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Joao P De Aquino

8 papers in the library · 19 citations · publishing 2019-2026

Papers

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Enhancing cGMP signaling with psilocybin reduces head twitch and restructures the synaptic proteome while maintaining antidepressant response

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) March 10, 2026 Gabriele Floris, Sarah J. Jefferson, Jocelyne Rondeau et al.

Abstract New treatments for depression are needed that combine robust efficacy with improved scalability. Although psilocybin has demonstrated antidepressant effects in Phase 3 clinical trials, some of its psychedelic effects limit tolerability, necessitating administration in highly supervised clinical settings, and thus motivating development of serotonergic therapeutics that preserve...

From taboo to treatment: The emergence of psychedelics in the management of pain and opioid use disorder.

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology December 1, 2024 Jeremy Weleff, Julio C Nunes, Gabriel P. A. Costa et al. 8 citations

The rise of psychedelics in contemporary medicine has sparked interest in their potential therapeutic applications. While traditionally associated with countercultural movements and recreational use, recent research has shed light on the potential benefits of psychedelics in various mental health conditions. In this review, we explore the possible role of psychedelics in the management of...

Sex differences in the acute effects of oral THC: a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover human laboratory study.

Psychopharmacology October 1, 2024 Ardavan Mohammad Aghaei, Lia Urban Spillane, Brian Pittman et al. 9 citations

Recent reports have shown increased cannabis use among women, leading to growing concerns about cannabis use disorder (CUD). While there is preclinical evidence suggesting biological sex influences cannabinoid effects, human research remains scant. We investigated sex differences in the acute response to oral tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in humans. 56 healthy men and women with prior exposure to...

A preliminary investigation of the acute effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on pain and opioid attentional bias among persons with opioid use disorder.

Journal of Psychiatric Research September 1, 2024 Noah R Wolkowicz, Mehmet Sofuoglu, Brian Pittman et al.

Attentional bias (AB) is believed to be an important factor in the development and maintenance of both opioid use disorder (OUD) and chronic pain. Cannabis and its main psychoactive constituent, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), produce analgesic effects via processes that are potentially relevant to AB and is commonly used by persons with OUD. This exploratory study investigated if THC...

Brief report: The influence of childhood trauma on the effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in persons with opioid use disorder.

The American Journal on Addictions May 1, 2024 Michael Rogan, Julio C Nunes, Catherine Z Xie et al. 2 citations

Childhood trauma (CT) increases addiction vulnerability. We examined CT's impact on delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) effects. This is a post-hoc analysis of a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial investigating the effects of oral THC (10, 20 mg) among 25 persons receiving methadone for opioid use disorder (OUD). Greater CT was associated with lower aversive effects from higher THC...

From Taboo to Treatment: The Emergence of Psychedelics in the Management of Pain and Opioid Use Disorder

October 30, 2023 Jeremy Weleff, Julio C Nunes, Gabriel P. A. Costa et al.

The rise of psychedelics in contemporary medicine has sparked interest in their potential therapeutic applications. While traditionally associated with countercultural movements and recreational use, recent research has shed light on the potential benefits of psychedelics in various mental health conditions. In this review, we explore the emerging role of psychedelics in the management of...

Effects of haloperidol on the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol response in humans: a responder analysis.

Psychopharmacology September 1, 2019 Swapnil Gupta, Joao P De Aquino, Deepak C D'Souza et al.

Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-9-THC) produces psychotomimetic effects in humans. However, the role of dopamine signaling in producing such effects is unclear. We hypothesized that dopaminergic antagonism would reduce the psychotomimetic effect of Δ-9-THC. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether pre-treatment with haloperidol would alter the psychotomimetic and perceptual-altering...

Who Is Reached by Supervised Psilocybin Services? Oregon Services Versus National Psilocybin Use

Gabriel P. A. Costa, Christina Riggione, Christopher Pittenger et al.

Supervised psilocybin services are expanding across the United States, yet how individuals accessing these programs compare with those using psilocybin in the general population is unknown. We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive comparison of Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS) data from licensed service centers in 2025 (5,935 encounters) and the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health...