Psychedelics as an alternative to traditional pharmacotherapy in treating mental disorders – a review of latest studies
Jakub Pudźwa, Kamil Gibczyński, Karol Leśniewski, Piotr Paluch, Karolina Jabłońska, Aleksandra Jeńć-Magoń, Anita Król, Michał Orczyk, Martyna Orzechowska
Medical Science February 25, 2025 DOI: 10.54905/disssi.v29i156.e35ms3518 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Psilocybin MDMA LSD |
| Key findings | The authors conclude that psychedelics (psilocybin, MDMA, LSD) hold the most promise as a therapeutic modality for treatment-resistant depression, for mitigating existential dread in the terminally ill, and as an adjunct in addiction treatment. They describe the proposed mechanisms as modulation of neural network activity, including the Default Mode Network, amplified neuroplasticity, and induced introspection. |
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of the following review was to summarize the recent studies on proposed mechanisms of action of psychedelic drugs (psilocybin, MDMA, LSD), their therapeutic potential in mental disorders (depression, PTSD, addictions), and the evaluation of their safety. This review also discusses the barriers to the clinical implementation of these agents. Methodology: The paper combines a review of scientific literature on the mechanisms of action of psychedelics and their effects on neural networks like the Default Mode Network (DMN), as well as their propensity to trigger the activation of neuroplasticity and induce introspection. The review includes clinical and experimental studies, meta-analyses, and systematic literature reviews.
Results: Psychedelics hold the most promise as a potentially therapeutic modality in the treatment of treatment-resistant depression, the mitigation of existential dread in the terminally ill, and as an adjunct in the treatment of addiction. Psychedelics operate through modulation of activity across neural networks, amplified neuroplasticity