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...
Abstract Background Recent years have seen renewed scientific interest in psychedelics, including psilocybin, for their potential in treating neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the reward-related properties and behavioral impacts of a high dose of psilocybin remain insufficiently explored. Aims & Objectives Assessing the potential rewarding properties of a high dose of psilocybin (10 mg/kg...
Abstract Background The evident limitations of current treatments for depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), underscore the need for a paradigm shift in how we understand and treat these disorders. There is enormous public and research enthusiasm for the potential that psychedelic drugs like psilocybin, the psychoactive compound produced by “magic mushrooms” will drive a...
Abstract Background Psilocybin, the psychoactive compound produced by so-called “magic” mushrooms has shown promise in alleviating symptoms of a range of psychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety and substance use disorder. Recently, a small Phase 1 trial showed psilocybin to be safe and tolerable for individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN), with 4/10 participants experiencing...
Psilocybin is a psychedelic serotonergic compound that is renowned for its potent psychoactive effects. Over the past 15 years, an increasing number of controlled clinical trials showed that it has a fast-acting and sustainable efficacy in treating various psychiatric disorders. Neuroimaging studies have been conducted with the objective of elucidating the neurobiological mechanisms underlying...
Abstract Psilocybin has profound therapeutic potential for various mental health disorders, but its mechanisms of action are unknown. Functional MRI studies have reported the effects of psilocybin on brain activity and connectivity; however, these measurements rely on neurovascular coupling to infer neural activity changes and assume that blood flow responses to neural activity are not altered...
Medical ScienceJuly 30, 2025Barbara Anna Zapalska, Antonina Teresa Witkowska, Anna Cukrowska et al.
Depression, a common mental disorder, affects people at different stages of life.Classic antidepressant treatment is generally effective, however, it is prolonged.Nonetheless, numerous patients who undergo various classic antidepressant therapies still suffer from depression.Therefore, the search for novel medications is essential.In this review, we explore the therapeutic potential of...
Importance Psilocybin has demonstrated rapid and sustained antidepressant efficacy, with acute-phase effect sizes often more than double those for conventional antidepressants. However, concerns have been raised that high rates of functional unblinding in combination with trial participants with positive expectations of psychedelic use might bias treatment outcomes. Objective To compare...
Abstract Classical psychedelics such N,N -dimethyltryptamine (DMT), psilocybin, and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) modulate consciousness via serotonergic receptor agonism, and are increasingly investigated for their psychotherapeutic potential. When combined with the monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) inhibitor harmine—mimicking the pharmacological profile of ayahuasca—oral DMT induces a...
The resurgence of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy marks a pivotal evolution in mental health treatment, challenging traditional paradigms by integrating compounds such as psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, and ketamine into clinical practice. Historically marginalized due to regulatory and societal concerns, these agents are now gaining recognition for their unique neurobiological mechanisms and...