Frontiers in Psychiatry
June 24, 2024
Grant M. Jones, Jocelyn A. Ricard, Matthew K. Nock
5 citations
Hypertension disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities. Using National Survey on Drug Use and Health data (2005–2014), the authors examined whether race and ethnicity modify the association between psilocybin use and past-year hypertension. Hispanic identity moderated this association. Non-Hispanic White individuals who used psilocybin had 17% lower odds of hypertension (adjusted odds ratio: 0.83), but no such protective association appeared for other racial or ethnic groups. The results indicate that the relationship between psychedelics and hypertension may differ by race and ethnicity, warranting further longitudinal and clinical research.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
October 3, 2022
Jordi Camarasa, Pol Puigseslloses, Edurne Urquizu et al.
5 citations
Conventional psychiatric drugs often fail due to limited efficacy, slow onset, or side effects. Psychoactive substances, historically used for spiritual and recreational purposes, have shown therapeutic potential for disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder and treatment-resistant depression when administered under medical supervision with psychotherapy. Drugs such as MDMA, ketamine, psilocybin, and LSD have yielded successful clinical outcomes. New psychoactive substances (NPS), including synthetic cathinones and tryptamines, despite their illicit use, expand the library of potential treatments, as many were originally synthesized for therapeutic aims. This review examines the evidence and properties needed for NPS to become viable therapeutic compounds.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
January 21, 2022
Melina Wiedmann, Sören Kuitunen-Paul, Lukas A. Basedow et al.
5 citations
Among adolescent psychiatry outpatients with substance use disorder, attenuated psychotic symptoms were linked to MDMA (ecstasy) use and trauma history, but not to cannabis use. In a sample of 46 adolescents, 35% reported using MDMA in addition to cannabis. Statistical analysis showed that MDMA use and trauma history were each associated with more psychotic-like symptoms, while cannabis use, gender, and birth complications were not. The authors suggest that cannabis may increase psychosis risk only after longer use or when combined with other factors like trauma. Clinicians should screen for psychotic symptoms in adolescents who use both MDMA and cannabis.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
December 2, 2021
Maria Gałuszko‐węgielnik, Adam Włodarczyk, Wiesław Jerzy Cubała et al.
5 citations
Repeated series of intravenous ketamine infusions, given as an add-on treatment, can be effective and safe for patients with treatment-resistant depression. In a case series of five inpatients aged 43–63 with major depressive disorder or bipolar I disorder, four achieved remission after the first series of eight infusions, and three after the second series. Adverse reactions were mild and transient. The results are limited to short-term, add-on intravenous ketamine and cannot be generalized to long-term maintenance or other formulations.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
October 30, 2024
Jisu Park, Taejung Kim, Han-Tsung Min et al.
4 citations
Psilocybin, a psychoactive substance, shows high therapeutic potential in psychiatry. This review examines its chemical properties, mechanisms of action, and clinical applications for treating mental health disorders, supported by accumulating evidence. Clinical trials indicate psilocybin is safe with manageable side effects, but additional safety measures such as dosing protocols, patient monitoring, and distress management strategies are needed. The work aims to deepen understanding of psilocybin's clinical impact and proposes future research directions for its integration into mainstream psychiatric treatments.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
April 18, 2024
Gina Micciche, Andrew McMillan, Emily Coughlin et al.
4 citations
A survey of 31 patients with incurable illnesses found that 51.6% expressed interest in future psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAT). Belief that psilocybin could help with stress and anxiety was linked to interest. Patients voiced concerns about risk of psychosis, lack of trained providers, and potential for exploitation—the latter being a novel finding in this population. No demographic factors or levels of existential distress were associated with interest.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
June 21, 2023
Lily A. L. Martin, David Melchert, Monika Knack et al.
4 citations
Motor abnormalities and basic self-disorders are both considered potential endophenotypes of schizophrenia, but their relationship is rarely studied directly. Using data-driven gait markers previously identified in schizophrenia patients, this work links those movement markers to measures of basic self-disorder from EASE interviews. Quantitative correlations were supported by qualitative content analysis of four patients' interviews. Results indicate an association between movement markers and self-disorders, particularly in cognition, self-experience, and bodily experiences. Although individual movement marker scores did not precisely match patients' descriptions of anomalous self- and body experience, higher marker scores trended with more intense descriptions of specific experiences like hyperreflexivity. The findings support an integrated view of the patient and may inform therapeutic approaches targeting self- and body-experience in schizophrenia.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
April 14, 2023
Jennifer L. Jones
4 citations
A nationwide survey of 918 people with alcohol or substance use disorders found that most support medical research on MDMA (68.1%), believe MDMA-assisted therapy could be useful (70.1%), and would be willing to try it if appropriate (58.8%). Support for research and belief in effectiveness did not differ by race or ethnicity, but small disparities appeared in willingness to try MDMA-assisted therapy and concerns about its use. The findings highlight the need for equitable access and diverse participation as psychedelic-assisted therapy develops.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
December 22, 2022
Wei Zheng, Xin-Hu Yang, Li-Mei Gu et al.
4 citations
After six intravenous injections of 0.5 mg/kg ketamine, both patients with melancholic depression (30 individuals) and those with non-melancholic depression (105 individuals) showed similar improvement in anhedonic symptoms. The antianhedonic response rate was 43.3% in the melancholic group versus 50.5% in the non-melancholic group, a difference that was not statistically significant. Remission rates were also similar: 20.0% and 21.0%, respectively. By day 26, the melancholic group had significantly lower anhedonia scores on the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale compared to the non-melancholic group. Ketamine appears equally effective for reducing anhedonia in both melancholic and non-melancholic depression.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
December 10, 2025
T. H. W. Ching, B. Stahnke, S. Shnayder et al.
3 citations
In a qualitative study of the first randomized placebo-controlled trial of psilocybin for treatment-refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), interviews with 12 participants revealed four major themes: influences on the psilocybin experience (set and setting), acute effects (perceptual, metacognitive, emotional, and impact on OCD), post-dosing changes in OCD symptoms and perceptions, and post-dosing changes beyond OCD symptoms. Acute effects were often lower in intensity, possibly due to interference by OCD symptoms. Some acute and post-dosing effects mapped onto mechanisms of evidence-based psychotherapies like exposure and response prevention and acceptance and commitment therapy, suggesting potential for integrating psilocybin with structured psychotherapy for OCD.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
September 22, 2025
Shannon Dames, Pamela Kryskow, Vivian W. L. Tsang et al.
3 citations
RTT-KaT is a structured, scalable, evidence-informed, and culturally responsive model that bridges clinical safety with both Western and Indigenous knowledge systems. A longitudinal follow-up study is currently underway to evaluate its long-term impact and guide future implementations.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
August 6, 2025
Grace Blest‐hopley, Giuseppe Pasculli, Simon Ruffell et al.
3 citations
Veterans with traumatic brain injuries who participated in psilocybin retreats showed improvements in PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms four weeks afterward. PTSD scores decreased by 50%, depression scores by 65%, and anxiety scores by 28%. Electroencephalography measurements revealed decreased delta and theta brainwave power in frontal and temporal regions, along with enhanced coherence in alpha and beta bands, suggesting improved cognitive control, emotional processing, and neural communication. The preliminary findings provide a rationale for larger controlled studies.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
July 16, 2024
André Do, Vanessa Michaud, Jean-François Stephan et al.
3 citations
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) may be safe when given alongside certain serotoninergic antidepressants, and stopping those antidepressants before treatment might not be required. In an adult with difficult-to-treat depression who took duloxetine and vortioxetine, a first PAP session with both drugs produced a partial response. After he discontinued duloxetine but kept vortioxetine, his anxiety and depression worsened. Psilocybin was well tolerated in both sessions; mild headaches were the main adverse effect, with no cardiovascular concerns. This single case suggests that combining psilocybin with serotoninergic antidepressants appears safe and that antidepressant discontinuation prior to PAP may be unnecessary, potentially improving treatment accessibility.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
May 10, 2024
Qin Xiang Ng, Yu Liang Lim, Clarence Ong et al.
3 citations
Public attitudes toward ketamine for depression shifted notably after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's 2019 approval. Analyzing 18,899 unique tweets from individual users between 2010 and 2023 revealed three main themes: changing regulations, cautious optimism, and personal experiences. Cautious optimism decreased over time, while personal accounts increasingly highlighted benefits for some treatment-resistant patients. The overall perception is hopeful about ketamine's therapeutic potential.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
October 27, 2023
Aviv Weinstein
3 citations
People who stopped using cannabis after experiencing cannabis-induced psychosis and received four months of treatment showed no difference in dopamine D2 receptor availability in the caudate region of the striatum compared to former MDMA users and healthy controls. This suggests minimal lasting effects of cannabis-induced psychosis on dopamine reward mechanisms. A possible reduction in D2 receptor availability in the right putamen was observed, which may reflect a residual effect of antipsychotic medication rather than the psychosis itself.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
May 13, 2026
Feliciano Yu, Joe Tafur, Francisco Moreno et al.
2 citations
In the first year of Oregon's regulated psilocybin program, 5,935 clients participated in 5,375 sessions. Utilization peaked in the second quarter before stabilizing. About a third of participants lived outside Oregon. The largest age group was 35–49; women and LGBTQ+ individuals were well represented, but racial diversity was limited, with White participants making up 84–92% quarterly and African American participation at 2.1%. Adverse events were rare, with behavioral and medical rates of 2.42 and 2.79 per 1,000 sessions. The program serves as both a wellness modality and an alternative for mental health distress, though racial disparities and socioeconomic barriers persist.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
September 20, 2023
Taylor Black
2 citations
Psychedelic-assisted treatment for mental health is advancing, with psilocybin and MDMA nearing FDA approval and some US jurisdictions decriminalizing psilocybin. However, neither FDA indications nor regulated use models adequately address addiction treatment, especially when compounded by disability and social dispossession. Addiction increasingly burdens informal care networks, public safety, and healthcare systems, while stigma and mistreatment alienate people from care and raise costs. To maximize population health benefits, regulatory, clinical, and payment systems must support research, safety monitoring, and implementation that reduce barriers for those bearing these costs. A collaborative approach, rooted in mutual support and accountable to public institutions, is needed to equitably disseminate these therapies, learning from ancient traditions of ritualized sacramental use.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
July 11, 2023
Gniewko Więckiewicz, Iga Stokłosa, Maciej Stokłosa et al.
2 citations
More than half of adults with ADHD continue to experience symptoms, and undiagnosed individuals often use psychoactive substances to cope. In an online survey of 438 adults diagnosed with ADHD, the most commonly used stimulants were alcohol, marijuana, MDMA, amphetamine/methamphetamine, and psilocybin; methylphenidate was the most frequently used drug among patients. After treatment with psychostimulants, most respondents, especially males, reported a decrease in hyperactivity symptoms. The authors conclude that clinicians should actively screen for ADHD in patients who use psychoactive substances.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
July 22, 2022
Lai Fong Chan, Luke Sy-Cherng Woon, Nuur Asyikin Mohd Shukor et al.
2 citations
For patients with treatment-resistant depression who do not achieve functional recovery after multiple pharmacotherapies, combining brexpiprazole with esketamine or ketamine may offer a more rapid and effective augmentation strategy. This case series describes five complex cases of unipolar and bipolar treatment-resistant depression where conventional treatments failed to manage high-risk suicidal behavior or restore function. The authors discuss potential synergistic mechanisms of this novel combination, patient and clinical factors affecting response, challenges encountered, and implications for future practice and research.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
January 22, 2026
Jae Sevelius, Rachel Lynn Golden, B. Stott et al.
1 citation
A novel group-based ketamine-assisted psychotherapy program called Kindred, which integrates cognitive processing therapy, was tested with eight transgender and gender-expansive adults. The nine-week intervention alternated ketamine dosing sessions with cognitive skills-building and integration sessions. All participants completed the program and reported high satisfaction. Significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and cognitive fusion scores were observed, alongside qualitative reports of decreased shame, suicidality, and internalized transphobia. Participants identified group belonging, peer validation, and shared identity as important therapeutic factors. The findings suggest Kindred is a feasible and promising intervention for addressing mental health symptoms related to identity-based trauma in this population.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
December 17, 2025
Veronika Savica, Liene Sīle, Māris Taube
1 citation
Dissociation—a disruption in the normal integration of psychological functions—is a common adverse effect of esketamine nasal sprays. Individuals with high trait dissociation face greater risk of severe induced dissociation. However, intense dissociation may also predict better therapeutic response. This case report describes a patient with histrionic personality disorder (HPD) who experienced an unusually intense and persistent dissociative reaction during esketamine therapy. The case suggests that certain HPD personality traits may heighten vulnerability to esketamine-induced dissociation, underscoring the need to identify patient-level factors that amplify dissociative responses for improved risk stratification and clinical care.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
September 2, 2025
Mina Kheirkhah, Nastasia McDonald, Julia Aepfelbacher et al.
1 citation
Adding mindfulness, music, and a light-occluding eye mask during ketamine infusion for depression did not improve antidepressant effects compared to ketamine alone, but it enriched the subjective experience. Participants in the combined sensory intervention group reported deeper engagement, a stronger sense of connection to reality, increased focus, moments of relief from sadness, and feelings of awe and spiritual insight. However, four individuals in that group reported discomfort. The findings suggest that while the sensory interventions make the experience more meaningful for many, they may cause discomfort for a few, and making them optional could avoid this.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
August 4, 2025
Wierzbicka Małgorzata, Renata Kopczyk, Alexander L. Gerlach et al.
1 citation
Depression is especially common in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, who have twice the rate of major depressive disorder as other cancer patients, and this depression independently worsens clinical outcomes. Standard antidepressants and psychological therapies take weeks to work, a serious problem when surgery is imminent. Psilocybin, metabolized to psilocin, acts on serotonin and dopamine receptors and can lift mood within hours, outperforming escitalopram in trials for depression and also showing efficacy in PTSD and treatment-resistant depression. However, no studies have tested psilocybin for perioperative use in HNC patients. Legal status varies by country; in Poland it is restricted to research under the 1971 Psychotropic Convention, creating barriers despite its therapeutic promise. Overcoming these barriers will require collaboration among oncologists, psychiatrists, and policymakers.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
March 19, 2024
Jaswant Guzder, Geoffrey Walcott
1 citation
Medical training often overlooks culturally adapted tools that respect patients' beliefs and realities. In Ethiopia, transformative learning theory helped bridge biomedical and traditional healing for psychosis; only 58% of rural patients access biomedical care, with most relying on Orthodox Christian traditional healers who are less stigmatized. Collaborative partnerships between spiritual healers and researchers reduced stigma and increased referrals to psychiatric clinics. Low parental mental health literacy and stigma are fundamental treatment barriers across Ethiopia, Kenya, and Democratic Republic of Congo. One paper from an LMIC cohort uses psilocybin in psychotherapy. Creative arts modalities, including Zentangle, offer accessible, transportable treatment for serious mental illness. In Qatar, 75% of the population are migrant workers, yet community mental health services remain underdeveloped, especially for children, women, and migrants.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
October 19, 2023
Brian S. Barnett, Anahita Bassir Nia, Nathan B. Sackett et al.
1 citation
Psychedelics may offer new treatments for substance use disorders (SUDs), which cause high rates of illness and death. Current treatments often fail: in one trial, 57% of patients on buprenorphine and 65% on naltrexone relapsed by 24 weeks, and 40% leave 12-step groups within a year. This special issue presents seven articles exploring psychedelics' potential for SUDs, including psilocybin for methamphetamine use disorder and ketamine's effects on brain plasticity. One review found mixed evidence for ketamine's impact on synaptic markers in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. A perspective piece argues for equitable access to psychedelic therapies, including training diverse clinicians and serving higher-risk patients.