The Emergence of Psilocybin in Psychiatry and Neuroscience
Hossein Omidian, Alborz Omidian
Pharmaceuticals April 9, 2025 DOI: 10.3390/ph18040555 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Clinical trial Hallucinogen |
| Citations | 11 |
| Key findings | Emerging evidence supports psilocybin's efficacy for major depressive disorder, treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, alcohol use disorders, and cancer-related distress, though significant barriers such as methodological constraints and limited population diversity remain. |
Abstract
Psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound, has garnered renewed scientific interest for its potential in treating psychiatric and neurological disorders. This review systematically examines the latest research on psilocybin’s pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, clinical efficacy, and safety profile. Emerging evidence supports its efficacy in conditions such as major depressive disorder (MDD), treatment-resistant depression (TRD), anxiety, alcohol use disorders (AUD), and cancer-related distress. Despite promising outcomes, significant barriers remain, including methodological constraints, regulatory hurdles, and limited population diversity in clinical trials. Advances in biosynthetic production and optimized psychotherapeutic integration are necessary to ensure scalability and accessibility. Future research should focus on long-term safety, dosing precision, and neurobiological mechanisms to refine its therapeutic applications. This review provides a critical foundation for advancing evidence-based clinical integration of psilocybin.