# publications

title: Psilocybin desynchronizes brain networks
journal: medRxiv
publication_date: 2023-08-23
doi: 10.1101/2023.08.22.23294131
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.08.22.23294131
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Neuroplasticity,Default Mode Network
study_type: Other
source_name: medRxiv
publication_status: preprint
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
authors:
Siegel JS, Subramanian S, Perry D, Kay B, Gordon E, Laumann T, Reneau R, Gratton C, Horan C, Metcalf N, Chacko R, Schweiger J, Wong D, Bender D, Padawer-Curry J, Raison C, Raichle M, Lenze EJ, Snyder AZ, Dosenbach NU, Nicol G.

abstract:
1 Summary The relationship between the acute effects of psychedelics and their persisting neurobiological and psychological effects is poorly understood. Here, we tracked brain changes with longitudinal precision functional mapping in healthy adults before, during, and for up to 3 weeks after oral psilocybin and methylphenidate (17 MRI visits per participant) and again 6+ months later. Psilocybin disrupted connectivity across cortical networks and subcortical structures, producing more than 3-fold greater acute changes in functional networks than methylphenidate. These changes were driven by desynchronization of brain activity across spatial scales (area, network, whole brain). Psilocybin-driven desynchronization was observed across association cortex but strongest in the default mode network (DMN), which is connected to the anterior hippocampus and thought to create our sense of self. Performing a perceptual task reduced psilocybin-induced network changes, suggesting a neurobiological basis for grounding, connecting with physical reality during psychedelic therapy. The acute brain effects of psilocybin are consistent with distortions of space-time and the self. Psilocybin induced persistent decrease in functional connectivity between the anterior hippocampus and cortex (and DMN in particular), lasting for weeks but normalizing after 6 months. Persistent suppression of hippocampal-DMN connectivity represents a candidate neuroanatomical and mechanistic correlate for psilocybin’s pro-plasticity and anti-depressant effects.

raw_json:
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title: Race and ethnicity moderate the associations between lifetime psilocybin use and crime arrests.
authors: Jones G, Al-Suwaidi M, Castro-Ramirez F, McGuire TC, Mair P, Nock MK.
publication_date: 2023-08-23
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1169692
pubmed_id: 37692301
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1169692
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Observational Study
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
abstract:
IntroductionPsilocybin use has been linked to lowered odds of crime-related outcomes across a host of observational studies. No studies have investigated how these associations may differ among those of different races and ethnicities.MethodsUsing a nationally-representative sample of 734,061 adults from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2002-2020), we investigated whether race and ethnicity moderate the associations between lifetime psilocybin use and four measures of crime arrests (property crime, assault, serious violence, and miscellaneous crimes).ResultsFirst, we replicated prior findings and demonstrated that psilocybin confers lowered odds of crime arrests for all four outcomes in question. Second, we demonstrated that race and ethnicity moderate the associations between lifetime psilocybin use and crime arrests for three of our four outcomes. Third, we examined the associations between psilocybin and crime arrests across different races and ethnicities (White, Black, Indigenous, Asian, Multiracial, and Hispanic participants). Psilocybin conferred lowered odds of at least one crime arrest outcome for all racial and ethnic groups except for Black and Hispanic participants.DiscussionFuture investigations should take an intersectional approach to studying the interrelationship of sociodemographic factors, psychedelic use, and crime, examine the structural factors (i.e., systemic racism) that may underlie these results, and investigate whether psychedelics can alleviate mental health disorders that contribute to cycles of recriminalization for communities of color.

raw_json:
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authors: Abrams SK, Rabinovitch BS, Zafar R, Aziz AS, Cherup NP, McMillan DW, Nielson JL, Lewis EC.
publication_date: 2023-08-21
doi: 10.1089/neur.2023.0022
pubmed_id: 37636336
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1089/neur.2023.0022
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Receptor Pharmacology,Review Article,Adverse Events
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Persons With Spinal Cord Injury Report Peripherally Dominant Serotonin-Like Syndrome After Use of Serotonergic Psychedelics.

abstract:
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) may treat various mental health conditions. Despite its promising therapeutic signal across mental health outcomes, less attention is paid on its potential to provide therapeutic benefits across complex medical situations within rehabilitation medicine. Persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) have a high prevalence of treatment-resistant mental health comorbidities that compound the extent of their physical disability. Reports from online discussion forums suggest that those living with SCI are using psychedelics, though the motivation for their use is unknown. These anecdotal reports describe a consistent phenomenon of neuromuscular and autonomic hypersensitivity to classical serotonergic psychedelics, such as psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Persons describe intense muscle spasms, sweating, and tremors, with an eventual return to baseline and no reports of worsening of their baseline neurological deficits. The discomfort experienced interferes with the subjective beneficial effects self-reported. This phenomenon has not been described previously in the academic literature. We aim to provide a descriptive review and explanatory theoretical framework hypothesizing this phenomenon as a peripherally dominant serotonin syndrome-like clinical picture-that should be considered as such when persons with SCI are exposed to classical psychedelics. Raising awareness of this syndrome may help our mechanistic understanding of serotonergic psychedelics and stimulate development of treatment protocols permitting persons with SCI to safely tolerate their adverse effects. As PAT transitions from research trials into accepted clinical and decriminalized use, efforts must be made from a harm reduction perspective to understand these adverse events, while also serving as an informed consent process aid if such therapeutic approaches are to be considered for use in persons living with SCI.

raw_json:
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authors: Zeifman RJ, Kettner H, Pagni BA, Mallard A, Roberts DE, Erritzoe D, Ross S, Carhart-Harris RL.
publication_date: 2023-08-21
doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-40856-5
pubmed_id: 37608057
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-40856-5
keywords: Humans, Methamphetamine, Hallucinogens, Prospective Studies, Fear, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Mystical Experience,Safety
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
title:
Co-use of MDMA with psilocybin/LSD may buffer against challenging experiences and enhance positive experiences.

abstract:
Psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) experiences can range from very positive to highly challenging (e.g., fear, grief, and paranoia). These challenging experiences contribute to hesitancy toward psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy among health care providers and patients. Co-use of 3,4-Methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA) with psilocybin/LSD anecdotally reduces challenging experiences and enhances positive experiences associated with psilocybin/LSD. However, limited research has investigated the acute effects of co-use of MDMA and psilocybin/LSD. In a prospective convenience sample (N = 698) of individuals with plans to use psilocybin/LSD, we examined whether co-use of MDMA with psilocybin/LSD (n = 27) is associated with differences in challenging or positive experiences. Challenging experiences were measured using the Challenging Experiences Questionnaire and positive experiences were measured using the Mystical Experience Questionnaire and single-item measures of self-compassion, compassion, love, and gratitude. Potentially confounding variables were identified and included as covariates. Relative to psilocybin/LSD alone, co-use of psilocybin/LSD with a self-reported low (but not medium-high) dose of MDMA was associated with significantly less intense total challenging experiences, grief, and fear, as well as increased self-compassion, love and gratitude. Co-use of psilocybin/LSD and MDMA was not associated with differences in mystical-type experiences or compassion. Findings suggest co-use of MDMA with psilocybin/LSD may buffer against some aspects of challenging experiences and enhance certain positive experiences. Limitations include use of a convenience sample, small sample size, and non-experimental design. Additional studies (including controlled dose-response studies) that examine the effects and safety of co-administering MDMA with psilocybin/LSD (in healthy controls and clinical samples) are warranted and may assist the development of personalized treatments.

raw_json:
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authors: Robinson GI, Li D, Wang B, Zahoruiko Y, Gerasymchuk M, Hudson D, Kovalchuk O, Kovalchuk I.
publication_date: 2023-08-14
doi: 10.3390/cimb45080427
pubmed_id: 37623246
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb45080427
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Receptor Pharmacology,In Vitro Study,Toxicity,Inflammation
study_type: In Vitro Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Serotonin Receptor and Transient Receptor Potential Channel Ligands in Human Small Intestinal Epithelial Cells.

abstract:
Intestinal inflammation and dysbiosis can lead to inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and systemic inflammation, affecting multiple organs. Developing novel anti-inflammatory therapeutics is crucial for preventing IBD progression. Serotonin receptor type 2A (5-HT2A) ligands, including psilocybin (Psi), 4-Acetoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (4-AcO-DMT), and ketanserin (Ket), along with transient receptor potential (TRP) channel ligands like capsaicin (Cap), curcumin (Cur), and eugenol (Eug), show promise as anti-inflammatory agents. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory effects of Psi, 4-AcO-DMT, Ket, Cap, Cur, and Eug on human small intestinal epithelial cells (HSEIC). HSEIC were exposed to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-γ for 24 h to induce an inflammatory response, followed by treatment with each compound at varying doses (0-800 μM) for 24 to 96 h. The cytotoxicity was assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and protein expression by Western blot (WB) analysis. As single treatments, Psi (40 μM), Cur (0.5 μM), and Eug (50 μM) significantly reduced COX-2 levels without cytotoxic effects. When combined, Psi (40 μM) and Cur (0.5 μM) exhibited synergy, resulting in a substantial decrease in COX-2 protein levels (-28× fold change), although the reduction in IL-6 was less pronounced (-1.6× fold change). Psi (20 μM) and Eug (25 μM) demonstrated the most favorable outcomes, with significant decreases in COX-2 (-19× fold change) and IL-6 (-10× fold change) protein levels. Moreover, the combination of Psi and Eug did not induce cytotoxic effects in vitro at any tested doses. This study is the first to explore the anti-inflammatory potential of psilocybin and 4-AcO-DMT in the intestines while highlighting the potential for synergy between the 5-HT2A and TRP channel ligands, specifically Psi and Eug, in alleviating the TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced inflammatory response in HSEIC. Further investigations should evaluate if the Psi and Eug combination has the therapeutic potential to treat IBD in vivo.

raw_json:
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title: Have Effective Antidepressants Finally Arrived? Developments in Major Depressive Disorder Therapy.
authors: Thase ME.
publication_date: 2023-08-13
doi: 10.4088/jcp.mulmdd3048sho
pubmed_id: 37585245
source_url: https://doi.org/10.4088/jcp.mulmdd3048sho
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,Mechanism of Action,Clinical Trial,Treatment-Resistant Depression
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
Among the greatest unmet needs in major depressive disorder (MDD) is a lack of effective pharmacotherapies for patients who do not respond to first- and second-line antidepressant medications. After decades of muted progress, optimism regarding the future of MDD therapy rose after scientists serendipitously uncovered the antidepressant effects of ketamine. The discovery of ketamine's antidepressant effects inspired the search for related newer medications, such as S-ketamine. Orally administered NMDA antagonists have also demonstrated considerable promise in recently concluded, late-stage clinical trials. Researchers evaluating an extended-release combination of bupropion (105 mg) and dextromethorphan (45 mg) found that recipients experienced a decline in MADRS total score. Neurosteroids, such as brexanolone and zuranolone, appear to represent another class of antidepressants. These drugs appear to modulate GABA neurotransmission, which has long been known to be a pathway for drugs that are used to treat insomnia and anxiety. After nearly 50 years of legal injunctions against their use, psychedelic drugs have attracted interest among researchers seeking alternative antidepressants. Psilocybin, derived from mushrooms, remains under investigation for its benefits in treatment-resistant depression.

keywords:
Humans, Ketamine, Hallucinogens, Antidepressive Agents, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Major Depressive Disorder

raw_json:
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title: Transient Elevation of Plasma Glucocorticoids Supports Psilocybin-Induced Anxiolysis in Mice.
authors: Jones NT, Zahid Z, Grady SM, Sultan ZW, Zheng Z, Razidlo J, Banks MI, Wenthur CJ.
publication_date: 2023-08-01
doi: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00123
pubmed_id: 37588757
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsptsci.3c00123
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Anxiety,Receptor Pharmacology,Animal Study
study_type: Animal Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
abstract:
While correlations between drug-induced cortisol elevation, self-reported anxiety, and treatment outcomes have been reported for human studies during psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, the mechanistic relationship between psychedelic-associated alterations in plasma glucocorticoid responses and the time course of anxious responsiveness remains unclear. Using rodents, both time-bound manipulation of glucocorticoid concentrations and assessment of anxiety-like behaviors can be achieved. Here, 3 mg/kg IP psilocybin was found to have anxiolytic-like effects in C57BL/6 male mice at 4 h after treatment. These effects were not altered by pretreatment with a 5-HT2A antagonist but were blunted by pretreatment with a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist or suppression of psilocybin-induced corticosterone elevations. Anxiolytic-like effects were also observed at 4 h following treatment with the nonpsychedelic 5-HT2A agonist lisuride at a dose causing a similar increase in plasma glucocorticoids as that seen with psilocybin, as well as following stress-induced (via repeated injection) glucocorticoid release alone. Psilocybin's anxiolytic-like effects persisted at 7 days following administration. The long-term anxiolytic effects of psilocybin were lost when psilocybin was administered to animals with ongoing chronic elevations in plasma corticosterone concentrations. Overall, these experiments indicate that acute, resolvable psilocybin-induced glucocorticoid release drives the postacute anxiolytic-like effects of psilocybin in mice and that its long-term anxiolytic-like effects can be abolished in the presence of chronically elevated plasma glucocorticoid elevations.

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authors: Bonny-Noach H, Shapira B, Baumol P, Tadmor N, Rosca P, Shoshan S, Harel-Fisch Y, Caduri A.
publication_date: 2023-08-08
doi: 10.1186/s12954-023-00845-3
pubmed_id: 37559046
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00845-3
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Observational Study
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
Substance use, harm reduction attitudes and behaviors among attendees of nature rave parties in Israel.

abstract:
BackgroundFew studies have analyzed harm reduction behaviors and attitudes among rave party attendees. Since the late 1980s, there has been a large Israeli rave scene, also known as 'Nature Parties'. However, only a few studies have been conducted among nature party attendees and almost all of them are from a qualitative perspective. This study's aim was to fill the gap and conduct quantitative research to investigate the patterns of substance use, harm reduction attitudes and behaviors among Israeli nature rave party attendees.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey recruited 1,206 people who reported having attended nature rave parties. All of the participants were aged 18-60 years (M = 29.9; SD = 7.4), and 770 (64%) were male.ResultsThe most common illicit substances used at Israeli nature rave parties in the past year were cannabis (62.2%), followed by LSD (41.4%), MDMA (31.7%), mushrooms/psilocybin (23.9%), ketamine (19.6%) and cocaine (17.2%). A significant but weak association was found between harm reduction behaviors and attitudes toward harm reduction interventions (r =.26, p

keywords:
Humans, Substance-Related Disorders, N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, Cross-Sectional Studies, Attitude, Harm Reduction, Israel, Female, Male, Illicit Drugs

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37559046","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Emerging Perspectives in Addiction Psychiatry.
authors: Jordan A.
publication_date: 2023-08-08
doi: 10.4088/jcp. muladx3048sho
pubmed_id: 37555675
source_url: https://doi.org/10.4088/jcp. muladx3048sho
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,Addiction
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
Despite their legality, alcohol and tobacco both have a well-documented potential for misuse and elevate users' likelihood for disease. Dependence on alcohol also contributes to opioid overdoses, which claim 130 lives every day. Although awareness of the opioid epidemic is rising broadly among health care professionals, a majority of Americans still do not receive adequate, FDA-approved medications for their addiction. Effective medications are available for alcohol use disorder and medications for opioid use disorder have validated benefits that justify their use. In recent years, psychedelic compounds have attracted interest among scientists for their potential to alter mood and cognition in beneficial manners. Already, some evidence supports the use of psilocybin in alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety; psychedelic compounds also have potential as alcohol use disorder treatments and may help reduce symptoms tied to opioid withdrawal. Because substance use disorders can culminate in death, a comprehensive, integrated, public health approach to the treatment of people with substance use disorders is essential.

keywords:
Humans, Alcoholism, Opioid-Related Disorders, Ethanol, Hallucinogens, Psilocybin, Addiction Medicine

raw_json:
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title: Psychedelic drugs in the treatment of psychiatric disorders.
authors: Ibrahim IB, Videbech P, Straszek SPV.
publication_date: 2023-07-31
pubmed_id: 37615227
source_url: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/37615227
keywords: Humans, Ketamine, Hallucinogens, Mental Disorders, Psilocybin, Escitalopram
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:03
abstract:
This review aims at RCT's of psychedelics used in the treatment of depression and PTSD. Psilocybin has shown an antidepressant effect in cancer patients that was sustained at 6- and 12-months follow-up. The effect of psilocybin was comparable to escitalopram in one study. Ketamine has shown effect for the treatment of resistant depression. Phase 2 and 3 trials have shown the effect of MDMA on PTSD. No serious adverse events were reported in controlled settings, but larger studies are needed to establish safety and long-term effects.

topic_tags:
Depression,PTSD,Clinical Trial,Randomized Controlled Trial,Review Article,Cancer Patients,Safety,Adverse Events

raw_json:
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authors: Pilozzi A, Foster S, Mischoulon D, Fava M, Huang X
journal: International journal of molecular sciences
publication_date: 2023-08-06
doi: 10.3390/ijms241512513
pubmed_id: 37569888
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37569888/
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, DMT, LSD, dementia, depression, ketamine, mescaline, psilocybin, psychedelics
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Microdosing,Review Article,Animal Study
study_type: Review Article
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"37569888"}
title:
A Brief Review on the Potential of Psychedelics for Treating Alzheimer's Disease and Related Depression.

abstract:
Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of senile dementia, is poised to place an even greater societal and healthcare burden as the population ages. With few treatment options for the symptomatic relief of the disease and its unknown etiopathology, more research into AD is urgently needed. Psychedelic drugs target AD-related psychological pathology and symptoms such as depression. Using microdosing, psychedelic drugs may prove to help combat this devastating disease by eliciting psychiatric benefits via acting through various mechanisms of action such as serotonin and dopamine pathways. Herein, we review the studied benefits of a few psychedelic compounds that may show promise in treating AD and attenuating its related depressive symptoms. We used the listed keywords to search through PubMed for relevant preclinical, clinical research, and review articles. The putative mechanism of action (MOA) for psychedelics is that they act mainly as serotonin receptor agonists and induce potential beneficial effects for treating AD and related depression.


title: Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for cancer-related anxiety and depression.
authors: Yaniv D, Ramondetta LM, Cohen L, Amit M.
publication_date: 2023-08-06
doi: 10.1136/ijgc-2023-004659
pubmed_id: 37463745
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1136/ijgc-2023-004659
keywords: Humans, Neoplasms, Depression, Anxiety, Psychotherapy, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,Cancer Patients
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
raw_json:
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authors: Boehnke KF, Cox K, Weston C, Herberholz M, Glynos N, Kolbman N, Fields CW, Barron J, Kruger DJ
journal: Frontiers in psychiatry
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1224551
pubmed_id: 37599880
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37599880/
keywords: antidepressants, mental health, primary care physician, psilocybin, psychedelics, psychiatrist
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Observational Study,Safety,Adverse Events,Drug Interactions
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"37599880"}
title:
Slouching towards engagement: interactions between people using psychedelics naturalistically and their healthcare providers.

abstract:
There is substantial public interest in psychedelics as potential treatments for psychiatric conditions. However, most psychedelics are criminalized under federal law in the USA, so it is unclear whether use occurs with clinical support. Our objective was to assess whether naturalistic psychedelic use occurs with clinical support, interactions between those using psychedelics and healthcare providers (psychiatrist, therapist, or primary physicians), and use characteristics.
We conducted an online, anonymous, confidential, cross-sectional survey of adults reporting psychedelic use ( = 1221) through a psychedelics advocacy event and social media between 9/18/2022 and 11/5/2022. We assessed participant disclosure of psychedelic use with their psychiatric care provider (PsyCP) and/or primary care provider (PCP), desire for provider support, access to support, and rate of taking prescribed psychoactive medications alongside psychedelics.
Among participants with such care providers, 22% disclosed psychedelic use to their PCP vs. 58% to their PsyCP. Participants were less confident in PCP vs. PsyCP ability to integrate psychedelics into treatment. Common reasons for nondisclosure included stigma, inadequate provider knowledge, and legal concerns. 23% reported taking psychedelics on the same day as potentially interacting psychiatric medications (e.g., anxiolytics, antidepressants). Despite 81% of participants desiring therapist support during psychedelic experiences, only 15% had received such support.
Our results show that psychedelic use is generally disconnected from primary and psychiatric clinical care. This disconnection may result in safety issues, including inadequate screening for contraindicated conditions, lack of support during emergent adverse events, and drug interactions. Enhanced clinical education and orienting drug policy towards known harms and benefits of psychedelics is needed.


title: Psilocybin for the treatment of anorexia nervosa.
authors: Majić T, Ehrlich S.
publication_date: 2023-07-31
doi: 10.1038/s41591-023-02458-6
pubmed_id: 37488290
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02458-6
keywords: Humans, Anorexia Nervosa, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Eating Disorders
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37488290","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


publication_date: 2023-06-25
doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106837
pubmed_id: 37379962
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106837
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Neuroplasticity,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 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
title:
Molecular mechanisms of rapid-acting antidepressants: New perspectives for developing antidepressants.

authors:
Chen T, Cheng L, Ma J, Yuan J, Pi C, Xiong L, Chen J, Liu H, Tang J, Zhong Y, Zhang X, Liu Z, Zuo Y, Shen H, Wei Y, Zhao L.

abstract:
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a chronic relapsing psychiatric disorder. Conventional antidepressants usually require several weeks of continuous administration to exert clinically significant therapeutic effects, while about two-thirds of the patients are prone to relapse of symptoms or are completely ineffective in antidepressant treatment. The recent success of the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonist ketamine as a rapid-acting antidepressant has propelled extensive research on the action mechanism of antidepressants, especially in relation to its role in synaptic targets. Studies have revealed that the mechanism of antidepressant action of ketamine is not limited to antagonism of postsynaptic NMDA receptors or GABA interneurons. Ketamine produces powerful and rapid antidepressant effects by affecting α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid receptors, adenosine A1 receptors, and the L-type calcium channels, among others in the synapse. More interestingly, the 5-HT2A receptor agonist psilocybin has demonstrated potential for rapid antidepressant effects in depressed mouse models and clinical studies. This article focuses on a review of new pharmacological target studies of emerging rapid-acting antidepressant drugs such as ketamine and hallucinogens (e.g., psilocybin) and briefly discusses the possible strategies for new targets of antidepressants, with a view to shed light on the direction of future antidepressant research.

keywords:
Animals, Mice, Disease Models, Animal, Ketamine, Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate, Antidepressive Agents, Psilocybin, Major Depressive Disorder

raw_json:
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authors: Flower JE, Gibbons WJ, Adams AM, Wang X, Broude CN, Jones JA.
publication_date: 2023-06-19
doi: 10.1002/bit.28480
pubmed_id: 37337917
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.28480
keywords: Humans, Escherichia coli, Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System, Pharmaceutical Preparations, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Mechanism of Action
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
title:
"Biosynthesis of psilocybin and its nonnatural derivatives by a promiscuous psilocybin synthesis pathway in Escherichia coli".

abstract:
Traditional psychedelics are undergoing a transformation from recreational drugs, to promising pharmaceutical drug candidates with the potential to provide an alternative treatment option for individuals struggling with mental illness. Sustainable and economic production methods are thus needed to facilitate enhanced study of these drug candidates to support future clinical efforts. Here, we expand upon current bacterial psilocybin biosynthesis by incorporating the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, PsiH, to enable the de novo production of psilocybin as well as the biosynthesis of 13 psilocybin derivatives. The substrate promiscuity of the psilocybin biosynthesis pathway was comprehensively probed by using a library of 49 single-substituted indole derivatives, providing biophysical insights to this understudied metabolic pathway and opening the door to the in vivo biological synthesis of a library of previously unstudied pharmaceutical drug candidates.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37337917","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psychedelic medicines for end-of-life care: Pipeline clinical trial review 2022.
authors: Jing X, Hoeh NR, Menkes DB.
publication_date: 2023-07-31
doi: 10.1017/s147895152300069x
pubmed_id: 37334486
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1017/s147895152300069x
keywords: Humans, Death, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Terminal Care, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
ObjectivesPeople with terminal illnesses often experience psychological distress and associated disability. Recent clinical trial evidence has stimulated interest in the therapeutic use of psychedelics at end of life. Much uncertainty remains, however, mainly due to methodological difficulties that beset existing trials. We conducted a scoping review of pipeline clinical trials of psychedelic treatment for depression, anxiety, and existential distress at end of life.MethodsProposed, registered, and ongoing trials were identified from 2 electronic databases (ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform). Recent reviews and both commercial and non-profit organization websites were used to identify additional unregistered trials.ResultsIn total, 25 studies were eligible, including 13 randomized controlled trials and 12 open-label trials. Three trials made attempts beyond randomization to assess expectancy and blinding effectiveness. Investigational drugs included ketamine (n = 11), psilocybin (n = 10), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (n = 2), and lysergic acid diethylamide (n = 2). Three trials involved microdosing, and fifteen trials incorporated psychotherapy.Significance of resultsA variety of onging or upcoming clinical trials are expected to usefully extend evidence regarding psychedelic-assisted group therapy and microdosing in the end-of-life setting. Still needed are head-to-head comparisons of different psychedelics to identify those best suited to specific indications and clinical populations. More extensive and rigorous studies are also necessary to better control expectancy, confirm therapeutic findings and establish safety data to guide the clinical application of these novel therapies.

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,End-of-Life Distress,Microdosing,Clinical Trial,Randomized Controlled Trial,Review Article,Safety

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37334486","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


publication_date: 2023-06-10
doi: 10.1002/cpt.2958
pubmed_id: 37253161
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1002/cpt.2958
keywords: Humans, Dimethoxyphenylethylamine, Hallucinogens, Affect, Cognition, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Pharmacology,Consciousness,Emotional Processing,Observational Study,Animal Study
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
title:
Assessment of the Acute Effects of 2C-B vs. Psilocybin on Subjective Experience, Mood, and Cognition.

authors:
Mallaroni P, Mason NL, Reckweg JT, Paci R, Ritscher S, Toennes SW, Theunissen EL, Kuypers KPC, Ramaekers JG.

abstract:
2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromophenethylamine (2C-B) is a hallucinogenic phenethylamine derived from mescaline. Observational and preclinical data have suggested it to be capable of producing both subjective and emotional effects on par with other classical psychedelics and entactogens. Whereas it is the most prevalently used novel serotonergic hallucinogen to date, it's acute effects and distinctions from classical progenitors have yet to be characterized in a controlled study. We assessed for the first time the immediate acute subjective, cognitive, and cardiovascular effects of 2C-B (20 mg) in comparison to psilocybin (15 mg) and placebo in a within-subjects, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 22 healthy psychedelic-experienced participants. 2C-B elicited alterations of waking consciousness of a psychedelic nature, with dysphoria, subjective impairment, auditory alterations, and affective elements of ego dissolution largest under psilocybin. Participants demonstrated equivalent psychomotor slowing and spatial memory impairments under either compound compared with placebo, as indexed by the Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Tower of London, and Spatial Memory Task. Neither compound produced empathogenic effects on the Multifaceted Empathy Test. 2C-B induced transient pressor effects to a similar degree as psilocybin. The duration of self-reported effects of 2C-B was shorter than that of psilocybin, largely resolving within 6 hours. Present findings support the categorization of 2C-B as a psychedelic of moderate experiential depth at doses given. Tailored dose-effect studies are needed to discern the pharmacokinetic dependency of 2C-B's experiential overlaps.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37253161","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Zeifman RJ, Wagner AC, Monson CM, Carhart-Harris RL.
publication_date: 2023-05-02
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.105
pubmed_id: 37146908
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.105
keywords: Humans, Treatment Outcome, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Psilocybin, Major Depressive Disorder
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,Wellbeing,Randomized Controlled Trial
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
title:
How does psilocybin therapy work? An exploration of experiential avoidance as a putative mechanism of change.

abstract:
BackgroundPsilocybin therapy is receiving attention as a mental health intervention with transdiagnostic potential. In line with psychotherapeutic research, qualitative research has highlighted the role of reductions in experiential avoidance (and increases in connectedness) within psilocybin therapy. However, no quantitative research has examined experiential avoidance as a mechanism underlying psilocybin therapy's therapeutic effects.MethodData was used from a double-blind randomized controlled trial that compared psilocybin therapy (two 25 mg psilocybin session plus daily placebo for six weeks) with escitalopram (two 1 mg psilocybin sessions plus 10-20 mg daily escitalopram for six weeks) among individuals with major depressive disorder (N = 59). All participants received psychological support. Experiential avoidance, connectedness, and treatment outcomes were measured at pre-treatment and at a 6 week primary endpoint. Acute psilocybin experiences and psychological insight were also measured.ResultsWith psilocybin therapy, but not escitalopram, improvements in mental health outcomes (i.e., well-being, depression severity, suicidal ideation, and trait anxiety) occurred via reductions in experiential avoidance. Exploratory analyses suggested that improvements in mental health (except for suicidal ideation) via reduction in experiential avoidance were serially mediated through increases in connectedness. Additionally, experiences of ego dissolution and psychological insight predicted reductions in experiential avoidance following psilocybin therapy.LimitationsDifficulties inferring temporal causality, maintaining blindness to condition, and reliance upon self-report.ConclusionsThese results provide support for the role of reduced experiential avoidance as a putative mechanism underlying psilocybin therapy's positive therapeutic outcomes. The present findings may help to tailor, refine, and optimize psilocybin therapy and its delivery.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37146908","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: 5-MeO-DMT modifies innate behaviors and promotes structural neural plasticity in mice.
publication_date: 2023-04-03
doi: 10.1038/s41386-023-01572-w
pubmed_id: 37015972
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-023-01572-w
keywords: Animals, Mice, Methoxydimethyltryptamines, Hallucinogens, Instinct, Mental Disorders, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,Neuroplasticity,Mechanism of Action,Animal Study
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
authors:
Jefferson SJ, Gregg I, Dibbs M, Liao C, Wu H, Davoudian PA, Woodburn SC, Wehrle PH, Sprouse JS, Sherwood AM, Kaye AP, Pittenger C, Kwan AC.

abstract:
Serotonergic psychedelics are gaining increasing interest as potential therapeutics for a range of mental illnesses. Compounds with short-lived subjective effects may be clinically useful because dosing time would be reduced, which may improve patient access. One short-acting psychedelic is 5-MeO-DMT, which has been associated with improvement in depression and anxiety symptoms in early phase clinical studies. However, relatively little is known about the behavioral and neural mechanisms of 5-MeO-DMT, particularly the durability of its long-term effects. Here we characterized the effects of 5-MeO-DMT on innate behaviors and dendritic architecture in mice. We showed that 5-MeO-DMT induces a dose-dependent increase in head-twitch response that is shorter in duration than that induced by psilocybin at all doses tested. 5-MeO-DMT also substantially suppresses social ultrasonic vocalizations produced during mating behavior. 5-MeO-DMT produces long-lasting increases in dendritic spine density in the mouse medial frontal cortex that are driven by an elevated rate of spine formation. However, unlike psilocybin, 5-MeO-DMT did not affect the size of dendritic spines. These data provide insights into the behavioral and neural consequences underlying the action of 5-MeO-DMT and highlight similarities and differences with those of psilocybin.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37015972","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Are psychedelic medicines the reset for chronic pain? Preliminary findings and research needs.
publication_date: 2023-04-01
doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109528
pubmed_id: 37015315
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109528
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
authors:
Zia FZ, Baumann MH, Belouin SJ, Dworkin RH, Ghauri MH, Hendricks PS, Henningfield JE, Lanier RK, Ross S, Berger A.

abstract:
Chronic pain is a leading cause of disability, reduced productivity, healthcare seeking behavior, and a contributor to opioid overdose in the United States. For many people, pain can be satisfactorily managed by existing medicines and comprehensive psychosocial treatments. For others, available treatments are either ineffective or not acceptable, due to side effects and concerns about risks. Preliminary evidence suggests that some psychedelics may be effective for certain types of pain and/or improved quality of life with increased functionality and reduced disability and distress in people whose pain may never be completely relieved. Efficacy in these quality-of-life related outcomes would be consistent with the 'reset in thinking' about chronic pain management being increasingly called for as a more realistic goal for some people as compared to complete elimination of pain. This commentary summarizes the rationale for conducting more basic research and clinical trials to further explore the potential for psychedelics in chronic pain management. Additionally, if shown to be effective, to then determine whether the effects of psychedelics are primarily due to direct antinociceptive or anti-inflammatory mechanisms, or via increased tolerability, acceptance, and sense of spirituality, that appear to at least partially mediate the therapeutic effects of psychedelics observed in psychiatric disorders such as major depression. This commentary represents a collaboration of clinical and more basic scientists examining these issues and developing recommendations for research ranging from neuropharmacology to the biopsychosocial treatment factors that appear to be as important in pain management as in depression and other disorders in which psychedelic medicines are under development. This article is part of the Special Issue on "National Institutes of Health Psilocybin Research Speaker Series".

keywords:
Humans, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Quality of Life, United States, Chronic Pain, Psilocybin, Major Depressive Disorder

topic_tags:
Depression,Addiction,Chronic Pain,Pharmacology,Mechanism of Action,Spirituality,Clinical Trial,Safety,Adverse Events,Inflammation

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37015315","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Experiences of psilocybin treatment for clinical conditions: A qualitative meta-synthesis.
authors: Crowe M, Manuel J, Carlyle D, Lacey C.
publication_date: 2023-02-12
doi: 10.1111/inm.13127
pubmed_id: 36779424
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.13127
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Addiction,Review Article
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
abstract:
There is increasing clinical interest in the use of psilocybin. There is emerging evidence of the efficacy of psilocybin for the treatment of a range of clinical conditions. Mental health nurses have a unique set of skills for caring for people who are hallucinating. To expand these skills to meet the developing clinical interest in the therapeutic use of psilocybin, it is helpful to understand the experience from the perspective of the person being treated with psilocybin. A qualitative meta-synthesis was conducted to examine how those with psilocybin described their experiences to identify whether its effects are similar across different health conditions. Ten studies were included in the review. The health conditions studied were cancer, depression, HIV, substance use disorder, smoking cessation and trauma. The synthesis of findings identified three themes that were common across the studies despite the health condition: acceptance, connection and transformation. The review provides helpful insights into how people experience psilocybin and its effects on their health condition.

keywords:
Humans, Substance-Related Disorders, Hallucinogens, Smoking Cessation, Delivery of Health Care, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36779424","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psilocybin in neuropsychiatry: a review of its pharmacology, safety, and efficacy.
authors: Dodd S, Norman TR, Eyre HA, Stahl SM, Phillips A, Carvalho AF, Berk M.
publication_date: 2022-07-10
doi: 10.1017/s1092852922000888
pubmed_id: 35811423
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1017/s1092852922000888
keywords: Humans, Hallucinogens, Mental Disorders, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,Pharmacology,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Review Article,Safety
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:00
abstract:
Psilocybin is a tryptamine alkaloid found in some mushrooms, especially those of the genus Psilocybe. Psilocybin has four metabolites including the pharmacologically active primary metabolite psilocin, which readily enters the systemic circulation. The psychoactive effects of psilocin are believed to arise due to the partial agonist effects at the 5HT2A receptor. Psilocin also binds to various other receptor subtypes although the actions of psilocin at other receptors are not fully explored. Psilocybin administered at doses sufficient to cause hallucinogenic experiences has been trialed for addictive disorders, anxiety and depression. This review investigates studies of psilocybin and psilocin and assesses the potential for use of psilocybin and a treatment agent in neuropsychiatry. The potential for harm is also assessed, which may limit the use of psilocybin as a pharmacotherapy. Careful evaluation of the number needed to harm vs the number needed to treat will ultimately justify the potential clinical use of psilocybin. This field needs a responsible pathway forward.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"35811423","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


publication_date: 2023-07-24
doi: 10.1192/bjo.2023.535
pubmed_id: 37489299
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2023.535
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
title:
Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression without psychedelic effects: study protocol for a 4-week, double-blind, proof-of-concept randomised controlled trial.

authors:
Husain MI, Blumberger DM, Castle DJ, Ledwos N, Fellows E, Jones BDM, Ortiz A, Kloiber S, Wang W, Rosenblat JD, Mulsant BH.

abstract:
BackgroundRandomised controlled trials (RCTs) of psilocybin have reported large antidepressant effects in adults with major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Given psilocybin's psychedelic effects, all published studies have included psychological support. These effects depend on serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptor activation, which can be blocked by 5-HT2A receptor antagonists like ketanserin or risperidone. In an animal model of depression, ketanserin followed by psilocybin had similar symptomatic effects as psilocybin alone.AimsTo conduct a proof-of-concept RCT to (a) establish feasibility and tolerability of combining psilocybin and risperidone in adults with TRD, (b) show that this combination blocks the psychedelic effects of psilocybin and (c) provide pilot data on the antidepressant effect of this combination (compared with psilocybin alone).MethodIn a 4-week, three-arm, 'double dummy' trial, 60 adults with TRD will be randomised to psilocybin 25 mg plus risperidone 1 mg, psilocybin 25 mg plus placebo, or placebo plus risperidone 1 mg. All participants will receive 12 h of manualised psychotherapy. Measures of feasibility will include recruitment and retention rates; tolerability and safety will be assessed by rates of drop-out attributed to adverse events and rates of serious adverse events. The 5-Dimensional Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale will be a secondary outcome measure.ResultsThis trial will advance the understanding of psilocybin's mechanism of antidepressant action.ConclusionsThis line of research could increase acceptability and access to psilocybin as a novel treatment for TRD without the need for a psychedelic experience and continuous monitoring.

topic_tags:
Depression,Receptor Pharmacology,Consciousness,Randomized Controlled Trial,Animal Study,Treatment-Resistant Depression,Safety,Adverse Events

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37489299","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Rudzki S.
publication_date: 2022-04-20
doi: 10.1093/milmed/usac095
pubmed_id: 35446412
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usac095
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
Is PTSD an Evolutionary Survival Adaptation Initiated by Unrestrained Cytokine Signaling and Maintained by Epigenetic Change?

abstract:
IntroductionTreatment outcomes for PTSD with current psychological therapies are poor, with very few patients achieving sustained symptom remission. A number of authors have identified physiological and immune disturbances in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) patients, but there is no unifying hypothesis that explains the myriad features of the disorder.Materials and methodsThe medical literature was reviewed over a 6-year period primarily using the medical database PUBMED.ResultsThe literature contains numerous papers that have identified a range of physiological and immune dysfunction in association with PTSD. This paper proposes that unrestrained cytokine signaling induces epigenetic changes that promote an evolutionary survival adaptation, which maintains a defensive PTSD phenotype. The brain can associate immune signaling with past threat and initiate a defensive behavioral response. The sympathetic nervous system is pro-inflammatory, while the parasympathetic nervous system is anti-inflammatory. Prolonged cholinergic withdrawal will promote a chronic inflammatory state. The innate immune cytokine IL-1β has pleiotropic properties and can regulate autonomic, glucocorticoid, and glutamate receptor functions, sleep, memory, and epigenetic enzymes. Changes in epigenetic enzyme activity can potentially alter phenotype and induce an adaptation. Levels of IL-1β correlate with severity and duration of PTSD and PTSD can be prevented by bolus administration of hydrocortisone in acute sepsis, consistent with unrestrained inflammation being a risk factor for PTSD. The nervous and immune systems engage in crosstalk, governed by common receptors. The benefits of currently used psychiatric medication may arise from immune, as well as synaptic, modulation. The psychedelic drugs (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), psilocybin, and ketamine) have potent immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects on the adaptive immune system, which may contribute to their reported benefit in PTSD. There may be distinct PTSD phenotypes induced by innate and adaptive cytokine signaling.ConclusionIn order for an organism to survive, it must adapt to its environment. Cytokines signal danger to the brain and can induce epigenetic changes that result in a persistent defensive phenotype. PTSD may be the price individuals pay for the genomic flexibility that promotes adaptation and survival.

topic_tags:
PTSD,Neuroplasticity,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Epigenetics,Review Article,Safety,Genomics,Inflammation,Immune Function

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"35446412","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Increased low-frequency brain responses to music after psilocybin therapy for depression.
authors: Wall MB, Lam C, Ertl N, Kaelen M, Roseman L, Nutt DJ, Carhart-Harris RL.
publication_date: 2023-04-22
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.081
pubmed_id: 37094657
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.081
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Brain Imaging,Aging,Emotional Processing,Treatment-Resistant Depression
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
abstract:
BackgroundPsychedelic-assisted psychotherapy with psilocybin is an emerging therapy with great promise for depression, and modern psychedelic therapy (PT) methods incorporate music as a key element. Music is an effective emotional/hedonic stimulus that could also be useful in assessing changes in emotional responsiveness following PT.MethodsBrain responses to music were assessed before and after PT using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and ALFF (Amplitude of Low Frequency Fluctuations) analysis methods. Nineteen patients with treatment-resistant depression underwent two treatment sessions involving administration of psilocybin, with MRI data acquired one week prior and the day after completion of psilocybin dosing sessions.ResultsComparison of music-listening and resting-state scans revealed significantly greater ALFF in bilateral superior temporal cortex for the post-treatment music scan, and in the right ventral occipital lobe for the post-treatment resting-state scan. ROI analyses of these clusters revealed a significant effect of treatment in the superior temporal lobe for the music scan only. Voxelwise comparison of treatment effects showed relative increases for the music scan in the bilateral superior temporal lobes and supramarginal gyrus, and relative decreases in the medial frontal lobes for the resting-state scan. ALFF in these music-related clusters was significantly correlated with intensity of subjective effects felt during the dosing sessions.LimitationsOpen-label trial. Relatively small sample size.ConclusionsThese data suggest an effect of PT on the brain's response to music, implying an elevated responsiveness to music after psilocybin therapy that was related to subjective drug effects felt during dosing.

keywords:
Brain, Humans, Hallucinogens, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Brain Mapping, Depression, Music, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37094657","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Więckiewicz G, Stokłosa I, Stokłosa M, Więckiewicz W, Gorczyca P, Gondek TM.
publication_date: 2023-07-10
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1184023
pubmed_id: 37496681
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1184023
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Psychoactive substance use in patients diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: an exploratory study.

abstract:
IntroductionAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was originally treated as a neurodevelopmental disorder that occurs mainly in children and tends to diminish or disappear with age, but we now know that symptoms persist into adulthood in over 50% of ADHD patients. Undiagnosed individuals often turn to psychoactive substance to minimize the negative aspects of functioning and improve quality of life.MethodsThe study was conducted online using random sampling through a Facebook group administered by physicians and targeted to patients diagnosed with ADHD. The study was naturalistic and exploratory, therefore no hypothesis was made. 438 correctly completed questionnaires were received. Analysis of the results showed that people with ADHD turn to psychoactive substances relatively frequently.ResultsThe most commonly used stimulants include alcohol, marijuana, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), amphetamine/methamphetamine, and psilocybin. In the study population, methylphenidate is the most commonly used drug among patients. After treatment with psychostimulants, the majority of respondents note a decrease in symptoms of hyperactivity disorder, especially in male patients.ConclusionIt is necessary to perform proper diagnostics and actively look for ADHD symptoms in patients who tend to use psychoactive substances.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37496681","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Australia's approval of MDMA and psilocybin for PTSD and depression is premature, say critics.
authors: Nogrady B.
publication_date: 2023-07-10
doi: 10.1136/bmj.p1599
pubmed_id: 37433614
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.p1599
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,PTSD
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
keywords:
Humans, N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, Depression, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Australia, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37433614","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psychedelic Experiences: Phenomenology, Therapeutic Potentials and Explanatory Models
authors: Chernoff T, Kliger B, Venturini DH.
publication_date: 2023-07-09
doi: 10.53680/vertex.v34i160.463
pubmed_id: 37562384
source_url: https://doi.org/10.53680/vertex.v34i160.463
keywords: Hallucinogens, Retrospective Studies
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Systematic Review
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
Traditional psychedelics, such as LSD, psilocybin, or DMT, are psychoactive compounds that exert their effects mainly through agonism over serotonergic receptors. In appropriate doses and contexts, they produce profound changes in the subjective experience, configuring altered states of consciousness that, upon reaching a critical point, involve the appearance of phenomena of mystical, transcendental, or ego dissolution experiences. These events are associated with diverse therapeutic effects in several mental conditions. Psychedelics are safe substances, with minimal risk of serious or long-lasting adverse effects and without addictive potential. Current evidence comes from systematic reviews and meta-analyses based on phase II clinical studies, with small groups of subjects, strict exclusion criteria, and difficulties in applying the double-blind methodology. Worldwide there is a growing number of clinical trials, which seek to promote the approval of psychedelic-assisted therapies as therapeutic tools in the coming years. In this bibliographic review, we will address the phenomenological characteristics of the psychedelic experience, its potential therapeutic uses, and the mechanisms that underlie them.

topic_tags:
Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Consciousness,Mystical Experience,Clinical Trial,Systematic Review,Review Article,Safety

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37562384","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Altered states of leadership: mindfulness meditation, psychedelic use, and leadership development.
authors: Simonsson O, Stenfors CUD, Goldberg SB, Hendricks PS, Osika W
journal: Frontiers in psychology
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1151626
pubmed_id: 37476092
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37476092/
keywords: leaders, leadership, meditation, mindfulness, psilocybin, psychedelics
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Qualitative Study
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"37476092"}
abstract:
Previous research suggests that mindfulness meditation and psychedelic substances show promise as mental health interventions, but relatively little remains known about their potential impact on leadership outcomes.
This study aimed to investigate if and how mindfulness meditation and psychedelic use may impact leadership among respondents with a management position as their primary role at work.
Using samples representative of the US and UK adult populations with regard to sex, age, and ethnicity, this study used quantitative and qualitative methods to examine if and how mindfulness meditation and psychedelic use may impact leadership.
Among respondents with a management position as their primary role at work ( = 3,150), 1,373 reported having tried mindfulness meditation and 559 reported having tried psychedelics. In covariate-adjusted regression analyses, both lifetime number of hours of mindfulness meditation practice and greater psychological insight during respondents' most intense psychedelic experience were associated with describing a positive impact on leadership (ORs = 2.33, 3.49; s
Although causality cannot be inferred due to the research design, the findings in this study suggest potential complementary effects of mindfulness meditation and psychedelic use on leadership, which could inspire new approaches in leadership development.


title: Assessing potential of psilocybin for depressive disorders.
authors: Kozak Z, Johnson MW, Aaronson ST.
publication_date: 2023-06-30
doi: 10.1080/13543784.2023.2273493
pubmed_id: 37869790
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1080/13543784.2023.2273493
keywords: Humans, Hallucinogens, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Mechanism of Action,Clinical Trial,Review Article,Treatment-Resistant Depression,Safety
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
abstract:
IntroductionThere has been increasing interest in the role psilocybin may play in the treatment of depressive disorders. Several clinical trials have shown psilocybin to have efficacy in reducing symptoms of depression.AreascoveredWe discuss the current understanding of psilocybin's therapeutic mechanism of action and review existing clinical data investigating psilocybin as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of depression.Expert opinionThere is still much unknown regarding the risks of psilocybin treatment. When weighing the known risks and benefits of psilocybin treatment against those found in existing standards of care, among patients with depression, patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) may be the most suitable candidates for psilocybin treatment at this time.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37869790","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Adapting psychedelic medicine for headache and chronic pain disorders.
authors: Schindler EAD, Hendricks PS.
publication_date: 2023-06-30
doi: 10.1080/14737175.2023.2246655
pubmed_id: 37652000
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1080/14737175.2023.2246655
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
IntroductionWhile the majority of current research and development surrounds depression, demoralization, and substance use disorders, there are numerous reports of psychedelics having beneficial effects in other branches of medicine, including for headache disorders and chronic pain.Areas coveredThis perspective reviews conventional forms of treatment for headache and other chronic pain disorders and describes historical, recent, and ongoing investigations of the therapeutic effects of psychedelics in these disorders. The first two clinical trials of psilocybin in headache disorders and recent case reports of psilocybin mushroom self-administration in chronic pain patients are described. This perspective highlights several factors related to the application of psychedelics in chronic pain disorders, comparing this with the standard psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy model of treatment.Expert opinionWhen faced with a more constricted view of psychedelic medicine that features larger doses, underscores subjective effects in the mediation of therapeutic outcomes, and requires adjunctive psychotherapy to ensure safety and efficacy, the application of psychedelics in headache and chronic pain disorders may face challenges. It will be important to allow for flexibility and adaptation in protocols to evaluate different treatment paradigms, mechanisms of action, and the range of pharmacologic and extra-pharmacologic factors that affect psychedelic treatment outcomes.

keywords:
Humans, Headache Disorders, Headache, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Chronic Pain, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Depression,Addiction,Chronic Pain,Headache / Migraine,Mechanism of Action,Clinical Trial,Review Article,Case Report,Safety

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37652000","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: McIntyre RS.
publication_date: 2023-06-30
doi: 10.1080/14740338.2023.2253144
pubmed_id: 37635320
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1080/14740338.2023.2253144
keywords: Humans, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Mental Disorders, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Is the psychedelic experience an essential aspect of the therapeutic effect of serotonergic psychedelics? Conceptual, discovery, development and implementation implications for psilocybin and related agents.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37635320","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: McIntyre RS.
publication_date: 2023-06-30
doi: 10.1080/14740338.2023.2248883
pubmed_id: 37581427
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1080/14740338.2023.2248883
keywords: Humans, Heart Valve Diseases, Serotonin, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Receptor Pharmacology
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Serotonin 5-HT2B receptor agonism and valvular heart disease: implications for the development of psilocybin and related agents.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37581427","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Risk of bias in randomized clinical trials on psychedelic medicine: A systematic review.
authors: Hovmand OR, Poulsen ED, Arnfred S, Storebø OJ.
publication_date: 2023-07-03
doi: 10.1177/02698811231180276
pubmed_id: 37403379
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811231180276
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
BackgroundThe classical psychedelics, psilocybin, peyote, ayahuasca/N,N-dimethyltryptamine, and lysergic acid diethylamide are considered promising new treatments for psychiatric illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, addiction, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. However, their profound and characteristic subjective effects raise concern for distinctive biases in randomized clinical trials.MethodsWe performed a systematic literature search to identify all clinical trials on classical psychedelics with patient populations to examine descriptive data and determine the risk of bias. Two independent reviewers searched three databases (PubMed, Embase, and APA PsycNet) and extracted information on study design, study population, use of active or inactive placebo, dropouts, evaluation of blinding of intervention, and reporting of expectancy and therapeutic alliance.ResultsWe included 10 papers reporting on 10 unique trials. The trials generally included populations that were predominantly white and highly educated. The trials had small samples and considerable dropout. Blinding was either unsuccessful or not reported regardless of type of placebo. Few trials published protocols, statistical analysis plans (SAPs), and outcomes relating to psychotherapy fidelity. All trials but one were rated as high risk of bias.ConclusionSuccessful blinding of intervention is a significant challenge in this field. To better accommodate this, we suggest that future trials use a parallel-group design and utilize an active placebo on a psychedelic-naïve population. Future trials should publish trial protocol and SAPs, use clinician-rated outcomes accessed by a blinded rater, evaluate blinding of intervention, and consider measuring expectancy and therapeutic fidelity.

keywords:
Humans, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Anxiety Disorders, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,Addiction,OCD,Clinical Trial,Randomized Controlled Trial,Systematic Review,Review Article,Healthcare Workers,Safety

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37403379","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psilocybin's effects on cognition and creativity: A scoping review.
authors: Bonnieux JN, VanderZwaag B, Premji Z, Garcia-Romeu A, Garcia-Barrera MA.
publication_date: 2023-07-02
doi: 10.1177/02698811231179801
pubmed_id: 37395359
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811231179801
keywords: Humans, Hallucinogens, Mental Health, Cognition, Adult, Creativity, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Microdosing,Creativity,Review Article,Healthy Volunteers,Safety
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:03
abstract:
BackgroundResearch on psilocybin has become increasingly popular during the current psychedelic renaissance, which began in the early 1990s. Psilocybin's effects on mental health are promising and there are ongoing efforts to investigate its clinical implementation and its effects on cognition.AimsThe purpose of this study is to report trends in publications, methods, and findings from research examining the effects of psilocybin on cognition and creativity in adults.MethodsWe conducted an Open Science Framework preregistered scoping review, guided by the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis, on literature pertaining to psilocybin's effects on cognition and creativity.Results/outcomesIn the 42 included studies, psilocybin was primarily administered orally (83%) in a bodyweight-adjusted manner (74%) to healthy participants (90%). Of the few studies that explicitly reported safety outcomes (26%), only one reported serious adverse reactions. During the acute phase post-intake (i.e., minutes to hours), macrodoses tended to impair cognitive performance and creativity, whereas microdoses tended toward creative enhancement. The few macrodosing studies that included post-acute measures (i.e., 1-85 days) reported primarily null but some positive effects.Conclusions/interpretationThis scoping review identified a time-based variation of psilocybin macrodosing effects on cognition and creativity, in which impairment may be observed early post-intake but withdraw over time, and some positive effects may emerge afterward. These findings are limited by methodological concerns and inadequate assessment of long-term effects. We therefore recommend that future psilocybin research be conducted according to existing guidelines and include well-validated measures of cognition and creativity at multiple timepoints.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37395359","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Skosnik PD, Sloshower J, Safi-Aghdam H, Pathania S, Syed S, Pittman B, D'Souza DC.
publication_date: 2023-06-29
doi: 10.1177/02698811231179800
pubmed_id: 37392016
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811231179800
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Neuroplasticity,Brain Imaging,Mechanism of Action,Biomarkers
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
title:
Sub-acute effects of psilocybin on EEG correlates of neural plasticity in major depression: Relationship to symptoms.

abstract:
BackgroundEvidence suggests that serotonergic psychedelics (e.g. psilocybin), have rapid-acting and long-lasting antidepressant effects after a single dose. However, the mechanism underlying these effects remain unclear. One proposed mechanism is that these drugs promote neuroplasticity. However, this has not been conclusively demonstrated in humans.AimsWe hypothesized that relative to placebo, psilocybin would: (1) increase electroencephalographic (EEG) correlates of neuroplasticity, (2) reduce depression symptoms, and (3) changes in EEG would correlate with improvements in depression.MethodsIn this double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject study, individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD; n = 19) were administered placebo followed by psilocybin (0.3 mg/kg) in a fixed order (placebo, followed by psilocybin 4 weeks later). EEG indices of neuroplasticity (tetanus-induced long-term potentiation) as assessed via auditory evoked theta (4-8 Hz) power and measures of depression (GRID Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-17 (GRID-HAM-D-17)) were measured at several time-points after placebo and psilocybin (24 h and 2 weeks after each session).ResultsEEG theta power doubled in amplitude 2 weeks after a single psychedelic dose of psilocybin but not after placebo. Further, improvements in depression symptoms 2 weeks after psilocybin were correlated with increases in theta power.ConclusionsThe increased theta power observed represents evidence of sustained changes in the brain following psilocybin. Given the correlation with enhancement in depressive symptoms, changes in theta may represent an EEG biomarker of the sustained effects of psilocybin, and may shed light on potential mechanisms of psilocybin's antidepressant effect. Taken together, these results complement the emerging notion that psilocybin, and perhaps other psychedelics, can produce long-term alterations in neuroplasticity.

keywords:
Humans, Hallucinogens, Antidepressive Agents, Electroencephalography, Depression, Neuronal Plasticity, Psilocybin, Major Depressive Disorder

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37392016","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Australia to prescribe MDMA and psilocybin for PTSD and depression in world first.
authors: Haridy R.
publication_date: 2023-06-30
doi: 10.1038/d41586-023-02093-8
pubmed_id: 37386185
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-02093-8
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,PTSD
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
keywords:
Humans, N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, Drug Approval, Depression, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Time Factors, Australia, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37386185","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Attenuation of psilocybin mushroom effects during and after SSRI/SNRI antidepressant use.
authors: Gukasyan N, Griffiths RR, Yaden DB, Antoine DG, Nayak SM.
publication_date: 2023-06-07
doi: 10.1177/02698811231179910
pubmed_id: 37291890
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811231179910
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Receptor Pharmacology,Observational Study
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
abstract:
BackgroundPsilocybin is being studied for depression, but little is known about how it interacts with common antidepressants. Limited data suggest that psilocybin's effects may be diminished by serotonergic antidepressants acutely and even after a medication washout period.AimsTo learn the extent to which antidepressants may diminish the effects of psilocybin-containing mushrooms both concurrently and after discontinuation of antidepressants.MethodsOnline retrospective survey of individuals with use of psilocybin mushrooms (1) with an antidepressant and/or (2) within 2 years of discontinuing an antidepressant. Participants who took mushrooms with an antidepressant and either took the same dose pre-antidepressant or took the same dose with other people not on antidepressant reported the strength of drug effects relative to their expectation. Participants who took mushrooms following discontinuation of an antidepressant also reported the presence of weakened effects.ResultsIn reports (n = 611) of taking mushrooms with an antidepressant, probabilities [95% CI] of weaker than expected drug effects were 0.47 [0.41-0.54] (selective serotonergic reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs), 0.55 [0.44-0.67] (serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, SNRIs) and 0.29 [0.2-0.39] (bupropion). Following SSRI/SNRI discontinuation (n = 1,542 reports), the probability of reduced drug effects was not significantly different from the earliest post-discontinuation timepoint (within 1 week) until 3-6 months, probability = 0.3 [0.20-0.46], p = 0.001. A sensitivity analysis found that removing responses involving fluoxetine, which has an especially long half-life, did not significantly alter this result.ConclusionsSSRI/SNRIs appear to weaken psilocybin drug effects relative to a non-serotonergic antidepressant. This dampening effect may last as long as 3 months following antidepressant discontinuation.

keywords:
Humans, Agaricales, Antidepressive Agents, Retrospective Studies, Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors, Psilocybin, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37291890","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Benvenuti F, Colombo D, Soverchia L, Cannella N, Domi E, Ciccocioppo R.
publication_date: 2023-06-01
doi: 10.1007/s00213-023-06384-w
pubmed_id: 37266686
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-023-06384-w
keywords: Animals, Rats, Recurrence, Ethanol, Hallucinogens, Memory, Female, Male, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Animal Study
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
title:
Psilocybin prevents reinstatement of alcohol seeking by disrupting the reconsolidation of alcohol-related memories.

abstract:
BackgroundFor most psychiatric conditions, including alcohol use disorder (AUD), FDA-approved pharmacological treatments are limited and their efficacy is restricted to only certain subgroups of patients. Scientific interest in the potential of psychedelic drugs has dramatically increased because of clinical preliminary evidence of efficacy in treating various psychiatric disorders. One of the most promising compounds belonging to this class of molecules is psilocybin. Here, to elucidate the therapeutic potential and treatment modalities of this drug, we investigated the effect of psilocybin on alcohol drinking and seeking in genetically selected Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring (msP) rats, a well validated animal model of AUD characterized by excessive drinking and seeking.MethodsUsing male and female msP rats, we tested the effect of psilocybin on home cage voluntary alcohol consumption. We also tested the effect of the drug on the alcohol deprivation effect (ADE) model of relapse and on cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking after a period of abstinence. Finally, we evaluated if psilocybin may disrupt the reconsolidation process of alcohol-related memory.ResultsPsilocybin did not reduce alcohol consumption, nor it prevented increased alcohol drinking after a period of forced abstinence and cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol-seeking. Noteworthy, in a memory retrieval-reconsolidation paradigm, psilocybin markedly attenuated resumption of alcohol seeking.ConclusionsAltogether these data suggest that, despite psilocybin does not affect alcohol drinking and relapse, it may be highly effective if used to block the reconsolidation process of alcohol-related memories. This opens to the possibility of using this psychedelic drug in clinical settings in which AUD patients undergo procedures to recall the memory of alcohol and are then treated with psilocybin during the memory reconsolidation phase.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37266686","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: New Pharmacologic Approaches to the Treatment of Bipolar Depression.
authors: Keramatian K, Chakrabarty T, DuBow A, Saraf G, Yatham LN.
publication_date: 2023-05-24
doi: 10.1007/s40265-023-01872-x
pubmed_id: 37227597
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-023-01872-x
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
Depression is the most commonly experienced mood state over the life span in individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) and is the primary driver of functional impairment and suicidality in BD. Despite this, there are few effective treatments for BD depression, with only a handful of atypical anti-psychotics and inconsistent evidence for traditional mood stabilizing agents. There have been few major 'breakthroughs' in the treatment of BD depression, and until recently, few agents that work via novel mechanisms of action to exert therapeutic effects. Here, we review treatments for BD depression which are emergent or on the horizon. Included are new atypical anti-psychotics, glutamate modulators (ketamine and cycloserine/lurasidone), neurosteroid modulators (zuranolone), anti-inflammatories and mitochondrial modulators, cannabidiol (CBD) and psilocybin. New atypical anti-psychotics lumateperone and cariprazine have demonstrated efficacy in large-scale, placebo-controlled, double-blind randomized controlled trials (RCT) in treatment of BD depression. Non-racemic amisulpride showed potential therapeutic benefit in one RCT which requires replication. Three small RCTs examined the efficacy of intravenous ketamine in BD depression and showed rapid antidepressant and anti-suicidal effects after a single infusion. Anti-inflammatory and mitochondrial modulators show inconsistent evidence for efficacy. There are currently no adequately powered RCTs of zuranolone, psilocybin or CBD in BD depression to support their use. While there are potentially efficacious, mechanistically novel agents on the horizon, they require further study and validation. Further investigation on how these agents may impact specific subgroups of patients will also advance the field.

keywords:
Humans, Ketamine, Antidepressive Agents, Treatment Outcome, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Depression,Mechanism of Action,Mitochondrial Function,Randomized Controlled Trial,Review Article,Inflammation

raw_json:
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title: The down-scheduling of MDMA and psilocybin(e): Too fast and too soon.
authors: Kisely S.
publication_date: 2023-05-09
doi: 10.1177/00048674231174171
pubmed_id: 37161273
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/00048674231174171
keywords: Humans, N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, Hallucinogens, Mental Disorders, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37161273","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Gaddis A, Lidstone DE, Nebel MB, Griffiths RR, Mostofsky SH, Mejia AF, Barrett FS.
publication_date: 2023-05-03
doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120130
pubmed_id: 37148779
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120130
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Corrigendum to 'Psilocybin induces spatially constrained alterations in thalamic functional organizaton and connectivity': Neuroimage 2022 Oct 15;260:119434.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37148779","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Rossell SL, Meikle SE, Williams ML, Castle DJ.
publication_date: 2023-05-02
doi: 10.1177/00048674231172691
pubmed_id: 37139585
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/00048674231172691
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Healthcare Workers
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Why didn't the TGA consult with Australian researchers and clinicians with experience in psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder?

keywords:
Humans, Hallucinogens, Psychotherapy, Australia, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Psilocybin, Major Depressive Disorder

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37139585","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Weiss B, Erritzoe D, Giribaldi B, Nutt DJ, Carhart-Harris RL.
publication_date: 2023-04-24
doi: 10.1177/02698811231167848
pubmed_id: 37122239
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811231167848
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Clinical Trial,Healthcare Workers
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:03
title:
A critical evaluation of QIDS-SR-16 using data from a trial of psilocybin therapy versus escitalopram treatment for depression.

abstract:
BackgroundIn a recent clinical trial examining the comparative efficacy of psilocybin therapy (PT) versus escitalopram treatment (ET) for major depressive disorder, 14 of 16 major efficacy outcome measures yielded results that favored PT, but the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, Self-Report, 16 items (QIDS-SR16) did not.AimsThe present study aims to (1) rationally and psychometrically account for discrepant results between outcome measures and (2) to overcome psychometric problems particular to individual measures by re-examining between-condition differences in depressive response using all outcome measures at item-, facet-, and factor-levels of analysis.MethodFour depression measures were compared on the basis of their validity for examining differences in depressive response between PT and ET conditions.Results/outcomesPossible reasons for discrepant findings on the QIDS-SR16 include its higher variance, imprecision due to compound items and whole-scale and unidimensional sum-scoring, vagueness in the phrasing of scoring options for items, and its lack of focus on a core depression factor. Reanalyzing the trial data at item-, facet-, and factor-levels yielded results suggestive of PT's superior efficacy in reducing depressed mood, anhedonia, and a core depression factor, along with specific symptoms such as sexual dysfunction.Conclusion/interpretationOur results raise concerns about the adequacy of the QIDS-SR16 for measuring depression, as well as the practice of relying on individual scales that tend not to capture the multidimensional structure or core of depression. Using an alternative approach that captures depression more granularly and comprehensively yielded specific insight into areas where PT therapy may be particularly useful to patients and clinicians.

keywords:
Humans, Reproducibility of Results, Depression, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Clinical Trials as Topic, Psilocybin, Escitalopram, Major Depressive Disorder

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37122239","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: The molecular basis of the antidepressant action of the magic mushroom extract, psilocin.
authors: Hakami Zanjani AA, Nguyen TQT, Jacobsen L, Khandelia H.
publication_date: 2023-04-02
doi: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2023.140914
pubmed_id: 37019325
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbapap.2023.140914
keywords: Amines, Serotonin, Hallucinogens, Psilocybe, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: Receptor Pharmacology
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:00
abstract:
Magic mushrooms, and their extract psilocybin, are well-known for their psychedelic properties and recreational use. Psilocin, the bio-active form of psilocybin, can potentially treat various psychiatric diseases. Psilocin putatively exerts its psychedelic effect as an agonist to the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR), which is also the receptor for the neurological hormone serotonin. The two key chemical differences between the two molecules are first, that the primary amine in serotonin is replaced with a tertiary amine in psilocin, and second, the hydroxyl group is substituted differently on the aromatic ring. Here, we find that psilocin can bind to 5-HT2AR with an affinity higher than serotonin, and provide the molecular logic behind the higher binding affinity of psilocin using extensive molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations. The binding free energy of psilocin is dependent upon the protonation states of the ligands, as well as that of the key residue in the binding site: Aspartate 155. We find that the tertiary amine of psilocin, and not the altered substitution of the hydroxyl group in the ring is responsible for the increased affinity of psilocin. We propose design rules for effective antidepressants based on molecular insights from our simulations.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37019325","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: The need for establishing best practices and gold standards in psychedelic medicine.
authors: Feduccia A, Agin-Liebes G, Price CM, Grinsell N, Paradise S, Rabin DM.
publication_date: 2023-03-29
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.03.083
pubmed_id: 37003433
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.03.083
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,PTSD,Clinical Trial,Review Article,Safety
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
Psychedelic substances are under investigation in several drug development programs. Controlled clinical trials are providing evidence for safe and effective use of psychedelic therapies for treating mental health conditions. With the anticipated FDA approval of MDMA-assisted therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder in 2023 and psilocybin therapy for depression disorders soon after, now is the time for the medical community to become informed on best practices and to actively participate in developing standards of care for these new treatments. Given the emergence of numerous drug sponsors and other companies developing therapeutic modalities for combination with psychedelic medications, it is essential that the medical professional field is at the forefront of communicating unbiased information related to safety and effectiveness. Gold standards have long been a part of medicine and serve to distinguish treatments and assessments as the highest quality by which all others can be compared to. For a treatment to be established as a gold standard, several factors are considered including the quantity and quality of the supporting data, the rigor of trials, and the safety and efficacy compared to other treatments. In this article, we review the origins of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), minimum requirements for safe use of psychedelics, criteria for gold standards in mental health, and the nuances regarding how to establish gold standards in psychedelic medicine and guide clinical decision making.

keywords:
Humans, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Mental Health, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37003433","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Sloshower J, Skosnik PD, Safi-Aghdam H, Pathania S, Syed S, Pittman B, D'Souza DC.
publication_date: 2023-03-19
doi: 10.1177/02698811231154852
pubmed_id: 36938991
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811231154852
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,Mystical Experience
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
title:
Psilocybin-assisted therapy for major depressive disorder: An exploratory placebo-controlled, fixed-order trial.

abstract:
BackgroundSeveral early phase studies have demonstrated that psilocybin-assisted therapy has rapid-acting and persisting antidepressant effects from just one or two doses. However, methodological limitations (e.g., placebo-control, blinding) limit interpretability of the existing literature.MethodsIn an exploratory placebo-controlled, within-subject, fixed-order study, individuals with moderate to severe major depressive disorder were administered placebo (n = 19) followed by psilocybin (0.3 mg/kg) (n = 15) 4 weeks later. Dosing sessions were embedded within an manualized course of psychotherapy. Enhanced blinding procedures were used. Depression, anxiety, and quality of life were measured over a 16-week study period.ResultsDepression and anxiety significantly improved following both placebo and psilocybin with no significant difference in the degree of change between the two conditions. However, antidepressant effect sizes were larger after psilocybin (d' = 1.02-2.27) than after placebo (d' = 0.65-0.99) and there were high rates of response (66.7%) and remission (46.7%) following psilocybin administration. Antidepressant effects following psilocybin persisted, on average, for 2 months and there were persisting improvements in mood-related quality of life domains. The strength of mystical-type experience during psilocybin dosing was not correlated with subsequent antidepressant effects.ConclusionsThe results of this exploratory study highlight the complex interplay between expectancy, therapy effects, and drug/placebo effects in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy studies. Nonetheless, the acute and persisting clinical improvements observed following psilocybin support further study of its potential in the treatment of major depression. Future studies should more explicitly mitigate and measure expectancy effects and assess the impact of repeated dosing and different forms of psychotherapeutic support.

keywords:
Humans, Hallucinogens, Antidepressive Agents, Quality of Life, Psilocybin, Major Depressive Disorder

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36938991","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Kopra EI, Ferris JA, Winstock AR, Kuypers KP, Young AH, Rucker JJ.
publication_date: 2023-03-05
doi: 10.1177/02698811231158245
pubmed_id: 36876583
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811231158245
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: PTSD,Aging,Wellbeing,Emotional Processing,Observational Study
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:03
title:
Investigation of self-treatment with lysergic acid diethylamide and psilocybin mushrooms: Findings from the Global Drug Survey 2020.

abstract:
BackgroundGrowing numbers of people are using psychedelics for personal psychotherapy outside clinical settings, but research on such use is scarce.AimsThis study investigated the patterns of use, self-reported outcomes and outcome predictors of psychedelic 'self-treatment' of mental health conditions or specific worries/concerns in life.MethodsWe use data from the Global Drug Survey 2020, a large online survey on drug use collected between November 2019 and February 2020. In all, 3364 respondents reported their self-treatment experiences with lysergic acid diethylamide (N = 1996) or psilocybin mushrooms (N = 1368). The primary outcome of interest was the 17-item self-treatment outcome scale, items reflecting aspects of well-being, psychiatric symptoms, social-emotional skills, and health behaviours.ResultsPositive changes were observed across all 17 outcome items, with the strongest benefits on items related to insight and mood. Negative effects were reported by 22.5% of respondents. High intensity of psychedelic experience, seeking advice before treatment, treating with psilocybin mushrooms and treating post-traumatic stress disorder were associated with higher scores on the self-treatment outcome scale after averaging values across all 17 items. Younger age, high intensity of experience and treating with LSD were associated with increased number of negative outcomes.ConclusionsThis study brings important insights into self-treatment practices with psychedelics in a large international sample. Outcomes were generally favourable, but negative effects appeared more frequent than in clinical settings. Our findings can help inform safe practices of psychedelic use in the community, and inspire clinical research. Future research can be improved with utilisation of prospective designs and additional predictive variables.

keywords:
Humans, Agaricales, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Surveys and Questionnaires, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36876583","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psychedelic Microdosing, Mindfulness, and Anxiety: A Cross-Sectional Mediation Study.
authors: Hartong V, van Emmerik A
journal: Journal of psychoactive drugs
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.1080/02791072.2022.2080616
pubmed_id: 35694791
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35694791/
keywords: LSD, Microdosing, anxiety, mindfulness, psilocybin, psychedelics
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Anxiety,Microdosing,Randomized Controlled Trial
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"35694791"}
abstract:
While anecdotal reports claim that psychedelic microdosing reduces anxiety and mood symptoms, evidence supporting these claims is scarce. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between microdosing and trait anxiety. Furthermore, it was investigated if trait mindfulness mediated this association. Participants completed anonymous online questionnaires and were divided into three groups: current microdosers ( = 186), former microdosers ( = 77) and microdosing-naïve controls ( = 234). Trait anxiety and trait mindfulness were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - Trait subscale (STAI-T) and the 15-item Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-15) respectively. Current and former microdosers reported lower STAI-T scores compared to microdosing-naïve controls. Furthermore, associations of current and former microdosing with trait anxiety were mediated by trait mindfulness, with small effects of FFMQ-15 Total, Non-judging and Non-reactivity scores. However, in an exploratory analysis, all associations between microdosing and STAI-T scores became non-significant when participants with previous macrodose experience ( = 386) were excluded. Our findings suggest that RCTs are warranted to test causal hypotheses concerning the effects of microdosing and the role of trait mindfulness in the effects of microdosing, while controlling for previous macrodose experience.


title: Classical psychedelics in psychiatry - renaissance of interest and therapeutic perspectives.
authors: Jachimowski A, Kucia K.
publication_date: 2023-06-29
doi: 10.12740/pp/150053
pubmed_id: 38043078
source_url: https://doi.org/10.12740/pp/150053
keywords: Humans, Hallucinogens, Anxiety, Mental Health, Psychiatry, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Anxiety,Addiction,Consciousness,Adverse Events
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
Substances that change the states of consciousness have been used in the therapeutics of traditional cultures for hundreds of years. In the Western cultural circle, scientific curiosity and hope for a breakthrough in the treatment of various mental disorders constituted the basis of the first wave of research on humans with the use of psychedelics. After synthesizing LSD, psychedelic substances aroused intense but short-term interest among mental health specialists at the beginning of the second half of the 20th century. In the preliminary studies, substances such as psilocybin or LSD, used as a supplement to psychotherapy, showed promising therapeutic effects, however, due to legal and political reasons, all research work was stopped in the 1970s. The last two decades have been a period of renaissance in the interest in using sychedelic substances in psychiatry. Despite the early stage of work, the clinical research conducted so far has indicated the potential benefits of using psychedelics in the treatment of anxiety, affective disorders, or addictions. Moreover, so far, no serious side effects of this form of therapy have been reported. However, due to a number of barriers of both medical and legal nature, the creation of the first psychiatric drug with psychedelic properties appears to be extremely complicated. Further, precisely constructed studies on large groups of patients are needed to determine whether psychedelics can find practical applications in psychiatric therapy (or even become a long-awaited breakthrough in the treatment of mental disorders).

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"38043078","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: De La Haye W, Walcott G, Eaton J, Beckford J, Greene J.
publication_date: 2023-06-28
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1136990
pubmed_id: 37457761
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1136990
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Mechanism of Action,Personality Change,Mystical Experience,Clinical Trial
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:03
title:
Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy preparing your target using psychohistoriography: a Jamaican perspective.

abstract:
The efficacy of psilocybin and other psychedelics as modes of treatment have been demonstrated through clinical trials and other studies in the management of a number of mental illnesses, including some treatment resistant cases. In Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy (PAP), psychedelics catalyze or enhance the experience fostered by psychotherapeutic methods. Psychohistoriographic Brief Psychotherapy, conceptualized by the late Professor Frederick Hickling in the 1970's in Kingston, Jamaica, offers a pathway for exploration in the Jamaican context. Applied to individuals, Psychohistoriographic Brief Therapy (PBT) has already shown success in patients with personality disorders in Jamaica through a process which includes documenting life experiences in a psychohistoriogram. In the De La Haye psilocybin Treatment Protocol (DPTP), micro-doses of crushed, dried psilocybin mushrooms are taken throughout an 8-week outpatient process of documenting the components of the psychohistoriogram, making use of the increased openness and empathy associated with the use of psychedelic agents. These sessions are followed by supervised in-office therapeutic/mystical doses of crushed, dried psilocybin mushrooms in the 9th week. Given the legal status and availability of psilocybin containing products in a few countries like Jamaica, there is a potential role for a regulated psychedelic industry contributing to the body of useful and rigorous clinical research which is needed in this area. Clients could benefit as we venture into this new frontier in psychiatry.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37457761","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Case report: Psychedelic-induced seizures captured by intracranial electrocorticography.
authors: Blond BN, Schindler EAD
journal: Frontiers in neurology
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1214969
pubmed_id: 37456653
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37456653/
keywords: case report, epilepsy, psilocybin, psychedelics, seizures
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Case Report,Safety
study_type: Case Report
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"37456653"}
abstract:
Classic psychedelics are currently re-emerging as therapeutic agents with unique clinical benefits; however, it is also important to recognize the adverse effects of this drug class. While the risk of seizures with this drug class is known, the literature is lacking in detail. We present a case of psychedelic mushroom-induced seizures in a person with refractory right temporal lobe epilepsy implanted with a responsive neurostimulation (RNS) system. A large increase in typical seizure frequency coincided with the ingestion of a large dose of the mushrooms. This is the first reported case of electrographically confirmed seizures associated with classic psychedelic drug use. With the surge of research and movements toward the clinical application of classic psychedelic compounds, the risk for drug-induced seizures should be considered, including factors such as a history of epilepsy and drug doses and regimens.


title: Medical student attitudes and perceptions of psychedelic-assisted therapies.
authors: Li I, Fong R, Hagen M, Tabaac B
journal: Frontiers in psychiatry
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1190507
pubmed_id: 37441143
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37441143/
keywords: DMT, LSD, attitudes, medical students, opinions, perceptions, psilocybin, psychedelics
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Observational Study,Safety
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"37441143"}
abstract:
Although certain psychedelic agents may soon gain federal approval for use in treating specific psychiatric conditions, the utilization of such therapies in clinical practice will depend largely on the attitudes of healthcare providers. Therefore, this study assesses the current attitudes, knowledge, exposure, and acceptance of psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapies amongst medical students.
In fall semester of 2022, surveys were emailed to 580 medical students attending medical institutions in the state of Nevada in the United States. Utilizing knowledge and attitude items from previously published studies, the survey collected demographic data and assessed student attitudes with five-point Likert-scale variables. Data was analyzed using summary statistics and Kruskal-Wallis tests for differences in mean survey scores (i.e., attitudes towards psychedelics) based on demographic factors.
132 medical students participated in the survey (22.7% response rate). Medical students demonstrated overall positive attitudes towards psychedelics, lack of knowledge regarding psychedelics, and uncertainty towards neurocognitive risks of psychedelics. Overall, 78.6% of students agreed that psychedelics have therapeutic potential, while 95.2% agreed that psychedelics deserves further research in assessing this potential. Additionally, there was no statistically significant effect of demographic variables, including age, sex, and level of training, on attitudes.
Although students are overall curious and optimistic about psychedelics, they demonstrate a lack of knowledge regarding recent research efforts. As the field of psychiatry prepares to implement psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapies, education and awareness of such agents should be initiated early on in medical clinical training.


title: Psychedelics, Meaningfulness, and the "Proper Scope" of Medicine: Continuing the Conversation.
authors: Cheung K, Patch K, Earp BD, Yaden DB.
publication_date: 2023-06-26
doi: 10.1017/s0963180123000270
pubmed_id: 37366110
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1017/s0963180123000270
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Addiction,Consciousness
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:03
abstract:
Psychedelics such as psilocybin reliably produce significantly altered states of consciousness with a variety of subjectively experienced effects. These include certain changes to perception, cognition, and affect,1 which we refer to here as the acute subjective effects of psychedelics. In recent years, psychedelics such as psilocybin have also shown considerable promise as therapeutic agents when combined with talk therapy, for example, in the treatment of major depression or substance use disorder.2 However, it is currently unclear whether the aforementioned acute subjective effects are necessary to bring about the observed therapeutic effects of psilocybin and other psychedelics. This uncertainty has sparked a lively-though still largely hypothetical-debate on whether psychedelics without subjective effects ("nonsubjective psychedelics" or "non-hallucinogenic psychedelics") could still have the same therapeutic impact, or whether the acute subjective effects are in fact necessary for this impact to be fully realized.3,4,5.

raw_json:
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authors: Zhornitsky S, Oliva HNP, Jayne LA, Allsop ASA, Kaye AP, Potenza MN, Angarita GA.
publication_date: 2023-06-25
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1197890
pubmed_id: 37435405
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1197890
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: Addiction,Neuroplasticity,Biomarkers,Review Article,Animal Study,In Vitro Study,Abuse Liability
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
title:
Changes in synaptic markers after administration of ketamine or psychedelics: a systematic scoping review.

abstract:
BackgroundKetamine and psychedelics have abuse liability. They can also induce "transformative experiences" where individuals experience enhanced states of awareness. This enhanced awareness can lead to changes in preexisting behavioral patterns which could be beneficial in the treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs). Preclinical and clinical studies suggest that ketamine and psychedelics may alter markers associated with synaptic density, and that these changes may underlie effects such as sensitization, conditioned place preference, drug self-administration, and verbal memory performance. In this scoping review, we examined studies that measured synaptic markers in animals and humans after exposure to ketamine and/or psychedelics.MethodsA systematic search was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, through PubMed, EBSCO, Scopus, and Web of Science, based on a published protocol (Open Science Framework, DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/43FQ9). Both in vivo and in vitro studies were included. Studies on the following synaptic markers were included: dendritic structural changes, PSD-95, synapsin-1, synaptophysin-1, synaptotagmin-1, and SV2A.ResultsEighty-four studies were included in the final analyses. Seventy-one studies examined synaptic markers following ketamine treatment, nine examined psychedelics, and four examined both. Psychedelics included psilocybin/psilocin, lysergic acid diethylamide, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine, and ibogaine/noribogaine. Mixed findings regarding synaptic changes in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) have been reported when ketamine was administered in a single dose under basal conditions. Similar mixed findings were seen under basal conditions in studies that used repeated administration of ketamine. However, studies that examined animals during stressful conditions found that a single dose of ketamine counteracted stress-related reductions in synaptic markers in the hippocampus and PFC. Repeated administration of ketamine also counteracted stress effects in the hippocampus. Psychedelics generally increased synaptic markers, but results were more consistently positive for certain agents.ConclusionKetamine and psychedelics can increase synaptic markers under certain conditions. Heterogeneous findings may relate to methodological differences, agents administered (or different formulations of the same agent), sex, and type of markers. Future studies could address seemingly mixed results by using meta-analytical approaches or study designs that more fully consider individual differences.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37435405","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Systematic review and rationale of using psychedelics in the treatment of cannabis use disorder.
authors: Phan AN, Terry GE
journal: Frontiers in psychiatry
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1144276
pubmed_id: 37435402
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37435402/
keywords: MDMA, cannabis use disorder, ketamine, psilocybin, psychedelics
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Mechanism of Action,Systematic Review,Review Article,Observational Study,Safety
study_type: Systematic Review
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"37435402"}
abstract:
Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is prevalent in ~2-5% of adults in the United States and is anticipated to increase as restrictions to cannabis decrease and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content in cannabis products increase. No FDA-approved medications for CUD are currently available, despite trials of dozens of re-purposed and novel drugs. Psychedelics have garnered interest as a therapeutic class in other substance use disorders, and self-report surveys suggest they may result in positive outcomes for CUD. Herein, we review the existing literature pertaining to psychedelic use in persons with or at risk for CUD and consider the potential rationale underpinning psychedelics as a treatment for CUD.
A systematic search was performed in several databases. Inclusion criteria were primary research reporting use of psychedelics or related substances and CUD for treatment in human subjects. Exclusion criteria were results including psychedelics or related substances without changes in cannabis use or risks associated with CUD.
Three hundred and five unique results were returned. One article was identified using the non-classical psychedelic ketamine in CUD; three articles were identified as topically relevant based on their secondary data or consideration of mechanism. Additional articles were reviewed for purposes of background, review of safety considerations, and formulating rationale.
Limited data and reporting are available on the use of psychedelics in persons with CUD, and more research is needed given the anticipated increase in CUD incidence and increasing interest in psychedelic use. While psychedelics, broadly, have a high therapeutic index with infrequent serious adverse effects, particular adverse effects at risk in the CUD population, such as psychosis and cardiovascular events, should be considered. Possible mechanisms by which psychedelics have therapeutic potential in CUD are explored.


publication_date: 2023-06-21
doi: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1152578
pubmed_id: 37425017
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2023.1152578
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: Brain Imaging,Pharmacology,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Animal Study
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:00
title:
Underlying pharmacological mechanisms of psilocin-induced broadband desynchronization and disconnection of EEG in rats.

authors:
Tylš F, Vejmola Č, Koudelka V, Piorecká V, Kadeřábek L, Bochin M, Novák T, Kuchař M, Bendová Z, Brunovský M, Horáček J, Pálení Ček T.

abstract:
IntroductionPsilocybin is one of the most extensively studied psychedelic drugs with a broad therapeutic potential. Despite the fact that its psychoactivity is mainly attributed to the agonism at 5-HT2A receptors, it has high binding affinity also to 5-HT2C and 5-HT1A receptors and indirectly modulates the dopaminergic system. Psilocybin and its active metabolite psilocin, as well as other serotonergic psychedelics, induce broadband desynchronization and disconnection in EEG in humans as well as in animals. The contribution of serotonergic and dopaminergic mechanisms underlying these changes is not clear. The present study thus aims to elucidate the pharmacological mechanisms underlying psilocin-induced broadband desynchronization and disconnection in an animal model.MethodsSelective antagonists of serotonin receptors (5-HT1A WAY100635, 5-HT2A MDL100907, 5-HT2C SB242084) and antipsychotics haloperidol, a D2 antagonist, and clozapine, a mixed D2 and 5-HT receptor antagonist, were used in order to clarify the underlying pharmacology.ResultsPsilocin-induced broadband decrease in the mean absolute EEG power was normalized by all antagonists and antipsychotics used within the frequency range 1-25 Hz; however, decreases in 25-40 Hz were influenced only by clozapine. Psilocin-induced decrease in global functional connectivity and, specifically, fronto-temporal disconnection were reversed by the 5-HT2A antagonist while other drugs had no effect.DiscussionThese findings suggest the involvement of all three serotonergic receptors studied as well as the role of dopaminergic mechanisms in power spectra/current density with only the 5-HT2A receptor being effective in both studied metrics. This opens an important discussion on the role of other than 5-HT2A-dependent mechanisms underlying the neurobiology of psychedelics.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37425017","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: A case-study evaluation of the "Copenhagen Music Program" for psilocybin-assisted therapy.
authors: Ratkovic G, Sosteric M, Sosteric T.
publication_date: 2023-06-15
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1156852
pubmed_id: 37397316
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1156852
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Mechanism of Action,Emotional Processing
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
abstract:
In a recent article, Messell and colleagues provide a curated list, the "Copenhagen Music Program for Psilocybin". We test their music program with an experienced Indigenous therapist/psychonaut on a 3.5 gram psilocybin journey. Based on comments provided by the Indigenous therapist, we find the program contains musical choices that evoke specific colonial and religious contexts. We also find the program psychologically and emotionally coercive, meaning it is intended to contain the experience by forcing the individual on a specific experiential pathway. We conclude the program is not suitable for Indigenous travelers and suggest that curation of a wider variety of playlists, and music more in line with traditional shamanic practices, might be a better approach to psychedelic curation.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37397316","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


publication_date: 2023-06-13
doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adf8332
pubmed_id: 37315149
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adf8332
keywords: Brain, Humans, Methylphenidate, Ketamine, Membrane Transport Proteins, Modafinil
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 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
In vivo mapping of pharmacologically induced functional reorganization onto the human brain's neurotransmitter landscape.

authors:
Luppi AI, Hansen JY, Adapa R, Carhart-Harris RL, Roseman L, Timmermann C, Golkowski D, Ranft A, Ilg R, Jordan D, Bonhomme V, Vanhaudenhuyse A, Demertzi A, Jaquet O, Bahri MA, Alnagger NLN, Cardone P, Peattie ARD, Manktelow AE, de Araujo DB, Sensi SL, Owen AM, Naci L, Menon DK, Misic B, Stamatakis EA.

abstract:
To understand how pharmacological interventions can exert their powerful effects on brain function, we need to understand how they engage the brain's rich neurotransmitter landscape. Here, we bridge microscale molecular chemoarchitecture and pharmacologically induced macroscale functional reorganization, by relating the regional distribution of 19 neurotransmitter receptors and transporters obtained from positron emission tomography, and the regional changes in functional magnetic resonance imaging connectivity induced by 10 different mind-altering drugs: propofol, sevoflurane, ketamine, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), ayahuasca, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), modafinil, and methylphenidate. Our results reveal a many-to-many mapping between psychoactive drugs' effects on brain function and multiple neurotransmitter systems. The effects of both anesthetics and psychedelics on brain function are organized along hierarchical gradients of brain structure and function. Last, we show that regional co-susceptibility to pharmacological interventions recapitulates co-susceptibility to disorder-induced structural alterations. Collectively, these results highlight rich statistical patterns relating molecular chemoarchitecture and drug-induced reorganization of the brain's functional architecture.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37315149","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Wulff AB, Nichols CD, Thompson SM.
publication_date: 2023-03-12
doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109504
pubmed_id: 36921889
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109504
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
title:
Preclinical perspectives on the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic actions of psilocybin in psychiatric disorders.

abstract:
Psychedelic compounds have shown extraordinary potential in treating a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders. Psilocybin, for example, has now been shown in several clinical trials to induce a rapid (within days) and persistent (3-12 months) improvement in human treatment-resistant depression and other neuropsychiatric conditions. Here we review the preclinical models and experimental approaches that have been used to study the neurobiological actions of psychedelic drugs. We further summarize the insights these studies have provided into the possible mechanisms underlying the induction of their therapeutic actions, including the receptors to which psychedelics bind and the second messenger signaling cascades that they activate. We also discuss potential biological processes that psychedelics may alter to produce the lasting amelioration of symptoms, including improvements in synaptic structure and function and suppression of inflammation. Improved mechanistic understanding of psychedelic drug actions will aid in the advancement of these promising new medicines. This article is part of the Special Issue on "National Institutes of Health Psilocybin Research Speaker Series".

keywords:
Humans, Inflammation, Hallucinogens, United States, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Depression,Neuroplasticity,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Clinical Trial,Review Article,Animal Study,Treatment-Resistant Depression,Inflammation

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36921889","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


journal: Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.)
publication_date: 2023-05-31
doi: 10.1089/psymed.2022.0011
pubmed_id: 40046728
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40046728/
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,Spirituality,Clinical Trial,Review Article,Cancer Patients,Safety,Inflammation
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"40046728"}
title:
Examining the Rationale for Studying Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Caregiver Distress.

authors:
Gold ND, Podrebarac SK, White LA, Marini C, Simon NM, Mittelman MS, Ross S, Bogenschutz MP, Petridis PD

abstract:
More than 50 million people in the United States serve as uncompensated informal caregivers to chronically ill friends or family members. Providing care to a sick loved one can contribute to personal growth but can also cause significant strain. Caregiver distress refers to a constellation of physiological, psychological, interpersonal, and spiritual impairments that typically result when an individual's own health becomes affected while caring for another. Caregiver distress is highly prevalent, affecting an estimated 30-70% of individuals across various caregiver populations. Although evidence-based treatments for caregiver distress exist, they do not sufficiently address all its components. In recent years, clinical trials have demonstrated that psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) may have applications for treating a range of medical and psychiatric conditions that have significant overlap in symptoms to those seen in caregiver distress. While no studies to date have examined PAP for caregiver distress, this article provides a rationale for investigating PAP as a potential novel treatment for this indication.
A narrative review on the effects and clinical applications of PAP that significantly overlap with the dimensions of caregiver distress was conducted. Safety considerations, psychedelic selection, and therapeutic structure for studying PAP in the treatment of caregiver distress were also examined.
Psychologically, PAP has been shown to treat anxiety, depression, and reduce suicidal ideation. Physiologically, evidence suggests that psychedelics have anti-inflammatory properties, which may aid caregivers suffering from chronic inflammation. Interpersonally, PAP has been demonstrated to enhance feelings of empathy, connectedness, and strengthen social relationships, which can often become strained while caregiving. Spiritually, PAP has been shown to ameliorate existential distress and hopelessness in cancer patients, which may similarly benefit demoralized caregivers.
PAP has the potential to comprehensively treat all biopsychosocial-spiritual dimensions of caregiver distress.

keywords:
MDMA, biopsychosocial–spiritual, caregiver burden, caregiver distress, psilocybin, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy


authors: Lake S, Lucas P.
publication_date: 2023-06-13
doi: 10.1089/psymed.2023.0002
pubmed_id: 40046727
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1089/psymed.2023.0002
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Wellbeing,Observational Study
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
The Canadian Psychedelic Survey: Characteristics, Patterns of Use, and Access in a Large Sample of People Who Use Psychedelic Drugs.

abstract:
BackgroundRecent years have seen a resurgence in clinical interest in, and increased public acceptance of, psychedelic drugs in Canada. However, our understanding of how psychedelic drugs are currently used in Canada remains limited. We developed the Canadian Psychedelic Survey (CPS) to gather real-world evidence about psychedelic drug use in Canada. This study aimed to characterize CPS respondents; identify access sources; explore psychedelic-specific patterns, purposes, and contexts of use; and contextualize intense positive and challenging psychedelic experiences.MethodsThe CPS was administered in January 2022. We used descriptive statistics to characterize the sample and understand access to psychedelic drugs and detailed patterns and contexts of use. We built separate logistic regression models to identify sociodemographic and psychedelic-related correlates of reporting an intense positive and challenging experience with psychedelic drugs.ResultsWe analyzed data from 2045 respondents (mean age = 38.4 years; 56% female). Psilocybin, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) were the most used psychedelic drugs. Top motivations for psychedelic drug use were fun, self-exploration, general mental well-being, and personal growth. Lifetime intense positive and challenging psychedelic experiences were reported by 82% and 52%, respectively. Over half (56%) of those who had an intense challenging experience reported that "some good" came from the experience after-the-fact. In multivariable analysis, significant correlates of intense positive experiences included higher perceived psychedelic experience and fun and self-exploration as motivations for use (p

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"40046727","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: No trip needed for psychedelics to lift mood?
authors: O'Grady C.
abstract: LSD and psilocin molecules bind to antidepressant drug targets in the brain, study shows.
publication_date: 2023-06-07
doi: 10.1126/science.adj1031
pubmed_id: 37289868
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adj1031
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: Depression,Receptor Pharmacology,Animal Study
study_type: Animal Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:03
keywords:
Brain, Animals, Humans, Mice, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Receptor, trkB, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A, Hallucinogens, Antidepressive Agents, Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37289868","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Kargbo RB.
publication_date: 2023-05-10
doi: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00168
pubmed_id: 37312838
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00168
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Drug Interactions,Microbiome,Immune Function
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
title:
Microbiome-Gut-Brain Axis Modulation: New Approaches in Treatment of Neuropsychological and Gastrointestinal Functional Disorders.

abstract:
The gut-brain axis (GBA) refers to the sophisticated bidirectional communication system connecting the digestive system with the central nervous system. This interaction is enabled by a series of intricate signaling processes, encompassing various neuro-immune and hormonal pathways. The association between the gut microbiome and mental health has garnered immense scientific and public interest, driven by an enhanced understanding of the microbiome's role in facilitating communication between the gut and the brain. This Patent Highlight discloses methods for promoting the colonization of spore-forming bacteria in the gastrointestinal track. These methods include administering a serotonin receptor agonist, such as psilocybin, psilocin, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, bufotenine, 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, lysergic acid diethylamide, ergine, mescaline, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine, and others.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37312838","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: The Perilous Policy of Oregon's Psilocybin Services.
authors: Holoyda B.
publication_date: 2023-05-31
doi: 10.29158/jaapl.230023-23
pubmed_id: 37311597
source_url: https://doi.org/10.29158/jaapl.230023-23
keywords: Humans, Oregon, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37311597","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psychedelics promote plasticity by directly binding to BDNF receptor TrkB.
publication_date: 2023-06-04
doi: 10.1038/s41593-023-01316-5
pubmed_id: 37280397
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-023-01316-5
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: Depression,Neuroplasticity,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Animal Study
study_type: Animal Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
authors:
Moliner R, Girych M, Brunello CA, Kovaleva V, Biojone C, Enkavi G, Antenucci L, Kot EF, Goncharuk SA, Kaurinkoski K, Kuutti M, Fred SM, Elsilä LV, Sakson S, Cannarozzo C, Diniz CRAF, Seiffert N, Rubiolo A, Haapaniemi H, Meshi E, Nagaeva E, Öhman T, Róg T, Kankuri E, Vilar M, Varjosalo M, Korpi ER, Permi P, Mineev KS, Saarma M, Vattulainen I, Casarotto PC, Castrén E.

abstract:
Psychedelics produce fast and persistent antidepressant effects and induce neuroplasticity resembling the effects of clinically approved antidepressants. We recently reported that pharmacologically diverse antidepressants, including fluoxetine and ketamine, act by binding to TrkB, the receptor for BDNF. Here we show that lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocin directly bind to TrkB with affinities 1,000-fold higher than those for other antidepressants, and that psychedelics and antidepressants bind to distinct but partially overlapping sites within the transmembrane domain of TrkB dimers. The effects of psychedelics on neurotrophic signaling, plasticity and antidepressant-like behavior in mice depend on TrkB binding and promotion of endogenous BDNF signaling but are independent of serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2A) activation, whereas LSD-induced head twitching is dependent on 5-HT2A and independent of TrkB binding. Our data confirm TrkB as a common primary target for antidepressants and suggest that high-affinity TrkB positive allosteric modulators lacking 5-HT2A activity may retain the antidepressant potential of psychedelics without hallucinogenic effects.

keywords:
Neurons, Animals, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Humans, Mice, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Receptor, trkB, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Membrane Glycoproteins, Hallucinogens, Antidepressive Agents, Signal Transduction, Allosteric Regulation, Binding Sites, Neuronal Plasticity, Female, Male, Embryo, Mammalian, Molecular Dynamics Simulation, HEK293 Cells, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37280397","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Global species diversity and distribution of the psychedelic fungal genus Panaeolus.
authors: Strauss D, Ghosh S, Murray Z, Gryzenhout M.
publication_date: 2023-05-17
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16338
pubmed_id: 37274634
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16338
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Clinical Trial,Review Article
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
Psychedelic fungi have received considerable attention recently due to their promising treatment potential of several psychiatric disorders and medical conditions, both in clinical settings but also as a nutraceutical. Besides research, a growing number of companies are developing capacity to conduct research and clinical trials where these fungi and their products can be used, and to provide these fungi to the public market that are rapidly becoming legal across the world. Whereas Psilocybe species are better known as psychedelic fungi, species in Panaeolus are also reputed to contain the psychedelic compound psilocybin and used recreationally. For the novice, there is no contemporary scientific summary of all the species in this genus that are known to be psychedelic, compared to those that are not. The global distribution and species diversity of these brown to white, often inconspicuous mushrooms are also not summarised, nor is it known to what extent DNA sequence data that are needed for identification have been generated for all of the species in this genus. However, psychedelic Panaeolus species are used and moved across the world. This lack of data makes it difficult to regulate bioexploitation and apply law enforcement of these fungi and the compounds they contain, especially seen in the light of the rapid development of the related markets. The aim of this review is to summarise current scientific data and knowledge on the species biodiversity, geographical distribution, extent of sequence data for identification purposes, and the psychedelic potential of species, based on published results. The review revealed where species are mostly known from, while also indicating areas seriously lacking such biodiversity data. A significant degree of study across the world is still needed to confirm which of these species are truly psychedelic and exactly what compounds they can produce.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37274634","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: The evolution and ecology of psilocybin in nature.
authors: Meyer M, Slot J.
publication_date: 2023-05-17
doi: 10.1016/j.fgb.2023.103812
pubmed_id: 37210028
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fgb.2023.103812
keywords: Animals, Humans, Agaricales, Serotonin, Hallucinogens, Antifungal Agents, Psilocybin
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 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
abstract:
Fungi produce diverse metabolites that can have antimicrobial, antifungal, antifeedant, or psychoactive properties. Among these metabolites are the tryptamine-derived compounds psilocybin, its precursors, and natural derivatives (collectively referred to as psiloids), which have played significant roles in human society and culture. The high allocation of nitrogen to psiloids in mushrooms, along with evidence of convergent evolution and horizontal transfer of psilocybin genes, suggest they provide a selective benefit to some fungi. However, no precise ecological roles of psilocybin have been experimentally determined. The structural and functional similarities of psiloids to serotonin, an essential neurotransmitter in animals, suggest that they may enhance the fitness of fungi through interference with serotonergic processes. However, other ecological mechanisms of psiloids have been proposed. Here, we review the literature pertinent to psilocybin ecology and propose potential adaptive advantages psiloids may confer to fungi.

raw_json:
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title: Role of Psychedelics in Treatment-Resistant Depression.
authors: Kamal S, Jha MK, Radhakrishnan R.
publication_date: 2023-03-24
doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2023.02.004
pubmed_id: 37149346
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2023.02.004
keywords: Humans, Ketamine, Hallucinogens, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Treatment-Resistant Depression
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
There is increasing interest in exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Classic psychedelics (such as psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca/DMT), and atypical psychedelics (such as ketamine) have been studied in TRD. The evidence for the classic psychedelics TRD is limited at the present time; early studies however show promising results. There is also recognition that psychedelic research may be subject to a "hype bubble" at the present time. Future studies focused on delineating necessary ingredients of psychedelic treatments and the neurobiological basis of their effects, will help pave the way for the clinical use of these compounds.

raw_json:
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title: Assessment of Psilocybin Therapy for Patients With Cancer and Major Depression Disorder.
authors: Agrawal M, Emanuel E, Richards B, Richards W, Roddy K, Thambi P.
publication_date: 2023-05-31
doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.0351
pubmed_id: 37052904
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.0351
keywords: Humans, Neoplasms, Depression, Patients, Psilocybin, Major Depressive Disorder
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37052904","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: In silico characterization of the psilocybin biosynthesis pathway.
authors: Irvine W, Tyler M, Delgoda R.
publication_date: 2023-03-22
doi: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2023.107854
pubmed_id: 36990027
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2023.107854
keywords: Agaricales, Tryptamines, Serotonin, Tryptophan, Molecular Docking Simulation, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,In Vitro Study,Drug Interactions
study_type: In Vitro Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
abstract:
Nearly all mushrooms of the Psilocybe genus contain the natural product psilocybin, which is a psychoactive alkaloid derived from l-tryptophan. Considering their use in ancient times, as well as their psychedelic properties, these mushrooms have re-emerged with psychotherapeutic potential for treating depression, which has triggered increased pharmaceutical interest. However, the psilocybin biosynthesis pathway was only recently defined and, as such, little exists in the way of structural data. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to structurally characterize this pathway by generating homology models for the four Psilocybe cubensis enzymes involved in psilocybin biosynthesis (PsiD, a decarboxylase; PsiH, a monooxygenase; PsiK, a phosphotransferase; PsiM, a methyltransferase). Following initial model generation and alignment with the identified structural templates, repeated refinement of the models was carried out using secondary structure prediction, geometry evaluation, energy minimization, and molecular dynamics simulations in water. The final models were then evaluated using molecular docking interactions with their substrates, i.e., psilocybin precursors (l-tryptophan, tryptamine, 4-hydroxytryptamine, and norbaeocystin/baeocystin), all of which generated feasible binding modes for the expected biotransformation. Further plausibility of the psilocybin → aeruginascin, 4-hydroxytryptamine → norpsilocin, and tryptamine → N,N-dimethyltryptamine conversions, all mediated by the generated model for PsiM, suggests valid routes of formation for these key secondary metabolites. The structural characterization of these enzymes and their binding modes which emerged from this study can lead to a better understanding of psilocybin synthesis, thereby paving the way for the development of novel substrates and selective inhibitors, as well as improved biotechnological manipulation and production of psilocybin in vitro.

raw_json:
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authors: Xi D, Berger A, Shurtleff D, Zia FZ, Belouin S.
publication_date: 2023-02-26
doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109467
pubmed_id: 36858149
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109467
keywords: National Institutes of Health (U.S.), United States, Policy, Psilocybin, Evidence Gaps
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Pharmacology
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
title:
National Institutes of Health psilocybin research speaker series: State of the science, regulatory and policy landscape, research gaps, and opportunities.

abstract:
The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) convened a seminal first ever psychedelic drug substance-focused speaker series, from April 22 to June 10, 2021, titled the "NIH Psilocybin Research Speaker Series." This speaker series provided evidence-based scientific information to the public and the scientific community. Its aims were to assess the current state of the science, the regulatory and policy landscape, as well as to identify gaps in knowledge and understanding, ultimately serving to define future research needs. The highlights of the lectures and discussion from 26 national and international distinguished experts served as the basis for this Special Issue of Neuropharmacology. This article is part of the Special Issue on "National Institutes of Health Psilocybin Research Speaker Series".

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title: Acute psilocybin enhances cognitive flexibility in rats
authors: Pacheco AT, Olson RJ, Garza G, Moghaddam B.
journal: bioRxiv
publication_date: 2023-01-08
doi: 10.1101/2023.01.09.523291
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.01.09.523291
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,Pharmacology,Receptor Pharmacology,Healthcare Workers
study_type: Other
source_name: bioRxiv
publication_status: preprint
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
abstract:
Psilocybin has been shown to improve symptoms of depression and anxiety when combined with psychotherapy or other clinician-guided interventions. To understand the neural basis for this pattern of clinical efficacy, experimental and conceptual approaches that are different than traditional laboratory models of anxiety and depression are needed. A potential novel mechanism is that acute psilocybin improves cognitive flexibility, which then enhances the impact of clinician-assisted interventions. Consistent with this idea, we find that acute psilocybin robustly improves cognitive flexibility in male and female rats using a task where animals switched between previously learned strategies in response to uncued changes in the environment. Psilocybin did not influence Pavlovian reversal learning, suggesting that its cognitive effects are selective to enhanced switching between previously learned behavioral strategies. The serotonin (5HT) 2A receptor antagonist ketanserin blocked psilocybin’s effect on set-shifting, while a 5HT2C-selective antagonist did not. Ketanserin alone also improved set-shifting performance, suggesting a complex relationship between psilocybin’s pharmacology and its impact on flexibility. Further, the psychedelic drug 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI) impaired cognitive flexibility in the same task, suggesting that this effect of psilocybin does not generalize to all other serotonergic psychedelics. We conclude that the acute impact of psilocybin on cognitive flexibility provides a useful behavioral model to investigate its neuronal effects relevant to its positive clinical outcome.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"PPR593926","source":"PPR","pub_type":null,"publisher":"bioRxiv","importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Evens R, Schmidt ME, Majić T, Schmidt TT.
publication_date: 2023-05-28
doi: 10.1177/20451253231172254
pubmed_id: 37284524
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/20451253231172254
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Systematic Review
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
The psychedelic afterglow phenomenon: a systematic review of subacute effects of classic serotonergic psychedelics.

abstract:
BackgroundClassic serotonergic psychedelics have anecdotally been reported to show a characteristic pattern of subacute effects that persist after the acute effects of the substance have subsided. These transient effects, sometimes labeled as the 'psychedelic afterglow', have been suggested to be associated with enhanced effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions in the subacute period.ObjectivesThis systematic review provides an overview of subacute effects of psychedelics.MethodsElectronic databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science Core Collection) were searched for studies that assessed the effects of psychedelics (LSD, psilocybin, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, mescaline, or ayahuasca) on psychological outcome measures and subacute adverse effects in human adults between 1950 and August 2021, occurring between 1 day and 1 month after drug use.ResultsForty-eight studies including a total number of 1,774 participants were eligible for review. Taken together, the following subacute effects were observed: reductions in different psychopathological symptoms; increases in wellbeing, mood, mindfulness, social measures, spirituality, and positive behavioral changes; mixed changes in personality/values/attitudes, and creativity/flexibility. Subacute adverse effects comprised a wide range of complaints, including headaches, sleep disturbances, and individual cases of increased psychological distress.DiscussionResults support narrative reports of a subacute psychedelic 'afterglow' phenomenon comprising potentially beneficial changes in the perception of self, others, and the environment. Subacute adverse events were mild to severe, and no serious adverse events were reported. Many studies, however, lacked a standardized assessment of adverse effects. Future studies are needed to investigate the role of possible moderator variables and to reveal if and how positive effects from the subacute window may consolidate into long-term mental health benefits.

topic_tags:
Headache / Migraine,Wellbeing,Personality Change,Creativity,Spirituality,Systematic Review,Review Article,Adverse Events

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37284524","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Acute psilocybin increased cortical activities in rats.
authors: Liu J, Wang Y, Xia K, Wu J, Zheng D, Cai A, Yan H, Su R.
publication_date: 2023-05-22
doi: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1168911
pubmed_id: 37287797
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2023.1168911
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Brain Imaging,Mechanism of Action,Aging,Clinical Trial,Animal Study
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
abstract:
Psilocybin, a naturally occurring hallucinogenic component of magic mushrooms, has significant psychoactive effects in both humans and rodents. But the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Blood-oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a useful tool in many preclinical and clinical trials to investigate psilocybin-induced changes of brain activity and functional connectivity (FC) due to its noninvasive nature and widespread availability. However, fMRI effects of psilocybin on rats have not been carefully investigated. This study aimed to explore how psilocybin affects resting-state brain activity and FC, through a combination of BOLD fMRI and immunofluorescence (IF) of EGR1, an immediate early gene (IEG) closely related to depressive symptoms. Ten minutes after psilocybin hydrochloride injection (2.0 mg/kg, i.p.), positive brain activities were observed in the frontal, temporal, and parietal cortex (including the cingulate cortex and retrosplenial cortex), hippocampus, and striatum. And a region-of-interest (ROI) -wise FC analysis matrix suggested increased interconnectivity of several regions, such as the cingulate cortex, dorsal striatum, prelimbic, and limbic regions. Further seed-based analyses revealed increased FC of cingulate cortex within the cortical and striatal areas. Consistently, acute psilocybin increased the EGR1 level throughout the brain, indicating a consistent activation thought the cortical and striatal areas. In conclusion, the psilocybin-induced hyperactive state of rats is congruent to that of humans, and may be responsible for its pharmacological effects.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37287797","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Neurobiological Correlates of Psilocybin Response in Depression.
authors: Qasim S, Zaheer Z, Jawad MY, Shad MU.
publication_date: 2023-05-22
doi: 10.4088/pcc.22r03419
pubmed_id: 37230065
source_url: https://doi.org/10.4088/pcc.22r03419
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Brain Imaging,Aging,Randomized Controlled Trial,Safety
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
abstract:
Objective: To synthesize the neurobiological basis of brain-resetting effects of psilocybin and identify neuroimaging correlates of psilocybin response in depressed patients.Data Sources: MEDLINE(R), Embase, APA PsycINFO, Cochrane, and CINAHL were systematically searched on June 3, 2022, with no date restrictions using the following string: (psilocybin) AND (psychedelics) AND (MRI) OR (fMRI)) OR (PET)) OR (SPECT)) OR (imaging)) OR (neuroimaging)).Study Selection: After duplicates were removed from 946 studies, 391 studies remained, of which 8 qualified for full-text analysis, but only 5 fulfilled the eligibility criteria of randomized, double-blind, or open-label neuroimaging study with psilocybin treatment in depressed patients.Data Extraction: The Covidence platform was used for deduplication and bias assessment. The a priori data points included concomitant psychological intervention, modality of neuroimaging technique, changes in depression scores, brain functional changes, and association between functional and psilocybin response. Assessment bias was assessed with the standard risk of bias tool for randomized controlled trials and the tool for risk of bias in nonrandomized studies of interventions.Results: Four studies were open-label, and one was a combined open-label and randomized controlled trial using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy was administered in 3 studies, 1 in refractory and 2 in nonrefractory patients. The remaining 2 studies were in refractory patients. The transient increase in psilocybin-induced global connectivity in major neural tracts and specific areas of brain activation was associated with antidepressant response.Conclusions: Transient functional brain changes with psilocybin therapy resemble the "brain reset" phenomenon and may serve as the putative predictors of psilocybin antidepressant response.

keywords:
Brain, Humans, Antidepressive Agents, Depression, Psychotherapy, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37230065","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Fonseka LN, Woo BK.
publication_date: 2023-05-18
doi: 10.5498/wjp.v13.i5.182
pubmed_id: 37303932
source_url: https://doi.org/10.5498/wjp.v13.i5.182
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,PTSD,Review Article,Treatment-Resistant Depression,Healthcare Workers
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
title:
Therapeutic role of psilocybin and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine in trauma: A literature review.

abstract:
With the Food and Drug Administration designation in 2017 of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) as a breakthrough therapy in post-traumatic stress disorder and psilocybin in treatment-resistant depression, psychedelic drugs have continued to garner the attention of researchers and clinicians for their promise of unmatched, rapid improvement in a multitude of psychiatric conditions. Classic psychedelic drugs including psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, and ayahuasca, as well as non-classic drugs such as MDMA and ketamine, are currently being investigated for a potential therapeutic role in trauma, depressive disorders, and other psychopathologies. However, psilocybin and MDMA each have a functional profile well-suited for integration with psychotherapy. The present review focuses on psilocybin and MDMA in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), as these studies compose most of the literature pool. In this review, we discuss the current and future uses of psychedelic drugs, with an emphasis on the role of MDMA and psilocybin in PAT in the setting of trauma and related comorbidities on the efficacy of psychedelic drugs across multiple psychiatric disorders. The article concludes with thoughts for future research, such as incorporating wearables and standardization of symptom scales, therapy styles, and assessment of adverse drug reactions.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37303932","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


publication_date: 2023-04-06
doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106589
pubmed_id: 37138774
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.106589
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Brain Imaging,Consciousness,Aging,Emotional Processing,Drug Interactions
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:03
title:
TMS-EEG and resting-state EEG applied to altered states of consciousness: oscillations, complexity, and phenomenology.

authors:
Ort A, Smallridge JW, Sarasso S, Casarotto S, von Rotz R, Casanova A, Seifritz E, Preller KH, Tononi G, Vollenweider FX.

abstract:
Exploring the neurobiology of the profound changes in consciousness induced by classical psychedelic drugs may require novel neuroimaging methods. Serotonergic psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin produce states of increased sensory-emotional awareness and arousal, accompanied by increased spontaneous electroencephalographic (EEG) signal diversity. By directly stimulating cortical tissue, the altered dynamics and propagation of the evoked EEG activity can reveal drug-induced changes in the overall brain state. We combine Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and EEG to reveal that psilocybin produces a state of increased chaotic brain activity which is not a result of altered complexity in the underlying causal interactions between brain regions. We also map the regional effects of psilocybin on TMS-evoked activity and identify changes in frontal brain structures that may be associated with the phenomenology of psychedelic experiences.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37138774","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Henri Michaux's program for the psychedelic humanities.
authors: Davis O.
publication_date: 2023-05-15
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1152896
pubmed_id: 37275714
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1152896
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Creativity,Mystical Experience
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
This article presents an analytical reading of the extraordinarily rich cultural production around drugs by the 20th-century French poet, writer, critic, and visual artist Michaux (1899-1984). Over about a decade, from the mid-1950's, the otherwise habitually sober Michaux wrote five books, included within which were dozens of drawings, and made one half-hour film, charting his adventures as an initially reluctant yet persistent psychonaut, principally with mescaline, but also with psilocybin, LSD, and cannabis. This has rightly been described as one of the most creative cultural explorations of mescaline. It is more extensive, texturally complex, and esthetically demanding than Aldous Huxley's far better known near-contemporaneous published work on psychedelics in English, which is well-known within and arguably foundational for psychedelic studies. Yet, this very complexity, as well as the national-linguistic context of its articulation-there was no mass psychedelic counterculture in France-have limited wider engagement with it. I argue that Michaux's esthetic reconstruction of psychedelics' effects on his creative brain can be read as a "program" for the emerging field of the psychedelic humanities and that it makes a substantial contribution, which I sketch in outline here, to the following of core concerns: (1) the role of psychedelics in enhancing "creativity"; (2) conceptualization of the politics of psychedelics; and (3) the meaning and value of psychedelic mysticism. I aim to show that Michaux's work on drugs has much to contribute to the cultural understanding of psychedelics today and accordingly that this unjustly neglected classic of French-and global-drug culture deserves to be far better known.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37275714","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Blest-Hopley G, Amit BH, O'Neill A, Ruffell SGD
journal: Frontiers in psychiatry
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1191970
pubmed_id: 37252138
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37252138/
keywords: cannabinoids, cannabis, hallucinogenic, psilocybin, psychedelics
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Safety
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"37252138"}
title:
Editorial: Appropriateness and safety of using cannabinoid and psychedelic medicines as treatments for psychiatric disorders.


authors: Purohit P, Dutta P, Roy PK.
publication_date: 2023-05-11
doi: 10.3389/fncom.2023.1136985
pubmed_id: 37251600
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fncom.2023.1136985
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Brain Imaging,Aging
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
title:
Empirically validated theoretical analysis of visual-spatial perception under change of nervous system arousal.

abstract:
IntroductionVisual-spatial perception is a process for extracting the spatial relationship between objects in the environment. The changes in visual-spatial perception due to factors such as the activity of the sympathetic nervous system (hyperactivation) or parasympathetic nervous system (hypoactivation) can affect the internal representation of the external visual-spatial world. We formulated a quantitative model of the modulation of visual-perceptual space under action by hyperactivation or hypoactivation-inducing neuromodulating agents. We showed a Hill equation based relationship between neuromodulator agent concentration and alteration of visual-spatial perception utilizing the metric tensor to quantify the visual space.MethodsWe computed the dynamics of the psilocybin (hyperactivation-inducing agent) and chlorpromazine (hypoactivation-inducing agent) in brain tissue. Then, we validated our quantitative model by analyzing the findings of different independent behavioral studies where subjects were assessed for alterations in visual-spatial perception under the action of psilocybin and under chlorpromazine. To validate the neuronal correlates, we simulated the effect of the neuromodulating agent on the computational model of the grid-cell network, and also performed diffusion MRI-based tractography to find the neural tracts between the cortical areas involved: V2 and the entorhinal cortex.ResultsWe applied our computational model to an experiment (where perceptual alterations were measured under psilocybin) and found that for n (Hill-coefficient) = 14.8 and k = 1.39, the theoretical prediction followed experimental observations very well (χ2 test robustly satisfied, p > 0.99). We predicted the outcome of another psilocybin-based experiment using these values (n = 14.8 and k = 1.39), whereby our prediction and experimental outcomes were well corroborated. Furthermore, we found that also under hypoactivation (chlorpromazine), the modulation of the visual-spatial perception follows our model. Moreover, we found neural tracts between the area V2 and entorhinal cortex, thus providing a possible brain network responsible for encoding visual-spatial perception. Thence, we simulated the altered grid-cell network activity, which was also found to follow the Hill equation.ConclusionWe developed a computational model of visuospatial perceptual alterations under altered neural sympathetic/parasympathetic tone. We validated our model using analysis of behavioral studies, neuroimaging assessment, and neurocomputational evaluation. Our quantitative approach may be probed as a potential behavioral screening and monitoring methodology in neuropsychology to analyze perceptual misjudgment and mishaps by highly stressed workers.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37251600","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Singleton SP, Timmermann C, Luppi AI, Eckernäs E, Roseman L, Carhart-Harris RL, Kuceyeski A.
journal: bioRxiv
publication_date: 2023-05-11
doi: 10.1101/2023.05.11.540409
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.05.11.540409
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Brain Imaging,Pharmacology,Receptor Pharmacology,Consciousness
study_type: Other
source_name: bioRxiv
publication_status: preprint
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
title:
Time-resolved network control analysis links reduced control energy under DMT with the serotonin 2a receptor, signal diversity, and subjective experience

abstract:
Psychedelics offer a profound window into the functioning of the human brain and mind through their robust acute effects on perception, subjective experience, and brain activity patterns. In recent work using a receptor-informed network control theory framework, we demonstrated that the serotonergic psychedelics lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin flatten the brain’s control energy landscape in a manner that covaries with more dynamic and entropic brain activity. Contrary to LSD and psilocybin, whose effects last for hours, the serotonergic psychedelic N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) rapidly induces a profoundly immersive altered state of consciousness lasting less than 20 minutes, allowing for the entirety of the drug experience to be captured during a single resting-state fMRI scan. Using network control theory, which quantifies the amount of input necessary to drive transitions between functional brain states, we integrate brain structure and function to map the energy trajectories of 14 individuals undergoing fMRI during DMT and placebo. Consistent with previous work, we find that global control energy is reduced following injection with DMT compared to placebo. We additionally show longitudinal trajectories of global control energy correlate with longitudinal trajectories of EEG signal diversity (a measure of entropy) and subjective ratings of drug intensity. We interrogate these same relationships on a regional level and find that the spatial patterns of DMT’s effects on these metrics are correlated with serotonin 2a receptor density (obtained from separately acquired PET data). Using receptor distribution and pharmacokinetic information, we were able to successfully recapitulate the effects of DMT on global control energy trajectories, demonstrating a proof-of-concept for the use of control models in predicting pharmacological intervention effects on brain dynamics.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"PPR659698","source":"PPR","pub_type":null,"publisher":"bioRxiv","importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Singh S, Botvinnik A, Shahar O, Wolf G, Yakobi C, Saban M, Salama A, Lotan A, Lerer B, Lifschytz T.
publication_date: 2023-05-09
doi: 10.1038/s41398-023-02456-9
pubmed_id: 37164956
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-023-02456-9
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: OCD,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Animal Study
study_type: Animal Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
title:
Effect of psilocybin on marble burying in ICR mice: role of 5-HT1A receptors and implications for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

abstract:
Preliminary clinical findings, supported by preclinical studies employing behavioral paradigms such as marble burying, suggest that psilocybin may be effective in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, the receptor mechanisms implicated in the putative anti-obsessional effect are not clear. On this background, we set out to explore (1) the role of serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) and serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) receptors in the effect of psilocybin on marble burying; (2) the effect of staggered versus bolus psilocybin administration and persistence of the effect; (3) the effect of the 5-HT1A partial agonist, buspirone, on marble-burying and the head twitch response (HTR) induced by psilocybin, a rodent correlate of psychedelic effects. Male ICR mice were administered psilocybin 4.4 mg/kg, escitalopram 5 mg/kg, 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) 2 mg/kg, M100907 2 mg/kg, buspirone 5 mg/kg, WAY100635 2 mg/kg or combinations, intraperitoneally, and were tested on the marble burying test. HTR was examined in a magnetometer-based assay. The results show that (1) Psilocybin and escitalopram significantly reduced marble burying. The effect of psilocybin was not attenuated by the 5-HT2A antagonist, M100907. The 5-HT1A agonist, 8-OH-DPAT, reduced marble burying as did the 5-HT1A partial agonist, buspirone. The effect of 8-OH-DPAT was additive to that of psilocybin, but that of buspirone was not. The 5-HT1A antagonist, WAY100635, attenuated the effect of 8-OH-DPAT and buspirone but not the effect of psilocybin. (2) Psilocybin injections over 3.5 h had no effect on marble burying and the effect of bolus injection was not persistent. (3) Co-administration of buspirone with psilocybin blocked its effect on HTR. These data suggest that neither 5-HT2A nor 5-HT1A receptors are pivotally implicated in the effect of psilocybin on marble burying. Co-administration with buspirone may block the psychedelic effects of psilocybin without impeding its anti-obsessional effects.

keywords:
Animals, Mice, Inbred ICR, Mice, Serotonin, Fluorobenzenes, Piperidines, Buspirone, 8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A, Hallucinogens, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Male, Psilocybin, Escitalopram

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37164956","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


publication_date: 2023-05-08
doi: 10.3390/medicina59050908
pubmed_id: 37241141
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59050908
keywords: Humans, Substance-Related Disorders, Hallucinogens, Poland, Drug Users, Surveys and Questionnaires
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,Addiction,Observational Study
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
The Need for Psychiatric Treatment among Polish Users of Psychoactive Substances Is Increasing: This and Other Results from the Newest PolDrugs Survey.

authors:
Więckiewicz G, Marek J, Stokłosa I, Szafoni S, Pluta S, Smukowska K, Żebrowska G, Stokłosa M, Gorczyca P, Pudlo R.

abstract:
Background and Objectives: PolDrugs is the largest Polish naturalistic nationwide survey to present basic demographic and epidemiological data that could potentially prevent harm from illicit substances intake in drugs users. The most recent results were presented in 2021. The goal of this year's edition was to re-present the above data and compare it to the previous edition's data to identify and describe the differences. Materials and Methods: The survey included original questions about basic demographics, substance use, and psychiatric treatment. The survey was administered via the Google Forms platform and promoted via social media. The data was collected from 1117 respondents. Results: People of all ages use a variety of psychoactive substances in many situations. The three most commonly used drugs are marijuana, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and hallucinogenic mushrooms. The most common reason for seeking professional medical help was amphetamine use. A total of 41.7 percent of respondents were receiving psychiatric treatment. The three most common psychiatric diagnoses among the respondents were depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and ADHD. Conclusions: Key findings include increases in the use of psilocybin and DMT, increases in the use of heated tobacco products, and a near doubling in the percentage of individuals receiving psychiatric help in the past two years. These issues are discussed in the discussion section of this paper, which also addresses the limitations to the article.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37241141","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Cardiac Arrest Associated With Psilocybin Use and Hereditary Hemochromatosis.
authors: Bae S, Vaysblat M, Bae E, Dejanovic I, Pierce M.
publication_date: 2023-05-06
doi: 10.7759/cureus.38669
pubmed_id: 37288212
source_url: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.38669
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Brain Imaging,Aging,Adolescents,Adverse Events
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
abstract:
Recreational drug use is a significant public health concern in various countries. It is well understood that usage of psychedelics/hallucinogens, such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ecstasy, phencyclidine (PCP), and psilocybin-containing mushrooms, has increased significantly over the last few decades, particularly in adolescents and young adults, yet the effects of these recreational drugs are poorly understood. Psilocybin has recently been studied as an alternative to traditional antidepressant therapies with potentially benign side effects. Here, we present the case of a 48-year-old male with a past medical history of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder on lisdexamfetamine who presented after a syncopal episode witnessed by his wife at home. He was found to be in ventricular fibrillation and subsequently had an extensive workup with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ischemic evaluation, and electrophysiology, which were unrevealing. He then received an automatic implantable cardiac defibrillator and was incidentally found to have hereditary hemochromatosis on outpatient follow-up. His polypharmacy may have potentially led to catecholamine release, leading to ventricular arrhythmia.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37288212","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Davis AK, Levin AW, Nagib PB, Armstrong SB, Lancelotta RL.
publication_date: 2023-05-03
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068884
pubmed_id: 37142308
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068884
keywords: Humans, Treatment Outcome, Pilot Projects, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Veterans, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Anxiety,PTSD,Review Article,Veterans,Healthcare Workers,Safety,Adverse Events
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
title:
Study protocol of an open-label proof-of-concept trial examining the safety and clinical efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy for veterans with PTSD.

abstract:
IntroductionPsilocybin-assisted therapy has shown significant promise in treating the cluster of mood and anxiety symptoms that comprise post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but has yet to be tested specifically in this condition. Furthermore, current pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments for PTSD are difficult to tolerate and limited in efficacy, especially in the US Military Veteran (USMV) population. This open-label pilot study will examine the safety and efficacy of two psilocybin administration sessions (15 mg and 25 mg), combined with psychotherapy, among USMVs with severe, treatment resistant PTSD.Methods and analysisWe will recruit 15 USMVs with severe, treatment resistant PTSD. Participants will receive one low dose (15 mg) and one moderate/high dose (25 mg) of psilocybin in conjunction with preparatory and post-psilocybin therapy sessions. The primary safety outcome will be the type, severity and frequency of adverse events and suicidal ideation/behaviour, as measured by the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. The primary outcome measure for PTSD will be the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale-5. The primary endpoint will be 1 month following the second psilocybin administration session, and the total follow-up time will be 6 months.Ethics and disseminationAll participants will be required to provide written informed consent. The trial has been authorised by the Ohio State University Institutional Review Board (study number: 2022H0280). Dissemination of results will occur via a peer-reviewed publication and other relevant media.Trial registration numberNCT05554094.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37142308","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: [Drugs in the Developmental Stage (Psychotropics)].
authors: Uchida H.
publication_date: 2023-04-30
doi: 10.11477/mf.1416202356
pubmed_id: 37194510
source_url: https://doi.org/10.11477/mf.1416202356
keywords: Humans, Psychotropic Drugs, Psychopharmacology
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Pharmacology,Mechanism of Action
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
In recent years, it is common for a single drug to be developed for multiple diseases almost simultaneously, e.g., pimavanserin and psilocybin. Although there was gloomy news for the field of neuropsychopharmacology, such as withdrawal of the world's leading mega-pharmaceutical companies from the development of CNS drugs, drugs based on novel mechanisms of action have been investigated. This is a new dawn in the field of clinical psychopharmacology.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37194510","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Schneier FR, Feusner J, Wheaton MG, Gomez GJ, Cornejo G, Naraindas AM, Hellerstein DJ.
publication_date: 2023-03-27
doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.03.031
pubmed_id: 37004409
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.03.031
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Receptor Pharmacology,Randomized Controlled Trial,Safety
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
title:
Pilot study of single-dose psilocybin for serotonin reuptake inhibitor-resistant body dysmorphic disorder.

abstract:
ObjectiveBody dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is an often-severe condition in which individuals are preoccupied by misperceptions of their appearance as defective or ugly. Only serotonin reuptake inhibitors and cognitive-behavioral therapy have been demonstrated efficacious in randomized controlled trials. Psilocybin is a psychedelic drug with growing evidence for safety and efficacy in treatment of depression. This study aimed to pilot test the feasibility, tolerability, safety, and efficacy of psilocybin treatment of adults with BDD.MethodsIn this open-label trial, 12 adults (8 women, 4 men) with moderate-to-severe non-delusional BDD that had been unresponsive to at least one serotonin reuptake inhibitor trial received a single oral dose of psilocybin 25 mg. There was no control group. Psychological support was provided before, during, and after the dosing session. The primary outcome measure for efficacy was the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Scale Modified for BDD (BDD-YBOCS) score during 12 weeks of assessments after dosing.ResultsAll participants completed dosing and all follow-up assessments. BDD-YBOCS scores decreased significantly over 12 weeks of follow-up (p

keywords:
Humans, Treatment Outcome, Pilot Projects, Adult, Female, Male, Body Dysmorphic Disorders, Psilocybin, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37004409","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: [Contribution of serotonin 5-HT2A receptor to antidepressant effect of serotonergic psychedelics].
authors: Ibi D.
publication_date: 2023-03-28
doi: 10.1254/fpj.22141
pubmed_id: 36990794
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1254/fpj.22141
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
Major depressive disorder presents a substantial global health burden, and at least 30-40% of patients exhibit treatment resistance to antidepressants. Ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, is used as an anesthetic agent. In 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved esketamine (the S-enantiomer of ketamine) as a therapeutic agent for treatment-resistant depression; however, this drug has reportedly been associated with serious side effects such as dissociative symptoms, thus limiting its clinical use as an antidepressant. Recently, various clinical studies have reported that psilocybin, the psychoactive substance found in magic mushrooms, has a fast-acting and long-lasting antidepressant effect in patients with major depressive disorder, including those resistant to conventional treatment. Furthermore, psilocybin is a psychoactive drug that is relatively harmless compared to ketamine and other similar substances. Accordingly, the FDA has designated psilocybin as a "breakthrough therapy approach" for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Additionally, serotonergic psychedelics such as psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide show some potential in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and addiction. The increased attention the use of psychedelics has attracted as a psychiatric disorder treatment approach is referred to as the "psychedelic renaissance". Pharmacologically, psychedelics cause hallucinations by stimulating cortical serotonin 5-HT2A receptors (5-HT2A), although whether 5-HT2A is responsible for the manifestation of their therapeutic effects remains unclear. Furthermore, it is unclear whether the hallucinations and "mystical experience" that the patients go through because of 5-HT2A activation by psychedelics is essential for the therapeutic effect of these substances. Future research should elucidate the molecular and neural mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of psychedelics. This review summarizes the therapeutic effects of psychedelics on psychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorder in clinical and pre-clinical studies, and discusses the possibility of 5-HT2A as a novel therapeutic target.

keywords:
Humans, Hallucinations, Serotonin, Ketamine, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A, Hallucinogens, Antidepressive Agents, Psilocybin, Major Depressive Disorder

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,Addiction,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Mystical Experience,Review Article,Treatment-Resistant Depression,Adverse Events

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36990794","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Antidepressant Effects of Psilocybin in the Absence of Psychedelic Effects.
authors: Rosenblat JD, Leon-Carlyle M, Ali S, Husain MI, McIntyre RS.
publication_date: 2023-03-21
doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20220835
pubmed_id: 36945824
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.20220835
keywords: Humans, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Antidepressive Agents, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36945824","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Trends in drug use among nightclub and festival attendees in New York City, 2017-2022.
authors: Palamar JJ, Le A, Cleland CM, Keyes KM.
publication_date: 2023-03-16
doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104001
pubmed_id: 36934660
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104001
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Observational Study
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
BackgroundDrug use is prevalent among people who attend electronic dance music (EDM) parties at nightclubs or festivals. This population can serve as a sentinel population to monitor trends in use of party drugs and new psychoactive substances (NPS) that may diffuse through larger segments of the population.MethodsWe surveyed adults entering randomly selected EDM parties at nightclubs and dance festivals in New York City about their drug use in 2017 (n=954), 2018 (n=1,029), 2019 (n=606), 2021 (n=229), and 2022 (n=419). We estimated trends in past-year and past-month use of 22 drugs or drug classes based on self-report from 2017-2022 and examined whether there were shifts pre- vs. post-COVID (2017-2019 vs. 2021-2022).ResultsBetween 2017 and 2022, there were increases in past-year and past-month use of shrooms (psilocybin), ketamine, poppers (amyl/butyl nitrites), synthetic cathinones ("bath salts"), and novel psychedelics (lysergamides and DOx series), increases in past-year cannabis use, and increases in past-month use of 2C series drugs. Between 2017 and 2022, there were decreases in past-year heroin use and decreases in past-month cocaine use, novel stimulant use, and nonmedical benzodiazepine use. The odds of use of shrooms, poppers, and 2C series drugs significantly increased after COVID, and the odds of use of cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, methamphetamine, novel stimulants, and prescription opioids (nonmedical use) decreased post-COVID.ConclusionsWe estimate shifts in prevalence of various drugs among this sentinel population, which can inform ongoing surveillance efforts and public health response in this and the general populations.

keywords:
Humans, Substance-Related Disorders, Heroin, Cocaine, Hallucinogens, Holidays, Dancing, Music, Adult, New York City, Illicit Drugs, COVID-19

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36934660","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Unblinding and demand characteristics in the treatment of depression.
authors: Goodwin GM, Croal M, Marwood L, Malievskaia E
journal: Journal of affective disorders
publication_date: 2023-04-30
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.02.030
pubmed_id: 36781142
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36781142/
keywords: Antidepressant, Demand characteristics, Depression, Psilocybin, Psychedelic, Unblinding
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Clinical Trial,Randomized Controlled Trial
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"36781142"}
abstract:
Blinding of treatment allocation in clinical trials in psychiatry is regarded as an ideal. The potential impact of unblinding chimes with a general concern for psychological research: so-called demand characteristics can undermine confidence in findings from experimental and clinical studies. Scepticism can result in nihilism. The reliance on subjective report of symptoms in clinical trials of drug efficacy in depression provides an important example. It is regularly implied that if subjective effects, including specific adverse reactions, unblind participants to an active treatment then evidence for its efficacy is suspect. In fact, the strong association between dose and subjective effects does not translate into a strong relationship with efficacy in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of conventional antidepressant drugs; this observation falsifies the proposition that unblinding is the principal mechanism driving RCT outcomes in studies of depression. Instead, changes in brain function, that occur soon after treatment starts, do predict treatment outcomes and align with our understanding of neurotransmitter effects from neuroscience. Psychedelic experience for the treatment of depression must be unblinding, but the effect results directly from serotonergic receptor activation and changes in brain connectivity. Where such effects are part of a novel mechanism of action, a strong dose response relationship would be expected, irrespective of unblinding. We highlight the importance of exploring blinding as a mechanism, confirming dose-related outcomes, and dissociating unblinding effects from efficacy. Unblinding does not necessarily invalidate the subjective experience of sustained recovery from depression.


title: The use of classic psychedelics among adults: a Danish online survey study.
authors: Søgaard Juul T, Ebbesen Jensen M, Fink-Jensen A.
publication_date: 2022-09-28
doi: 10.1080/08039488.2022.2125069
pubmed_id: 36173202
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1080/08039488.2022.2125069
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Wellbeing,Spirituality,Mystical Experience,Observational Study
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
BackgroundClinical studies report preliminary therapeutic effects of classic psychedelic drugs in several psychiatric conditions and international drug trends show increased use of these compounds. However, the epidemiology of classic psychedelic drug use in Scandinavian countries remains sparsely investigated. To this end, we investigated the patterns of use and the subjectively perceived acute and persisting effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and mescaline, among Danish adults.MethodsAn anonymous online survey with 152 items was conducted using the secure survey web application REDCap. Results were presented descriptively and as comparisons between psychedelic drugs.ResultsFive-hundred participants (30.0% female, mean age 34.5 years) were included. Classic psychedelics were mostly used with therapeutic (28.0%) or spiritual (27.2%) intentions. Sixty-seven per cent used classic psychedelics once a year or less. Most participants (56.4%) preferred using psilocybin. Classic psychedelic use was for some individuals, associated with hazardous use of alcohol (39.4%). Among participants with a psychiatric treatment history, 80.9% reported subjective improvements in symptoms following classic psychedelic use. Participants' most memorable experiences were moderate-to-strong mystical-type experiences (MEQ30 mean ± SD3.4 ± 1.0; range 1-5) and had positive persisting effects on well-being (mean ± SD2.1 ± 1.0), social relationships (mean ± SD1.7 ± 1.2), meaning of life (mean ± SD1.9 ± 1.1), and mood (mean ± SD1.8 ± 1.1); range -3 to 3. DMT users experienced significantly greater subjective positive effects.ConclusionsClassic psychedelics were mostly used therapeutically or spiritually and had self-reported positive persisting effects, but were also associated with hazardous use of alcohol, among Danish adults. DMT was associated with significantly greater positive effects compared to LSD and psilocybin.

keywords:
Humans, Substance-Related Disorders, Ethanol, N,N-Dimethyltryptamine, Hallucinogens, Adult, Denmark, Female, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36173202","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


publication_date: 2023-04-24
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1178529
pubmed_id: 37181888
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1178529
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: OCD,Brain Imaging,Mechanism of Action,Aging,Randomized Controlled Trial,Review Article,Safety
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
title:
Safety, tolerability, and clinical and neural effects of single-dose psilocybin in obsessive-compulsive disorder: protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, non-crossover trial.

authors:
Ching THW, Grazioplene R, Bohner C, Kichuk SA, DePalmer G, D'Amico E, Eilbott J, Jankovsky A, Burke M, Hokanson J, Martins B, Witherow C, Patel P, Amoroso L, Schaer H, Pittenger C, Kelmendi B.

abstract:
BackgroundPsilocybin may help treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). To date, only one open-label study of psilocybin for OCD exists, necessitating further investigation with a randomized controlled design. The neural correlates of psilocybin's effects on OCD have also not been studied.ObjectivesThis first-of-its-kind trial aims to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and tolerability of psilocybin in the treatment of OCD, provide preliminary evidence on the effects of psilocybin on OCD symptoms, and elucidate neural mechanisms that may mediate psilocybin's effects on OCD.DesignWe use a randomized (1:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled, non-crossover design to examine the clinical and neural effects of either a single dose of oral psilocybin (0.25 mg/kg) or active placebo-control agent (250 mg of niacin) on OCD symptoms.Methods and analysisWe are enrolling 30 adult participants at a single site in Connecticut, USA who have failed at least one trial of standard care treatment (medication/psychotherapy) for OCD. All participants will also receive unstructured, non-directive psychological support during visits. Aside from safety, primary outcomes include OCD symptoms over the past 24 h, assessed by the Acute Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale and Visual Analog Scale ratings. These are collected by blinded, independent raters at baseline and the primary endpoint of 48 h post-dosing. Total follow-up is 12 weeks post-dosing. Resting state neuroimaging data will be collected at baseline and primary endpoint. Participants randomized to placebo will be offered the chance to return for an open-label dose of 0.25 mg/kg.Ethics statementAll participants will be required to provide written informed consent. The trial (protocol v. 5.2) was approved by the institutional review board (HIC #2000020355) and registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03356483).DiscussionThis study may represent an advance in our ability to treat refractory OCD, and pave the way for future studies of neurobiological mechanisms of OCD that may respond to psilocybin.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37181888","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Mini-review: The neurobiology of treating substance use disorders with classical psychedelics.
authors: Urban MM, Stingl MR, Meinhardt MW
journal: Frontiers in neuroscience
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1156319
pubmed_id: 37139521
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37139521/
keywords: addiction, dependency, hallucinogen, plasticity, psilocybin, psychedelics, substance, therapy
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Neuroplasticity,Mechanism of Action,Review Article
study_type: Review Article
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"37139521"}
abstract:
The potential of psychedelics to persistently treat substance use disorders is known since the 1960s. However, the biological mechanisms responsible for their therapeutic effects have not yet been fully elucidated. While it is known that serotonergic hallucinogens induce changes in gene expression and neuroplasticity, particularly in prefrontal regions, theories on how specifically this counteracts the alterations that occur in neuronal circuitry throughout the course of addiction are largely unknown. This narrative mini-review endeavors to synthesize well-established knowledge from addiction research with findings and theories regarding the neurobiological effects of psychedelics to give an overview of the potential mechanisms that underlie the treatment of substance use disorders with classical hallucinogenic compounds and point out gaps in the current understanding.


authors: Glatfelter GC, Naeem M, Pham DNK, Golen JA, Chadeayne AR, Manke DR, Baumann MH.
publication_date: 2023-03-09
doi: 10.1021/acsptsci.2c00222
pubmed_id: 37082754
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsptsci.2c00222
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: Receptor Pharmacology,Animal Study
study_type: Animal Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
title:
Receptor Binding Profiles for Tryptamine Psychedelics and Effects of 4-Propionoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine in Mice.

abstract:
Analogues of 4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (psilocybin) are being sold on recreational drug markets and developed as potential medications for psychedelic-assisted therapies. Many of these tryptamine-based psilocybin analogues produce psychedelic-like effects in rodents and humans primarily by agonist activity at serotonin 2A receptors (5-HT2A). However, the comprehensive pharmacological target profiles for these compounds compared to psilocybin and its active metabolite 4-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (psilocin) are unknown. The present study determined the receptor binding profiles of various tryptamine-based psychedelics structurally related to psilocybin across a broad range of potential targets. Specifically, we examined tryptamine psychedelics with different 4-position (hydroxy, acetoxy, propionoxy) and N,N-dialkyl (dimethyl, methyl-ethyl, diethyl, methyl-propyl, ethyl-propyl, diisopropyl, methyl-allyl, diallyl) substitutions. Further, the psilocybin analogue 4-propionoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (4-PrO-DMT) was administered to mice in experiments measuring head twitch response (HTR), locomotor activity, and body temperature. Overall, the present pharmacological profile screening data show that the tryptamine psychedelics target multiple serotonin receptors, including serotonin 1A receptors (5-HT1A). 4-Acetoxy and 4-propionoxy analogues of 4-hydroxy compounds displayed somewhat weaker binding affinities but similar target profiles across 5-HT receptors and other identified targets. Additionally, differential binding screen profiles were observed with N,N-dialkyl position variations across several non-5-HT receptor targets (i.e., alpha receptors, dopamine receptors, histamine receptors, and serotonin transporters), which could impact in vivo pharmacological effects of the compounds. In mouse experiments, 4-PrO-DMT displayed dose-related psilocybin-like effects to produce 5-HT2A-mediated HTR (0.3-3 mg/kg s.c.) as well as 5-HT1A-mediated hypothermia and hypolocomotion (3-30 mg/kg s.c.). Lastly, our data support a growing body of evidence that the 5-HT2A-mediated HTR induced by tryptamine psychedelics is attenuated by 5-HT1A receptor agonist activity at high doses in mice.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37082754","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


publication_date: 2023-02-03
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.108
pubmed_id: 36740140
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.108
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
title:
Single-dose psilocybin for a treatment-resistant episode of major depression: Impact on patient-reported depression severity, anxiety, function, and quality of life.

authors:
Goodwin GM, Aaronson ST, Alvarez O, Atli M, Bennett JC, Croal M, DeBattista C, Dunlop BW, Feifel D, Hellerstein DJ, Husain MI, Kelly JR, Lennard-Jones MR, Licht RW, Marwood L, Mistry S, Páleníček T, Redjep O, Repantis D, Schoevers RA, Septimus B, Simmons HJ, Soares JC, Somers M, Stansfield SC, Stuart JR, Tadley HH, Thiara NK, Tsai J, Wahba M, Williams S, Winzer RI, Young AH, Young MB, Zisook S, Malievskaia E.

abstract:
BackgroundCOMP360 is a proprietary, synthetic formulation of psilocybin being developed for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), a burdensome, life-threatening illness with high global impact. Here, we expand upon the previous report of primary outcomes from a phase 2 study of COMP360 in individuals with TRD-the largest randomised controlled clinical trial of psilocybin-to discuss findings of the exploratory efficacy endpoints.MethodsIn this phase 2, double-blind trial, 233 participants with TRD were randomised to receive a single dose of psilocybin 25 mg, 10 mg, or 1 mg (control), administered alongside psychological support from trained therapists. Efficacy measures assessed patient-reported depression severity, anxiety, positive and negative affect, functioning and associated disability, quality of life, and cognitive function.ResultsAt Week 3, psilocybin 25 mg, compared with 1 mg, was associated with greater improvements from Baseline total scores in all measures. The 10 mg dose produced smaller effects across these measures.LimitationsInterpretation of this trial is limited by the absence of an active comparator and the possibility of functional unblinding in participants who received a low dose of psilocybin.ConclusionsThree weeks after dosing, psilocybin 25 mg and, to a lesser degree, 10 mg improved measures of patient-reported depression severity, anxiety, affect, and functioning. These results extend the primary findings from the largest randomised clinical trial of psilocybin for TRD to examine other outcomes that are of importance to patients.

keywords:
Humans, Depression, Anxiety, Quality of Life, Psilocybin, Patient Reported Outcome Measures, Major Depressive Disorder

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,End-of-Life Distress,Clinical Trial,Randomized Controlled Trial,Treatment-Resistant Depression

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36740140","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Wang K, Sun Y, Nava B, Sampiere L, Jacobs RJ.
publication_date: 2023-04-10
doi: 10.7759/cureus.37450
pubmed_id: 37181969
source_url: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.37450
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,End-of-Life Distress,Observational Study
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
title:
Predictors of Medical Students' Perceptions of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Use in Medical Practice.

abstract:
Background Psilocybin use, along with other psychedelics, has seen an increased interest among professionals in the medical community due to its potential therapeutic benefits for psychiatric disorders, substance use disorders (SUD), and palliative care. While it is certain that more research is necessary as psychedelic-assisted therapy becomes more prevalent, it will most likely be future physicians at the forefront of this neoteric care. Currently, physicians receive minimal training because of psilocybin's contextual information and its current enlistment as a Schedule 1 drug per the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Schedule 1 drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. As a rule, formal education on psilocybin is not included in medical school curricula, and very little is known about how medical students perceive it. The aim of this study was thus to assess current medical students' perceptions of their knowledge, concern for possible negative effects, and perceptions about medical psilocybin to provide a deeper understanding of which factors may predict their overall perceptions of its future therapeutic use. Methods Medical students' knowledge, concern for potential adverse effects, and perceptions of medical psilocybin were investigated using a cross-sectional survey study design. Data were collected in January 2023 from a convenience sample of United States medical students in years one to four of their program using a 41-item anonymous quantitative online survey. Multivariate linear regression modeling was performed to determine if perceived knowledge and beliefs about legalization would predict medical students' attitudes about psilocybin use for therapeutic purposes. Results Two hundred and thirteen medical students completed the survey. Seventy-three percent (n=155) were osteopathic medical students (OMS), and 27% (n=58) were allopathic medical students (MDS). Regression modeling produced a statistically significant equation: (F(3, 13) = 78.858, p <.001), with an R2 = 0.573 (adjusted R2 = 0.567), indicating that greater (perceived) knowledge about medical psilocybin, less concern for its possible adverse effects, and greater belief in the legalization of psilocybin for recreational use significantly contributed to positive perceptions of psilocybin use in medical practice. Conclusions In this sample, medical students with greater self-assessment of their knowledge about medical psilocybin, less concern for its potential adverse effects, and more positive views about recreational psilocybin legalization predicted positive attitudes about its medical use. Interestingly, although some participants had positive perceptions about the legalization of psilocybin for medical use, endorsing its legalization for recreation was related to greater positive attitudes toward medical psilocybin in general, a finding that appears to be somewhat counterintuitive. More research is warranted to further explore medical trainees' attitudes toward it, as psilocybin is a promising therapeutic intervention. If medicinal psilocybin continues to gain attention among patients and physicians alike, it will be imperative to evaluate its therapeutic efficacy, proper use, dosing, and potential for negative effects, in addition to preparing students to endorse therapeutic psilocybin when warranted.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37181969","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Effinger DP, Quadir SG, Ramage MC, Cone MG, Herman MA.
publication_date: 2023-04-07
doi: 10.1038/s41398-023-02414-5
pubmed_id: 37031219
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-023-02414-5
keywords: Humans, Hallucinogens, Exploratory Behavior, Female, Male, Central Amygdaloid Nucleus
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: Biomarkers
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
title:
Sex-specific effects of psychedelic drug exposure on central amygdala reactivity and behavioral responding.

abstract:
Psilocybin and its active metabolite psilocin have been shown to elicit rapid and long-lasting symptom improvements in a variety of affective psychiatric illnesses. However, the region-specific alterations underlying these therapeutic effects remain relatively unknown. The central amygdala (CeA) is a primary output region within the extended amygdala that is dysregulated in affective psychiatric disorders. Here, we measured CeA activity using the activity marker c-Fos and CeA reactivity using fiber photometry paired with an aversive air-puff stimulus. We found that psilocin administration acutely increased CeA activity in both males and females and increased stimulus specific CeA reactivity in females, but not males. In contrast, psilocin produced time-dependent decreases in reactivity in males, but not in females, as early as 2 days and lasting to 28 days post administration. We also measured behavioral responses to the air-puff stimulus and found sex-dependent changes in threat responding but not exploratory behavior or general locomotion. Repeated presentations of the auditory component of the air-puff were also performed and sex-specific effects of psilocin on CeA reactivity to the auditory-alone stimulus were also observed. This study provides new evidence that a single dose of psilocin produces sex-specific, time-dependent, and enduring changes in CeA reactivity and behavioral responding to specific components of an aversive stimulus.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37031219","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psychedelic-induced mystical experiences: An interdisciplinary discussion and critique.
authors: Mosurinjohn S, Roseman L, Girn M
journal: Frontiers in psychiatry
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1077311
pubmed_id: 37181886
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37181886/
keywords: mystical experience, mystical experience questionnaire, psilocybin, psychedelics, religious studies
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Mystical Experience
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"37181886"}
abstract:
Contemporary research on serotonergic psychedelic compounds has been rife with references to so-called 'mystical' subjective effects. Several psychometric assessments have been used to assess such effects, and clinical studies have found quantitative associations between 'mystical experiences' and positive mental health outcomes. The nascent study of psychedelic-induced mystical experiences, however, has only minimally intersected with relevant contemporary scholarship from disciplines within the social sciences and humanities, such as religious studies and anthropology. Viewed from the perspective of these disciplines-which feature rich historical and cultural literatures on mysticism, religion, and related topics-'mysticism' as used in psychedelic research is fraught with limitations and intrinsic biases that are seldom acknowledged. Most notably, existing operationalizations of mystical experiences in psychedelic science fail to historicize the concept and therefore fail to acknowledge its perennialist and specifically Christian bias. Here, we trace the historical genesis of the mystical in psychedelic research in order to illuminate such biases, and also offer suggestions toward more nuanced and culturally-sensitive operationalizations of this phenomenon. In addition, we argue for the value of, and outline, complementary 'non-mystical' approaches to understanding putative mystical-type phenomena that may help facilitate empirical investigation and create linkages to existing neuro-psychological constructs. It is our hope that the present paper helps build interdisciplinary bridges that motivate fruitful paths toward stronger theoretical and empirical approaches in the study of psychedelic-induced mystical experiences.


title: Use of Selective Alternative Therapies for Treatment of OCD.
authors: Khan I, Jaura TA, Tukruna A, Arif A, Tebha SS, Nasir S, Mukherjee D, Masroor N, Yosufi A.
publication_date: 2023-04-04
doi: 10.2147/ndt.s403997
pubmed_id: 37041856
source_url: https://doi.org/10.2147/ndt.s403997
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Systematic Review
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
About 40% of the people with the obsessive-compulsive-disorder do not experience the desired outcome after the existing treatment, and its several side effects were reported. This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of alternative drugs and assess the possibility of their use as treatment options for obsessive-compulsive-disorder. The Scientific databases PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Cochrane, Directory of Open Access Journals, MedRxiv and BioRxiv, were searched from inception to March 2022, using appropriate search strategies for each drug and following the Prisma guidelines 2020. Studies were selected according to the already set criteria and assessed for bias. Data were extracted, and descriptive and continuous data were analyzed and presented as frequency/percentage and mean. A total of 16 observational and interventional studies were included for data extraction. The studies focused on four drugs, Psilocybin (n=4), Cannabis (n=7), Nicotine (n=3), and Morphine (n=2), that were used to test out their effect on OCD symptoms. Overall, the majority of the studies showed promising results by documenting a reduction in Y-BOCS scores. However, few subjects, specifically those using nicotine or Cannabis, did not affect their condition or self-reported worsening symptoms. Few side effects were also noticed. This systematic review found that the drugs mostly showed a positive response. All Psilocybin and morphine users, 88.2% and 74.1% of the nicotine and Cannabis users, respectively, reported experiencing the positive effect of these drugs, indicating that these drugs have the potential to be used in the management of OCD. However, further research is required in this arena to thoroughly understand the mechanism of action by which these drugs produce their therapeutic effect. Policies to destigmatize and encourage clinical trials with these drugs are crucial for exploring the use of these drugs as a treatment option for OCD.

topic_tags:
OCD,Mechanism of Action,Clinical Trial,Systematic Review,Review Article,Observational Study,Safety,Adverse Events

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37041856","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Rankaduwa S, Owen AM
journal: Neuroscience of consciousness
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.1093/nc/niad001
pubmed_id: 37025356
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37025356/
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Eating Disorders,Mechanism of Action,Consciousness
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"37025356"}
title:
Psychedelics, entropic brain theory, and the taxonomy of conscious states: a summary of debates and perspectives.

abstract:
Given their recent success in counseling and psychiatry, the dialogue around psychedelics has mainly focused on their applications for mental health. Insights from psychedelic research, however, are not limited to treating mental health, but also have much to offer our current understanding of consciousness. The investigation of psychedelic states has offered new perspectives on how different aspects of conscious experience are mediated by brain activity; as such, much more has been learned about consciousness in terms of its phenomenology and potential mechanisms. One theory that describes how psychedelics influence brain activity is the "entropic brain theory" (EBT), which attempts to understand conscious states-normal and psychedelic-in terms of "brain entropy." Given its wide explanatory reach, this theory has several implications for current debates in consciousness research, namely the issue of whether consciousness exists in levels vs. dimensions; whether the psychedelic state is itself a "higher" level of consciousness; and if so, whether psychedelics could be used to treat disorders of consciousness. To understand how psychedelics could possibly treat a minimally conscious or vegetative patient, one must first understand EBT and how this theory intersects with these ongoing debates. Thus, this article offers a formal summary of EBT, distilling its core principles and their implications for a theoretical model of consciousness. In response to their proposed use in treating disorders of consciousness, we emphasize the importance of "set" and "setting" in ascertaining the therapeutic value of psychedelics for vegetative and/or minimally conscious patients.

keywords:
disorders of consciousness, entropic brain theory, psilocybin, psychedelic states, states of consciousness, theories and models


title: Classic psychedelic use and current meditation practice.
journal: Mindfulness
publication_date: 2023-03-31
doi: 10.1007/s12671-023-02103-w
pubmed_id: 37693239
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37693239/
keywords: LSD, Psychedelics, meditation, mindfulness, psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Observational Study
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"37693239"}
authors:
Simonsson C, Chambers R, Hendricks PS, Goldberg SB, Osika W, Schlosser M, Ryde A, Christersson E, Simonsson O

abstract:
Previous research has investigated potential synergies between classic psychedelics and meditation practice, but relatively little remains known about the relationship between classic psychedelic experiences and engagement with meditation practice.The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between classic psychedelic experiences and engagement with two popular types of meditation: mindfulness meditation and loving-kindness or compassion meditation.
This retrospective, population-based observational study included 2,822 respondents aged 18 years or older in the United States. Using covariate-adjusted regression models, this study examined associations of classic psychedelic experiences with current practice of mindfulness meditation and loving-kindness or compassion meditation.
In covariate-adjusted regression models, lifetime classic psychedelic use was associated with a higher frequency of current mindfulness meditation practice but not current loving-kindness or compassion meditation practice. Both psychological insight and "ego dissolution" were associated with a higher frequency of current mindfulness meditation practice and current loving-kindness or compassion meditation practice. Notably, when psychological insight and "ego dissolution" were entered into the regression model simultaneously, only greater psychological insight was associated with having a higher frequency of current mindfulness meditation practice and current loving-kindness or compassion meditation practice.
Although the findings in this study cannot demonstrate causality, they suggest that classic psychedelic experiences may exert a positive effect on the cultivation and maintenance of health-related behaviors such as regular meditation practice, with psychological insight appearing to be a stronger predictor than "ego dissolution."
This study was not preregistered.


authors: IsHak WW, Garcia P, Pearl R, Dang J, William C, Totlani J, Danovitch I.
publication_date: 2022-12-31
pubmed_id: 37387703
source_url: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/37387703
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
title:
The Impact of Psilocybin on Patients Experiencing Psychiatric Symptoms: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials.

abstract:
ObjectiveThis systematic review aims to evaluate the impact of psilocybin on patients experiencing psychiatric symptoms, with a focus on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and safety.Method of researchFollowing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we searched the PubMed database and identified studies published from January 2011 to December 2021 pertaining to the impact of psilocybin on psychiatric symptoms. Two authors independently conducted a focused analysis and reached a final consensus on five studies meeting the specific selection criteria. Study bias was addressed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.ResultsThe impact of psilocybin on psychiatric symptoms was examined in five randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Four studies administered 1 to 2 doses of psilocybin, with doses ranging from 14mg/70kg to 30mg/70kg, and one study administered a fixed dose of 25mg to all participants. Administration of psilocybin resulted in significant and sustained reduction in symptoms of anxiety and depression, enhanced sense of wellbeing, life satisfaction, and positive mood immediately after psilocybin administration and up to six months after conclusion of treatment. All studies included some form of psychotherapy, and none reported serious adverse effects.ConclusionRCTs show the efficacy of psilocybin in the treatment of anxiety and depression symptoms, as well as improvement in HRQoL, and no serious side effects. However, additional research is necessary to characterize predictors of treatment response, patient screening requirements, effectiveness in broader clinical populations, and guidelines for psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,Wellbeing,Clinical Trial,Randomized Controlled Trial,Systematic Review,Review Article,Safety,Adverse Events

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37387703","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Systematic Review of Interventions for Demoralization in Patients With Cancer.
authors: Wang Y, Sun H, Ji Q, Wei J, Zhu P.
publication_date: 2023-03-31
doi: 10.1097/nmd.0000000000001615
pubmed_id: 36975545
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1097/nmd.0000000000001615
keywords: Humans, Neoplasms, Mental Health, Psychotherapy, Demoralization
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Systematic Review,Review Article,Cancer Patients
study_type: Systematic Review
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
AbstractDemoralization as cancer-related mental health needs to be understood and addressed by clinical staff. This review systematically examined the characteristics and outcomes of interventions for demoralization in patients with cancer. Seven databases-PubMed, PsycINFO, Cinahl, Embase, Web of Science, Medline, and Cochrane Library Databases of Systematic Reviews-were systematically searched for relevant literature. We included intervention studies focusing on interventions for demoralization in patients with cancer. We ultimately included 14 studies. Overall, 10 studies had a positive effect on improving demoralization in patients with cancer, including two main types of interventions: psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy and psychological interventions. This review summarizes information on interventions for demoralization in patients with cancer. To provide precise care for demoralization in patients with cancer, future studies should use more rigorous methods to test interventions that may affect demoralization.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36975545","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Simpson GHR, Chatwin C, van Hellemont E
journal: The International journal on drug policy
publication_date: 2023-03-31
doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.103973
pubmed_id: 36863288
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36863288/
keywords: Drug markets, Drug production sites, Ethnography, Magic mushrooms, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"36863288"}
title:
Liminal spaces, seasonal faces: Challenging drug market assumptions via an exploration of naturally occurring magic mushroom markets in rural Kent.

abstract:
This article presents an exploration of naturally occurring Class-A magic mushroom markets in the UK. It aims to challenge some of the mainstream narratives about drug markets and to identify features of this specific market, which will extend our understanding of how illegal drug markets operate and are structured more generally.
The research presented comprises a three year ethnography of sites of magic mushroom production in rural Kent. Observations were conducted at 5 research sites over three consecutive magic mushroom seasons and interviews were conducted with 10 (8 male; 2 female) key informants.
It finds that naturally occurring magic mushroom sites are reluctant and liminal sites of drug production, distinct from other Class-A drug production sites due to their: open and accessible nature; lack of invested ownership or evidence of purposeful cultivation; and lack of law enforcement disruption efforts, violence or organised crime involvement. Seasonal magic mushroom picker participants were found to be a sociable group, often acting in a cooperative nature, and without evidence of territoriality or violent dispute resolution. These findings have wider application in challenging the dominant narrative that the most harmful (Class-A) drug markets are homogenous in their violent, profit driven, hierarchical nature, and most Class-A drug producers/suppliers are morally corrupt, financially motivated and organised.
A greater understanding of the variety of Class-A drug markets in operation can challenge archetypes and discrimination in understanding drug market involvement, will allow the development of more nuanced policing and policy strategies, and contributes to the presentation of a fluidity of drug market structure that permeates beyond bottom level street markets or social supply.


authors: Simonsson O, Hendricks PS, Chambers R, Osika W, Goldberg SB
journal: Journal of affective disorders
publication_date: 2023-03-31
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.073
pubmed_id: 36720405
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36720405/
keywords: Adverse, CEQ, Challenging, LSD, Psilocybin, Psychedelics, Risk
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Safety
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"36720405"}
title:
Prevalence and associations of challenging, difficult or distressing experiences using classic psychedelics.

abstract:
Previous studies have investigated challenging, difficult, or distressing classic psychedelic experiences, but little is known about the prevalence and associations of such experiences. Using nationally representative data of the US adult population (N = 2822), this study examined the prevalence and associations of challenging, difficult, or distressing experiences using classic psychedelics, in a subsample of respondents who reported lifetime classic psychedelic use (n = 613). Of the 613 respondents who reported lifetime classic psychedelic use, the majority of them (59.1 %) had never had a challenging, difficult, or distressing experience using a classic psychedelic, but 8.9 % of respondents reported functional impairment that lasted longer than one day as a result of such experiences. Notably, 2.6 % reported seeking medical, psychiatric, or psychological assistance in the days or weeks following their most challenging, difficult, or distressing classic psychedelic experience. In covariate-adjusted regression models, co-use of lithium, co-use of other mood stabilizers, and six set and setting variables (no preparation, disagreeable physical environment, negative mindset, no psychological support, dose was too large, major life event prior to experience) were associated with the degree of difficulty; and co-use of lithium, co-use of other mood stabilizers, and three set and setting variables (negative mindset, no psychological support, major life event prior to experience) were associated with overall risk of harm. In summary, this study provides insight into the prevalence and associations of challenging, difficult, or distressing classic psychedelic experiences. The findings broadly correspond with findings from previous studies and can inform harm reduction efforts and future experimental research designs.


authors: Modlin NL, Miller TM, Rucker JJ, Kirlic N, Lennard-Jones M, Schlosser D, Aaronson ST.
publication_date: 2023-01-24
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.077
pubmed_id: 36707036
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.077
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,OCD,End-of-Life Distress,Safety
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
title:
Optimizing outcomes in psilocybin therapy: Considerations in participant evaluation and preparation.

abstract:
Recent studies have demonstrated the promise of psilocybin therapies in creating positive changes for those with poor mental health across multiple diagnostic categories, including major depressive disorder (MDD), end-of-life anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). While there may be a large population that is eligible to participate in psilocybin therapy based on psychiatric diagnosis and medical clearance, little attention has been given to intrapersonal and interpersonal factors that might influence patient's readiness (i.e., eligibility and capacity) for psychedelic interventions. This paper proposes that readiness assessment includes both intrapersonal and interpersonal factors in order to improve safety, patient care, and treatment outcomes. While at the present time a reliable and valid instrument has not been developed, we propose that three specific areas of focus - patient presentation, therapeutic alliance, and patient safety - may be used to establish a patient's readiness for psilocybin therapy, thus increasing therapy optimization and personalization.

keywords:
Humans, Hallucinogens, Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Psilocybin, Major Depressive Disorder

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36707036","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psychedelics: Science sabotaged by Social Media.
authors: Sellers EM, Romach MK.
publication_date: 2023-01-20
doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109426
pubmed_id: 36693562
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109426
keywords: Humans, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Mental Disorders, Social Media, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Safety
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
The substantial challenges facing high and low dose psychedelic drug development to achieve regulatory approval have been documented in the scientific literature. These limitations have not deterred drug developers and social media from repeatedly misleading patients, the public and health professionals. Developing "micro doses" of psychedelics overcomes many of the scientific and regulatory challenges of high dose psychedelics. If micro-dosing could be shown to be efficacious and safe for long term use, it could be administered in the typical model for treatment of mental disorders. Such a model would be more cost effective than the high dose/intense psychotherapy model currently described and could be readily available to all individuals who need another medication option. Outpatient psychotherapeutic agents have a clear route for approval and would be unlikely to be burdened by the extensive Risks Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy needed for high dose use. There may be a different therapeutic role for both high and low dose psychedelic agents. This article is part of the Special Issue on "National Institutes of Health Psilocybin Research Speaker Series".

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36693562","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Seeking the Psilocybiome: Psychedelics meet the microbiota-gut-brain axis.
authors: Kelly JR, Clarke G, Harkin A, Corr SC, Galvin S, Pradeep V, Cryan JF, O'Keane V, Dinan TG
journal: International journal of clinical and health psychology : IJCHP
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2022.100349
pubmed_id: 36605409
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36605409/
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Review Article,Drug Interactions,Microbiome
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"36605409"}
abstract:
Moving towards a systems psychiatry paradigm embraces the inherent complex interactions across all levels from micro to macro and necessitates an integrated approach to treatment. Cortical 5-HT receptors are key primary targets for the effects of serotonergic psychedelics. However, the therapeutic mechanisms underlying psychedelic therapy are complex and traverse molecular, cellular, and network levels, under the influence of biofeedback signals from the periphery and the environment. At the interface between the individual and the environment, the gut microbiome, via the gut-brain axis, plays an important role in the unconscious parallel processing systems regulating host neurophysiology. While psychedelic and microbial signalling systems operate over different timescales, the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis, as a convergence hub between multiple biofeedback systems may play a role in the preparatory phase, the acute administration phase, and the integration phase of psychedelic therapy. In keeping with an interconnected systems-based approach, this review will discuss the gut microbiome and mycobiome and pathways of the MGB axis, and then explore the potential interaction between psychedelic therapy and the MGB axis and how this might influence mechanism of action and treatment response. Finally, we will discuss the possible implications for a precision medicine-based psychedelic therapy paradigm.

keywords:
Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), hallucinogens, microbiome, microbiota-gut-brain axis, psilocybin, psychedelics


title: Are psychedelics the answer to chronic pain: A review of current literature.
authors: Kooijman NI, Willegers T, Reuser A, Mulleners WM, Kramers C, Vissers KCP, van der Wal SEI.
publication_date: 2023-01-10
doi: 10.1111/papr.13203
pubmed_id: 36597700
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1111/papr.13203
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
AimsWe aim to provide an evidence-based overview of the use of psychedelics in chronic pain, specifically LSD and psilocybin.ContentChronic pain is a common and complex problem, with an unknown etiology. Psychedelics like lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin, may play a role in the management of chronic pain. Through activation of the serotonin-2A (5-HT2A) receptor, several neurophysiological responses result in the disruption of functional connections in brain regions associated with chronic pain. Healthy reconnections can be made through neuroplastic effects, resulting in sustained pain relief. However, this process is not fully understood, and evidence of efficacy is limited and of low quality. In cancer and palliative related pain, the analgesic potential of psychedelics was established decades ago, and the current literature shows promising results on efficacy and safety in patients with cancer-related psychological distress. In other areas, patients suffering from severe headache disorders like migraine and cluster headache who have self-medicated with psychedelics report both acute and prophylactic efficacy of LSD and psilocybin. Randomized control trials are now being conducted to study the effects in cluster headache Furthermore, psychedelics have a generally favorable safety profile especially when compared to other analgesics like opioids. In addition, psychedelics do not have the addictive potential of opioids.ImplicationsGiven the current epidemic use of opioids, and that patients are in desperate need of an alternative treatment, it is important that further research is conducted on the efficacy of psychedelics in chronic pain conditions.

keywords:
Humans, Neoplasms, Cluster Headache, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Chronic Pain, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Addiction,End-of-Life Distress,Chronic Pain,Headache / Migraine,Receptor Pharmacology,Randomized Controlled Trial,Review Article,Cancer Patients,Safety

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36597700","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Kelly DF, Kelly DF, Heinzerling K, Sharma A, Gowrinathan S, Sergi K, Mallari RJ.
publication_date: 2022-12-07
doi: 10.1227/neu.0000000000002275
pubmed_id: 36512813
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1227/neu.0000000000002275
keywords: Humans, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Neurosurgery, Quality of Life, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy and Psychedelic Science: A Review and Perspective on Opportunities in Neurosurgery and Neuro-Oncology.

abstract:
After a decades-long pause, psychedelics are again being intensely investigated for treating a wide range of neuropsychiatric ailments including depression, anxiety, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, anorexia, and chronic pain syndromes. The classic serotonergic psychedelics psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide and nonclassic psychedelics 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and ketamine are increasingly appreciated as neuroplastogens given their potential to fundamentally alter mood and behavior well beyond the time window of measurable exposure. Imaging studies with psychedelics are also helping advance our understanding of neural networks and connectomics. This resurgence in psychedelic science and psychedelic-assisted therapy has potential significance for the fields of neurosurgery and neuro-oncology and their diverse and challenging patients, many of whom continue to have mental health issues and poor quality of life despite receiving state-of-the-art care. In this study, we review recent and ongoing clinical trials, the set and setting model of psychedelic-assisted therapy, potential risks and adverse events, proposed mechanisms of action, and provide a perspective on how the safe and evidence-based use of psychedelics could potentially benefit many patients, including those with brain tumors, pain syndromes, ruminative disorders, stroke, SAH, TBI, and movement disorders. By leveraging psychedelics' neuroplastic potential to rehabilitate the mind and brain, novel treatments may be possible for many of these patient populations, in some instances working synergistically with current treatments and in some using subpsychedelic doses that do not require mind-altering effects for efficacy. This review aims to encourage broader multidisciplinary collaboration across the neurosciences to explore and help realize the transdiagnostic healing potential of psychedelics.

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,PTSD,Addiction,Eating Disorders,Chronic Pain,Brain Imaging,Mechanism of Action,Aging,Clinical Trial,Review Article,Cancer Patients,Safety,Adverse Events

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36512813","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Oral Psilocybin Administration in Healthy Participants.
authors: Holze F, Becker AM, Kolaczynska KE, Duthaler U, Liechti ME.
publication_date: 2022-12-30
doi: 10.1002/cpt.2821
pubmed_id: 36507738
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1002/cpt.2821
keywords: Humans, Administration, Oral, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Healthy Volunteers, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: Pharmacology,Clinical Trial,Healthy Volunteers
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:00
abstract:
Psilocybin is being investigated as a potential treatment for psychiatric and neurological disorders. Only a few studies have evaluated the pharmacokinetics (PKs) of psilocybin and have used body weight-adjusted dosing. Data on PKs and the PK-pharmacodynamic (PD) relationship of fixed doses that are commonly used are unavailable. The present study characterized the PKs and PK-PD relationship of 15, 25, and 30 mg of orally administered psilocybin in 28, 23, and 28 healthy subjects, respectively. Plasma levels of unconjugated psilocin (the psychoactive metabolite of psilocybin) and corresponding subjective effects were repeatedly assessed up to 24 hours. PK parameters were determined using compartmental modeling. Concentration-subjective effect relationships were described using PK-PD modeling. Mean (95% confidence interval) maximal psilocin concentrations were 11 ng/mL (10-13), 17 ng/mL (16-19), and 21 ng/mL (19-24) after the administration of 15, 25, and 30 mg psilocybin, respectively. Maximal concentrations were reached after an average of 2 hours. Elimination half-lives were 1.8 hours (1.7-2.0), 1.4 hours (1.2-1.7), and 1.8 hours (1.6-1.9) for 15, 25, and 30 mg psilocybin, respectively. Mean (± SD) durations of subjective effects were 5.6 ± 2.2 hours, 5.5 ± 1.6 hours, and 6.4 ± 2.2 hours, and maximal effects ("any drug" effects) were 58% ± 25%, 73% ± 27%, and 80% ± 18% after 15, 25, and 30 mg psilocybin, respectively. Psilocin exhibited dose-proportional PKs. The duration and intensity of subjective effects were dose-dependent. Body weight did not influence pharmacokinetics or the response to psilocybin. These data may serve as a reference for future clinical trials.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36507738","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: VanderZwaag J, Halvorson T, Dolhan K, Šimončičová E, Ben-Azu B, Tremblay MÈ.
publication_date: 2022-11-02
doi: 10.1007/s11064-022-03772-0
pubmed_id: 36327017
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-022-03772-0
keywords: Microglia, Humans, Ketamine, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Anesthetics, Hallucinogens
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
The Missing Piece? A Case for Microglia's Prominent Role in the Therapeutic Action of Anesthetics, Ketamine, and Psychedelics.

abstract:
There is much excitement surrounding recent research of promising, mechanistically novel psychotherapeutics - psychedelic, anesthetic, and dissociative agents - as they have demonstrated surprising efficacy in treating central nervous system (CNS) disorders, such as mood disorders and addiction. However, the mechanisms by which these drugs provide such profound psychological benefits are still to be fully elucidated. Microglia, the CNS's resident innate immune cells, are emerging as a cellular target for psychiatric disorders because of their critical role in regulating neuroplasticity and the inflammatory environment of the brain. The following paper is a review of recent literature surrounding these neuropharmacological therapies and their demonstrated or hypothesized interactions with microglia. Through investigating the mechanism of action of psychedelics, such as psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide, ketamine, and propofol, we demonstrate a largely under-investigated role for microglia in much of the emerging research surrounding these pharmacological agents. Among others, we detail sigma-1 receptors, serotonergic and γ-aminobutyric acid signalling, and tryptophan metabolism as pathways through which these agents modulate microglial phagocytic activity and inflammatory mediator release, inducing their therapeutic effects. The current review includes a discussion on future directions in the field of microglial pharmacology and covers bidirectional implications of microglia and these novel pharmacological agents in aging and age-related disease, glial cell heterogeneity, and state-of-the-art methodologies in microglial research.

topic_tags:
Addiction,Neuroplasticity,Pharmacology,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Aging,Review Article,Drug Interactions,Inflammation,Immune Function

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36327017","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Microdosing psilocybin for chronic pain: a case series.
authors: Lyes M, Yang KH, Castellanos J, Furnish T.
publication_date: 2022-09-04
doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002778
pubmed_id: 36066961
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002778
keywords: Humans, Chronic Disease, Analgesics, Hallucinogens, Quality of Life, Chronic Pain, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,Addiction,Chronic Pain,Neuroplasticity,Microdosing,Clinical Trial,Case Report
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
abstract:
AbstractPsychedelic serotonergic agonists such as psilocybin have recently been shown to produce sustained benefit in refractory depression, end of life anxiety, and addiction when administered in hallucinogenic doses and coupled with psychotherapy. Although it has been suggested that similar high-dose protocols may help chronic pain conditions, there are few published clinical trials of psychedelics for pain. The use of these agents in subpsychedelic doses for chronic pain management has received even less attention. This case series details the experiences of 3 individuals who have used low-dose psilocybin to manage chronic neuropathic pain. Although the nature and etiology of each patient's pain vary, they share a common experience, including inefficacy of current therapeutics and decreased quality of life. Through self-administration of psilocybin, these patients have achieved robust pain relief with decreased reliance on traditional analgesic medications. Despite varying preparations and uncertain potencies, the analgesic effects for all 3 patients occurred at doses without a psychedelic experience and with minimal cognitive or somatic adverse effects. Furthermore, the efficacy of pain relief and, in some cases, the duration of the effect were magnified when coupled with functional exercise. In addition, in 1 case, repeated dosing seemed to produce increased relief, suggesting a possible long-term plasticity-mediated effect. These commonalities highlight psilocybin's therapeutic potential in the treatment of chronic pain that warrants further investigation.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36066961","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Christensen JA, Fipps DC, Bostwick JM.
publication_date: 2022-08-31
doi: 10.1037/pha0000597
pubmed_id: 36048112
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000597
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Brain Imaging,Review Article,Safety
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
To treat or not to treat? High-potency benzodiazepine use in a case of comorbid hallucinogen persisting perception disorder and alcohol use disorder.

abstract:
Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD) is characterized by visual disturbances that resemble psychedelic intoxication and linger after use has ceased. The most common substances precipitating HPPD, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin, are posited to do so via damage to serotonergic neurons involved in vision. Mr. N is a 37-year-old with a history of alcohol, cannabis, LSD, cocaine, and nicotine use disorders who described visual distortions that resolved when he drank heavily or received benzodiazepines for withdrawal. He did not appear psychotic. Over 20 years after his last LSD use, he continued to experience illusions of halos around objects, moving walls, and figures appearing cartoonish. He understood that his perceptual disturbances were not reality based. During hospitalization for suicidal ideation, laboratory tests, head computed tomography (CT), and electroencephalogram (EEG) studies offered no explanation for his visual disturbances other than HPPD. The visual distortions remitted with scheduled clonazepam treatment, although chemical dependency treatment programs were hesitant to accept him while on a benzodiazepine. This case emphasizes the importance of diagnostic clarification when patients present with perceptual disturbances that do not fit typical psychotic presentations. Our discussion will distinguish misperceptions from hallucinations and review the pathophysiology of HPPD. Last, we will discuss management strategies for patients with co-occurring HPPD and substance use disorders. It is necessary to discern the correct cause of visual disturbances in order to provide proper treatment. The risks and benefits of long-term benzodiazepine use must be weighed when deciding whether to prescribe them for patients with comorbid HPPD and alcohol use disorder. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

keywords:
Humans, Perceptual Disorders, Alcoholism, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Benzodiazepines, Hallucinogens, Perception, Adult, Male

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36048112","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Fauvel B, Kangaslampi S, Strika-Bruneau L, Roméo B, Piolino P
journal: Journal of psychoactive drugs
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.1080/02791072.2022.2059796
pubmed_id: 35384730
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35384730/
keywords: LSD, Mystical experience, psilocybin, psychedelics, psychological well-being, psychometry
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Wellbeing,Creativity,Spirituality,Mystical Experience
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"35384730"}
title:
Validation of a French Version of the Mystical Experience Questionnaire with Retrospective Reports of the Most Significant Psychedelic Experience among French Users.

abstract:
Mystical experiences triggered by psychedelic drugs predict symptom reduction in various psychiatric disorders, and increased well-being in healthy individuals. This work aimed at validating a French version of a tool used to measure mystical experiences: the Revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire-30 items (MEQ30). Construct validity, internal consistencies, concurrent, discriminant, and predictive validities of the French MEQ30 were examined using data about the most significant psychedelic experience of 320 French individuals. Results showed that the original four-factor (i.e., mystical, positive mood, transcendence, and ineffability) structure fit the data best, with good to excellent statistical indices. Total French MEQ30 score was strongly associated with subjective ratings of the mystical (i.e., mystical, spiritual, or religious, and personally significant) and drug intensity-related qualities of the experience, but not with non-mystical (i.e., fun, inebriating, and easy) qualities. Moreover, French MEQ30 score was a significant predictor of subjective positive changes in psychological well-being, relations with self and others, feeling of proximity or connection with nature, and creativity, whereas drug intensity-related and non-mystical qualities of the experience were not, or were only weakly associated with such changes. This French version of the MEQ30 seems to be an appropriate tool for measuring mystical experiences among French speaking individuals.


authors: Shaw L, Rea K, Lachowsky NJ, Roth EA
journal: Journal of psychoactive drugs
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.1080/02791072.2022.2054746
pubmed_id: 35315749
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35315749/
keywords: Magic mushrooms, harm reduction, psilocybin, qualitative, recreational use, transformation
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Aging,Safety
study_type: Qualitative Study
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"35315749"}
title:
Magic Mushroom Use: A Qualitative Interview Study of Post-Trip Impacts and Strategies for Optimizing Experiences.

abstract:
The field of psychedelic research is undergoing a revival, yet research focused on non-clinical psychedelic use remains relatively limited. The current qualitative study sheds light on how people use magic mushrooms, what they perceive the effects of such use to be, and the meanings that users attach to their magic mushroom experiences. To be eligible to participate in the study, participants were required to be young adults who had used magic mushrooms within the past three months and residents of Victoria, Canada. Semi-structured, one-on-one in-person interviews regarding magic mushroom use habits, culture, knowledge and other factors were conducted with each participant and subsequently analyzed thematically. Participants associated magic mushroom use with lasting impacts on their lives including transformation and learning experiences. Additionally, participants described strategies to optimize their magic mushroom experiences, including engaging in research regarding magic mushrooms as well as making use of peer supports. Furthermore, aspects of magic mushroom experiences conceptualized as harmful in previous studies were described by participants as associated with learning experiences and few harms. Participants' perceived positive outcomes and relatively low risk profile warrants further research to inform how magic mushroom users can maximize potential positive outcomes and also minimize harms.


title: Psychotherapy with Psilocybin for Depression: Systematic Review.
authors: Dawood Hristova JJ, Pérez-Jover V.
publication_date: 2023-03-30
doi: 10.3390/bs13040297
pubmed_id: 37102811
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13040297
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Systematic Review
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
abstract:
Depression is a common mental health issue that affects 280 million people in the world with a high mortality rate, as well as being a leading cause of disability. Psychopharmacological therapies with psychedelics, particularly those with psilocybin, are showing promising potential for the treatment of depression, among other conditions. Some of their benefits include a rapid and exponential improvement in depressive symptoms and an increased sense of well-being that can last for months after the treatment, as well as a greater development of introspective capacity. The aim of this project was to provide experimental evidence about therapeutic procedures along with psilocybin for the treatment of major depressive disorder. The project highlights eight studies that examined this condition. Some of them dealt with treatment-resistant depression while others dealt with depression due to a life-threatening disease such as cancer. These publications affirm the efficiency of the psilocybin therapy for depression, with only one or two doses in conjunction with psychological support during the process.

topic_tags:
Depression,End-of-Life Distress,Wellbeing,Systematic Review,Review Article,Treatment-Resistant Depression

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37102811","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Vorobyeva N, Kozlova AA
abstract: [This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.927984.].
journal: Frontiers in pharmacology
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1184726
pubmed_id: 37056991
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37056991/
keywords: DMT, ibogaine, mental health, psilocybin, serotonergic psychedelics
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"37056991"}
title:
Corrigendum: Three naturally-occurring psychedelics and their significance in the treatment of mental health disorders.


authors: Domanegg K, Sommer WH, Meinhardt MW.
publication_date: 2023-03-21
doi: 10.3390/cells12060963
pubmed_id: 36980303
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12060963
keywords: Neurons, Humans, Alcoholism, Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate, Hallucinogens
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Psychedelic Targeting of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 2 and Its Implications for the Treatment of Alcoholism.

abstract:
Alcohol abuse is a leading risk factor for the public health burden worldwide. Approved pharmacotherapies have demonstrated limited effectiveness over the last few decades in treating alcohol use disorders (AUD). New therapeutic approaches are therefore urgently needed. Historical and recent clinical trials using psychedelics in conjunction with psychotherapy demonstrated encouraging results in reducing heavy drinking in AUD patients, with psilocybin being the most promising candidate. While psychedelics are known to induce changes in gene expression and neuroplasticity, we still lack crucial information about how this specifically counteracts the alterations that occur in neuronal circuits throughout the course of addiction. This review synthesizes well-established knowledge from addiction research about pathophysiological mechanisms related to the metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGlu2), with findings and theories on how mGlu2 connects to the major signaling pathways induced by psychedelics via serotonin 2A receptors (2AR). We provide literature evidence that mGlu2 and 2AR are able to regulate each other's downstream signaling pathways, either through monovalent crosstalk or through the formation of a 2AR-mGlu2 heteromer, and highlight epigenetic mechanisms by which 2ARs can modulate mGlu2 expression. Lastly, we discuss how these pathways might be targeted therapeutically to restore mGlu2 function in AUD patients, thereby reducing the propensity to relapse.

topic_tags:
Addiction,Neuroplasticity,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Aging,Epigenetics,Clinical Trial,Review Article,Safety

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36980303","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Default Mode Network Modulation by Psychedelics: A Systematic Review.
publication_date: 2023-02-28
doi: 10.1093/ijnp/pyac074
pubmed_id: 36272145
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyac074
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Systematic Review
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
authors:
Gattuso JJ, Perkins D, Ruffell S, Lawrence AJ, Hoyer D, Jacobson LH, Timmermann C, Castle D, Rossell SL, Downey LA, Pagni BA, Galvão-Coelho NL, Nutt D, Sarris J.

abstract:
Psychedelics are a unique class of drug that commonly produce vivid hallucinations as well as profound psychological and mystical experiences. A grouping of interconnected brain regions characterized by increased temporal coherence at rest have been termed the Default Mode Network (DMN). The DMN has been the focus of numerous studies assessing its role in self-referencing, mind wandering, and autobiographical memories. Altered connectivity in the DMN has been associated with a range of neuropsychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. To date, several studies have investigated how psychedelics modulate this network, but no comprehensive review, to our knowledge, has critically evaluated how major classical psychedelic agents-lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin, and ayahuasca-modulate the DMN. Here we present a systematic review of the knowledge base. Across psychedelics there is consistent acute disruption in resting state connectivity within the DMN and increased functional connectivity between canonical resting-state networks. Various models have been proposed to explain the cognitive mechanisms of psychedelics, and in one model DMN modulation is a central axiom. Although the DMN is consistently implicated in psychedelic studies, it is unclear how central the DMN is to the therapeutic potential of classical psychedelic agents. This article aims to provide the field with a comprehensive overview that can propel future research in such a way as to elucidate the neurocognitive mechanisms of psychedelics.

keywords:
Brain, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Psilocybin, Default Mode Network

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,PTSD,OCD,Brain Imaging,Mechanism of Action,Default Mode Network,Aging,Mystical Experience,Systematic Review,Review Article

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36272145","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Canalization and plasticity in psychopathology.
publication_date: 2022-12-26
doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109398
pubmed_id: 36584883
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109398
keywords: Humans, Learning, Phenotype, United States, Major Depressive Disorder
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Neuroplasticity,Mechanism of Action
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
authors:
Carhart-Harris RL, Chandaria S, Erritzoe DE, Gazzaley A, Girn M, Kettner H, Mediano PAM, Nutt DJ, Rosas FE, Roseman L, Timmermann C, Weiss B, Zeifman RJ, Friston KJ.

abstract:
This theoretical article revives a classical bridging construct, canalization, to describe a new model of a general factor of psychopathology. To achieve this, we have distinguished between two types of plasticity, an early one that we call 'TEMP' for 'Temperature or Entropy Mediated Plasticity', and another, we call 'canalization', which is close to Hebbian plasticity. These two forms of plasticity can be most easily distinguished by their relationship to 'precision' or inverse variance; TEMP relates to increased model variance or decreased precision, whereas the opposite is true for canalization. TEMP also subsumes increased learning rate, (Ising) temperature and entropy. Dictionary definitions of 'plasticity' describe it as the property of being easily shaped or molded; TEMP is the better match for this. Importantly, we propose that 'pathological' phenotypes develop via mechanisms of canalization or increased model precision, as a defensive response to adversity and associated distress or dysphoria. Our model states that canalization entrenches in psychopathology, narrowing the phenotypic state-space as the agent develops expertise in their pathology. We suggest that TEMP - combined with gently guiding psychological support - can counter canalization. We address questions of whether and when canalization is adaptive versus maladaptive, furnish our model with references to basic and human neuroscience, and offer concrete experiments and measures to test its main hypotheses and implications. This article is part of the Special Issue on "National Institutes of Health Psilocybin Research Speaker Series".

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36584883","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: The varieties of psychedelic law.
authors: Marks M.
publication_date: 2022-12-20
doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109399
pubmed_id: 36565855
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109399
keywords: Humans, Hallucinogens, Mental Disorders, Adult, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: General
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
After decades of prohibition, psychedelics are generating intense public and private interest. Scientists are researching the therapeutic properties of these substances, and mounting evidence supports their ability to treat a variety of mental health conditions. Meanwhile, dozens of cities and states are proposing or enacting psychedelics legislation to promote research, increase therapeutic and non-therapeutic access, and decrease criminal penalties associated with producing, possessing, or consuming psychedelics. This article is the first to produce a typology of state and local psychedelic laws, which fall into five general categories: decriminalization, supported adult use, medical use, clinical research, and policy analysis. The article defines each category and explains how some jurisdictions create hybrid psychedelic laws that blend elements of multiple categories. Following enactment, government agencies can shift laws from one category to another during the rulemaking process. This article is part of the Special Issue on "National Institutes of Health Psilocybin Research Speaker Series".

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36565855","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Exploring psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of methamphetamine use disorder.
authors: Brett J, Knock E, Korthuis PT, Liknaitzky P, Murnane KS, Nicholas CR, Patterson JC, Stauffer CS.
publication_date: 2023-03-13
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1123424
pubmed_id: 36998623
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1123424
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Clinical Trial,Review Article
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
abstract:
Methamphetamine use disorder is a chronic relapsing condition associated with substantial mental, physical, and social harms and increasing rates of mortality. Contingency management and psychotherapy interventions are the mainstays of treatment but are modestly effective with high relapse rates, while pharmacological treatments have shown little to no efficacy. Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy is emerging as a promising treatment for a range of difficult-to-treat conditions, including substance use disorders; however, no studies have yet been published looking at psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of methamphetamine use disorder. Here we review the rationale for psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy as a potential treatment for this indication, and describe practical considerations based on our early experience designing and implementing four separate clinical trials of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for methamphetamine use disorder.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36998623","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


publication_date: 2023-03-13
doi: 10.3390/molecules28062624
pubmed_id: 36985596
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28062624
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,PTSD,Mechanism of Action,Biomarkers,Animal Study,Inflammation
study_type: Animal Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
title:
The Effect of Combined Treatment of Psilocybin and Eugenol on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Brain Inflammation in Mice.

authors:
Zanikov T, Gerasymchuk M, Ghasemi Gojani E, Robinson GI, Asghari S, Groves A, Haselhorst L, Nandakumar S, Stahl C, Cameron M, Li D, Rodriguez-Juarez R, Snelling A, Hudson D, Fiselier A, Kovalchuk O, Kovalchuk I.

abstract:
Inflammation is an organism's biological defense mechanism. Acute and chronic inflammation of the body triggers the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory pathways that can affect the content of cytokines in the brain and thus cause brain inflammation. Disorders such as depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are often associated with elevated inflammation. Recently, positive and promising clinical results of psilocybin for the treatment of depression and PTSD were reported. Thus, we decided to test whether psilocybin alone or in combination with eugenol, an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent, would prevent the increase in or decrease the content of cytokines in the brain of C57BL/6J mice injected with lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Two experiments were performed, one with pre-treatment of mice through gavage with psilocybin (0.88 mg/kg), eugenol (17.6 mg/kg), or combinations of psilocybin and eugenol (1:10, 1:20, or 1:50), followed by intraperitoneal injection of LPS, and the second, post-treatment, with initial injection with LPS, followed by treatment with psilocybin, eugenol, or their combination. Brain tissues were collected, and cytokines were analyzed by qRT-PCR, Western blot, and ELISA. Data were analyzed with a one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test or with multiple unpaired t-tests. LPS upregulated mRNA expression of COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. All pre-treatments decreased the expression of COX-2 and TNF-α, with psilocybin alone and in 1:50 combination, with eugenol being the most effective. In the post-treatment, all combinations of psilocybin and eugenol were effective in reducing inflammation, with the 1:50 ratio displaying the most prominent results in reducing the mRNA content of tested cytokines. Western blot analysis confirmed the effect on COX-2 and IL-1β proteins. Finally, the ELISA showed that post-treatment with psilocybin + eugenol (1:50) demonstrated the best results, decreasing the expression of multiple markers including IL-6 and IL-8. This demonstrates the anti-inflammatory effects of a combination of psilocybin and eugenol in the brain of animals with systemically induced inflammation.

keywords:
Animals, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Encephalitis, Inflammation, Eugenol, Lipopolysaccharides, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha, RNA, Messenger, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Interleukin-6, Cytokines, Cyclooxygenase 2, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36985596","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Experiences of microdosing psychedelics in an attempt to support wellbeing and mental health.
authors: Ryan RS, Copello A, Fox AP
journal: BMC psychiatry
publication_date: 2023-03-13
doi: 10.1186/s12888-023-04628-9
pubmed_id: 36918852
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36918852/
keywords: LSD, Mental health, Microdosing, Psilocybin, Psychedelics, Wellbeing
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Microdosing,Wellbeing
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"36918852"}
abstract:
Microdosing psychedelic drugs is a growing phenomenon, but little is known about the experiences surrounding this. Research broadly suggests that people may use psychedelics in an attempt to self-medicate for mental health and wellbeing. However, the precise details, rationale and meaning of such attempts remains unclear, and would benefit from clarification, using tailored experiential methods. This research therefore aimed to explore the way that users make sense of microdosing psychedelics, with a particular focus on the experience of any perceived mental health or wellbeing changes.
Participants were recruited via websites and online forums. An internet text-based, semi-structured interview was conducted anonymously with 13 participants regarding their experiences of microdosing psychedelic drugs. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyse the transcripts.
Three superordinate themes were identified through the interviews: 1) Seeking a solution: Agency and rationale; 2) Microdosers as scientists; 3) Catalysing desirable and beneficial effects.
All participants approached microdosing methodically and with purpose. Participants reported that they had experienced beneficial effects of microdosing on their mental health, alongside cognitive, physical and social changes. By microdosing, participants reported that they had supported their own mental health and wellbeing, with microdosing described as a catalyst to achieving their aims in this area. This study provided additional knowledge and understanding of the experience, rationale and personal meaning of the microdosing phenomenon which can be used to inform future investigations in the areas of psychedelic use and mental health.


publication_date: 2023-03-12
doi: 10.1089/psymed.2022.0004
pubmed_id: 40047007
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1089/psymed.2022.0004
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Spirituality,Clinical Trial,Review Article,Observational Study
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
title:
Personal Psychedelic Use Is Common Among a Sample of Psychedelic Therapists: Implications for Research and Practice.

authors:
Aday JS, Skiles Z, Eaton N, Fredenburg L, Pleet M, Mantia J, Bradley ER, Fernandes-Osterhold G, Woolley JD.

abstract:
BackgroundAn emerging controversy in psychedelic therapy regards the appropriateness or necessity of psychedelic therapists having personal experience using psychedelics themselves. Although there are a number of potential advantages and disadvantages to personal use among psychedelic therapists, no studies to date have measured their use or other aspects of their training.Materials and methodsFirst, we broadly review the literature on experiential learning in psychotherapy and psychiatry as well as the history of personal use of psychedelics by professionals. We then report on the results of a survey that was sent to all 145 therapists associated with Usona Institute's Phase II clinical trial of psilocybin for major depressive disorder. Thirty-two of these individuals (22% response rate) participated in the survey.ResultsWe found that experiential learning is common in psychotherapy but not in psychiatry, meaning psychedelic therapy straddles two different traditions. In our survey, the majority of psychedelic therapists identified as white, female, and having doctoral degrees. Most of the sample had personal experience with at least one serotonergic psychedelic (28/32; 88%), with psilocybin being most common (26/32; 81%; median number of uses = 2-10; median last use 6-12 months before survey). Participants had myriad intentions for using psychedelics (e.g., personal development, spiritual growth, fun, curiosity). All respondents endorsed favorable views regarding the efficacy of psilocybin therapy.ConclusionPersonal experience with psychedelics was notably common in this sample of psychedelic therapists, but the study was limited by a low response rate and a lack of diversity among participants. Future research is needed to address these limitations as well as to identify whether personal experience with psychedelics contributes to therapists' competency or introduces bias to the field. Nonetheless, these findings are the first to delineate the personal use of psychedelics among professionals and can inform a pressing debate for the field.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"40047007","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Hibicke M, Kramer HM, Nichols CD.
publication_date: 2023-03-12
doi: 10.1089/psymed.2022.0012
pubmed_id: 40047006
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1089/psymed.2022.0012
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
title:
A Single Administration of Psilocybin Persistently Rescues Cognitive Deficits Caused by Adolescent Chronic Restraint Stress Without Long-Term Changes in Synaptic Protein Gene Expression in a Rat Experimental System with Translational Relevance to Depression.

abstract:
IntroductionPsilocybin has shown long-lasting antidepressant effects in preclinical and clinical trials, but the mechanisms responsible are unclear. As both passive coping strategies and pattern separation deficits are characteristics of major depression, we used adult female rats subjected to adolescent chronic restraint stress (aCRS) to investigate the effects of psilocybin on forced swim test (FST) and object pattern separation (OPS) behaviors 5 weeks after a single administration.MethodsAdolescent rats were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups-not restrained/saline, not restrained/psilocybin, restrained/saline, and restrained/psilocybin. Restrained group rats were restrained for 1 h daily from day 1 through day 14. Saline and psilocybin were administered on day 21, OPS was evaluated on days 51-55, forced swim behavior was evaluated on day 57 or 58, and animals were sacrificed on day 63. Brains were removed and the medial prefrontal cortex, dorsal dentate gyrus, dorsal CA3 hippocampal area, and ventral hippocampus were microdissected out and prepared for mRNA analysis of a panel of genes relevant to synaptic plasticity using quantitative polymerase chain reaction.ResultsPsilocybin rescued cognitive function in aCRS rats in both assays, but did not affect either measure in nonstressed rats. Immobility in the FST was correlated with impaired discrimination ability in the OPS. No differences in mRNA expression for a panel of genes related to structural synaptic proteins were observed between groups, although stress was a significant contributor to variability of the gene for glutamate metabotropic receptor 2 (Grm2) in two hippocampal regions.ConclusionsOur data indicate that aCRS and OPS represent a powerful system with translational relevance to study depression, and that a single treatment with psilocybin has long-lasting antidepressant-like effects without long-term alterations of mRNA related to synaptic density in brain areas relevant to depression.

topic_tags:
Depression,Neuroplasticity,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Clinical Trial,Animal Study,Adolescents

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"40047006","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Kalkman HO
journal: Biomedicines
publication_date: 2023-03-06
doi: 10.3390/biomedicines11030806
pubmed_id: 36979785
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36979785/
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Review Article
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"36979785"}
title:
Inhibition of Microglial GSK3β Activity Is Common to Different Kinds of Antidepressants: A Proposal for an In Vitro Screen to Detect Novel Antidepressant Principles.

abstract:
Depression is a major public health concern. Unfortunately, the present antidepressants often are insufficiently effective, whilst the discovery of more effective antidepressants has been extremely sluggish. The objective of this review was to combine the literature on depression with the pharmacology of antidepressant compounds, in order to formulate a conceivable pathophysiological process, allowing proposals how to accelerate the discovery process. Risk factors for depression initiate an infection-like inflammation in the brain that involves activation microglial Toll-like receptors and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β). GSK3β activity alters the balance between two competing transcription factors, the pro-inflammatory/pro-oxidative transcription factor NFκB and the neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative transcription factor NRF2. The antidepressant activity of tricyclic antidepressants is assumed to involve activation of G-coupled microglial receptors, raising intracellular cAMP levels and activation of protein kinase A (PKA). PKA and similar kinases inhibit the enzyme activity of GSK3β. Experimental antidepressant principles, including cannabinoid receptor-2 activation, opioid μ receptor agonists, 5HT2 agonists, valproate, ketamine and electrical stimulation of the Vagus nerve, all activate microglial pathways that result in GSK3β-inhibition. An in vitro screen for NRF2-activation in microglial cells with TLR-activated GSK3β activity, might therefore lead to the detection of totally novel antidepressant principles with, hopefully, an improved therapeutic efficacy.

keywords:
5-HT2B, GS-coupled receptor, GSK3β, NRF2, cannabinoid CBR2, depression risk factor, ketamine, microglia, psilocybin, toll-like receptor

topic_tags:
Depression,Addiction,Pharmacology,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Review Article,In Vitro Study,Safety,Inflammation


authors: Kinderlehrer DA.
publication_date: 2023-03-02
doi: 10.2147/imcrj.s395342
pubmed_id: 36896410
source_url: https://doi.org/10.2147/imcrj.s395342
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Microdosing,Review Article,Case Report,Inflammation,Immune Function
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
title:
The Effectiveness of Microdosed Psilocybin in the Treatment of Neuropsychiatric Lyme Disease: A Case Study.

abstract:
Lyme disease can result in severe neuropsychiatric symptoms that may be resistant to treatment. The pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric Lyme disease is associated with autoimmune induced neuroinflammation. This case report describes an immunocompetent male with serologically positive neuropsychiatric Lyme disease who did not tolerate antimicrobial or psychotropic medications and whose symptoms remitted when he began psilocybin in microdosed (sub-hallucinogenic) amounts. A literature review of its therapeutic benefits reveals that psilocybin is both serotonergic and anti-inflammatory and therefore may offer significant therapeutic benefits to patients with mental illness secondary to autoimmune inflammation. The role of microdosed psilocybin in the treatment of neuropsychiatric Lyme disease and autoimmune encephalopathies warrants further study.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36896410","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Discovering the Potential Mechanisms of Medicinal Mushrooms Antidepressant Activity: A Review.
authors: Lazur J, Hnatyk K, Kała K, Sułkowska-Ziaja K, Muszyńska B.
publication_date: 2023-03-01
doi: 10.3390/antiox12030623
pubmed_id: 36978872
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12030623
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
Major Depression Disease is a common mental illness that affects more than 322 million people worldwide and it is one of the leading causes of mental and physical disability. The etiology of depression is a complex interplay of psychological, social, and biological factors. Currently, psychopharmacotherapy is based mainly on the monoamine theory, which states that depression is caused by an insufficient level of monoamines such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and/or dopamine. Due to the relatively low efficacy of the typical antidepressant and the high prevalence of treatment-resistant depression (~30%), seeking new ways of prophylaxis, adjuvant therapy, or novel compounds with antidepressant activity, is a priority. According to studies that analyzed mushroom consumption patterns and depression prevalence, it was concluded that mushroom ingestion lowers the odds of depression. Medicinal mushrooms are considered functional foods because of their ability to synthesize and accumulate different types of metabolites, which enhance their health-promoting properties. The review aims to explain the antidepressant activity of edible/medicinal mushrooms by elucidating the mechanism from different perspectives: edible mushrooms as a source of serotonin precursors and psilocybin as a rapid-acting antidepressant. These compounds exhibit anti-neuroinflammatory and antioxidant activities that impact neurotrophin expression, the neurogenesis process, and influence on the gut-brain axis.

topic_tags:
Depression,Neurogenesis,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Review Article,Treatment-Resistant Depression,Inflammation

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36978872","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Emmerich N, Humphries B.
publication_date: 2023-03-01
doi: 10.1017/s0963180123000099
pubmed_id: 36861394
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1017/s0963180123000099
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,PTSD,Addiction
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Is the Requirement for First-Person Experience of Psychedelic Drugs a Justified Component of a Psychedelic Therapist's Training?

abstract:
Recent research offers good reason to think that various psychedelic drugs-including psilocybin, ayahuasca, ketamine, MDMA, and LSD-may have significant therapeutic potential in the treatment of various mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, existential distress, and addiction. Although the use of psychoactive drugs, such as Diazepam or Ritalin, is well established, psychedelics arguably represent a therapeutic step change. As experiential therapies, their value would seem to lie in the subjective experiences they induce. As it is the only way for trainee psychedelic therapists to fully understand their subjective effects, some have suggested that firsthand experience of psychedelics should form part of training programs. We question this notion. First, we consider whether the epistemic benefits offered by drug-induced psychedelic experience are as unique as is supposed. We then reflect on the value it might have in regard to the training of psychedelic therapists. We conclude that, absent stronger evidence of the contribution drug-induced experiences make to the training of psychedelic therapists, requiring trainees to take psychedelic drugs does not seem ethically legitimate. However, given the potential for epistemic benefit cannot be entirely ruled out, permitting trainees who wish to gain first-hand experience of psychedelics may be permissible.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36861394","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: A Bayesian Reanalysis of a Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression
journal: PsyArXiv
publication_date: 2022-06-30
source_url: https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/sb5ur_v1
keywords: bayesian statistics, depression, psilocybin, Psychiatry
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression
study_type: Other
source_name: PsyArXiv
publication_status: preprint
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:30
raw_json: {"osf_id":"sb5ur_v1","version":1,"reviews_state":"accepted"}
abstract:
Objectives: To perform a Bayesian reanalysis of a recent trial of psilocybin (COMP360) versus escitalopram for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in order to provide a more informative interpretation of the indeterminate outcome of a previous frequentist analysis. Design: Reanalysis of a two-arm double-blind placebo controlled trial. Participants: Fifty-nine patients with MDD. Interventions: Two doses of psilocybin 25mg and daily oral placebo versus daily escitalopram and 2 doses of psilocybin 1mg, with psychological support for both groups. Outcome measures: Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self-Report (QIDS SR-16), and three other depression scales as secondary outcomes: HAMD-17, MADRS, and BDI-1A. Results: Using Bayes factors and ‘skeptical priors’ which bias estimates towards zero, for the hypothesis that psilocybin is superior by any margin, we found indeterminate evidence for QIDS SR-16, strong evidence for BDI-1A and MADRS, and extremely strong evidence for HAMD-17. For the stronger hypothesis that psilocybin is superior by a ‘clinically meaningful amount’ (using literature defined values of the minimally clinically important difference), we found moderate evidence against it for QIDS SR-16, indeterminate evidence for BDI-1A and MADRS, and moderate evidence supporting it for HAMD-17. Furthermore, across the board we found extremely strong evidence for psilocybin’s non-inferiority versus escitalopram. These findings were robust to prior sensitivity analysis. Conclusions: This Bayesian reanalysis supports the following inferences: 1) that psilocybin did indeed outperform escitalopram in this trial, but not to an extent that was clinically meaningful--and 2) that psilocybin is almost certainly non-inferior to escitalopram. The present results provide a more precise and nuanced interpretation to previously reported results from this trial, and support the need for further research into the relative efficacy of psilocybin therapy for depression with respect to current leading treatments.


title: [Psychedelic Therapy with Psilocybin and Psychotherapy - Where do we Stand?]
authors: Karow A.
publication_date: 2023-03-20
doi: 10.1055/a-2010-7640
pubmed_id: 36944348
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2010-7640
keywords: Humans, Hallucinogens, Emotions, Psychotherapy, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Emotional Processing
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36944348","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Jha MK, Mathew SJ.
publication_date: 2023-02-28
doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20230025
pubmed_id: 36855876
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.20230025
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Clinical Trial,Treatment-Resistant Depression,Healthcare Workers,Safety,Adverse Events
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Pharmacotherapies for Treatment-Resistant Depression: How Antipsychotics Fit in the Rapidly Evolving Therapeutic Landscape.

abstract:
One in three adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) do not experience clinically significant improvement after multiple sequential courses of antidepressants and have treatment-resistant depression (TRD). The presence of TRD contributes to the morbidity and excess mortality associated with MDD and has been linked to significantly increased health care expenses. In the absence of a consensus definition of TRD, this report takes a broad approach by considering inadequate response to one or more courses of antidepressants and focuses on atypical antipsychotics that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of depression (aripiprazole, brexpiprazole, cariprazine, extended-release quetiapine, and olanzapine-fluoxetine combination). While multiple acute-phase studies have demonstrated the efficacy of these medications in improving depressive symptoms, clinically meaningful improvement (i.e., remission) remains limited, with significant concerns about side effects (including weight gain, metabolic dysfunction, extrapyramidal symptoms, and tardive dyskinesia), especially with long-term use. With the rapidly evolving landscape of antidepressant treatments over the past few years, which has witnessed approval of rapid-acting antidepressants (e.g., esketamine nasal spray and dextromethorphan-bupropion combination) and several more in the late-stage pipeline (e.g., zuranolone and psilocybin), it remains to be seen whether the use of atypical antipsychotics will go the way of the older and rarely prescribed antidepressants (such as tricyclics and monoamine oxidase inhibitors). Pragmatic clinical trials are needed to compare the effectiveness of atypical antipsychotics with TRD-specific pharmacotherapies and neuromodulation treatments and to identify the optimal sequencing of these varied approaches for patients with MDD. When using atypical antipsychotics, clinicians and patients are encouraged to use a shared decision-making approach by personalizing treatment selection based on anticipated side effects, tolerability, cost, and feasibility.

keywords:
Humans, Antipsychotic Agents, Depression, Adult, United States, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions, Aripiprazole, Major Depressive Disorder

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36855876","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Oster E, Čudina N, Pavasović H, Prevendar Crnić A, Božić F, Fadel C, Giorgi M.
publication_date: 2023-01-30
doi: 10.1016/j.vas.2023.100288
pubmed_id: 36798946
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vas.2023.100288
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Intoxication of dogs and cats with common stimulating, hallucinogenic and dissociative recreational drugs.

abstract:
Pets can have accidental, intentional, or malicious exposure to illicit drugs. It is a growing concern over the last decade because there is an increase in usage of illicit drugs in humans and diagnosis is difficult. Owners are often not aware of exposure, or they are reluctant to admit possession of recreational drugs in the household due to potential legal consequences. In addition, illicit drugs sold on the black market are often adulterated with other substances resulting in non-specific clinical presentation and aggravation of symptoms. There are affordable onsite diagnostic tests on the market which could facilitate diagnosis of intoxication with illicit drugs, but they give a lot of false positive results due to low specificity of the tests. In this paper we gathered information about the most common recreational drugs such as amphetamines, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA), phencyclidine (PCP), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin mushrooms and cocaine in terms of toxicokinetic properties, mechanism of toxic action, clinical presentation and treatment in dogs and cats.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36798946","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Utility of preclinical models in the study of psilocybin - A comprehensive review.
authors: Pedicini M, Cordner ZA.
publication_date: 2023-01-12
doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105046
pubmed_id: 36646257
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105046
keywords: Hallucinogens, Emotions, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Pharmacology,Mechanism of Action,Emotional Processing,Review Article,Animal Study,Toxicity
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
abstract:
Interest in the therapeutic potential of psilocybin across a broad range of neuropsychiatric disorders is rapidly expanding. Despite promising clinical data and tremendous public enthusiasm, complimentary basic and translational studies - which are critical for advancing our understanding of psilocybin's biological effects and promoting innovation - have been relatively few. As with all work involving the study of complex neuropsychopharmacology, the search for deeper understanding of biological mechanisms, and the need for nuanced behavioral analyses in the context of both normal and diseased states, the roles for preclinical models are clear. A systematic search of the literature identified 57 articles involving the study of psilocybin in preclinical rodent models. A comprehensive review and thematic analysis identified 4 broad areas of investigation - pharmacology, toxicity, effects on disease models, and molecular mechanisms - with pharmacology studies accounting for the majority. Though these papers represent a still remarkably small body of literature, several important conclusions can already be drawn, and several areas of high priority for future work can be identified.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36646257","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Wang J, Liang M, Shang Q, Qian H, An R, Liu H, Shao G, Li T, Liu X.
publication_date: 2023-01-09
doi: 10.1111/cns.14054
pubmed_id: 36627756
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1111/cns.14054
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Animal Study
study_type: Animal Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
title:
Psilocin suppresses methamphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion and acquisition of conditioned place preference via D2R-mediated ERK signaling.

abstract:
AimPsilocin is an active metabolite form of psilocybin and exerts psychoactive effects. Recent studies suggest that psilocin may have regulatory effects on abuse drugs, but the mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we want to explore the effects of psilocin on methamphetamine (METH)-induced alterations of behavior in mice and its molecular mechanisms.MethodsAcute METH administration model and conditioned place preference (CPP) model were used to investigate the effects of psilocin on METH-induced alterations of behavior. Western blot was used to detect the expression of proteins.ResultsIn the acute 2 mg/kg METH administration model, 1 mg/kg psilocin counteracted METH-induced elevation of activity. In the 1 mg/kg METH-induced CPP model, 1 mg/kg psilocin inhibited CPP formation during the acquisition phase. However, psilocin did not impact METH extinction and relapse. Molecular results showed that the regulatory effect of psilocin on METH was underscored by altered expression of dopamine 2 receptor (D2R) and phosphorylated extra-cellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), nucleus accumbens (NAc), and ventral tegmental area (VTA). Trifluoperazine (TFP)-2HCl is a D2R inhibitor, and SCH772984 is a selective extra-cellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor that effectively inhibits ERK1/2 phosphorylation. The results indicated that 2 mg/kg TFP-2HCl and 10 mg/kg SCH772984 blocked METH-induced hyperactivity and acquisition of METH-induced CPP.ConclusionPsilocin has regulatory effects on METH-induced alterations of behavior in mice via D2R-mediated signal regulation of ERK phosphorylation.

keywords:
Nucleus Accumbens, Animals, Mice, Methamphetamine, Central Nervous System Stimulants, Signal Transduction, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36627756","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Interaction of psychedelic tryptamine derivatives with a lipid bilayer.
authors: Zohairi F, Khandelia H, Hakami Zanjani AA
journal: Chemistry and physics of lipids
publication_date: 2023-02-28
doi: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2023.105279
pubmed_id: 36627076
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36627076/
substance_tags: psilocin
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"36627076"}
abstract:
Naturally occurring psychedelics have been used for a long time as remedies or in religious ceremonies and recreational activities. Recent studies have proven the therapeutic potential of some psychedelic compounds to safely treat a wide range of diseases such as anxiety, depression, migraine, and addiction. It is hypothesized that psychedelic compounds like tryptamines can exert their effects by two possible mechanisms: binding to the transmembrane serotonin receptor and/or modifying the properties of the neuronal membrane that can alter the conformational equilibrium and desensitize receptors. The impact of three different tryptamine class compounds with a tertiary amine (dimethyltryptamine, bufotenine, and 5-MeO-DMT) in both neutral and charged forms on a model bilayer lipid membrane are studied using all-atom MD simulations. All compounds partition into the bilayer, and change membrane properties, but to different extents. We determine the tendency of compounds to partition into the membrane by free energy calculations. Neutral tryptamines partition into the bilayer almost completely. Dimethyltryptamine and 5-MeO-DMT cross the membrane spontaneously during the simulation time, but bufotenine does not, although it has the maximum effect on the structural properties of the membrane. However, protonated compounds partition partially into the bilayer and cannot pass through the middle of the membrane during the simulation time. In this way, subtle alteration of chemical structure can play a significant role in the improvement or deterioration of partitioning of these compounds into the bilayer and their passage across the membrane.

keywords:
5-MeO-DMT, Bufotenine, DMT, Lipid-compound interactions, Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, Psilocin, Psychedelic compounds, Serotonin, Tryptamine

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,Addiction,Headache / Migraine,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Drug Interactions


authors: McTaggart AR, James TY, Slot JC, Barlow C, Fechner N, Shuey LS, Drenth A.
publication_date: 2022-12-28
doi: 10.1016/j.fgb.2022.103769
pubmed_id: 36587787
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fgb.2022.103769
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Wellbeing,Genomics
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
title:
Genome sequencing progenies of magic mushrooms (Psilocybe subaeruginosa) identifies tetrapolar mating and gene duplications in the psilocybin pathway.

abstract:
Knowledge of breeding systems and genetic diversity is critical to select and combine desired traits that advance new cultivars in agriculture and horticulture. Mushrooms that produce psilocybin, magic mushrooms, may potentially be used in therapeutic and wellness industries, and stand to benefit from genetic improvement. We studied haploid siblings of Psilocybe subaeruginosa to resolve the genetics behind mating compatibility and advance knowledge of breeding. Our results show that mating in P. subaeruginosa is tetrapolar, with compatibility controlled at a homeodomain locus with one copy each of HD1 and HD2, and a pheromone/receptor locus with four homologs of the receptor gene STE3. An additional two pheromone/receptor loci homologous to STE3 do not appear to regulate mating compatibility. Alleles in the psilocybin gene cluster did not vary among the five siblings and were likely homozygous in the parent. Psilocybe subaeruginosa and its relatives have three copies of PsiH genes but their impact on production of psilocybin and its analogues is unknown. Genetic improvement in Psilocybe will require access to genetic diversity from the centre of origin of different species, identification of genes behind traits, and strategies to avoid inbreeding depression.

keywords:
Receptors, Pheromone, Pheromones, Gene Duplication, Genes, Mating Type, Fungal, Psilocybe, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36587787","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Research into Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy for Anorexia Nervosa Should be Funded.
authors: Otterman LS
journal: Journal of bioethical inquiry
publication_date: 2023-02-28
doi: 10.1007/s11673-022-10220-9
pubmed_id: 36534233
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36534233/
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Eating Disorders,Safety
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"36534233"}
abstract:
Eating disorders are debilitating diseases that have twin impacts on the body and mind and are associated with a number of physiological and psychological comorbidities (Blinder, Cumella, and Sanathara 2006; Casiero and Frishman 2006), including increased suicide risk (Arcelus et al. 2011; Lipson and Sonneville 2020). In addition, eating disorders are growing in prevalence (Gilmache et al. 2019) and impact women at much higher rates than men (Bearman, Martinez, and Stice 2006), especially in adolescence (Spriggs, Kettner, and Carhart-Harris 2021). Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a particularly devastating eating disorder, with one of the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric disorder (Sullivan 1995). Despite the severity of the condition, current treatments for AN are limited in their efficacy (Khalsa et al. 2017). Based on the growing body of evidence demonstrating the short-term and long-term efficacy of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of other mental illnesses, I argue that research into psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for AN should be funded.

keywords:
Anorexia nervosa, Eating disorders, Health research ethics, Informed consent, LSD, Psilocybin, Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy


authors: Heal DJ, Gosden J, Smith SL, Atterwill CK.
publication_date: 2022-12-15
doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109375
pubmed_id: 36529260
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109375
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Pharmacology,Receptor Pharmacology,Animal Study,Safety,Toxicity,Drug Interactions,Inflammation
study_type: Animal Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Experimental strategies to discover and develop the next generation of psychedelics and entactogens as medicines.

abstract:
Research on classical psychedelics (psilocybin, LSD and DMT) and entactogen, MDMA, has produced a renaissance in the search for more effective drugs to treat psychiatric, neurological and various peripheral disorders. Psychedelics and entactogens act though interaction with 5-HT2A and other serotonergic receptors and/or monoamine reuptake transporters. 5-HT, which serves as a neurotransmitter and hormone, is ubiquitously distributed in the brain and peripheral organs, tissues and cells where it has vasoconstrictor, pro-inflammatory and pro-nociceptive actions. Serotonergic psychedelics and entactogens have known safety and toxicity risks. For these drugs, the risks been extensively researched and empirically assessed through human experience. However, novel drug-candidates require thorough non-clinical testing not only to predict clinical efficacy, but also to address the risks they pose during clinical development and later after approval as prescription medicines. We have defined the challenges researchers will encounter when developing novel serotonergic psychedelics and entactogens. We describe screening techniques to predict clinical efficacy and address the safety/toxicity risks emerging from our knowledge of the existing drugs: 1) An early-stage, non-clinical screening cascade to pharmacologically characterise novel drug-candidates. 2) Models to detect hallucinogenic activity. 3) Models to differentiate hallucinogens from entactogens. 4) Non-clinical preclinical lead optimisation technology (PLOT) screening to select drug-candidates. 5) Modified animal models to evaluate the abuse and dependence risks of novel psychedelics in Safety Pharmacology testing. Our intention has been to design non-clinical screening strategies that will reset the balance between benefits and harms to deliver more effective and safer novel psychedelics for clinical use. This article is part of the Special Issue on 'National Institutes of Health Psilocybin Research Speaker Series'.

keywords:
Brain, Animals, Humans, Serotonin, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Treatment Outcome, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36529260","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Update on treatments for anxiety-related disorders.
authors: Lee HJ, Stein MB.
publication_date: 2022-12-05
doi: 10.1097/yco.0000000000000841
pubmed_id: 36480651
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1097/yco.0000000000000841
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Anxiety,Receptor Pharmacology,Emotional Processing,Review Article
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
Purpose of reviewThis review examines recent evidence that informs the treatment of anxiety-related disorders.Recent findingsIn addition to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and benzodiazepines, agomelatine has demonstrated efficacy in treating generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Other novel products, such as ketamine, psilocybin and cannabidiol, are in the process of gathering evidence in support of the treatment of anxiety disorders. In psychological therapy, various psychological treatments for anxiety disorders, such as mindfulness-based intervention, acceptance and commitment therapy, psychodynamic therapy, emotion-focused therapy and dialectical behavioural therapy, have been tried. Still, most therapies have not proven superior to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). In very preliminary findings: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) was effective in GAD; transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was effective for social anxiety disorder (SAD) and GAD and augmented exposure therapy for specific fears. Internet and mobile-based interventions have comparable efficacy to face-to-face therapy.SummaryPharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders is expanding to novel products. Despite trying other psychological therapies for anxiety disorders, most therapies were comparable to but not superior to CBT. rTMS and tDCS were also used and show early promise for GAD, but further studies are needed. Most internet or mobile app based psychological therapies were based on CBT, and some can be considered as alternatives to in-person face-to-face therapy.

keywords:
Humans, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36480651","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: [Attitudes of Mental Health Experts Towards Psilocybin].
authors: Schmidt C, Wolff M, Gründer G, Jungaberle H.
publication_date: 2022-06-19
doi: 10.1055/a-1846-1161
pubmed_id: 35724682
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1846-1161
keywords: Humans, Hallucinogens, Attitude, Mental Health, Mental Disorders, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Observational Study
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
abstract:
ObjectiveIn recent years, studies investigating the use of psilocybin to treat mental disorders have shown promising results. In this context, this online survey investigated attitudes of trained psychiatrists and psychotherapists towards psilocybin and psilocybin-assisted therapies.Materials and methodsA total of 530 valid responses from individuals with suitable job profiles were collected in this online survey. Statistical analysis was used to identify relevant predictors of attitude measures.ResultsThe opinions of experts in the treatment of mental disorders with psilocybin and psilocybin-assisted therapies varied widely, and the level of knowledge of the participants to some extent was low. A large number of participants considered treatment of mental disorders with psilocybin to be promising and treatment of depression with psilocybin was seen as promising by the majority of the participants. The results of this study suggest that a higher level of knowledge about psilocybin is associated with more optimistic views about its use in a therapeutic setting. Having additional scientific information led in some cases to more optimistic attitudes towards psilocybin and the use of psilocybin in the treatment of mental disorders.ConclusionIf the scientific and public discourse on psilocybin continues to grow in the future, changes in the attitudes of psychotherapists and psychiatrists can be expected.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"35724682","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Kisely S, Connor M, Somogyi AA, Siskind D.
publication_date: 2022-03-11
doi: 10.1177/00048674221083868
pubmed_id: 35285280
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1177/00048674221083868
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
title:
A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of the effect of psilocybin and methylenedioxymethamphetamine on mental, behavioural or developmental disorders.

abstract:
ObjectivesThere is an increasing interest in combining psilocybin or methylenedioxymethamphetamine with psychological support in treating psychiatric disorders. Although there have been several recent systematic reviews, study and participant numbers have been limited, and the field is rapidly evolving with the publication of more studies. We therefore conducted a systematic review of PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, and CINAHL for randomised controlled trials of methylenedioxymethamphetamine and psilocybin with either inactive or active controls.MethodsOutcomes were psychiatric symptoms measured by standardised, validated and internationally recognised instruments at least 2 weeks following drug administration, Quality was independently assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework.ResultsThere were eight studies on methylenedioxymethamphetamine and six on psilocybin. Diagnoses included post-traumatic stress disorder, long-standing/treatment-resistant depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety in adults with autism, and anxiety or depression in life-threatening disease. The most information and strongest association was for the change in methylenedioxymethamphetamine scores compared to active controls in post-traumatic stress disorder (k = 4; standardised mean difference = -0.86; 95% confidence interval = [-1.23, -0.50]; p

keywords:
Humans, N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, Anxiety Disorders, Developmental Disabilities, Adult, Child, Psilocybin, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

topic_tags:
Depression,Anxiety,PTSD,OCD,End-of-Life Distress,Randomized Controlled Trial,Meta-Analysis,Systematic Review,Review Article,Treatment-Resistant Depression,Safety

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"35285280","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Effect of psilocybin on decision-making and motivation in the healthy rat.
authors: Roberts BF, Zylko AL, Waters CE, Crowder JD, Gibbons WJ, Sen AK, Jones JA, McMurray MS.
publication_date: 2022-12-14
doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114262
pubmed_id: 36529299
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114262
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: Receptor Pharmacology,Safety
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:00
abstract:
Psilocybin and its active metabolite psilocin are hallucinogenic serotonergic agonists with high affinity for several serotonin receptors. In addition to underlying the hallucinogenic effects of these compounds, serotonin receptor activation also has important effects on decision-making and goal-directed behaviors. The impact of psilocybin and psilocin on these cognitive systems, however, remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of psilocybin treatment on decision-making and motivation in healthy male and female rats. We compared probability and delay discounting performance of psilocybin treated (1 mg/kg) to vehicle rats (n = 10/sex/group), and further assessed motivation in each group using a progressive ratio task. We also confirmed drug action by assessing head twitch responses after psilocybin treatment (1 mg/kg). Results from this study demonstrated that exposure to 1 mg/kg psilocybin did not affect decision-making in the probability and delay discounting tasks and did not reduce response rates in the progressive ratio task. However, psilocybin treatment did cause the expected increase in head twitch responses in both male and female rats, demonstrating that the drug was delivered at a pharmacologically relevant dosage. Combined, these results suggest that psilocybin may not impair or improve decision-making and motivation. Considering recent interest in psilocybin as a potential fast-acting therapeutic for a variety of mental health disorders, our findings also suggest the therapeutic effects of this drug may not be mediated by changes to the brain systems underlying reward and decision-making. Finally, these results may have important implications regarding the relative safety of this compound, suggesting that widespread cognitive impairments may not be seen in subjects, even after chronic treatment.

keywords:
Brain, Animals, Rats, Serotonin, Receptors, Serotonin, Hallucinogens, Motivation, Female, Male, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36529299","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Sherif MA, Khalil MZ, Shukla R, Brown JC, Carpenter LL.
publication_date: 2023-02-22
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.976921
pubmed_id: 36911109
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.976921
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Neuroplasticity,Mechanism of Action
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
Synapses, predictions, and prediction errors: A neocortical computational study of MDD using the temporal memory algorithm of HTM.

abstract:
IntroductionSynapses and spines play a significant role in major depressive disorder (MDD) pathophysiology, recently highlighted by the rapid antidepressant effect of ketamine and psilocybin. According to the Bayesian brain and interoception perspectives, MDD is formalized as being stuck in affective states constantly predicting negative energy balance. To understand how spines and synapses relate to the predictive function of the neocortex and thus to symptoms, we used the temporal memory (TM), an unsupervised machine-learning algorithm. TM models a single neocortical layer, learns in real-time, and extracts and predicts temporal sequences. TM exhibits neocortical biological features such as sparse firing and continuous online learning using local Hebbian-learning rules.MethodsWe trained a TM model on random sequences of upper-case alphabetical letters, representing sequences of affective states. To model depression, we progressively destroyed synapses in the TM model and examined how that affected the predictive capacity of the network. We found that the number of predictions decreased non-linearly.ResultsDestroying 50% of the synapses slightly reduced the number of predictions, followed by a marked drop with further destruction. However, reducing the synapses by 25% distinctly dropped the confidence in the predictions. Therefore, even though the network was making accurate predictions, the network was no longer confident about these predictions.DiscussionThese findings explain how interoceptive cortices could be stuck in limited affective states with high prediction error. Connecting ketamine and psilocybin's proposed mechanism of action to depression pathophysiology, the growth of new synapses would allow representing more futuristic predictions with higher confidence. To our knowledge, this is the first study to use the TM model to connect changes happening at synaptic levels to the Bayesian formulation of psychiatric symptomatology. Linking neurobiological abnormalities to symptoms will allow us to understand the mechanisms of treatments and possibly, develop new ones.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36911109","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression.
authors: Østergaard SD, Hieronymus F.
publication_date: 2023-01-31
doi: 10.1056/nejmc2215459
pubmed_id: 36812443
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmc2215459
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Treatment-Resistant Depression
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
keywords:
Humans, Hallucinogens, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Psilocybin, Major Depressive Disorder

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36812443","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Chen Y, Liu J, Yao Y, Yan H, Su R.
publication_date: 2023-02-15
doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1021729
pubmed_id: 36874002
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1021729
substance_tags: psilocin
topic_tags: Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Consciousness,Animal Study
study_type: Animal Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Rearing behaviour in the mouse behavioural pattern monitor distinguishes the effects of psychedelics from those of lisuride and TBG.

abstract:
Psychedelics alter consciousness and may have potential for drug development. As psychedelics are likely therapeutically active, it is important to study their effects and mechanisms using preclinical models. Here, we examined the effects of phenylalkylamine and indoleamine psychedelics on locomotor activity and exploratory behaviour using the mouse Behavioural Pattern Monitor (BPM). DOM, mescaline, and psilocin reduced locomotor activity at high doses and influenced rearings, an exploratory behaviour, in a characteristic inverted U-shaped dose-response function. Pretreatment with the selective 5-HT2A antagonist M100907 reversed the drug-induced alterations in locomotor activity, rearings, and jumps after systemic administration of DOM at low doses. However, holepoking at the full range of doses tested was not blocked by M100907. Administration of the hallucinogenic 5-HT2A agonist 25CN-NBOH induced striking similarities in response to that to psychedelics; these alterations were significantly diminished by M100907, whereas the putatively non-hallucinogenic 5-HT2A agonist TBG did not affect locomotor activity, rearings, or jumps at the most effective doses. The nonhallucinogenic 5-HT2A agonist lisuride failed to increase rearing. The results of these experiments provide strong evidence that DOM-elicited increases in rearing are due to mediation by the 5-HT2A receptor. Finally, discriminant analysis was able to distinguish all four psychedelics from lisuride and TBG based on behavioural performance alone. Thus, increased rearing in mice could provide additional evidence of behavioural differences between hallucinogenic and nonhallucinogenic 5-HT2A agonists.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36874002","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Meir P, Taylor L, Soares JC, Meyer TD.
publication_date: 2022-12-16
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.12.050
pubmed_id: 36535547
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.12.050
keywords: Humans, Hallucinogens, Mental Health, Psychotherapy, Psilocybin, Psychotherapists
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Healthcare Workers,Safety
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
title:
Psychotherapists' openness to engage their patients in Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for mental health treatment.

abstract:
Despite psychedelic research initially ceasing in the 1970-80s, the findings documented encouraged researchers to re-examine the safety and efficacy of treating mental health with psychedelics. Of particular focus, psilocybin has shown to have therapeutic potential for a variety of mental health problems and was granted breakthrough therapy status by the FDA. Should psilocybin eventually become legally licensed, the success of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy (PAT) may largely rely on clinicians' openness to engage their eligible patients with PAT. We therefore assessed 119 psychologists' openness to recommend PAT, perceived barriers/facilitators to informing patients about PAT, and factors affecting their openness to involve patients with PAT if FDA approved. While 77.4 % of psychologists agreed they would inform eligible patients about PAT, 91.6 % stated they would still recommend psychotherapies that do not involve psilocybin first. 76.5 % endorsed that knowledge on psilocybin would increase their likelihood to inform patients about PAT. More positive attitudes and beliefs about psilocybin, greater self-reported knowledge of psilocybin, personal history of psychedelic usage, and more positive attitudes towards medical cannabis (MC) was associated with greater openness to engage patients with PAT. Our regression analysis revealed that attitudes towards MC and beliefs about psilocybin were the only significant predictors of psychotherapists' openness towards PAT. These findings provide relevant information to institutions planning educational programs for mental health professionals about psilocybin and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36535547","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psilocybin-assisted therapy improves psycho-social-spiritual well-being in cancer patients.
authors: Shnayder S, Ameli R, Sinaii N, Berger A, Agrawal M.
publication_date: 2022-12-09
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.11.046
pubmed_id: 36513161
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.11.046
keywords: Humans, Neoplasms, Hallucinogens, Self Report, Psilocybin, Major Depressive Disorder
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Wellbeing,Spirituality,Clinical Trial,Cancer Patients
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
abstract:
BackgroundWhile psychedelics have been shown to improve psycho-spiritual well-being, the underlying elements of this change are not well-characterized. The NIH-HEALS posits that psycho-social-spiritual change occurs through the factors of Connection, Reflection & Introspection, and Trust & Acceptance. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in NIH-HEALS scores in a cancer population with major depressive disorder undergoing psilocybin-assisted therapy.MethodsIn this Phase II, single-center, open label trial, 30 cancer patients with major depressive disorder received a fixed dose of 25 mg of psilocybin. Participants underwent group preparation sessions, simultaneous psilocybin treatment administered in adjacent rooms, and group integration sessions, along with individual care. The NIH-HEALS, a self-administered, 35-item measure of psycho-social spiritual healing was completed at baseline and post-treatment at day 1, week 1, week 3, and week 8 following psilocybin therapy.ResultsNIH-HEALS scores, representing psycho-social-spiritual wellbeing, improved in response to psilocybin treatment (p

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36513161","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Considerations in assessing the abuse potential of psychedelics during drug development.
authors: Calderon SN, Bonson KR, Reissig CJ, Lloyd JM, Galati S, Chiapperino D.
publication_date: 2022-11-27
doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109352
pubmed_id: 36455646
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109352
keywords: Hallucinogens, United States, Psilocybin, Drug Development
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Receptor Pharmacology
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
The recent increase in clinical research on the potential therapeutic uses of classic psychedelics has prompted the need to revisit the assessment of the abuse potential of these drugs. The term "classic psychedelic" is used in this manuscript to describe serotonergic 5-HT2A agonists that alter perception, cognition, and mood (i.e., psychedelic effects) and that are currently controlled in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Schedule I drugs are subject to the most restrictive controls under the CSA, as they are considered to have a high abuse potential and no currently accepted medical use in the United States (USA). However, these classic psychedelics were placed in Schedule I at the time the CSA was enacted in 1970, and their abuse potential has not been systematically assessed using modern methodology. This paper provides an overview of scientific evaluation of the abuse potential of classic psychedelics and delineates the data that will be needed in support of a recommendation for the rescheduling, if a drug product containing a classic psychedelic gains FDA approval. This article is part of the Special Issue on 'National Institutes of Health Psilocybin Research Speaker Series'.

raw_json:
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authors: Jones G, Lipson J, Wang E.
publication_date: 2023-02-10
doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-29763-x
pubmed_id: 36774449
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29763-x
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Observational Study,Drug Interactions
study_type: Observational Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Examining associations between MDMA/ecstasy and classic psychedelic use and impairments in social functioning in a U.S. adult sample.

abstract:
Impairment in social functioning is a common source of morbidity across many mental health disorders, yet there is a dearth of effective and easily implemented interventions to support social functioning. MDMA/ecstasy and classic psychedelics (psilocybin, LSD, peyote, mescaline) represent two potential treatments for impairments in social functioning, as evidence suggests these compounds may be supportive for alleviating social difficulties. Using a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2015-2019) (N = 214,505), we used survey-weighted multivariable ordinal and logistic regression to examine the associations between lifetime use of the aforementioned compounds and impairments in social functioning in the past year. Lifetime MDMA/ecstasy use was associated with lowered odds of three of our four social impairment outcomes: difficulty dealing with strangers (aOR 0.92), difficulty participating in social activities (aOR 0.90), and being prevented from participating in social activities (aOR 0.84). Lifetime mescaline use was also associated with lowered odds of difficulty dealing with strangers (aOR 0.85). All other substances either shared no relationship with impairments in social functioning or conferred increased odds of our outcomes. Future experimental studies can assess whether these relationships are causal.

keywords:
Humans, Substance Withdrawal Syndrome, N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, Mescaline, Hallucinogens, Adult, Psilocybin, Social Interaction

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36774449","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Husain MI, Ledwos N, Fellows E, Baer J, Rosenblat JD, Blumberger DM, Mulsant BH, Castle DJ
journal: Frontiers in psychiatry
publication_date: 2021-12-31
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1076459
pubmed_id: 36844032
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36844032/
keywords: LSD, ayahuasca, connectivity, depression, hallucinogen, neurobiology, psilocybin, psychedelics
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Review Article
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"36844032"}
title:
Serotonergic psychedelics for depression: What do we know about neurobiological mechanisms of action?

abstract:
Current treatment options for major depressive disorder (MDD) have limited efficacy and are associated with adverse effects. Recent studies investigating the antidepressant effect of serotonergic psychedelics-also known as classic psychedelics-have promising preliminary results with large effect sizes. In this context, we conducted a review of the putative neurobiological underpinnings of the mechanism of antidepressant action of these drugs.
A narrative review was conducted using PubMed to identify published articles evaluating the antidepressant mechanism of action of serotonergic psychedelics.
Serotonergic psychedelics have serotonin (5HT)2A agonist or partial agonist effects. Their rapid antidepressant effects may be mediated-in part-by their potent 5HT2A agonism, leading to rapid receptor downregulation. In addition, these psychedelics impact brain derived neurotrophic factor and immunomodulatory responses, both of which may play a role in their antidepressant effect. Several neuroimaging and neurophysiology studies evaluating mechanistic change from a network perspective can help us to further understand their mechanism of action. Some, but not all, data suggest that psychedelics may exert their effects, in part, by disrupting the activity of the default mode network, which is involved in both introspection and self-referential thinking and is over-active in MDD.
The mechanisms of action underlying the antidepressant effect of serotonergic psychedelics remains an active area of research. Several competing theories are being evaluated and more research is needed to determine which ones are supported by the most robust evidence.

topic_tags:
Depression,Brain Imaging,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Default Mode Network,Aging,Review Article


publication_date: 2023-02-08
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1051542
pubmed_id: 36846226
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1051542
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: PTSD,Emotional Processing,Case Report,Drug Interactions
study_type: Case Report
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
title:
Cannabis-assisted psychotherapy for complex dissociative posttraumatic stress disorder: A case report.

authors:
Ragnhildstveit A, Kaiyo M, Snyder MB, Jackson LK, Lopez A, Mayo C, Miranda AC, August RJ, Seli P, Robison R, Averill LA.

abstract:
BackgroundA dissociative subtype of posttraumatic stress disorder, known as "D-PTSD", has been included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. In addition to meeting criteria for PTSD, patients endorse prominent dissociative symptoms, namely depersonalization and derealization, or detachment from one's self and surroundings. At present, this population is supported by a highly heterogeneous and undeveloped literature. Targeted interventions are therefore lacking, and those indicated for PTSD are limited by poor efficacy, delayed onset of action, and low patient engagement. Here, we introduce cannabis-assisted psychotherapy (CAP) as a novel treatment for D-PTSD, drawing parallels to psychedelic therapy.Case presentationA 28-year-old female presented with complex D-PTSD. In a naturalistic setting, she underwent 10 sessions of CAP, scheduled twice monthly over 5 months, coupled with integrative cognitive behavioral therapy. An autonomic and relational approach to CAP was leveraged, specifically psychedelic somatic interactional psychotherapy. Acute effects included oceanic boundlessness, ego dissolution, and emotional breakthrough. From baseline to post-treatment, the patient showed a 98.5% reduction in pathological dissociation, as measured by the Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation, no longer meeting criteria for D-PTSD. This was accompanied by decreased cognitive distractibility and emotional suffering, as well as increased psychosocial functioning. Anecdotally, the patient has sustained improvements for over 2 years to date.ConclusionsThere is urgency to identify treatments for D-PTSD. The present case, while inherently limited, underscores the potential of CAP as a therapeutic option, leading to robust and sustained improvement. Subjective effects were comparable to those produced by classic and non-classic psychedelics, such as psilocybin and ketamine. Further research is warranted to explore, establish, and optimize CAP in D-PTSD, and to characterize its role in the pharmacological landscape.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36846226","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Therapeutic effect of psilocybin in addiction: A systematic review.
publication_date: 2023-02-08
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1134454
pubmed_id: 36846225
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1134454
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Clinical Trial,Randomized Controlled Trial,Meta-Analysis,Systematic Review,Review Article
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
authors:
van der Meer PB, Fuentes JJ, Kaptein AA, Schoones JW, de Waal MM, Goudriaan AE, Kramers K, Schellekens A, Somers M, Bossong MG, Batalla A.

abstract:
BackgroundPsychedelic-assisted therapy [e.g., with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)] has shown promising results as treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs). Previous systematic reviews assessing the efficacy of psilocybin in SUDs only included clinical trials conducted in the last 25 years, but they may have missed clinical trials assessing the efficacy of psilocybin that were conducted before the 1980s, given much research has been done with psychedelics in the mid-20th century. In this systematic review, we specifically assessed the efficacy of psilocybin in patients with a SUD or non-substance-related disorder with no publication date restrictions in our search strategy.MethodsA systematic literature search was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines from the earliest published manuscript up to September 2, 2022, in seven electronic databases, including clinical trials in patients with a SUD or non-substance-related disorder evaluating the efficacy of psilocybin.ResultsA total of four studies (six articles, of which two articles were long-term follow-up results from the same trial) were included in this systematic review. Psilocybin-assisted therapy was administered to n = 151 patients in a dose ranging from 6 to 40 mg. Three studies focused on alcohol use disorder, and one study on tobacco use disorder. In a pilot study (n = 10), the percentage of heavy drinking days decreased significantly between baseline and weeks 5-12 (mean difference of 26.0, 95% CI = 8.7-43.2, p = 0.008). In another single-arm study (n = 31), 32% (10/31) became completely abstinent from alcohol (mean duration of follow-up 6 years). In a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized controlled trial (RCT, n = 95), the percentage of heavy drinking days during the 32-week double-blind period was significantly lower for psilocybin compared to placebo (mean difference of 13.9, 95% CI = 3.0-24.7, p = 0.01). In a pilot study (n = 15), the 7-day point prevalence of smoking abstinence at 26 weeks was 80% (12/15), and at 52 weeks 67% (10/15).ConclusionOnly one RCT and three small clinical trials were identified assessing the efficacy of psilocybin combined with some form of psychotherapy in patients with alcohol and tobacco use disorder. All four clinical trials indicated a beneficial effect of psilocybin-assisted therapy on SUD symptoms. Larger RCTs in patients with SUDs need to evaluate whether psilocybin-assisted therapy is effective in patients with SUD.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36846225","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Henríquez-Hernández LA, Rojas-Hernández J, Quintana-Hernández DJ, Borkel LF.
publication_date: 2023-02-02
doi: 10.3390/toxics11020148
pubmed_id: 36851023
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11020148
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Mechanism of Action,Systematic Review,Review Article,Safety,Toxicity
study_type: Systematic Review
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Hofmann vs. Paracelsus: Do Psychedelics Defy the Basics of Toxicology?-A Systematic Review of the Main Ergolamines, Simple Tryptamines, and Phenylethylamines.

abstract:
Psychedelics are experiencing a strong renaissance and will soon be incorporated into clinical practice. However, there is uncertainty about how much harm they can cause at what doses. This review aimed to collect information on the health-hazardous doses of psychedelic substances, to be aware of the risks to which patients may be subjected. We focused on ergolamines, simple tryptamines, and phenylethylamines. We reviewed articles published in major medical and scientific databases. Studies reporting toxic or lethal doses in humans and animals were included. We followed PRISMA criteria for revisions. We identified 3032 manuscripts for inclusion. Of these, 33 were ultimately useful and gave relevant information about effects associated with high psychedelics doses. Despite having different molecular structures and different mechanisms of action, psychedelics are effective at very low doses, are not addictive, and are harmful at extremely high doses. For LSD and psilocybin, no dose has been established above which the lives of users are endangered. In contrast, MDMA appears to be the most dangerous substance, although reports are biased by recreational missuses. It seems that it is not only the dose that makes the poison. In the case of psychedelics, the set and setting make the poison.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36851023","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psilocybin therapy for depression. A good trip?
authors: Rucker JJ.
publication_date: 2023-01-31
doi: 10.1080/09638237.2023.2183492
pubmed_id: 36913702
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2023.2183492
keywords: Humans, Depression, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36913702","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


abstract: [This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101809.].
publication_date: 2023-01-29
doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.101841
pubmed_id: 36747965
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.101841
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Clinical Trial
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Corrigendum to 'Single-dose psilocybin-assisted therapy in major depressive disorder: a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised clinical trial'.

authors:
von Rotz R, Schindowski EM, Jungwirth J, Schuldt A, Rieser NM, Zahoranszky K, Seifritz E, Nowak A, Nowak P, Jäncke L, Preller KH, Vollenweider FX.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36747965","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


publication_date: 2022-12-27
doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101809
pubmed_id: 36636296
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101809
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Clinical Trial,Adverse Events
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
title:
Single-dose psilocybin-assisted therapy in major depressive disorder: A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised clinical trial.

authors:
von Rotz R, Schindowski EM, Jungwirth J, Schuldt A, Rieser NM, Zahoranszky K, Seifritz E, Nowak A, Nowak P, Jäncke L, Preller KH, Vollenweider FX.

abstract:
BackgroundPsilocybin has been suggested as a novel, rapid-acting treatment for depression. Two consecutive doses have been shown to markedly decrease symptom severity in an open-label setting or when compared to a waiting list group. To date, to our knowledge, no other trial compared a single, moderate dose of psilocybin to a placebo condition.MethodsIn this double-blind, randomised clinical trial, 52 participants diagnosed with major depressive disorder and no unstable somatic conditions were allocated to receive either a single, moderate dose (0.215 mg/kg body weight) of psilocybin or placebo in conjunction with psychological support. MADRS and BDI scores were assessed to estimate depression severity, while changes from baseline to 14 days after the intervention were defined as primary endpoints. The trial took place between April 11th, 2019 and October 12th, 2021 at the psychiatric university hospital in Zürich, Switzerland and was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03715127).FindingsThe psilocybin condition showed an absolute decrease in symptom severity of -13.0 points compared to baseline and were significantly larger than those in the placebo condition (95% CI -15.0 to -1.3; Cohens' d = 0.97; P = 0.0011; MADRS) and -13.2 points (95% CI; -13.4 to -1.3; Cohens' d = 0.67; P = 0.019; BDI) 14 days after the intervention. 14/26 (54%) participants met the MADRS remission criteria in the psilocybin condition.InterpretationThese results suggest that a single, moderate dose of psilocybin significantly reduces depressive symptoms compared to a placebo condition for at least two weeks. No serious adverse events were recorded. Larger, multi-centric trials with longer follow-up periods are needed to inform further optimisation of this novel treatment paradigm.FundingThe study was funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, Crowdfunding, the Swiss Neuromatrix Foundation, and the Heffter Research Institute.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36636296","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Davoudian PA, Shao LX, Kwan AC.
publication_date: 2023-01-10
doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00637
pubmed_id: 36630309
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00637
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Neuroplasticity,Receptor Pharmacology,Animal Study
study_type: Animal Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
title:
Shared and Distinct Brain Regions Targeted for Immediate Early Gene Expression by Ketamine and Psilocybin.

abstract:
Psilocybin is a psychedelic with therapeutic potential. While there is growing evidence that psilocybin exerts its beneficial effects through enhancing neural plasticity, the exact brain regions involved are not completely understood. Determining the impact of psilocybin on plasticity-related gene expression throughout the brain can broaden our understanding of the neural circuits involved in psychedelic-evoked neural plasticity. In this study, whole-brain serial two-photon microscopy and light sheet microscopy were employed to map the expression of the immediate early gene, c-Fos, in male and female mice. The drug-induced c-Fos expression following psilocybin administration was compared to that of subanesthetic ketamine and saline control. Psilocybin and ketamine produced acutely comparable elevations in c-Fos expression in numerous brain regions, including anterior cingulate cortex, locus coeruleus, primary visual cortex, central and basolateral amygdala, medial and lateral habenula, and claustrum. Select regions exhibited drug-preferential differences, such as dorsal raphe and insular cortex for psilocybin and the CA1 subfield of hippocampus for ketamine. To gain insights into the contributions of receptors and cell types, the c-Fos expression maps were related to brain-wide in situ hybridization data. The transcript analyses showed that the endogenous levels of Grin2a and Grin2b predict whether a cortical region is sensitive to drug-evoked neural plasticity for both ketamine and psilocybin. Collectively, the systematic mapping approach produced an unbiased list of brain regions impacted by psilocybin and ketamine. The data are a resource that highlights previously underappreciated regions for future investigations. Furthermore, the robust relationships between drug-evoked c-Fos expression and endogenous transcript distributions suggest glutamatergic receptors as a potential convergent target for how psilocybin and ketamine produce their rapid-acting and long-lasting therapeutic effects.

keywords:
Brain, Animals, Mice, Ketamine, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos, Hallucinogens, Genes, Immediate-Early, Female, Male, Dorsal Raphe Nucleus, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36630309","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: 5-HT2ARs Mediate Therapeutic Behavioral Effects of Psychedelic Tryptamines.
authors: Cameron LP, Patel SD, Vargas MV, Barragan EV, Saeger HN, Warren HT, Chow WL, Gray JA, Olson DE
journal: ACS chemical neuroscience
publication_date: 2023-01-31
doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00718
pubmed_id: 36630260
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36630260/
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Neuroplasticity,Pharmacology,Receptor Pharmacology,Safety
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"36630260"}
abstract:
Psychedelic compounds have displayed antidepressant potential in both humans and rodents. Despite their promise, psychedelics can induce undesired effects that pose safety concerns and limit their clinical scalability. The rational development of optimized psychedelic-related medicines will require a full mechanistic understanding of how these molecules produce therapeutic effects. While the hallucinogenic properties of psychedelics are generally attributed to activation of serotonin 2A receptors (5-HT2ARs), it is currently unclear if these receptors also mediate their antidepressant effects as several nonhallucinogenic analogues of psychedelics with antidepressant-like properties have been developed. Moreover, many psychedelics exhibit promiscuous pharmacology, making it challenging to identify their primary therapeutic target(s). Here, we use a combination of pharmacological and genetic tools to demonstrate that activation of 5-HT2A receptors is essential for tryptamine-based psychedelics to produce antidepressant-like effects in rodents. Our results suggest that psychedelic tryptamines can induce hallucinogenic and therapeutic effects through activation of the same receptor.

keywords:
5-HT2A receptor, 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, Psychedelic, depression, neuroplasticity, psilocybin, psychoplastogen, structural plasticity


publication_date: 2022-12-05
doi: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2022.100163
pubmed_id: 36545240
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpnec.2022.100163
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Receptor Pharmacology,Biomarkers,Healthy Volunteers,Inflammation
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
title:
Subacute effects of a single dose of psilocybin on biomarkers of inflammation in healthy humans: An open-label preliminary investigation.

authors:
Burmester DR, Madsen MK, Szabo A, Aripaka SS, Stenbæk DS, Frokjaer VG, Elfving B, Mikkelsen JD, Knudsen GM, Fisher PM.

abstract:
RationalePsilocybin is a serotonergic psychedelic that has gained prominent attention recently as a potential therapeutic for neuropsychiatric disorders including Major Depressive Disorder. Pre-clinical and initial studies in humans suggest that serotonin 2A receptor agonists, including serotonergic psychedelics, have anti-inflammatory effects. This may contribute to its therapeutic effects as previous studies indicate a link between neuropsychiatric disorders and inflammatory processes. However, the effect of psilocybin on biomarkers of inflammation has not been evaluated in humans.ObjectivesInvestigate the effect of a single dose of psilocybin on peripheral biomarkers of inflammation in healthy humans.MethodsBlood samples were collected from 16 healthy participants before and one day after the administration of a single oral dose of psilocybin (mean dose: 0.22 mg/kg) and subsequently analyzed for concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), tumor-necrosis-factor (TNF) and soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR). Change in inflammatory markers was evaluated using a paired t-test where p

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36545240","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Wang H, Wang Y.
publication_date: 2022-12-01
doi: 10.1007/s00216-022-04467-9
pubmed_id: 36459169
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-022-04467-9
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: Brain Imaging,Aging,Toxicity
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
title:
Matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization-mass spectrometric imaging of psilocybin and its analogues in psychedelic mushrooms using a cesium chloride-coated target plate.

abstract:
Fungi with hallucinogenic properties and neurotoxicity have been listed as prohibited drugs in recent years, but there is a lack of in situ quantification of psilocybin and analogues in these samples to avoid the decomposition of these psychoactive tryptamines in time-consuming sample preparation. In this study, matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization (MALDI)-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT ICR) mass spectrometric imaging (MSI) was used to analyze the distribution of psilocybin and its analogues in hallucinogenic Psilocybe mushrooms. A cesium chloride (CsCl)-coated target plate was prepared to improve the detection sensitivity and reduce the interference of other compounds or decomposition products with very similar m/z values in MALDI-FT ICR MS analysis. Psilocybin and other tryptamines with structurally similar compounds, including psilocin, baeocystin, tryptophan, tryptamine, and aeruginascin, were identified and imaged in the psilocybe tissue section; the semiquantitative analysis of the distribution of psilocybin was also investigated using a homemade 75-well CsCl-coated plate; and the target plate can be placed on the mass spectrometry target carrier along with the indium-tin oxide (ITO) conductive slide, which can simultaneously carry out matrix vapor deposition, thus ensuring the parallelism between the standards and samples in the pretreatment experiment and MSI. The contents of psilocybin and its analogues in the psilocybe tissue section can be evaluated from the color changes corresponding to different concentration standard curves. Furthermore, a comprehensive comparison between MALDI-FT ICR MS and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF MS) analysis was performed for quantification and validation. This study reduces the decomposition in time-consuming sample pretreatment and provides a powerful tool for drug abuse control and forensic analysis.

keywords:
Agaricales, Chlorides, Cesium, Hallucinogens, Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization, Lasers, Psilocybin

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36459169","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psychedelic therapy for depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
authors: Ko K, Kopra EI, Cleare AJ, Rucker JJ.
publication_date: 2022-10-06
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.09.168
pubmed_id: 36209780
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.09.168
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Randomized Controlled Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
BackgroundPsychedelic therapy shows promise for Major Depressive Disorder, especially when treatment-resistant, as well as life-threatening illness distress. The objective of this systematic review, inclusive of meta-analysis, is to examine recent clinical research on the therapeutic effects of classic psychedelics on depressive symptoms.MethodsFourteen psychedelic therapy studies, utilising psilocybin, ayahuasca, or LSD, were systematically reviewed. For the meta-analysis, standardised mean differences were calculated for seven randomised controlled trials.ResultsThe systematic review indicated significant short- and long-term reduction of depressive symptoms in all conditions studied after administration of psilocybin, ayahuasca, or LSD, with psychological support. In the meta-analysis, symptom reduction was significantly indicated in three timepoints out of four, including 1-day, 1-week, and 3-5 weeks, supporting the results of the systematic review, with the exception of the 6-8 weeks follow-up point which was less conclusive.LimitationsThe absence of required data for 2 studies necessitated the less precise use of graphical extraction and imputation. The small sample size in all but one study negatively affected the statistical power. None of the studies had long-term follow-up without also utilising the cross-over method, which did not allow for long-term results to be included in the meta-review.ConclusionsThis review indicates an association between psychedelic therapy and significant reduction of depressive symptoms at several time points. However, the small number of studies, and low sample sizes, calls for careful interpretation of results. This suggests the need for more randomised clinical trials of psychedelic therapy, with larger and more diverse samples.

keywords:
Humans, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Depression, Psilocybin, Major Depressive Disorder

topic_tags:
Depression,End-of-Life Distress,Clinical Trial,Randomized Controlled Trial,Meta-Analysis,Systematic Review,Review Article

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36209780","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Novel antidepressant drugs: Beyond monoamine targets.
authors: Gonda X, Dome P, Neill JC, Tarazi FI.
publication_date: 2021-09-29
doi: 10.1017/s1092852921000791
pubmed_id: 34588093
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1017/s1092852921000791
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) including treatment-resistant depression (TRD) remains a major unmet need. Although there are several classes of dissimilar antidepressant drugs approved for MDD, the current drugs have either limited efficacy or are associated with undesirable side effects and withdrawal symptoms. The efficacy and side effects of antidepressant drugs are mainly attributed to their actions on different monoamine neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine). Development of new antidepressants with novel targets beyond the monoamine pathways may fill the unmet need in treatment of MDD and TRD. The recent approval of intranasal Esketamine (glutamatergic agent) in conjunction with an oral antidepressant for the treatment of adult TRD patients was the first step toward expanding beyond the monoamine targets. Several other glutamatergic (AXS-05, REL-1017, AV-101, SLS-002, AGN24175, and PCN-101) and GABAergic (brexanolone, zuranolone, and ganaxolone) drugs are currently in different stages of clinical development for MDD, TRD and other indications. The renaissance of psychedelic drugs and the emergence of preliminary positive clinical trial results with psilocybin, Ayahuasca, 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) may pave the way towards establishing this class of drugs as effective therapies for MDD, TRD and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Going beyond the monoamine targets appears to be an effective strategy to develop novel antidepressant drugs with superior efficacy, safety, and tolerability for the improved treatment of MDD and TRD.

keywords:
Humans, Norepinephrine, Serotonin, Antidepressive Agents, Adult, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions, Major Depressive Disorder

topic_tags:
Depression,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Clinical Trial,Treatment-Resistant Depression,Safety,Adverse Events

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"34588093","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Classic psychedelics do not affect T cell and monocyte immune responses.
authors: Rudin D, Areesanan A, Liechti ME, Gründemann C.
publication_date: 2023-01-19
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1042440
pubmed_id: 36741125
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1042440
substance_tags: psilocin
topic_tags: End-of-Life Distress,In Vitro Study,Safety,Immune Function
study_type: In Vitro Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
IntroductionClassic psychedelics have been shown to exert therapeutic potential for the treatment of various psychiatric disorders, neuropsychiatric diseases, and neuronal damage. Besides their psychopharmacological activity, psychedelics have been reported to modulate immune functions. There has thus far been a sparse exploration of the direct immune-modulating effect of psychedelics on human immune cells in vitro. Since T cells are key mediators of several immune functions, inhibition of their function would increase the risk of infections.MethodsWe investigated the effect of the classic psychedelics lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocin, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and mescaline on the proliferation and stimulated cytokine release of primary human T lymphocytes and on the stimulated NF-κB induction of monocytes.ResultsWe did not observe any relevant direct immune-modulatory effects of the tested classic psychedelics in either cell line.DiscussionWe concluded that LSD, psilocin, DMT, or mescaline did not directly stimulate the proliferation or cytokine secretion of primary human T lymphocytes or stimulate NF-κB induction of monocytes. Our findings support the future safe use of classic psychedelics in assisted psychotherapy in patients with life-threatening diseases where immune suppression and diminished immune function would be detrimental.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36741125","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Stokłosa I, Więckiewicz G, Stokłosa M, Piegza M, Pudlo R, Gorczyca P.
publication_date: 2023-01-18
doi: 10.3390/ijerph20031870
pubmed_id: 36767234
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031870
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Clinical Trial,Review Article
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Medications for the Treatment of Alcohol Dependence-Current State of Knowledge and Future Perspectives from a Public Health Perspective.

abstract:
No single effective therapy for alcohol abuse has been found, despite it being a serious sociological and economic problem for hundreds of years. It seems difficult to find a single drug as a panacea for the alcohol problem due to the complexity of the pathophysiology of alcohol dependence. The purpose of this narrative review is to review existing and potentially future pharmaceuticals for the treatment of alcohol dependence in the most affordable way possible. Psychotherapy is the mainstay of treatment for alcoholism, while few drugs approved by legislators are available in the augmentation of this treatment, such as acamprosate, disulfiram, and naltrexone, approved by the FDA, and nalmefene by the EMA. There are recent reports in the literature on the possibility of using baclofen, topiramate, varenicline, and gabapentin in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Moreover, the results of recent clinical trials using psychoactive substances such as psilocybin and MDMA appear to be a breakthrough in the modern treatment of alcohol abuse. Despite this initial optimism, a lot of scientific effort is still needed before new pharmacological methods supporting the treatment of alcohol dependence syndrome will be widely available.

keywords:
Humans, Alcoholism, Disulfiram, Taurine, Alcohol Deterrents, Pharmaceutical Preparations, Public Health, Acamprosate

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36767234","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Is psilocybin an effective antidepressant and what is its Mechanism of action?
authors: Mann JJ.
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100906
pubmed_id: 36652915
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100906
keywords: Humans, Hallucinogens, Antidepressive Agents, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Mechanism of Action,Safety
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
abstract:
Goodwin et al.1 report a single 25 mg dose of psilocybin has an antidepressant effect short-term in medication-resistant depression. Unanswered questions include drug blood level as a guide to dose, psychedelic effects relationship to antidepressant benefit, and potential suicide risk of psilocybin.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36652915","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Gukasyan N.
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.1016/j.medj.2022.12.003
pubmed_id: 36640755
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medj.2022.12.003
keywords: Humans, Hallucinogens, Depression, Suicide, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Psilocybin
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 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
title:
On blinding and suicide risk in a recent trial of psilocybin-assisted therapy for treatment-resistant depression.

abstract:
Results from a recent Phase II trial of psilocybin-assisted therapy for treatment-resistant depression1 suggest modest efficacy but raise concerns about potential for serious adverse effects. The study highlights the need for rigorous assessment of blinding integrity, expectancy, and further study of factors that may contribute to risk in vulnerable populations.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36640755","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Berlowitz I, García Torres E, Maake C, Wolf U, Martin-Soelch C.
publication_date: 2023-01-10
doi: 10.3390/plants12020346
pubmed_id: 36679060
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12020346
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Anxiety,Addiction,Wellbeing
study_type: Qualitative Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Indigenous-Amazonian Traditional Medicine's Usage of the Tobacco Plant: A Transdisciplinary Ethnopsychological Mixed-Methods Case Study.

abstract:
Harmful usage of tobacco is a global public health problem associated with adverse health effects and addiction. Yet, in the Peruvian Amazon, the native region of Nicotiana rustica L., this plant is used in remarkably different manners: it is considered a potent medicinal plant, applied in liquid form for oral ingestion to treat mental health problems, a common and ancient healing practice in this region. Using a transdisciplinary field research approach with mixed ethnopsychological methods, this work aimed to report for the first time a case study in this context. The intervention took place in the Peruvian Amazon (Loreto) and involved ritual tobacco ingestion in a weeklong retreat-like frame, administered by a specialized traditional Amazonian healer. The patient was a 37-year-old woman with diagnosed mood, anxiety, and attention deficit disorders, as well as a chronic somatic condition. We applied qualitative experience-sampling during and quantitative symptom assessments pre- and post-treatment. Our findings offer a detailed description of the experiential therapeutic process during the treatment week and suggest clinically relevant improvements in patient well-being. This work is significant in view of the globally prevalent harmful uses of tobacco and the current scientific trend of revisiting herbal psychoactives (e.g., cannabis, psilocybin) for their therapeutic potentials.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36679060","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: The association between naturalistic use of psychedelics and co-occurring substance use disorders.
authors: Rabinowitz J, Lev-Ran S, Gross R.
publication_date: 2023-01-09
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1066369
pubmed_id: 36704738
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1066369
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Clinical Trial,Observational Study
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
ObjectiveClassic psychedelics (LSD, psilocybin, and peyote/mescaline) have been used to support addiction treatment in a variety of contexts ranging from ceremonial use to clinical trials. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that past naturalistic use of classic psychedelics would be associated with decreased prevalence of substance use disorder, when controlling for known confounders.MethodsThis cross-sectional study used 2017 NSDUH survey data to evaluate the association between past use of the classic psychedelics LSD, psilocybin and peyote/mescaline and past year substance dependence or abuse. We calculated adjusted odds ratios by multivariate logistic regression, controlling for a range of sociodemographic variables, use of non-psychedelic illicit drugs and mental health related variables.ResultsA total of 56,276 participants were included in this study. Past use of LSD and psilocybin were associated with increased odds of substance dependence or abuse compared to those who had never used psychedelics before, and this was more likely for those who had used LSD more recently. However, prior use of peyote or mescaline was associated with lower odds of past year substance dependence or abuse compared to people who had never used psychedelics before (aOR = 0.68, p < 0.001). Past use of classic psychedelics was not associated with nicotine dependence.ConclusionPast use of peyote/mescaline was associated with decreased odds of substance use disorder compared to people who had never used psychedelics before, while past use of LSD or psilocybin was not. It remains unclear whether this difference is due to pharmacological differences between these compounds or simply due to the context in which peyote/mescaline are traditionally taken. Future research should investigate why naturalistic use of different psychedelics is associated with different substance use disorder effects.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36704738","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: The Bright Side of Psychedelics: Latest Advances and Challenges in Neuropharmacology.
publication_date: 2023-01-09
doi: 10.3390/ijms24021329
pubmed_id: 36674849
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24021329
keywords: Humans, Mescaline, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Ibogaine, Hallucinogens, Neuropharmacology
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: Depression,PTSD,OCD,Pharmacology,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Review Article
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:02
authors:
Mastinu A, Anyanwu M, Carone M, Abate G, Bonini SA, Peron G, Tirelli E, Pucci M, Ribaudo G, Oselladore E, Premoli M, Gianoncelli A, Uberti DL, Memo M.

abstract:
The need to identify effective therapies for the treatment of psychiatric disorders is a particularly important issue in modern societies. In addition, difficulties in finding new drugs have led pharmacologists to review and re-evaluate some past molecules, including psychedelics. For several years there has been growing interest among psychotherapists in psilocybin or lysergic acid diethylamide for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, of depression, or of post-traumatic stress disorder, although results are not always clear and definitive. In fact, the mechanisms of action of psychedelics are not yet fully understood and some molecular aspects have yet to be well defined. Thus, this review aims to summarize the ethnobotanical uses of the best-known psychedelic plants and the pharmacological mechanisms of the main active ingredients they contain. Furthermore, an up-to-date overview of structural and computational studies performed to evaluate the affinity and binding modes to biologically relevant receptors of ibogaine, mescaline, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, psilocin, and lysergic acid diethylamide is presented. Finally, the most recent clinical studies evaluating the efficacy of psychedelic molecules in some psychiatric disorders are discussed and compared with drugs already used in therapy.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36674849","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: When art therapy went chemical: Alfred Bader, pharmacology, and art brut, c.1950-1970s.
authors: Martinovic J.
publication_date: 2023-01-05
doi: 10.1590/s0104-59702022000500007
pubmed_id: 36629673
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1590/s0104-59702022000500007
keywords: Humans, Art Therapy, Mental Health, Mental Disorders, Psychiatry, History, 20th Century
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Pharmacology,Consciousness
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
This article analyzes how psychopharmacology transformed the relationship between art and psychiatry. It outlines a novel genealogy of art therapy, repositioning its origins in the context of evolving clinical practices and discourses on mind-altering drugs. Evaluating the use of psychotropic drugs in connection with psychopathology of art in the first half of the twentieth century, the article then focuses on two post-Second World War experiments involving psilocybin conducted by psychiatrist Alfred Bader and pharmacologist Roland Fischer. Illustrating how consciousness was foregrounded in discussions about mental health and illness, the examples showcase how psychotherapists increasingly sought to articulate art brut and modernist aesthetics in a neurobiological fashion to define madness as a social disease.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36629673","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Psilocybin sex-dependently reduces alcohol consumption in C57BL/6J mice.
authors: Alper K, Cange J, Sah R, Schreiber-Gregory D, Sershen H, Vinod KY.
publication_date: 2023-01-03
doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1074633
pubmed_id: 36686713
source_url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.1074633
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Addiction,Animal Study,Drug Interactions
study_type: Animal Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:01
abstract:
The classical psychedelic psilocybin is of interest as a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study investigated the effects of psilocybin on voluntary ethanol consumption in adult male and female C57BL/6J mice administered saline or psilocybin intraperitoneally as a single dose of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 mg/kg and provided 20% ethanol utilizing a two-bottle choice alcohol drinking paradigm. Ethanol was provided continuously for 3 days immediately following the administration of psilocybin, then withheld for 2 days, and then provided continuously for two subsequent additional days. A multilevel model (MLM) for repeated measures was used to compare ethanol consumption and preference in psilocybin-treated groups versus controls. Ethanol consumption and preference were reduced in male mice during the 3-day interval that immediately followed psilocybin administration. The effect of psilocybin on ethanol consumption was dose-related and was consistent across the 3-day interval at dosages of 0.5 mg/kg or greater. Psilocybin had no effect on consumption or preference when ethanol was subsequently reintroduced after 2 days of withdrawal. In contrast to males, psilocybin had no significant effect on ethanol consumption or preference in female mice at any dosage or time point. The lack of an effect of psilocybin on quinine preference, and its limited interaction with locomotor activity indicated that the observed reduction in voluntary ethanol consumption was not attributable to altered taste perception or motor effects. Total fluid consumption was increased in males at some time points and psilocybin dosages and unchanged in females, and the absence of any decrease in either group at any time point indicated that the observed reduction in ethanol consumption was not mediated by nonspecific effects on consummatory behavior. The finding of a sex-dependent effect of psilocybin on ethanol consumption suggests that the C57BL/6J mouse may provide a useful experimental approach to modeling sex differences in vulnerability to AUD in addition to investigation of the neurobiological basis of the effect of classical psychedelics on alcohol drinking behavior.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"36686713","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Past Is Prologue: Ethical Issues in Pediatric Psychedelics Research and Treatment.
authors: Edelsohn GA, Sisti D.
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.1353/pbm.2023.0007
pubmed_id: 38662012
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1353/pbm.2023.0007
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
Recent clinical trials of psychedelic drugs aim to treat a range of psychiatric conditions in adults. MDMA and psilocybin administered with psychotherapy have received FDA designation as "breakthrough therapies" for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD) respectively. Given the potential benefit for minors burdened with many of the same disorders, calls to expand experimentation to minors are inevitable. This essay examines psychedelic research conducted on children from 1959 to 1974, highlighting methodological and ethical flaws. It provides ethics and policy recommendations for psychedelics research involving children and adolescents, including recognizing that the psychedelic experience is an ineffable one that makes informed proxy consent for parents, guardians, and others especially challenging. Psychedelic experiences are associated with novel benefits and risks, such as significant personality changes, shifts in fundamental values, and possible re-exposure to traumatic memories. These effects may alter the process of personality development in minors. Recommendations for ethically sound psychedelics research in minors include strict adherence to eligibility criteria, including a comprehensive family and individual psychiatric, substance use, and trauma history. An age-appropriate assent process that includes considerations related to the use of therapeutic touch should be developed. In addition, oversight by data safety monitoring boards and patient and family advocates, coupled with the adoption of pharmacoequity best practices, will help to ensure safety and fairness of psychedelics research in children.

keywords:
Humans, N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, Hallucinogens, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Informed Consent, Adolescent, Child, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Psilocybin

topic_tags:
Depression,PTSD,Addiction,Personality Change,Clinical Trial,Adolescents,Treatment-Resistant Depression,Safety

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"38662012","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Efficacy and Safety of Psychedelics in Treating Anxiety Disorders.
authors: Feulner L, Sermchaiwong T, Rodland N, Galarneau D.
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.31486/toj.23.0076
pubmed_id: 38143548
source_url: https://doi.org/10.31486/toj.23.0076
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Anxiety,Aging,Clinical Trial,Review Article,Healthcare Workers,Safety,Adverse Events
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Background: Anxiety disorders are commonly diagnosed and cause substantial functional impairment. A mixture of pharmacologic and psychosocial treatments currently exists, but these treatments are not always tolerable and effective. For patients with anxiety resistant to standard therapy, psychedelics may be a promising alternative. This review assesses the therapeutic benefits and safety of psychedelics in treating anxiety disorders. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, and CINAHL for clinical trials investigating psychedelics in patients with clinician-diagnosed generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobia, separation anxiety disorder, selective mutism, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and anxiety attributable to another medical condition. We analyzed data from 9 independent psychedelic-assisted trials testing ayahuasca (1 study), ketamine (4 studies), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) (2 studies), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (1 study), and psilocybin (1 study). Efficacy was assessed by measuring the change in outcome measures and the quality of life from baseline. Results: The reviewed studies demonstrated encouraging efficacy in reducing anxiety symptoms, increasing self-perception, and increasing social function in patients with generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, or anxiety attributable to another medical condition while establishing feasibility and evidence of safety. For many patients, the therapeutic effects of the psychedelic treatment lasted weeks, and no severe adverse events were reported. Conclusion: Based on the evidence of symptom reduction and safety, the current literature (2011 to 2021) shows that psychedelics could be considered for treating clinician-diagnosed anxiety disorders. Psychedelics may provide an alternative therapeutic option for patients resistant to current standard treatments.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"38143548","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Ahmed H, Mushahid H, Arshad T.
publication_date: 2022-12-31
pubmed_id: 37992112
source_url: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/37992112
keywords: Humans, Neoplasms, Hallucinogens, Depression, Psilocybin
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Cancer Patients
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
UNCOVERING THE UNTAPPED POTENTIAL OF PSILOCYBIN THERAPY IN ALLEVIATING CANCER-RELATED DEPRESSION: AN URGENT CALL TO RE-EVALUATE TREATMENT STRATEGIES.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37992112","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Biological embedding of early trauma: the role of higher prefrontal synaptic strength.
authors: Tamman AJF, Jiang L, Averill CL, Mason GF, Averill LA, Abdallah CG.
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2246338
pubmed_id: 37642398
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2023.2246338
keywords: Brain, Humans, Ketamine, Glutamates, Pilot Projects, Emotions, Female, Male
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: PTSD,Neuroplasticity,Emotional Processing,Safety,Toxicity
study_type: Other
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:06
abstract:
Background: Early trauma predicts poor psychological and physical health. Glutamatergic synaptic processes offer one avenue for understanding this relationship, given glutamate's abundance and involvement in reward and stress sensitivity, emotion, and learning. Trauma-induced glutamatergic excitotoxicity may alter neuroplasticity and approach/avoidance tendencies, increasing risk for psychiatric disorders. Studies examine upstream or downstream effects instead of glutamatergic synaptic processes in vivo, limiting understanding of how trauma affects the brain.Objective: In a pilot study using a previously published data set, we examine associations between early trauma and a proposed measure of synaptic strength in vivo in one of the largest human samples to undergo Carbon-13 (13C MRS) magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Participants were 18 healthy controls and 16 patients with PTSD (male and female).Method: Energy per cycle (EPC), which represents the ratio of neuronal oxidative energy production to glutamate neurotransmitter cycling, was generated as a putative measure of glutamatergic synaptic strength.Results: Results revealed that early trauma was positively correlated with EPC in individuals with PTSD, but not in healthy controls. Increased synaptic strength was associated with reduced behavioural inhibition, and EPC showed stronger associations between reward responsivity and early trauma for those with higher EPC.Conclusion: In the largest known human sample to undergo 13C MRS, we show that early trauma is positively correlated with EPC, a direct measure of synaptic strength. Our study findings have implications for pharmacological treatments thought to impact synaptic plasticity, such as ketamine and psilocybin.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37642398","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


authors: Unzueta-Larrinaga P, Urigüen L.
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3307-6_5
pubmed_id: 37464162
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-3307-6_5
keywords: Animals, Mice, Schizophrenia, Male, Sensory Gating, Reflex, Startle, Prepulse Inhibition
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Receptor Pharmacology,Animal Study
study_type: Animal Study
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
title:
Evaluation of Sensorimotor Gating Deficits in Mice Through Prepulse Inhibition (PPI) of the Startle Response.

abstract:
Prepulse inhibition of the startle response enables measuring animal behavior and helps us understand core aspects of neuropsychiatric diseases. Prepulse inhibition is considered a translational indicator of sensorimotor gating deficits present in schizophrenia patients and is crucial in the characterization of animal models of schizophrenia-like behaviors. Hallucinogenic drugs acting through 5-HT2A receptors, such as psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and dimethoxyiodoamphetamine (DOI), produce symptoms in healthy subjects comparable to those seen in schizophrenia and can be used in rodent models for mimicking some of these behaviors. Here we describe a protocol for the evaluation of prepulse inhibition of the startle response in CD1-Swiss male mice after a single dose of the hallucinogenic drug DOI.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37464162","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: The Resurgence of Hallucinogen Drugs in Clinical Research.
authors: Rivera-García MT, Cruz SL.
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.24875/ric.23000108
pubmed_id: 37441761
source_url: https://doi.org/10.24875/ric.23000108
keywords: Humans, N,N-Dimethyltryptamine, Serotonin, Mescaline, Ketamine, Hallucinogens
substance_tags: psilocin
topic_tags: Receptor Pharmacology,Review Article,Animal Study
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:05
abstract:
Since the dawn of civilization, ancient cultures have utilized hallucinogens from plants and fungi in the context of religious and healing practices. Recently, their use has expanded to other cultures. Hallucinogens are natural or synthetic substances that alter the perception of reality at nontoxic doses, producing intense psychological and physiological effects. The initial research on hallucinogens began in the 1950s. However, their non-medical use, studies without proper controls, and negative social opinion resulted in legal restrictions that limited their use for clinical and preclinical research for more than two decades. A renewed interest in studying hallucinogens as potential therapeutic agents for treating different psychiatric conditions has recently re-emerged. This review summarizes the effects of main hallucinogen drugs and their therapeutic potential. Classic hallucinogens such as LSD, dimethyltryptamine, psilocin, and mescaline have chemical structures similar to serotonin and directly activate 5-hydroxy-tryptamine (5-HT2A) receptors. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic with antagonist effects at the glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, indirectly activating 5-HT2A receptors. Ketamine has rapid antidepressant effects and reduces suicidal ideation, but its effects are short-lasting. Other hallucinogens are under study. It is necessary to continue this research with a more rigorous methodology and include studying the long-term effects of psychedelics use.

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37441761","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Next generation antidepressants with novel mechanisms for treatment resistant depression.
authors: Chen MH, Tu PC, Su TP.
publication_date: 2023-03-09
doi: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2023.02.005
pubmed_id: 37414491
source_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.pbr.2023.02.005
substance_tags: psilocybin
study_type: Clinical Trial
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:04
abstract:
Evidence has suggested that the modulation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors (5-HTRs) via the psychedelic drugs, such as ketamine and psilocybin, rapidly alters the state of consciousness and the neuroplasticity. The United State Food and Drug Administration approved the indications of esketamine for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in 2019 and major depressive disorder with suicidal ideation in 2020. The phase 2 clinical trials also discovered the rapid and sustained antidepressant effects of psilocybin among patients with TRD. In this chapter, we discussed the complex among the consciousness, neuroplasticity, and novel rapid-acting antidepressants and their possible neuromechanisms.

keywords:
Humans, Hallucinogens, Antidepressive Agents, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Psilocybin, Major Depressive Disorder

topic_tags:
Depression,Neuroplasticity,Mechanism of Action,Receptor Pharmacology,Consciousness,Clinical Trial,Treatment-Resistant Depression

raw_json:
{"europe_pmc_id":"37414491","source":"MED","pub_type":null,"publisher":null,"importer":"Europe PMC"}


title: Functional MRI markers for treatment-resistant depression: Insights and challenges.
authors: Kotoula V, Evans JW, Punturieri C, Johnson SC, Zarate CA
journal: Progress in brain research
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2023.04.001
pubmed_id: 37414490
source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37414490/
substance_tags: psilocybin
topic_tags: Depression,Brain Imaging,Biomarkers,Aging,Treatment-Resistant Depression
study_type: Other
source_name: PubMed
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:20:38
raw_json: {"pubmed_id":"37414490"}
abstract:
Imaging studies of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) have examined brain activity, structure, and metabolite concentrations to identify critical areas of investigation in TRD as well as potential targets for treatment interventions. This chapter provides an overview of the main findings of studies using three imaging modalities: structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI (fMRI), and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Decreased connectivity and metabolite concentrations in frontal brain areas appear to characterize TRD, although results are not consistent across studies. Treatment interventions, including rapid-acting antidepressants and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), have shown some efficacy in reversing these changes while alleviating depressive symptoms. However, comparatively few TRD imaging studies have been conducted, and these studies often have relatively small sample sizes or employ different methods to examine a variety of brain areas, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions from imaging studies about the pathophysiology of TRD. Larger studies with more unified hypotheses, as well as data sharing, could help TRD research and spur better characterization of the illness, providing critical new targets for treatment intervention.

keywords:
Connectivity, Electroconvulsive therapy, Functional MRI, Ketamine, Magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Psilocybin, Structural MRI, Transcranial magnetic stimulation


authors: Ezeaka UC, Kim HJJ, Laprairie RB.
publication_date: 2022-12-31
doi: 10.2174/1568026623666230705151922
pubmed_id: 37409550
source_url: https://doi.org/10.2174/1568026623666230705151922
substance_tags: psilocybin,psilocin
topic_tags: Depression,Anxiety,Addiction,Pharmacology,Review Article
study_type: Review Article
source_name: Europe PMC
publication_status: published
date_added: 2026-07-01 06:48:05
last_checked: 2026-07-01 11:22:00
title:
Addressing the Current Knowledge and Gaps in Research Surrounding Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), Psilocybin, and Psilocin in Rodent Models.

abstract:
Lysergic acid Diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, and psilocin are being intensively evaluated as potential therapeutics to treat depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, and a host of other psychiatric illnesses. Pre-clinical investigation of these compounds in rodent models forms a key component of their drug development process. In this review, we will summarize the evidence gathered to date surrounding LSD, psilocybin, and psilocin in rodent models of the psychedelic experience, behavioural organization, substance use, alcohol consumption, drug discrimination, anxiety, depression-like behaviour, stress response, and pharmacokinetics. In reviewing these topics, we identify three knowledge gaps as areas of future inquiry: sex differences, oral dosing rather than injection, and chronic dosing regimens. A comprehensive understanding of LSD, psilocybin, and psilocin's in vivo pharmacology may not only lead to their successful clinical implementation but optimize the use of these compounds as controls or references in the development of novel psychedelic therapeutics.

keywords:
Humans, Substance-Related Disorders, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Hallucinogens, Anxiety, Female, Male, Psilocybin

raw_json:
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