Therapeutic potential of psychedelics: History, advancements, and unexplored frontiers.
Juliana Marino Maia, Bruna Stefane Alves De Oliveira, Luiz G.s. Branco, Renato Nery Soriano
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry April 20, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.110951 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Hallucinogens Neural interconnections Reward system Serotonin receptors |
| Citations | 11 |
| Key findings | Psychedelics activate 5-HT2A receptors and show therapeutic potential for depression, addiction, anxiety, and PTSD, though the brain mechanisms are not well understood. |
Abstract
Psychedelics (serotonergic hallucinogens) are psychoactive substances that can alter perception and mood, and affect cognitive functions. These substances activate 5-HT2A receptors and may exert therapeutic effects. Some of the disorders for which psychedelic-assisted therapy have been studied include depression, addiction, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite the increasing number of studies reporting clinical effectiveness, with fewer negative symptoms and, additionally, minimal side effects, questions remain to be explored in the field of psychedelic medicine. Although progress has been achieved, there is still little understanding of the relationship among human brain and the modulation induced by these drugs. The present article aimed to describe, review and highlight the most promising findings in the literature regarding the (putative) therapeutic effects of psychedelics.
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- Meta-correlation of the effect of ketamine and psilocybin induced subjective effects on therapeutic outcome. npj Mental Health Research October 6, 2024
- Unraveling the policies, legislations, and regulations of psychedelics in Australia, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, and India. Health policy (Amsterdam, Netherlands) July 8, 2025
- Psychedelics beyond medicine: Treatment, enhancement, hype, consent, and the limits of medicalization Philosophical Psychology September 8, 2025
- Real-world effectiveness and safety of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: Outcomes from a large-scale compassionate use cohort in Switzerland. Psychiatry Research February 2, 2026
- Therapeutic Implications of Psilocybin in the Wake of Decriminalization Integrative and Complementary Therapies June 1, 2024
and 3 more in the library
Cites 83
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and 78 more in the library