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Psilocybin research published in 2026

Page 4 of 25: studies 61 to 80 of 481, newest first. Back to the psilocybin overview

Studies

Daily Psilocybin Microdosing as a Receptor-Adaptation Paradigm: A Testable 5-HT2A Down-Regulation Hypothesis

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) September 2, 2026 Andrea Vittorini preprint

This hypothesis and perspective article proposes that uninterrupted daily low-dose psilocybin may constitute a pharmacologically distinct receptor-adaptation paradigm. Repeated 5-HT2A agonist pulses could progressively produce functional desensitization, internalization, and/or down-regulation; the fading of acute subjective effects may therefore mark the development of an adaptive state rather...

Stress history determines psilocybin’s effects on fear extinction in male adolescent rats

Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science September 1, 2026 Elizabeth A Virakorn, Kathryn Baker, Nicholas A. Everett et al.

Background Recent work suggests that psilocybin, a hallucinogenic 5-HT 2A R agonist with rapid and long-lasting anti-depressant actions, facilitates fear extinction retention in adult rodents. However, psilocybin’s effects on adolescent fear extinction are unknown. Further, chronic stress in adolescence predisposes individuals to developing psychopathologies such as anxiety and fear-related...

475. Psilocin pharmacokinetics and exposure-response relationships in Japanese patients with treatment-resistant depression receiving psilocybin therapy: an open-label study

The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology September 1, 2026 K Kusudo, K Yonezawa, Sota Tomiyama et al.

Abstract Background Psilocybin, a prodrug metabolized to psilocin, a serotonin 2A receptor agonist, has reemerged as a promising therapeutic option for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Clinical trials conducted mainly in North America and Europe have demonstrated that psilocybin administered with psychological support can produce rapid and sustained antidepressant effects with favorable...

828. Psilocin attenuates polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C)-indued interferon responses in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology September 1, 2026 Christopher Sheridan, Guillaume Thuery, K Brennan et al.

Abstract Background Serotonergic psychedelics have recently re-emerged as promising therapeutic agents in psychiatry, showing positive outcomes in clinical trials for treatment-resistant depression, major depression, and PTSD. However, their effects on the immune system are poorly characterized. It remains unclear whether these compounds exert immunomodulatory effects that contribute to their...

444. In depth behavioral phenotyping of sex-dependent consequences of maternal separation in mice and effects of psilocybin

The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology September 1, 2026 Jessica Mingardi, Stefano Spinosa, Noemi Nicosia et al.

Abstract Background Stress is a recognized risk factor for developmental and adult psychiatric disorders. Indeed, stressful events, particularly during the first phases of life, such as trauma, neglect or abuse, have been associated with increased psychiatric risk over the course of a lifetime, although with some sex-differences. Indeed, the biological sex shapes the stress response impacting...

263. Feasibility of psilocybin treatment in Japanese patients with treatment-resistant depression: an open-label study

The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology September 1, 2026 K Yonezawa, K Kusudo, Sota Tomiyama et al.

Abstract Background Despite recent advances in the treatment of major depression, approximately 30% of patients show insufficient improvement with conventional antidepressants, a condition commonly referred to as treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Psilocybin is a classic psychedelic compound that has received renewed attention as a promising therapeutic candidate for TRD. Clinical trials...

469. The serotonin 5-HT2A agonist psilocybin in the treatment of neuropathic pain

The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology September 1, 2026 Ella Nield, Martha López-canul, Antonio Inserra et al.

Abstract Background Pain conditions are major health problems resulting in physical, psychological and social impairment (1), and health care costs (2,3). Within the last decade, research has demonstrated that 5-HT2A agonists including psilocybin and LSD elicit spiritual experiences (4) and functional connectivity changes between diverse brain areas (5). Therefore, it is pertinent to...

Psilocybin Restores Spatial Memory but Not Fronto-Hippocampal Synchrony in a Rat Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Neuroscience Research September 1, 2026 Mersedeh Shamsedin

ABSTRACT Background Fronto-hippocampal desynchronization is linked to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's-like pathology, but whether psilocybin can restore this dysfunction is unknown. Methods Male rats received intracerebroventricular streptozotocin (ICV-STZ) to induce neurotoxicity, followed by a single dose of psilocybin (2.5 mg/kg, the maximum tolerated dose). Spatial memory, recognition...

Syntheses and structures of two norpsilocin derivatives: N-ethyl-4-hy-droxy-tryptamine (4-HO-NET) and 4-hy-droxy-N-propyl-tryptamine (4-HO-NPT).

Acta Crystallographica. Section E, Crystallographic Communications September 1, 2026 Marilyn Naeem, Andrew R Chadeayne, James A. Golen et al.

The solid-state structures of N-ethyl-4-hy-droxy-tryptamine (4-HO-NET) {systematic name: 3-[2-(ethyl-amino)-eth-yl]-1H-indol-4-ol}, C12H16N2O, and 4-hy-droxy-N-propyl-tryptamine (4-HO-NPT) {systematic name: 3-[2-(propyl-amino)-eth-yl]-1H-indol-4-ol}, C13H18N2O, are reported. Both compounds possess a single tryptamine mol-ecule in the asymmetric unit that exhibits an inter-nal O-H⋯N hydrogen...

DOI: 10.1107/s2056989026008571 (opens in new tab) Full text (opens in new tab) Crystal structure Hydrogen bonds Indoles Tryptamines

Psilocybin, From Ancestral Use to Therapeutic Potential: A Multidimensional Review of Its Pharmacological Basis and Current Perspectives

Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental September 1, 2026 José Norberto Vásquez-Bonilla

OBJECTIVE: This review critically examines psilocybin, with particular emphasis on its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, including its serotonergic, neuroplastic, and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. It integrates historical context, preclinical and clinical evidence, and evaluates emerging therapeutic potential, safety, microdosing practices, and pharmacological interactions. METHODS: A...

Factors Associated with Intentions to Use Psilocybin for Mental Health in Relation to Psychotherapy, Psychiatric Medications, and Natural/Synthetic Options

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs September 1, 2026 Brian P. Meier, Courtney M. Lappas, Matthew W. Johnson

= 1,102), we examined the intentions to use psilocybin in a mental health context in relation to psychotherapy, psychiatric medication, and natural versus synthetic options. We also examined potential predictors of the intentions to use psilocybin. In Study 1, we found that participants had significantly lower intentions to use psilocybin in a mental health context versus psychotherapy and...

Beyond Efficacy Signals: Regulatory, Methodological, and Translational Challenges in Clinical Research on Ketamine and Psilocybin in Psychiatry

Psychiatry International September 1, 2026 Damian Swieczkowski, Michal Pruc, Lukasz Szarpak et al.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD) continue to drive interest in ketamine-family compounds and psilocybin, but antidepressant efficacy alone does not establish whether these interventions can be evaluated reliably or implemented responsibly. We conducted a structured narrative review using targeted PubMed/MEDLINE searches through 21 July 2026,...

Surrender, disidentification, and reappraisal: a qualitative comparison of psilocybin responders and non-responders in treatment-resistant OCD

Frontiers in Psychiatry September 1, 2026 Gabrielle Agin-Liebes, Sarah Shnayder, Geena Fram et al.

Introduction Psilocybin treatment has shown promise for treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), yet clinical response is variable. Little is known about the subjective experiences associated with divergent outcomes or the psychological processes differentiating responders from non-responders. Materials and methods A qualitative case comparison was conducted using...

Contribution of the Serotonin 5-HT2A Receptor to the Therapeutic Effect of Psilocin on Social Behavior Deficits in Mice Repeatedly Exposed to Social Defeat Stress.

Neuropsychopharmacology Reports September 1, 2026 Daisuke Ibi, Rika Takaba, Keisuke Yoshida et al.

Psychedelics such as psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) exert hallucinogenic effects through stimulation of serotonin 5-HT2A receptors (5-HT2ARs) in the cerebral cortex. In recent years, numerous reports have demonstrated that psychedelics are effective in treating various psychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorder (MDD), treatment-resistant depression (TRD), and...

HORMONAL MODULATION OF PSILOCYBIN RESPONSIVITY ACROSS THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE LIFESPAN

International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science August 31, 2026 Katarzyna Pawłucka, Aleksandra Pawlucka, Joanna Kadłuczka et al.

Objectives: This narrative review synthesizes current evidence regarding the modulation of psilocybin responsivity by female sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone) across the lifespan, aiming to identify molecular mechanisms, clinical implications, and critical knowledge gaps for personalized psychedelic medicine. Methods: Databases including PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, and ANZCTR...

Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder: A Systematic Review of Clinical Evidence

Psychoactives August 30, 2026 Laura Schäffert, Human-Friedrich Unterrainer

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) remains a leading contributor to global morbidity, yet conventional treatments often yield suboptimal outcomes and high relapse rates. Psilocybin-assisted therapy has re-emerged as a potential intervention for substance use disorders, but its effectiveness and safety in AUD specifically remain to be comprehensively evaluated. Objective: To review and...

Differential effects of psilocybin derivatives on fentanyl-induced conditioned place preference in male and female mice.

Journal of Psychopharmacology August 30, 2026 Tiffini N Lovell, Peter B James, Skylar L Hodgins et al.

Fentanyl is the leading cause of fatal overdoses worldwide, and repeated use may lead to substance use disorder (SUD). In SUD, drug-associated contexts can trigger reward-related behavior even in the absence of the drug. Psychedelic compounds may weaken context-drug associations, reducing reward-related behavior to fentanyl. We evaluated the effects of the psychedelic psilocin and its...

A randomized crossover trial comparing the acute physiological and psychological effects of botanical formulations of oral psilocybin, oral psilocin, and sublingual psilocin.

Journal of Psychopharmacology August 29, 2026 Marlene Tai, Balázs Szigeti, Amanda E. Downey et al.

BACKGROUND Psilocybin, a serotonergic psychedelic found in hallucinogenic mushrooms, is metabolized to psilocin, the compound responsible for its psychoactive effects. Psilocybin has demonstrated therapeutic potential for neuropsychiatric conditions. While recent trials have primarily used orally administered synthetic psilocybin, alternative formulations and delivery methods may offer...