Psilocybin – Summary of knowledge and new perspectives
Filip Tylš, Tomáš Páleníček, Jiřı́ Horáček
European Neuropsychopharmacology December 17, 2013 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2013.12.006 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Action physics Pharmacology |
| Citations | 267 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin is studied for modeling psychosis and potential therapeutic effects, but also has abuse potential. |
Abstract
Psilocybin, a psychoactive alkaloid contained in hallucinogenic mushrooms, is nowadays given a lot of attention in the scientific community as a research tool for modeling psychosis as well as due to its potential therapeutic effects. However, it is also a very popular and frequently abused natural hallucinogen. This review summarizes all the past and recent knowledge on psilocybin. It briefly deals with its history, discusses the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and compares its action in humans and animals. It attempts to describe the mechanism of psychedelic effects and objectify its action using modern imaging and psychometric methods. Finally, it describes its therapeutic and abuse potential.