Neuroplasticity, the brain's capacity to reorganise its structure and function, is a transdiagnostic feature across psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases and a putative mechanism of action for pharmacological interventions. [11C]-UCBJ positron emission tomography (PET), which quantifies synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) density, offers the most direct in vivo measure of human...
Psychedelic and substance-assisted therapies are attracting renewed scientific, clinical, and public interest as potential interventions for mental health disorders, particularly treatment-resistant depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance use disorders. However, as the field moves from early efficacy trials toward clinical implementation, major questions remain regarding...
Psychedelics have robust effects on acute brain function and long-term behavior but whether they also cause enduring functional and anatomical brain changes is largely unknown. In an exploratory, placebo-controlled, within-subjects, electroencephalography (EEG), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study in 28 healthy, entirely psychedelic-naive participants, anatomical and functional brain...
Background: Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) is a trauma-related condition characterized by pervasive disturbances in affect regulation, self-concept, and interpersonal functioning that extend beyond the symptom profile of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While neurobiological studies have implicated limbic, salience, and prefrontal systems in C-PTSD, mechanistic accounts...
Background: Recent regulatory changes in Australia have approved 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine for treating post-traumatic stress disorder and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. However, limited data exists on Australian mental healthcare providers’ attitudes, knowledge and readiness to implement with psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was...
Psychedelics (hallucinogenic 5-HT2A agonists such as psilocybin) are gaining recognition for their potential to treat a range of conditions, including anxiety-related psychopathology. Despite early promising results, the mechanisms by which psychedelic therapy alleviates anxiety are not well understood. Here, we review neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying anxiety-related psychopathology...
Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) is a newly recognized diagnosis that is distinguished from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through additional symptom clusters beyond re-experiencing, avoidance, and a persistent sense of threat. In addition to these core PTSD symptoms, C-PTSD is characterized by disturbances in self-organization, including affective dysregulation, negative...
Background: The therapeutic use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and psilocybin has gained interest due to their potential efficacy in treating mental illness. We systematically reviewed the efficacy of MDMA and psilocybin in treating mental illness and explored the moderating effects of dosage, psychotherapeutic support, and concurrent antidepressant use. Methods: In this systematic...