The resurgence in research with classic psychedelics (e.g. LSD, psilocybin) underscores their potential for improved well-being; however, the interpersonal context and mechanisms of psychedelic impacts remain unknown. In a sample of 798 participants (81 couples), this survey study tested whether use of a psychedelic with a romantic partner (v. not together) was associated with couples' shared...
Clinical ToxicologyJanuary 6, 2026D. Jorgenson, Eliezer Santos León, J. Priyanka Vakkalanka et al.1 citation
INTRODUCTION: Psychoactive mushroom edibles are gaining popularity, yet little is known of their clinical effects. These unregulated products are widely available, often with unlisted ingredients and inconsistent formulations, underscoring the need for more research to address public health concerns. We aimed to investigate recent trends in demographics and clinical effects associated with...
Current BiologyJanuary 5, 2026Hakan Kucukdereli, Amelia M Douglass
Small amounts of stress are thought to have beneficial effects. A new study reports a mechanism by which the psychedelic drug, psilocybin, causes acute release of stress hormones, despite its known long-term anti-anxiety effects.
The distinct subjective effects that define psychedelics such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, or 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI) as drug class are causally linked to the activation of the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT 2A R). However, some aspects of 5-HT 2A R pharmacology remain elusive, such as what molecular drivers differentiate psychedelic from...
Importance: The availability of psychedelic retreats has grown to meet the demand for access to these substances. Despite centuries of use among Indigenous communities, psychedelics can pose serious risks for some users. Objective: To determine safety precautions that retreat organizations that offer psychedelic substances currently use. Design, Setting, and Participants: This qualitative study...
JAMA Network OpenJanuary 2, 2026Gianluca Andri Florineth, Isabell Klima, Anna Laura Boeker et al.5 citations
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is a novel intervention for depressive symptoms, typically delivered with additional psychological therapy sessions. Quantitative evidence on how this concomitant therapy contributes to treatment outcomes is limited, highlighting the need for a systematic synthesis. To evaluate whether the quantity of psychological therapy is associated with symptom reduction...
BACKGROUND: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) affects approximately one-third of patients with major depressive disorder and represents a critical clinical challenge. Esketamine (S-ketamine, Spravato), approved by FDA and EMA since 2019, and psychedelic-assisted therapies (psilocybin, MDMA) share a pharmacological feature unique among approved psychiatric treatments: they induce altered...
The last few decades have been characterised by a resurgence in research and clinical interest in classic serotonergic psychedelics including N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin, with a growing body of literature pointing to their treatment potential. Ayahuasca is a psychedelic brew commonly composed of plants carrying the psychoactive compound DMT, and...
The clinical use of psychedelic substances and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) is an area of growing interest that also raises significant social concerns and controversy. Despite existing legal restrictions, empirical research on substances such as psilocybin, mescaline, MDMA, LSD, DMT, and ibogaine has been developing, particularly in the treatment of conditions such as treatment-resistant...
Importance Psilocybin simultaneously holds contradictory legal classifications across seven overlapping governance systems—Schedule I under U.S. federal law, FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation, authorized therapeutic use in Oregon and Colorado, operational state-level medical access in New Mexico, national medical rescheduling in Australia, and an active petition for DEA rescheduling. As...