International Journal of Molecular Sciences
September 10, 2026
Xizhen Zhang, Xiaowen Zhang, Haiyu Zhang et al.
Depression, characterized by persistent low mood and anhedonia, represents a prevalent affective disorder imposing substantial medical and economic burdens. Current first-line antidepressants are limited by delayed onset and treatment resistance. Psilocybin (PSI) has re-emerged as a promising therapeutic agent with rapid, sustained antidepressant effects. This systematic review was conducted...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
September 9, 2026
Friederike Holze, F Müller, Peter Gasser et al.
Abstract Background Anxiety disorders are a major health burden and current treatment options yield unsatisfactory results. Psychedelics, such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) that act via agonism on serotonin 2A receptors, have recently been shown to be effective in the treatment of anxiety symptoms. Aims & Objectives Here, we determine the relationship between the acute experience and...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
September 9, 2026
Lisa Harada, K Yonezawa, K Kusudo et al.
Abstract Background Despite sequential treatments with conventional antidepressants, many patients with depression experience insufficient clinical improvement, referred to as treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Psilocybin, a serotonergic psychedelic acting as a 5-HT2A receptor agonist, has attracted increasing attention as a novel treatment, with clinical trials demonstrating rapid and...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
September 9, 2026
D McCulloch
Abstract Background LSD has recently entered phase 3 clinical trials for anxiety and depressive disorders, yet understanding of its mechanisms of action in the human brain remains incomplete. The serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) is the critical target for psychedelic effects, but no investigations to date have evaluated the relation between target engagement and systems-level brain function....
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
September 9, 2026
Orla Mallon
Abstract Background Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, with relapse remaining common despite the availability of opioid agonist and antagonist pharmacotherapies. Scotland continues to experience a disproportionate burden of drug-related deaths relative to other parts of the United Kingdom and Europe, reflecting the ongoing clinical and public...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
September 9, 2026
Noemi Nicosia, Jessica Mingardi, G Terribile et al.
Abstract Background Chronic stress is a key risk factor for major depressive disorder (MDD), one of the leading causes of disability worldwide1. Despite available pharmacological therapies, treatment-resistant depression (TRD) remains a clinical challenge. Hallucinogens such as ketamine and serotonergic psychedelics including psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)2 show rapid...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
September 9, 2026
Gabriella Gobbi
Abstract Background While the monoaminergic hypothesis has long dominated the treatment of mood disorders, its limitations have prompted the exploration of alternative mechanisms. Early work by Skolnick et al. (1996) demonstrated that chronic antidepressant treatment induces adaptive changes in N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, suggesting glutamatergic signaling as a convergent pathway in...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
September 9, 2026
B Richardson, J O'Byrne, V Bruno et al.
Abstract Background Psychedelics induce altered states of consciousness (AOC) with profound perceptual, cognitive, and emotional shifts, often linked to positive therapeutic outcomes. Although serotonergic psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD, and 5-MeO-DMT share receptor targets, they differ in behavioral and neural effects. How these compounds alter cortical dynamics relative to other...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
September 9, 2026
J Vieira-Andrade, I Marques, M Brito
Abstract Background Serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) agonists play a crucial role in multiple cognitive processes, namely executive functions, learning and memory. Owing partly to this, psychedelics such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), mescaline and ayahuasca might be valuable adjuvants in improving memory deficits and language impairment. Thanks to...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
September 9, 2026
J Ramaekers
Abstract Background Short-acting psychedelics such as 5-MeO-DMT and DMT may induce rapid relief of depressive symptoms after brief but intense psychedelic experiences. Aims & Objectives This presentation examines their clinical pharmacology and therapeutic potential in depression. Method Review of clinical data. Results Both compounds primarily target serotonergic receptors, notably 5-HT1A and...