With great power comes great responsibility: Promise and caution in the new psychedelic renaissance
Brain Disorders September 23, 2025 Matthew Halma, R. Levy, Joseph Varón 2 citations
Clinicians and researchers are increasingly interested in psychedelic-assisted therapy for patients who do not improve with conventional antidepressants. This updated review covers recent developments, including data on lesser-studied compounds like DMT and 5-MeO-DMT, findings from large clinical trials, and evolving regulatory landscapes. In treatment-resistant depression, Ketamine stands out for its fast-acting but often short-lived effects. Psilocybin and Ayahuasca have shown meaningful symptom reduction in both randomized trials and real-world settings. Emerging data on LSD and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy suggest potential in mood disorder treatment.