Research published in European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology

Psychedelics and suicidality: A double-edged sword - risks, mechanisms, and moving forward.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology September 19, 2026 Maia Mallevays, Lucie Berkovitch

Classic psychedelics, including lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, and dimethyltryptamine (DMT), have re-emerged as promising treatments for psychiatric conditions linked to suicidality. However, rare reports of increased suicidality potentially associated with psychedelic use have raised safety concerns. This article examines the complex relationship between psychedelics and...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2026.113878 Full text Mechanisms Psychedelics Risk-assessment Safety +1

Emerging pharmacological and neuromodulation interventions for suicidal ideation and behaviour.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology July 17, 2026 Mauro Scala, Enrico Magrini, Ivana Leccisotti et al.

Suicide remains a leading cause of premature mortality worldwide. Current treatments are limited by delayed onset, durability, or poor tolerability. This narrative review, informed by a structured literature search, summarises the last decade of evidence on pharmacological and neuromodulation interventions for suicidal ideation (SI) or suicide attempt (SA) that are not approved for these...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2026.112888 Full text N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonists Neuromodulation Opioid agonists Suicidal ideation +2

Clinical guidance on the use of esketamine nasal spray for patients with treatment resistant depression: A European Delphi consensus report.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology July 17, 2026 Allan H. Young, Bernhard T Baune, Beatrice Benatti et al.

Esketamine nasal spray (NS) is an established treatment for patients with treatment resistant depression (TRD). To further optimise real-world outcomes, consensus is needed regarding strategies to enhance patient outcomes and decision-making factors for pivotal timepoints in esketamine NS treatment. This modified Delphi panel (3 rounds) established expert consensus (≥80% agreement) from 30...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2026.112907 Full text Esketamine nasal spray Assessment patient outcome Decision-making shared Delphi method +1

Long-term treatment with esketamine nasal spray in patients with treatment resistant depression: Results from the ESCAPE-LTE study.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology June 1, 2026 Andreas Reif, Yağcıoğlu Ae Anıl, Istvan Bitter et al. 3 citations

Optimising patient outcomes in treatment resistant depression (TRD) requires treatments which provide sustained remission, without relapse, and tolerability in the long term. ESCAPE-LTE (NCT04829318) was a phase IV, single-arm, 2-year (104 weeks) long-term extension of ESCAPE-TRD (NCT04338321; 32 weeks), a rater-blinded, randomised, active-controlled trial, which evaluated the safety,...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2026.112801 Full text Esketamine nasal spray Major depressive disorder Efficacy Long-term +3

Blinding integrity in psychedelic research: Evidence from a comparative randomized controlled trial of psilocybin, MDMA, and methylphenidate in healthy volunteers.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology May 28, 2026 L Belinger, Nathalie M. Rieser, Etna Engeli et al.

Maintaining effective blinding is a major methodological challenge in psychedelic research. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of blinding integrity in 120 healthy volunteers who received either psilocybin, MDMA, or methylphenidate (active placebo) in a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Using a multi-level assessment incorporating forced-choice substance guesses, certainty...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2026.112879 Full text MDMA Psilocybin Blinding assessment Blinding integrity +2

Ayahuasca modulation of traumatic-like fear memories requires infralimbic cortex BDNF-dependent mechanisms in rats.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology February 1, 2026 Isabel Werle, Francisco S Guimarães, Rafael G. Dos Santos et al.

Rodent studies have shown that psychedelic drugs can enhance fear extinction. However, investigations to date have relied on normative aversive conditioning procedures, which limit their relevance to trauma-related memories, as these tend to be overgeneralized and resistant to extinction. Fear extinction depends on activity and plasticity within the infralimbic (IL) region of the medial...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2025.11.009 Full text 5-ht2a receptor Microdosing Neuroplasticity Behavioral flexibility +1

Bridging the reporting gap: Application of the ReSPCT guidelines in psilocybin clinical trial protocols.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology January 16, 2026 Damian Swieczkowski, Aleksander Kwaśny, Krzysztof Sadko et al. 1 citation

Psilocybin-assisted therapies are increasingly studied for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD), and methodological rigor requires both pharmacological evaluation and consistent reporting of non-pharmacological variables that influence therapeutic outcomes. To address this need, the ReSPCT (Reporting of Setting in Psychedelic Clinical Trials) guidelines were...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2025.112746 Full text Psilocybin Respct guidelines Set and setting

The effects of psilocybin therapy versus escitalopram on cognitive bias: A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology June 23, 2025 Jessica S. Henry, Bruna Giribaldi, David Nutt et al. 2 citations

Patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) have more dysfunctional attitudes than healthy individuals and these pessimistic biases are correlated with depression severity. Psilocybin has demonstrated sustained remission in depression. Secondary analysis of a two-arm randomized controlled trial assessing the effect of psilocybin therapy versus escitalopram on 'maladaptive' cognitive biases...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2025.06.003 Full text Escitalopram Depression treatment Medication Condition +13

Safety, tolerability and subjective effects of vaporized N,N-Dimethyltryptamine: A randomized double-blind clinical trial.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology June 17, 2025 Isabel Wießner, Marcelo Falchi-Carvalho, Sophie Laborde et al. 7 citations

Vaporized N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) has a short duration and simple application, prompting this technique as a new approach for psychedelics' clinical use. Building on our initial dose-ascending studies and addressing potential confounding effects of dosing order, this study is the first to evaluate inhaled DMT in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind design. Given DMT's therapeutic...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2025.06.002 Full text Psychedelic therapy N,N-Dimethyltryptamine Placebo-controlled study Psychedelics +17

Improvements in functioning and workplace productivity with esketamine nasal spray versus quetiapine extended release in patients with treatment resistant depression: Findings from a 32-week randomised, open-label, rater-blinded phase IIIb study.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology April 1, 2025 Eduard Vieta, Nahida Ahmed, Celso Arango et al. 12 citations

Patients with treatment resistant depression (TRD) experience a greater negative impact on their functioning and productivity at home and in the workplace versus treatment-responsive patients. Here, we report the effects of esketamine nasal spray (NS) versus quetiapine extended release (XR) on functioning, work productivity and activity impairment. ESCAPE‑TRD (NCT04338321) was a 32-week...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.12.013 Full text Esketamine Major depressive disorder Treatment-resistant depression Functioning and productivity +7

Examining the impact of comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder on ketamine's real-world effectiveness in treatment-resistant depression.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology February 1, 2025 Danica E. Johnson, Nelson B Rodrigues, Sydney Weisz et al.

Depression with comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with more severe symptoms and a reduced response to traditional treatments. Although ketamine shows promise as a rapid-acting antidepressant for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), its effectiveness in patients with comorbid PTSD remains underexplored. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective analysis of 134 patients...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.11.008 Full text Depressive disorder Post-traumatic Stress disorders Treatment-resistant +5

Ketamine treatment for anhedonia in unipolar and bipolar depression: a systematic review.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology September 1, 2024 Aleksander Kwaśny, Julia Kwaśna, Alina Wilkowska et al. 24 citations

Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, is a racemic mixture of esketamine and arketamine used to treat unipolar and bipolar depression. Preliminary reports indicate that it may be beneficial for depressed patients reporting symptoms of anhedonia. In this systematic review we aim to assess and analyze the existing body of evidence regarding the therapeutic effects of ketamine on...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.04.014 Full text Esketamine Major depressive disorder Bipolar depression Ketamine therapy +4

Safety and tolerability of esketamine nasal spray versus quetiapine extended release in patients with treatment resistant depression.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology August 1, 2024 Roger S McIntyre, Istvan Bitter, Jozefien Buyze et al. 30 citations

In ESCAPE-TRD (NCT04338321), esketamine nasal spray (NS) significantly increased the probability of remission at Week 8, and of being relapse-free through Week 32 after remission at Week 8, versus quetiapine extended release (XR) in patients with treatment resistant depression (TRD). Here, we explore the time course, burden and consequences of treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) in the...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.05.009 Full text Major depressive disorder Treatment-resistant depression Drug tolerability Quetiapine +5

Do classic psychedelics increase the risk of seizures? A scoping review.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology August 1, 2024 Oscar Soto-Angona, Adriana Fortea, Lydia Fortea et al. 7 citations

Seizures are a concerning adverse event frequently associated with the use of psychedelics, and hence, studies involving these substances tend to exclude patients with past history of epilepsy. This is especially relevant because epileptic seizures are markedly increased in the population suffering from mental disorders, and psychedelic assisted therapy is being researched as a promising...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.05.002 Full text Adverse events Drug-related adverse reactions Epilepsy Hallucinogens +2

Visual hallucinations originating in the retinofugal pathway under clinical and psychedelic conditions.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology August 1, 2024 Zeus Tipado, Kim P. C. Kuypers, Bettina Sorger et al. 5 citations

Psychedelics like LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) and psilocybin are known to modulate perceptual modalities due to the activation of mostly serotonin receptors in specific cortical (e.g., visual cortex) and subcortical (e.g., thalamus) regions of the brain. In the visual domain, these psychedelic modulations often result in peculiar disturbances of viewed objects and light and sometimes even...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.04.011 Full text Psychedelic research Retinal biology Amacrine cells Psychedelics +3

Chemical cousins with contrasting behavioural profiles: MDMA users and methamphetamine users differ in social-cognitive functions and aggression.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology June 1, 2024 Amelie Zacher, Josua Zimmermann, David M. Cole et al. 10 citations

Methamphetamine (METH, "Crystal Meth") and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "Ecstasy") share structural-chemical similarities but have distinct psychotropic profiles due to specific neurochemical actions. Previous research has suggested that their impact on social cognitive functions and social behaviour may differ significantly, however, direct comparisons of METH and MDMA users...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.04.010 Full text Addiction MDMA Serotonin Dopamine +7

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy neurobiology in treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder: A domain-related resting-state networks approach.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology May 1, 2024 Víctor De la Peña-arteaga, Marta Cano, Daniel Porta-Casteràs et al. 5 citations

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) stands out as a promising augmentation psychological therapy for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). To identify potential predictive and response biomarkers, this study examines the relationship between clinical domains and resting-state network connectivity in OCD patients undergoing a 3-month MBCT programme. Twelve OCD patients...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.02.011 Full text Brain connectivity Mindfulness-based interventions Neurobiology Neuroimaging +1

A randomised, placebo-controlled, double blind, crossover trial on the effect of a 20:1 cannabidiol: Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol medical cannabis product on neurocognition, attention, and mood.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology May 2024 Brooke Manning, Amie C Hayley, Sarah J Catchlove et al.

As cannabinoid-based medications gain popularity in the treatment of refractory medical conditions, it is crucial to examine the neurocognitive effects of commonly prescribed products to ensure associated safety profiles. The present study aims to investigate the acute effects of a standard 1 mL sublingual dose of CannEpil®, a medicinal cannabis oil containing 100 mg cannabidiol (CBD) and 5 mg...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.02.002 Full text Cannabidiol Attention Cantab Visuospatial memory +1

Safety and tolerability of inhaled N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (BMND01 candidate): A phase I clinical trial.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology March 1, 2024 Marcelo Falchi-Carvalho, Isabel Wießner, Sérgio Ruschi B Silva et al. 25 citations

Psychedelics are being increasingly examined for their therapeutic potential in mood disorders. While the acute effects of ayahuasca, psilocybin, and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) last over several hours, inhaled N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) effects last around 10 min, which might provide a cost- and time-effective alternative to the clinical application of oral psychedelics. We aimed at...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.12.006 Full text Entheogens Clinical trial Dose-response study Mood disorders +6

The potential of psychedelics for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology November 1, 2023 Michael James Winkelman, Attila Szabo, Ede Frecska 26 citations

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a currently incurable but increasingly prevalent fatal and progressive neurodegenerative disease, demanding consideration of therapeutically relevant natural products and their synthetic analogues. This paper reviews evidence for effectiveness of natural and synthetic psychedelics in the treatment of AD causes and symptoms. The plastogenic effects of serotonergic...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.07.003 Full text Neuroplasticity Dementia Neuroinflammation Psychedelics

LSD and language: Decreased structural connectivity, increased semantic similarity, changed vocabulary in healthy individuals.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology March 1, 2023 Isabel Wießner, Marcelo Falchi, Dimitri Daldegan-Bueno et al. 6 citations

Language has been explored as a window into the mind. Psychedelics, known to affect perception and cognition, seem to change language, but a systematic, time-dependent exploration is lacking. Therefore, we aimed at mapping the psychedelic effects on language over the time course of the acute and sub-acute effects in an explorative manner. For this, 24 healthy volunteers (age [mean±SD, range]:...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2022.12.013 Full text LSD Cognition Natural language processing Semantics +5

Ayahuasca's therapeutic potential: What we know - and what not.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology 2023 Lucas Oliveira Maia, Dimitri Daldegan-Bueno, Isabel Wießner et al. 46 citations

The therapeutic potential of the psychedelic brew ayahuasca has been investigated in preclinical and clinical studies. Currently, the most consistent evidence refers to depression. However, various studies suggest that ayahuasca may comprise therapeutic benefits in other health conditions. This narrative review provides a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of ayahuasca's therapeutic effects in...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2022.10.008 Full text 5-ht2a receptor Ayahuasca Neurodegenerative diseases Psychiatric disorders +8

A century of research on psychedelics: A scientometric analysis on trends and knowledge maps of hallucinogens, entactogens, entheogens and dissociative drugs.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology November 1, 2022 Marco Solmi, Chaomei Chen, Charles Dauré et al. 55 citations

A scientometric analysis was realized to outline clinical research on psychedelics over the last century. Web of Science Core Collection was searched up to March 18, 2022, for publications on psychedelics. Network analyses and bibliometrics were combined, to identify research themes and trends with Bibliometrix and CiteSpace. The primary aim was to measure research trends evolution over time,...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2022.09.004 Full text Bibliometrix Citespace Evidence synthesis Mood disorders +6

LSD, afterglow and hangover: Increased episodic memory and verbal fluency, decreased cognitive flexibility.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology May 1, 2022 Isabel Wießner, Rodolfo Olivieri, Marcelo Falchi et al. 42 citations

Psychedelics acutely impair cognitive functions, but these impairments decline with growing experiences with psychedelics and microdoses may even exert opposing effects. Given the recent evidence that psychedelics induce neuroplasticity, this explorative study aimed at investigating the potential of psychedelics to sub-acutely change cognition. For this, we applied a randomized, double-blind,...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2022.01.114 Full text Cognitive flexibility Executive functions Phonological verbal fluency Psycholytic dose +2

Psilocybin-induced changes in brain network integrity and segregation correlate with plasma psilocin level and psychedelic experience.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology September 1, 2021 Martin K Madsen, Dea S Stenbæk, Albin Arvidsson et al. 132 citations

The emerging novel therapeutic psilocybin produces psychedelic effects via engagement of cerebral serotonergic targets by psilocin (active metabolite). The serotonin 2A receptor critically mediates these effects by altering distributed neural processes that manifest as increased entropy, reduced functional connectivity (FC) within discrete brain networks (i.e., reduced integrity) and increased...

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.06.001 Full text Psilocin Psilocybin Experience Functional connectivity +2

Papers