Psychedelic compounds such as LSD and Psilocybin have historically been classified alongside illicit substances and widely regarded with skepticism. However, emerging neuroscientific evidence suggests that certain psychedelics may function as “psychoplastogens”- compounds capable of promoting structural and functional neural plasticity. Recent preclinical and early clinical studies indicate...
IMPORTANCE: As psychedelic-assisted therapies gain clinical legitimacy, their cultural portability remains underexamined. While promising results have emerged from trials on existential distress in life-limiting illness, most protocols reflect Euro-American values. The expansion of these therapies calls for a pivot toward cultural humility and renewed attention to what constitutes a "good...
Introducción: la depresión es un trastorno psiquiátrico prevalente que impacta significativamente la calidad de vida de los individuos afectados. A pesar de los avances en los tratamientos farmacológicos, existen limitaciones tanto en su eficacia como en la duración de sus efectos terapéuticos. En este contexto, la psilocibina ha emergido como una herramienta prometedora en intervenciones...
Over the past 15 years, psychedelic treatments have garnered substantial clinical interest, with psilocybin and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) advancing to phase 3 trials for various psychiatric conditions. This state-of-the-art review examines the evidence for these treatments and their proposed mechanisms of action, and identifies key challenges in clinical translation. Psychedelic...
The ritual use of neurotropic mushrooms by pre-Hispanic indigenous cultures of Colombia has attracted increasing scholarly attention in recent years.Ethnohistorical and archaeological interpretations have proposed the ceremonial use of psychoactive fungi among several indigenous groups, including the Muisca, Tayrona, Quimbaya, Zen, and related cultures.Parallel to this historical inquiry,...
Background: Informed consent in psychedelic-assisted services is ethically complex, difficult to implement, and remains largely unstudied and unstandardized. Objective: The current study sought expert recommendations from experienced psychedelic facilitators on what constitutes informed consent best practices for supervised psychedelic experiences across various settings. Methods: Participants...
Psilocybe is a well-known genus of fungi, commonly referred to as “magic mushrooms”, due to its production of psychoactive compounds. Research interest in this genus has experienced a resurgence due to its relevance as a potential therapy for a growing global mental health crisis. In this study, 62 specimens representing 10 species of Psilocybe from southern Brazil were examined using...
BMJFebruary 16, 2026Jonathan S Abramowitz, Amitai Abramovitch, Dean Mckay et al.1 citation
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic, often debilitating psychiatric condition characterized by intrusive thoughts and behavioral or mental rituals. Although exposure and response prevention (ERP) remains the first line treatment, many individuals do not experience full remission, highlighting the need for innovation. This review provides a comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis of...
PharmaceuticalsFebruary 14, 2026Petra Dolenec, Goran Pelčić, Kristina Pilipović et al.
Glaucoma is increasingly recognized as an ischemic neurodegenerative disorder that extends beyond elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) to involve complex vascular, metabolic, and inflammatory mechanisms. Retinal ganglion cells are particularly vulnerable to ischemia-reperfusion injury, oxidative stress, and chronic neuroinflammation, leading to progressive disconnection from central visual...
Open MindFebruary 13, 2026John Moriarty, Alan Robert Bowman, Alison Pocock
preprint
Psychedelics are psychoactive substances that alter one's perception, cognition and emotion, as well as one's sense of time, place and self (Nutt, 2023, p.19). Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) involves the carefully controlled administration of a psychedelic substance "alongside structured psychological support, including preparation, guidance during the psychedelic session, and post-session...