3034 results for "Psilocybin"
Psilocybin Production With Genetically Modified Aspergillus nidulans Under Pressurized Conditions
Biotechnology and Bioengineering – December 30, 2025
Summary
A groundbreaking **bioprocess** now efficiently produces **psilocybin**, a crucial **alkaloid** for **psychedelics and drug studies**. Shifting from traditional **chemical synthesis**, **biotechnology** leverages an **overproduction** strain of *Aspergillus nidulans*—a **genetically modified organism**—within a **bioreactor**. Expert **biochemical engineering** optimized **fermentation** by precisely managing **oxygen** supply. This robust **bioprocess** generated an impressive 542 mg L−1 of this **tryptamine** derivative in just 68 hours, advancing the **chemistry** for sustainable pharmaceutical supply.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Psilocybin, an indole alkaloid of psychedelic mushrooms, has the potential to sustainably improve the treatment of several psychiatric dis...
Enhancing cGMP signaling with psilocybin reduces head twitch and restructures the synaptic proteome while maintaining antidepressant response
OpenAlex – March 10, 2026
Summary
Combining psilocybin with a phosphodiesterase-9 inhibitor (PDE9i) significantly reduces the acute psychedelic effects while maintaining its antidepressant benefits. In a mouse model, this combination led to a 70% reduction in the head twitch response, indicating less psychedelic-like behavior. Furthermore, chronic stress-induced depressive-like symptoms were alleviated with this pairing. Proteomic analysis revealed enhanced synaptogenesis pathways in the medial prefrontal cortex, suggesting that this approach could effectively separate the therapeutic effects of psychedelics from their hallucinogenic properties, offering a new avenue for treating treatment-resistant depression.
Abstract
Abstract New treatments for depression are needed that combine robust efficacy with improved scalability. Although psilocybin has demonstrated anti...
Psilocybin and ketamine affect novel neuropeptides gene expression in the rat hypothalamus
Journal of Psychopharmacology – April 17, 2025
Summary
A single dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin dramatically alters brain chemistry. In a pilot study on male Wistar–Han rats, a 10 mg/kg dose of psilocybin increased the expression of most neuropeptides and specific serotonin 5-HT receptors (5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B) within the hypothalamus. This neurochemical shift, observed in Neuroscience and Pharmacology, suggests how psilocybin, a key compound in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, influences neurotransmitter receptor activity. Understanding these changes in the Hypothalamus, crucial for Endocrinology, could explain its profound psychological effects and inform Internal medicine applications, potentially impacting Sleep and Wakefulness Research.
Abstract
Objective: Psychedelics are able to trigger highly intense and profound alterations in self-consciousness, perception, affective, and cognitive pro...
IUPHAR Article: Psilocybin induces long-lasting effects via 5-HT2A receptors in mouse models of chronic pain.
Pharmacological research – May 01, 2025
Summary
A single dose of psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, provides lasting pain relief in mice suffering from chronic pain conditions. The compound effectively reduced pain sensitivity in mice with both chemotherapy-induced neuropathy and inflammatory pain. Working through specific brain receptors (5-HT2A), psilocybin showed promising results in alleviating various pain symptoms, suggesting potential therapeutic applications for treating chronic pain conditions.
Abstract
Chronic pain is a debilitating disease with current treatments lacking efficacy and safety, therefore discovery of new treatments is crucial. Initi...
Worsening suicidal ideation and prolonged adverse event following psilocybin administration in a clinical setting: case report and thematic analysis of one participant's experience
BJPsych Open – November 01, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a promising hallucinogen in medicine, can paradoxically trigger severe adverse effects while fostering personal growth. In one clinical psychology case, a participant experienced increased suicidal ideation and restricted eating after psilocybin administration for depression. Despite these challenges and limited improvement on quantitative scales, a thematic analysis of her account revealed the experience led to beneficial life changes. This highlights the complex psychological impact of psilocybin, suggesting its use in psychiatry requires careful qualitative assessment beyond standard measures.
Abstract
Background Psilocybin is being investigated as a treatment for a myriad of disorders, including treatment-resistant depression. The main focus has ...
Legal and Ethics Concerns of Psilocybin as Medicine.
The journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law – December 12, 2024
Summary
As psilocybin emerges as a groundbreaking treatment option, healthcare providers face complex challenges balancing patient care with legal requirements. While showing promise for mental health conditions, current regulations limit access to supervised clinical settings. Key concerns include ensuring proper informed consent, maintaining ethical standards of care, and addressing equity in treatment access. Legal frameworks continue evolving as medical evidence supports psilocybin's therapeutic potential.
Abstract
Preliminary research shows the psychedelic psilocybin to be a promising potential treatment for psychiatric illnesses. Recent U.S. government legis...
The influence of psilocybin on subconscious and conscious emotional learning
iScience – May 19, 2024
Summary
A compelling finding in Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveals that a 20 mg dose of psilocybin, a compound rooted in Chemical synthesis and alkaloids, significantly improved learning rates over placebo. This Neuroscience and Cognitive science research suggests that modulating brain serotonin signaling with psilocybin preserves reinforcement learning. While overall learning was maintained, the Psychology investigation showed inferior results with subconscious cues. Conversely, conscious neutral cues sometimes led to better outcomes. This complex interplay highlights psilocybin's potential in mental health, offering new avenues for drug development.
Abstract
Serotonergic psychedelics hold promise as a treatment modality for various psychiatric disorders and are currently applied in psychedelic-assisted ...
Patient perspectives and experiences with psilocybin treatment for treatment-resistant depression: a qualitative study
Scientific Reports – February 05, 2024
Summary
Patients receiving psilocybin for depression strongly desired more than a single session. Qualitative research with 11 patients (8 women, 3 men), who received 1, 10, or 25 mg of psilocybin, revealed significant challenges, including a general distrust in mental healthcare. Optimizing these psychedelic drug studies within psychology, medicine, and psychiatry requires greater investment in psychotherapist-patient trust. Understanding how psilocybin, a naturally occurring alkaloid, influences neurotransmitter receptors to affect behavior is crucial for personalized, comprehensive treatment.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin is the most researched classic psychedelic for Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD). While optimizing set and setting are consi...
Limbic System Response to Psilocybin and Ketamine Administration in Rats: A Neurochemical and Behavioral Study
International Journal of Molecular Sciences – December 20, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a psychedelic, demonstrates marked anxiolytic effects in rats, providing a neurobiological basis for its antidepressant potential. Neuroscience research, utilizing microdialysis, revealed psilocybin's influence on the limbic system, including the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and hippocampus. It increased dopamine, a crucial neurochemical, and altered neurotransmitter receptor density, influencing behavior. This pharmacology study, relevant to internal medicine and psychology, suggests psilocybin, an alkaloid from chemical synthesis, could offer new medicine in drug studies. These findings translate to structural changes in the limbic system, supporting its use.
Abstract
The pathophysiology of depression is related to the reduced volume of the hippocampus and amygdala and hypertrophy of the nucleus accumbens. The me...
Psilocybin and Eugenol Reduce Inflammation in Human 3D EpiIntestinal Tissue
Life – December 15, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin demonstrates remarkable anti-inflammatory potential in medicine. This pharmacology insight, from Psychedelics and Drug Studies, shows psilocybin significantly reduced six different inflammation markers, including Tumor necrosis factor alpha, in human 3D EpiIntestinal tissue. Acting via its receptor chemistry, psilocybin effectively lowered IL-6 and IL-8 levels. While Ketanserin also reduced two markers, Curcumin, a focus in Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, had limited effects. This work highlights the promise of tryptophan-derived psychedelics for conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, relevant to Tryptophan and brain disorders.
Abstract
Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), by contributing to tissue damage and exac...
Psilocybin does not induce the vulnerability marker HSP70 in neurons susceptible to Olney’s lesions
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience – November 07, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a powerful hallucinogen, appears significantly safer for the brain than S-ketamine, despite both offering rapid antidepressant effects in Medicine. While S-ketamine caused clear signs of neuronal damage in a specific brain region, no such stress markers were detected in rats treated with psilocybin. This Neuroscience insight, vital for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, suggests psilocybin's chemical properties present less of a vulnerability to brain health. Its potential in Psychology for mental health is substantial, avoiding the neurotoxicity seen with other compounds.
Abstract
Abstract S-ketamine, a N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist, and psilocybin, a 5-hydroxy-tryptamine (serotonin) 2A receptor (5-HT 2A R)...
Evidence versus expectancy: the development of psilocybin therapy
BJPsych Bulletin – May 29, 2023
Summary
After 25 years of development, psilocybin therapy shows promising early clinical trial evidence for treatment-resistant depression, a significant advance in Medicine. This psychedelic treatment involves the alkaloid psilocybin, psychoeducation, and psychotherapist support. A key challenge for Psychiatry and Drug Studies is that masking in trials likely fails, making it difficult to disentangle the drug's mechanism from expectancy theory in Psychology. Future efforts must measure masking and expectancy to fully understand how psilocybin influences behavior and its potential impact on mental health.
Abstract
Summary Although the development of psilocybin therapy has come as a surprise to many, modern research with the drug has been ongoing for 25 years....
Psilocybin as a psychophysical adaptogen in chronic pain rehabilitation.
The journal of pain – July 21, 2025
Summary
Living with chronic pain often reshapes identity, hindering one's ability to find meaning. A new perspective suggests psilocybin could help individuals reframe their experience, fostering meaning-making and reducing self-pain enmeshment. By modulating self-perception, this approach aims to enhance engagement in rehabilitation, offering a novel path to improved physical and psychological well-being for those with chronic pain.
Abstract
Those living with chronic pain and comorbid functional disabilities are often confronted by a physically and emotionally transformative experience,...
Mystical experiences occasioned by the hallucinogen psilocybin lead to increases in the personality domain of openness
Journal of Psychopharmacology – September 28, 2011
Summary
Psilocybin, a classic hallucinogen, can fundamentally alter adult personality, challenging established psychology views on stability after age 30. A high-dose psilocybin session, involving this compound from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, led to significant increases in Openness to experience, a key Big Five personality trait. For individuals experiencing mystical states, this change in Openness (distinct from Extraversion, Neuroticism, or Agreeableness) persisted over a year. This suggests a specific role for psychedelics like psilocybin in clinical psychology and drug studies, influencing personality via neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
A large body of evidence, including longitudinal analyses of personality change, suggests that core personality traits are predominantly stable aft...
Acute, subacute and long-term subjective effects of psilocybin in healthy humans: a pooled analysis of experimental studies
Journal of Psychopharmacology – September 20, 2010
Summary
Psilocybin, a powerful hallucinogen, generally offers positive experiences in clinical psychology. Across eight placebo-controlled drug studies involving 110 healthy subjects, moderate doses of this alkaloid medicine profoundly altered mood. While Psilocybin influenced neurotransmitter receptors, inducing significant psychological changes, most described the experience as pleasurable. Acute adverse effects like dysphoria or anxiety occurred in only a small proportion at high doses, managed with support. No long-term psychosis or other issues arose. Administering psilocybin in a carefully monitored context suggests an acceptable risk for psychiatry.
Abstract
Psilocybin and related hallucinogenic compounds are increasingly used in human research. However, due to limited information about potential subjec...
Using Psilocybin to Investigate the Relationship between Attention, Working Memory, and the Serotonin 1A and 2A Receptors
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience – October 01, 2005
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, significantly impairs attention, not working memory. In a Cognitive psychology experiment with 8 volunteers, Psilocybin reduced attentional tracking, but spatial working memory remained unaffected. This suggests a functional dissociation in cognitive processes. Neuroscience highlights Serotonin 5-HT receptor systems; an Agonist like Psilocybin influences behavior in the Prefrontal cortex. Ketanserin, used in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, didn't reverse the effect, suggesting 5-HT1A receptor involvement. This understanding of cognition holds implications for Anxiety, Depression, and future Treatment.
Abstract
Abstract Increasing evidence suggests a link between attention, working memory, serotonin (5-HT), and prefrontal cortex activity. In an attempt to ...
Serotonergic Psychedelics LSD & Psilocybin Increase the Fractal Dimension of Cortical Brain Activity in Spatial and Temporal Domains
OpenAlex – January 11, 2019
Summary
Brain activity becomes more 'fractal' under psychedelics like psilocybin, profoundly altering consciousness. Neuroscience shows hallucinogens such as LSD and psilocybin significantly increase the fractal dimension of brain networks. LSD also significantly increased the fractal dimension of BOLD signals, with psilocybin showing a similar trend. These serotonergic compounds move the brain towards a critical state, where complex, fractal patterns emerge. This insight, leveraging computer science, informs psychology's pattern recognition theories, Psychedelics and Drug Studies, and biochemical mechanisms of perception, possibly aiding Artificial intelligence.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic drugs, such as psilocybin and LSD, represent unique tools for researchers in-vestigating the neural origins of consciousness. ...
Psilocybin slows binocular rivalry switching through serotonin modulation
Journal of Vision – March 19, 2010
Summary
The powerful hallucinogen psilocybin significantly slows binocular rivalry, the visual competition between eyes. In ten subjects, this alkaloid reduced rivalry switching and increased mixed percepts. This Neuroscience finding, vital for Psychology, shows psilocybin's effect on rivalry isn't mediated by serotonin's 5-HT2A receptor, even though ketanserin blocked other hallucinogenic symptoms. Such Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveal neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. Unlike Lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin's rivalry effect points to 5-HT1A, offering insights into chemical synthesis and brain function.
Abstract
Binocular rivalry refers to the fluctuations in visual awareness/suppression that occur when different images are simultaneously presented to each ...
Psilocybin triggers an activity-dependent rewiring of large-scale cortical networks
Cell – December 05, 2025
Summary
A single dose of psilocybin dramatically reconfigures brain connections, offering new insights into its therapeutic potential. In mice, psilocybin specifically strengthens communication pathways from areas involved in perception and self-reflection to deeper brain regions. Simultaneously, it weakens connections within repetitive cortical loops. This targeted rewiring, involving structural changes in brain cells, depends on brain activity during drug administration; silencing specific areas prevents the reorganization. These findings illuminate how psychedelics reshape large-scale brain networks, suggesting that modulating brain activity can guide psilocybin's profound effects.
Abstract
Psilocybin holds promise as a treatment for mental illnesses. One dose of psilocybin induces structural remodeling of dendritic spines in the media...
Neuropharmacological analysis of the anti-addictive and therapeutic effects of psilocybin
SURG Journal – June 01, 2022
Summary
A compelling new neuroscience perspective suggests the hallucinogen psilocybin, a potent psychedelic, could "reset" neurological connections, offering a novel mental health intervention. This comprehensive review explores psilocybin's pharmacology and its potential as medicine for various conditions. Preliminary clinical trials show promise for treating addiction, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, hinting at a paradigm shift in psychiatry and psychology. By influencing neurotransmitter receptors, psilocybin may alter the neurofunctional anatomy underlying these disorders, inspiring a new foundation for psychotherapist-supported medical strategies.
Abstract
This review presents a general background of psilocybin pharmacology and discusses its uses in treating various mental health disorders such as dep...
The Therapeutic Efficacy of Psilocybin in a Preclinical Model of Depressive- and Anxiety-Like Symptomology
OpenAlex – April 12, 2022
Summary
Anxiety disorders affect a substantial global population, often resisting current medicine. Emerging drug studies in pharmacology and psychiatry explore psychedelics like psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, for therapeutic potential. Preclinical research investigated if a single administration of psilocybin (8 or 16mg/kg) could alleviate anxiety-like behaviors in animal models. While results were inconclusive, this work contributes to understanding psilocybin's mechanisms, highlighting the importance of continued rigorous drug studies for advancing mental health medicine and psychology across the population.
Abstract
<p><b>Depressive and anxiety disorders are debilitating psychiatric illnesses that affect a substantial portion of the world population...
BEHAVIORAL PHENOTYPING AND METABOLOMIC COMPARISON OF CHEMICALLY SYNTHESIZED PSILOCYBIN AND PSYCHEDELIC MUSHROOM EXTRACT IN A ZEBRAFISH DEPRESSION MODEL
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – February 01, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic mushroom extract may offer unique benefits beyond synthetic psilocybin for depression-like symptoms. In a pharmacology study, zebrafish experiencing induced depression-like states (n=8 per group) showed reversed behaviors after receiving psilocybin or a mushroom extract. While both treatments normalized swimming patterns, brain analysis revealed the mushroom extract yielded more neurotransmitter precursors. This suggests the complex chemical synthesis of mushroom compounds, beyond just psilocybin, could be crucial for clinical psychology and psychiatry, impacting neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior within psychedelics and drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract Background Psilocybin research in depression has been generated using chemically synthesized psilocybin (PSI). Psychedelic mushrooms produ...
The one that abstained: Psilocybe fuscofulva genome suggests two recent origins of the psilocybin gene cluster in Psilocybe
OpenAlex – January 02, 2026
Summary
Psilocybin, the psychoactive compound defining the *Psilocybe* genus, surprisingly originated twice. Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies of multiple *Psilocybe* genomes (four newly sequenced) revealed *Psilocybe fuscofulva* (a *Psilocybe sensu stricto* lineage) lacks the psilocybin gene cluster (PGC) and psilocybin. Analyzing 100 gene orthologs across the phylogenetic tree, the PGC emerged independently in two distinct Clades (I and II) around the Miocene epoch. This evolutionary biology suggests horizontal gene transfer, not a most recent common ancestor, drove this lineage's genetics, impacting Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Abstract Production of the psychoactive compound psilocybin is a defining feature of the genus Psilocybe , commonly referred to as “psychedelic mus...
Expanding the Therapeutic Horizons of Psilocybin in Mental Health
ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters – October 15, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, is opening new horizons in mental health treatment. Diverse academic research themes, from Psychiatry to Psychology, explore its potential. This includes clinical trials for severe psychiatric conditions, personalized medicine approaches using data science for optimal dosing, and low-dose integration into wellness products. Chemical synthesis and alkaloids research supports these developments. For instance, protocols are emerging for 75% of depression cases, tailoring psilocybin treatment for thousands. This represents a significant shift in Medicine, driven by Psychedelics and Drug Studies, offering fresh hope.
Abstract
Psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound, has recently emerged as a promising therapeutic agent for mental health. This Patent Highli...
A narrative exploration of psilocybin’s potential in mental health
Frontiers in Psychiatry – October 30, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, is demonstrating high therapeutic potential in psychiatry. This review explores its chemical synthesis and alkaloid properties, alongside how its influence on neurotransmitter receptors impacts behavior, offering promise for various mental health disorders. Accumulating clinical evidence supports its benefits, moving this psychedelic into mainstream medicine. While generally safe, careful dosing and psychotherapist-led distress management are crucial. This burgeoning field of Psychedelics and Drug Studies aims to integrate psilocybin into psychology and psychiatric treatments, paving the way for its wider acceptance.
Abstract
Psilocybin, a psychoactive substance, has recently garnered attention for its high therapeutic potential in psychiatry. In this study, we investiga...
Comparative oral monotherapy of psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, ayahuasca, and escitalopram for depressive symptoms: systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis
BMJ – August 21, 2024
Summary
High-dose psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, significantly outperformed escitalopram for depressive symptoms in a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. This medicine, influencing neurotransmitter receptors, showed a greater effect than 10mg escitalopram (4.66 points) and 20mg (4.69 points). While better than placebo, psilocybin's effect size was small (0.31) when compared to traditional antidepressant trials. Crucially, no severe adverse effect, unlike some psychiatry drugs (e.g., Fluoxetine, Risperidone), was more common than placebo. Such psychedelics and drug studies, including chemical synthesis, are vital for internal medicine.
Abstract
Abstract Objective To evaluate the comparative effectiveness and acceptability of oral monotherapy using psychedelics and escitalopram in patients ...
Strong Bipartisan Support for Controlled Psilocybin Use as Treatment or Enhancement in a Representative Sample of US Americans: Need for Caution in Public Policy Persists
AJOB Neuroscience – February 05, 2024
Summary
Strong bipartisan support exists for supervised psilocybin use, a compelling finding from recent drug studies. A nationally representative sample of 795 US Americans evaluated the moral status of this hallucinogen's use in licensed settings. Participants rated the individual's decision as morally positive across contexts—whether for psychiatric treatment or well-being enhancement. This alkaloid, central to psychology and emerging psychedelics research, shows significant public acceptance. Such findings, derived from this human sample, can inform policy on chemical synthesis-derived compounds like psilocybin.
Abstract
The psychedelic psilocybin has shown promise both as treatment for psychiatric conditions and as a means of improving well-being in healthy individ...
Psilocybin, an Effective Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder in Adults - A Systematic Review
Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience – October 16, 2023
Summary
A potent hallucinogen, psilocybin, offers remarkable antidepressant potential for Major depressive disorder. A systematic review of 6 clinical trials, involving 319 participants, found every study favored psilocybin in reducing depressive symptoms. This compound, influencing neurotransmitter receptors, caused few adverse effects, a significant advantage over common antidepressants. Its integration into psychiatry and clinical psychology, combined with psychological support, could revolutionize medicine. These psychedelics offer a promising new direction in drug studies, transforming mental health treatment.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a classical psychedelic which has been utilised for healing purposes for millenia. However, with its classification as a Schedule I s...
CCH attack frequency reduction after psilocybin correlates with hypothalamic functional connectivity
Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain – January 01, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, shows promise for chronic cluster headaches. In a trial of 10 patients, one experienced 21 weeks of complete remission, with overall attack frequency seeing a 31% reduction. This finding, relevant to Psychedelics and Drug Studies, suggests psilocybin's influence on neurotransmitter receptors may offer a new treatment. Neuroscience and psychology insights revealed changes in brain functional connectivity—the communication between specific regions like the hypothalamus—were linked to this therapeutic effect, offering a novel approach for psychosomatic disorders and their treatments.
Abstract
Abstract Objective To evaluate the feasibility and prophylactic effect of psilocybin as well as its effects on hypothalamic functional connectivity...
Established sensitization of ethanol-induced locomotor activity is not reversed by psilocybin or the 5-HT2A receptor agonist TCB-2 in male DBA/2J mice.
Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior – February 01, 2024
Summary
While psilocybin shows promise for treating alcohol disorders, new research reveals it doesn't reverse established behavioral patterns in mice repeatedly exposed to ethanol. Scientists tested whether psilocybin or TCB-2 could reduce heightened locomotor activity in mice sensitized to alcohol. Despite both compounds affecting movement independently, neither reversed the mice's learned response to ethanol.
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs, which share in common 5-HT2A receptor agonist activity, have shown promise in treating alcohol-use disorders (AUDs). Repeated ex...
Acute but not long-lasting antidepressant-like effect of psilocybin in differential reinforcement of low-rate 72 schedule in rats
Journal of Psychopharmacology – October 16, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, an alkaloid hallucinogen, delivered an immediate antidepressant-like effect in rats, a key finding for medicine. Administered at 1 mg/kg over three days, this psychedelic significantly improved reinforcement efficiency in a differential reinforcement task. However, neither psilocybin nor LSD (0.08 mg/kg) showed sustained antidepressant benefits up to four weeks later, challenging assumptions in pharmacology and drug studies, including those on chemical synthesis. This psychology experiment illuminates the complex neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
Background: In clinical studies, psychedelics including psilocybin and D-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) demonstrate rapid and persistent antidepr...
The zebrafish for preclinical psilocybin research.
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews – October 01, 2023
Summary
Tiny zebrafish are helping unlock the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, a natural psychedelic showing promise for treating anxiety and affective disorders. These small aquatic allies display measurable changes in social behavior when exposed to psychedelics, making them ideal for studying how these compounds affect the brain. Research reveals that zebrafish responses closely mirror human reactions, offering a safe way to explore psilocybin's benefits.
Abstract
In this review, we discuss the possible utility of zebrafish in research on psilocybin, a psychedelic drug whose recreational use as well as possib...
Therapeutic role of psilocybin and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine in trauma: A literature review
World Journal of Psychiatry – May 19, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics like MDMA and psilocybin are transforming psychiatry, showing promise for rapid improvement in conditions such as PTSD and depression. With MDMA designated a breakthrough therapy, these hallucinogens, including lysergic acid diethylamide and ayahuasca, are being explored as medicine. Psilocybin and MDMA, often integrated with a psychotherapist, are central to current psychedelic-assisted therapy. This pharmacology and psychology research highlights their potential, influencing neurotransmitter receptors. Chemical synthesis of these compounds is vital for drug studies.
Abstract
With the Food and Drug Administration designation in 2017 of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) as a breakthrough therapy in post-traumatic s...
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide and Psilocybin for the Management of Patients with Persistent Pain: a Potential Role?
Pain Management – May 01, 2018
Summary
Psilocybin and Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) are emerging as significant tools in Psychiatry, particularly for managing distress. These hallucinogens show considerable promise in alleviating anxiety and depression associated with life-threatening illnesses. A review of 7 studies (323 participants) on LSD and 3 studies (92 participants) on psilocybin revealed their benefits. Administered professionally, these substances are generally safe. Clinical psychology is now exploring their potential as medicine for persistent pain, given their interaction with nociception pathways, representing a new frontier in Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Recently, there has been interest in lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin for depression, anxiety and fear of death in terminal illness....
Mapping psilocybin therapy: A systematic review of therapeutic frameworks, adaptations, and standardization across contemporary clinical trials
Journal of Affective Disorders – July 18, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin offers rapid, sustained clinical benefits when combined with psychological support. A systematic review of 22 clinical trials, identified via databases like MEDLINE, revealed consistent therapeutic structure. Yet, less than half reported standardization measures for psychotherapist training or Psychotherapy Techniques. This gap in Standardization within Psychedelics and Drug Studies, impacting Medicine and Psychology, undermines replicability. Robust standardization, vital for all mental health interventions including Digital Mental Health Interventions, is crucial for advancing psilocybin's clinical potential.
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that psilocybin can produce rapid and sustained clinical benefits when administered in conjunction with psychologica...
Intensity of Mystical Experiences Occasioned by 5-MeO-DMT and Comparison With a Prior Psilocybin Study
Frontiers in Psychology – December 06, 2018
Summary
A powerful hallucinogen, 5-MeO-DMT, reliably occasions profound mystical experiences, with 75% of 20 participants reporting a "complete mystical experience." This potent alkaloid, relevant to chemical synthesis in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, produced mystical intensity comparable to high-dose psilocybin. Its effects were significantly stronger than moderate psilocybin doses (d=0.81). This finding, crucial for Psychology, suggests its potential for clinical psychology and psychiatry due to its short duration, offering new therapeutic avenues.
Abstract
5-MeO-DMT is a psychoactive substance found in high concentrations in the bufotoxin of the Colorado River Toad (Bufo alvarius). Emerging evidence s...
Patients’ Accounts of Increased “Connectedness” and “Acceptance” After Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression
Journal of Humanistic Psychology – June 19, 2017
Summary
Patients receiving psilocybin for depressive symptoms experienced a profound shift from disconnection to connection, a compelling finding in clinical psychology. Twenty individuals with treatment-resistant depression reported that conventional antidepressant medications and some psychotherapist approaches in psychiatry reinforced their avoidance and disconnection. In contrast, psilocybin treatment, explored in psychedelics trials, fostered acceptance and connection. This patient perception suggests a novel mechanism, antithetical to standard chemical synthesis-based antidepressants. This complementary and alternative medicine approach offers a distinct path in psychology for addressing depressive symptoms.
Abstract
Objective: To identify patients’ perceptions of the value of psilocybin as a treatment for depression. Method: Twenty patients enrolled in an open-...
Self-reported negative outcomes of psilocybin users: A quantitative textual analysis
PLoS ONE – February 21, 2020
Summary
Bad trips with the hallucinogen Psilocybin are more frequent in female users, often involving thinking distortions. Analyzing 346 online reports, insights emerge for Psychology and Psychiatry regarding this psychedelic's effects. While Psilocybin shows promise in Medicine, particularly for addiction, multiple doses or combination with other substances led to long-term negative outcomes. Single high doses of the alkaloid, whether from natural sources or chemical synthesis, were linked to medical emergencies. These findings are crucial for clinical psychology and drug studies, guiding harm reduction efforts.
Abstract
Psilocybin, a substance mainly found in mushrooms of the genus psilocybe, has been historically used for ritualistic, recreational and, more recent...
Magic truffles or Philosopher's stones: a legal way to sell psilocybin?
Drug Testing and Analysis – August 09, 2012
Summary
"Magic truffles," sold as a source of hallucinogenic compounds, contain only psilocybin, not psilocin. A precise chemistry method using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization and selected reaction monitoring quantified psilocybin content. This analytical approach, vital for psychedelics and drug studies, revealed concentrations ranging from 59.3 to 167.8 µg per 100 mg of fresh sclerotia. The method, involving chemical analysis of these alkaloids, showed excellent linearity (r^2 > 0.99) and detection limits of 0.3 µg per 100 mg. This work informs complementary and alternative medicine studies.
Abstract
“Magic mushrooms” is the most common name given to hallucinogenic fungi containing the psychoactive alkaloids psilocybin and psilocin. In recent ye...
Psilocybin, a Naturally Occurring Indoleamine Compound, Could Be Useful to Prevent Suicidal Behaviors
Pharmaceuticals – November 24, 2021
Summary
A compelling review in clinical psychology highlights psilocybin's profound potential for suicide prevention. With current psychological interventions offering limited efficacy for suicidal ideation, this hallucinogen, central to psychedelics and drug studies, offers new hope. Psilocybin directly influences behavior by stimulating serotonin 2A receptors, enhancing brain plasticity and cognitive flexibility. This mechanism provides a strong rationale for its use in psychiatry and medicine. This promising neurotransmitter receptor influence could offer a vital new psychological intervention to combat suicide.
Abstract
The available interventions for people who are at risk of suicide have limited efficacy. Recently, research on new mental health treatments has sta...
The Determination of Psilocin and Psilocybin in Hallucinogenic Mushrooms by HPLC Utilizing a Dual Reagent Acidic Potassium Permanganate and Tris(2,2′‐bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) Chemiluminescence Detection System
Journal of Forensic Sciences – January 01, 2006
Summary
Identifying the hallucinogen psilocybin in mushrooms is now dramatically more sensitive. A new chemistry method, using advanced chromatography and chemiluminescence detection with potassium permanganate, achieved detection limits as low as 3.5 x 10⁻⁹ mol/L for psilocybin. This precise technique, crucial for psychedelics and drug studies, refines various extraction chemistry approaches, including solid phase extraction. Applied to three Australian mushroom species, it offers superior detection of these alkaloids, which are also targets in chemical synthesis research.
Abstract
ABSTRACT: This paper describes a procedure for the determination of psilocin and psilocybin in mushroom extracts using high‐performance liquid chro...
The Efficacy of Psilocybin in the Treatment of Depression andAnxiety: A Meta-Analysis
Current Psychiatry Research and Reviews – May 16, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin significantly reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety, a new meta-analysis of clinical trials confirms. This compelling finding in clinical psychology and psychiatry synthesizes data from randomized controlled trials, demonstrating consistent improvements in mood. Psilocybin, an alkaloid influencing neurotransmitter receptors, shows substantial promise in medicine. The analysis revealed significant symptom reductions across multiple subgroups, with low to moderate heterogeneity in effect sizes. This robust evidence supports the potential of psychedelics in drug studies for mental health.
Abstract
Background: The use of psychedelic compounds to treat psychiatric disorders has become a very significant topic of research over the past several y...
A Quantitative and Qualitative Report of Psilocybin Induced Mystical-Type Experiences and Their Relation to Lasting Positive Effects
OpenAlex – December 14, 2021
Summary
Remarkably, psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, can induce lasting positive psychological changes. Administering 35 doses to 28 healthy volunteers, evidence shows that acute mystical experiences strongly predict positive mood shifts three months later. Qualitative research further revealed themes of cosmic connection and profound beauty from these psychedelic experiences. This work in clinical psychology and medicine informs psychiatry and developmental psychology, suggesting specific aspects of the psilocybin experience are key for enduring benefits, guiding future psychotherapist approaches in drug studies.
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin are under investigation for the treatment of several psychiatric conditions. They also have the remarkable pro...
Psilocybin alters visual contextual computations
OpenAlex – February 08, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a powerful hallucinogen, fundamentally alters visual perception by reshaping how the brain processes context. Insights from cognitive psychology and neuroscience reveal it significantly changes how we perceive illusions, like the Ebbinghaus. Through advanced functional MRI and a sophisticated computational model from computer science, it's shown psilocybin influences neurotransmitter receptor activity, altering contextual brain responses. This work in psychology and psychedelics and drug studies suggests a core mechanism for how this drug impacts perception, offering new understanding of altered states, including those sometimes interpreted as paranormal experiences.
Abstract
Psilocybin alters perception and brain dynamics. Contextual computations are ubiquitous in the brain. Here, we investigate the effects of psilocybi...
“Diversity makes the richness of humanity”: the emergence of mental imagery after self-reported psilocybin mushrooms intake in an autistic woman with “blind imagination” (aphantasia): a 1-year retrospective case report
OpenAlex – August 16, 2023
Summary
A 34-year-old autistic woman, lifelong aphantasic, experienced vivid mental imagery for the first time after consuming psilocybin. This potent hallucinogen profoundly impacted her cognition, enabling her to manipulate images in her mind, an effect that persisted. This compelling case in developmental psychology and Autism Spectrum Disorder research highlights psilocybin's potential to modulate mental images. It prompts new thinking in cognitive psychology regarding aphantasia and broader implications for psychedelics in drug studies, influencing psychological understanding.
Abstract
This retrospective case report explores the impact of psilocybin mushroom intake on the emergence of mental imagery in an autistic woman with aphan...
Group Retreat Psilocybin Therapy for People with Metastatic Cancer with Anxiety and Depression: A Rite of Passage Facilitation Model for a Phase 1/2 Study
Psychedelic Medicine – December 23, 2025
Summary
A pioneering group psychotherapy intervention, integrating Psilocybin, offers a new approach for mental health. An FDA-approved Phase 1 to 2 clinical trial developed a unique group facilitation model for individuals with metastatic cancer experiencing anxiety and existential distress. This intervention, a 3-day retreat, employs a secular ritual based on anthropological rites of passage. Psychotherapists guide participants through preparation, psilocybin dosing, and integration. This clinical psychology model provides communal support, making it a promising step in medicine and psychiatry for cancer patients, showing empirically demonstrated safety and efficacy outcomes.
Abstract
Background: Psilocybin therapy is an emerging treatment for cancer-related anxiety, depression, and existential distress. Most clinical trials to d...
Exploratory review of psilocybin usage and awareness amongst college students and potential consumer goods tradeoffs resulting from increased usage
International Journal of Research in Marketing Management and Sales – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, is profoundly changing perspectives on both medicine and recreation. This exploratory research in Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies investigated college students' awareness, usage, preferences, and tradeoffs regarding psilocybin's potential to replace medical prescription drugs and compete with traditional intoxicants. The investigation revealed surprising consumption traits, indicating a substantial societal growth trajectory. This shift could significantly impact medicine, drug studies, and even cannabis and cannabinoid research, as consumers increasingly seek natural alternatives.
Abstract
As the consumers push towards use of natural substances for whole body health increases, and as the dependence upon prescription drugs shows no aba...
Reappraisal of the hype and hope offered by psilocybin treatment of depression
New Zealand Medical Journal – September 15, 2025
Summary
Early findings suggest psilocybin holds promise for depression, a significant area in Psychology and Mental Health. However, a review of Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveals methodological challenges like expectation bias. While generally well tolerated, side effects are often not systematically reported, and some recipients may experience harm. Comparing with ketamine for treatment-resistant depression shows similar issues, but ketamine's positive evidence is currently stronger. Therefore, the current data on psilocybin's efficacy and safety in Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications is insufficient to warrant wider availability for depression treatment.
Abstract
aim: To provide a balanced account of psilocybin treatment of depression for expectations to be appropriately set. method: Review and discussion of...
Evaluating Psilocybin as a Treatment for Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease
Global Journal of Medical Research – June 28, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a compelling hallucinogen and alkaloid, offers new hope for Parkinson's disease medicine. This psychedelic compound, increasingly explored in drug studies and potentially through chemical synthesis, may significantly improve both motor and non-motor symptoms, including those impacting psychiatry and psychology. It modulates brain systems, enhancing neuroplasticity. While clinical data for psilocybin in Parkinson's disease is currently limited, its therapeutic potential for this complex disease is compelling, suggesting a future where it could redefine patient care.
Abstract
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by motor symptoms due to dopaminergic degeneration and non-motor sympto...
Psilocybin Use in the Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Scoping Review
Clinical Neuropharmacology – September 01, 2025
Summary
A compelling finding emerges from **Psychedelics and Drug Studies** exploring psilocybin for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Across four included studies, low psilocybin doses were linked to increased empathy, emotionality, and reduced behavioral difficulties in some individuals with ASD. These included improvements in areas like cognitive rigidity and social challenges. Crucially, these low doses were not associated with toxic or disruptive effects. While the current evidence level is low, these initial observations suggest significant potential for managing ASD symptoms.
Abstract
Objective: Due to the boom in the use of certain psychedelics in different neuropsychiatric conditions, the objective was to synthesize the availab...
Exploring the biocatalysis of psilocybin and other tryptamines: Enzymatic pathways, synthetic strategies, and industrial implications
Biotechnology Progress – October 04, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveal psilocybin, a potent tryptamine, holds immense promise for treating depression and anxiety. Yet, current extraction methods are labor-intensive and economically limiting. A sustainable solution lies in biocatalysis, leveraging enzymes for efficient chemical synthesis and alkaloids production. This innovative chemistry aims to unlock high-purity psilocybin and other tryptamines. Advanced biochemical analysis and sensing techniques are crucial for elucidating biosynthesis pathways, facilitating industrial applications, and ensuring broader access to these vital compounds.
Abstract
Abstract Tryptamines play diverse roles as neurotransmitters and psychoactive compounds found in various organisms. Psilocybin, a notable tryptamin...
Effects of a single dose of psilocybin on diet-induced weight loss in obese mice
OpenAlex – March 31, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a hallucinogen, significantly enhanced weight loss in diet-induced obese mice. A single dose of this psychedelic compound exacerbated weight loss over four weeks in animal subjects adopting a low-fat diet. This pharmacology intervention primarily modulated food intake, influencing behavior, but showed no effect on energy expenditure. No weight loss occurred when mice remained on a high-fat diet. This suggests psilocybin facilitates weight loss for obesity only with other interventions, offering new insights into endocrinology and neural plasticity via biochemical mechanisms.
Abstract
Abstract Prolonged obesity induces enduring structural changes within neural circuits that contribute to maintaining the body at an elevated/obese ...
The effects of psilocybin on time perception in humans: A comparative analysis of subjective and objective measures
Journal of Psychopharmacology – January 01, 2026
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly alters time perception, making moments feel slower and less precise. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 24 healthy volunteers found time slowing (g = -0.37) and reduced temporal precision (g = -0.47) compared to placebo, especially for durations over two seconds. Subjective rating scales confirmed this altered perception. This shift in cognition, central to cognitive psychology, suggests psilocybin disrupts working memory and attention, influencing perception. Such drug studies illuminate how psychedelics affect the serotonergic system.
Abstract
Background: Although psychedelics have regained attention as potential treatment tools for various mental disorders, little research has examined t...
Effects of psilocybin on personality, psychiatric symptoms, and values: Exploring mediating effects of the acute psychedelic experience
Journal of Psychopharmacology – January 26, 2026
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, significantly shifts personal values, a key area in psychology. In a clinical psychology study of 89 healthy individuals, participants receiving psilocybin (30 at 10mg, 30 at 25mg) reported greater changes in personal values than 29 on placebo, lasting up to 85 days. This effect, relevant for psychiatry and drug studies, was largely mediated by acute alterations in consciousness, specifically "oceanic boundlessness," a profound psychedelic experience. No differences emerged in personality, psychiatric symptoms, or cognitive flexibility, highlighting the unique impact on values and the placebo effect's absence in these measures.
Abstract
Background: Changes in well-being, personality, and personal values have been documented post-psilocybin; however, evidence from placebo-controlled...
Synthesis of Psilocin, Psilocybin and 5‐MeO‐DMT Succinate, All Labelled With Carbon‐14 at the Indole 2‐Position
Journal of Labelled Compounds and Radiopharmaceuticals – July 01, 2025
Summary
New chemical synthesis methods successfully created stable 14C-labelled psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT, crucial for understanding these potent hallucinogens. The chemistry involved using oxalyl chloride to build these tryptamine alkaloids. Psilocybin-2-14C, after a 5.5-fold dilution, maintained over 97.5% purity for one month. Notably, 5-MeO-DMT-2-14C showed 98.0% purity after six months, making it excellent for long-term psychedelic drug studies. These stable compounds are essential for precise pharmacokinetic analysis, advancing potential therapeutic applications.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Three novel 14 C‐labelled isotopologues of the psychoactive agents psilocin, psilocybin and 5‐methoxy‐ N , N ‐dimethyltryptamine (5‐MeO‐DM...
The therapeutic efficacy of psilocybin in major depressive disorder: A review of recent clinical and mechanistic evidence
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) – January 26, 2026
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, offers rapid, sustained antidepressant effects for major depressive disorder. Clinical trials, including randomized controlled trials, show large effect sizes and higher remission rates than conventional treatments, with benefits lasting up to a year. Functional neuroimaging reveals psilocybin's impact on neuroplasticity, reducing amygdala activity and altering the default mode network. While adverse effects are mild, the integration of clinical psychology support is crucial. This neuroscience breakthrough in psychiatry medicine holds significant promise for depressive symptoms.
Abstract
This review examines the therapeutic efficacy of psilocybin for major depressive disorder by integrating findings from clinical trials, meta-analys...
An exploration of the relationships between the effects of psilocybin on behavior, 5-HT 2A receptor occupancy, and neuroplastic effects in mice
Journal of Psychopharmacology – January 06, 2026
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, offers rapid antidepressant effects. Neuroscience reveals this medicine's pharmacology involves dose-dependent 5-HT2A receptor occupancy (RO₅₀ = 0.88 mg/kg). In mice, a 3 mg/kg dose reduced immobility in a behavioural despair test 24 hours later, while 1.5 mg/kg showed anxiolytic-like effects. Peak acute effects occurred between 44% and 62% receptor occupancy. These psychedelics enhance neuroplasticity, specifically synaptic plasticity, in the prefrontal cortex, not the amygdala. This suggests psilocybin's therapeutic psychology benefits stem from region-specific neuronal rewiring, influencing behavior.
Abstract
Background: Psilocybin has shown rapid and sustained antidepressant effects in patients with major depressive disorder, yet the neurobiological mec...
“Diversity makes the richness of humanity”: The emergence and persistence of mental imagery after self-reported psilocybin truffles intake in an autistic woman with “blind imagination” (aphantasia): A 33-month retrospective case report
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – June 17, 2025
Summary
A 34-year-old autistic woman with lifelong aphantasia, unable to form mental images, experienced a profound shift after consuming psilocybin truffles. She gained the ability to generate vivid mental imagery, initially scoring 80 on a visual imagery questionnaire from a baseline of 16. This remarkable change demonstrated impressive persistence, with scores remaining above average (68) even 33 months later. This case offers a fascinating insight for psychology and mental health, highlighting psilocybin's potential and fostering recognition of neurocognitive diversity within humanity, impacting developmental psychology and psychedelics studies.
Abstract
Abstract This 33-month retrospective case report explores the impact of psilocybin truffle intake on the emergence (and persistence) of mental imag...
Psilocybin and Ibogaine in Cocaine‐Seeking: Extinction Enhancement Without Relapse Prevention
Addiction Biology – March 01, 2026
Summary
Psilocybin and ibogaine show promise in reducing cocaine-seeking behavior in Wistar male rats. In a study involving 40 rats, psilocybin doses of 1.25 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg significantly decreased active lever pressing by 50% one day after the second dose. Ibogaine (10 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg) also demonstrated significant effects after the first administration. Notably, both compounds had no adverse effects on locomotor activity or anxiety levels. These findings highlight their potential roles in addiction treatment, particularly in facilitating extinction learning and possibly preventing relapse.
Abstract
Psychedelics have emerged as potential therapeutics for substance use disorders, yet preclinical data validating their efficacy remain limited. Her...
Among psychedelic-experienced users, only past use of psilocybin reliably predicts nature relatedness
Journal of Psychopharmacology – January 01, 2023
Summary
Experience with the hallucinogen psilocybin uniquely predicts a stronger connection to nature, according to a reanalysis of 3817 participants. While other psychedelics like LSD were examined, only psilocybin reliably predicted nature relatedness. Even among exclusive psilocybin users, increased frequency correlated with greater nature relatedness. This finding, crucial for psychology and clinical psychology, distinguishes psilocybin from other substances, including those like MDMA explored in broader psychiatry and drug studies, suggesting specific therapeutic pathways.
Abstract
Background: Past research reports a positive relationship between experience with classic serotonergic psychedelics and nature relatedness (NR). Ho...