Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
October 1, 2024
Shakila Meshkat, Fatemeh Gholaminezhad, Eric Vermetten et al.
24 citations
A systematic review of 20 studies with 2,959 participants found that psilocybin's effects on cognitive function are mixed. Global cognitive function and processing speed remained mostly unchanged in healthy individuals, while improvements in sustained attention, working memory, and executive function were reported in patients with treatment-resistant depression. Emotional processing and empathy were positively modified, especially in these patients, but cognitive empathy and social cognition were not significantly altered. Cognitive flexibility and creative cognition initially declined but could improve over time. Psilocybin improved semantic associations and associative learning, but effects on episodic and verbal memory were less pronounced than with other cognitive enhancers.
Eur Neuropsychopharmacol
November 7, 2025
Mikkel Højlund, Helin Y. Kafali, Begüm Kırmızı et al.
12 citations
A living systematic review with meta-analysis examined the efficacy, safety, and all-cause discontinuation of serotonergic psychedelics and MDMA for treating mental disorders. The review found that these substances show promise in reducing symptoms of conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, with some evidence supporting their therapeutic potential. However, the authors note that the overall quality of evidence is limited by small sample sizes, short follow-up periods, and methodological concerns. Safety profiles varied, with most adverse events being mild to moderate, though serious adverse events were reported in some studies. The review emphasizes the need for larger, more rigorous trials to confirm these findings.
Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment
August 1, 2025
Reinhard Janssen-Aguilar, Shakila Meshkat, Ilya Demchenko et al.
12 citations
Ketamine may offer short-term benefits for treating substance use disorders, including alcohol, cocaine, opioid, and cannabis use disorders. In alcohol use disorder, it reduced withdrawal symptoms and the need for benzodiazepines. For cocaine use disorder, it decreased craving and increased abstinence rates. In opioid use disorder, high-dose ketamine combined with psychotherapy improved abstinence and reduced craving. For cannabis use disorder, it reduced weekly use and increased confidence in abstinence. However, the evidence is limited by small sample sizes and a lack of randomized trials. Larger, well-controlled studies are needed to determine optimal dosing, mechanisms, long-term efficacy, and risks before broader clinical use can be recommended.
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
June 1, 2025
Shakila Meshkat, Gunjan Malik, Richard J. Zeifman et al.
11 citations
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy may reduce alcohol consumption and help with smoking cessation, especially for alcohol and tobacco use disorders. In a systematic review of 16 published studies, most focused on alcohol or tobacco use, and over half used psilocybin combined with psychotherapy. Doses ranged from microdosing to 20–40 mg per 70 kg. Alcohol use disorder studies reported fewer heavy drinking days and higher abstinence rates, with brain scans showing normalized activity. Tobacco use disorder studies found high smoking abstinence rates, with mystical experiences predicting long-term success. Findings for other substance use disorders were mixed. The evidence is preliminary; larger clinical trials are needed.
Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology
January 1, 2023
Luke J. Ney, Wole Akosile, Chris Davey et al.
8 citations
Preclinical and experimental research suggests medicinal cannabis may help treat posttraumatic stress disorder, but integrating it into routine clinical therapies poses clinical, practical, and safety challenges, especially when combined with trauma-focused psychotherapy. Key issues include dose timing and titration, addiction potential, product formulation, windows of intervention, and route of administration. Exposure therapy for PTSD involves recalling intense emotions, and the interaction between cannabis use and reliving trauma memories requires exploration for patient safety and therapeutic outcomes.
Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry
July 14, 2025
Zoe Plummer, Josh Allen, Justin Brand et al.
4 citations
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, impaired neuroplasticity, neurotransmitter imbalances, and cell death, leading to neurological and psychiatric disorders. The serotonergic psychedelics psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT may help treat TBI by promoting neuroplasticity, reducing inflammation, and protecting neurons. Psilocybin acts through 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, and neurotrophic TrkB receptors, while 5-MeO-DMT targets sigma-1 receptors with neuroprotective properties. Preclinical and clinical research suggests these compounds can alleviate cognitive and affective dysfunction and neuroinflammation after TBI. The review critically examines safety, dosing, and clinical challenges, highlighting the potential of these psychedelics as adjunctive treatments in neurorehabilitation.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 29, 2025
Carrie Cuttler, Amanda Stueber, Jonathan J. Simone et al.
3 citations
An online survey of 1,486 U.S. adults (average age 29.58, 67.1% male) examined patterns of psychedelic use. Respondents most often used MDMA, LSD, DMT, and psilocybin, primarily by oral administration and for recreational purposes. The most common acute effects were hallucinations, increased heart rate, positive mood, and visual tracers; residual effects included headaches, dry mouth, nausea, hallucinations, and anxiety. Distress about negative mood, vomiting, and nausea during acute effects was low on average. These findings can inform clinical trials and policy as psychedelic legality and accessibility evolve.
Psychopharmacology
February 1, 2026
Ana Deutsch, Connor J Haggarty, Gavin N Petrie et al.
1 citation
A single oral dose of methamphetamine (20 mg) reduced blood levels of the endocannabinoid 2-AG in healthy adults, while MDMA (100 mg) did not. Neither drug affected anandamide (AEA) levels. Under placebo, higher AEA concentrations were linked to disliking the drug effects, suggesting a connection between AEA and negative expectations. These findings show how stimulants act on the endocannabinoid system and may inform treatments for substance use disorders.
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology
March 1, 2026
Ana Deutsch, Luis E. Contreras, Sarah Kratina et al.
Mystical-type experiences induced by psychedelic therapy are commonly linked to reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms, according to a scoping review of 13 clinical trials involving 410 participants. Among studies with life-threatening disease populations, 80% reported a positive relationship between mystical-type experiences and mood improvement, compared to 63% of studies with depressive populations. The review suggests this relationship may depend on factors like timing of symptom assessments and therapeutic context. Future research should examine variables affecting mystical-type experiences and other aspects of set and setting to optimize positive outcomes.
Psychedelic Medicine
December 17, 2025
Luis E. Contreras, Grace Elliott, Francesco Kment et al.
Most Canadian military veterans seeking psychedelics for mental health treatment turn to underground sources rather than legal pathways, according to a survey of 30 veterans. Only 20% accessed psychedelics legally, while 64% pursued self-directed experiences and 44% had guided experiences within Canada. Veterans relied primarily on peers (73.3%) and media (53.3%) for information, with only 10% consulting health care providers. Among those who avoided discussing psychedelics with providers, 64% cited concerns about stigma, while 69% who did consult found providers lacked knowledge about psychedelic treatments. These gaps in access and education highlight the need for improved clinician training and policy reform.
Psychedelic Medicine
April 28, 2025
Shakila Meshkat, Howell Fang, Rachel Sousa-Ho et al.
Low-dose psilocybin, given as 1–3 mg or 0.1–0.2 g of dried mushrooms, shows limited and inconsistent evidence for treating mental disorders. In two randomized controlled trials for treatment-resistant depression, 18% of participants receiving 1 mg showed a significant response, 8% achieved remission, and depression scores improved by −5.4 points at week 3, but only 10% maintained improvement by week 12. Another trial reported no significant improvement with 1–3 mg, though 12% achieved anxiety remission and 16% depression remission. A trial comparing 25 mg to 1 mg plus escitalopram found higher response rates with the higher dose. The evidence is constrained by few well-designed studies comparing low-dose psilocybin to placebo.