Advancements in psychedelic research: Effects, mechanisms, and therapeutic potential as emerging antidepressants.
Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior November 1, 2025 Xian-Qiang Zhang, De-Nong Liu, Qing-Shan Miao et al.
Major depressive disorder causes significant suffering and economic burden. Psychedelics, serotonergic hallucinogens that alter mood and cognition, show increasing evidence of rapidly and sustainably improving MDD symptoms. This review examines recent findings on the behavioral and physiological effects of psychedelics in preclinical animal models and clinical trials for MDD. It discusses cellular, brain region, circuit-level, and intracellular signaling mechanisms that may underlie their antidepressant effects. The authors conclude that psychedelics hold significant promise as therapeutic agents for MDD.