Psychedelics
October 14, 2025
Mingming Zhao, Jianjun Yang, Kenji Hashimoto
MDMA, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (“ecstasy,” “molly”), is a distinctive entactogen that reverses the serotonin (5-HT) transporter to increase synaptic 5-HT, while also engaging catecholaminergic and oxytocinergic pathways. In clinical trials, MDMA-assisted psychotherapy has yielded substantial improvements in treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), although regulatory...
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
October 10, 2025
Mitch Earleywine, Caitlin Holley, Henry A MacConnel et al.
MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) shows promise, but attitudes and beliefs about this treatment, especially in symptomatic veterans, remain poorly understood. We sought to explore relevant attitudes in veterans receiving healthcare from Veterans Affairs as a step toward designing relevant surveys or psychoeducation materials for future work. We employed a...
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
September 12, 2025
Matthijs Blankers, Ruben Van Beek, Desirée Spronk et al.
1 citation
There is a lack of understanding of the nature of the post-acute affective response in the days after ecstasy/3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) use and whether this is associated with ecstasy/MDMA use or circumstantial factors. In the three days following ecstasy/MDMA use, we evaluated whether a drop in mental well-being is observed and can be related to ecstasy use. Data for this study...
British Journal of Pharmacology
June 15, 2025
Daniël Hoyer
9 citations
Currently, the most actively investigated rapidly acting antidepressants, anxiolytics and/or anti PTSD agents, include psychedelics e.g. psilocybin, LSD, N , N ‐dimethyltryptamine, ayahuasca; non‐hallucinogenic entactogens, e.g. MDMA; psychoplastogens which rapidly promote neuroplasticity, e.g. ibogaine, ketamine and esketamine; and other atypicals e.g. dextromorphan/bupropion, esmethadone....
Current Medicinal Chemistry
June 2, 2025
Jinlong Zhang, Xingxing Dang, Jiang Lin et al.
The incidence of psychiatric disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, has been steadily increasing, while current treatment approaches remain limited in efficacy. As a result, there is an urgent need to explore more effective therapeutic interventions. In recent years, MDMA (3,4- methylenedioxymethamphetamine)-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) has emerged as a...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
April 21, 2025
Einat Karp Barnir, Zohar Rubinstein, Rany Abend et al.
7 citations
Emerging evidence indicates the therapeutic potential of psychedelic compounds for post-traumatic stress, yet the mechanisms mediating their effects remain unclear. Delineating the effect of psychedelics on traumatic memory formation could shed light on target therapeutic mechanisms. Here, we report on 343 adult survivors of a single, large-scale terrorist attack taking place during a festival...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
April 1, 2025
Monika Maciag, Olga Doszyn, Artur Wnorowski et al.
4 citations
Mental disorders, including anxiety and depression, impact nearly 1 billion people worldwide. Recent research has highlighted the potential of certain amphetamine compounds in the therapy of psychiatric disorders, with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) emerging as a promising candidate. This study investigates the effects of MDMA on anxiety and social behaviours using 3-week-old...
Acta Neuropsychiatrica
2025
Isabel Werle, Marina A. M. Portes, Leandro J Bertoglio
2 citations
Abstract Growing evidence suggests that psychedelic-assisted therapies can alleviate depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and substance use disorder, offering relatively safe profiles, enhanced efficacy, and lasting effects after a few applications. Athletes often experience high levels of stress and pressure, making them susceptible to these psychiatric conditions. However, the effects...
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
September 20, 2024
Isabel Werle, Leandro J Bertoglio
17 citations
Threatening events and stressful experiences can lead to maladaptive memories and related behaviors. Existing treatments often fail to address these issues linked to anxiety/stress-related disorders effectively. This review identifies dose ranges associated with specific actions across various psychedelics. We examined psilocybin/psilocin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD),...
Journal of Pakistan Psychiatric Society
June 30, 2024
Nauman Ashraf
1 citation
Psychedelics, substances known to alter perception, mood, and consciousness, have been used across various cultures for centuries, often in religious ceremonies to facilitate spiritual experiences. Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) was used clinically from the 1950s until its ban in 1967. Recently, there has been a resurgence of interest in psychedelics for treating mental health disorders such...