The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
August 4, 2025
Use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants has been associated with reduced intensity of emotional experience. Conversely, some research has shown that use of psilocybin in patients with depression leads to an increase in responsiveness to emotional face stimuli, suggesting that the psychedelic generates a transient elevation in mood. Investigators conducted a...
Frontiers in Psychiatry
August 4, 2025
Wierzbicka Małgorzata, Renata Kopczyk, Alexander L. Gerlach et al.
1 citation
Depression prevalence is markedly elevated in oncological patients, particularly among head and neck cancer (HNC) cohorts, who face twice the prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) compared to other cancer populations. MDD in this context independently predicts poorer clinical outcomes and increased morbidity. HNC management often involves acute surgical interventions with disfiguring...
Cureus
August 1, 2025
Brett Hughes, Soz Mirza, Manasi Ponamala et al.
The stresses of the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic highlighted the burden of psychiatric disorders within the pediatric population, revealing a pre-existing need for rapid-onset therapies that have since driven efforts to expand effective therapeutic interventions. In this narrative review, we utilized the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis...
August 1, 2025
Annabelle Swain
This literature review looks at how psilocybin, the active compound in "magic mushrooms," can help people deal with death anxiety; the deep fear of dying or losing control that shows up in lots of mental health struggles. While traditional treatments like SSRIs and talk therapy work for some people, they don't always get to the root of the problem. Psilocybin works differently. It changes brain...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
August 1, 2025
Siegfried Kasper
Abstract Background Psycholicibin is now studied in clinical settings. Aims & Objectives To elaborate if side effects are part of the therapeutic process. Method Literature overview and personal statement. Results The recent development of the socalled “psychedelics” reminds us that unfortunately some medications which we used in psychiatry have a large burden of side effects, like the...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
August 1, 2025
N Acevdo, David Castle, Susan L. Rossell
Abstract Background Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), and anorexia nervosa (AN) are some of the most debilitating and chronic mental health conditions, with impairments across multiple domains of functioning, leading to poor quality of life and well-being. These conditions share overlapping psychopathological determinants in terms of cognitive-behavioural...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
August 1, 2025
Cassandra J. Hatzipantelis, David E. Olson, Danielle S. Stolzenberg
Abstract Background Peripartum mood disorders (PMDs) are a major public health concern; they present in 20% of birthing parents and are responsible for 1 in 4 maternal deaths in the United States. The psychedelic antidepressant psilocybin (PSI) increases social connectedness, self-compassion, and has strong clinical transdiagnostic efficacy for mental illness – making it a candidate treatment...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
August 1, 2025
Bernard Lerer, T. Tal, Ilana Pogodin et al.
Abstract Background The full therapeutic potential of serotonergic psychedelics (SP) in treating neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression and schizophrenia, is limited by possible adverse effects, including perceptual disturbances and psychosis, which require administration in controlled clinical environments. This study investigates the potential synergistic benefits of combining...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
August 1, 2025
Andrew S. Gibbons, Paul Liknaitzky, Suresh Sundram
Abstract Background Early intervention and management of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is essential to effectively reduce both symptom severity and the risk of developing other psychiatric disorders. However, current first-line treatments are only about 50% effective, with high rates of relapse and many adverse effects. Psychedelic medicines, such as psilocybin, have emerged as promising...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
August 1, 2025
Yana Babii, C. Barbara, Dorota Bederska‐łojewska et al.
Abstract Background Numerous data indicates that hallucinogens from various groups such as ketamine, scopolamine or psilocybin exert rapid antidepressant effects in both preclinical and clinical studies. Group II glutamate (mGlu) metabotropic receptor antagonists also show rapid antidepressant efficacy in animal studies, moreover we have shown that mGluR2/3 antagonist, LY341495 is able to...