Psilocybin during the postpartum period induces long-lasting adverse effects in both mothers and offspring
Cassandra J. Hatzipantelis, Min Liu, A. H. G. Love, Sadie J. Leventhal, Hero Maera, V Sathiyapriya, Emily Avetisyan, Liana Belinsky, Mckenna M. Rangel, Neetu Jain, Max Kelly, C. Copeland, Yara A Khatib, Oliver Fiehn, David E. Olson, Danielle S. Stolzenberg
Nature Communications September 30, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64371-5 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Parous mice and their offspring, and virgin female mice |
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin did not ameliorate stress-induced maternal withdrawal and increased anxiety in mothers, and caused anhedonia in breastfed offspring. |
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin increases social connectedness and has strong clinical transdiagnostic efficacy for mental illness, making it a candidate treatment to reduce maternal disconnect, anxiety, and blunted affect seen in peripartum mood disorders. However, the efficacy and safety of psilocybin in peripartum mood disorders has not been investigated. We used a social stress model to examine the effects of psilocybin in parous mice and their offspring. Social stress induced maternal withdrawal and increased stress-related behaviors – none of which were ameliorated by psilocybin. Weeks later, psilocybin-treated dams were more anxious, regardless of stress exposure. In contrast, psilocybin-treated virgin females were unaffected. Though reproductive status did not affect psilocybin pharmacokinetics, serotonin receptor transcription and 5-HT2A receptor-dependent responses were reduced in dams. Offspring exposed to maternal psilocybin during breastfeeding exhibited anhedonia in adulthood. Here, we show that both parous parents and their children may be uniquely vulnerable to psychedelic treatment during the postpartum period.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin induces rapid and persistent growth of dendritic spines in frontal cortex in vivo Mice | 2021 | Observational cohort | |
| Harnessing psilocybin: antidepressant-like behavioral and synaptic actions of psilocybin are independent of 5-HT2R activation in mice Mice | 2021 | Experimental study | |
| Psychedelics reopen the social reward learning critical period Mice | 2023 | Experimental study in mice | |
| Correlation between the potency of hallucinogens in the mouse head-twitch response assay and their behavioral and subjective effects in other species. C57BL/6J mice | 2020 | Experimental study with dose-response experiments | |
| Effects of psilocybin on hippocampal neurogenesis and extinction of trace fear conditioning Mice | 2013 | Experimental study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Multilevel Mechanisms and Clinical Efficacy of Psilocybin in Depression Treatment: A Systematic Review International Journal of Molecular Sciences September 10, 2026
- HORMONAL MODULATION OF PSILOCYBIN RESPONSIVITY ACROSS THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE LIFESPAN International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science August 31, 2026
- Eligibility for psychedelic therapy: Clinical trial medical exclusion criteria and their implications for hospital practice. General Hospital Psychiatry 2026
Cites 17
- Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity Cell Reports June 1, 2018
- Psilocybin induces rapid and persistent growth of dendritic spines in frontal cortex in vivo Neuron July 5, 2021
- Psychedelics promote plasticity by directly binding to BDNF receptor TrkB Nature Neuroscience June 1, 2023
- Shared and Distinct Brain Regions Targeted for Immediate Early Gene Expression by Ketamine and Psilocybin ACS Chemical Neuroscience January 11, 2023
- 5-HT2ARs Mediate Therapeutic Behavioral Effects of Psychedelic Tryptamines. ACS Chemical Neuroscience February 1, 2023
and 12 more in the library