Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound with potential antidepressant effects. Although it has long been used by humans, primarily for recreational purposes, the molecular mechanisms underlying its actions remain incompletely understood. Here, we examined the acute effects of psilocin, the active metabolite of psilocybin, on excitatory neurotransmission in the prefrontal cortex...
Depression is a complex and globally prevalent mental disorder, for which conventional antidepressant medications face limitations such as delayed onset and insufficient efficacy. Classic psychedelics, most notably psilocybin, have recently emerged as promising candidates for treatment of depression and demonstrated rapid, robust, and sustained antidepressant effects in controlled clinical...
Annals of NeurosciencesJanuary 19, 2026Gurpreet Verma, Vijendra Nath Pathak, Prabhjyot Kour et al.
Depression and active smoking are very common situations among the population, which also reduces the positive mental well-being of a person. Smoking is a global issue, and depression and low mental well-being interfere with the daily lives of individuals. This study aimed to investigate the effect of meditation on an active smoker in terms of depression and psychological well-being (PWB) as...
Background: Psilocybin is a promising therapy for cancer-related distress, but existing individual treatment models are resource intensive. In this study, we designed and tested a group model of psilocybin therapy for people with metastatic cancer and cancer-related anxiety and depression. Method: Eligibility criteria included metastatic cancer, moderate-to-severe symptoms of anxiety or...
Anxiety and depression affect people, around the world. The need, for effective, accessible non‑drug treatments is clear. Sahaja Yoga meditation is a practice that can lower stress and boost emotional health. The study examines how Sahaja Yoga meditation changes anxiety and depression using machine learning models. The researchers collected a dataset from participants who practiced Sahaja Yoga...
Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is increasingly framed as a failure of neuroplasticity. Excessive synaptic pruning in adolescence can leave circuits fragile; later stress then unmasks the weakness, whereas ketamine and related compounds can quickly rebuild critical synapses. Clinical data show that a single treatment often gives short relief, while repeated courses reduce relapse....
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a highly prevalent psychiatric disorder with limited treatment success in both youth and adults. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have reported partially differential patterns of activation in youth and adults diagnosed with MDD that may be attributable to age or length of illness. Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed through...
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD), a clinical subtype of major depressive disorder (MDD), is associated with greater severity and functional impairment, representing a significant challenge in psychiatric care. Recent studies suggest that the use of psychedelics can provide rapid and substantial improvement in the severity of depressive symptoms. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review...
Older adults in the U.S. have higher rates of depression, stress, and chronic diseases. There is an urgent need for effective interventions to reduce depressive symptoms and enhance overall health and well-being. Meditation presents an appealing therapeutic option due to its cost-effectiveness, minimal risks, ease of use, and active patient involvement, with growing evidence indicating its...
BMC PsychiatryJanuary 4, 2026Carl D. Marci, Kruti Joshi, Stevan Geoffrey Severtson et al.2 citations
Abstract Background Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is often characterized by inadequate response to ≥ 2 oral antidepressant treatments of adequate dose and duration during a major depressive episode (MDE). Esketamine nasal spray (ESK) was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2019 for TRD in conjunction with an oral antidepressant under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation...