Following decades of prohibition, psychedelic drugs have reemerged as promising therapeutics for stress-related conditions, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Still, their impact on stress-related brain regions and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis remains unclear. This work explores the acute effects of psilocybin on the primary regulators of the HPA axis:...
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychotomimetic phytocannabinoid constituent of the cannabis plant that shows promise for the treatment of a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance use disorders. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a key brain region in the etiologies of these disorders and is actively modulated by CBD. Prior research...
This article proposes that ibogaine’s induction of GDNF, modulation of glutamate and dopamine signaling, and reopening of plasticity represent a unified mechanism capable of restoring reward system fidelity across disorders. This includes addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and eating disorders, amongst others. These conditions are labelled as...
Psychedelics are gaining recognition for their effectiveness as modulators of neuroplasticity in the treatment of a range of neuropsychiatric disorders. Psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, and ketamine are substances that mainly affect the serotonergic and glutamatergic systems. They induce rapid synaptogenesis, dendritic remodeling, and changes in functional...
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly known as ecstasy, shows promise in treating depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), resulting in breakthrough status. However, concerns regarding MDMA's abuse potential and cytotoxicity have sparked interest in developing safer analogues with similar therapeutic benefits. This study investigated the pharmacological properties of...
Psychiatry ResearchDecember 1, 2025Ahmed Z Elmaadawi, Imane Naha, Shruti Prabhudesai et al.2 citations
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) poses significant clinical challenges, often necessitating alternative treatments such as intravenous (IV) ketamine or intranasal esketamine. This study compared the effectiveness of these modalities and examined predictors of treatment response, including comorbidity profile, prior antidepressant failures, age, and gender. A retrospective chart review was...
The relevance of the research topic. The article is devoted to an overview of mindfulness technology and its application in psychological practice and cognitive- behavioral therapy. The essence of mindfulness practice is described and a historical sketch of its emergence and development is made. Research methodology. Theoretical models of mindfulness are considered, including the decentering...
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is an amphetamine derivative known as an "entactogen," influencing emotional and social processing. Phase III clinical trials of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder have reported promising results, and MDMA-assisted therapy is currently under regulatory review. However, the precise mechanisms underlying positive treatment...
This mixed-methods study examines how participant-identified childhood or youth trauma resurfaces during psychedelic states and how such episodes relate to post-experience trajectories. Including events participants identified as traumatic during psychedelic experiences, and subsequent psychological outcomes, both positive and negative. While psychedelics can facilitate emotional processing of...
BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of global disability, and current treatments often fail to provide sustained effectiveness. MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) is a promising treatment for MDD. However, the long-term effects are not known. OBJECTIVES: To examine the long-term effects of MDMA-AT for MDD. METHODS: Twelve participants with MDD and an ongoing moderate to...