Professor Gregor Hasler stands at the forefront of revolutionary psychedelic research and neuroplasticity studies, transforming our understanding of mental health treatment through groundbreaking scientific discoveries. As Chair of Psychiatry at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, where he directs the Molecular Psychiatry Lab, Hasler has pioneered research on how psychedelics like LSD,...
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a complex and debilitating condition affecting approximately 280 million people worldwide. Its heterogeneous nature makes it difficult to establish clinical treatment guidelines that address individual differences in treatment response. As a result, many individuals experience treatment-resistant depression (TRD) failing to respond to first-line...
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) remains a major clinical challenge, affecting nearly one-third of individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) who fail to respond to standard antidepressant therapies. Esketamine, the S-enantiomer of ketamine, has emerged as a novel therapeutic option. Esketamine, initially introduced as an add-on therapy, has more recently also received recognition for...
INTRODUCTION Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) remains a major challenge in the management of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Esketamine, the S-enantiomer of ketamine and a glutamatergic modulator, has been approved by the FDA and EMA for TRD in 2019. Beyond its rapid antidepressant effects, esketamine may enhance neuroplasticity, facilitating the reconnection with emotional and cognitive...
Introduction: Recently, there has been a significant increase in interest in the use of psychedelics for various psychiatric conditions. Psilocybin is receiving particular attention as a psychoactive substance with significant therapeutic potential. Recent research focuses on its possible benefits in the treatment of major depressive disorders (MDD) and anorexia nervosa (AN). Purpose of the...
Physiology & BehaviorSeptember 1, 2025Yiru Dong, Sebastian Goodwin-Groen, Jessie Ma et al.4 citations
The activity-based anorexia (ABA) animal model captures key maladaptive behaviors of anorexia nervosa - starvation-evoked hyperactivity, voluntary food restriction, severe weight loss and elevated anxiety-like behavior. By repeating ABA induction, the model reveals an animal's gain of resilience against ABA relapses and concomitant synaptic plasticity. We review findings on the efficacy of...
Depression is a prevalent neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by persistent sadness, anhedonia, guilt, fatigue, and impaired concentration. Although pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy can be effective, their utility is limited by adverse effects and significant inter-individual variability. Non-pharmacological therapies from traditional medicine have emerged as promising adjuncts owing to...
This paper explores the potential for interdisciplinary collaboration between science and the humanities, with a focus on recent advancements in psychedelic-assisted therapy. It provides an overview of key concepts in this emerging field and identifies research gaps that offer opportunities for interdisciplinary integration. Adopting a non-reductionist naturalist framework, the paper views...
Ketamine, a widely used anesthetic with emerging evidence suggesting neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties across various neurological disorders, is recognized for its NMDA receptor antagonism. It has been postulated to play a role in neuroprotection, due to its anti-inflammatory properties, and decrease microglial activation, as well as cytokines TNF and IL-6. Despite its...
There is growing interest in developing psychedelic-inspired drugs for treating psychiatric disorders. However, identifying next-generation psychedelic analogs with ideal receptor selectivity and true therapeutic efficacy remains a major challenge. Recent progress has been driven by advances in determining agonist-induced biased signal transduction, high-content behavioral phenotyping via...