, Behavior Rating Scale, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"26875114","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psychedelics.
authors: Nichols DE.
publication_date: 2016-03-31
doi: 10.1124/pr.115.011478
pubmed_id: 26841800
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1124/pr.115.011478
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Psychedelics (serotonergic hallucinogens) are powerful psychoactive substances that alter perception and mood and affect numerous cognitive processes. They are generally considered physiologically safe and do not lead to dependence or addiction. Their origin predates written history, and they were employed by early cultures in many sociocultural and ritual contexts. After the virtually contemporaneous discovery of (5R,8R)-(+)-lysergic acid-N,N-diethylamide (LSD)-25 and the identification of serotonin in the brain, early research focused intensively on the possibility that LSD and other psychedelics had a serotonergic basis for their action. Today there is a consensus that psychedelics are agonists or partial agonists at brain serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptors, with particular importance on those expressed on apical dendrites of neocortical pyramidal cells in layer V. Several useful rodent models have been developed over the years to help unravel the neurochemical correlates of serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor activation in the brain, and a variety of imaging techniques have been employed to identify key brain areas that are directly affected by psychedelics. Recent and exciting developments in the field have occurred in clinical research, where several double-blind placebo-controlled phase 2 studies of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in patients with cancer-related psychosocial distress have demonstrated unprecedented positive relief of anxiety and depression. Two small pilot studies of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy also have shown positive benefit in treating both alcohol and nicotine addiction. Recently, blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging and magnetoencephalography have been employed for in vivo brain imaging in humans after administration of a psychedelic, and results indicate that intravenously administered psilocybin and LSD produce decreases in oscillatory power in areas of the brain's default mode network.

keywords:
Brain, Animals, Humans, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A, Hallucinogens, Models, Animal, Time Perception, Visual Perception, Sleep, Psychotic Disorders

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,Addiction,Brain Imaging,Receptor Pharmacology,Default Mode Network,Aging,Clinical Trial,Cancer Patients

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"26841800","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: [Three cases of acute serotonin syndrome due to psilocybin mushroom poisoning].
authors: Suzuki K.
publication_date: 2016-02-29
pubmed_id: 27255023
source_url: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/27255023
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Receptor Pharmacology
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
keywords:
Humans, Agaricales, Serotonin Syndrome, Mushroom Poisoning, Acute Disease, Charcoal, Haloperidol, Diazepam, Treatment Outcome, Fluid Therapy, Adult, Aged, Female, Male, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27255023","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psychedelic and nonpsychedelic LSD and psilocybin for cluster headache.
authors: Davenport WJ.
publication_date: 2016-01-31
doi: 10.1503/cmaj.1150082
pubmed_id: 26883890
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.1150082
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Headache / Migraine
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
keywords:
Thyroid Gland, Humans, Parvovirus B19, Human, Parvoviridae Infections, Thyroid Diseases, Female, Male

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"26883890","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Di Lorenzo C, Coppola G, Di Lorenzo G, Bracaglia M, Rossi P, Pierelli F.
publication_date: 2015-04-21
doi: 10.1177/0333102415583145
pubmed_id: 25903763
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0333102415583145
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Headache / Migraine,Observational Study,Safety
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:07
title:
The use of illicit drugs as self-medication in the treatment of cluster headache: Results from an Italian online survey.

abstract:
BackgroundCluster headache (CH) patients often receive unsatisfactory treatment and may explore illicit substances as alternatives. We aimed to explore this use of illicit drugs for CH treatment.MethodsWe invited CH patients from an Internet-based self-help group to complete a questionnaire regarding their therapeutic use of illicit substances.ResultsOf the 54 respondents, 29 were classified as chronic and 39 were drug-resistant cases. Fifty patients had previously tried subcutaneous sumatriptan, 40 had tried O2, and 48 had tried at least one prophylactic treatment. All 54 patients specified that they were dissatisfied with conventional treatments. Thirty-four patients had used cannabinoids, 13 cocaine, 8 heroin, 18 psilocybin, 12 lysergic acid amide (LSA), and 4 lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD).DiscussionSome patients with intractable CH decided to try illicit drugs concomitantly with cessation of medical care. Most of these patients found suggestions for illicit drug use on the Internet. Many patients seemed to underestimate the judicial consequences of, and had an overestimated confidence in the safety of, such illicit treatments. Physicians are often not informed by patients of their choice to use illicit drugs. This leads to questions regarding the true nature of the physician-patient relationship among dissatisfied CH patients.

keywords:
Humans, Cluster Headache, Self Medication, Italy, Female, Male, Social Media, Surveys and Questionnaires, Illicit Drugs

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"25903763","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Classic hallucinogens in the treatment of addictions.
authors: Bogenschutz MP, Johnson MW.
publication_date: 2015-03-13
doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2015.03.002
pubmed_id: 25784600
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2015.03.002
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Meta-Analysis
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:07
abstract:
Addictive disorders are very common and have devastating individual and social consequences. Currently available treatment is moderately effective at best. After many years of neglect, there is renewed interest in potential clinical uses for classic hallucinogens in the treatment of addictions and other behavioral health conditions. In this paper we provide a comprehensive review of both historical and recent clinical research on the use of classic hallucinogens in the treatment of addiction, selectively review other relevant research concerning hallucinogens, and suggest directions for future research. Clinical trial data are very limited except for the use of LSD in the treatment of alcoholism, where a meta-analysis of controlled trials has demonstrated a consistent and clinically significant beneficial effect of high-dose LSD. Recent pilot studies of psilocybin-assisted treatment of nicotine and alcohol dependence had strikingly positive outcomes, but controlled trials will be necessary to evaluate the efficacy of these treatments. Although plausible biological mechanisms have been proposed, currently the strongest evidence is for the role of mystical or other meaningful experiences as mediators of therapeutic effects. Classic hallucinogens have an excellent record of safety in the context of clinical research. Given our limited understanding of the clinically relevant effects of classic hallucinogens, there is a wealth of opportunities for research that could contribute important new knowledge and potentially lead to valuable new treatments for addiction.

keywords:
Brain, Animals, Humans, Substance-Related Disorders, Hallucinogens, Behavior, Addictive, Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic

topic_tags:
Addiction,Mechanism of Action,Mystical Experience,Clinical Trial,Meta-Analysis,Review Article,Safety

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"25784600","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Treating Addiction: Perspectives from EEG and Imaging Studies on Psychedelics.
authors: Tófoli LF, de Araujo DB.
publication_date: 2016-07-24
doi: 10.1016/bs.irn.2016.06.005
pubmed_id: 27503452
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.irn.2016.06.005
keywords: Humans, Substance-Related Disorders, Hallucinogens, Electroencephalography, Neuroimaging
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Addiction,Brain Imaging,Aging,Review Article
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Despite reports of apparent benefits, social and political pressure beginning in the late 1960s effectively banned scientific inquiry into psychedelic substances. Covert examination of psychedelics persisted through the 1990s; the turn of the century and especially the past 10 years, however, has seen a resurgent interest in psychedelic substances (eg, LSD, ayahuasca, psilocybin). This chapter outlines relevant EEG and brain imaging studies evaluating the effects of psychedelics on the brain. This chapter also reviews evidence of the use of psychedelics as adjunct therapy for a number of psychiatric and addictive disorders. In particular, psychedelics appear to have efficacy in treating depression and alcohol-use disorders.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"27503452","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Kraehenmann R, Schmidt A, Friston K, Preller KH, Seifritz E, Vollenweider FX.
publication_date: 2015-08-21
doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2015.08.009
pubmed_id: 26909323
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2015.08.009
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Anxiety,Brain Imaging,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Emotional Processing
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
The mixed serotonin receptor agonist psilocybin reduces threat-induced modulation of amygdala connectivity.

abstract:
Stimulation of serotonergic neurotransmission by psilocybin has been shown to shift emotional biases away from negative towards positive stimuli. We have recently shown that reduced amygdala activity during threat processing might underlie psilocybin's effect on emotional processing. However, it is still not known whether psilocybin modulates bottom-up or top-down connectivity within the visual-limbic-prefrontal network underlying threat processing. We therefore analyzed our previous fMRI data using dynamic causal modeling and used Bayesian model selection to infer how psilocybin modulated effective connectivity within the visual-limbic-prefrontal network during threat processing. First, both placebo and psilocybin data were best explained by a model in which threat affect modulated bidirectional connections between the primary visual cortex, amygdala, and lateral prefrontal cortex. Second, psilocybin decreased the threat-induced modulation of top-down connectivity from the amygdala to primary visual cortex, speaking to a neural mechanism that might underlie putative shifts towards positive affect states after psilocybin administration. These findings may have important implications for the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders.

keywords:
Amygdala, Prefrontal Cortex, Neural Pathways, Humans, Brain Mapping, Bayes Theorem, Fear, Adult, Female, Male, Young Adult, Serotonin Receptor Agonists, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"26909323","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: The epistemic innocence of psychedelic states.
authors: Letheby C
journal: Consciousness and cognition
publication_date: 2015-12-31
doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2015.11.012
pubmed_id: 26675408
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26675408/
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Consciousness,Mystical Experience
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:40
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"26675408"}
abstract:
One recent development in epistemology, the philosophical study of knowledge, is the notion of 'epistemic innocence' introduced by Bortolotti and colleagues. This concept expresses the idea that certain suboptimal cognitive processes may nonetheless have epistemic (knowledge-related) benefits. The idea that delusion or confabulation may have psychological benefits is familiar enough. What is novel and interesting is the idea that such conditions may also yield significant and otherwise unavailable epistemic benefits. I apply the notion of epistemic innocence to research on the transformative potential of psychedelic drugs. The popular epithet 'hallucinogen' exemplifies a view of these substances as fundamentally epistemically detrimental. I argue that the picture is more complicated and that some psychedelic states can be epistemically innocent. This conclusion is highly relevant to policy debates about psychedelic therapy. Moreover, analysing the case of psychedelics can shed further light on the concept of epistemic innocence itself.

keywords:
Altered states of consciousness, Epistemic innocence, Epistemology, Hallucinogen, LSD, Mystical experience, Naturalism, Philosophy, Psilocybin, Psychedelic


title: Indoleamine Hallucinogens in Cluster Headache: Results of the Clusterbusters Medication Use Survey.
authors: Schindler EA, Gottschalk CH, Weil MJ, Shapiro RE, Wright DA, Sewell RA.
publication_date: 2015-11-22
doi: 10.1080/02791072.2015.1107664
pubmed_id: 26595349
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2015.1107664
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Chronic Pain,Headache / Migraine,Observational Study
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Cluster headache is one of the most debilitating pain syndromes. A significant number of patients are refractory to conventional therapies. The Clusterbusters.org medication use survey sought to characterize the effects of both conventional and alternative medications used in cluster headache. Participants were recruited from cluster headache websites and headache clinics. The final analysis included responses from 496 participants. The survey was modeled after previously published surveys and was available online. Most responses were chosen from a list, though others were free-texted. Conventional abortive and preventative medications were identified and their efficacies agreed with those previously published. The indoleamine hallucinogens, psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, and lysergic acid amide, were comparable to or more efficacious than most conventional medications. These agents were also perceived to shorten/abort a cluster period and bring chronic cluster headache into remission more so than conventional medications. Furthermore, infrequent and non-hallucinogenic doses were reported to be efficacious. Findings provide additional evidence that several indoleamine hallucinogens are rated as effective in treating cluster headache. These data reinforce the need for further investigation of the effects of these and related compounds in cluster headache under experimentally controlled settings.

keywords:
Humans, Cluster Headache, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Adult, Aged, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"26595349","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Barrett FS, Johnson MW, Griffiths RR.
publication_date: 2015-10-05
doi: 10.1177/0269881115609019
pubmed_id: 26442957
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881115609019
keywords: Humans, Hallucinogens, Administration, Oral, Mysticism, Surveys and Questionnaires, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Wellbeing,Mystical Experience,Observational Study
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Validation of the revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire in experimental sessions with psilocybin.

abstract:
The 30-item revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ30) was previously developed within an online survey of mystical-type experiences occasioned by psilocybin-containing mushrooms. The rated experiences occurred on average eight years before completion of the questionnaire. The current paper validates the MEQ30 using data from experimental studies with controlled doses of psilocybin. Data were pooled and analyzed from five laboratory experiments in which participants (n=184) received a moderate to high oral dose of psilocybin (at least 20 mg/70 kg). Results of confirmatory factor analysis demonstrate the reliability and internal validity of the MEQ30. Structural equation models demonstrate the external and convergent validity of the MEQ30 by showing that latent variable scores on the MEQ30 positively predict persisting change in attitudes, behavior, and well-being attributed to experiences with psilocybin while controlling for the contribution of the participant-rated intensity of drug effects. These findings support the use of the MEQ30 as an efficient measure of individual mystical experiences. A method to score a "complete mystical experience" that was used in previous versions of the mystical experience questionnaire is validated in the MEQ30, and a stand-alone version of the MEQ30 is provided for use in future research.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"26442957","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Lysergic Acid Diethylamide and Psilocybin Revisited.
authors: Geyer MA.
publication_date: 2015-09-30
doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.08.003
pubmed_id: 26386624
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.08.003
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Healthy Volunteers
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
keywords:
Amygdala, Animals, Humans, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Affect, Female, Male, Sensory Gating, Healthy Volunteers, Reflex, Startle, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"26386624","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Kraehenmann R, Preller KH, Scheidegger M, Pokorny T, Bosch OG, Seifritz E, Vollenweider FX.
publication_date: 2014-04-25
doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.04.010
pubmed_id: 24882567
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.04.010
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Psilocybin-Induced Decrease in Amygdala Reactivity Correlates with Enhanced Positive Mood in Healthy Volunteers.

abstract:
BackgroundThe amygdala is a key structure in serotonergic emotion-processing circuits. In healthy volunteers, acute administration of the serotonin 1A/2A/2C receptor agonist psilocybin reduces neural responses to negative stimuli and induces mood changes toward positive states. However, it is little-known whether psilocybin reduces amygdala reactivity to negative stimuli and whether any change in amygdala reactivity is related to mood change.MethodsThis study assessed the effects of acute administration of the hallucinogen psilocybin (.16 mg/kg) versus placebo on amygdala reactivity to negative stimuli in 25 healthy volunteers using blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging. Mood changes were assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and the state portion of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. A double-blind, randomized, cross-over design was used with volunteers counterbalanced to receive psilocybin and placebo in two separate sessions at least 14 days apart.ResultsAmygdala reactivity to negative and neutral stimuli was lower after psilocybin administration than after placebo administration. The psilocybin-induced attenuation of right amygdala reactivity in response to negative stimuli was related to the psilocybin-induced increase in positive mood state.ConclusionsThese results demonstrate that acute treatment with psilocybin decreased amygdala reactivity during emotion processing and that this was associated with an increase of positive mood in healthy volunteers. These findings may be relevant to the normalization of amygdala hyperactivity and negative mood states in patients with major depression.

keywords:
Amygdala, Humans, Hallucinogens, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cross-Over Studies, Double-Blind Method, Depression, Affect, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Adult, Female, Male, Young Adult, Healthy Volunteers, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,Brain Imaging,Receptor Pharmacology,Aging,Emotional Processing,Healthy Volunteers

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"24882567","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: A Case Review of the First Analytically Confirmed 25I-NBOMe-Related Death in Washington State.
authors: Lowe LM, Peterson BL, Couper FJ.
publication_date: 2015-09-30
doi: 10.1093/jat/bkv092
pubmed_id: 26378143
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkv092
keywords: Humans, Dimethoxyphenylethylamine, Fatal Outcome, Adolescent, Male
substance_tags: psilocin
topic_tags: Review Article,Adolescents,Toxicity
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
This case was submitted to the Washington State Patrol Toxicology Laboratory in September 2014. A15-year-old male went to a party where he ingested 25I-NBOMe and mushrooms. A short time later, he started to vomit and began seizing until he eventually passed out. Resuscitation efforts were made, but were unsuccessful. He was transported to a local hospital, where he died three days later of multi-system organ failure following cardiopulmonary arrest. The hospital admission samples were negative for ethanol and basic drugs and their metabolites. The hospital serum confirmed positive for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and carboxy-THC at 4.1 and 83 ng/mL, respectively. On the basis of the case history, the hospital blood and urine were sent to NMS Labs for NBOMe and psilocin confirmation. The blood was positive for 25I-NBOMe, and the urine was positive for 25C-, 25H- and 25I-NBOMe, as well as, psilocin. Antemortem and postmortem blood were also sent to AIT Laboratories for NBOMe confirmation. The antemortem blood confirmed positive for 25I-NBOMe with a concentration of 0.76 ng/mL. The manner of death was ruled an accident as a result of combined 25I-NBOMe and psilocin intoxication.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"26378143","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Kometer M, Pokorny T, Seifritz E, Volleinweider FX.
publication_date: 2015-07-31
doi: 10.1007/s00213-015-4026-7
pubmed_id: 26231498
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-015-4026-7
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Psilocybin-induced spiritual experiences and insightfulness are associated with synchronization of neuronal oscillations.

abstract:
RationaleDuring the last years, considerable progress has been made toward understanding the neuronal basis of consciousness by using sophisticated behavioral tasks, brain-imaging techniques, and various psychoactive drugs. Nevertheless, the neuronal mechanisms underlying some of the most intriguing states of consciousness, including spiritual experiences, remain unknown.ObjectivesTo elucidate state of consciousness-related neuronal mechanisms, human subjects were given psilocybin, a naturally occurring serotonergic agonist and hallucinogen that has been used for centuries to induce spiritual experiences in religious and medical rituals.MethodsIn this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 50 healthy human volunteers received a moderate dose of psilocybin, while high-density electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were taken during eyes-open and eyes-closed resting states. The current source density and the lagged phase synchronization of neuronal oscillations across distributed brain regions were computed and correlated with psilocybin-induced altered states of consciousness.ResultsPsilocybin decreased the current source density of neuronal oscillations at 1.5-20 Hz within a neural network comprising the anterior and posterior cingulate cortices and the parahippocampal regions. Most intriguingly, the intensity levels of psilocybin-induced spiritual experience and insightfulness correlated with the lagged phase synchronization of delta oscillations (1.5-4 Hz) between the retrosplenial cortex, the parahippocampus, and the lateral orbitofrontal area.ConclusionsThese results provide systematic evidence for the direct association of a specific spatiotemporal neuronal mechanism with spiritual experiences and enhanced insight into life and existence. The identified mechanism may constitute a pathway for modulating mental health, as spiritual experiences can promote sustained well-being and psychological resilience.

keywords:
Parahippocampal Gyrus, Cerebral Cortex, Nerve Net, Humans, Hallucinogens, Electroencephalography, Double-Blind Method, Adult, Female, Male, Young Adult, Serotonin Receptor Agonists, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Brain Imaging,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Consciousness,Aging,Wellbeing,Resilience,Spirituality

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"26231498","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: [Psilocybin - public available psychodysleptic].
authors: Dydak K, Śliwińska-Mossoń M, Milnerowicz H.
publication_date: 2015-09-06
pubmed_id: 26400885
source_url: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/26400885
keywords: Humans, Agaricales, Hallucinogens, Molecular Structure, Mass Spectrometry, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: Addiction,Chronic Pain
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:03
abstract:
Substances of plant origin have been used to induce hallucinations for a long time, in religious ceremonies and rituals as well as in pain relief. Psilocybin and psilocin naturally occur in the fungal genus Psilocybe. Due to the psychedelic effects and relative harmlessness of these substances and the fact that they do not cause physical addiction, psilocybin and psilocin recently have been increasingly replacing synthetic psychodysleptics, such as diethylamide D-lysergic acid. Both compounds as psychoactive substances are illegal, but psilocybin, in addition to psychotropic action, also shows positive effects, which from a medical point of view indicate its therapeutic potential and capacity for use in therapy. However, poisoning by psilocin and its derivatives is still a major clinical and social problem, mainly among young people, which is why quick and reliable identification of these substances is very important. Traditional ways of assigning the sample to a particular taxon, such as morphological and biochemical analysis or palynological and sporological studies, are not very universal and often do not provide clear results. Credibility, high speed and lower cost of DNA analysis make genetic methods more often used to determine the species of fungi. These methods are random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and high resolution melting (HRM). Moreover, analysis of the regions ITS1 and nLSU was suggested as a valid method for application in the molecular taxonomy of fungi for forensic purposes. Modern methods of identifying psilocybin and psilocin in fungi and biological material are: zone capillary electrophoresis, high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The mentioned methods are successfully used for the identification of psychoactive substances in fungi as well as in blood and urine samples.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"26400885","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psilocybin, psychological distress, and suicidality.
authors: Hendricks PS, Johnson MW, Griffiths RR.
publication_date: 2015-08-31
doi: 10.1177/0269881115598338
pubmed_id: 26395582
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881115598338
keywords: Humans, Hallucinogens, Suicide, Stress, Psychological, Mental Health, Female, Male
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"26395582","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Wiltshire PE, Hawksworth DL, Edwards KJ.
publication_date: 2015-06-03
doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2015.05.010
pubmed_id: 26165663
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2015.05.010
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: Receptor Pharmacology,Toxicity
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
Light microscopy can reveal the consumption of a mixture of psychotropic plant and fungal material in suspicious death.

abstract:
Light microscopical examination of plant and fungal remains in the post mortem gut may be capable of demonstrating the ingestion of unexpected natural psychotropic materials. This is demonstrated here in a case in which a 'shaman' was accused of causing the death of a young man. The deceased had participated in a ceremony which involved the drinking of ayahuasca in order to induce a psychotropic experience. Ayahuasca is an infusion of Banisteriopsis caapi (ayahuasca vine), which produces a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, and one or more additional tropical plants, generally Psychotria viridis (chacruna) which produces dimethyltryptamine (DMT). The monoamine oxidase inhibitor prevents DMT from being broken down in the gut, so enabling its passage into the bloodstream and across the blood/brain barrier. Toxicological tests for DMT demonstrated the presence of this compound in the body. The deceased was reported to be in the habit of using Psilocybe semilanceata (liberty cap). This fungus (popularly called magic mushroom) contains psilocybin which is hydrolysed in the gut to psilocin; this compound mimics a serotonin uptake inhibitor, and also invokes psychotropic experiences. Microscopical examination established that the ileum and colon contained spores of Psilocybe and, in addition, pollen of Cannabis sativa and seeds of Papaver cf. somniferum (opium poppy). Both the plant species yield psychotropic substances. Palynological and mycological analysis of containers from the deceased person's dwelling also yielded abundant trace evidence of pertinent pollen and spores. The police had requested analysis for DMT but there was no screening for other psychotropic substances. Investigators were surprised that a mixture of hallucinogenic materials had been consumed by the deceased. The charge was modified from manslaughter to possession of a 'Class A' drug as the deceased had been consuming psychotropic substances not administered by the 'shaman'. Where death involving drugs from plants or fungi is suspected, microscopical examination of samples from the gut can provide a rapid and effective method for assessing, in a temporal context, the presence of ingested materials that may not have been previously suspected. The example presented here also demonstrates the need for caution in interpreting toxicological results where screening for unusual compounds has been limited.

keywords:
Colon, Ileum, Gastrointestinal Contents, Humans, Spores, Fungal, Cannabis, Banisteriopsis, Papaver, Pollen, Seeds, Substance-Related Disorders, N,N-Dimethyltryptamine, Hallucinogens, Psychotropic Drugs, Microscopy, Substance Abuse Detection, Forensic Pathology, Beverages, Male, Forensic Toxicology, Psilocybe

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"26165663","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Finding the self by losing the self: Neural correlates of ego-dissolution under psilocybin.
authors: Lebedev AV, Lövdén M, Rosenthal G, Feilding A, Nutt DJ, Carhart-Harris RL.
publication_date: 2015-05-21
doi: 10.1002/hbm.22833
pubmed_id: 26010878
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.22833
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Brain Imaging,Mechanism of Action,Aging
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
Ego-disturbances have been a topic in schizophrenia research since the earliest clinical descriptions of the disorder. Manifesting as a feeling that one's "self," "ego," or "I" is disintegrating or that the border between one's self and the external world is dissolving, "ego-disintegration" or "dissolution" is also an important feature of the psychedelic experience, such as is produced by psilocybin (a compound found in "magic mushrooms"). Fifteen healthy subjects took part in this placebo-controlled study. Twelve-minute functional MRI scans were acquired on two occasions: subjects received an intravenous infusion of saline on one occasion (placebo) and 2 mg psilocybin on the other. Twenty-two visual analogue scale ratings were completed soon after scanning and the first principal component of these, dominated by items referring to "ego-dissolution", was used as a primary measure of interest in subsequent analyses. Employing methods of connectivity analysis and graph theory, an association was found between psilocybin-induced ego-dissolution and decreased functional connectivity between the medial temporal lobe and high-level cortical regions. Ego-dissolution was also associated with a "disintegration" of the salience network and reduced interhemispheric communication. Addressing baseline brain dynamics as a predictor of drug-response, individuals with lower diversity of executive network nodes were more likely to experience ego-dissolution under psilocybin. These results implicate MTL-cortical decoupling, decreased salience network integrity, and reduced inter-hemispheric communication in psilocybin-induced ego disturbance and suggest that the maintenance of "self"or "ego," as a perceptual phenomenon, may rest on the normal functioning of these systems.

keywords:
Brain, Neural Pathways, Humans, Hallucinogens, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Brain Mapping, Ego, Self Concept, Perception, Principal Component Analysis, Adult, Female, Male, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"26010878","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: The hallucinogenic world of tryptamines: an updated review.
authors: Araújo AM, Carvalho F, Bastos Mde L, Guedes de Pinho P, Carvalho M.
publication_date: 2015-04-15
doi: 10.1007/s00204-015-1513-x
pubmed_id: 25877327
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-015-1513-x
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Review Article
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:07
abstract:
In the area of psychotropic drugs, tryptamines are known to be a broad class of classical or serotonergic hallucinogens. These drugs are capable of producing profound changes in sensory perception, mood and thought in humans and act primarily as agonists of the 5-HT2A receptor. Well-known tryptamines such as psilocybin contained in Aztec sacred mushrooms and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), present in South American psychoactive beverage ayahuasca, have been restrictedly used since ancient times in sociocultural and ritual contexts. However, with the discovery of hallucinogenic properties of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in mid-1900s, tryptamines began to be used recreationally among young people. More recently, new synthetically produced tryptamine hallucinogens, such as alpha-methyltryptamine (AMT), 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) and 5-methoxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine (5-MeO-DIPT), emerged in the recreational drug market, which have been claimed as the next-generation designer drugs to replace LSD ('legal' alternatives to LSD). Tryptamine derivatives are widely accessible over the Internet through companies selling them as 'research chemicals', but can also be sold in 'headshops' and street dealers. Reports of intoxication and deaths related to the use of new tryptamines have been described over the last years, raising international concern over tryptamines. However, the lack of literature pertaining to pharmacological and toxicological properties of new tryptamine hallucinogens hampers the assessment of their actual potential harm to general public health. This review provides a comprehensive update on tryptamine hallucinogens, concerning their historical background, prevalence, patterns of use and legal status, chemistry, toxicokinetics, toxicodynamics and their physiological and toxicological effects on animals and humans.

keywords:
Brain, Animals, Humans, Tryptamines, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A, Hallucinogens, Molecular Structure, Structure-Activity Relationship, Metabolic Networks and Pathways, Illicit Drugs

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"25877327","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Restructuring consciousness -the psychedelic state in light of integrated information theory.
authors: Gallimore AR.
publication_date: 2015-06-11
doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2015.00346
pubmed_id: 26124719
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00346
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Brain Imaging,Consciousness,Aging,Creativity
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:07
abstract:
The psychological state elicited by the classic psychedelics drugs, such as LSD and psilocybin, is one of the most fascinating and yet least understood states of consciousness. However, with the advent of modern functional neuroimaging techniques, the effect of these drugs on neural activity is now being revealed, although many of the varied phenomenological features of the psychedelic state remain challenging to explain. Integrated information theory (IIT) is one of the foremost contemporary theories of consciousness, providing a mathematical formalization of both the quantity and quality of conscious experience. This theory can be applied to all known states of consciousness, including the psychedelic state. Using the results of functional neuroimaging data on the psychedelic state, the effects of psychedelic drugs on both the level and structure of consciousness can be explained in terms of the conceptual framework of IIT. This new IIT-based model of the psychedelic state provides an explanation for many of its phenomenological features, including unconstrained cognition, alterations in the structure and meaning of concepts and a sense of expanded awareness. This model also suggests that whilst cognitive flexibility, creativity, and imagination are enhanced during the psychedelic state, this occurs at the expense of cause-effect information, as well as degrading the brain's ability to organize, categorize, and differentiate the constituents of conscious experience. Furthermore, the model generates specific predictions that can be tested using a combination of functional imaging techniques, as has been applied to the study of levels of consciousness during anesthesia and following brain injury.

raw_json:
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authors: Borovička J, Oborník M, Stříbrný J, Noordeloos ME, Parra Sánchez LA, Gryndler M.
publication_date: 2014-10-20
doi: 10.3767/003158515x685283
pubmed_id: 26240441
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3767/003158515x685283
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: Biomarkers,In Vitro Study
study_type: In Vitro Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Phylogenetic and chemical studies in the potential psychotropic species complex of Psilocybe atrobrunnea with taxonomic and nomenclatural notes.

abstract:
Five Psilocybe species with unresolved systematic position (P. atrobrunnea, P. laetissima, P. medullosa, P. pelliculosa, and P. silvatica) were investigated using four molecular markers (EF1-α, ITS, LSU, and IGS). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that with the exception of P. laetissima, which is now rightfully classified in the genus Leratiomyces, all investigated species belong to Psilocybe sect. Psilocybe. For the first time, psychotropic compounds psilocin and psilocybin were detected in P. medullosa using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. On the contrary, neither psilocin, nor psilocybin was detected in P. atrobrunnea and negative results were also obtained from mycelia grown in vitro on tryptamine/tryptophan-amended media. These results strongly suggest that biosynthesis of these alkaloids was lost in P. atrobrunnea. With the exception of minor differences detected in EF1-α marker, all sequences of American and European collections of P. atrobrunnea were identical. On the other hand, a thorough nomenclatural study revealed that the name P. atrobrunnea must be considered dubious; the oldest available candidate name, P. fuscofulva, was therefore adopted. The molecular data suggests that morphologically identical American P. silvatica and European P. medullosa likely represent distinct species; epitypes of both taxa were therefore designated.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"26240441","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Legal highs: staying on top of the flood of novel psychoactive substances.
authors: Baumeister D, Tojo LM, Tracy DK.
publication_date: 2015-03-31
doi: 10.1177/2045125314559539
pubmed_id: 26240749
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/2045125314559539
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Pharmacology,Review Article,Animal Study,Healthcare Workers,Safety
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:07
abstract:
There has been growing clinical, public, and media awareness and concern about the availability and potential harmfulness of so-called 'legal highs', which are more appropriately called new or novel psychoactive substances (NPS). A cat-and-mouse process has emerged wherein unknown chemists and laboratories are producing new, and as yet nonproscribed, compounds for human consumption; and as soon as they are banned, which they inevitably are, slightly modified analogues are produced to circumvent new laws. This rapidly changing environment, 81 new substances were identified in 2013 alone, has led to confusion for clinicians, psychopharmacologists, and the public at large. Our difficulties in keeping up with the process has had a two-fold negative effect: the danger of ignoring what is confusing; and the problem that some of the newer synthesized compounds appear ever more potent. This review aims to circumscribe a quick moving and growing field, and to categorize NPS into five major groups based upon their 'parent' compounds: stimulants similar to cocaine, amphetamines and ecstasy; cannabinoids; benzodiazepine based drugs; dissociatives similar to ketamine and phencyclidine (PCP); and those modelled after classic hallucinogens such as LSD and psilocybin. Pharmacodynamic actions, subjective and physical effects, harmfulness, risk of dependency and, where appropriate, putative clinical potentials are described for each class. Clinicians might encounter NPS in various ways: anecdotal reportage; acute intoxication; as part of a substance misuse profile; and as a precipitant or perpetuating factor for longer-term physical and psychological ill health. Current data are overall limited, and much of our knowledge and treatment strategies are based upon those of the 'parent' compound. There is a critical need for more research in this field, and for professionals to make themselves more aware of this growing issue and how it might affect those we see clinically and try to help: a brave new world of so-called 'psychonauts' consuming NPS will also need informed 'psychotherapeutonauts'. The paper should serve as a primer for clinicians and interested readers, as well as provide a framework into which to place the new substances that will inevitably be synthesized in the future.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"26240749","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: [Ilicit drugs frequently used by drug addicts].
authors: Cirriez JP.
publication_date: 2015-02-28
pubmed_id: 26571792
source_url: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/26571792
keywords: Humans, Substance-Related Disorders, Drug Users, Illicit Drugs
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Drugs stimulate the brain causing mental and physical effects. The effects of drugs can be stimulating, narcotic or mind-altering. This article briefly discusses some commonly used illicit drugs, namely heroin, cocaine, cannabis, ecstasy, amphetamines, LSD, psilocybin mushrooms and poppers.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"26571792","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: a population study.
authors: Johansen PØ, Krebs TS.
publication_date: 2015-03-04
doi: 10.1177/0269881114568039
pubmed_id: 25744618
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881114568039
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,Addiction,Adolescents,Safety,Adverse Events
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:07
abstract:
A recent large population study of 130,000 adults in the United States failed to find evidence for a link between psychedelic use (lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin or mescaline) and mental health problems. Using a new data set consisting of 135,095 randomly selected United States adults, including 19,299 psychedelic users, we examine the associations between psychedelic use and mental health. After adjusting for sociodemographics, other drug use and childhood depression, we found no significant associations between lifetime use of psychedelics and increased likelihood of past year serious psychological distress, mental health treatment, suicidal thoughts, suicidal plans and suicide attempt, depression and anxiety. We failed to find evidence that psychedelic use is an independent risk factor for mental health problems. Psychedelics are not known to harm the brain or other body organs or to cause addiction or compulsive use; serious adverse events involving psychedelics are extremely rare. Overall, it is difficult to see how prohibition of psychedelics can be justified as a public health measure.

keywords:
Humans, Hallucinogens, Risk Factors, Retrospective Studies, Cross-Sectional Studies, Suicide, Attempted, Mental Health, Mental Disorders, Adolescent, Adult, United States, Female, Male, Young Adult, Suicidal Ideation

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"25744618","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Majić T, Schmidt TT, Gallinat J
journal: Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
publication_date: 2015-02-28
doi: 10.1177/0269881114568040
pubmed_id: 25670401
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25670401/
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:40
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"25670401"}
title:
Peak experiences and the afterglow phenomenon: when and how do therapeutic effects of hallucinogens depend on psychedelic experiences?

abstract:
Interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances has recently resumed. During an early phase of human psychedelic research, their therapeutic application in different pathologies had been suggested, and the first evidence for efficacy was provided. The range of recent clinical applications of psychedelics spans from cluster headaches and obsessive-compulsive disorder to addiction and the treatment of fear and anxiety in patients suffering from terminal illness, indicating potentially different therapeutic mechanisms. A variety of approaches in psychotherapy emphasize subjective experiences, such as so-called peak experiences or afterglow phenomena, as differentially mediating therapeutic action. This review aims to re-evaluate earlier and recent concepts of how psychedelic substances may exert beneficial effects. After a short outline of neurophenomenological aspects, we discuss different approaches to how psychedelics are used in psychotherapy. Finally, we summarize evidence for the relationship between subjective experiences and therapeutic success. While the distinction between pharmacological and psychological action obviously cannot be clear-cut, they do appear to contribute differently from each other when their effects are compared with regard to pathologies.

keywords:
Hallucinogens, LSD, ketamine, obsessive-compulsive disorder, psilocybin, psychedelic therapy, psychedelics, psycholytic therapy, serotonin, substance addiction, substance-assisted psychotherapy

topic_tags:
Anxiety,Addiction,OCD,End-of-Life Distress,Headache / Migraine,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Review Article


authors: Hendricks PS, Thorne CB, Clark CB, Coombs DW, Johnson MW
journal: Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
publication_date: 2015-02-28
doi: 10.1177/0269881114565653
pubmed_id: 25586402
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25586402/
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Observational Study
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:40
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"25586402"}
title:
Classic psychedelic use is associated with reduced psychological distress and suicidality in the United States adult population.

abstract:
Mental health problems are endemic across the globe, and suicide, a strong corollary of poor mental health, is a leading cause of death. Classic psychedelic use may occasion lasting improvements in mental health, but the effects of classic psychedelic use on suicidality are unknown. We evaluated the relationships of classic psychedelic use with psychological distress and suicidality among over 190,000 USA adult respondents pooled from the last five available years of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2008-2012) while controlling for a range of covariates. Lifetime classic psychedelic use was associated with a significantly reduced odds of past month psychological distress (weighted odds ratio (OR)=0.81 (0.72-0.91)), past year suicidal thinking (weighted OR=0.86 (0.78-0.94)), past year suicidal planning (weighted OR=0.71 (0.54-0.94)), and past year suicide attempt (weighted OR=0.64 (0.46-0.89)), whereas lifetime illicit use of other drugs was largely associated with an increased likelihood of these outcomes. These findings indicate that classic psychedelics may hold promise in the prevention of suicide, supporting the view that classic psychedelics' most highly restricted legal status should be reconsidered to facilitate scientific study, and suggesting that more extensive clinical research with classic psychedelics is warranted.

keywords:
Psychedelic, hallucinogen, lysergic acid diethylamide, mental health, prevention, psilocybin, suicide


title: Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: a proof-of-concept study.
authors: Bogenschutz MP, Forcehimes AA, Pommy JA, Wilcox CE, Barbosa PC, Strassman RJ.
publication_date: 2015-01-12
doi: 10.1177/0269881114565144
pubmed_id: 25586396
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881114565144
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Safety,Adverse Events
study_type: Qualitative Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
UnlabelledSeveral lines of evidence suggest that classic (5HT2A agonist) hallucinogens have clinically relevant effects in alcohol and drug addiction. Although recent studies have investigated the effects of psilocybin in various populations, there have been no studies on the efficacy of psilocybin for alcohol dependence. We conducted a single-group proof-of-concept study to quantify acute effects of psilocybin in alcohol-dependent participants and to provide preliminary outcome and safety data. Ten volunteers with DSM-IV alcohol dependence received orally administered psilocybin in one or two supervised sessions in addition to Motivational Enhancement Therapy and therapy sessions devoted to preparation for and debriefing from the psilocybin sessions. Participants' responses to psilocybin were qualitatively similar to those described in other populations. Abstinence did not increase significantly in the first 4 weeks of treatment (when participants had not yet received psilocybin), but increased significantly following psilocybin administration (p < 0.05). Gains were largely maintained at follow-up to 36 weeks. The intensity of effects in the first psilocybin session (at week 4) strongly predicted change in drinking during weeks 5-8 (r = 0.76 to r = 0.89) and also predicted decreases in craving and increases in abstinence self-efficacy during week 5. There were no significant treatment-related adverse events. These preliminary findings provide a strong rationale for controlled trials with larger samples to investigate efficacy and mechanisms.Trial registrationNCT02061293.

keywords:
Humans, Alcoholism, Hallucinogens, Treatment Outcome, Combined Modality Therapy, Follow-Up Studies, Alcohol Drinking, Motivation, Time Factors, Adult, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Psilocybin, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"25586396","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Palhano-Fontes F, Andrade KC, Tofoli LF, Santos AC, Crippa JA, Hallak JE, Ribeiro S, de Araujo DB.
publication_date: 2015-02-17
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118143
pubmed_id: 25693169
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0118143
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Brain Imaging,Default Mode Network,Consciousness,Aging
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:07
title:
The psychedelic state induced by ayahuasca modulates the activity and connectivity of the default mode network.

abstract:
The experiences induced by psychedelics share a wide variety of subjective features, related to the complex changes in perception and cognition induced by this class of drugs. A remarkable increase in introspection is at the core of these altered states of consciousness. Self-oriented mental activity has been consistently linked to the Default Mode Network (DMN), a set of brain regions more active during rest than during the execution of a goal-directed task. Here we used fMRI technique to inspect the DMN during the psychedelic state induced by Ayahuasca in ten experienced subjects. Ayahuasca is a potion traditionally used by Amazonian Amerindians composed by a mixture of compounds that increase monoaminergic transmission. In particular, we examined whether Ayahuasca changes the activity and connectivity of the DMN and the connection between the DMN and the task-positive network (TPN). Ayahuasca caused a significant decrease in activity through most parts of the DMN, including its most consistent hubs: the Posterior Cingulate Cortex (PCC)/Precuneus and the medial Prefrontal Cortex (mPFC). Functional connectivity within the PCC/Precuneus decreased after Ayahuasca intake. No significant change was observed in the DMN-TPN orthogonality. Altogether, our results support the notion that the altered state of consciousness induced by Ayahuasca, like those induced by psilocybin (another serotonergic psychedelic), meditation and sleep, is linked to the modulation of the activity and the connectivity of the DMN.

keywords:
Gyrus Cinguli, Prefrontal Cortex, Humans, Banisteriopsis, Consciousness Disorders, Hallucinogens, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Adult, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Young Adult, Connectome, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"25693169","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Drug models of schizophrenia.
authors: Steeds H, Carhart-Harris RL, Stone JM
journal: Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology
publication_date: 2015-01-31
doi: 10.1177/2045125314557797
pubmed_id: 25653831
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25653831/
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Review Article,Drug Interactions
study_type: Review Article
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:40
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"25653831"}
abstract:
Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder with positive, negative and cognitive symptom domains. Approximately one third of patients are resistant to currently available medication. New therapeutic targets and a better understanding of the basic biological processes that drive pathogenesis are needed in order to develop therapies that will improve quality of life for these patients. Several drugs that act on neurotransmitter systems in the brain have been suggested to model aspects of schizophrenia in animals and in man. In this paper, we selectively review findings from dopaminergic, glutamatergic, serotonergic, cannabinoid, GABA, cholinergic and kappa opioid pharmacological drug models to evaluate their similarity to schizophrenia. Understanding the interactions between these different neurotransmitter systems and their relationship with symptoms will be an important step towards building a coherent hypothesis for the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

keywords:
LSD, PCP, THC, amphetamine, cannabis, drug models, kappa opioid, ketamine, models, psilocybin, psychosis, salvia divinorum, schizophrenia


title: Recent advances in the neuropsychopharmacology of serotonergic hallucinogens.
authors: Halberstadt AL.
publication_date: 2014-07-14
doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.07.016
pubmed_id: 25036425
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2014.07.016
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Brain Imaging,Pharmacology,Receptor Pharmacology,Aging,Clinical Trial,Review Article
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Serotonergic hallucinogens, such as (+)-lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin, and mescaline, are somewhat enigmatic substances. Although these drugs are derived from multiple chemical families, they all produce remarkably similar effects in animals and humans, and they show cross-tolerance. This article reviews the evidence demonstrating the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor is the primary site of hallucinogen action. The 5-HT2A receptor is responsible for mediating the effects of hallucinogens in human subjects, as well as in animal behavioral paradigms such as drug discrimination, head twitch response, prepulse inhibition of startle, exploratory behavior, and interval timing. Many recent clinical trials have yielded important new findings regarding the psychopharmacology of these substances. Furthermore, the use of modern imaging and electrophysiological techniques is beginning to help unravel how hallucinogens work in the brain. Evidence is also emerging that hallucinogens may possess therapeutic efficacy.

keywords:
Brain, Animals, Humans, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A, Hallucinogens, Behavior, Animal, Exploratory Behavior

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"25036425","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Recreational use, analysis and toxicity of tryptamines.
authors: Tittarelli R, Mannocchi G, Pantano F, Romolo FS.
publication_date: 2014-12-31
doi: 10.2174/1570159x13666141210222409
pubmed_id: 26074742
source_url: https://doi.org/10.2174/1570159x13666141210222409
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Pharmacology,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Review Article,Toxicity
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:07
abstract:
UnlabelledThe definition New psychoactive substances (NPS) refers to emerging drugs whose chemical structures are similar to other psychoactive compounds but not identical, representing a "legal" alternative to internationally controlled drugs. There are many categories of NPS, such as synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones, phenylethylamines, piperazines, ketamine derivatives and tryptamines. Tryptamines are naturally occurring compounds, which can derive from the amino acid tryptophan by several biosynthetic pathways: their structure is a combination of a benzene ring and a pyrrole ring, with the addition of a 2-carbon side chain. Tryptamines include serotonin and melatonin as well as other compounds known for their hallucinogenic properties, such as psilocybin in 'Magic mushrooms' and dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in Ayahuasca brews.AimTo review the scientific literature regarding tryptamines and their derivatives, providing a summary of all the available information about the structure of these compounds, their effects in relationship with the routes of administration, their pharmacology and toxicity, including articles reporting cases of death related to intake of these substances.MethodsA comprehensive review of the published scientific literature was performed, using also non peer-reviewed information sources, such as books, government publications and drug user web fora.ConclusionsInformation from Internet and from published scientific literature, organized in the way we proposed in this review, provides an effective tool for specialists facing the emerging NPS threat to public health and public security, including the personnel working in Emergency Department.

keywords:
Humans, Poisoning, Substance-Related Disorders, Tryptamines, Psychotropic Drugs, Designer Drugs, Structure-Activity Relationship, Illicit Drugs

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"26074742","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Can psychedelic compounds play a part in drug dependence therapy?
authors: Sessa B, Johnson MW.
publication_date: 2014-12-31
doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.148031
pubmed_id: 25561484
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.114.148031
keywords: Humans, Substance-Related Disorders, Hallucinogens
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
After a 40-year hiatus there is now a revisiting of psychedelic drug therapy throughout psychiatry, with studies examining the drugs psilocybin, ketamine, ibogaine and ayahuasca in the treatment of drug dependence. Limitations to these therapies are both clinical and legal, but the possibility of improving outcomes for patients with substance dependency imposes an obligation to research this area.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"25561484","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Hallucinogenic drugs in pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures.
authors: Carod-Artal FJ.
publication_date: 2011-09-02
doi: 10.1016/j.nrl.2011.07.003
pubmed_id: 21893367
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nrl.2011.07.003
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Consciousness,Review Article
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:07
abstract:
IntroductionThe American continent is very rich in psychoactive plants and fungi, and many pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures used them for magical, therapeutic and religious purposes.ObjectivesThe archaeological, ethno-historical and ethnographic evidence of the use of hallucinogenic substances in Mesoamerica is reviewed.ResultsHallucinogenic cactus, plants and mushrooms were used to induce altered states of consciousness in healing rituals and religious ceremonies. The Maya drank balché (a mixture of honey and extracts of Lonchocarpus) in group ceremonies to achieve intoxication. Ritual enemas and other psychoactive substances were also used to induce states of trance. Olmec, Zapotec, Maya and Aztec used peyote, hallucinogenic mushrooms (teonanacatl: Psilocybe spp) and the seeds of ololiuhqui (Turbina corymbosa), that contain mescaline, psilocybin and lysergic acid amide, respectively. The skin of the toad Bufo spp contains bufotoxins with hallucinogenic properties, and was used since the Olmec period. Jimson weed (Datura stramonium), wild tobacco (Nicotiana rustica), water lily (Nymphaea ampla) and Salvia divinorum were used for their psychoactive effects. Mushroom stones dating from 3000 BC have been found in ritual contexts in Mesoamerica. Archaeological evidence of peyote use dates back to over 5000 years. Several chroniclers, mainly Fray Bernardino de Sahagún, described their effects in the sixteenth century.ConclusionsThe use of psychoactive substances was common in pre-Columbian Mesoamerican societies. Today, local shamans and healers still use them in ritual ceremonies in Mesoamerica.

keywords:
Humans, Fungi, Plants, Medicinal, Hallucinogens, Ceremonial Behavior, Art, History, Ancient, History, Medieval, Religion, Religion and Medicine, Mexico

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"21893367","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Homological scaffolds of brain functional networks.
authors: Petri G, Expert P, Turkheimer F, Carhart-Harris R, Nutt D, Hellyer PJ, Vaccarino F.
publication_date: 2014-11-30
doi: 10.1098/rsif.2014.0873
pubmed_id: 25401177
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2014.0873
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Brain Imaging,Aging,Healthy Volunteers
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Networks, as efficient representations of complex systems, have appealed to scientists for a long time and now permeate many areas of science, including neuroimaging (Bullmore and Sporns 2009 Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 10, 186-198. (doi:10.1038/nrn2618)). Traditionally, the structure of complex networks has been studied through their statistical properties and metrics concerned with node and link properties, e.g. degree-distribution, node centrality and modularity. Here, we study the characteristics of functional brain networks at the mesoscopic level from a novel perspective that highlights the role of inhomogeneities in the fabric of functional connections. This can be done by focusing on the features of a set of topological objects-homological cycles-associated with the weighted functional network. We leverage the detected topological information to define the homological scaffolds, a new set of objects designed to represent compactly the homological features of the correlation network and simultaneously make their homological properties amenable to networks theoretical methods. As a proof of principle,we apply these tools to compare resting state functional brain activity in 15 healthy volunteers after intravenous infusion of placebo and psilocybin-the main psychoactive component of magic mushrooms. The results show that the homological structure of the brain's functional patterns undergoes a dramatic change post-psilocybin, characterized by the appearance of many transient structures of low stability and of a small number of persistent ones that are not observed in the case of placebo.

keywords:
Brain, Nerve Net, Humans, Hallucinogens, Radiography, Models, Neurological, Female, Male, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"25401177","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Bernasconi F, Schmidt A, Pokorny T, Kometer M, Seifritz E, Vollenweider FX.
publication_date: 2013-07-15
doi: 10.1093/cercor/bht178
pubmed_id: 23861318
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bht178
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Spatiotemporal brain dynamics of emotional face processing modulations induced by the serotonin 1A/2A receptor agonist psilocybin.

abstract:
Emotional face processing is critically modulated by the serotonergic system. For instance, emotional face processing is impaired by acute psilocybin administration, a serotonin (5-HT) 1A and 2A receptor agonist. However, the spatiotemporal brain mechanisms underlying these modulations are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the spatiotemporal brain dynamics underlying psilocybin-induced modulations during emotional face processing. Electrical neuroimaging analyses were applied to visual evoked potentials in response to emotional faces, following psilocybin and placebo administration. Our results indicate a first time period of strength (i.e., Global Field Power) modulation over the 168-189 ms poststimulus interval, induced by psilocybin. A second time period of strength modulation was identified over the 211-242 ms poststimulus interval. Source estimations over these 2 time periods further revealed decreased activity in response to both neutral and fearful faces within limbic areas, including amygdala and parahippocampal gyrus, and the right temporal cortex over the 168-189 ms interval, and reduced activity in response to happy faces within limbic and right temporo-occipital brain areas over the 211-242 ms interval. Our results indicate a selective and temporally dissociable effect of psilocybin on the neuronal correlates of emotional face processing, consistent with a modulation of the top-down control.

keywords:
Face, Temporal Lobe, Humans, Electroencephalography, Brain Mapping, Analysis of Variance, Double-Blind Method, Emotions, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Psychometrics, Evoked Potentials, Visual, Adult, Female, Male, Young Adult, Serotonin Receptor Agonists, Surveys and Questionnaires, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Brain Imaging,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Aging,Emotional Processing,Observational Study

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"23861318","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psilocybin and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
authors: Wilcox JA.
publication_date: 2014-10-31
doi: 10.1080/02791072.2014.963754
pubmed_id: 25364991
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2014.963754
keywords: Humans, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Adult, Male, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Anxiety,OCD,Receptor Pharmacology
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder with considerable morbidity and mortality. This condition disables many individuals and is often refractory to treatment. Research suggests that serotonin plays a role in OCD symptom reduction. We present a case of an individual who successfully used psilocybin, a serotonergic agent, to reduce the core symptoms of OCD for several years. Although not endorsing this form of treatment, we feel that the successful use of this agent highlights the role of serotonergic factors in OCD and the need for further, legitimate research into the value of psilocybin in the treatment of anxiety disorders.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"25364991","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Pilot study of the 5-HT2AR agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction.
authors: Johnson MW, Garcia-Romeu A, Cosimano MP, Griffiths RR.
publication_date: 2014-09-10
doi: 10.1177/0269881114548296
pubmed_id: 25213996
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881114548296
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Receptor Pharmacology,Biomarkers,Safety
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
Despite suggestive early findings on the therapeutic use of hallucinogens in the treatment of substance use disorders, rigorous follow-up has not been conducted. To determine the safety and feasibility of psilocybin as an adjunct to tobacco smoking cessation treatment we conducted an open-label pilot study administering moderate (20 mg/70 kg) and high (30 mg/70 kg) doses of psilocybin within a structured 15-week smoking cessation treatment protocol. Participants were 15 psychiatrically healthy nicotine-dependent smokers (10 males; mean age of 51 years), with a mean of six previous lifetime quit attempts, and smoking a mean of 19 cigarettes per day for a mean of 31 years at intake. Biomarkers assessing smoking status, and self-report measures of smoking behavior demonstrated that 12 of 15 participants (80%) showed seven-day point prevalence abstinence at 6-month follow-up. The observed smoking cessation rate substantially exceeds rates commonly reported for other behavioral and/or pharmacological therapies (typically

keywords:
Humans, Tobacco Use Disorder, Carbon Monoxide, Cotinine, Nicotinic Agonists, Treatment Outcome, Combined Modality Therapy, Pilot Projects, Attitude, Behavior, Addictive, Smoking Cessation, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Serotonin Receptor Agonists, Biomarkers, Psilocybin, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"25213996","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Pichini S, Marchei E, García-Algar O, Gomez A, Di Giovannandrea R, Pacifici R.
publication_date: 2014-08-09
doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2014.08.006
pubmed_id: 25171488
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2014.08.006
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry determination of hallucinogenic drugs in hair of psychedelic plants and mushrooms consumers.

abstract:
A procedure based on ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry has been developed for the determination of mescaline, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, psilocin, psilocybin, salvinorin A in hair of consumers of psychedelic vegetal material such peyote or trichocereus cacti, psilocybe mushrooms, Salvia divinorum or psychedelic beverage ayahuasca. After hair washing with methyl alcohol and diethyl ether and subsequent addition of mescaline-d9 and 3,4-methylenedioxypropylamphetamine as internal standards, hair samples were treated with 250μl VMA-T M3 reagent for 1h at 100°C. After cooling, 100μl M3 extract were diluted with 400μl water and a volume of 10μl was injected into chromatographic system. Chromatographic separation was achieved at ambient temperature using a reverse-phase column and a linear gradient elution with two solvents: 0.3% formic acid in acetonitrile and 5mM ammonium formate pH 3. The mass spectrometer was operated in positive ion mode, using multiple reaction monitoring via positive electrospray ionization. The method was linear from the limit of quantification (0.03-0.05ng/mg depending on analyte under investigation) to 10ng/mg hair, with an intra- and inter-assay imprecision and inaccuracy always less than 15% and an analytical recovery between 79.6% and 97.4%, depending on the considered analyte. Using the validated method, mescaline was found in concentration range of 0.08-0.13ng/mg in hair of peyote smokers, 3.2ng salvinorin A per mg hair were determined in hair from a S. divinorum smoker, 5.6ng N,N-dimethyltryptamine per mg hair from an ayahuasca user and finally 0.8ng psilocybin per ng hair of a psilocybe consumer.

keywords:
Hair, Humans, Agaricales, Substance-Related Disorders, Hallucinogens, Plant Preparations, Buffers, Solvents, Calibration, Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid, Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization, Linear Models, Case-Control Studies, Reproducibility of Results, Substance Abuse Detection, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Reference Standards, Male, Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Chromatography, Reverse-Phase, Limit of Detection

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"25171488","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Enhanced repertoire of brain dynamical states during the psychedelic experience.
authors: Tagliazucchi E, Carhart-Harris R, Leech R, Nutt D, Chialvo DR.
publication_date: 2014-07-02
doi: 10.1002/hbm.22562
pubmed_id: 24989126
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.22562
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Brain Imaging,Consciousness,Aging
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
The study of rapid changes in brain dynamics and functional connectivity (FC) is of increasing interest in neuroimaging. Brain states departing from normal waking consciousness are expected to be accompanied by alterations in the aforementioned dynamics. In particular, the psychedelic experience produced by psilocybin (a substance found in "magic mushrooms") is characterized by unconstrained cognition and profound alterations in the perception of time, space and selfhood. Considering the spontaneous and subjective manifestation of these effects, we hypothesize that neural correlates of the psychedelic experience can be found in the dynamics and variability of spontaneous brain activity fluctuations and connectivity, measurable with functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). Fifteen healthy subjects were scanned before, during and after intravenous infusion of psilocybin and an inert placebo. Blood-Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) temporal variability was assessed computing the variance and total spectral power, resulting in increased signal variability bilaterally in the hippocampi and anterior cingulate cortex. Changes in BOLD signal spectral behavior (including spectral scaling exponents) affected exclusively higher brain systems such as the default mode, executive control, and dorsal attention networks. A novel framework enabled us to track different connectivity states explored by the brain during rest. This approach revealed a wider repertoire of connectivity states post-psilocybin than during control conditions. Together, the present results provide a comprehensive account of the effects of psilocybin on dynamical behavior in the human brain at a macroscopic level and may have implications for our understanding of the unconstrained, hyper-associative quality of consciousness in the psychedelic state.

keywords:
Brain, Humans, Oxygen, Hallucinogens, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Brain Mapping, Entropy, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Adult, Female, Male, Mass Spectrometry, Young Adult, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"24989126","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Baumeister D, Barnes G, Giaroli G, Tracy D
journal: Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology
publication_date: 2014-07-31
doi: 10.1177/2045125314527985
pubmed_id: 25083275
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25083275/
keywords: 5-HT2A, LSD, antidepressants, anxiety, depression, hallucinogen, psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:40
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"25083275"}
title:
Classical hallucinogens as antidepressants? A review of pharmacodynamics and putative clinical roles.

abstract:
Hallucinogens have been part of spiritual practice for millennia, but controversy surrounding their mind-manifesting effects led to their proscription by the mid-20th century, largely without evidence of harm or toxicity and despite nascent data suggesting therapeutic utility in treating depressive illnesses. This review explores their pharmacodynamic actions and the current limited data on their clinic effectiveness. These drugs appear to exert their psychedelic effects through their agonist or partial agonist activity at the serotonergic 5-HT2A receptor, though they also have affinity for other metabotropic serotonin receptors. Hallucinogen binding affects a wide range of intracellular signalling pathways, the precise nature of which remains incompletely understood. They alter the serotonergic tone of brainstem raphe nuclei that project through the brain; they interact with receptors in the prefrontal cortex altering connectivity patterns and intracellular functioning; and they disrupt inhibitory control of sensory input via the thalamus to the cortex. The serotonergic system has long been implicated in anxiety and depressive disorders, and is a major target of most existing antidepressants. Classical hallucinogens alter the functioning of this system, but not in the same way current medications do: whilst there are identified receptors and neurotransmitter pathways through which hallucinogens could therein produce therapeutic effects, the neurobiology of this remains speculative at this time. There is currently an extremely limited but growing literature on hallucinogen safety and clinical application. The drugs appear well tolerated by healthy controls and clinical populations, and the rapid tolerance to repeated administration might reduce the possibility of dependency. Clinical trials reported over the past decade have generally shown positive therapeutic potential, but they are notably few in number. Legislative policy has had a freezing effect on evaluation of these compounds, a better understanding of which might improve our knowledge of the processes involved in consciousness, the neuropathology of depression, and potentially open up new pharmacological therapies.

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,Pharmacology,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Consciousness,Spirituality,Clinical Trial,Review Article,Safety,Toxicity


title: Recreational drug discovery: natural products as lead structures for the synthesis of smart drugs.
authors: Appendino G, Minassi A, Taglialatela-Scafati O.
publication_date: 2014-05-13
doi: 10.1039/c4np00010b
pubmed_id: 24823967
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1039/c4np00010b
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Observational Study,Toxicity
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:07
abstract:
Covering: up to December 2013. Over the past decade, there has been a growing transition in recreational drugs from natural materials (marijuana, hashish, opium), natural products (morphine, cocaine), or their simple derivatives (heroin), to synthetic agents more potent than their natural prototypes, which are sometimes less harmful in the short term, or that combine properties from different classes of recreational prototypes. These agents have been named smart drugs, and have become popular both for personal consumption and for collective intoxication at rave parties. The reasons for this transition are varied, but are mainly regulatory and commercial. New analogues of known illegal intoxicants are invisible to most forensic detection techniques, while the alleged natural status and the lack of avert acute toxicity make them appealing to a wide range of users. On the other hand, the advent of the internet has made possible the quick dispersal of information among users and the on-line purchase of these agents and/or the precursors for their synthesis. Unlike their natural products chemotypes (ephedrine, mescaline, cathinone, psilocybin, THC), most new drugs of abuse are largely unfamiliar to the organic chemistry community as well as to health care providers. To raise awareness of the growing plague of smart drugs we have surveyed, in a medicinal chemistry fashion, their development from natural products leads, their current methods of production, and the role that clandestine home laboratories and underground chemists have played in the surge of popularity of these drugs.

keywords:
Ephedrine, Tryptamines, Mescaline, Cannabinoids, Alkaloids, Central Nervous System Agents, Biological Products, Molecular Structure, Drug Discovery, Illicit Drugs

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"24823967","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Roseman L, Leech R, Feilding A, Nutt DJ, Carhart-Harris RL.
publication_date: 2014-05-26
doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00204
pubmed_id: 24904346
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00204
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Mechanism of Action,Consciousness,Healthy Volunteers
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
The effects of psilocybin and MDMA on between-network resting state functional connectivity in healthy volunteers.

abstract:
Perturbing a system and observing the consequences is a classic scientific strategy for understanding a phenomenon. Psychedelic drugs perturb consciousness in a marked and novel way and thus are powerful tools for studying its mechanisms. In the present analysis, we measured changes in resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) between a standard template of different independent components analysis (ICA)-derived resting state networks (RSNs) under the influence of two different psychoactive drugs, the stimulant/psychedelic hybrid, MDMA, and the classic psychedelic, psilocybin. Both were given in placebo-controlled designs and produced marked subjective effects, although reports of more profound changes in consciousness were given after psilocybin. Between-network RSFC was generally increased under psilocybin, implying that networks become less differentiated from each other in the psychedelic state. Decreased RSFC between visual and sensorimotor RSNs was also observed. MDMA had a notably less marked effect on between-network RSFC, implying that the extensive changes observed under psilocybin may be exclusive to classic psychedelic drugs and related to their especially profound effects on consciousness. The novel analytical approach applied here may be applied to other altered states of consciousness to improve our characterization of different conscious states and ultimately advance our understanding of the brain mechanisms underlying them.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"24904346","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


publication_date: 2014-03-16
doi: 10.1074/mcp.m113.036558
pubmed_id: 24637012
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1074/mcp.m113.036558
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Animal Study,In Vitro Study,Drug Interactions,Proteomics
study_type: Animal Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:07
title:
Quantitative phosphoproteomics unravels biased phosphorylation of serotonin 2A receptor at Ser280 by hallucinogenic versus nonhallucinogenic agonists.

authors:
Karaki S, Becamel C, Murat S, Mannoury la Cour C, Millan MJ, Prézeau L, Bockaert J, Marin P, Vandermoere F.

abstract:
The serotonin 5-HT(2A) receptor is a primary target of psychedelic hallucinogens such as lysergic acid diethylamine, mescaline, and psilocybin, which reproduce some of the core symptoms of schizophrenia. An incompletely resolved paradox is that only some 5-HT(2A) receptor agonists exhibit hallucinogenic activity, whereas structurally related agonists with comparable affinity and activity lack such a psychoactive activity. Using a strategy combining stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture with enrichment in phosphorylated peptides by means of hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography followed by immobilized metal affinity chromatography, we compared the phosphoproteome in HEK-293 cells transiently expressing the 5-HT(2A) receptor and exposed to either vehicle or the synthetic hallucinogen 1-[2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl]-2-aminopropane (DOI) or the nonhallucinogenic 5-HT(2A) agonist lisuride. Among the 5995 identified phosphorylated peptides, 16 sites were differentially phosphorylated upon exposure of cells to DOI versus lisuride. These include a serine (Ser(280)) located in the third intracellular loop of the 5-HT(2A) receptor, a region important for its desensitization. The specific phosphorylation of Ser(280) by hallucinogens was further validated by quantitative mass spectrometry analysis of immunopurified receptor digests and by Western blotting using a phosphosite specific antibody. The administration of DOI, but not of lisuride, to mice, enhanced the phosphorylation of 5-HT(2A) receptors at Ser(280) in the prefrontal cortex. Moreover, hallucinogens induced a less pronounced desensitization of receptor-operated signaling in HEK-293 cells and neurons than did nonhallucinogenic agonists. The mutation of Ser(280) to aspartic acid (to mimic phosphorylation) reduced receptor desensitization by nonhallucinogenic agonists, whereas its mutation to alanine increased the ability of hallucinogens to desensitize the receptor. This study reveals a biased phosphorylation of the 5-HT(2A) receptor in response to hallucinogenic versus nonhallucinogenic agonists, which underlies their distinct capacity to desensitize the receptor.

keywords:
Prefrontal Cortex, Neurons, Cells, Cultured, Animals, Humans, Mice, Amphetamines, Lisuride, Serine, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A, Hallucinogens, Proteomics, Signal Transduction, Gene Expression Regulation, Phosphorylation, HEK293 Cells, Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"24637012","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psilocybin--summary of knowledge and new perspectives.
authors: Tylš F, Páleníček T, Horáček J.
publication_date: 2013-12-16
doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2013.12.006
pubmed_id: 24444771
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2013.12.006
keywords: Brain, Animals, Humans, Substance-Related Disorders, Hallucinogens, Behavior, Animal, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Brain Imaging,Pharmacology,Aging,Review Article
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
Psilocybin, a psychoactive alkaloid contained in hallucinogenic mushrooms, is nowadays given a lot of attention in the scientific community as a research tool for modeling psychosis as well as due to its potential therapeutic effects. However, it is also a very popular and frequently abused natural hallucinogen. This review summarizes all the past and recent knowledge on psilocybin. It briefly deals with its history, discusses the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and compares its action in humans and animals. It attempts to describe the mechanism of psychedelic effects and objectify its action using modern imaging and psychometric methods. Finally, it describes its therapeutic and abuse potential.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"24444771","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Carhart-Harris RL, Leech R, Hellyer PJ, Shanahan M, Feilding A, Tagliazucchi E, Chialvo DR, Nutt D.
publication_date: 2014-02-02
doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00020
pubmed_id: 24550805
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00020
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Brain Imaging,Default Mode Network,Consciousness,Aging
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:07
title:
The entropic brain: a theory of conscious states informed by neuroimaging research with psychedelic drugs.

abstract:
Entropy is a dimensionless quantity that is used for measuring uncertainty about the state of a system but it can also imply physical qualities, where high entropy is synonymous with high disorder. Entropy is applied here in the context of states of consciousness and their associated neurodynamics, with a particular focus on the psychedelic state. The psychedelic state is considered an exemplar of a primitive or primary state of consciousness that preceded the development of modern, adult, human, normal waking consciousness. Based on neuroimaging data with psilocybin, a classic psychedelic drug, it is argued that the defining feature of "primary states" is elevated entropy in certain aspects of brain function, such as the repertoire of functional connectivity motifs that form and fragment across time. Indeed, since there is a greater repertoire of connectivity motifs in the psychedelic state than in normal waking consciousness, this implies that primary states may exhibit "criticality," i.e., the property of being poised at a "critical" point in a transition zone between order and disorder where certain phenomena such as power-law scaling appear. Moreover, if primary states are critical, then this suggests that entropy is suppressed in normal waking consciousness, meaning that the brain operates just below criticality. It is argued that this entropy suppression furnishes normal waking consciousness with a constrained quality and associated metacognitive functions, including reality-testing and self-awareness. It is also proposed that entry into primary states depends on a collapse of the normally highly organized activity within the default-mode network (DMN) and a decoupling between the DMN and the medial temporal lobes (which are normally significantly coupled). These hypotheses can be tested by examining brain activity and associated cognition in other candidate primary states such as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and early psychosis and comparing these with non-primary states such as normal waking consciousness and the anaesthetized state.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"24550805","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: dos Santos RG.
publication_date: 2014-01-31
doi: 10.1097/ftd.0000000000000028
pubmed_id: 24413570
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1097/ftd.0000000000000028
keywords: Animals, Humans, Agaricales, Ibotenic Acid, Muscimol, Hallucinogens, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Potential therapeutic effects of psilocybin/psilocin are minimized while possible adverse reactions are overrated.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"24413570","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Turton S, Nutt DJ, Carhart-Harris RL.
publication_date: 2013-12-31
doi: 10.2174/1874473708666150107120930
pubmed_id: 25563444
source_url: https://doi.org/10.2174/1874473708666150107120930
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Brain Imaging,Aging,Spirituality,Mystical Experience
study_type: Qualitative Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
A qualitative report on the subjective experience of intravenous psilocybin administered in an FMRI environment.

abstract:
BackgroundThis report documents the phenomenology of the subjective experiences of 15 healthy psychedelic experienced volunteers who were involved in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study that was designed to image the brain effects of intravenous psilocybin.MethodsThe participants underwent a semi-structured interview exploring the effects of psilocybin in the MRI scanner. These interviews were analysed by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The resultant data is ordered in a detailed matrix, and presented in this paper.ResultsNine broad categories of phenomenology were identified in the phenomenological analysis of the experience; perceptual changes including visual, auditory and somatosensory distortions, cognitive changes, changes in mood, effects of memory, spiritual or mystical type experiences, aspects relating to the scanner and research environment, comparisons with other experiences, the intensity and onset of effects, and individual interpretation of the experience.DiscussionThis article documents the phenomenology of psilocybin when given in a novel manner (intravenous injection) and setting (an MRI scanner). The findings of the analysis are consistent with previous published work regarding the subjective effects of psilocybin. There is much scope for further research investigating the phenomena identified in this paper.

keywords:
Brain, Humans, Hallucinogens, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Injections, Intravenous, Affect, Memory, Adult, Female, Male, Interviews as Topic, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"25563444","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psilocybin-occasioned mystical experiences in the treatment of tobacco addiction.
authors: Garcia-Romeu A, Griffiths RR, Johnson MW.
publication_date: 2013-12-31
doi: 10.2174/1874473708666150107121331
pubmed_id: 25563443
source_url: https://doi.org/10.2174/1874473708666150107121331
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Personality Change,Spirituality,Mystical Experience,Healthy Volunteers
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
Psilocybin-occasioned mystical experiences have been linked to persisting effects in healthy volunteers including positive changes in behavior, attitudes, and values, and increases in the personality domain of openness. In an open-label pilot-study of psilocybin-facilitated smoking addiction treatment, 15 smokers received 2 or 3 doses of psilocybin in the context of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for smoking cessation. Twelve of 15 participants (80%) demonstrated biologically verified smoking abstinence at 6-month follow-up. Participants who were abstinent at 6 months (n=12) were compared to participants still smoking at 6 months (n=3) on measures of subjective effects of psilocybin. Abstainers scored significantly higher on a measure of psilocybin-occasioned mystical experience. No significant differences in general intensity of drug effects were found between groups, suggesting that mystical-type subjective effects, rather than overall intensity of drug effects, were responsible for smoking cessation. Nine of 15 participants (60%) met criteria for "complete" mystical experience. Smoking cessation outcomes were significantly correlated with measures of mystical experience on session days, as well as retrospective ratings of personal meaning and spiritual significance of psilocybin sessions. These results suggest a mediating role of mystical experience in psychedelic-facilitated addiction treatment.

keywords:
Humans, Tobacco Use Disorder, Hallucinogens, Follow-Up Studies, Pilot Projects, Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Adult, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Psilocybin, Smoking Prevention, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"25563443","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: The Heffter Research Institute: past and hopeful future.
authors: Nichols DE.
publication_date: 2013-12-31
doi: 10.1080/02791072.2014.873688
pubmed_id: 24830182
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2014.873688
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,Addiction,OCD,End-of-Life Distress,Clinical Trial,Cancer Patients
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
This essay describes the founding of the Heffter Research Institute in 1993 and its development up to the present. The Institute is the only scientific research organization dedicated to scientific research into the medical value of psychedelics, and it has particularly focused on the use of psilocybin. The first clinical treatment study was of the value of psilocybin in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Next was a UCLA study of psilocybin to treat end-of-life distress in end-stage cancer patients. While that study was ongoing, a trial was started at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) to study the efficacy of psilocybin in treating anxiety and depression resulting from a cancer diagnosis. Following the successful completion of the UCLA project, a larger study was started at New York University, which is near completion. A pilot study of the value of psilocybin in treating alcoholism at the University of New Mexico also is nearing completion, with a larger two-site study being planned. Other studies underway involve the use of psilocybin in a smoking cessation program and a study of the effects of psilocybin in long-term meditators, both at JHU. The institute is now planning for a Phase 3 clinical trial of psilocybin to treat distress in end-stage cancer patients.

keywords:
Animals, Humans, Hallucinogens, Biomedical Research, Forecasting, History, 20th Century, History, 21st Century, Academies and Institutes, New Mexico

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"24830182","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Hendricks PS, Clark CB, Johnson MW, Fontaine KR, Cropsey KL
journal: Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
publication_date: 2013-12-31
doi: 10.1177/0269881113513851
pubmed_id: 24399338
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24399338/
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:40
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"24399338"}
title:
Hallucinogen use predicts reduced recidivism among substance-involved offenders under community corrections supervision.

abstract:
Hallucinogen-based interventions may benefit substance use populations, but contemporary data informing the impact of hallucinogens on addictive behavior are scarce. Given that many individuals in the criminal justice system engage in problematic patterns of substance use, hallucinogen treatments also may benefit criminal justice populations. However, the relationship between hallucinogen use and criminal recidivism is unknown. In this longitudinal study, we examined the relationship between naturalistic hallucinogen use and recidivism among individuals under community corrections supervision with a history of substance involvement (n=25,622). We found that hallucinogen use predicted a reduced likelihood of supervision failure (e.g. noncompliance with legal requirements including alcohol and other drug use) while controlling for an array of potential confounding factors (odds ratio (OR)=0.60 (0.46, 0.79)). Our results suggest that hallucinogens may promote alcohol and other drug abstinence and prosocial behavior in a population with high rates of recidivism.

keywords:
Hallucinogen, criminal justice, lysergic acid diethylamide, positive psychology, psilocybin, psychedelic, recidivism


authors: Winstock AR, Kaar S, Borschmann R.
publication_date: 2013-11-26
doi: 10.1177/0269881113513852
pubmed_id: 24284475
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881113513852
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Observational Study,Abuse Liability
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:54:14
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:07
title:
Dimethyltryptamine (DMT): prevalence, user characteristics and abuse liability in a large global sample.

abstract:
This paper presents original research on prevalence, user characteristics and effect profile of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a potent hallucinogenic which acts primarily through the serotonergic system. Data were obtained from the Global Drug Survey (an anonymous online survey of people, many of whom have used drugs) conducted between November and December 2012 with 22,289 responses. Lifetime prevalence of DMT use was 8.9% (n=1980) and past year prevalence use was 5.0% (n=1123). We explored the effect profile of DMT in 472 participants who identified DMT as the last new drug they had tried for the first time and compared it with ratings provided by other respondents on psilocybin (magic mushrooms), LSD and ketamine. DMT was most often smoked and offered a strong, intense, short-lived psychedelic high with relatively few negative effects or "come down". It had a larger proportion of new users compared with the other substances (24%), suggesting its popularity may increase. Overall, DMT seems to have a very desirable effect profile indicating a high abuse liability that maybe offset by a low urge to use more.

keywords:
Humans, Substance-Related Disorders, N,N-Dimethyltryptamine, Ketamine, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Prevalence, Behavior, Addictive, Adult, United States, Australia, Europe, Male, Drug Users, Young Adult, United Kingdom, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"24284475","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


