Investigating the impact of serotonergic psychedelic drugs, MDMA and ketamine on social cognition in psychiatric disorders: A scoping review.
Sarah Ann Smith, Haseeb Mohammad, Lik Hang N Lee, Liz Dennett, Shaina Smith, Lisa Burback, Olga Winkler, Andrew J. Greenshaw, Rakesh Jetly, Sidney H. Kennedy, Venkat Bhat, Jennifer Swainson, Eric Vermetten, Bo Cao, Xin-Min Li, Yanbo Zhang
Psychopharmacology July 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-026-07110-y (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 20 |
| Population | Individuals with psychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorders associated with cognitive impairment |
| Interventions | ketamine MDMA psilocybin LSD ayahuasca |
| Topics | Esketamine Ketamine MDMA Serotonin |
| Keywords | Psychedelic drugs Scoping review Social cognition |
| Key findings | Psychedelic drugs may modulate processes relevant to social cognition in psychiatric disorders, but direct evidence of improved social-cognitive functioning remains limited. |
Abstract
Interest in psychedelic drugs has increased rapidly because of their potential therapeutic role in psychiatric disorders. Impairments in the sociocognitive skills needed to build and maintain social relationships are prominent features of many psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Emerging evidence suggests that compounds such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and psilocybin may influence these impairments. This review aimed to determine whether psychedelic drugs may modulate social cognition in individuals with psychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorders associated with cognitive impairment. A search of the MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and Scopus databases was conducted. Twenty studies were identified that evaluated the effects of ketamine, MDMA, psilocybin, LSD, and ayahuasca in depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Findings included neural activation patterns suggesting that ketamine and psilocybin may modulate processes relevant to social perception, particularly facial emotion processing, in depressive disorders. Positive findings were also reported for MDMA in participants with PTSD, including improvements in self-reported psychosocial functioning, self-awareness, and self-compassion. Current evidence suggests that psychedelic drugs may modulate processes relevant to social cognition in psychiatric disorders, although direct evidence of improved social-cognitive functioning remains limited. Not applicable.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on MDMA, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| A review of the acute subjective effects of MDMA/ecstasy | 2006 | Systematic review | |
| Adverse events in clinical treatments with serotonergic psychedelics and MDMA: A mixed-methods systematic review Patients in clinical trials with MDMA or serotonergic psychedelics | 2022 | Systematic review | n = 598 |
| Treating posttraumatic stress disorder with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy: A preliminary meta-analysis and comparison to prolonged exposure therapy Patients with PTSD | 2016 | Meta-analysis | |
| The neuropsychology of ecstasy (MDMA) use: a quantitative review MDMA users | 2007 | Meta-analysis | |
| Drug-drug interactions between psychiatric medications and MDMA or psilocybin: a systematic review | 2022 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cites 36
- Emotions and brain function are altered up to one month after a single high dose of psilocybin. Scientific Reports February 10, 2020
- Reduction in social anxiety after MDMA-assisted psychotherapy with autistic adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study. Psychopharmacology November 1, 2018
- LSD Acutely Impairs Fear Recognition and Enhances Emotional Empathy and Sociality Neuropsychopharmacology June 1, 2016
- Increased amygdala responses to emotional faces after psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. Neuropharmacology December 27, 2017
- Therapeutic mechanisms of psilocybin: Changes in amygdala and prefrontal functional connectivity during emotional processing after psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression Journal of Psychopharmacology January 16, 2020
and 31 more in the library