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Natalie Gukasyan

Johns Hopkins University, Columbia University Irving Medical Center

30 papers in the library · 1,731 citations · publishing 2021-2026

Papers

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Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa: Clinical Considerations and Emerging Models of Care.

Current Psychiatry Reports May 14, 2026 Jamarie Geller, Rachel M Pacilio, Amanda E. Downey et al.

There is growing evidence that psychedelics and associated treatment modalities may offer therapeutic benefits across a range of psychiatric conditions. Anorexia nervosa (AN), a serious and often treatment-resistant illness associated with significant morbidity and mortality, is one such condition for which psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) may hold promise. To date, research on PAT for AN has...

Trip sitting or just sitting? Session facilitators substantially influence psychedelic experiences in clinical trials but not in healthy ones

Psychiatry Research February 13, 2026 Sean P. Goldy, Nathan D. Sepeda, Samantha Hilbert et al. 1 citation

Psychedelics' characteristic acute subjective effects predict therapeutic benefits, such as decreases in depression and anxiety. Thus, optimizing treatment involves better understanding which factors shape subjective effects. Session facilitators, who support participants before, during, and after psychedelic administration sessions, form an important part of the setting of these experiences....

The Potential of Psychedelics in the Treatment of Eating Disorders

The Handbook of the Neurobiology of Eating Disorders October 1, 2025 Natalie Gukasyan, Samantha Hilbert, Angela S Guarda

Abstract Psychedelic-assisted therapies are emerging as novel treatments of interest for a range of mental health issues, including eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa. Psychedelics, such as LSD and psilocybin, may exert biological and psychological effects pertinent to the pathophysiology of eating disorders. Initial clinical trials are underway to confirm the safety and therapeutic...

Exploring Self-Reported Effects of Naturalistic Psychedelic Use Among Gender and Sexual Minorities: A Quantitative Survey Study.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs June 18, 2025 Rafaelle Lancelotta, Meghan DellaCrosse, Diana Quinn et al. 7 citations

This study investigated subjective psychedelic experiences in the global LGBTQIA+ population. Using validated measures of acute psychedelic effects, psychological flexibility, gender and sexual identity attitudes, adverse experiences, and mental health, we examined self-reported changes in identity and mental health outcomes following psychedelic use. A total of 346 individuals completed the...

Reframing psychedelic regulation: Tools, not treatments

Drug Science Policy and Law June 16, 2025 Max Wolff, Natalie Gukasyan, Leor Roseman et al. 5 citations

Current regulation frameworks for medicines struggle to address the combination of pharmacological and psychotherapeutic elements in psychedelic therapy. We propose a more appropriate and advantageous approach may be to regulate psychedelic drugs as therapeutic tools or adjuncts to psychotherapy, rather than as treatments for specific mental disorders. Drawing parallels with anesthetics, which...

An international Delphi consensus for reporting of setting in psychedelic clinical trials.

Nature Medicine June 3, 2025 Chloé Pronovost-Morgan, Kyle T. Greenway, Leor Roseman et al. 26 citations

Psychedelic substances exhibit complex interactions with the 'set and setting' of use, that is, the mental state of the user and the environment in which a psychedelic experience takes place. Despite these contextual variables' known importance, psychedelic research has lacked methodological rigor in reporting extra-pharmacological factors. This study aimed to generate consensus-based...

A Field-Wide Review and Analysis of Study Materials Used in Psilocybin Trials: Assessment of Two Decades of Research

Psychedelic Medicine January 20, 2025 Marianna Graziosi, Gabrielle Agin-Liebes, Mary P Cosimano et al. 9 citations

Introduction: Serotonergic psychedelics, serotonin 2A receptor agonists such as psilocybin that can result in substantially altered states of consciousness, are used in recreational and research settings. The safety of psychedelic experiences in research settings is supported by controlled physical environments, presence of clinical and medical staff to address emergent issues, screening for...

Informed Consent in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy.

Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences December 31, 2024 Mazdak M. Bradberry, Paul S. Appelbaum, Natalie Gukasyan 7 citations

Humans have long used classical serotonergic psychedelics, such as psilocybin, for a variety of purposes. Entactogens, such as methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), emerged during the twentieth century and have likewise seen use in a broad range of settings. Interest has arisen in the use of classical psychedelics and entactogens, together termed "psychedelics," for therapeutic purposes in...

Knowledge, attitudes, and concerns about psilocybin and MDMA as novel therapies among U.S. healthcare professionals.

Scientific Reports November 14, 2024 Erin Wang, David S. Mathai, Natalie Gukasyan et al. 18 citations

Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) with substances like psilocybin and MDMA has shown promise for conditions including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Psilocybin and MDMA may become approved medicines in the coming decade. This study assessed knowledge and attitudes regarding PAT among 879 U.S. healthcare professionals via anonymous online survey. Multivariable linear regression...

Beyond the numbers: reimagining healing with psychedelics for eating disorders.

Journal of Eating Disorders September 30, 2024 Adele Lafrance, Meg J. Spriggs, Natalie Gukasyan et al. 8 citations

Psychedelic medicine is currently being evaluated for numerous mental health indications, and there is significant interest in applying these models of care to eating disorders (EDs) given the limited efficacy of available treatment models, especially for those living with anorexia nervosa. Preliminary findings across a number of studies suggest promise. In this commentary, researchers with...

Psychedelic medicine in psychiatry residency training: a survey of psychiatric residency program directors.

Int Rev Psychiatry September 11, 2024 Mary E. Yaden, Terence H. W. Ching, Noam Goldway et al. 2 citations

OBJECTIVE: The growth of psychedelic medicine creates new challenges in psychiatric education as physicians may soon be responsible for prescribing a number of psychedelic interventions. Despite this growing need for educated providers, very little is known about the training psychiatry residents receive in psychedelic medicine. We conducted a survey to determine the current educational...

The therapeutic alliance between study participants and intervention facilitators is associated with acute effects and clinical outcomes in a psilocybin-assisted therapy trial for major depressive disorder

PLoS One March 14, 2024 Adam W. Levin, Rafaelle Lancelotta, Nathan D. Sepeda et al. 65 citations

We examined if the therapeutic alliance between study participants and intervention facilitators in a psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) trial changed over time and whether there were relationships between alliance, acute psilocybin experiences, and depression outcomes. In a randomized, waiting list-controlled clinical trial for major depressive disorder in adults ( N = 24), participants were...

Psilocybin in Bipolar II Study Provides Preliminary Data on Safety

JAMA Psychiatry December 6, 2023 David B. Yaden, Natalie Gukasyan, Sandeep M. Nayak 2 citations

Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to use our site, or clicking "Continue," you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy | Continue JAMA Psychiatry HomeNew OnlineCurrent IssueFor Authors Podcast Journals JAMA JAMA Network Open JAMA Cardiology JAMA Dermatology JAMA Health Forum JAMA Internal Medicine JAMA Neurology JAMA Oncology JAMA Ophthalmology JAMA...

Single-Dose Psilocybin Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder

JAMA August 31, 2023 Charles L. Raison, Gerard Sanacora, Joshua Woolley et al. 493 citations

Importance Psilocybin shows promise as a treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD). Objective To evaluate the magnitude, timing, and durability of antidepressant effects and safety of a single dose of psilocybin in patients with MDD. Design, Setting, and Participants In this phase 2 trial conducted between December 2019 and June 2022 at 11 research sites in the US, participants were...

Attenuation of psilocybin mushroom effects during and after SSRI/SNRI antidepressant use

Journal of Psychopharmacology June 8, 2023 Natalie Gukasyan, Roland R. Griffiths, David B. Yaden et al. 60 citations

Background: Psilocybin 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. Aims: To learn the extent to which antidepressants may diminish the effects of psilocybin-containing mushrooms both...

Menstrual Changes and Reversal of Amenorrhea Induced by Classic Psychedelics: A Case Series

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs January 22, 2023 Natalie Gukasyan, Sasha K. Narayan 9 citations

ABSTRACT There has been little research on the effects of psychedelics on menstrual and reproductive function, though anecdotal evidence suggests that these compounds may have striking effects on menstrual function in at least a subset of users. Social media and word of mouth were used to seek out individuals who had a history of changes in menstrual function following psychedelic use. Case...

On blinding and suicide risk in a recent trial of psilocybin-assisted therapy for treatment-resistant depression.

Med (New York, N.Y.) January 13, 2023 Natalie Gukasyan 12 citations

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.

Subtypes of the psychedelic experience have reproducible and predictable effects on depression and anxiety symptoms.

J Affect Disord December 27, 2022 Aki Nikolaidis, Rafaelle Lancelotta, Natalie Gukasyan et al. 24 citations

BackgroundSubjective experiences seem to play an important role in the enduring effects of psychedelic experiences. Although the importance of the subjective experience on the impact of psychedelics is frequently discussed, a more detailed understanding of the subtypes of psychedelic experiences and their associated impacts on mental health has not been well documented.MethodsIn the current...

Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for People with Eating Disorders.

Current Psychiatry Reports December 1, 2022 Natalie Gukasyan, Colleen C Schreyer, Roland R. Griffiths et al. 29 citations

A growing body of research suggests psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) may be safe and effective for a variety of mental health conditions. Among these, eating disorders have been a recent target of interest. This review provides an up-to-date summary of the potential mechanisms and use of PAT in people diagnosed with eating disorders, with a focus on anorexia nervosa. Classic psychedelics may...

Serotonergic antidepressant use is associated with weaker psilocybin effects

October 28, 2022 Natalie Gukasyan, Roland R. Griffiths, David B. Yaden et al. 1 citation preprint

Background: Psilocybin is being studied for depression, but little is known about how it interacts with common antidepressants. Limited data suggests that psilocybin’s effects may be diminished by serotonergic antidepressants acutely and even after a medication washout period.Aims: To learn the extent to which serotonergic antidepressants may diminish psilocybin’s effects both concurrently and...

Toward Risk-Benefit Assessments in Psychedelic- and MDMA-Assisted Therapies

JAMA Psychiatry April 27, 2022 Mazdak M. Bradberry, Natalie Gukasyan, Charles L. Raison 20 citations

Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to use our site, or clicking "Continue," you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy | Continue JAMA Psychiatry HomeNew OnlineCurrent IssueFor Authors Podcast Publications JAMA JAMA Network Open JAMA Cardiology JAMA Dermatology JAMA Health Forum JAMA Internal Medicine JAMA Neurology JAMA Oncology JAMA Ophthalmology JAMA...

Efficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted treatment for major depressive disorder: Prospective 12-month follow-up

Journal of Psychopharmacology February 1, 2022 Natalie Gukasyan, Alan K. Davis, Frederick S. Barrett et al. 419 citations

Background: Preliminary data suggest that psilocybin-assisted treatment produces substantial and rapid antidepressant effects in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), but little is known about long-term outcomes. Aims: This study sought to examine the efficacy and safety of psilocybin through 12 months in participants with moderate to severe MDD who received psilocybin. Methods: This...