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Kimberly Sakai

7 papers in the library · 136 citations · publishing 2022-2026

Papers

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A randomized crossover trial comparing the acute physiological and psychological effects of botanical formulations of oral psilocybin, oral psilocin, and sublingual psilocin.

Journal of Psychopharmacology August 29, 2026 Marlene Tai, Balázs Szigeti, Amanda E. Downey et al.

BACKGROUND Psilocybin, a serotonergic psychedelic found in hallucinogenic mushrooms, is metabolized to psilocin, the compound responsible for its psychoactive effects. Psilocybin has demonstrated therapeutic potential for neuropsychiatric conditions. While recent trials have primarily used orally administered synthetic psilocybin, alternative formulations and delivery methods may offer...

Psilocybin therapy for mood dysfunction in Parkinson's disease: an open-label pilot trial.

Neuropsychopharmacology April 9, 2025 Ellen Bradley, Kimberly Sakai, Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold et al. 23 citations

Mood dysfunction is highly prevalent in Parkinson's disease (PD), a main predictor of functional decline, and difficult to treat-novel interventions are critically needed. Psilocybin shows early promise for treating depression and anxiety, but its potential in PD is unknown, as safety concerns have excluded people with neurodegenerative disease from previous trials. In this open-label pilot...

DOI: 10.1038/s41386-025-02097-0 (opens in new tab) Full text (opens in new tab) Psilocybin therapy Parkinson's disease treatment Psychedelic medicine Neurological research +1

Content analysis of Reddit posts about coadministration of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and psilocybin mushrooms.

Psychopharmacology August 1, 2024 Kimberly Sakai, Ellen Bradley, Joseph A. Zamaria et al. 10 citations

Treatments with the serotonergic psychedelic psilocybin are being investigated for multiple neuropsychiatric disorders. Because many patients with these disorders use selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), understanding interactions between psilocybin and SSRIs is critical for evaluating the safety, efficacy, and scalability of psilocybin-based treatments. Current knowledge about...

Reply to: Marketing pitches of ‘magic mushrooms’ and ‘psychedelics’ mask that psychotomimetics use exposes those vulnerable to serious adverse effects

Journal of Psychopharmacology July 1, 2023 Emma Morton, Kimberly Sakai, Amir Ashtari et al.

Braillon A (2011) The many moral responsibilities of independent datamonitoring committees. Am J Bioeth 11: 16–17. Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (1999) Guidelines for preparing core clinical-safety information on drugs second edition – Report of CIOMS working groups III and V. Geneva: Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences. Huxley A (1961) US...

Risks and benefits of psilocybin use in people with bipolar disorder: An international web-based survey on experiences of ‘magic mushroom’ consumption

Journal of Psychopharmacology December 14, 2022 Emma Morton, Kimberly Sakai, Amir Ashtari et al. 75 citations

Background: Psilocybin, the primary psychoactive component of psychedelic ‘magic mushrooms’, may have potential for treating depressive symptoms, and consequent applications for bipolar disorder (BD). Knowledge of the risks and benefits of psilocybin in BD is limited to case studies. Aim: To support the design of clinical trials, we surveyed experiences of psilocybin use in people with BD....

DOI: 10.1177/02698811221131997 (opens in new tab) Psilocybin Bipolar disorder Mushroom poisoning Web survey +4

“A sense of the bigger picture:” A qualitative analysis of follow-up interviews with people with bipolar disorder who self-reported psilocybin use

PLoS One December 14, 2022 Meghan DellaCrosse, Mollie Pleet, Emma Morton et al. 28 citations

Objectives People with bipolar disorder (BD) spend more time depressed than manic/hypomanic, and depression is associated with greater impairments in psychosocial functioning and quality of life than mania/hypomania. Emerging evidence suggests psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in “magic mushrooms,” is a promising treatment for unipolar depression. Clinical trials of psilocybin therapy have...

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279073 (opens in new tab) Psilocybin Mental health Bipolar disorder Hypomania +5