Depression is common in cancer patients but hard to diagnose because its symptoms overlap with those of cancer and its treatments. Treating depression is also complicated by confusion between side effects of antidepressants, cancer therapies, and the disease itself. This systematic review of 21 randomized controlled trials found that serious adverse events from antidepressants were reported in only two studies, suggesting an acceptable safety profile. Most other side effects were mild to moderate and generally well-tolerated. However, small sample sizes highlight the need for larger, placebo-controlled trials to better assess the safety of antidepressants and psychedelics in this population.
Three phenethylamine compounds that mimic LSD—2C-H, 25H-NBOH, and 25I-NBOMe—were analyzed by combining computational conformational analysis with experimental spectral data from the ENFSI database. Lower-energy conformations were compared to known crystallographic structures, and simulated spectra were matched against experimental records using heat maps and principal component analysis. The approach demonstrates that merging in silico methods with experimental techniques yields a more complete understanding for identifying new psychoactive substances that evade legal regulation.
Psychedelics may have revolutionary potential in psychiatry, but until recently their pharmacodynamic properties seemed similar to serotonin, whose levels are raised by SSRIs. Unlike antidepressants, psychedelics can induce long-lasting neuroplasticity. New molecular findings show that neuroplasticity is triggered by stimulation of intracellular 5-HT2A receptors. Psychedelics reach these receptors because their lipophilic properties allow them to cross the neuronal membrane, whereas serotonin cannot. The specific mechanisms are not yet fully understood, but better understanding could lead to new drugs or therapeutic strategies that sustain neuroplasticity while minimizing side effects.