Molecular Psychiatry
July 8, 2026
Granville J. Matheson, Johan Lundberg, Martin Gärde et al.
The serotonin 1B receptor can be studied in vivo with PET using [^11C]AZ10419369, and has been linked to both the pathophysiology and treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Ketamine and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) both exert rapid and potent antidepressive effects, and although these treatments may not act directly on the serotonin system, they both cause dose-dependent increases in...
Neuropsychopharmacology
July 7, 2026
Wojciech Pasławski, Daniel Doyon, Carl Johan Ekman et al.
Psilocybin is a rapid-acting antidepressant, but its mechanism of action in major depressive disorder remains unclear. In this secondary analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trial with multimodal CSF and blood biomarker measurements, psilocybin selectively reduced CSF galanin and noradrenaline, implicating that normalization of these co-transmitters is a key pharmacodynamic signature.
JAMA Network Open
May 15, 2026
Hampus Yngwe, Pontus Plavén-sigray, Carl Johan Ekman et al.
1 citation
Importance: Psilocybin has been proposed as a rapid-acting antidepressant (onset 6 weeks), but evidence from randomized clinical trials remains limited, particularly in the broader major depressive disorder (MDD) population. Objective: To assess short-term and long-term antidepressant effects of psilocybin therapy in patients with MDD. Design, Setting, and Participants: This double-blind,...
BMC Medical Education
April 9, 2026
Nikita Sanati Morel, Dea Siggaard Stenbæk, Johan Lundberg et al.
Major depression is a prevalent condition among patients with life-threatening illnesses, such as cancer, and recent findings suggest that psilocybin may hold promising treatment potential. Contemporary trials of psilocybin generally employ a model that includes psychotherapeutic support consisting of preparation and integration sessions surrounding the dosing. However, there is limited...
JAMA Network Open
July 30, 2025
Fredrik Hieronymus, Evana López, Helena Werin Sjögren et al.
21 citations
Importance Psilocybin has demonstrated rapid and sustained antidepressant efficacy, with acute-phase effect sizes often more than double those for conventional antidepressants. However, concerns have been raised that high rates of functional unblinding in combination with trial participants with positive expectations of psychedelic use might bias treatment outcomes. Objective To compare...
Neurosci Appl
January 11, 2024
Drummond E-Wen Mcculloch, Matthias E. Liechti, Kim Pc Kuypers et al.
10 citations
Psychedelic drugs including psilocybin and LSD are undergoing clinical trials for a range of psychiatric and neurological conditions, and have particularly shown substantial promise in phase 2 studies of depression. In this article we outline key knowledge gaps that may be imperative for a successful implementation of psychedelic drugs as medicines as identified by members of the European...
Neuroscience Applied
2024
Drummond E-Wen Mcculloch, Juan Pablo Lopez, Christina Dalla et al.
2 citations
Classical psychedelic drugs, e.g., psilocybin and LSD, stimulate the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) and have recently been intensely investigated for their clinical effects in various brain disorders. At the ECNP "New Frontiers meeting" in March 2023, scientific experts in psychedelics met to identify key knowledge gaps in the mechanism of action of psychedelics as investigated using...
Molecular Psychiatry
September 7, 2022
Rebecca B Price, Nicholas Kissel, Andrew Baumeister et al.
80 citations
Abstract Depression is disabling and highly prevalent. Intravenous (IV) ketamine displays rapid-onset antidepressant properties, but little is known regarding which patients are most likely to benefit, limiting personalized prescriptions. We identified randomized controlled trials of IV ketamine that recruited individuals with a relevant psychiatric diagnosis (e.g., unipolar or bipolar...