Journal of Psychopharmacology - The Consciousness Library

Psilocybin-induced changes in electroencephalography link acute and long-term effects

Journal of Psychopharmacology September 4, 2026 M. Nikolič, Tom Froese, Pedro A. M. Mediano et al.

Background: Psilocybin’s therapeutic potential is neurophysiologically characterized by acute alpha power reductions and increased entropy. However, the systematic time-course of these changes from administration through the 24-hour sub-acute phase remains poorly characterized. Methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial ( N = 20, 10 females), healthy participants received a...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811261473445

Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety of N,N -dimethyltryptamine administered intravenously in healthy smoking and non-smoking volunteers

Journal of Psychopharmacology August 31, 2026 Katelijne V. van der Heijden, Soma Makai‐bölöni, Amir Inamdar et al.

BACKGROUND: -dimethyltryptamine (DMT) might have therapeutic effects in various psychiatric disorders. AIMS: Prior to exploring this clinical potential, it is essential to determine an optimal administration regimen for DMT, explore the relationship between its pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics and identify potential sources of pharmacokinetic variability. METHODS: Therefore, DMT was...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811261473451

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 L. Tai, B. 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...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811261478603 Full text

Salvinorin A in humans: A systematic review of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety

Journal of Psychopharmacology August 25, 2026 Wolfgang Emanuel Zürrer, Johann Liesner, David Brüschweiler et al.

, is a highly selective κ-opioid receptor agonist and a rare example of a κ-opioid receptor-mediated psychedelic drug. Preclinical work of salvinorin A has shown promising effects in neuropsychiatric animal models. However, human studies remain heterogeneous and fragmented, highlighting the need for synthesis. Thus, we conducted a systematic review to synthesize available human studies of...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811261473385

Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for substance use disorders as a complex intervention: A systematic review of efficacy, mechanisms and psychotherapeutic frameworks

Journal of Psychopharmacology August 17, 2026 Lana Strika-Bruneau, Chérine Elhssaini, Baptiste Fauvel et al.

Background: Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) shows promise for substance use disorders (SUDs), yet the respective contributions of pharmacological, experiential, psychotherapeutic, and contextual factors remain insufficiently understood. Objective: To synthesize contemporary clinical evidence on PAP for SUDs, with particular attention to therapeutic frameworks, dosing strategies,...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811261473436

The occurrence and potential role of mystical experiences in MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD: A secondary analysis

Journal of Psychopharmacology August 6, 2026 Tijmen P.L. Bostoen, Erwin Krediet, Annette van Schagen et al.

Background: The potential safety and efficacy of the psychedelic 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been researched in phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials. We examined the occurrence and role of mystical experiences in MDMA-AT. Methods: Data were sourced from two phase 2 randomized trials of MDMA-AT for chronic PTSD, in...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811261464502

Silence is golden: Documenting the speech production of participants and support providers in psilocybin administration sessions for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder

Journal of Psychopharmacology July 16, 2026 Robert F. Dougherty, Nadav Liam Modlin, Niall M. Mcgowan et al.

Background: When administered alongside monitoring and support, psilocybin has shown promise in the treatment of multiple psychiatric conditions. However, the contribution and nature of participant support in the context of psychedelic trials are much debated. Aims: We sought to further illustrate the structure and format of the monitoring and support used in Compass Pathfinder Ltd (Compass)...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811261464988 Psilocybin Context archaeology Thematic analysis Focus group +5

Acute behavioural effects of low-dose cannabidiol: A randomised crossover trial in healthy volunteers.

Journal of Psychopharmacology July 15, 2026 Lucy A Chester, François-Olivier Hebert, Pamela Lachance-Touchette et al.

BACKGROUND Cannabidiol (CBD) is widely consumed in low-dose products. However, evidence for its psychotropic effects at non-clinical doses is sparse and inconsistent. AIMS To characterise the acute behavioural effects of low-dose synthetic CBD in healthy volunteers. We hypothesised that 200 mg of CBD would produce a greater peak pleasant drug effect than a placebo. METHODS In a triple-blind,...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811261464527 Full text

Beyond symptom reduction: DMT improves anxiety, life satisfaction, and quality of life in healthy volunteers and patients with depression

Journal of Psychopharmacology July 8, 2026 Raynara Bolcont, Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, Handersson Barros et al.

BACKGROUND: -dimethyltryptamine (DMT); however, long-term effects, including broader well-being dimensions, are sparsely explored across populations. AIMS: Investigating whether DMT produces sustained improvements in anxiety, life satisfaction, and quality of life, in both healthy individuals and patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). METHODS: In 2 open-label clinical trials, 27...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811261465005 Anxiety Life satisfaction Depression economics Optimism +8

Classical psychedelic microdosing, mood, and cognitive function: An umbrella review with narrative synthesis

Journal of Psychopharmacology June 28, 2026 Yiğit Özaydın, Buket Canlan Özaydın

Background: Psychedelic microdosing—repeated sub-perceptual doses of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) or psilocybin—has attracted scientific interest as a potential mood and cognitive intervention. The evidence base remains methodologically heterogeneous and vulnerable to expectancy bias. Methods: We conducted an umbrella review with narrative synthesis following Joanna Briggs Institute...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811261456196 Psilocybin Mood Cognition Expectancy theory +6

The purpose of the psychosocial protocol in the psychedelic-assisted therapy: A scoping review

Journal of Psychopharmacology June 26, 2026 Flavia Giaffone de Paiva Ferreira, João Ariel Bonar Fernandes, Renato Filev et al.

With growing research on the use of psychedelics to treat mental health conditions, greater attention to the psychosocial procedures accompanying substance administration is warranted. This scoping review aims to categorize psychosocial protocols used in research involving psychedelics as psychiatric treatment according to their purpose, denomination, format, therapeutic orientation,...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811261453850 Psychosocial Categorization Observational study Flexibility engineering +15

Blocking 5-HT2B receptors abolishes psilocybin’s efficacy in the rat forced swim test

Journal of Psychopharmacology June 23, 2026 Lenka Seillier, Alexandre Seillier, Morgan A. Zvolska et al.

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder is one of the most debilitating psychiatric disorders worldwide. First-line treatments such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have significant limitations, including delayed onset of therapeutic effects and treatment resistance in about 30% of patients. Increasing evidence suggests that acute administration of serotonergic psychedelics, such as...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811261458349 Serotonergic Psilocybin Major depressive disorder Behavioural despair test +6

From monotherapy to sequential models: An updated scoping review on ibogaine’s role in treatment for psychiatric disorders

Journal of Psychopharmacology May 12, 2026 Pravesh Sharma, Jared Kendrick, Jennifer Schram et al.

BACKGROUND: Preliminary evidence examining ibogaine in neuropsychiatric and substance use disorders is accumulating. As patient interest and off-label use grow, clinicians require an understanding of emerging dosing strategies, investigational protocols, and reported adverse effects to appropriately counsel patients and contextualize potential risks and benefits. METHODS: Databases were...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811261443674 Observational study Adverse effect Dosing Randomized controlled trial +10

Substance use predictors of arrest and self-reported criminal behavior in the United States: The role of psychedelics and rarely used drugs

Journal of Psychopharmacology April 16, 2026 Jesse J. Norris 1 citation

Background: Little research investigates the role of rarely used drugs in criminal offending. Moreover, given research suggesting that psychedelics reduce criminal offending, more research is needed to further document connections between psychedelics and crime. Aim: This study examines the role of rarely used drugs in criminal behavior and extends previous research on psychedelics by...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811261436577 MDMA Substance use Criminal behavior Hallucinogen +5

Efficacy of N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) psychedelic therapy for substance misuse: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Journal of Psychopharmacology April 12, 2026 L. M. Wallace, Andrea Bujor, Gustavo Sudre et al.

Background: Conventional psychological and pharmacological substance abuse treatments are limited to moderate effect sizes and fail to magnify outcomes when combined. Analog psychedelic agents N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and 5-methoxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) show therapeutic potential for treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders including substance addictions. Methods: This...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811261430518 Meta-analysis Population Substance use Drugs of abuse +7

A randomized clinical trial of repeated doses of psilocybin for the treatment of obsessive–compulsive disorder

Journal of Psychopharmacology March 13, 2026 Francisco Moreno, Katja Ehrmann Allen, Christopher B. Wiegand et al. 3 citations

BACKGROUND: Current treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), including serotonin reuptake inhibitors and cognitive-behavioral therapy, are often insufficient. Psilocybin, a 5HT2a agonist psychedelic, has shown promise for treating OCD, but rigorous evidence is still needed. AIMS: This randomized clinical trial evaluated safety, tolerability, and benefit of multiple psilocybin doses...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811261424214 Psilocybin Anxiety disorder Randomized controlled trial Adverse effect +11

Confronting mortality: A meta-analysis and systematic review of psychedelic experiences and death anxiety

Journal of Psychopharmacology March 9, 2026 Alicia Cohorst, Petri Kajonius

This meta-analysis and systematic review examined the effects of psychedelic substances on death anxiety, specifically evaluating whether psychedelic experiences are associated with statistically significant reductions in death anxiety. A systematic search identified 8 studies suitable for meta-analysis and 10 additional studies for systematic review. Using a random-effects model, the...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811261424199 Death anxiety Moderation Psychological intervention Systematic review +5

A phase 2 uncontrolled, open-label study of intranasal BPL-003 (5-methoxy- N,N -dimethyltryptamine) in patients with treatment-resistant depression

Journal of Psychopharmacology February 27, 2026 Claire T. Roberts, Mathieu Seynaeve, Anna O. Ermakova et al.

Results confirmed the safety profile of BPL-003 in a TRD population. A rapid and sustained reduction in MADRS score was observed over 12 weeks, suggesting BPL-003 could be beneficial in TRD, warranting investigation in larger controlled trials.

DOI: 10.1177/02698811261420087 Treatment-resistant depression Major depressive disorder Depression economics Nasal administration +5

Effects of LSD, DMT and psilocybin on cognitive and psychological functions: A systematic review of the literature

Journal of Psychopharmacology February 16, 2026 Marten Kase, Karl Kristjan Kaup, Jaan Aru 1 citation

We carried out a systematic review of modern-era (1990-2025) placebo-controlled studies assessing the acute and post-acute effects of lysergic acid diethylamide, dimethyltryptamine and psilocybin on cognitive and psychological functions. From February 28 to March 19, 2025, PubMed and APA PsychINFO were systematically searched for placebo-controlled studies examining the influence of...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811251412012 Psilocybin Cognition Hallucinogen Empathy +6

Effects of psilocybin on personality, psychiatric symptoms, and values: Exploring mediating effects of the acute psychedelic experience

Journal of Psychopharmacology January 26, 2026 Jess Kerr-Gaffney, Samuel Myrtle, Famia Askari et al. 2 citations

Background: Changes in well-being, personality, and personal values have been documented post-psilocybin; however, evidence from placebo-controlled trials is limited. Aims: To examine the effects of psilocybin versus placebo on psychiatric symptoms, personality, and personal values in healthy participants. Potential mediators were also explored. Methods: This secondary analysis used data from a...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811251408769 Psilocybin Hallucinogen Placebo Clinical psychology +3

An exploration of the relationships between the effects of psilocybin on behavior, 5-HT 2A receptor occupancy, and neuroplastic effects in mice

Journal of Psychopharmacology January 6, 2026 Connor J. Maltby, Adam K. Klein, Enya Paschen et al. 3 citations

Background: Psilocybin has shown rapid and sustained antidepressant effects in patients with major depressive disorder, yet the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these outcomes remain unclear. Aims: This study aimed to bridge clinical and preclinical findings by investigating the relationships between 5-HT 2A receptor occupancy (RO) achieved after administration of psilocybin and its...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811251395386 Neuroplasticity Psilocybin Synaptic plasticity Prefrontal cortex +7

The effects of psilocybin on time perception in humans: A comparative analysis of subjective and objective measures

Journal of Psychopharmacology 2026 Petr Scholle, Štěpán Wenke, Tereza Nekovářová et al. 1 citation

Background: Although psychedelics have regained attention as potential treatment tools for various mental disorders, little research has examined their impact on temporal perception. Aims: This double-blinded placebo-controlled study aimed to investigate changes in temporal perception under psilocybin, both through performance during the Temporal Bisection Task (TBT) and through subjective...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811251389552 Psilocybin Serotonergic Hallucinogen Time perception +7

Learning as the unifying mechanism of psychedelic action

Journal of Psychopharmacology December 26, 2025 Alice Caulfield, Allan H. Young, Mitul A. Mehta 2 citations

Psychedelics are gaining attention as putative treatments for a range of psychiatric conditions, and evidence suggests that they produce sustained behavioural and clinical change. Enhanced learning is an emerging candidate mechanism mediating these sustained effects. This narrative review synthesises evidence across behavioural, neural and computational levels to examine the current evidence...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811251405683 Neuroplasticity Mechanism biology Relevance law Action physics +7

Predicting and exploring ayahuasca effects: Perception, mind-wandering, and EEG oscillations

Journal of Psychopharmacology December 4, 2025 Natan Silva-Costa, Jéssica Andrade Pessoa, Kátia Cristina Andrade et al.

Background: Psychedelics induce profound changes in perception and thinking; however, little is known about the neural mechanisms and prediction of these effects. Aims: Investigating ayahuasca-induced experiences, mind-wandering, and electroencephalogram (EEG) oscillations, beyond the prediction of subjective experiences by baseline EEG. Methods: In a randomised, double-blind,...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811251389563 Ayahuasca Mysticism Interoception Electroencephalography +5

The effects of naturalistic cannabis use on cognition and subjective experience in older adults with normal cognitive function

Journal of Psychopharmacology November 3, 2025 Patricia Di Ciano, Bernard Le Foll, S. Zhao et al.

Background: Adults over the age of 65 years are the fastest growing group of cannabis users, but there are few studies of the acute effects of cannabis in this population. Aims: In the present naturalistic study, participants were invited to smoke their preferred legal cannabis in the lab prior to tests of verbal learning and memory, executive function and information processing, and functional...

DOI: 10.1177/02698811251370975

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