Neuroendocrine Associations Underlying the Persistent Therapeutic Effects of Classic Serotonergic Psychedelics
This review (2018) proposes that psychedelics may exert their effectiveness on certain pathologies through the neuroendocrine system (hormone release due to stimulation of the nervous system).
Authors
- Deepak Cyril D’Souza
- Emmanuelle Schindler
- Jordan Sloshower
Published
Abstract
Recent reports on the effects of psychedelic-assisted therapies for mood disorders and addiction, as well as the effects of psychedelics in the treatment of cluster headache, have demonstrated promising therapeutic results. In addition, the beneficial effects appear to persist well after limited exposure to the drugs, making them particularly appealing as treatments for chronic neuropsychiatric and headache disorders. Understanding the basis of the long-lasting effects, however, will be critical for the continued use and development of this drug class. Several mechanisms, including biological and psychological ones, have been suggested to explain the long-lasting effects of psychedelics. Actions on the neuroendocrine system are some such mechanisms that warrant further investigation in the study of persisting psychedelic effects. In this report, we review certain structural and functional neuroendocrinological pathologies associated with neuropsychiatric disorders and cluster headache. We then review the effects that psychedelic drugs have on those systems and provide preliminary support for potential long-term effects. The circadian biology of cluster headache is of particular relevance in this area. We also discuss methodologic considerations for future investigations of neuroendocrine system involvement in the therapeutic benefits of psychedelic drugs.
Research Summary of 'Neuroendocrine Associations Underlying the Persistent Therapeutic Effects of Classic Serotonergic Psychedelics'
Introduction
Schmid and colleagues introduce a narrative review motivated by renewed clinical interest in classic serotonergic psychedelics—principally psilocybin, LSD, and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT)—which act at serotonin 5-HT2A receptors and have shown therapeutic promise in mood disorders, addiction and cluster headache. The authors highlight an intriguing feature of these treatments: clinically meaningful benefits that often persist long after only limited drug exposure. Earlier explanations for such persistence have invoked neuroplastic, genetic and psychological mechanisms, and this review frames the neuroendocrine system as an additional, underexplored contributor given that many target disorders display neuroendocrine abnormalities. The paper sets out to summarise structural and functional neuroendocrinological findings in psychiatric disorders and cluster headache and to review evidence that classic serotonergic psychedelics interact with those systems. Where possible, the authors emphasise associations that might plausibly underlie persisting therapeutic effects and identify methodological priorities for future research; they note a supplementary table summarising key items, though that table is not included in the extracted text.
Expert Research Summaries
Go Pro to access AI-powered section-by-section summaries, editorial takes, and the full research toolkit.
Full Text PDF
Full Paper PDF
Create a free account to open full-text PDFs.
Study Details
- Study Typemeta
- Journal
- Topics
- Authors
- APA Citation
Schindler, E. A. D., Wallace, R. M., Sloshower, J. A., & D’Souza, D. C. (2018). Neuroendocrine Associations Underlying the Persistent Therapeutic Effects of Classic Serotonergic Psychedelics. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.00177
References (49)
Papers cited by this study that are also in Blossom
Andersson, M., Persson, M., Kjellgren, A. · Harm Reduction Journal (2017)
Bogenschutz, M. P., Forcehimes, A. A., Pommy, J. A. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2015)
Canal, C. E., Murnane, K. S. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2016)
Carhart-Harris, R. L., Bolstridge, M., Rucker, J. et al. · Lancet Psychiatry (2016)
Carhart-Harris, R. L., Erritzoe, D., Williams, T. et al. · PNAS (2012)
Carhart-Harris, R. L., Kaelen, M., Whalley, M. G. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2014)
Liechti, M. E., Dolder, P. C., Grünblatt, E. et al. · Frontiers in Pharmacology (2017)
Dos Santos, R. G., Osório, F. L., Crippa, J. A. et al. · Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews (2016)
Garcia-Romeu, A., Griffiths, R. R., Johnson, M. W. · Current Drug Abuse Reviews (2015)
Gasser, P., Holstein, D., Michel, Y. et al. · Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease (2014)
Show all 49 referencesShow fewer
Kirchner, K. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2014)
Gonza ´lez-Maeso, J., Weisstaub, N. V., Zhou, M. et al. · Neuron (2007)
Gouzoulis-Mayfrank, E., Schreckenberger, M., Sabri, O. et al. · Neuropsychopharmacology (1999)
Gouzoulis-Mayfrank, E., Thelen, B., Habermeyer, E. et al. · Psychopharmacology (1999)
Griffiths, R. R. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2008)
Griffiths, R. R., Johnson, M. W. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2016)
Griffiths, R. R., Johnson, M. W., Richards, W. A. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2011)
Griffiths, R. R., Richards, W. A., Mccann, U. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2006)
Grob, C. S., Danforth, A. L., Chopra, G. S. et al. · JAMA Psychiatry (2011)
Hartogsohn, I. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2016)
Hasler, F., Grimberg, U., Benz, M. A. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2004)
Johnson, M. W., Garcia-Romeu, A., Griffiths, R. R. · The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse (2016)
Johnson, M. W., Garcia-Romeu, A., Johnson, P. S. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2017)
Karst, M., Halpern, J. H., Bernateck, M. et al. · Cephalalgia (2010)
Kast, E. · Psychiatric Quarterly (1967)
Kraehenmann, R., Preller, K. H., Scheidegger, M. et al. · Biological Psychiatry (2015)
Krebs, T. S., Johansen, P. Ø. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2012)
Martin, D. A., Nichols, C. D., Nichols, Á. C. D. · Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences (2017)
Moreno, F. A., Wiegand, C. B., Taitano, E. K. et al. · Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (2006)
Moya, P. R., Berg, K. A., Gutiérrez-Hernandez, M. A. et al. · Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (2007)
Nichols, D. E. · Pharmacology and Therapeutics (2004)
Nichols, D. E. · Pharmacological Reviews (2016)
Osório, F. L., Sanches, R. F., Macedo, L. et al. · brazilian Journal of Psychiatry (2015)
Preller, K. H., Herdener, M., Pokorny, T. et al. · Current Biology (2017)
Sanches, R. F., Osório, F. L., Dos Santos, R. G. et al. · Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology (2016)
Santos, R. G., Landeira-Fernandez, J., Strassman, R. J. et al. · Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2007)
Schindler, E. A. D., Gottschalk, C. H., Weil, M. J. et al. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2015)
Schmid, Y., Enzler, F., Gasser, P. et al. · Biological Psychiatry (2015)
Schmid, Y., Liechti, M. E. · Psychopharmacology (2017)
Sewell, R. A. · Neurology (2006)
Strajhar, P., Schmid, Y., Liakoni, E. et al. · Journal of Neuroendocrinology (2016)
Strassman, R. J., Qualls, C .R. · JAMA Psychiatry (1994)
Strassman, R. J., Qualls, C. R., Berg, L. M. · Biological Psychiatry (1996)
Studerus, E., Gamma, A., Kometer, M. et al. · PLOS ONE (2012)
Szabo, A. · Frontiers in Immunology (2015)
Tagliazucchi, E., Roseman, L., Kaelen, M. et al. · Current Biology (2016)
Vollenweider, F. X., Kometer, M. · Nature Reviews Neuroscience (2010)
Vollenweider, F. X., Leenders, K. L., Maguire, P. et al. · Neuropsychopharmacology (1997)
Vollenweider, F. X., Vollenweider-Scherpenhuyzen, M. F. I., Bäbler, A. et al. · NeuroReport (1998)
Cited By (13)
Papers in Blossom that reference this study
Dallery, J., Miller, J. L., Boissoneault, J. et al. · Journal of Eating Disorders (2026)
Császár, N., Bob, P., Bókkon, I. · Journal of Integrative Neuroscience (2022)
Kaypak, A. C., Raz, A. · Transcultural Psychiatry (2022)
van Elk, M., Yaden, D. B. · Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews (2022)
Rusanen, S. S., Schindler, E. A. D., Artto, V. A. et al. · Current Pain and Headache Reports (2022)
Barker, S. A. · Psychopharmacology (2022)
Ona, G., Berrada, A., Bouso, J. C. · Transcultural Psychiatry (2021)
Schindler, E. A. D., Sewell, R. A., Gottschalk, C. H. et al. · Neurotherapeutics (2021)
Bouso, J. C., Ona, G., Dos Santos, R. G. et al. · Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology (2021)
Nichols, D. E., Walter, H. · Pharmacopsychiatry (2020)
Show all 13 papersShow fewer
Brouwer, A., Carhart-Harris, R. L. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2020)
Kuypers, K. P. C. · Medical Hypotheses (2019)
Ona, G., Troncoso, S. · Journal of Psychedelic Studies (2019)
Your Personal Research Library
Go Pro to save papers, add notes, rate studies, and organize your research into custom shelves.