The classic psychedelic psilocybin has attracted special interest across clinical and non-clinical settings as a potential tool for mental health. Despite increasing attention to challenging psychedelic experiences, few studies have explored the relevance of shame-related processes with psychedelic use. This prospective, longitudinal study involved sequential, automated, web-based surveys that...
Abstract Repetitive mild head injuries incurred while playing organized sports, during car accidents and falls, or in active military service are a major health problem. These head injuries induce cognitive, motor, and behavioral deficits that can last for months and even years with an increased risk of dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. There is no approved...
Background/Objectives: Non-response to initial treatment options for major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common clinical challenge with profound deleterious impacts for affected patients. Few treatments have received regulatory approval for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Methods: A systematic search of United States and European Union clinical trials registries was conducted to identify...
Abstract Background and Aims Networks of so-called underground, or illegal, psilocybin mushroom practitioners are popularly known to exist, though few systematic investigations of their practices have been conducted. We sought to uncover the experiences of a hidden community of psilocybin practitioners in order to inform scientific and policy dialogues about safe and effective practices in this...
Abstract Background Dr. George Engel introduced the biopsychosocial model into the field of psychiatry 40 years ago, highlighting the profound connection between social environment and mental health. Factors have been categorized into biological, psychological, and socio-environmental domains. Numerous animal models have been developed to investigate the pathophysiology and treatment of...
Abstract Background Psilocybin research in depression has been generated using chemically synthesized psilocybin (PSI). Psychedelic mushrooms produce additional tryptamines that may enhance the neuroplastic effect of psilocybin. In a rodent depression model, an extract of a psychedelic mushroom (PME) had a stronger and more prolonged effect than PSI on behavior[1]. Aims and Objectives To...
Abstract Background For centuries, American indigenous populations have utilized psilocybin-containing mushrooms for both traditional medical and religious purposes, often in the context of psychedelic experiences. More recently, there has been a notable increase in the interest for and in the practice of psilocybin 'microdosing': regular intake of psilocybin-containing mushrooms in amounts...
Abstract Background Pain is a major health problem resulting in a high degree of suffering, physical, psychological and social impairments, and exorbitant health care costs1-2. Effective pain treatments are limited and are often accompanied by significant side effects3. Preclinical and clinical studies suggest that psychedelics, specifically psilocybin, can reset brain areas of functional...
Abstract Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a highly prevalent mental health condition characterized by symptoms including anhedonia, which is defined as diminished pleasure, and impulsivity, which has been linked to increased substance abuse, self-harm and suicidal tendencies. Both anhedonia and impulsivity have been contributed to alterations in reward system function, with the striatum being...
Psilocybin (a psychoactive compound found in "magic mushrooms" or "shrooms") has been gaining increased attention in research and popular culture as a number of clinical and observational studies have demonstrated that it may have potential for improving mental wellbeing. Relatedly, there has been a substantial uptick in naturalistic (e.g., real-world, non-clinical) psilocybin use in the United...
After a long period of obscurantism, a possible role of psychedelics in clinical practice has progressively become a tangible perspective during the last two decades. However, the resounding enthusiasm linked to such 'psychedelic renaissance' runs the risk to unduly minimize the possible hazards associated with these compounds, while expanding their alleged benefits to improbable panacea-like...
Selecting the optimal dose of psilocybin for treating Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) is crucial for clinical development and regulatory approval. This meta-analysis evaluates psilocybin's efficacy and safety in treating MDD to determine the optimal dose and timing for clinical trials. A systematic review and Dose-Response Network Meta-Analysis (NMA) of...
Expert Opinion on Drug DiscoveryJanuary 31, 2025Aline Silva de Miranda, Eliana C B Toscano, Venugopal Reddy Venna et al.2 citations
The understanding of the multiple pathophysiological mechanisms involved in TRD may add further value to the effective treatment, contributing to a more personalized approach. Esketamine was approved for the treatment of TRD and novel drugs with rapid antidepressant actions such as psilocybin and buprenorphine have also been investigated as potential therapeutic strategies. Over the past...
Abstract Background and aims This is the first systematic review of the extant literature on all major psychedelic‐assisted treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), tobacco use disorder (TUD) and other substance use disorders (SUD). We aimed to summarise the evidence for efficacy of psychedelic‐assisted treatment for AUD, TUD, and SUD; to evaluate its quality; and to offer recommendations for...
• A 60-year-old man with recurrent depression and history of delusions died after psilocybin-assisted therapy. • Psilocybin-triggered delusions and emotional dysregulation may have contributed. • Weak therapeutic alliance hindered assessment of patient's internal state. • Delusional symptoms may contraindicate psychedelic interventions. • This case emphasizes the need for thorough assessment...
New legal frameworks for supervised psychedelic services are emerging, with Oregon and Colorado implementing programs to train and license psilocybin facilitators. This study describes Oregon's early psilocybin facilitator workforce and assesses state-approved training programs. The Open Psychedelic Evaluation Nexus (OPEN) reviewed Oregon Health Authority-approved training programs and surveyed...
This study's results are expected to offer critical insights into the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy in treating OCD, and whether these correlate with changes in the cognitive features of the condition. As a secondary aim, it will ascertain whether a low, tolerable dose is a feasible and efficacious clinical treatment, and will provide crucial data to...
Psilocybe cubensis, a widely recognized psychoactive mushroom species, has played a significant role in both historical and modern therapeutic practices. This review explores the complex interplay between genetic diversity, strain variability and environmental factors that shape the biosynthesis of key psychoactive compounds, including psilocybin and psilocin. With many strains exhibiting...
Abstract The discussion surrounding the necessity of acquiring personal experience of non-ordinary states of consciousness in the course of psilocybin-assisted therapy training is crucial, as it can affect treatment safety, effectiveness and accessibility. As such, the ethical and practical issues associated with such a training standard require timely consideration in jurisdictions where this...
Background: Psilocybin is a natural alkaloid with therapeutic potential in the treatment of different mental disorders. Bibliometric information on its use is still scattered in the literature. Objective: To investigate the temporal and bibliometric patterns of publications and the specificity of psilocybin in the treatment of mental disorders. Method: Performed a bibliometric analysis using...