Brain and Behavior
July 1, 2026
Lena K L Oestreich, Nathalie M. Rieser
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...
European Journal of Psychotraumatology
March 19, 2026
Philip Gerrans, Hugh McGovern, Jakob Hohwy et al.
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...
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
July 15, 2025
Zohaib Nadeem, Stephen Parker, Hugh McGovern et al.
7 citations
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...
May 26, 2024
Hugh McGovern, Nick Wellman, Brendan Hutchinson et al.
2 citations
preprint
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...
Philip Gerrans, Hugh Mgovern, Jakob Hohwy et al.
1 citation
preprint
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...
Lena K. L. Oestreich, Hugh McGovern, Zohaib Nadeem et al.
preprint
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...