Our study aimed to unravel the unknown mechanisms behind the exceptional efficacy of Psilocybin (PSI) in treating treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Focusing on Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats with a TRD phenotype and Wistar (WIS) rats as a normative comparison, we investigated behavioral and neuroplasticity-related responses to PSI, striving to shed light on the distinctive features of its...
TrialsJuly 3, 2024Joshua M. Poulin, Gregory E. Bigford, Krista L. Lanctôt et al.3 citations
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide across domains of health and cognition, affecting overall quality of life. Approximately one third of individuals with depression do not fully respond to treatments (e.g., conventional antidepressants, psychotherapy) and alternative strategies are needed. Recent early phase trials suggest psilocybin may be a safe and...
There is an increasing demand for effective treatments for depression, particularly for individuals grappling with treatment-resistant depression. Over recent years, a surge of interest has focused on exploring the safety and efficacy of psilocybin as a potential treatment for depression. However, preliminary findings from phase 2 studies have been inconclusive, prompting critical examination...
Electrophysiologic measures provide an opportunity to inform mechanistic models and possibly biomarker prediction of response. Serotonergic psychedelics (SPs) (i.e., psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)) and ketamine represent new investigational and established treatments in mood disorders respectively. There is a need to better characterize the mechanism of action of these agents. We...
Resistance to traditional treatment methods is still a major obstacle in modern psychiatry. As a result, several studies are currently being conducted to find effective alternatives to traditional therapies. One of these alternatives is psilocybin, a psychedelic substance that has been tested in clinical trials as an adjunct to psychotherapy. These studies focus on patients with major...
One of the most important developments in psychopharmacology in the past decade has been the emergence of novel treatments for mood disorders, such as psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. Psilocybin is most commonly found in different species of mushroom; however, the literature on mushroom and fungus extracts with potential antidepressant activity extends well beyond just...
To investigate the association between pre-trial expectancy, suggestibility, and response to treatment in a trial of escitalopram and investigational drug, COMP360, psilocybin, in the treatment of major depressive disorder (ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT03429075). We used data (n = 55) from our recent double-blind, parallel-group, randomized head-to-head comparison trial of escitalopram...
The transition of HIV into a chronic illness has brought to the forefront the pressing need to address the complex web of social determinants of HIV outcomes. A structured literature search and narrative review of studies describing intervention strategies for mental health among sexual/gender minority (SGM) older adults living with HIV (OALWH) published in the last decade identified 2 studies...
Psilocybin acutely alters several cognitive domains, with a localized rather than global focus, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. However, the significant methodological constraints call for further research, in the context of depression and with standardized protocols, with longitudinal studies also imperative.
There is controversy about a causal role of serotonin (5-HT) in depression, some arguing that there is no proof for impaired brain 5-HT function in depressed patients. Major depressive disorder comes with multiple endophenotypes; not surprisingly classical antidepressants (tricyclics, MAO inhibitors, SSRIs, SNRIs) are not universally effective. Most antidepressants target the 5-HT system,...